“We didn’t lose because we weren’t big enough,” snapped Penguins coach Mike Sullivan when questioned about his team’s physicality (or lack of) in the wake of our disappointing first-round defeat at the hands of the New York Islanders. And he’s right…to an extent.
Porous goaltending was the primary culprit, along with shaky team defense, lack of attention to detail and questionable decision-making, especially by pinching defensemen. But I disagree that a lack of size and pushback weren’t issues, too.
I’ll call it the Jake Guentzel Syndrome.
Before I continue, I want to be clear. This article is in no way, shape or form intended to be a putdown of the plucky Pens winger. I love Jake and have the utmost respect for him. The way he battles, the way he ventures into traffic without the slightest bit of concern for life and limb. And, of course, for his supreme scoring touch.
Just a terrific player and a character kid to boot.
But we all saw what happened to Jake in the Islanders series. He was knocked around more than one of those inflatable bounce-back clown dummies that kids love to punch, absorbing eight hits in Game 1 and 16 in total throughout the series.
Sad to say, the abuse took its toll. Although Guentzel led the Pens with 25 shots on goal, many came from long range. His lone goal came from the high slot; none from close range where he wielded his stick like a magic wand while scoring 23 goals during the regular season.
The Omaha native wasn’t the only one targeted for rough treatment. Linemates Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust (14 hits absorbed each) were also frequently in the Islanders’ crosshairs.
Seeing a steady diet of New York’s rugged defensive pair of Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock, the trio appeared to wear down as the series progressed. Indeed, they combined for only four points in Games 3-6 and logged a collective minus-14 over that span. And this from a line that dominated the Islanders during the regular season.
So what changed? Playoff hockey, that’s what.
As gritty, competitive and resilient as our Pens are…and in terms of heart and willingness to absorb punishment to make a play they take a back seat to no one…their ability to compete physically on a level playing field with heavier clubs like the Islanders comes into question.
And make no mistake, heft matters in the playoffs. Since the Pens last hoisted Lord Stanley’s chalice, Washington, St. Louis and Tampa Bay have won with what I describe as a hybrid style that combines speed and skill with an underpinning of muscle.
I cited this example in a previous article, but it bears repeating. In 2018-19, a super-skilled Lightning squad won 62 games and racked up a mind-boggling 128 points during the regular season, only to be summarily swept in the first-round of the playoffs by the bruising Blue Jackets. A Presidents’ Trophy winner, literally tossed aside like a rag doll.
Out went skill players such as J.T. Miller and Anton Stralman. In came bruisers Zach Bogosian, Blake Coleman, Pat Maroon and Luke Schenn. Properly reinforced, Tampa Bay powered their way to a Cup.
Other teams took note. Borrowing a page from Tampa Bay’s book, Toronto has bulked up, adding the likes of Bogosian, Nick Foligno and Wayne Simmonds to their mix in hopes of capturing a Cup.
The Penguins have not followed the Lightning’s lead. Just the opposite, in fact. Over the off-season we doubled-down on speed in an attempt to recreate the dynamic that led to our back-to-back Cups. And, hey, there’s nothing wrong with being fast. But as our playoff loss to the Islanders proved, speed doesn’t necessarily trump size and structure or guarantee success. Especially with the rest of the league trending in a more balanced direction, with many teams featuring a blend of players who possess different qualities.
It’s time for the Penguins to do the same.
Actually, we already have at least some of the needed elements for a transition in place. Right wing Nathan Legare, presently tearing up the Quebec League playoffs for Val d’Or, combines bulk (208 pounds) with a fiery demeanor and a bomb of a shot. Perhaps a natural successor to Patric Hornqvist as the team’s emotional power plant. Fellow prospect and teammate Samuel Poulin likewise combines size with skill and has the potential to play a power game.
And, contrary to what Sullivan seems to believe, size and speed aren’t mutually exclusive attributes. Jeff Carter is the poster child for a bigger, skilled player who can really skate. His impact on the team was immense. (Think of where we would’ve been without him.)
Forward Radim Zohorna displayed surprising wheels, hands and hockey IQ during a productive eight-game cameo, to go with his hulking 6’6” 220-pound frame. And Anthony Angello skates well for his size (6’5” 210) and proved he can be effective in a fourth line role.
If it hasn’t happened yet, very soon Sullivan will have a sit down with GM Ron Hextall and president of hockey operations Brian Burke. They’re going to suggest, firmly, that it’s time for the team to move away from a strict speed game and Smurf-laden lineup and adopt a hybrid style that includes a degree of physicality. They’re going to ask if he’s amenable to coaching a team that plays that style.
