Penguins Update: My Annoyance with Mike Sullivan Got Ratcheted Up a Few Notches

I wasn’t especially thrilled when the Penguins announced they’d sent defenseman Mark Friedman to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton earlier this week. Called up from the Baby Pens in the wake of mounting injuries to our blueline corps, Friedman appeared in three games for the black and gold and skated with his usual aplomb…and edge.

Although the Pens lost all three contests, it certainly wasn’t due to any fault of the scrappy Toronto native. Friedman was a plus-three during a stretch when many of his teammates were heavily in the minus column, and he registered 12 hits while averaging 13:08 of ice time.

As for what I perceive to be coach Mike Sullivan’s thinly veiled fears that Friedman will take an ill-advised penalty due to his feisty nature? He drew one and didn’t take any. For his black-and-gold career, that makes 10 penalties taken and 18 drawn in 34 regular-season games.

During six postseason games last spring when he filled in admirably for Brian Dumoulin, Friedman notched a goal, was a plus-three and took nary a penalty.

My initial frustration at Friedman being sent down mushroomed yesterday when the Pens recalled veteran Taylor Fedun in the wake of a potential injury to Jan Rutta.

Nothing against Fedun, a 34-year-old right-shot defenseman with 127 NHL regular-season games on his resume. By all accounts the Edmonton native and Baby Pens captain is a quality guy and the most solid of citizens.

Plays the games the right way, too, according to Dumoulin.

“He’s steady,” Dumo observed. “He makes simple plays. He plays hard. Ends cycles. Blocks shots. He just does a lot of little things for a team.”

Things that don’t necessarily translate to the score sheet. In 30 games this season for the Baby Pens, Fedun’s only tallied a pair of assists.

I get it to an extent. He’s a known quantity and fairly bomb proof. Qualities that make him an attractive replacement for Rutta if the need arises.

Friedman on the other hand? A bit of a wild card. At least in Sullivan’s book.

A shame, because I think this kid’s going to waste. He’s risen to the occasion every time he’s been called upon. Even Sullivan’s complimentary.

“He’s played extremely well (with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton),” our coach said. “He’s been their best defenseman down there.”

All of which translates into Friedman being the first defenseman bumped out of the rotation (generally in favor of “safe” choice Chad Ruhwedel) and the first to be sent down.

If it were up to me, I’d take a creative approach and use Friedman up front to spice up the fourth line while Josh Archibald and Ryan Poehling are on the shelf. He’s played some forward earlier in his career with Philly. With his speed and aggressive bent, I think he’d be a tiger on the forecheck while providing a missing physical element and perhaps some sneaky offense.

I guess Sullivan sees it different.