Ex-Penguins Update: All-Star Break ‘23

I figured the All-Star break would be a perfect time to see how the ex-Penguins are faring around the league. Stats include games played through February 1.

Giving the narrative a different twist, I thought I’d focus on the players who’ve left the ‘Burgh since Ron Hextall took over as GM.

Jared McCann of Seattle leads the pack with a whopping 23 goals and 35 points. Needless to say, sending Jared to Toronto for Filip Hallander rather than protecting him in the 2021 expansion draft ain’t looking too good at this stage.

Signed for $2 million over the summer by the Avalanche, versatile Evan Rodrigues has tallied 11 goals and 26 points while displaying good chemistry with Sidney Crosby’s Nova Scotia pal Nathan MacKinnon. Letting E-Rod walk in favor of signing Kasperi Kapanen? Ugh.

Next on the list of ex-Hexy’s? The Kraken’s Brandon Tanev has 24 points to go with a sterling plus-23. With 11 goals and 22 points, gamer Frederick Gaudreau continues to be remarkably productive for Bill Guerin’s Wild. A bargain at $1.2 million per.

Speaking of Billy G, I wonder what our Penguins would look like (and who’d be coaching) if things had worked out differently and he was our GM…

Miss “Turbo” and Freddy.

Rounding out the list of forwards, Sam Lafferty (17 points) has resurrected his career in an energy role with the Blackhawks. The player Sam was traded for, Alex Nylander, has yet to suit up for the Pens despite posting solid numbers in the AHL. Zach Aston-Reese has resumed his role as a defensive specialist, albeit north of the border with the Maple Leafs.

Mark Jankowski has likewise hooked on in a defensive role in Nashville. Waiver wire casualty Radim Zohorna’s failed to register a point in eight games with the Flames.

Among the recently departed defensemen? John Marino (plus-11) was enjoying a strong start for the Devils until he was felled by an upper-body injury on December 20. Likewise, speedy Mike Matheson’s missed a considerable chunk of time with a lower-body injury, throwing a wrench into his debut with the Canadiens.

As for his old black-and-gold partner? Cody Ceci’s offensive numbers have shrunk (a lone goal and seven points), but he’s been sound as a pound defensively for the Oilers.

Although he isn’t an ex-Hexy, it should be noted that former goaltending prospect Filip Gustavsson is emerging as a strong 1A in Minny.

SCORING
Player	Team	Pos	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM		+/-
Jared McCann	SEA	C	46	23	12	35	8		7
David Perron	DET	LW	48	14	16	30	30		2
Conor Sheary	WSH	LW	53	12	18	30	18		5
Daniel Sprong	SEA	RW	42	15	14	29	10		11
Evan Rodrigues	COL	C	37	11	15	26	16		5
Jordan Staal	CAR	C	50	14	11	25	16		8
Stefan Noesen	CAR	RW	48	9	16	25	19		9
Brandon Tanev	SEA	LW	49	9	15	24	25		23
Justin Schultz	SEA	D	42	5	19	24	28		7
* Calen Addison	MIN	D	47	3	21	24	18		-15
Frederick Gaudreau	MIN	C	48	11	11	22	6		9
Nick Bjugstad	ARI	C	50	11	10	21	22		7
Phil Kessel	VEG	RW	51	9	12	21	20		-10
Oskar Sundqvist	DET	C	39	7	11	18	20		-7
Nick Bonino	SJS	C	48	9	8	17	14		-5
Sam Lafferty	CHI	LW/C	42	8	9	17	24		-6
Olli Maatta	DET	D	44	4	11	15	8		4
Ian Cole	TBL	D	45	3	11	14	43		12
Derick Brassard	OTT	C	40	8	5	13	20		1
Jamie Oleksiak	SEA	D	42	5	6	11	34		4
Erik Gudbranson	CBJ	D	50	1	9	10	40		-20
John Marino	NJD	D	32	3	6	9	10		11
Mike Matheson	MTL	D	17	1	7	8	21		-1
Zach Aston-Reese	TOR	RW	49	5	2	7	19		-5
Mark Jankowski	NSH	C	24	4	3	7	10		5
Cody Ceci	EDM	D	50	1	6	7	16		11
Scott Harrington	SJS	D	20	1	5	6	6		-4
Ryan Reaves	NYR-MIN	RW	41	0	6	6	24		-4
Tanner Pearson	VAN	LW	14	1	4	5	21		-9
Jack Johnson	CHI	D	48	0	4	4	14		-20
Jayson Megna	COL-ANA	C	37	0	4	4	6		-11
Derek Grant	ANA	C	15	2	1	3	8		-6
Alex Goligoski	MIN	D	19	1	2	3	0		0
Patric Hornqvist	FLA	RW	22	1	2	3	13		-4
Robert Bortuzzo	STL	D	31	1	0	1	25		2
Marc-Andre Fleury	MIN	G	31	0	1	1	0		0
* Filip Gustavsson	MIN	G	19	0	1	1	0		0
* Jake Muzzin	TOR	D	4	0	1	1	2		0
Alex Galchenyuk	COL	C	4	0	0	0	4		-3
Thomas Greiss	STL	G	15	0	0	0	0		0
Matt Murray	TOR	G	19	0	0	0	0		0
Riley Sheahan	BUF	C	2	0	0	0	4		-2
Radim Zohorna	CGY	LW	8	0	0	0	0		-2
GOALTENDING
Player	Team	GP	GA	SH	GAA	SV%	QS%	W-L-OT
* Filip Gustavsson	MIN	19	42	1	2.26	.922	.722	11-7-1
Matt Murray	TOR	19	50	1	2.73	.911	.579	11-5-2
Marc-Andre Fleury	MIN	31	85	1	2.87	.905	.567	16-10-3
Thomas Greiss	STL	15	45	1	3.29	.906	.417	5-7-0
Italics—Draft pick or free agent who began his NHL career with the Penguins
Asterisk—Draft pick who didn’t appear in a regular season or postseason game for the Penguins