Should the Penguins Rotate Their Defensemen?

By now, we’re all pretty familiar with the patchwork nature of the Penguins’ defense. Especially since POHO/GM Kyle Dubas went shopping for blue-line help at Filene’s Basement over the summer.

The port side is as threadbare as threadbare gets, with journeymen Ryan Shea, Parker Wotherspoon and Caleb Jones our only left shots.

However, the right side is an altogether different story, with four established NHLers and a blossoming blue-chip prospect. A veritable Overstock.com for right-shot defensemen.

Are they being utilized properly?

Till now, rookie Harrison Brunicke and grizzled veterans Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang have seen the lion’s share of duty, while Connor Clifton and Matt Dumba have been relegated to mop-up roles. They did rotate in as a pairing for a single game against the Ducks and acquitted themselves well, with positive metrics across the board.

To me, it feels like they’re going to waste, languishing in the press box game after game. Dumba, in particular, has chaffed at being left out of the regular lineup, and rightfully so, given his play in the preseason. He’s earned the right to see at least semi-regular duty.

It’s not as if Matt doesn’t have anything to offer. On the contrary, he’s mobile, possesses a bomb of a shot (something we’re lacking), is a dynamic open-ice hitter and can play his off (left) side at least reasonably well. Clifton’s capable as well and likewise employs a punishing, physical style (eight hits against the Ducks).

On the flip side of the equation? The 38-year-old Letang clearly isn’t what he used to be. While his underlying numbers aren’t bad, the eye test tells you the venerable defender’s clearly lost a step or two. Worse, he’s committed some glaring errors through the early going while turning the puck over 13 times in six games. Projected over a full 82-game slate, that’s an astounding 178 giveaways.

For perspective, last season’s NHL leader, the Flames’ MacKenzie Weegar, committed 159.

Yet Tanger’s penciled into the lineup each and every game and still logging a heavy workload (21:41 ATOI) to boot.

Would resting him on occasion make sense?

Coach Dan Muse plans to do just that with the 19-year-old Brunicke. Why not Letang as well?

Rotate the Dumba-Clifton pairing in on at least a semi-regular basis while sitting Kris and his partner Shea. Or Jones, if you prefer, although it would require slotting Shea next to Brunicke, which hasn’t worked well in limited duty.

The sticking point, of course, could be Letang. How would the proud veteran, one of the team’s all-time greats, react to being part of a rotation system?

A tough pill to swallow, no doubt. However, the Pens could use some of what Dumba and Clifton have to offer, especially the physicality. Whether he’d embrace it or not, at this stage of his career Letang could probably benefit from an occasional game off.

A potential win-win for the team.

What’s Cookin’ in Wilkes?

The Baby Pens, that’s what. Off to a piping hot 4-0 start, they’ve snagged a share of the Atlantic Division lead.

It’s been a total team effort, as 11 players have registered at least three points and a goal.

Veteran Danton Heinen is pacing the attack with seven points, followed by Sam Poulin with five. Tristan Broz has three goals and an assist, Ville Koivunen a goal and three helpers (in three games).

A two-time, 40-goal scorer in junior, Atley Calvert has three goals to his credit. Peppery Avery Hayes and Rafaël Harvey-Pinard have notched two apiece.

On defense, Ryan Graves seems to be finding himself (a goal and four points) while skating alongside physical rookie Chase Pietila. Owen Pickering has a goal and two assists.

Between the pipes, wunderkind Sergei Murashov’s posted a 2.00 goals against average and sterling .930 save percentage in his three victories.