Did the Penguins Need a Shakeup?

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.