I confess, with the NHL off-season grinding through the dog days of August and newsworthy items rarer than a sparkling freshwater stream in Death Valley, I’ve pretty much run out of fresh topics to write about. So I thought I’d take a stab at an around-the-league ramble. Or just plain ramble.
On the Isle
It appears the New Islanders have switched horses in their attempt to clear cap space for the long-rumored-but-yet-to-be-announced Nazem Kadri signing. After shopping veteran forward Josh Bailey with no takers, the Isles are reported to be offering skilled forward Anthony Beauvillier. The 25-year-old left wing, who endured a down season in 2021-22, has two seasons left with a cap hit of $4.125 million.
Several teams, including the Canadiens, are reported to have interest…with one significant catch. Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello wants to work a straight cap dump, and apparently the potential suitors are balking.
Actually, I’m more than a little surprised that Lamoriello hasn’t exercised his ace in the hole. With Robin Lehner out for the year with hip surgery, Vegas would appear to be in desperate need of a starting goalie. Islanders backup Semyon Varlamov, who earns $5 million (same as Lehner) would appear to be ripe for the pickin’ and a ready-made solution. However, the not-so-Golden Knights have significant cap issues of their own.
Legare the Next…(ulp)…Sprong?
PensBurgh posted an evaluation of black-and-gold prospect Nathan Legare Tuesday as part of their Top 25 Under 25 series. Their evaluation (an interesting read) wasn’t all that glowing.
Statistically and in every other way, the former Quebec League scoring sensation endured a difficult transition to the pro game last season. Not only were his numbers with the Baby Pens nothing to write home about…only seven goals and 16 points in 57 games…but he was a frequent healthy scratch down the home stretch.
I personally had high hopes the feisty Montreal native with the wicked shot and hair-trigger release would evolve into a nettlesome power forward along the lines of Patric Hornqvist. Instead, as Hooks Orpik and a PensBurgh commenter duly noted, Legare seems to be channeling former Pens prospect Daniel Sprong.
Yikes.
Details and defensive effort were largely AWOL from Legare’s game during his first pro season, making him a rather one-dimensional score-or-do-nothing type player. Similar to Sprong.
Speaking of the Amsterdam native, he remains an unsigned free agent…and an enigma as well. Since leaving the ‘Burgh via trade during the ’18-19 season, Sprong’s tickled the twine at a 20-goal/season clip over 178 NHL contests. Not too shabby. During a 16-game cameo with expansion Seattle at the end of last season he netted six goals…a 30-goal pace over a full season.
You’d think that an evolving team like the Kraken…or some other club in need of offense…would jump at the chance to sign Sprong. But, no takers…at least not at the present.
Sprong’s WAR chart from JFresh Hockey sums him up perfectly. His Even-Strength Offense (65%), Finishing (85%) and Goals/60 (99%) are well in the blue compared to other fourth liners. But every other metric is heavily in the red.
Small wonder he’s already been with four NHL teams at the callow age of 25.
Let’s hope a similar fate doesn’t await Legare.
Pass the Relish
Among the more notable free agents who remain unsigned are ex-Pens Evan Rodrigues and Phil Kessel. With E-Rod, I’m kind of waiting for the other shoe to drop. There’s gotta be a market for a speedy, versatile, possession-driving forward who notched 19 goals last season.
But “The Thrill?”
The one-time playoff demon, Cup hoister, and hot dog gobbler hasn’t been the same player since he left the ‘Burgh (and Evgeni Malkin’s wing). Following a decent 20-goal, 43-point campaign (in 56 games) for the “Yotes in ’20-21, the one-time sniper tumbled to a career-low eight goals (with 44 assists) last season.
While Kessel can certainly still create and run a power play, he was never known for his all-around play even in his prime. At age 34, he hasn’t gotten any faster or younger.
Could this be the end of line for the reigning league iron man and his 982 consecutive games streak?
Speaking of former Pens and free agents, veteran defenseman Jack Johnson has hooked up with Chicago on a one-year deal for $950 K. Good for you, Jack, although your signing would appear to eliminate the Blackhawks as a potential trade partner for the Pens.
Hey Rick,
You did perk up my antennae with your article.
Is Legare the next Sprong? Hmm let’s see,
What do the following players have in common,
Filip Gustavsson, Kasper Bjorkqvist, Connor Hall, Ryan Jones, Niclas Almari, Joseph Masonius, Zachary Lauzon, Clayton Phillips, Jan Drozg, Linus Olund, Antto Palojarvi, William Reilly, Calen Addison, Filip Hallander, Justin Almeida, Liam Gorman, Samuel Poulin, Nathan Legare, Judd Caulfield, Valterri Puustinen, Santeri Airola, Joel Blomqvist, Calle Clang, Lukas Svejkovsky, Raivis Ansons, Chase Yoder, Tristan Broz, Isaac Belliveau, Ryan McCleary, Daniel Laatsch and Kirill Tankov.
If you guessed that these 31 players are the sum total of all of the Pittsburgh Penguins draft picks under Mike Sullivan, you would only be partially correct. None of them have played in more than 30 NHL games yet.
Of those 31 players only Gustavsson an Addison have played more than 6 NHL games, however, of the 27 games Gustavsson has played, none of them were in a Penguins uniform. Of the 18 games Addison has played, none were in a Penguins uniform.
In fact, you have go back to 2015, before Sullivan, to Sprong and the human pylon to find a Penguins’ draft pick that the team was able to develop into a player capable of a sustained NHL career, if you want to call their careers truly worthy of the term NHL careers.
Have you guessed my point yet Rick? Anyone?
Maybe, just maybe, and organization that is 0-31 really isn’t that good at identifying and developing talent. From firsthand accounts of players, I know, Sprong really rubs people the wrong way, so I get him, but what of the other 30 players? Whose fault, is it?
Perhaps, Legare should be playing, and the system is failing him. Perhaps, Legare’s defensive play isn’t as bad as some people in the organization have suggested. Or, perhaps Legare’s defensive lapses are due to the systemic attempt to defang any and all physical players, sitting them in the press box for physical play and then covering the real reason with thin bare attempts to suggest it was defensive lapses that earned them press box time. Furthermore, can anyone really learn anything when they aren’t doing it themselves?
Perhaps, but not many.
Perhaps Legare will join the Sullivan draft choice parade in obscurity but I suggest that if he does, the fault does not lie with him.
The Other Rick
I agree 100%. It’s really a joke to think none of these players could crack the roster and yes the burden falls on
the Pens scouts, management and the player development staff. Also, if Hextall is buying into what Sullivan
is selling regarding our younger players “Shame, Shame” on him for not having the backbone to do what’s
right for the organization. Right now with the condition of our bottom 6 Hextall should force Sullivan to take
what they perceive to be our top young players and start the season with them in the lineup. You can’t play
a young player for 2 games and expect immediate results – give them a regular shift for 20 games then you’ll
get an accurate feel of what they have to offer down the road. We have an old team, injuries will happen and
it’s time to lean on our young players in the organization. GO PENS
Rick
I don’t disagree with Pensburgh’s assessment of Legare and their comparison of him to Sprong but the
one major difference is the edge in which Legare plays with. With his shot and willingness to mix it up
I believe he has a chance to stick. Time will tell.
Keep up the great work!!
GO PENS
Thanks Mike!
I hope Legare makes it, too. Love the shot, scorer’s instincts and feistiness.
Rick