Thanks to the good work of GM Ron Hextall, who signed all of the Penguins’ high-profile free agents this summer, our favorite hockey team returns largely intact from the previous season. A season when we were perhaps a healthy goalie away from advancing to the second round…or farther.
The one area that saw significant change?
Defense.
With an eye toward giving us a bit more size and net-front presence, GMRH signed a key free agent and swung a pair of blockbuster deals. Making us nine-deep on the blue line.
Our defense sure looks different. But is it better?
First let’s look at who went out the door. Speedy Mike Matheson, who resurrected his career in the ‘Burgh, was arguably our second-best defenseman last season. He led all blueliners (including Kris Letang) with a career-high 11 goals and added 20 assists for 31 points, also career-bests. A striking individual talent, Matheson possesses the speed and a God-given gift to just take the puck and go, often skating through the opposition like so many orange construction pylons. A little iffy in his own zone at times but excellent on transitions due to his wheels.
A game-changer.
The other departure, John Marino was mostly solid to very good during his three seasons with the black and gold, although he fell off a bit last season. His strengths? Smarts, poise, good mobility and excellent gap control.
In other words, we lost two pretty darn good defensemen.
Among the newcomers, veteran Jeff Petry is the prize catch. A puck-mover with four recent double-digit goal seasons to his credit, the 34-year-old Petry projects to plug the offensive void created by Matheson’s departure…and then some. He’s a better puck distributor and a natural quarterback for the power play. Although not a banger in an overtly physical sense, the 6’3” 209-pounder is no shrinking violet, as his 140 hits last season will attest.
Thus far in the preseason, he’s been slotted next to Marcus Pettersson. A combination that, in my mind, could be a good one, given Pettersson’s reasonably steady play in his own end and the fact that Petry could take some of the physical load off him. Something the more finesse-oriented Marino wasn’t able to do.
The two other defensive adds, Jan Rutta and Ty Smith, are looking more and more like they’ll comprise our third pairing. It’s an intriguing combo. Signed as a free agent following three-plus seasons in Tampa Bay, Rutta’s an even-keel, no-frills defensive defenseman. Smith, acquired from New Jersey for Marino, can skate and isn’t shy about attacking with the puck and joining or even leading the rush. Mike Sullivan’s kind of player.
Together, Rutta and Smith comprise the classic combination of a puck-mover paired with a stay-at-home partner. In fact, all three of our prospective tandems appear to be built that way.
Among the others vying for regular duty? Although it isn’t set in stone, perennial prospect Pierre-Olivier Joseph appears to have lagged behind Smith on the depth chart. No longer waiver exempt, POJ could be claimed by another club should we try to send him to the Baby Pens.
Ditto feisty Mark Friedman, who in my humble opinion would make an ideal No. 7 d-man given his speed, sand and ability to play either side. (FYI: Toronto has suffered a spate of early injuries to their defense and will no doubt be looking to plug gaps.)
Which would leave veteran Chad Ruhwedel as our spare defenseman. A role he’s filled quite ably throughout his career before earning regular duty last season.
Back to the point of this article. Will our defense be improved this season? There’s one more element I’ve yet to mention. Perhaps the most important member of the defense, the one so much hinges on.
No, not Letang, but rather his partner Brian Dumoulin. Our long-time defensive bulwark endured a difficult 2021-22 campaign. Based on his initial preseason outing (minus-2), struggles that may continue.
If Dumo can rebound and recover his old form? Then, yes, I believe, our defense will be improved.
If not…?
Roster Reduced
Nine players were pared from the roster today, including forwards Ty Glover, Brooklyn Kalmikov, Sam Houde, Jordan Frasca and Lukas Svejkovsky and defensemen Josh Maniscalco, Chris Ortiz, Jon Lizotte and Mitch Reinke. They’ll join goalies Taylor Gauthier and Tommy Nappier, who were sent to the Baby Pens on Wednesday.
Our roster presently sits at 45 players, including 26 forwards, 15 defensemen and 4 goalies.
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