Today, I will examine the Penguins bottom six and like yesterday, I think this is the best bottom six since the year we won the Cup in 2009. The 2009 Cup team had a bottom six that included Jordan Staal, Matt Cooke, Tyler Kennedy, Max Talbot, Craig Adams, Ruslan Fedotenko and Mike Zigomanis. They were a solid bottom six. They got huge goals from Staal and Talbot en route to the franchise's third Stanley Cup and outstanding defensive play from the likes of Adams and Zigomanis.
The past few years, the Penguins have had a pretty abysmal bottom six. It consisted of the likes of Brandon Sutter, Blake Comeau, Steve Downie, Arron Asham, etc. Not that these guys were horrible, but these lines did not strike any offensive fear into opponents and they were not as solid defensively as they were around the Cup years.
But this season, this upcoming season, the Penguins may have cultivated the best bottom six since that 2009 Stanley Cup team. So lets take a look at what we are working with for the upcoming season...
Our Candidates
Chris Kunitz: I discussed Kunitz more in the top six in the last piece, and I do honestly think that is the place for him. That being said, if the 2014-15 season is any indication of the future, the dynamic winger could be gone. If Kunitz gets off to a horrid start, he could find himself permanently relegated to the third line, or worse, out of town.
Pascal Dupuis: It has been two rough years for the fan favorite Dupuis. He missed the second half of 2013-14 after suffering a torn ACL and then missed the majority of last season with blood clots. In the games he did play, Duper was phenomenal; scoring 6 goals and 11 points in only 16 games. He is expected to be ready for training camp, and the plan is for him to anchor the bottom six. Could he see spot top line duty with Sid? Sure, but expect him to be the key piece on the Pens bottom six.
Nick Bonino: Bonino was discussed yesterday as a dark horse for the top six, but ultimately I see him replacing Brandon Sutter. Bonino has the ability to play both center and wing, but I ultimately see him anchoring the center position in the bottom six and providing more consistent scoring.
David Perron: Also discussed as a possible top six forward, but Perron's play is too Dr. Jekyl/Mr. Hyde to land him permanently in the Penguins top six. I see him as a solid third line winger, playing a similar style to Matt Cooke, where he aggravates opposing players and scores some goals for that line.
Eric Fehr: This is one of my favorite pick ups for the Penguins this summer. Fehr is a stud two-way forward. He is outstanding defensively, he can score with both grinders and superstars and he is great in the locker room. It is a win-win for the Penguins, as he will provide the scoring touch and defensive skill necessary to succeed in that role. Now, the downside is Fehr is recovering from elbow surgery, and though reports state that he could be ready for opening night, it's far more likely he returns in November. Still, he is a solid player for the Penguins.
Beau Bennett: Here we go, talking about where Beau fits once again. He once again missed half of the season with injury and was just as invisible when he was healthy. He posted 12 points, but they were so few and far between that you'd forget he was out there. Now, Bennett has one last chance to make an impact in this organization, signing a one-year, one-way deal in mid-July. I don't see Bennett taking any time in the top six, but I see him playing more often than he normally does in the bottom six, if healthy of course.
Conor Sheary: This is a guy I was not considering for the bottom six until recently, but the more I think on it, the more it makes sense. Sheary had another big spring for the Penguins AHL affiliate, scoring 5 goals and 12 points in the playoffs after leading the Baby Pens in regular season scoring. A UMass product, Sheary is continually improving his offensive ability and is a capable defender. He was rewarded with a two-year contract this July, so there is a chance you could see him get a shot in Pittsburgh.
Oskar Sundqvist: This kid almost made the Penguins out of training camp last year, but instead was sent home for one more year in his native Sweden. The year did him well. He had another solid season with Skelleftea, manning their third line as a defensive stalwart and leading them to OT of the SEL Finals. Sundqvist only played one game for Wilkes-Barre in the spring, but he has the ability to skip the AHL and man the Penguins bottom line, especially with Fehr out.
