Former Penguins Shining Like Stars

With the NHL regular season (along with the Penguins’ flickering playoff hopes) winding down like an old Timex watch, I confess I’m pretty much out of fresh ideas for articles.

However, this morning as I was perusing Hockey Reference and checking in on former Penguins as I so often do, a light bulb turned on.

Scanning the Dallas Stars’ roster, I noticed that three ex-Pens seem to be thriving deep in the heart of Texas. Two, forward Mikael Granlund and defenseman Cody Ceci, were acquired from San Jose on February 1 in a beat-the-deadline deal. A third, goaltender Casey DeSmith, was signed as a free agent this past summer at the Filene’s Basement rate of $1 million.

I’ll start my ramble with Casey. Remember when everyone was screaming for us to upgrade our backup goalie? Following a couple of down seasons, DeSmith is enjoying a resurgence in Big D to the tune of a 2.30 goals against average, .922 save percentage and 14-6-1 record, with a couple of shutouts sprinkled in.

Goes to show what playing behind a strong team with a solid defense, not to mention a proper workload, can do for a goalie’s psyche and stats.

I’ve long maintained that a goaltender’s performance is as much (if not more) on the team in front of him than the individual. Put Alex Nedeljkovic on the Stars, and I’ll wager he’d have similar numbers. But I digress.

Speaking of defense, with seven assists and a plus-14 in 23 games, Ceci’s been sound as a pound since joining the Stars. Although I initially protested when former GM Jim Rutherford signed the hulking right-shot defender back in 2020, I grew to love Cody’s simple, straightforward game, along with his understated physicality.

I still recall the night he dumped Tom Wilson with a hard, clean check in response to some earlier shenanigans at a time when few dared to stand up to the Caps’ marauder.

My guess is, Stars coach Peter DeBoer has fallen in love with Ceci’s game, too.

Which brings me to Granlund. My goodness, was everyone (including yours truly) wrong about this guy! Everyone except former GM Ron Hextall.

After restoring his game and reputation with the Sharks to the tune of 105 points in 121 games over two seasons, Granny’s become a linchpin during his 23 games with the Stars, as his 17 points, plus-10, and 69.2 percent win percentage on draws will attest.

Since the just-turned 33-year-old’s game has never been based on blazing speed, but rather hard work, vision and pinpoint passing, Granlund’s game figures to age well.

While I’m on the subject of resurrected careers, how about Mark Jankowski (remember him?). Since being acquired from the Preds by the ‘Canes at the deadline, the former first-round pick of the Flames has seven goals in 11 games!

He’s precisely the type of no-name player that seems to thrive in Rod Brind’Amour’s system.

All of which serves to reinforce the old saying that “one man’s refuse is another man’s treasure.”