It’s not an open-ended question. His answer needs to be yes.
Rich
Great article. I do believe the conversation between Hextall, Burke and
Sullivan will happen in the very near future. I also believe Sullivan’s
ego and pride may well cost him his job. Just his statement that we
didn’t lose because we weren’t big enough speaks volumes on his
position of adding size and toughness. I don’t believe he’s capable
of coaching that type of player.
I like Sully but in my heart, I don’t think it looks promising for him
remaining as the Pen’s HC. Time will tell.
Hey Mike,
I like Sullivan, too. I think he’s a stand-up, character guy, an excellent communicator and a good coach. I just wish he wasn’t so darn obstinate on the size/physical play issue. A trait that, as you pointed out, could well cost him his job when all is said and done.
I can honestly envision a scenario where Hextall and Burke sit down with him and in a diplomatic way suggest that they want to play a heavier game and Sullivan saying, “No, that’s not our identity and we’re not going to do that.”
People excoriated Dan Bylsma for only knowing how to coach one style (“One Plan Dan”). But more and more, Sullivan seems to fit into that category as well.
Rick
Absolutely right on the money, our team needs the speed and skill, but in the playoffs you also need the sandpaper and physical play to wear down your opponent.
Coach Mike is wrong , we lost because we are smaller and lighter, on top of the defensive miscues and lack of elite goaltending.
We need a big, tough defenseman to push guys around in front of the goalie… we need a couple of big, power forwards to get to front of the net or battle in the corners… I don’t know why Sully doesn’t see this and maybe if he can’t.. he shouldn’t be driving the bus.
With Sullivan’s style, how much ice will Poulin or Legare even get even IF they make the team next season?
The problem with a coaching change now ( 2 years left on contract). How much will it cost the organization to send him home?
I would love to see old #92 Tocchet behind the bench.
It is going to be interesting the next few days and into the off season.
Hey Pens4ever,
You have a good question “How much will it cost the organization to send him home?”
But I have, perhaps, a more interesting question, how much will it cost the Penguins not to change out coaches? The team is already $1,164,872 over the cap already, before the season even starts, and the team has already said it needs to get to the 3rd round to break even, when they are up against the Cap. Therefore, if you don’t change out coaches and go 1 and done again or worse, that may be even a bigger financial loss than saying bye-bye to Sullivan.
Yeah you are right, I forgot about Pens needing to get to 3rd round to break even, even though Pittsburgh is a hockey city it’s still a small market.
Great point.
Hey Pens4ever,
When it comes to physical play (and players) I really do think Sullivan has a blind spot. He almost reminds me of former Pens coach Kevin Constantine, who liked fast little guys who could get to a certain spot on the ice and play his system. And this was back in the mid-’90s when every other team was HUGE.
I, too, wonder how Legare and Poulin (and Zohorna and Angello) will fare under Sullivan and if they’ll be afforded a proper opportunity to develop. It seems you’re either a “Sully” guy (generally small and fast players) or you’re not, with very little gray area.
Again, the good news is, he won’t be able to dictate personnel decisions to Hextall and Burke the way he did with Rutherford. I won’t say they won’t try to work with him, but I don’t think they’ll necessarily appease him the way JR did.
And I have to confess…the idea of Tocchet returning is appealing. I guess it depends on whether or not Hextall/Burke feel we need a new voice in the locker room.
Rick
PS–Agree with needing at least one physical defenseman to bang bodies and help out our 27th ranked penalty kill.
It would cost the Pens nothing. He’d have another NHL head coaching job within a week.
It’s cost the Pens nothing. He’d have a new job within a week.
Hey Rick,
I certainly would love to see Legare. Poulin, Zahorna, Angello, and Bjorkqvist all get legitimate shots at the roster next season and not just lip service to try and placate the GM. There is a severe need for some big forwards on this team. And as you note size and speed are not mutually exclusive, not only is Carter big but he is fast too.
However, the team’s D needs revamped as well. It also is way too soft. One of the rarely mentioned differences between the Bylsma-Johnson built Cups teams and the Sullivan built 1 and done teams is Ian Cole. It appears that one lesson that has failed to be learned is that a team needs D-men that can actually play D, D-men that can block shots and move bodies out from in front of the goalie’s eyes.
A team can’t win games with 19 forwards (talking to you too, Jarry)
Here is an idea, the Pens trade some of their “skilled” smurf forwards for a real defensemen, then trade one of the clone defensemen we have for a goalie.