Penguins/NHL
Entering tonight’s game vs the Vancouver Canucks Pittsburgh carries an 11-8-3 record as a reliance on the power play and some 3-on-3 overtime wins have inflated that win total a bit.
The Penguins are in a bit of a two-fold situation.
They have won back-to-back Stanley Cups so there shouldn’t any panic in late November, but the mentality of how this roster has been built has trickled back to the 2014-2015 season mentality from the General Manager and it could have long-term implications on the Penguins chances of three-peating.
Pittsburgh’s bottom-6 center situation is what it is but where the Penguins have hindered themselves has been going away from more skilled players in the bottom-6.
The coaching staff is handcuffed right now with Ryan Reaves.
Mike Sullivan is fine with playing Reaves but where a rift is starting between the coaching staff and management To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
While Jim Rutherford doesn’t interfere much in lineup decisions, this is one situation where sources say [hide] he wants Reaves in the lineup every night and there is pretty much a mandate from the GM that Reaves dresses every game.
Against skilled teams, Pittsburgh is basically already playing with 11 forwards for long-stretches in games and if they are trailing, then a reliance on 7 to 8 forwards heightens.
Then there’s the decision since the start of training camp from the coaching staff to favor Tom Kuhnhackl because of his penalty kill ability over a player like Scott Wilson who had strong 5 v 5/60 #’s last season.
Pittsburgh has purposely weakened themselves in going away from more skilled players and the results have been glaring.
Pittsburgh’s top seven forwards regardless of position are clearly: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel, Jake Guentzel, Patric Hornqvist, Conor Sheary, Bryan Rust.
Rust with just two goals on the season has been snake bitten, but outside of those top-7 forwards, Pittsburgh is dressing at least four forwards on a nightly basis who provide minimal Goal Scoring ability and it’s led to very concerning results.
Over the Penguins last 15 games they have just two goals from forwards not named Crosby/Malkin/Kessel/Guentzel/Hornqvist/Sheary/Rust:
Below are Goals Scored from Penguins Forward Group over Last 15 Games (excluding empty-net goals)
Jake Guentzel
Patric Hornqvist
Patric Hornqvist
Conor Sheary
Sidney Crosby (PPG)
Phil Kessel
Conor Sheary (3-on-3 OT Goal)
Bryan Rust (SHG)
Phil Kessel
Jake Guentzel
Phil Kessel
Evgeni Malkin
Phil Kessel (PPG)
Jake Guentzel (PPG)
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Penguins have skilled options in the Minors to add different dynamic in bottom-6
— With the trade deadline just over three months away, the easiest fix for the Penguins in the short-term is diving into the farm system to put a more skilled bottom-6 on the ice and see where things go before deciding whether to make an impact trade or not.
And they have candidates who could come in and provide that jolt.
No. 1 on the list is Daniel Sprong.
Sprong is a Phil Kessel type player who is horrid at times away from the puck but the skill level, most notably his shot coming down the wing is off the charts. Pittsburgh’s infatuation with Sprong needing to improve his play away from the puck needs to be toned down.
It’s never going to improve enough to appease coaches, whether he spends two more seasons in the minors or two weeks before an NHL call-up.
One discussion among the coaching staff with Sprong is whether [hide] they can handle having two Phil Kessel type players in the top-9 who can be major liabilities in the d-zone.
There’s also the flooded right wing position, especially with Ryan Reaves locked into a lineup spot every game.
However, for a team lacking skill and a dynamic player in the bottom-6 who can create his own shot and drive possession, Sprong deserves an opportunity soon and when he comes up the shackles need to be taken off and he needs to be allowed to play freely and not be afraid to make a mistake.
— Other candidates who could add more skill to the bottom-6 include winger Dominik Simon. A first line left winger in Wilkes Barre, Simon has 10 assists in 14 games and he’s a strong playmaker who see’s the ice really well. Can create offense for his linemates with the playmaking ability. He’d be an ideal player to put in over Tom [hide] Kuhnhackl as the 4th line left winger to give the line more skill.
— Thomas DiPauli has 7 goals in 13 games, including 6 even strength goals. He’s a proto-typical 4th line caliber of player. Can play all three position and has excellent north-south speed.
— Zach Aston Reese is a favorite of Jim Rutherford sources say and could be summoned before anyone, despite the lack of offensive production in the minors with 2 goals in 12 games. Aston-Reese is a less skilled player than Sprong and Simon, but brings Patric Hornqvist type ability around the net and below the dots. Speed has been a major question mark. [/hide]
Related posts:
Future Buzz, Rumblings on the Penguins core group of forwards
Scouts Buzz: Deeper Bottom-6 Forward Group, heavier reliance on Evgeni Malkin looms
Morrow Fallout: Once Malkin comes off IR, Penguins can’t carry 14 forwards, 8 defensemen as roster is in flux
The Latest Penguins Buzz: On the 23-Man Roster & Tough Decisions still ahead
