The Penguins have seen a lot of change over the past two seasons. This year is no different. Old faces have left, new faces have come in. Questions however, questions remain similar to those of years past? Are the Penguins deep enough? Can they stay healthy? Will the offense show up in April? Do they have the power play fire power? The questions go on and on.
What this post will examine is the organization on the whole. I will look at last year, the offseason and what is to come. I'll discuss the lines and pairs. Look at 5 questions I have going into the season and ultimately, what I see this team doing this season. It's going to be a lot of fun, so let's begin...
The Year That Was
The questions from years past remained though. Was this team deep enough for a sustained Cup run? Was Marc-Andre Fleury capable of winning another Stanley Cup? Would Kris Letang, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin remain healthy?
For the most part, the answer to those questions were yes. But the biggest, most important question turned out to be a no. Sidney Crosby played in almost every game, minus the bout of Mumps in December. Malkin played the whole season and Letang was phenomenal until a season-ending concussion knocked him out for the last few regular season games and the playoffs. Marc-Andre Fleury had a career year and would have won 40 games had the offense not disappeared in March. He was solid in the playoffs again, but the Rangers were just too much for the Pens and eliminated them in five games.
The Penguins biggest question and biggest problem in 2014-15 was depth. It seemed they were shorthanded from the start. They lost Pascal Dupuis early in the season for the year with a pulmonary embolism. Olli Maatta missed time in November after having a cancerous tumor removed, followed by the remaining of the season after shoulder surgery in December. Letang missed the last few weeks of the year after an unnecessary hit from Shane Doan. The rest of the season was similar, though less severe. Beau Bennett missed time with a knee injury and mumps. Christian Ehrhoff missed much of the second half of the season following a concussion. Kunitz missed a few weeks with a broken foot, and Patric Hornqvist missed several weeks with a knee issue.
In their place, the Penguins played with the preverbal hand tied behind their back. They had an undermanned bottom six to start with and only had three top six caliber players left by Thanksgiving. In their place, the likes of Blake Comeau, Brandon Sutter, Bryan Rust and Steve Downie saw significant time on the top six. It is hard to sustain winning ways with career bottom six players playing such important roles.
The Penguins simply weren't deep enough up front. While a plethora of young defensemen such as Brian Dumoulin, Taylor Chorney and Derrick Pouliot played well in relief of the Pens defense, the same cannot be said for the forward replacements. Downie posted decent numbers, but found himself in the penalty box more often than anyone else in the entire NHL. Sutter underachieved with the bigger minutes, as did Chris Kunitz who had a horrible year. Bryan Rust played a handful of games, but couldn't find the same scoring touch he had in Wilkes-Barre. Even with the additions of David Perron, Daniel Winnik and Max Lapierre, scoring help never arrived.
The scoring woes cost the Pens dearly. They almost didn't make the playoffs due to a stretch of horrendous hockey in late-February, March and April. They limped into the playoffs and were soundly shown the door after 5 games. Another year of Crosby, Malkin and Letang's primes thrown away.
The OffSeason
GM Jim Rutherford understood that for this team to succeed, he had to add pieces around his star players for them to flourish. Rutherford made that his top priority this summer.
While other teams were making big splashes in the hours leading up to the NHL Draft, Rutherford was standing pat. He didn't force anything, rush anything; he simply waited for the right move to come to him. Rutherford spent the Draft adding prospects to his already weak prospect pool. In the second round, Pittsburgh drafted winger Daniel Sprong and a few others.
The right move finally came on July 1st. While other teams were adding big named free agents, Jim Rutherford was making a blockbuster trade. In a multi-player deal, Rutherford acquired US Olympian and sniper Phil Kessel from Toronto for the Pens 2016 1st Round pick, defenseman Scott Harrington, center Nick Spaling and winger Kasperi Kapanen. The Pens also got forward Tyler Biggs and defenseman Tim Erixon in the deal.
While Kessel is expected to slot in alongside Crosby, moves still needed to be made to improve the Pens second line centered by Evgeni Malkin. One possible solution to the second line was also acquired on July 1st. Russian international Sergei Plotnikov was signed to a one-year, entry-level deal on that day. He had played the past two seasons for Yaroslavl in the KHL before buying out his last year to make the jump.
Besides those two moves, the Pens were relatively quiet on July 1st. They signed several minor league players to deals such as Steve Oleksy, Will O'Neill and Kael Mouillierat.
The Pens made several other moves later at the end of July to solidify their lineup. Rutherford pulled off a deal to send impending unrestricted free agent Brandon Sutter to Vancouver. In return, the Penguins acquired center Nick Bonino and defenseman Adam Clendening. Following the trade, Rutherford made another signing to add to the bottom six. That deal was given to Eric Fehr, the former Capitals center/winger, for 3 years at 2 million annually. Veteran center Matt Cullen was signed in August and defenseman Sergei Gonchar was brought in on a PTO as well.