Scott Wilson: Another UMass product, Wilson impressed with a solid season in Wilkes-Barre, scoring 41 points in just 55 games. He made his NHL debut in December, but left the game in the 2nd period with an upper-body injury. He did not appear in the NHL again last season, but did play in three playoff games against the Rangers. I really like Wilson's game, and can see him growing into a solid bottom six contributor skating alongside a veteran like Eric Fehr.
Bobby Farnham: If the Penguins are going with "four scoring lines" model, then I don't see a place for Bobby Farnham full time in Pittsburgh. He was certainly a spark plug in his stay with the big club last season, but he does not have the offensive ability to stick full time in the lineup. I expect him to play in games where the Pens need some "grit," most likely when they play the Flyers. Otherwise, I don't see him getting extended playing time unless he develops his offensive talents dramatically this summer.
Bryan Rust: I know DK on Pittsburgh Sports' Dejan Kovacevic got a kick out of Rust's propensity to shoot, but I actually thought it was a breath of fresh air. Is Bryan Rust Brandon Saad or Chris Kreider? Probably not, but Rust is a former 2nd round pick that could become a legitimate bottom six scorer for the Penguins if given a chance. He only had a goal and assist in 14 games, but he put up 34 shots which fits the Johnston system. He was solid in Wilkes-Barre as well, posting 13 goals and 27 points in 45 games. I think Wilson is ahead of him, but I wouldn't be shocked to see him get a look.
Daniel Sprong: Yes, I am suggesting that our top pick in the 2015 draft could make the club this season. Sprong has the talent. He impressed mightily at Development Camp and he has had two, good years in the QMJHL. He is young, only 18, but he has the body to stick in the NHL. I doubt he makes it out of camp, but he could very well surprise us all and earn a spot.
Tyler Biggs: Thrown in on the Kessel deal, and recovering from surgery, but Biggs should make a push in training camp to make the big club this spring. The former first round pick has certainly underwhelmed since hitting the AHL, but a fresh start could be just what the doctor ordered. He is a big body and should provide another option for Mike Johnston.
The Third Line
This one is pretty simple. Pascal Dupuis holds down the right wing on the third line. He’s coming back from injury/illness and it would be best for his minutes to be around 15 minutes per night. That isn’t happening on the top line, but it will happen on the third. He is defensively responsible and he can post some points. Therefore, he is a no brainer for the third line.
I expect Kunitz to bounce back, so he stays in the top six with Crosby and Kessel. That leaves David Perron to take up the left wing spot on the third line. Again, I think this is a good spot for Perron. He has the speed to play in all three areas of the ice well. His hands are good, which should allow him to post some points on that line. Most importantly, I see him as the pest on that line. We saw how he can get under players skin last season. I think he can do that more this year, similar to a Matt Cooke mold but a lot more wrangled in.
As for middle, Bonino as third line center is an easy placement in my eyes. I know a lot of people would like to see Fehr here, with Bonino either in the top six on wing or as the fourth line center. The way I see it, Bonino is a better offensive talent than Fehr, and so I’d rather have him play with David Perron. With Pascal Dupuis on the right side and owning a little more defensive responsibility, this should allow Perron and Bonino to create some good chances. Plus, Bonino has more speed, thus allowing him to create more chances with both Perron and Dupuis.
The Fourth Line
Eric Fehr is of course the first player we need to discuss. Fehr is the best of the group left and many would have him on the third line flanking Perron/Kunitz and Dupuis. I however, think he is the perfect mold for a fourth line center. He is better defensively than offensively, but he can certainly score plenty. I think his defensive skill allows Mike Johnston to play him with two younger players, who are not so experienced such as Bennett, Wilson, etc.
Now, the problem of course is that Fehr is likely to miss the first month or so of the season. So let’s say we have him back for Thanksgiving to be safe, which is still about two months without him. This of course means the Penguins will require another center for the fourth line to start the season.
