Penguins Update: A Random Ramble

Some random thoughts in the wake of Florida’s series-clinching Game 5 victory over Carolina last night in the Eastern Conference Final.

My goodness, talk about intense! Led by Sebastian Aho, who was otherworldly, the ‘Canes swarmed the Panthers for the first 25 minutes while very much resembling their namesake. For a time, it looked as though they’d succeed in forcing a Game 6…and possibly snatching the series away from the defending Stanley Cup champs.

However, I had the sense that while ‘Canes couldn’t play any better, the Panthers had more to give. Particularly rabble-rouser Matthew Tkachuk, who to my eye had been very ordinary to this point of the series.

On cue, Tkachuk helped win a board battle, made a bee-line for the front of the net, and deflected an Aaron Ekblad blast past Frederik Andersen for a power-play goal to make it 2-1. In the process flipping the game on its head.

Thirty seconds later, Sam Bennett worked a beautiful give-and-go with ex-Pen Evan Rodrigues to knot the score. How deflating it must’ve been for the Hurricanes. All that dominance and literally nothing to show for it.

The best was yet to come. After the ‘Canes tied the game in the third period on a Seth Jarvis goal, Aleksander Barkov made a superb play along the back wall that can only be described as Crosby-esque before setting up Carter Verhaeghe for the series-winner.

Truly, if I didn’t know better, I’d have sworn Sid slipped on a Panthers No. 16 jersey.

Kind of felt bad for the ‘Canes and former Pen Jordan Staal, who gave their absolute all. Although a very good team, in the end they simply don’t have the firepower (or star power) to hang with the big boys.

I, for one, am looking forward to a Panthers-Oilers rematch in the Final. For the record, I’m not against Connor McDavid hoisting a Cup.

Greatness is greatness.

Breaking the Mold

After touching on a couple of potential additions in the comments section yesterday, I thought I’d double-down and mention them in an article as well.

If Kyle Dubas has any thought of shifting the team’s identity from soft serve to difficult to play against, here are some options to consider.

Rugged forward Trent Frederic, currently plying his trade with the Oilers, is a pending UFA. The 27-year-old, St. Louis native goes 6’3” 220 and can play left wing or center. He notched 35 goals over a two-season span with the Bruins before being slowed by injuries this season.

Simply put, Frederic can play and hit and fight.

As for my other muscle-building options, both would require a trade. Montréal’s Arber Xhekaj, an intimidating 6’4” 240-pound, jack-hammer of a left-shot defenseman, makes his pay by separating opposing forwards from the puck (and often their senses). He’s on a very short list of the toughest heavyweights in the NHL and has no qualms about dropping the gloves.

On the con side, Xhekaj’s puck skills are negligible and he’ll never be more than a third-pairing defenseman at best. But if Dubas seeks to add genuine physicality to his backline, look no further.

While we’re at it, Arber’s kid brother, Florian, possesses many of the same rock-ribbed attributes. Namely, size (6’4” 195) and a willingness to mix it up (175 penalty minutes with Laval of the AHL). Unlike his older sibling, Xhekaj the younger also possesses a scoring touch, notching 24 goals with the Rocket as a 20-year-old rookie pro forward.

The chances of us pursuing any of the above-mentioned toughies? Realistically lodged somewhere between slim and none. But I can dream.

Okay, so maybe I’m (more than) a bit over the top when it comes to the toughness issue. If I am, it’s at least partly because the Pens as an organization have completely ignored the need for physical play (and players) for so long.

There’s nothing etched in stone or lodged in the team’s DNA that says we have to be pudding soft while retooling. I’m reminded of the ghastly ’83-84 Boys of Winter, who employed Marty McSorley and Kevin McClelland. Both of whom went on to win Stanley Cups with the Oilers while riding shotgun for Wayne Gretzky.

Besides, upgrading our aggression would dovetail nicely with Mitch Love, rumored to be a front-runner for our vacant coaching position. Mitch was a tough guy during his playing days.