In all, the Penguins made the following deals and saw the following players leave:
Additions:
- RW Phil Kessel (via Trade with Toronto)
- LW Sergei Plotnikov (via free agency, KHL)
- C Nick Bonino (via Trade with Vancouver)
- C/RW Eric Fehr (via free agency, Washington)
- LW Kael Mouillierat (via free agency, NY Islanders)
- C Matt Cullen (via free agency, Nashville)
- LW Tyler Biggs (via Trade with Toronto)
- D Tim Erixon (via Trade with Toronto)
- D Adam Clendening (via Trade with Vancouver)
- D Sergei Gonchar (PTO, non-roster invitee, Montreal)
Subtractions:
- D Paul Martin (via free agency to San Jose)
- D Christian Ehrhoff (via free agency to Los Angeles)
- C Brandon Sutter (via Trade to Vancouver)
- RW Steve Downie (via free agency to Arizona)
- LW Blake Comeau (via free agency to Colorado)
- LW Kasperi Kapanen (via Trade to Toronto)
- C/LW Nick Spaling (via Trade to Toronto)
- D Scott Harrington (via Trade to Toronto)
- G Thomas Greiss (via free agency to NY Islanders)
- D Taylor Chorney (via free agency to Washington)
- C Jayson Megna (via free agency to NY Rangers)
The 2015-16 Opening Roster
Forwards:
Goaltenders:
| Defensemen:
|
The Forward Lines
First Line: Chris Kunitz - Sidney Crosby - Phil Kessel
This one is pretty simple. Crosby, of course, gets first dibs on Kessel. They have games that match up. Sid likes to play with speed and create chances, Kessel likes to use his speed to get free and snipe shots. The combo should be pretty solid. They've showed excellent chemistry in the preseason and I expect even more with time. Chris Kunitz remains on the top line as well. He has excellent chemistry with Sid and he has looked much better in camp than he did last year. He's healthy and even if he's a step slower than years past, he is still a pest around the net and in the corners.
Second Line: Sergei Plotnikov - Evgeni Malkin - Patric Hornqvist
A little more difficult than the first line, but still pretty simple. Malkin will center the line, while Patric Hornqvist flanks him on the right. Horny had excellent chemistry with Sid last year and he should fit Malkin's game quite nicely as well. He will go to the net and get his dirty area goals. Malkin will fly with the puck and create chances. The left flank is the question mark on this line, though I see it going to Sergei Plotnikov to start the season. The trio has looked good in the preseason and Malkin seems to enjoy having the young Russian on his line. Plotnikov has the talent as well, but more importantly has a big body and a physical mentality that will benefit life alongside Malkin. It makes sense for me to start this way, though it is no guarantee.
Third Line: Pascal Dupuis - Nick Bonino - Daniel Sprong
This is a hard one to predict. Bonino will center the third line and Dupuis will certainly be on a flank. The question remains who fills the other side. David Perron is better than a fourth liner, but for whatever reason doesn't seem like he's gonna play in the top 9. Beau Bennett, who has had a good camp and played well with Duper and Bonino is a solid choice. However, I don't think he starts there either.
I think the right wing goes to the 18-year-old rookie Daniel Sprong. He burst on the scene in development camp, the rookie tournament and the first weekend of training camp. The 2015 2nd round pick followed that up by scoring 3 goals in four preseason games and playing above and beyond the majority of the forwards. He earned the 9-game tryout. I put him with Duper and Bonino because it's a combo that is pretty solid defensively and can make up for any defensive shortcomings Sprong has.
Fourth Line: David Perron - Matt Cullen - Beau Bennett
The guarantee on this line is Matt Cullen. The 38-year-old veteran was brought in for his veteran leadership and his fourth line acumen. He will center this line.
After that, there are an array of question marks. Eric Fehr will certainly jump into the line when he returns, but until then you have Bennett, Perron and Farnham.
The coaching staff loves Farnham's game and plans to use him on the penalty kill when he plays. However, I don't see him in a regular role unless the Pens move a forward.
David Perron will play the left wing. He is better than that role, but the makeup of the other lines are solid and he's pushed there. I think ultimately he moves up to the 3rd line if Sprong is sent back to Juniors or he may be moved for a defenseman.
Beau Bennett will play the right wing. He has had a good a good camp, but with Sprong making it, he won't play on the 4th. Bennett will at least be playing the correct position, so that's a bonus that should help his production.
The Defensive Pairs
Top Pair: Kris Letang - Olli Maatta
This is a no brainer. The two have been slated to play together for the last two years and it'll finally happen this year. They have both looked very good in training camp and in the preseason when paired up, and I expect no different come Opening Night. Letang is a Norris candidate that should see plenty of ice time while Maatta will compliment Letang as a safety valve on the back end that allows Tanger to join the rush.
