January is in the books, the first month of Hockey 2021. It wasn’t pretty, but our Pittsburgh Penguins are managing to cling to the last playoff spot in the newly formed MassMutual Division. Truth be told, the teams play is about as sloppy as I expected it, but their record is far better.
The Good
Our Penguins play may be sloppy, but not all is bad in the ‘burgh, there are some bright spots. So, before being dragged down back to reality, let’s float a bit on the currents of hope.
Pierre-Olivier Joseph
Last season John Marino that was the Penguins’ defensive rookie surprise. This year, Pierre-Olivier Joseph is starting the season off as if he wants to be that new kid on the block. Joseph didn’t make the opening night roster, Coach Mike Sullivan opted to not to play the kid out of the gate. Sullivan preferred to carry, the Penguins up and coming version of the $6 million dollar man, Mike Matheson (that is what his contract calls for in actual salary, not Cap hit over the last 3 years – $6.5 million to be exact), Marcus Pettersson, and Juuso Riikola on the Roster, with Joseph stashed away on the Taxi squad. However, injuries to those three as well as defensive fixture Brian Dumoulin have given Joseph his chance and he is making the most of it with 4 Assists (A) in 5 Games Played (GP). His +4 is best on the team.
I know I wasn’t a big fan of the Phil Kessel trade that brought Joseph here, but with our lack of defensemen, injuries or not, he is a bright spot in a rather dark area of the Penguins. I am hopeful that tonight we might see Joseph and Marino on the top pairing. That may be a glimpse of the future (or is the future now?). Is Pettersson’s $4 million Cap hit now expendable?
Kasperi Kapanen
It only took Kasperi Kapanen 6 + years from when the Penguins first drafted him for him to suit up for the team that drafted him, but he is finally here. Kapanen has produced 2 Goals and 3 A in his first 6 games and is second on the team in +/- at a +3. He has brought speed and an intensity that seems missing from the teams top 6. With only a ten-day training camp, doesn’t Sullivan’s excuse of Kapanen not being the same game shape as the rest of the team to justify not giving him top 6 minutes seem lame to anyone else?
Brian Rust
Everyone wondered if Brian Rust could maintain his breakout play of last season, well at least in the early going he is averaging close to a point a game on team that is struggling to score. Rust has 2 G and 5 A.
Modern Era Hockey
There was no Over Time (OT) or Shoot Outs (SO) in the NHL I grew up watching, games just ended in a tie and both teams would receive 1 Point. In those days of yore, our waddling waterfowl would have a record of 1-3-5 for 7 Points, which would be bad enough for next to last in the division. Fortunately, we now have a 5 minute Over Time (OT) and Shootout (SO), but no Ties. Therefore, our boys in Black and Gold have a 5-3-1 record, giving them 11 Points and a tenuous, slipping hold on the 4th and final playoff spot. In the pre-OT/SO days The Washington Capitals would be tied with the Philadelphia Flyers for 1st with 13 Points (Pnts), the Boston Bruins would occupy 3rd with 11 (Pnts), New Jersey would check in at the final Playoff spot with 9 Pnts, Buffalo Sabres and the New York Islanders would be battling for 5th at 8 Pnts.
The Bad
The Mike Matheson – Patric Hornqvist trade
During the off-season, then General Manager Jim Rutherford dealt fan favorite and heart of the team Patric Hornqvist to the Florida Panthers for Mike Matheson and Colton Sceviour. Well, Sceviour has managed 2 G but is a -2 in 8 GP, wallowing on the 4th line after the first month. Matheson has played 2 games and got injured in the 2nd game. Even before the injury, he really wasn’t showing much, 0 Points and a -2 in his first 2 GP. Hornqvist on the other hand has 5 G and Game Deciding Goal in a SO. Worse than that is Horqvist would have only cost the team $5.3 million for this year plus 2 more ($15.9 Million total) while Matheson will be a $ million 4.875 Cap hit but $32 million in real cash over this year and 5 more years.
Mark Jankowski
Mark Jankowski started out like gangbusters in his 1st 2 GP, but after that his game has dropped dramatically, showing why the Calgary Flames didn’t want him. He slid from 3rd line Center to 4th Line.
Goal Differential
Even though our Penguins are still in the Playoff hunt they are tied for worst in the division for goal differential at -3.
The downright Ugly
Evan Rodrigues
No Mr. Sullivan, the Penguins do not need Conor Sheary 3.0. The Penguins top line can and is doing much better without Evan Rodrigues’ 1G (a Kick in) and -4 in 6GP. We didn’t need Sheary, we didn’t need Dominik Simon, and we don’t need Rodrigues. Drew O’Connor, Sam Lafferty and half of Wilkes Barre – Scranton would be a better option.
