Post-Detroit Observations: Issues remain defensively for Pittsburgh

Post-Detroit Observations: Do the Penguins have the right mix on their blueline? Are the Penguins too content?; Making a deep run depends on Malkin, Fleury playing at an elite level

Concerns for the Penguins defensively have continued post-Olympic break and defensive breakdowns have plagued the Penguins during a recent 7 game stretch in which the Penguins are 2-3-2

Some of the issues have just been positional miscues with players out of position leading to breakdowns which can be easily fixed if the attention to details is there but there has been enough consistent breakdowns from the Penguins top-6 and their forwards that a cause of concern is warranted.

Against the Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh struggled mightily defensively. The Penguins were passive in the defensive zone, giving the Red wings space to attack the offensive zone and Pittsburgh failed to clear the front of the net.

A concern has been the deteriorating play defensively from Sergei Gonchar. Gonchar played his worst game of the year tonight and was over matched in the defensive zone.

In fact, the Gonchar-Mark Eaton pairing struggled as a whole and have not played well in "big" games of late. In the past 10 days, Gonchar and Eaton are a combined minus-12 in Pittsburgh's three pivotal games during that stretch (3/12 NJD, 3/17 NJD & 3/22 DET).

As constructed there is just something missing from the Penguins top-6. Jordan Leopold has been a solid addition but some scouts I've been in contact with question whether he fits what Pittsburgh needed at the trade deadline.

One league evaluator told me over the weekend the Penguins blueline is too "soft" as constructed, and are exposed when they are not getting consistent production offensively from the likes of Gonchar, Letang and Goligoski.

Questions also remain if the coaching staff is dressing the Penguins "best" top 6. In certain matchups, there is a belief that Jay McKee is a better fit than Alex Goligoski due to the addition of Jordan Leopold who gives Pittsburgh another puck moving defenseman in the lineup.