As the Penguins continue to stumble through the throes of what for all the world has the makings of a lost season, the rumblings from the fan base are growing more audible.
Call up the kids! Play the kids!
I, too, touched on the issue in recent articles, suggesting that Kyle Dubas clear at least two forward slots for Rutger McGroarty and Avery Hayes, who appear to have nothing left to prove in the AHL.
On defense, I’d try to move Sam Girard, who IMHO simply hasn’t been a fit here, while perhaps promoting Jake Livanavage or giving Ilya Solovyov (excellent metrics) a longer look.
Some folks have called for the Pens to bring up the kids en masse.
Not I.
As the old saying goes, be careful what you wish for because you just might get it.
Step into the WABAC machine and return with me to the 1982-83 season. Coming of a rousing showing against the Islanders in the previous season’s playoffs, many thought the Pens had the makings of a reasonably competitive team. Instead they collapsed, winning only 18 games. In some ways reminiscent of what we’re witnessing now.
Newly minted GM Eddie Johnston’s response was to part with several productive veterans, including Norris Trophy winner Randy Carlyle, rugged defenseman Paul Baxter and forward Greg Malone. The Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust types of their day.
Johnston replaced them with fringe veterans like Ted Bulley, Greg Fox and Bryan Maxwell while promoting the kids wholesale.
The result? The 1983-84 “Boys of Winter,” truly one of the worst teams ever assembled.
How bad were they? The won 16 games. They scored 254 goals and allowed 390. They lost games by scores of 13-4, 11-3 and 10-3.
Truly, it was a collection of boys among men. A minor-league team trying to compete in the NHL.
As for those kids? A few of them made it. Phil Bourque, Bob Errey and Troy Loney eventually grew into solid role players for the ‘90s Cup champions, although not without considerable growing pains and numerous return trips to the minors. Marty McSorley eventually evolved into an effective heavyweight defenseman, albeit it with the Oilers and Kings.
Most didn’t make it. Ever heard of Steve Gatzos, Tim Hyrnewich, Mitch Lamoureux or Tom Thornbury?
Exactly.
Of course, there was a method to EJ’s madness. He knew if the Pens were bad enough to finish dead last, the ultimate prize awaited in the form of franchise-saving phenom Mario Lemieux.
Alas, with the advent of the draft lottery, designed to prevent teams from tanking to get the first pick as our Pens did, no such guarantee awaits today’s bottom feeders. On the contrary, the best they can hope for is to be in the top-five-pick mix.
Back to our current crop of kids. In addition to McGroarty, Hayes and Livanavage, a number of them are performing and producing quite well for the Baby Pens, including forwards Atley Calvert, Mikhail Ilyin and first-rounder Bill Zonnon. Although his numbers are down a tad, Tristan Broz has a strong track record. The same goes for goalie Joel Blomqvist.
On defense? Aside from Livanavage, Finn Harding appears to be the best of the rest, while Harrison Brunicke (presently injured) holds the most promise. Chase Pietila would add a much-needed physical presence. Owen Pickering is working on the defensive aspect of his game.
Whether or not any of them are ready for promotion is anybody’s guess.
One thing that is fairly certain? Considering the quantum leap from the AHL to the NHL, I wouldn’t expect any of them to step in and start lighting it up right away. A kid like Ben Kindel is the exception rather than the rule.
Ville Koivunen may be the poster child in that regard. He’s shown occasional flashes and has begun to display the promise that caused Dubas to lock him up for eight years. However, it hasn’t necessarily translated into production (two goals, six points in 15 games).
Too, a mass exodus of veterans, especially the productive ones, could have an unsettling effect. Not to mention a negative impact on the kids’ future development by placing too much on their shoulders too soon. To say nothing of knee-capping the Baby Pens and the farm system in general.
I fully agree a youth movement is in order. It just needs to be achieved in a prudent, thoughtful manner.
