I’m going to begin this article with a statement that might cause you to question my sanity…or worse.
Might trading two-time 40-goal scorer Jake Guentzel to Carolina at the deadline be the best move Kyle Dubas has made since taking over?
Before you come to Wright’s Gym to cast stones and other hard objects at my noggin, a Penguins history lesson.
The 1990-91 team was arguably the deepest, most talented group in franchise history. In addition to savior (and IMHO GOAT) Mario Lemieux, the team boasted no fewer than six other Hall-of-Famers, including forwards Mark Recchi, Joey Mullen and Bryan Trottier, defenseman Paul Coffey and Larry Murphy and goaltender Tom Barrasso. To say nothing of Hall-of-Famer in waiting Jaromir Jagr, all-stars Kevin Stevens and John Cullen and future 40-goal scorer Scott Young, who often skated on the fourth line.
They were gifted. And they were in trouble.
Incredibly, in the weeks preceding the trade deadline those Pens were 4-9-1, leaving them a paltry two games above .500 with just 14 games remaining in the season.
GM Craig Patrick moved boldly and decisively. In perhaps the finest trade in franchise history…one simply known as “the Trade” in Pens lore…he dealt Cullen, the team’s leading scorer, and puck-moving defenseman Zarley Zalapski along with minor-league forward Jeff Parker to Hartford for center Ron Francis, himself a future Hall-of-Famer, and hard-rock defensemen Ulf Samuelsson and Grant Jennings.
Many experts at the time considered the deal a win for the Whale, citing the youth and skill of Cullen and Zalapski, a former fourth overall pick.
The results tell a different story. The Pens went on to win their first Stanley Cup.
The next season…virtually an instant replay. Struggling in the wake of coach Bob Johnson’s tragic death from brain cancer, the team had once again stalled out, this time to the tune of a protracted 5-12-3 slide.
Again Patrick acted. Out went Recchi and Coffey in a blockbuster three-way-deal with the Kings and Flyers that netted us snarling power forward Rick Tocchet, towering defensemen Kjell Samuelsson and Jeff Chychrun (Jakob’s dad) and 1A goalie Ken Wregget.
Again, we gave up a ton of skill.
Again, we won a Stanley Cup.
So why the long preamble?
In many ways, this season’s Pens were in the same predicament as those back-to-back champions from the past. Despite what on paper appeared to be a solid team with a talented core, the mix had grown incredibly stale. Something had to be done.
Yeah, I know. Trade a 40-goal scorer for a 20-goal scorer? The math doesn’t add up. But that’s what Dubas did. And it’s helped…immensely.
Prior to the trade, the Pens had pretty much morphed into a one line-team. It was Sidney Crosby and Guentzel, with an occasional guest appearance on the scoresheet by whomever happened to be skating with them at the time.
Indeed, in Guentzel’s last 11 games sporting the black-and-gold we scored 25 goals…10 of them by the Sid-and-Jake Show. The second line…Evgeni Malkin’s line…had pretty much evaporated.
That changed with the arrival of Michael Bunting. After a brief stint on Sid’s left flank, the feisty newcomer settled in nicely on Geno’s portside, with Rickard Rakell in support on right wing.
The Scarborough, Ontario native’s provided the type of driving, net-front presence the Pens have lacked since the departure of the crazed Viking, Patric Hornqvist. Better still, he’s dragged Malkin into playing a more north-south style while creating space for the gifted Russian.
The results? Eye-catching to say the least. Following a brief post-deadline funk, the Pens have regained their offensive mojo to the tune of 49 goals in their past dozen games. A whopping average of over four per game.
Better still, the scoring has become more evenly distributed throughout the lineup. By my unofficial count, of the 37 even-strength goals we’ve scored during that span, 12 have come from Sid’s line, 10 from Geno’s line, five from Lars Eller’s third unit and three from the fourth line, with the defense chipping in seven.
Again, due in no small part to the way the lineup has shaken out following the trade, guys are getting opportunities to display their wares they might not have received in the past, especially with the Sid-Jake combo virtually set in stone. In particular, Reilly Smith and Drew O’Connor have benefited from stints on the top line.
Lest you think Sid’s been languishing without his long-time sidekick? Over those same dozen games, he’s been positively on fire, tallying seven goals and 20 points. In the process rediscovering a chemistry with Bryan Rust that had perhaps faded as a result of his partnership with Guentzel.