Second Pair: Ian Cole - Brian Dumoulin
This pair gives me some consternation. What I, and all of Pens nation was hoping, was that Derrick Pouliot would look really good in camp and take the top four job with little regret. However, after the abysmal preseason showing, he will likely begin the year in Wilkes-Barre. This creates a problem for the Pens.
Ian Cole will without a doubt be on this second pair. He was outstanding coming down the stretch and in the playoffs last year in the Johnston system. That play earned him a new, multi-year contract and the loyalty of the organization. Who flanks him remains the question. Ben Lovejoy was asked too much of after his deadline trade back to Pittsburgh and the organization would prefer to keep him on the bottom pair. The tandem that has seen plenty of time this preseason is Cole with Brian Dumoulin. Dumoulin has impressed the coaching staff enough in camp and preseason action that this could well be the second pair come opening night.
Third Pair: Ben Lovejoy - Rob Scuderi
Ben Lovejoy is a no brainer here. He had a rough return to the Burgh last season, but that was more attributed to be asked to play 24-plus minutes a night in a top four role. That does not fit his game, but he is a very good bottom pair NHL defenseman. That is where he will be come opening night, unless the coaching staff has a change of heart in how much they trust the Cole-Dumoulin pairing.
The final spot, in my eyes, should go to offseason acquisition Adam Clendening. Clendening has the two-way game that reminds me a lot of Matt Niskanen. He has good hands, is smart with the puck and is solid in his own end. It fits perfectly into the Johnston system.
That being said, the final spot is going to go to veteran Rob Scuderi. I have always been a fan of "the Piece," and I still think he is valuable on the penalty kill, but he should not be playing every game. Scuderi is 36, slow and hasn't been great in the preseason. Frankly, what is saving him is the fact that he is owed 3.75 million dollars the next two seasons. Otherwise, he'd have been sent packing. He's going to be in the lineup, whether the fan base agrees or not.
Tim Erixon will serve as the team's eighth defensemen with Clendining the seventh.
Special Teams
The Penguins power play was almost non-existent after the first 6 weeks of the season last year. While they thrived early, they could never seem to figure it out from December on and they gave up an alarming amount of short-handed goals. The additions of Kessel, Plotnikov and Bonino should help. These are my power play units... 1st PP: Letang, Crosby, Malkin, Kessel and Hornqvist 2nd PP: Maatta, Bonino, Kunitz, Perron and Bennett | The Pens power play ranked 3rd in the NHL last season, even with the injury to Pascal Dupuis. While Duper will be back this year, the majority of the other killers have left the team. Johnston has decided to use his big guns now, with the hope of creating some offensive opportunities on the kill. I expect the following to kill penalties... Forwards: Dupuis, Crosby, Bonino, Cullen, Fehr (when healthy), and Malkin Defensemen: Letang, Maatta, Scuderi, Lovejoy |
Questions Around the Pens
Question One: Do the Pens have enough on defense and what do they do with the likes of Pouliot, Scuderi and Gonchar?
Quite frankly, I do not believe the Pens have enough on defense. Letang and Maatta are studs, but beyond them, I am hesitant. Don't get me wrong, Cole and Lovejoy are solid players, but I do not believe they are top four worthy at this point, nor do I believe Dumoulin is either. Pouliot is very gifted in the offensive zone, but his play in his own end is alarming. Clendening is solid, but not top four solid while Scuderi and Gonchar are so far over the hill, they should probably be buried underneath it.
So what to do the Pens do?
Firstlty, send Pouliot back to Wilkes-Barre. Let him get his head straight and his defensive game ironed out a bit. He has the option remaining, so let him do it. He can be a shot in the arm as a mid-season call up.
Secondly, cut Gonchar. I know the Pens brought him in to appease Geno and to groom Pouliot on the power play, but he has been atrocious. He is 42-years-old and while I'll always think highly of him for what he did a decade ago, his time is over. He can stay on in some capacity, but he shouldn't see much ice time if he does stay.
Next, do something with Scuderi. The problem is, I don't know what that something is. If someone comes calling, give him away. But I don't see that happening. You could try to put him on waivers, but you still would have to pay that 3.75 million annually, so what good is that? Could you play him? Sure, but he is even slower and his positioning hasnt been good. The Piece is done, as much as I hate to say it.
Finally, the Pens are most likely going to have to make some kind of move at the deadline. I'm figuring Pouliot will come back up this season, but even with him there I don't think this top six is good enough for a long run in the playoffs. So the Pens will have to make some kind of move by the deadline. Though the impending free agent pool is relatively thin, keep an eye on names like Dan Hamhuis from Vancouver or even Nicklas Grossman from Arizona.