Enter Oskar Sundqvist. I personally think this kid is going to be a great player for us. I don’t see him as the bulldog that Chicago’s Andrew Shaw is, but I see him being of the same importance in the Penguins bottom six for years to come. With Fehr out, I think we see Sundqvist open the season as the Pens fourth line center. He is defensively responsible, good in the face offs and has decent scoring abilities. Oskar almost made the roster last fall, I don’t think he gets passed over again.
Now, when Fehr comes back the question becomes what do the Pens do with Sundqvist? The easy answer, it will depend on how he plays to open the season. If Sundqvist looks out of place and is not quite up for the big show, then I think he goes down to Wilkes-Barre for more seasoning. However, if he flourishes, then I think you either move him to left wing (where he is also capable of playing) or you move Fehr to the left wing and keep Sundqvist at center.
So, we have Fehr and Sundqvist manning the center position, but what about the wings?
Lets begin with the right wing and Beau Bennett. Beau needs to play the right wing. No more of this “he can play the left” thing. He can’t, we have three years of proof of that now. If you’re only going to give him one more year to prove himself, put him at his natural position. Beau plays on the right wing, period. If he’s healthy and with a player like Fehr in the middle, Bennett should be able to produce some points and make Johnston’s job much easier. However, if he struggles, it may necessitate a move by Jim Rutherford unless younger guys prevail.
So with Bennett on the right, that leaves the open spot on the left. This is where the whole thing gets interesting. Obviously, if Sundqvist flourishes then he stays in the lineup either on the left or with Fehr there. But if Sundqvist struggles, and the opening before Fehr returns, the Penguins are going to need to rely on several young players for that spot.
My top choice is Scott Wilson. I think Wilson plays a solid, two-way game that will fit in well with either Sundqvist or Fehr. Wilson has the skill to score at the AHL level and showed that he can create chances at the NHL level in the three and a half games he’s played. I think he has earned the first crack at it and a big camp will solidify that.
If Wilson struggles, then I’m turning to his fellow UMass alum Conor Sheary. Sheary had a huge year in Wilkes-Barre and had fans clamoring for him to join the big club down the stretch. His playoffs were good again and it earned him the big-boy contract. Now, he needs to show it was not a fluke. A big camp out of Sheary will put him neck and neck with Wilson. It’s really a one, one-A situation, but Wilson will likely get the first look, followed closely by Sheary.
Now, though I think Sprong, Biggs and Farnham could see time this year, I highly doubt any of them make the team out of camp. The only other player, minus Sheary and Wilson that is, that has a chance at that wing is Bryan Rust. He posted the goal and assist in 14 games last year and showed no fear in shooting the puck. The Pens need to shoot the puck and especially not have guys in their bottom six afraid to do so. Wilson and Sheary are more two-way forwards, which better fits the bottom six role. Rust however is a shooter, not quite a sniper yet but a marksman. He will shoot and he can score. He would serve well there.
Conclusions
The third line is probably the easiest line to build on the entire team. Bonino centers. Dupuis flanks him on the right, Perron on the left. It’s built for speed and scoring. It should be successful.
The fourth line, despite being based on a lot of conditions, is a significant upgrade over last year’s. For starters, Eric Fehr alone is better than anyone who skated on that line. Beau Bennett gets one last chance at redemption. He will be motivated and, if healthy, should have his best year yet. Then you have the young guns that could play an instrumental role. Sundqvist should get a shot out of camp with Fehr on the shelf, and he can dictate where he goes when Fehr returns with how he plays. Scott Wilson is ready to play full time in the NHL. He will need more games to get acclimated, but I think he is completely capable of manning the fourth line wing. Conor Sheary? I think he is ready and if he has a better camp than Sheary, he should be there come Opening Night. Bryan Rust is a serial shooter, he would fit into what Johnston is doing, but I think Sheary and Wilson are ahead of him.
So to start the season, the fourth line will likely be Wilson on the left, Sundqvist in the center and Bennett on the right. When Fehr returns, he slots in either on the left or in the middle.
This Pens team is built to succeed up front. They weren’t last season, and even the year before. This could be a prolific scoring team from the top line to the fourth line. It could be a ton of fun to watch. Are you ready?