In a minor swap today, the Penguins traded defenseman Mark Friedman and forward Ty Glover to Vancouver in exchange for forward Karel Plasek and defenseman Jack Rathbone.
When I learned of the deal from Other Rick, I (sarcastically) commented that we probably got smaller and less physical. A quick glance at the newcomers’ particulars confirmed my suspicions.
Plasek, 23, is a 5’11” 154-pound (that’s right, a buck fifty-four) right wing and a former sixth-round pick of Vancouver. Aside from an eight-game cameo with the Abbotsford Canucks of the AHL back in 2020-21 (no points), he’s spent his entire career in his native Czechia, where he’s produced at a middling rate.
A former fourth-round pick of the Canucks, Rathbone is a small (5’10” 177), mobile, puck-moving defenseman of some ability. During the ’21-22 campaign the portsider tallied 10 goals and 40 points in only 39 games for Abbotsford…quite impressive. Production that, thus far, hasn’t translated to the NHL (two goals and five points in 28 games spread over three seasons with the Canucks).
I question why we needed to add another undersized, offensively inclined left-shot rearguard when we’re already well-stocked with players of that ilk (Will Butcher, Ty Smith). But when it comes to our Pens, I learned a long time ago not to ask why.
It does appear to fit Kyle Dubas’ modus operandi of throwing a whole bunch of darts at the dartboard in hopes that a few will stick.
As for the departed, Glover is a big (6’3” 200) albeit raw 23-year-old left wing with wheels. As a rookie pro last season he netted seven goals in 49 games for the Baby Pens, output that failed to earn him an invite to training camp this fall.
Personally, I hate parting with Friedman, the feisty 27-year-old right-shot defenseman who always seemed to do the job when called upon. He was hard to play against, a rarity in these parts, displayed good wheels and decent offensive instincts and could man the left or right side with equal ability, no easy feat.
During the ’21 playoffs he filled in ably for an injured Brian Dumoulin while topping our defensemen with a plus-3. That said, the Toronto native never seemed to gain any real traction with Mike Sullivan, who appears to have trust issues with anyone who displays even a modestly overt edge.
Too, moving Friedman leaves us vulnerable on the right side in the event of an injury. The more mild-mannered Ryan Shea, apparently preferred by Sullivan, did not look good playing his off side during the preseason. Smith might be able to do the job in a pinch, but likely not as well as Friedman.
Still, I’m happy for Mark. Hope he gets the opportunity to shine under Canucks coach and former Pens assistant Rick Tocchet that he never got here.
A final note. Is it me, or does Dubas seem determined to erase any vestige of the Ron Hextall era? Both Friedman and Glover were added to the fold by FGMRH.
Hájek to Baby Pens
Defenseman Libor Hájek, who attended the Pens’ training camp this fall on a PTO, signed a contract with the Baby Pens today. Details were not released.
The 6’2” 209-pounder has played parts of the past five seasons with the Rangers, including a career-high 44 games in ’20-21. In 110 NHL games overall, the 25-year-old Czechia native’s tallied a modest four goals and 12 points.
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What a great move, the Penguins traded for Karel Plesak and a day later waived him for the purposes of terminating his contract. Things that make you wonder..... Is there a plan? or are we in poke and hope mode?
Hey all.
Just a quick follow-up. A commenter on Pensburgh probably had the right take...that this was a case of both organizations perhaps doing the players a favor by sending them to a new team where they could get a fresh start. The article mentioned that Glover's college center plays for Abbotsford, the Canucks' top farm team.
Still can't get over the feeling that before all is said and done we're going to miss Friedman's sand and versatility. But it is what it is.
Rick
Hey Rick,
As you know, I was sitting waiting for my last client when I got the text telling me about the trade. It was Tyler. And he asked what I thought about the trade. Before I responded I shared the text with, but while I was showing you the news, Steve also texted me about the same thing. He too ask what I thought. My response to both was,
“Meaningless, an exchange of spare parts at best, more than likely a dumping of grit.”
My response to Caleb was a little more acerbic, “I would rather have traded for Basil Rathbone, than Jack, at least Basil is a little more intimidating” and it is almost Halloween.
Now with time to consider things,
So long as Papa Smurf is Coaching this team, there is no need of Friedman or Glover. Glover would never get ice time, no matter if he earned it or not. Look at Freidman, on a true Cup contender he is an 8th or 9th Defenseman, but our Penguins are not a Cup contender and players of lower abilities are constantly given more TOI than him in Pgh and WBS.
No matter what was best for the team, the trade was best for the players.
As for the players the Penguins got in return, Rathbone’s Career AHL stats at 24 are about the same as the stats Ethan Prow had in his last year with WBS (oddly enough, Prow was 24 that year).
Rathbone AHL Career – 86 GP, 18 G, 46 A, 64 Pts, +18
Prow 2018-2019 – 74 GP, 18 G, 32, A, 50 Pts, + 26
and Prow made an AHL All Star appearance that season but look where he is now.
Rathbone is undersized and not likely to earn (although a papa smurf might give him one) a position on an NHL team, let alone a contender.
As for Plasek, having scored only 6 G in 31 GP in Checia, it is hard to envision him as lighting it up in WBS or scoring more than the 7 Gs that Glover chipped in last season, however, he definitely is smaller than the 6’-3” 201lb (according to Eliteprospects) Glover.
In the end, the reality is “there is nothing to see here, move along”, just doubling and trebling down on the ever shrinking Penguins.