Question Two: What do the Penguins do with Daniel Sprong?
What a story this kid has been this summer! Sprong, arguably a top-10 draft talent, somehow slipped to the Penguins in the second round at 46th overall. No one here is complaining about it.
Sprong had a strong showing in development camp in July and an even stronger showing in the Rookie Tournament before training camp began. He's followed that up by outperforming many of the Pens veterans in the preseason games. Head Coach Mike Johnston loves this kid and it wouldn't surprise me to see him get a chance like Olli Maatta did two years ago by getting the 9-game stint before a decision will have to be made.
Ultimately, and especially after what we have seen, I think Sprong is going to get that chance. He is raw and still needs refining, but he has outperformed every other winger vying for a fourth line shot this training camp. I think he will get the nine game tryout. If he plays well, he will make the Pens make a tough decision. If he doesn't or he's just average, then he goes back to Juniors. In my honest opinion, he's the Pens best option to fill the fourth line wing spot until Eric Fehr returns.
Question Three: Can the power play become a weapon once again?
You hate to have to ask this question, but it seems we are on a yearly basis. Even when James Neal was here the Penguins seemed to struggle with the man advantage. If they are going to have any sort of success this year they simply must make teams pay on the power play.
I think Phil Kessel will help a lot. However, the biggest issue will come down to whether Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin can co-exist on the top power play. Crazy to question? Maybe, but seeing as both like to play the same spot on the man-advantage, we have seen them struggle there. Crosby needs to play the goal line and Geno the right half wall. They both succeed there and they both need to do it.
Besides Kessel, Crosby and Malkin, the biggest key will be Letang. Frankly, I feel Letang needs to shoot the puck more on the power play. He gives way to Geno and Sid far too much. He is the quarterback, thus he should lead this unit. If he has the shot, he should shoot it instead of constantly deferring to numbers 87 and 71.
If the Penguins can figure out a way for these guys to mesh, this power play could be the best in the league. They just need to do what is best for the unit, not what is best for the two star players on it.
Question Four: What will happened to David Perron?
This is an interesting question that has popped up over the last few days, though, it seems incredibly unnecessary. Yet, here we are.
So, what do the Pens do with David Perron?
He is a top six talent slated to play on the fourth line. Granted, the Pens are deep this season, but I still don't think they are that deep. He is owed roughly four million dollars this year, which again, seems a lot for a fourth liner. I don't think he's necessarily fallen out of favor with coaching staff, but he's not as high up as the likes of Plotnikov or Sprong. So he will start the season on the fourth line.
The question from here is will the Penguins make a move and include Perron. I think it is possible. Rumors abound began Thursday afternoon when multiple sources reported that the Pens have interest in impending UFA defenseman Dustin Byfuglien of Winnipeg. While I am not crazy about the deal, it would add more fire power to the defense. I think any move for Byfuglien would have to include Perron and frankly, any move the Pens make this year on the trade market would have to include him.
Ultimately, I think he stays. But the questions will remain around Perron as long as there are questions on the defense and while he plays on the fourth line.
Outlook and prediction
The Penguins need to take advantage of the prime years of its core of Crosby (28), Malkin (29), Kessel (28), Letang (27) and Fleury (31). This essentially gives the Pens about four more years to use these players in their prime.
Frankly, I think they are poised for it this year.
This is the deepest forward corps that the Penguins have had since they won the Cup in 2009. They have a legitimate top six in Crosby, Malkin, Kessel, Hornqvist, Kunitz and Plotnikov with guys more than capable (Perron, Dupuis) to jump into it if need be. They have four solid, scoring lines which will provide more balance, which is desperately needed in the playoffs. Most importantly, both Malkin and Crosby, two superstars that have played with underqualified wingers their entire careers, will both now have legit top six wingers to work with.
While there are questions on the defensive side of the puck, the Pens still have one of the league's best netminders in Marc-Andre Fleury behind them. Fleury is coming off a career year and another excellent playoff performance. I don't see a regression from him, but he will be asked to do more if the defense struggles.
Ultimately, I can see Crosby bringing home another Art Ross Trophy, Letang the Norris and Phil Kessel winning the Rocket Richard. The Pens will get improved play from the bottom six due to the additions of Fehr, Bonino and Cullen and I think Beau Bennett will be healthy and productive for the first time in his career.
Believe it or not, there is a lot to be excited about when it comes to this team. They will most certainly be a playoff team, baring some horrendous luck on the injury front. And I believe they are one or two moves away on defense from being a legit Stanley Cup contender.
With this roster, the one they will field going into Opening Night, I see the Pens having enough to make it to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Add another defenseman or two, they can easily become Eastern Conference Champions.
The time is now. The Pens need to make something happen this year. Otherwise, it is another disappointing year and waste of a prime year for the world's best.