The Penguins top 6
To date, 5-on-5 our Penguins’ top 6 has only produced 9 G in 9 GP. Yes, you read that right folks, 9G in 9GP for the Penguins top 6. Sidney Crosby’s line has scored just 4 goals 5-on-5, while Evgeni Malkin’s line has checked in with 5. Yet, Sullivan has done little to shake up those lines. I can’t help but wonder if Rodrigues hadn’t been injured, would Kapanen still be on the 3rd line or lower and the top 6 completely intact?
Zero Star Power
Does anyone remember the old Under Dog Cartoons? To paraphrase Sweet Polly Purebred “Oh where oh where have our Superstars gone?” Remember when Crosby and Malkin occupied the top 2 spots of the league scoring race. It wasn’t that long ago. Even last year, Malkin was still a top player, particularly 5 – on – 5. Have you look lately? The first Penguin to appear on the Leagues scoring list is Crosby, checking in at 51 this morning; do you believe it 51.
Defenselessness
Sorry, even before the Blue-Line was decimated, the Penguins were subjecting Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith to an all-out assault. The Average Goal Distance (AGD) Jarry gives up is 13.08 feet from the net, basically a slam dunk. DeSmith’s AGD is a little better at 15.56 feet. Last season Jarry’s AGD was 19.10 feet. Doesn’t any Penguins Defenseman know how to set an opponent on his wallet? Or at least tie up his stick?
Goaltending
No, the Pens Defense is far less than stellar but Jarry and DeSmith have been equally bad. DeSmith’s Save Percentage Sv% is 0.859 and Jarry’s is 0.875. Last season, jarry’s was 0.921 while Matt Murray’s was 0.899 (Murray’s is slightly worse this season as well, for those keeping score). What a difference a year makes.
Conclusion:
Take the money and run. There are some bright spots, but things could be far, far worse. Let’s not tempt fate and shout too loud, lest she give us what we deserve. I am excited by seeing some kids get a chance; Joseph – Marino pairing. How about O’Connor on the top Power Play? Maybe Lafferty and Anthony Angelo instead of Jankowski and Sceviour? Sure wish Nathan Legare wasn’t sitting at home twiddling his thumbs. The guys Sullivan has chosen really are underwhelming. Its hard watching other teams skating, passing, and defending on the NHL channel, at a level of play well above what I watch when our boys play. I miss the days when we were the class of the league.
Hey Coach
51 st in the League you say.. that is a problem indeed. But it is not a surprise to me.The team built around Crosby is NOT an NHL Cup Caliber team.Period!
Lets look a few ‘ things “.
1. The highest paid man on the Team is 34 soon to be 35 years old and his best days are behind him. I think his cap hit is $9.5 million. He is in his last 2 years of an 8 year contract.This is what you get in that 8 year contract…Great years for the first half, good years for the next 30% and frankly the last 20% is a bonus if he scores 20 goal and gets 50 points. He was 28 when he signed this last 8 year deal. Most average players are in decline at 28.So I am not that hard on Geno…
He owes the fans of Pittsburgh absolutely nothing… Just trying to do his best.
2. This next “thing” is just bat shit crazy Coach when you look at it by the numbers. Letang is a turn over machine now! Truth is he always was but he had the speed and reflexes back then to recover.Age and or injury has caught up with him and now he finishes in the minus.Better off not to play him.But it gets better Coach in that his replacement is even worse. Florida was so glad to get rid of him their local announcers blamed him for losing in last years play offs.That is pretty bad when your own media turns on you.
So now we have 2 starting defense men that have a combined cap hit of over 12 million dollars….Both are a defensive liability by the numbers and we pay them anyway. Over 12 million.
Finally the third and final ” thing” is our goal tending.
3. At one point they were the worst in the league.As a former Goalie yourself you will say that it is not always the goalie’s fault and I agree, however with this pair you are not going to ” steal ” to many games from an opponent….
You catch my point…
Then to top it all off the GM jumps ship because ownership is delusional in to thinking their team is a Contender.The Coach is another issue…..
Just my rant for tonight ,,,, Great article as usual…
Jim
BTW Coach, according to Cap Friendly tonight the Pens only have $152,456 dollars left in Cap Space. What can a new GM do with that ? !!!! Nothing.
