WHO SHOULD PLAY ON SID'S LINE?

8:18pm - Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 by Mark Madden

By MARK MADDEN

Sidney Crosby has just seven assists in 15 games. I don’t blame him. You got no help, you get no helpers. I blame the stagnant power play more than lack of 5-on-5 production from Sid’s wings. It’s a minor concern right now because Sid is playing great, the Penguins are 12-3 and if the latter continues, the former will manifest itself on the stat sheet.

Then again, B traditionally follows A.

I used to suggest trading Jordan Staal for a scoring winger. Lately, I haven’t, The three-center model won a Stanley Cup.

But just because it worked last year doesn’t mean it will work again this year, or that it will ever work again. The situation is liquid.

For right now, answers must come from within. Not from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton: Eric Tangradi or Luca Caputi (or both) could be summoned in January, but not before.

So, how do you adjust the lines to give Crosby more help, especially while he needs to be a one-man gang in Malkin’s absence?

The options are:

*Tyler Kennedy. Kennedy gets a lot of shots. He has 41 this season, ranking him fourth on the team despite missing three games. But if Kennedy moved to Sid’s line, would he go from being a third-liner who gets a lot of shots to being a first-liner that takes too many shots? There’s a fine line. If Kennedy alters his style to play with Sid, do you want that? Could even he think the game on Sid’s level?

Kennedy can’t play off-wing. Shielding the puck to get shots is a huge part of his game. At left wing, that disappears. So if you promote Kennedy, you demote Bill Guerin. What do you do with Guerin?

*Mike Rupp. This would definitely be a short-term move, but right now Rupp is the hot hand. His career high for a season is six goals; he has four in 15 games this campaign. Rupp is playing hard, getting open and stroking the puck with confidence. Rupp’s presence is front of the net would give Crosby more room. But could he keep up with Sid?

*Ruslan Fedotenko. I’m not sure what’s gained or lost by flip-flopping Fedotenko and Chris Kunitz. It would just be change for change’s sake. Kunitz is a better forechecker and more physical, which makes him a better fit for Crosby. Fedotenko and Kunitz each have two goals. Neither is making anyone forget Rocket Richard.

Having considered the options, I’d just leave things as they are. Crosby likes playing with Guerin and Kunitz. I’m sure Crosby wishes they were scoring more, but his nine goals have helped pick up some of that slack. Guerin always plays smart and unloads his shot quick. His veteran savvy complements Crosby. Kunitz has two goals in his last four games. It beats the crap out of one in 40.

The power play is a bigger issue. But the Penguins’ biggest problem regarding the PP is: They don’t think there’s a problem. Yikes.

Mark Madden hosts a radio show 3-6 p.m. weekdays on WXDX-FM (105.9).

Recent Penguins Posts

Comments

deesh138

Leave the top line alone. Kunitz is coming alive, Crosby is doing great, and Guerin is a fine mentor and compliment.

11/04/2009 8:25pm

Samtheman

we have to try kunitz crosby fed 2nd line gurin malkin bouque

11/04/2009 8:36pm

jeffed

What makes anyone think that Fed should be on the first? That's really not a good idea IMO.

11/04/2009 8:52pm

grocis

Fed's in my opinion is the biggest disappointment so far. Agree?

11/04/2009 9:08pm

deesh138

Fedotenko is just streaky in my opinion, and he hasn't gone on a tear yet. I think he'll come around once Malkin comes back.

11/04/2009 9:11pm

jeffed

Grocis - I could not agree with you more. I didn't understand everyones worry about losing him in this past offseason to be honest with you. He's a good guy to have in the playoffs I guess becuase he plays two ways, but christ score a goal every once in a while.

11/04/2009 9:19pm

jeffed

Deesh - what "tear" has Fedo been on in his Penguins career? He had a couple goals last year in the playoffs, other htan that nothing really.

11/04/2009 9:20pm

dirtmccurt

I do agree about the Kennedy comments, I don't think you're going to get the same game from him on line 1. I remember last year with the Cooke-Crosby-Malkin line, cooke started to change his (worrying about shooting and passing rather than forechecking and being physical)

11/04/2009 9:39pm

dirtmccurt

*change his game

11/04/2009 9:40pm

deesh138

By tear I didn't mean to imply that he'd score 10 goals in three games or anything like that. But right before he broke his hand last year, he was on a goal scoring streak, as well as off and on throughout the playoffs. He's just streaky.

