Back in the day Alfred E. Neuman, the poster boy for Mad Magazine, had a famous catch phrase. “What, me worry?”
Well after seeing our Penguins fall to the Senators, 3-0, in Halifax last night, I confess I’m worried.
Plenty.
Through two preseason games, our vaunted top six has tallied one measly goal on 24 shots on goal. Which works out to a pathetic 4.2 shooting percentage. Our big guns on defense, newcomer Erik Karlsson and mainstay Kris Letang, haven’t fared any better (no goals, a modest six shots on goal combined).
The power play? A dismal 0-for-9, including a listless 0-for-6 last night.
Yeah, I know. It’s early and the players are still learning each other and the ins-and-outs of Mike Sullivan’s system, at least to a degree. But we’ve looked anything but crisp and sure.
Try bumbling and bungling instead.
Maybe my deepest concern? We’re built around our stars and the top-six to score. If they don’t…or worse yet…can’t?
To quote Jesse “the Body” Ventura’s character from the Sci-fi thriller Predator, “We’re in for a world of hurt.”
Too, I’m reminded that despite the presence of six 20-goal scorers last season, we had difficulty finishing. At our first uneasy blush, it appears those issues may continue and even be magnified this season.
To sum up, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin haven’t looked like the Sid and Geno of yore. Or even last season.
To digress, my duties at Wright’s Gym kept me from watching the game in its entirety, but I saw enough to form some opinions.
We appear to have difficulty entering the attacking zone, especially if our foe clogs the neutral zone and/or challenges us at the blue line, which the Sens appeared to do aplenty. Indeed, when we did gain control of the biscuit, they made like the Sioux surrounding General Custer and his troops at Little Big Horn. In the process denying the puck carrier precious time and space and disrupting any type of rhythm or flow.
In those instances when we did gain the zone, we had trouble establishing any sort of presence between the circles. As for those 40 shots on goal? Many seemed to drift in from the perimeter. In the process, making journeyman netminder Joonas Korpisalo (.904 career save percentage) resemble the second coming of Georges Vezina.
Frankly, it was wholly reminiscent of our soul-crushing 5-2 loss to the lowly Blackhawks last spring, when we outshot the Hawks 40-27 but couldn’t breach the prime scoring areas.
As for our supposed improved speed? With the notable exceptions of Karlsson (supersonic) and third-liner Vinnie Hinostroza we looked tired and old and slow, due in no small part to our inability to give or take a pass in stride. To borrow from the old Friends theme song, “It seems we’re always stuck in second gear.”
Even more disturbing? I don’t see any trace of the passion or fire that by all rights should be there in the wake of our disappointing finish last season. We’re going about our business with all the enthusiasm of a cadre of 9-to-5ers robotically pulling down a paycheck so they can pay the bills. It might work in the corporate world. It won’t on the ice.
Not with hungry young teams like Ottawa on the verge.
Aggression? The Sens’ inspirational captain Brady Tkachuk displayed some. Wearing a cage mask to protect an injured eye didn’t discourage him from blasting our “physical presence,” Noel Acciari, with a booming check along the wall. To my knowledge, there was no attempt at payback by anybody.
Such is the way of things for our plain-vanilla Pens.
At this stage of the preseason, we look every bit our collective age…and then some. Or SOP, as my esteemed colleague Other Rick opined.
Pens Claim Harkins
In our latest bargain-basement attempt to bolster our bottom six, the Pens plucked forward Jansen Harkins off the waiver wire yesterday.
Listed at 6’2” and 195 pounds by Hockey Reference, the 26-year-old Cleveland native plays left wing and center.
A classic tweener (we seem to be stockpiling them lately), Harkins enjoyed an outstanding season with Manitoba in the AHL last season, piling up 25 goals and 50 points in only 44 games. He was far less productive with Winnipeg (three goals and five points in 22 games) while filling a fourth-line role.
For his NHL career, Harkins has 13 goals and 27 points in 154 games, all with the Jets.
In terms of impact, his JFresh WAR chart is somewhat akin to that of former Pen Zach Aston-Reese. Very strong defensively, offensively not so much. Nor does he possess ZAR’s grit (only 86 career hits). The better to play bland, lifeless Sully hockey.
For now, another dart to throw at the bottom-six bullseye.
Hey Rick, Horse
Your Comments made me look back historically. Like you Rick, I have always thought that Hornqvist was the worst loss to the PP, however, apparently it was Kessel’s loss that hurt the PP the most.
