Penguins Update: Don’t Be a Jag(ger) Off, Sign Joshua

In the movie The Natural, New York Knights manager Pop Fisher (brilliantly played by the late Wilford Brimley), frustrated by his team’s awful play, spewed forth the following lament.

“Now look at me. I’m wet nurse to a last-place, dead-to-the-neck-up ball club, and I’m chokin’ to death.”

That’s great, Buker, but what does it have to do with hockey?

Well, nothing except for the dead-to-the-neck-up status of our Penguins. But I thought it would make a swell lead-in.

The real thrust of this article involves a young player currently under contract with our AHL affiliate. Last night, Jagger Joshua scored a pair of goals to help lift the Baby Pens to a 3-0 victory over blood-rival Lehigh Valley.

That makes eight goals and 17 points in 55 games for the rugged 6’2” 201-pound left wing. Certainly not the stuff of a future scoring champion.

Then again, pretty goals and fancy play aren’t the Dearborn, Michigan native’s stock in trade. Physical play is. The undrafted, soon-to-be 25-year-old forward loves to throw his weight around, and he plays with lots of passion and swagger. Elements in grievously short supply on our often flat-line Pens.

No, Joshua wouldn’t project to be a scorer at the big-league level, although big brother Dakota has emerged as a 10-15 goal man for the Canucks after a similarly modest start to his career, production-wise. However, if Jansen Harkins (zero goals in 43 games) can carve out a spot with the black-and-gold, why not Joshua? He’s bigger, younger, tougher and at least as spirited and driven.

It takes all types of players to make a competitive hockey team. Defending Cup champion Vegas knows that. Jimmy Rutherford’s Canucks know that. So do the current NHL front-running Panthers, who employ combative types Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett, Ryan Lomberg and heavyweight Johan Gadjovich.

It’s telling that a team leading the Presidents’ Trophy race has room for players with a physical bent, but not our Pens. One of the myriad things wrong with the way our roster is constructed, especially under Mike Sullivan. But I digress.

Bottom line? Joshua would add an element that hasn’t been seen in these parts since the ’17-18 season (see Reaves, Ryan)…a combative, drop-the-gloves forward. He’s been involved in four fights this season with the Baby Pens, including a spirited scrap with the Rangers’ much-publicized rookie Matt Rempe.

Sullivan’s preferences be darned, we could sorely use a player of Joshua’s ilk. We’re currently three NHL contracts under the limit.

Sign the kid.

And call up Sam Poulin, too.