11/04/2009 9:44pm

indyman

we're 12-3 IF IT AIN'T BROKE - DONT FIX IT

11/04/2009 9:48pm

wolfman

it aint broke for sure. i could see flip flopping wingers here and there on occassion to see what happens and challenge the players (leaving staal, cooke and kennedy alone). if a player is hot: rupp, throw him on the first line for a shift or two, or feds for a few shifts. not demoting anyone. i do think kunitz and malkin could cause serious wreckage. easy for a spectator to say.. as they say..

11/04/2009 9:59pm

dirtmccurt

I would love to see Kunitz get some time with Staal during this Malkin injury. You could give Rupp and Feds a shot with Sid and then let Kunitz play with Staal. Most important I wish Yeo would wise up and plant Rupp infront of the goalie on the PP

11/04/2009 10:22pm

dirtmccurt

*Rupp or Feds, not Rupp and Feds

11/04/2009 10:23pm

Samtheman

i think every year or every 2 years people will be talkin who can play whit sid so far every time this is the story for sid Who can play whit him i say get kessler play him wing get rid fedotenko and dupuis kessler is a complete player him and plekanec can skate well and fast very good on faceoffs pp and pk there a good package for pens we should get either and good part is there both free agent this summer

11/05/2009 1:16am

PetariFX

Is it me, or is the season a little fishy? All these big names out, are these players resting for the olympics or are these injuries legit?

11/05/2009 2:05am

Samtheman

well i find olypic years are always jinxed from that jew bettman every tiem there is oplympics u see ton of stars injuerd imagine if olympic started today canada wouldvewon and russian wouldve lost look at the top 5 stars all injuerd for russia kovy malkin ovi gonchar markov

11/05/2009 2:14am

jackattack8771

im not sure who needs to go with who to win, only the coaches really do. But i do agree we need to play with the lines a little and see what works

11/05/2009 7:57am

^^ if were winning why do you need to change? Looking to spark a losing streak? Tired of winning?

11/05/2009 9:52am

Why would we get Ryan Kessler hes another Jordan Staal, whose going to have a big price tag

11/05/2009 9:53am

Strike

Every time somebody mentions moving a Rupp type player up to a top six position I think of Chris Simon getting 29 goals playing on the top line during the 1999 seaon. Not that I think Rupp could score 29 goals, but giving him a few more shifts may produce some results. I always wondered why so many wingers have trouble scoring on Crosby's line. I laugh every time somebody says 12 goal scorer will become a 50 goal scorer on Sid's line. Mayb it is a matter of time when they find Sid a Robby Brown.

11/05/2009 10:10am

zerocool6687

Robbie Brown had Mario and a wide open era... Sid is great but NO Mario and the game is still based more on a system of how to stop goals then score them!

11/05/2009 10:43am

Strike

Zero, even during the days of clutch and grab, Kip Miller had seasons of 42 and 50 points playing on a line with Jagr. Just a couple of years ago Cheecho scored 95 goals over two seasons playing with Thornton. It is only a matter of time that the Pens find a player that will have similar synergy with Crosby.

11/05/2009 11:23am

wolfman

great points zero and strike. I think we will see a day when an unexpected and inexpensive player gels with Sid. I think Sid is really difficult for others to play with and anticipate. I've said it all along, its not his wheels, its his head that is hard to keep up with.

11/05/2009 11:36am

↑ previous comments ↑

orsulak

When Geno and Talbot get back, things will work themselves out. It will give Byslma a lot more flexibility on the ice, and it will give Shero flexibility to make a deal for a scoring winger if need be. In the emantime, 12-3 aint bad.

11/05/2009 1:52pm

wolfman

just glad that Byslma has been conservative in line juggling so far and Shero has been patient to finding solutions from within!

11/05/2009 2:56pm

zerocool6687

Strike... Cheechoo still had that shot and a nose for the net... he has slowed yes but injuries have factored in! As for Kip Miller... hard worker and some natural skill but 42 and 50 is what we can expect right now from Sids current guys so there definitely needs to be a legit upgrade! That being said I agree with you... its only a matter of time before we find Sid his wingman!

11/05/2009 4:31pm

JNuss

Once Geno and Talbot are back and healthy, it'll take a TON of pressure off of Sid's line to score. Right now, the Pens are working with Line 1 and Line 2 rather than Line 1 a and Line 1 b like in the playoffs. It makes a huge difference.

11/05/2009 4:54pm

JNuss

Cooke and Feds are not the correct solution, as the game in Boston proved. But who is left?

11/12/2009 3:21pm