Penguins Update: A Marchment in Our Wings?

As we prepare to take on the Florida Panthers tonight, I thought it would be a good time to call attention to a stunning success story that’s taking place in the Sunshine State. The kind of success story I can only dream about for our Penguins.

His name is Mason Marchment. He’s the son of former NHL defenseman Bryan Marchment. A 26-year-old left wing. Stands 6’4” and goes 209 pounds. Undrafted, signed as an AHL free agent by the Toronto Marlies in 2016 following a decent if nondescript junior career. Struggled to stick with the Marlies and was sent to Orlando of the ECHL, where he tallied 14 goals in 35 games, earning a promotion back to the Marlies for the start of the 2017-18 season.

Marchment produced enough in his second go ‘round with the Marlies to earn an entry-level contract with the parent Maple Leafs. However, following another solid season with the Marlies and a cup of coffee with the Leafs, Toronto GM Kyle Dubas traded him to Florida on February 19, 2020, for Denis Malgin (not to be confused with Evgeni Malkin). A pint-sized 5’9” 177-pound water bug, Malgin’s presently skating in Switzerland after washing out with the Leafs.

And Marchment? He’s been a revelation. Make that a stunning revelation. In 31 games with the Panthers this season he’s got 13 goals and 34 points to go with a plus-27.

Kind of a cross between a latter-day Scorin’ Warren Young and present Pen and former fourth-line mucker Bryan Rust.

Marchment isn’t just scoring. He plays to his size, too. Three weeks ago he crushed Vincent Trocheck…the Vincent Trocheck who recently goaded Kris Letang into a costly overtime penalty…with a massive open-ice hit. No one on Carolina’s roster seemed too terribly anxious to settle the score.

I wonder if we have a Marchment buried in our system…right under our noses. Anthony Angello boasts roughly the same dimensions (6’5” 210) and is actually a better skater. He, too, has displayed a scoring touch in the AHL. Sixteen goals in only 48 games for the Baby Pens in 2019-20 and another six in 12 games in northeastern Pennsylvania last season.

In fact, their minor-league stats are similar. In 157 AHL games, Angello’s tallied 44 goals and 76 points compared to Marchment’s 38 goals and 72 points in 130 games.

During a 19-game stint with the black-and-gold last season, Angello did an excellent job defensively (one even-strength goal against) and used the body to the tune of 51 hits. His two goals equaled Marchment’s ’20-21 production with the Panthers…in 11 less games.

However, Angello was rarely given an opportunity in an elevated role (ATOI of 7:59). In his one game with the Pens this season he was on the ice for a little over five minutes. It’s awfully hard to score from the bench.

Radim Zohorna’s another big man (6’6” 220) who’s shown promise at both the minor-pro and big-league levels. In 16 games with the Pens split into two eight-game cameos over the past two seasons he’s tallied three goals and three assists to go with an impressive plus-9 and a gaudy 23.1 shooting percentage. Blessed with soft hands and hockey smarts, he displayed good chemistry with Malkin before being shipped back to the Baby Pens on February 21.

Meanwhile, we’re stuck with Dominik Simon. We know what kind of player he is. We know he’s not going to score goals. We also know he’s going to be in the lineup.

Every night.

Coach Mike Sullivan’s obviously comfortable with Simon. That doesn’t mean he’s the best choice.

Florida struck lightning in a bottle with Marchment. Maybe the Pens can do the same with Angello or Zohorna.

If only we’d give them a chance.