There’s a former Penguin who’s lighting up the score sheet of late. Can you guess who he is?
Sam Lafferty out in Vancouver? The Hollidaysburg native (and former permanent resident of Mike Sullivan’s doghouse) is off to a solid start for Rick Tocchet’s surprising Canucks with seven goals and 13 points. But, no, it’s not Sam.
Okay, how about Daniel Sprong in Detroit? Again, solid production (six goals and 17 points), but no.
Kasperi Kapanen? Brandon Tanev? Teddy Blueger? Brock McGinn? Nick Bonino?
No, no, uh uh, no and definitely not.
Give up?
Over his past four games, Mikael Granlund has been positively on fire. Our much-maligned trade deadline acquisition from last spring has piled up an incredible nine points during that stretch, including a pair of goals. One of them an overtime winner against the Red Wings last night.
He’s paced the previously woebegone Sharks to a 5-2 record over their past seven games, including victories over the Devils, Islanders and Wings.
Lest you think his heater is an aberration, think again. Over those seven games, the 31-year-old Finn has racked up 11 points (3+8). In his last dozen games, 13 points.
By contrast, the man he was traded for, Erik Karlsson, has two points (both assists) in his past nine games for the black and gold.
I’m not suggesting for one minute the trade was a mistake, mind you, although Granlund would be an improvement over just about anyone in our current bottom six. Too, he’s receiving prime ice time with the Sharks (20:46 ATOI) 5v5 and on the power play, deployment he likely wouldn’t have received here. But it just goes to reinforce the old proverb that one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.
For the record, Granlund may not be “a coveted player” as he was once described by a certain deposed GM, but he’s far from the stiff he was made out to be during his brief and unproductive stay in the ‘Burgh. You don’t tally 500 points in your NHL career by being a bum.
On the contrary, “Granny’s” conscientious, heady, hard-working and diligent. An excellent puckhandler and an incredibly accurate passer to boot.
Somewhere Ron Hextall must be smiling…
E-Rod, Too
Granlund isn’t the only ex-Pen who’s thriving. Fresh off a two-goal, four-point performance against Dallas, Evan Rodrigues has six goals and 20 points in 25 games skating for tonight’s foe, the Panthers.
Out west, Jared McCann (12 goals) continues to fill the net for the Kraken.
With five goals in 18 games for Arizona, Jason Zucker isn’t killing it offensively. But we (I) sure miss his fire and spunk. And ‘Yotes teammate Nick Bjugstad continues his Phoenix-like rise from the ashes of abdominal wall issues (pun intended). The rangy center has six goals and 16 points.
