Penguins Update: Who Made Who?

Back in the day, the Aussie rock band AC/DC released a song titled, “Who Made Who” as part of a soundtrack for the Stephen King film “Maximum Overdrive.” For the longest time a certain PenguinPoop writer who shall go nameless (yes…me) thought the title of the song was “Dormez-vous,” but we won’t go into that right now…

What I do want to delve into is who should play with who (slight deviation from the title) when the Penguins push past the current Covid wave and everyone’s healthy. Yes, wishful thinking I know. But it’s fun to at least entertain the thought of having all our oars in the water and pulling together at the same time.

Actually, I think our line combinations are pretty cut-and-dried. Sort of.

I’ll probably get some push-back from my esteemed colleague Other Rick. But for starters I reunite Sidney Crosby with his usual wingers, Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust. Sid and Guentzel, in particular, make sweet music. Jake’s five-game goal scoring streak and all but one game of a 13-game point streak coincided with Crosby’s return from Covid on November 14.

During that span Guentzel tallied a whopping 12 goals and 18 points, Sid four goals and nine assists. A dynamic duo, to say the least.

Some may argue that Evan Rodrigues should displace Rust on Sid’s starboard side. I beg to differ. Although I love E-Rod, I think right wing is his least effective position. In the dozen games he skated on right wing from November 14 through December 6, including six on Sid’s right flank, Rodrigues tallied two goals and seven points. Respectable enough.

But the Toronto native really shines at center and left wing. Need proof? During a recent five-game run on Sid’s portside he notched two goals and three assists while displaying a wicked one-timer from his off wing. Prior to the aforementioned 12-game stint on right wing, he tallied three goals and six points in five games while centering a highly effective line for Jason Zucker and Kasperi Kapanen. Which is precisely where I place him now.

With Zucker out week-to-week and likely to be the only immediate health holdout post-Covid, I give rookie Drew O’Connor a shot at his slot, not to mention some real ice time. I think the kid’s got potential.

My fourth line? A no-brainer. Teddy Blueger centering for Zach Aston-Reese and Brock McGinn. A rock-solid trio that provides speed, defensive conscience and sand along with a surprising level of production (16 goals combined).

Which leaves one line up in the air. Yep, our second line. It goes without saying that Evgeni Malkin will be the pivot. In a recent interview, he sounded upbeat, claiming his surgically repaired knee is “200 percent stronger.” It also sounds as if he’s chomping at the bit to get his season underway…and to perhaps prove to doubters that he’s still got plenty of gas left in the tank.

Given that the mercurial Russian’s not the easiest player to read, finding linemates who fit might take a little doing. I’m game to give Danton Heinen a try on his left flank. Geno likes to the carry the puck and Heinen specializes in stealth, often arriving behind the play to score on late-breaking opportunities. I think he possesses the speed, skill and hockey IQ to not only keep pace with Geno but thrive.

There’s one more piece to the puzzle. Who’s going to skate on No. 71’s right flank? For now, I’m penciling in Jeff Carter. I confess I’m not so sure about this one. I like the big guy in the middle, where his center-drive-shoot-the-puck-style plays well. Too, he likes to lug the biscuit, just like Geno. There may not be enough rubber to go around.

If Malkin and Carter clash rather than compliment, perhaps you bump Jeff to the third line with E-Rod and Zucker/O’Connor and elevate Kapanen to Geno’s flank. They displayed good chemistry last season. Or maybe even try something novel, as Other Rick has suggested, and move Carter to Sid’s right side…kind of like a latter day Patric Hornqvist…while sliding Rust next to Malkin.

If you really wanna get wild? E-Rod on left wing with Sid and Rusty, Jake with Geno and Kappy, and Zucker/O’Connor alongside Carter and Heinen.

Come to think of it, those might be the best combinations of all…