As our season lurches toward the one-sixth pole, the Penguins are firmly ensconced in the lower regions of the Metropolitan Division, saddled with an uninspiring record of 5-6-2. Good or bad for, depending on your perspective, 12 points out of a possible 26.
Worse, we’ve only won two games in regulation (one since opening night), which is tied with the decrepit Kings for the second-lowest total in the league. One less than the lowly Flyers.
In the wake of what I would term a very mixed bag of additions and subtractions by POHO/GM Kyle Dubas over the summer, including some true head scratchers, coach Dan Muse and his staff are scrambling (perhaps struggling is more appropriate) to come up with a winning lineup.
I’m not saying they have an easy task, especially with the overstock of forwards on hand. Which has the unwelcome effect of playing guys out of position (or not at all). However, some of their choices have left me baffled.
Playing Nick Robertson on the Fourth Line
The king of the doesn’t-make-sense deployments. Nick Robertson is young, fast, hustles like mad and possesses a scoring touch.
Who does that remind you of?
Yep, Bryan Rust.
You would think Robertson would be an ideal replacement for Rusty, especially given the way Sidney Crosby has languished since before last season’s Olympic break (five goals in his past 31 regular-season games). In fact Nick has already proven he can be effective next to Sid. That is, until he was unceremoniously demoted to the fourth line for making a mistake that cost us a game. As if any number of veterans hasn’t done the same thing a time or two.
Despite what I term as unfavorable deployment, Robo is still tied for the club lead with Evgeni Malkin with six goals and owns the best plus-minus on the team (plus-8).
Put the kid back where he belongs. On Sid’s wing.
Playing Andrei Kuzmenko…Period
As much as I’d like to tread lightly given the unspeakable tragedy Andrei Kuzmenko only recently endured, there’s just no way to sugar-coat this or tap-dance around it.
Kuzmenko has one lone assist in nine games to go with a minus-4. Even worse, he rarely appears to be a threat to score. And it’s not like he brings a ton of other attributes (speed, defensive acumen) to the table. In short, he’s a goal scorer who isn’t scoring goals.
Frankly, I never understood why Dubas signed him in the first place. Upon reflection, I guess the intent was for Andrei to serve as a placeholder until the kids were deemed ready while picking up at least some of the production slack created by the departure of Anthony Mantha.
While I understand the need to give Kuzmenko some sort of runway to recover from his ordeal and settle in, it clearly isn’t working.
Not to be harsh, but it’s time to sit or waive Andrei and play one of the kids.
Mothballing Sergei Murashov
I’m fully aware that kid goalie Sergei Murashov was roughed up in his last couple of outings to the tune of nine goals allowed on 38 shots (an ugly .763 save percentage) and that some sort of reset or cool-down period was necessary.
But four games worth?
It smacks of l’affaire Harrison Brunicke last season, when the Pens stashed the then 19-year-old defender in mothballs following some tough games. Which didn’t do a heck of a lot for his development.
Bottom line? Murashov needs to play. If not here, in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Pick a Lane
Since I’ve touched on the subject, I thought I’d expound.
The Pens just don’t seem to have a clear-cut direction or vision. Is making the playoffs priority No. 1? Or does developing the kids take precedence?
Both? Neither?
I understand Dubas wants the young’uns to earn their stripes. But he also needs to provide a fair opportunity to do so.
Case in point, Avery Hayes was shipped back to the Baby Pens after making by all accounts a very impactful season debut.
Where’s the reward?
Right now the Pens are straddling the double-yellow lines on the highway. I’m not saying Dubas has an easy task. Rebuilds, even on the fly, are tricky business. But eventually he’ll need to pick a lane and stick to it.
In the meantime? This team isn’t going to win a Stanley Cup or come close to contending for one.
Why not make the kids a priority?
