Penguins Season Grades: Forwards
Mike Adams | Report Cards
Jun 17, 02:35 PM | Hype this story!
After that exhilarating ride through the playoffs that culminated with the Cup returning to its rightful place, it’s time to take a step back and evaluate the Penguins. What follows are their end-of-season grades. The methodology is a bit different compared to previous years. This time, we use their salary as a baseline against which to grade them. Did they earn what they made? As always, it is subjective, and feel free to argue the grades in the comments section.
Craig Adams: B
He was an unheralded deadline day pickup by Ray Shero. But he played very well down the stretch and in the playoffs. He gave Coach B. another dependable penalty killer. Known as a winger, he was even decent in the faceoff circle. And he scored twice against his former Carolina mates.
Paul Bissonnette: C
He only saw action early in the season. Not sure if he has the speed to play forward in Coach B.’s system. But you have to admire how he has stuck with it through some tough times in the organ-eye-zation. I also loved that he was always willing to fight for his teammates.
Luca Caputi: Incomplete
He scored in his first game, but in none of the four that followed. Then he broke some team rules in Wilkes Barre and was sent to Wheeling. He wasn’t even among those recalled to be Black Aces in the playoffs. He’s going to have to earn his way back into the team’s good graces if he wants to be in Pittsburgh come Fall. But he has promise.
Matt Cooke: A
He filled his role to perfection. He hit. He agitated. And he even scored every now and then, which made him a more-than-adequate replacement for Jarkko Ruutu. And his style meshes perfectly into Coach B.’s system. Great signing by Shero.
Sidney Crosby: A-
Expectations for Sid are always unreasonably high. His regular season was uneven. But he sure was there when it mattered in the playoffs. A disappointing Final lowered his grade a tad, but he was a stud the first three rounds, especially in the showdown against Alex Ovechkin. And his leadership just keeps getting better by the day.
Pascal Dupuis: D
He does his job okay, but he just isn’t worth the $1.4 mil he’s getting paid. In a no cap world, he’s fine. But for a team tight against the cap, he’s a luxury. I expect him to be dealt.
Ruslan Fedotenko: B
He was only so-so during the regular season, but he was once again a playoff stud. He was fourth on the team in playoff scoring, and was also a physical presence. It would be nice if Shero can find the cap space to bring him back.
Eric Godard: C
While I admire his ability to stand up for his teammates, he really has no hockey skills at all. But it’s great having a guy like this around in the regular season. He is a far better deterrent than Georges Laraque was since he’s a bit of a loose cannon and will fight all takers.
Bill Guerin: A
What a pleasant surprise. I was wary of his attitude when they got him, but he apparently allayed those fears the first time he met Sid. And he can still play and skate, too. He almost always made the smart play, even as some of his teammates tried to be too fancy. He’s probably not worth the $4.5 mil he made this year, but if they can sign him to a lower figure, it would be great to have him back.
Connor James: Incomplete
He’s just a space filler for Wilkes Barre.
Dustin Jeffrey: B
I thought he was pretty impressive in his brief callup. He looks to be the type of guy who can fill a third or fourth line role. And he might well get that chance if Dupuis gets dealt.
Tyler Kennedy: B+
Another third/fourth liner who can move up in a pinch. His speed and tenaciousness are perfect in that role. And let’s not forget all the clutch goals he scored, too.
Chris Kunitz: C-
He was a hitting machine in the playoffs, but $3.5 mil is a lot to pay for a hitter. His goal scoring touch completely deserted him after his first few weeks in Pittsburgh. He’s going to have to get that back or he will be a cap liability.
Evgeni Malkin: A
What an amazing season Geno had. Regular season scoring leader. Playoff scoring leader. Save for a few games here and there (mainly early in the Washington series), he was a playoff stud. The kid just keeps getting better and better as he grows more comfortable. He really does remind me of Mario in his younger years.
Chris Minard: F
A minor league goal machine who has been unable to translate that to the NHL level. More minor-league space filler.
Janne Pesonen: Incomplete
This highly-heralded import from Finland failed to live up to the billing. He was never given a fair chance by The Genius, but did put up huge numbers in the minors. It will be interesting to see if he gets a shot at replacing Petr Sykora on Malkin’s flank next year. Or if they even decide to resign him.
Miroslav Satan: D
Only his team-oriented reaction to his demotion saves him from the dreaded F. He never fit in with Sid and failed to perform anywhere near his contract level. Thankfully, it was only a one-year deal.
Jordan Staal: B
He is still maddeningly inconsistent, but he is still only 20 years old. Sometimes we forget that. He did seem to get better under Coach B.’s aggressive system, and he played well in the playoffs. His confidence will hopefully soar now, and 30 goals is not out of the question next year.
