Penguins Update: The Jake Guentzel Syndrome

“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.