Penguins Dilemma: Finding Mike Sullivan’s Sweet Spot When It Comes to Aggression

In the wake of our spotty 6-3 loss to Detroit the other night, physical play seems to be a hot topic. Or in the Penguins’ case, an abject lack of it.

In case you were vacationing in Bhutan and missed the game, the Pens pretty much flat-lined through the middle portion of the contest while turning a 1-0 lead into a 4-1 deficit. An “effort” so languid, physically and otherwise, Kyle Dubas felt compelled to comment during a between-periods interview.

“The identity of the team has always been that ‘team toughness,’” the Pens’ GM stated. “We wanted to kind of get back to that, and address that in the bottom six. I don’t know that we’re quite there yet, and that falls on me.”

For the uninitiated, “team toughness” is code for “don’t expect us to go out and sign a heavyweight anytime soon ‘cause it ain’t happening.”

Heck, even Mike Sullivan mentioned in a recent interview that he wants the team to be harder to play against, although I’ll be darned if I can locate the quote.

So what exactly does our coach mean? To my eye, there’s always been a dichotomy between the type of player he says he wants and the ones he actually employs.

For example, Sully spoke in glowing terms of PTO invitee Austin Wagner (pictured above) during the preseason.

“I’ll tell you, he’s made an impression on this coaching staff. He’s a terrific teammate. He brings a lot of juice on the bench (and) in the locker room. He brings us some energy, and I love that about him,” said Sullivan.

“I think he brings good speed size. He’s got a bit of a power game, and he knows what he is. He plays within himself,” he continued. “He plays a north-south straight ahead game, has some good awareness away from the puck, (has) a defensive conscience … Like I said, I love his personality. I think he’s a great teammate.”

Just the kind of player we need, right? Yet when the final roster was assembled, Wagner was on the outside looking in.

So what type of player hits Sully’s sweet spot when it comes to physical play?

I think it’s safe to say he likes his players to play up to a certain level of aggression but not exceed it. An example of players he was comfortable with are Patric Hornqvist, Chris Kunitz and Ian Cole. Well maybe not Cole, who he didn’t like for whatever reasons.

Brian Boyle. Zach Aston-Reese, too, who Sully considered a heavy player, but in reality is a middleweight.

On Sully’s no bueno list? For various and sundry reasons Ryan Reaves, Jamie Oleksiak, Erik Gudbranson, Sam Lafferty and now Mark Friedman. All of whom were shown the door following a relatively brief stay in the ‘Burgh. And all of whom have found gainful employment with other NHL teams.

There seems to be an invisible line Sullivan doesn’t want his players to cross. I get it to an extent. He doesn’t want guys running around all over the ice taking needless penalties. He wants his team to play smart and disciplined. He wants us to go on the power play, not the other way around.

Yet sometimes you need guys who’ll stray across that line. Guys who’ll spark the team with a big hit or even a fight. (Remember how the building would crackle with energy whenever spitfire Brandon Tanev stepped onto the ice?)

The very type of behavior Sullivan, intentionally or otherwise, seeks to exclude.

It’s one of the biggest reasons no one among the current bunch seems to initiate physical play. With the possible exception of Noel Acciari, there simply isn’t anyone on the team wired that way. A void so great our 36-year-old captain Sidney Crosby has felt compelled on numerous occasions this young season to step into the role of fire starter and even protector.

“Certainly don’t want to put him in those situations,” Sullivan observed following Sid’s preseason fight with the Sabres’ Peyton Krebs. Yet that’s exactly what he’s doing by drawing such a fine line in the sand when it comes to physical play.

You could almost sense him twitching on the bench every time Friedman, a class A agitator and disturber, took the ice. During his black-and-gold career, the feisty defender took 16 penalties and drew 30…nearly a 2-for-1 exchange. Yet Sullivan never warmed to him.

For the record, I’m not advocating the Pens employ a one-dimensional thug. Those types of players have gone the way of the Dodo.

To my eye, the Blackhawks got it right. They imported Nick Foligno and Corey Perry to ride shotgun for phenom Connor Bedard. While neither is the fastest guy on planet, both are hard-nosed vets who provide tons of character and leadership. They do whatever it takes to win while sticking up for their teammates. They’ll score the odd goal, too, something our present gaggle of grinders seems incapable of doing.

By contrast, we tend to flesh out our roster with the latest versions of Shorty McShortribs and Killy McSkillum. A trend that needs to change if we’re to have serious designs on making the playoffs, let alone accomplishing anything once we get there.

A lot depends on our coach expanding his comfort zone when it comes to aggression.

Penguins Recall Big Z

Forward Jansen Harkins cleared waivers and was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

In a corresponding move, the Pens recalled Radim Zohorna. A folk hero in these parts, “Big Z” was pointless in two games with the Baby Pens.

In 25 games with the Pens the hulking forward has four goals and 10 points. Five goals and 11 points in 35 NHL games overall.

Good news on the medical front…Kris Letang and Noel Acciari returned to practice today.