Oh, and since the trade, Bunting and Jake have each tallied four goals in their new digs.
Bottom line?
The Pens needed a shakeup. And as far-fetched as it seems, we’re proving to be a better team without Jake.
You are usually spot on with your analysis, but I totally disagree with your assessment of the Jake for Bunting trade as a necessary shakeup. Like comparing apples to oranges. Point one, you had offensive weapons by the basketful on those Penguin Teams. You had one the Greatest player and arguably a top Two winger in Jagr in NHL History on those teams. In addition, comparing John Cullen to Ronny Francis is just ridiculous. Let’s look at Francis’s career. 1st round, 4th pick Whalers. After being traded to the Pens, had his highest average points per season . In his career Francis had more than a point a game in over 1,700 games in 23 seasons, and (not counting the lockout-shortened 1994–95 season) averaging just under 77 games played a season. His three Lady Byng Trophies attest to his gentlemanly conduct on and off the ice. Francis stands second all-time in career assists behind Wayne Gretzky with 1,249, fifth in career points (1,798), third in games played (1,731), and twenty-sixth in career goals (549).’ John Cullen was very good. Not this good. 2nd. Without Ulfy, the Pens don’t win their first cup. The Bruin series changer is when Ulf hammered Cam Neely continuously and knocked him out of the series in game 3. But we had to give up Zarly Zalapski, a 1st round 4th pick, offensive D-man who peeked with Hartford. But the Pens in 90-91, 91-92, had plenty of scorers, not enough muscle. We received both back in those trades….Now the Jake Trade. The Penguins are playing much better. Ned is standing on his head in Nets and willing them to victory. With Jarry in Net, Pens are out of the playoffs already. Bunting has 8 less assists than Jake. Jake is the leading point man for Carolina. And they are now in contention to take the Metro. We lost the best winger Sid ever had for 14 games of more so called balanced scoring? Let us see how the Pens and the Canes end up in the playoff chase.
Hey Detroit Dave,
I know in hindsight it seems ridiculous to compare John Cullen favorably to Ron Francis, who in my opinion was one of the most underrated (if not THE most underrated) players in NHL history. But at the time Cullen, fresh off a 92-point season in ’89-90, was seen as a rising star.
Cullen was leading the Pens with 94 points at the time of the trade, and would go-on to tally 110 for the season, which placed him fifth in the league in scoring ahead of guys like Joe Sakic and Steve Yzerman.
The Hockey News, the hockey bible at the time, cited the trade as a win for the Whalers. Of course, future events would prove otherwise. Cullen would begin a gradual fade in ’91-92, dipping to 77 points and then 50 the following season, while Francis became a linchpin on our Cup winners.
Rick
I was sad to see Jake go, but I agree the Pens needed a shake up. Personally I was hoping for one in the form of a coaching change, or trading away underperforming players like Smith, Jarry, and Rakell. However, Jake had to be moved if he wasn’t going to re-sign, no matter whose decision it was to not re-sign him. 2 weeks ago I was wanting them to tank for a lottery pick. Now the boys are a win or 2 away from being in playoff position. I would love to see Jake return this summer, but I don’t see that happening.
Hello Nick,
It was, indeed, sad to see Jake go. He’s such a terrific player…smart, skilled, crafty and gritty…with a tremendous compete level. Something I didn’t call out in my article but perhaps should have. I especially admire his willingness to venture into the battle areas in the corners and around the net given his slight frame.
In many ways, kind of like a latter-day Mark Recchi. In fact, the team’s reaction to Jake being traded was similar to when Recchi was dealt. There was a lot of hurt over that trade, too.
Having said that, something needed to give. As counterintuitive as it seems, trading Jake seems to have had a positive trickle-down effect on the rest of the lineup…like guys are slotting in more where they belong. Again, in no way, shape or form is that meant to be a knock on Jake as a player.
Too, perhaps in an odd, upside down way, the trade has lit a fire under the team. Like they’re using their hurt, anger and disappointment over Jake being dealt as a source of motivation, if that makes any sense.
The hockey version of turning lemons into lemonade.
Rick
100% agreed Nick. Would have loved to see all of the changes you listed but as you said, since Jake wasn’t going to sign a team friendly, unfortunately it was better to get something.