2014-2015 Rank: 10, PP%: 19.3 (Hornqvist)
2015-2016 Rank: 16th, PP%: 18.4 (Hornqvist + Kessel)
2016-2017 Rank: 4, PP% 23.1 (Hornqvist + Kessel)
2017-2018 Rank: 1, PP%: 26.2 (Hornqvist + Kessel + Goalie Equipment Change)
2018-2019 Rank: 5, PP%: 24.6 (Hornqvist + Kessel + Goalie Equipment Change)
2019-2020 Rank: 16, PP%: 19.9 (Hornqvist + Goalie Equipment Change)
2020-2021 Rank: 4, PP%: 23.7 (Goalie Equipment Change)
2021-2022 Rank: 19, PP%: 20.2 (Goalie Equipment Change)
2022-2023 Rank: 14, PP%: 21.7 (Goalie Equipment Change)
Comparative
With Kessel (2015-2019) Rank: Tied for No.1 (Boston), PP%: 23.0
Since Kessel (2019-2023) Rank: 13, PP%: 21.2
With Hornqvist (2014-2020) Rank: 4, PP%: 21.9
Without Hornqvist (2020-2023 Rank: 13, PP%: 21.6
The Jump in the overall numbers in PP conversion rates after the Goalie Equipment changes makes me wonder how high the Penguins % would have been had they operated the whole time against Goalies with smaller pads.
Also, sorry Rick, Guentzel really isn’t that important to the PP, in 2020-2021 McCann lead the team in PPGs with 7 and that was also the COVID Division only season, so that Rank 4 needs an Asterix, the generalizability of that number is questionable.
Apparently, what this team really needs to boost its PP numbers is a bona fide Right-Handed Sniper. Too bad we threw away all our legitimate Right-handed scoring threats (Kessel, Sprong, Kapanen, Legare) with no exit strategy. Now our PP is mediocre.
*Please don’t mistake that for me wanting Sprong or Kessel back or maybe not even Kapanen, but I do crave a Right-Handed Sniper.
Hey Rick,
To quote that sage of sages, Yogi Berra, its Deja Vous all over again. It is worse than ground hog day. At least Bill Murray learned from his mistakes and worked each repeat to fix a previous mistake. All any team needs to do is clog the middle, Sullivan’s teams can’t dump and chase. Sullivan refuses to employ a player capable of earning a win. Barring a serious make-over in coaching the only Ws this team will have at seasons end will be the ones that the other team gifted it. The “Character” of this team, this coach, is that it has none. It hasn’t had any character since 2017, when Sullivan and JR threw away Cole and Reaves (not that I am Reaves fan or want him back – his loss is symptomatic of the teams problems).
And this team hasn’t had a Sniper since Sully ran Kessel out of town. They do need a sniper for the PP but what they need more is a Hornqvist. They never replaced either player.
It has been a while since I have posted anything on this site. I still read it every day and enjoy the work that is being done. Rick, you just wrote the article that I was thinking as I watched that game last night. To go along with the rest of the preseason to date. If this is any indication of the way they are going to play, it’s going to be a hard team to watch. I understand the lack of urgency in the other games, but last nights venue should have given them some motivation. You can’t just continue to pass the puck around on the power play until you lose it. They need a sniper to make the thing work. The new faces, that should be trying to make a good impression have not done so. Hopefully this is an early unnecessary panic. We need a good hockey season here in the Burgh.
Hello Horse,
Sorry it’s taken me so long for me to respond…it’s been a busy couple of days at the gym. It was great to read your thoughts and get your take on things. And I’m so pleased you still read PP. Wish you and some of your fellow originals were still in the blogging business.
Frankly, I’m disturbed at how flat, passionless and slow we’ve looked these past couple of games with all hands on deck. As you pointed out, with so many new guys competing for spots, I thought there’d be a renewed energy and vigor. There’s been anything but.
Disturbing to say the least.
Regarding your comment about a sniper on the power play, I guess Jake Guentzel’s value can’t be understated. He does have a great touch around the net.
Still, I wish we had a horse (honestly, no pun intended) like Anders Lee of the Islanders or Chris Kreider of the Rangers, both of whom murdered us last season (and probably will again). Maybe Drew O’Connor eventually becomes that guy. He’s got the size. But it takes a certain type of player to fill that net-front role and not everyone can do it.
I think before all is said and done, Sullivan and his staff are going to need to make some hard decisions and split the power play into two groups. Unfortunately, he seems loathe to ruffle the feathers of his stars. But I truly think that’s what it’s going to take. There’s just way too much redundancy right now.
Again, so good to hear from you. Hope all is well.
Rick