Penguins Update: Mish-Mash from a Loose-Leaf Mind

I got the inspiration for the following loose-ramble ramble from Jim (aka James Arthurs), long-time reader, faithful contributor and occasional writer for PenguinPoop.

In a recent comment, Jim compared our remaining schedule to those of our closest playoff competitors, the Islanders and Panthers. I thought it was a great idea, so I decided to steal (er…borrow from) Jim and make it the basis for my ramble.

So Jim, my old friend, this one’s for you.

Without further ado, here’s how our schedule stacks up against the remaining slates for the Isles and Panthers.

For the sake of simplicity, I’m going to project that the three wild-card hopefuls will lose to the teams above them in the standings and beat the teams below them. Hardly a given, especially when you consider our Pens have struggled mightily against the Red Wings.

Too, teams like the Flyers and Blue Jackets have been knocking off stronger opponents of late and are eminently capable of playing the role of spoiler.

Based on my predications, the Isles will grab the top Eastern wild-card slot and our Penguins will edge out Florida for the last wild-card spot by a point. In the process, qualifying for the postseason for a 17th straight year by the hair of their chinny, chin chins. Or beaks if you prefer.

Ready Freddy

As detailed in a recent article about the PenguinPoop Curse, I’m rarely spot-on in my evaluations, personnel or otherwise. One notable exception?

Former Pens and present Wild center Frederick Gaudreau.

Freddy first made an impression on me during the 2017 Cup Final, when the then-obscure rookie from Bromont, Quebec, came out of nowhere to score three goals against us, including two game winners. A positive impression that was reinforced during a 25-game stint (including six playoff games) with the black-and-gold back in ’20-21.

Possessing great instincts and attention to detail, not to mention underrated talent, Freddy’s a gamer and a winner. Wisely snapped up by Minnesota GM Bill Guerin, he presently has 16 goals and counting for the Wild. All for the bargain basement price of $1.2 million.

Why we (GM Ron Hextall) let Freddy slip away is beyond me.

Springing Sprong

Don’t look now, but guess who notched his 20^th goal of the season for Seattle on Thursday night?

If you guessed failed Pens prospect Daniel Sprong, you are correct.

Signed to a PTO by the Kraken last fall after washing out…or more appropriately…wearing out his welcome with the Pens, Ducks and Caps, the prickly 26-year-old Amsterdam native has obviously made the most of his last-chance opportunity.

Credit scholarly Kraken coach Dave Hakstol for bringing out Sprong’s best. Wish we could say the same for Mike Sullivan.

Klim Pickins’

It’s no secret there’s a dearth of promotable young talent in the Pens’ organization these days. While we’re identifying need, we could desperately use a bottom-six forward who combines size and ability with a bit of an edge. Someone who could handle the policing chores when push comes to shove, as it did the other night against the Preds, while providing some protection for our stars.

I’m happy to report I’ve located our man.

Problem is, he plays for the Oilers.

A bristling 23-year-old power forward from Russia, Klim Kostin (pictured) stands 6’3” and tips the scales at a robust 215 pounds. With 10 goals and 19 points in 51 games, the former first-round pick of the Blues (31^st overall in 2017) is enjoying a bit of a breakout season north of the border.

As an added bonus, Kostin, who plays left wing and center, has a mean streak a mile wide and isn’t the least bit shy about dropping the gloves. And he can fight. Kind of an Ivan Drago on skates.

Oilers GM Ken Holland, a shrewd judge of talent, acquired Kostin on the eve of the season for Dmitri Samorukov, an unheralded Russian defenseman.

For all their talk of “long pants hockey,” you’d think Hextall and Pens exec Brian Burke might have identified Kostin as a trade target, especially given his favorable cap hit ($750 K).

But no dice.

Instead, we get to watch our 35-year-old captain battle the likes of hulking (6’6”, 232-pound) Preds hit-man Michael McCarron on a nightly basis.