Since we have such a limited talent pool we have very few trade options left. Bryan Rust or Zucker or a Letang are NOT going to fetch much return..plus since Jimmy traded away most first and second round picks in the past 5 years we have bodies but very little talent to trade.Most NHL franchises have 8 or 10 1 st and 2nd rounders in their system and a 4th rounder does not excite them.That is the real damage the pens have is in their minor system.
Cheers
Jim
The Other Rick
Couple of quick early season thoughts:
1) Joseph looks really solid – Marino not so much – I know he’s played some
on the left side but he’s hanging onto the puck way to long!!
2) Drew O’Connor – I like him but disappointed with his physical play – (1)
hit in 3 games played. For some reason, I thought he was 6-3, not 6-1.
I would still take him over ZAR.
3) Sam Bennett should be the target of Pen’s new GM.
4) I hate to start a conspiracy theory but is Letang really hurt?? I saw the
replay 3 or 4 times and never saw his leg come into contact with the
opposing player. Hmmm
5) Bright side – Pen’s are 5-3-1 with Malkin scoring just (1) goal and the Pen’s
defense decimated with injuries. Tough to be negative towards this group
of Players.
6) The Other Rick – I’ve been down on Sullivan as well but he’s doing something
right as a coach when a team shows this type of resilience. No one’s quitting
and he’s getting maximum effort from the entire team. Pretty impressive.
Go Pen’s
Hey Mike,
Joseph is looking good, but I am not going to get down on Marino just yet. Even when he has been playing his natural side he has been saddled with bad partners. He may be hanging onto the puck a little too long because he doesn’t trust where anyone is on the ice. Also, there is a sophmore jinx, that is why I have not been overboard with hailing Marino yet. So many of JRs trades have looked good for a season but fall apart long term.
I didn’t see last game. I was over my brother’s and his cable didn’t get the Pens. We watched Tor v Edm so I can’t comment on how O’Connor looked last game, but when I notice him most is on the PP. I like the way he cycles and meshes with those guys. And as you say, an upgrade over ZAR.
Bennett? Not sure if we have anything they would want. We may have to pull a 3 – team swap, and then he would have to wait for him to clear quarantine, so even if the trade happened today. he would miss several games.
Since I didn’t see the game, I have only seen clips of the play Letang got “hurt” on. Conspiracy? you thinking that maybe they are sitting him cause a trade is in the works? Figure I would expand that to a full rumor. No, anyone else reading this, I have nothing to substantiate that, just having a little fun.
I don’t have anything against the players on the ice right now. In fact, I like some of the kids that are finally getting a chance to play. The players that I have a wont to be negative towards, many are currently not playing.
The Other Rick
The Letang conspiracy theory was built more around if he’s hurt we
can’t trade him. I’m questioning whether he’s hurt or not?
Regarding Bennett – I would swap McCann for Bennett if that would
get it done. We need a few additions that have an edge to their game.
Regarding O’Conner – he passes the eye test I would just like to see
him taking the body a little more – maybe it will come with confidence.
GO PENS
Hey Mike,
McCann for Bennett actually is a doable trade, Capwise. Bennett is $2.55 and McCann is $2.95. Bennett is RFA at the end of the Season and McCann is signed for 1 more year.
I knew what you meant about Letang, I just wanted to stir something up.
O’Connor may not be as physical as he lacks more from instructions from the above or at least fear of getting benched for being too tough.
Sorry to be getting to the party so late. Outstanding article, pretty much agree with you right down the line.
With our defense crippled by injuries and a sketchy bottom six up front, we’ve gotta get more out of our top six and power(less) play.
Problem is, I’m not sure we’re going to, especially with Geno in such a prolonged funk. Who would’ve ever thought he’d be 10 games in the season without a 5v5 goal?
Sid isn’t exactly lighting it up, either. Worrisome, to say the least.
Again, great stuff.
Rick
Rick
I totally agree with your PP assessment. The first move IMO is getting Malkin off the point.
Put PO at the point – he makes good hockey decisions with the puck and is one of our rare Defenseman that finds away to get his shot thru
traffic.
I would also consider Kapanen for Rust – I know
Rust is a grinder but Kapanen has quicker feet and some shiftiness to his game that is valuable on the PP.
Right now anything is worth a look. Sully has to
quit worry about offending veteran players and do what’s best for the team.
The Other Rick
I’ve been beating a dead horse but IMO it’s going to take
a blockbuster deal to get the team and the cap back on
track.
All is not lost – with some strategic moves both on and
off the ice, the Penguins can obtain continued success
but it requires cutting bait with a few long term Penguin
players.
It’s business not personal.