This week, we’ll take a close look at the Pittsburgh Penguins as the trade deadline nears – how they’ve done, what they need, their weaknesses, and suggested fixes.
After 55 of 82 games, the Penguins have 67 points, good for 4th in the conference and five points behind division-leading New Jersey. After a very strong start (11-2), the team has essentially treaded water since October, going 22-19-1 since then. The good news: their strong start has them comfortably in the playoff picture, 12 points ahead of 9th place in the conference, and out of the crazy dogfight for the last few playoff spots (there are currently eight teams in the east with 54-57 points, and only three of those eight will make it). While the middling record over the last few months is a concern, it’s a far better position than last year at this time, when the Penguins sat in 10th place and looked to be a long shot to even make the playoffs. That said, if they don’t find another gear between now and April, it will likely be a short stay in the playoffs for the Pens – and if some lower teams get hot, they could yet be in danger of missing the postseason entirely.
Pittsburgh is once again led by Sidney Crosby, who has found a scoring touch beyond anything he showed in his prior four seasons. With 33 goals, he is on pace for nearly 50 – unthinkable for ‘Sid the Kid’ in the past, as he was thought of as primarily a passer. His assists are down, but I blame that on his constantly changing wingers. Bill Guerin has been steady, but Chris Kunitz was ineffective and then hurt (likely the two are related, as his injury was said to linger before he opted for surgery), and his replacements have also been less than stellar. Still, Sid has proven once again that he is one of the premier talents in the game – I’d only put Ovechkin in the conversation with him – and the Pens will go as far as Sid takes them.
Evgeni Malkin had the better season a year ago, but has struggled through long scoring droughts this season and has only 19 goals. He has come on of late, hopefully his surge will continue. Among other forwards, there’s been a lot of underachieving – the third line of Staal, Cooke, and Kennedy has been effective on defense but streaky offensively, and Malkin’s wingers have been thoroughly disappointing.
Perhaps the biggest concern offensively is the power play – despite a recent hot streak, the team is still in the bottom five of the league with the man advantage – unacceptable given the talent on this team. As I watch the Capitals and Flyers on the power play, it’s easy to see the difference – they move a lot more, get more pucks on net, and don’t always look for the ‘pretty play’. The Pens need to shamelessly copy their rivals’ schemes and generate more chances on special teams.
Defensively, the team has been a mixed bag. After a very strong defensive start, the blueliners have really cooled off, perhaps none more so than young Alex Goligoski. Averaging almost a point per game over the first six weeks, Goligoski has only about eight points since then and is a -12 over that span. Every member of the defense has been injured at some point which has hurt cohesiveness, and G Marc-Andre Fleury has also dealt with a few injuries (right now he’s playing with a broken ring finger on his glove hand). This unit needs to find consistency soon. In my opinion the defense is even more of a priority than the offense. Despite Fleury’s inconsistency, there is no need for any moves in goal, Fleury has shown he can rise to the occasion in the playoffs and backup Brent Johnson is a very capable reserve.
How to upgrade the team? It seems that EVERY SEASON the call for a scoring winger goes out; and this is no exception. Crosby and Malkin simply don’t have much help up front, and a veteran winger with a scoring touch would be welcome. Ilya Kovalchuk would be ideal, but likely too expensive as a 2-month rental. Ray Whitney of the Hurricanes is a much more reasonable possibility. I like the 3rd and 4th lines for the playoffs, there’s plenty of grit and more offense than average there – it’s a top-6 winger that has to be the focus on offense.
However, in my opinion the #1 priority for GM Ray Shero has to be a physical defenseman. Wit the departure of Hal Gill and Rob Scuderi, the team has no banging defensemen outside of Brooks Orpik. Goligoski, while I love his scoring ability, is simply a liability in his own end right now and needs help. Gonchar, Orpik, Letang, and Jay McKee make a solid top-4, and Goligoski is a weapon on the power play – but finding a solid, stay-at-home, bruising defenseman could be the key to getting this team back to the Stanley Cup Finals. Everyone wants one, so the cost may be somewhat steep – and I’m not even sure who’s available at this stage – but Shero has shown a knack for bold moves before the deadline, and I expect something similar here.
The favorite in the Eastern Conference HAS to be the Capitals – they have so much speed and skill, its scary (reminiscent of the ‘80’s Edmonton teams) – but I believe the Pens will find their second wind and put on their usual sprint to the finish. New Jersey is solid but fading a bit, and VERY reliant on Martin Brodeur – I look for them to continue to fade and for the Pens to get the #2 seed behind Washington. As the last two seasons proved, anything is possible if you make the playoffs. With the Olympic break and resultant compressed schedule, there will be a TON of games down the stretch – should be fun to watch!
Dave Glass can be reached at buggyracer@verizon.net.