Penguins Update: Time to Try the Kids?

In my most recent game summary, I lamented that our Penguins are getting next to nothing from the bottom two forward lines. Brock McGinn’s game-turning hit and fight (not to mention excellent penalty killing) aside, that observation still stands.

With one goal in 30 games, Teddy Blueger (who I like) has morphed into former linemate Zach Aston-Reese. Following a reasonably productive spurt, Jeff Carter is goalless (and pointless) in six games. While still strong in the faceoff circle, his once decent wheels appear to be turning to cement before our very eyes. A man without a country or clearly defined role, Danton Heinen hasn’t scored a goal since Mike Lange’s proverbial eighth-grade picnic, or October 22 to be exact.

Given the typical Mike Sullivan treatment (i.e.…ice time meted out with an eye-dropper), kids Drew O’Connor and Jonathan Gruden are feeling their way along. And Kasperi Kapanen, streaky at best, is on the shelf.

The fourth line should regain some traction with the returns of buzz-saw Josh Archibald and Ryan Poehling. But the third line has pretty much been an unmitigated disaster.

Perhaps it’s time to try something daring. Perhaps it’s time to give some kids a real, honest-to-goodness shot.

Alex Nylander (pictured above) is lighting it up for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The eighth overall pick in the 2016 Entry Draft and kid brother of Toronto star William Nylander, Alex leads the Baby Pens with 16 goals and 32 points in 37 games. Nearly a point-per-game clip.

On the opposite flank, Valtteri Puustinen has 14 goals and 30 points in 38 games. With 34 goals in 111 AHL games, he’s been a steady producer since venturing to this side of the pond. The 23-year-old Finn showed well (an assist and a plus-two) in his Penguins debut last season.

At first blush, Nylander and Puustinen hardly fit the MO of an NHL third-liner. Ideally, you want guys with some sand who play an all-around game. However, harkening back to our Cup champions, Phil Kessel didn’t exactly fit the mold of a classic bottom-sixer, either, and that worked out pretty well.

Perhaps it’s time to call these guys up, graft them onto the third line and see what they can do. If you’re concerned about defense, put Blueger in the middle. Or try something really wild and place O’Connor between them.

A leap of faith, I know. But given their collective skill, Nylander and Puustinen might provide some offense to a line that’s been Death Valley, production-wise. Perhaps create a little bit of a matchup problem for opponents, who presently can concentrate solely on stopping our top two lines.

Of course such a move would require Sullivan to commit to giving the kids some legit ice time, something he’s been loathe to do since our Cup seasons.

True, the Pens aren’t exactly in a position to throw away points while experimenting with novelty combinations. But the potential rewards just might outweigh the risks. Such a move could introduce some fresh blood and legs to a mix that at times appears stale as month old bread. It would also give GM Ron Hextall an opportunity to fully evaluate the talent on hand ahead of the trade deadline.

Just might be worth a try.