Ryan Stone: Incomplete
Hey, because of him, we were able to unload Dany Sabourin. That’s at least something, right?
Petr Sykora: D
Talk about a disappearing act. He was invisible once Coach B. took over. He did score25 goals. Let’s not forget that. But he did squat when it mattered the most. This grade could rise if we were to discover that he was playing hurt. But what will it matter? I doubt he’ll be back next year unless he takes a huge pay cut.
Jeff Taffe: D-
More AHL space filler.
Max Talbot: A
Need I say more? He’s just the type of glue any good team needs. He can score a little (ask Detroit). he can mix it up at times (ask Daniel Carcillo). And he’s great in the room.
Bill Thomas: D
The Fox Chapel native got to play in his hometwon. Unfortunately, he didn’t play very well.
Tim Wallace: C
He showed some promise as a lower line player, but whether he has enough talent to stick is questionable. At least he never takes a shift off.
Mike Zigomanis: B+
Great faceoff ability, which was sorely needed at the time. But the arrival of Adams might mean Zigo is gonzo.
Tomorrow: Defensemen
Comments
FDeuce
Jun 17, 03:54 PM
what about the great mike zigomanis?
Mike Adams
Jun 17, 04:18 PM
My apologies. Fixed.
bag o' pucks
Jun 17, 05:10 PM
Good stuff. I think the club has room for both Zigo and Adams, but Dupuis must go. And it’s nothing personal. Seems like a good guy, just not worth the $1.4M, and I thought the same thing when he first re-signed. Almost seemed to me that Shero felt compelled to retain something from the Hossa deal.
I’ve never seen the Mario-Malkin comparison. To my eyes, Malkin looks like the second coming of Jagr, despite Jagr playing on the wing. When Mario & Francis left, Jagr controlled the puck whenever he was on the ice, nevermind who was the centerman, right along the same half-wall where Malkin is so effective now.
Otherwise, they’re both like big ol’ untamed horses galloping around the ice with the puck on a string and a sick shot. They use their bodies very similarly, leaning and shielding the puck. It’s like a carbon copy, only Malkin hasn’t filled out like Jagr did (and may not ever, as Jagr was around 230 near the end of his NHL career).
But, regardless, when I watch Malkin I see a young Jagr (sans mullet, of course).
Matt Bodenschatz
Jun 17, 06:01 PM
@Bags, I agree. I could see a fourth line of Jeffrey-Zigomanis-Adams next year. It’d be cheap, but very effective. Exchange Godard for Jeffrey or Adams against more brute teams.
I also agree that Dupuis’s burdensome $1.4 million contract has to go. As much as I like the guy, he’s just not worth it.
Pens1967
Jun 17, 06:02 PM
Bags, I completely agree with your comparison of Malkin with Jagr. Boy, I would love to see Jags back for a year to play with Malkin. That line would be unstoppable, imho.
DaBich
Jun 17, 06:37 PM
I’m looking for Staal to come into his own this next season. It will be time.
Pens, do you think the fans would put up with Jagr? I know I would, he’s still a damn good player. It might be interesting!
Pens1967
Jun 17, 08:38 PM
Dab, yeah, I think Pens fans are ready to put their past with Jagr behind them.
Tom, Mormina is a UFA.
bag o' pucks
Jun 17, 09:05 PM
I agree, 67, on both points. I think the fans would embrace Jags and he would look awesome with Malkin.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jun 17, 09:31 PM
@Pens, Jagr would be nice if for no reason other than fond memories. I get the feeling, though, that his comments a while back that he would return as gratitude to Lemieux was lip service to the city of Pittsburgh and really had no backing.
@Tom, I think we’ll see one or two of Caputi, Tangradi, Pesonen, and Jeffrey in the NHL at the start of next season. By the end, we may see more. As you know, though, I believe that players like Caputi and Tangradi, who are young and continue to develop, are best served with quality minutes. So, unless they are on the top three lines, the should be in the AHL. Jeffrey, on the other hand, projects to be a Talbot-like player, and fourth line minutes wouldn’t stunt his development.
As for Lovejoy and Mormina, I’m not sure either will be in the NHL, let alone both. My guess is Scuderi somehow will be re-signed and Lovejoy will be the seventh defender.
This will be a tough offseason for Shero, but he has given Penguins fans much to believe in, and I’m sure I’m not alone when I say I trust he’ll put together a quality roster.
bag o' pucks
Jun 17, 10:33 PM
Matt, in terms of defense: I think Scuds must be a priority, at an agreeable price, of course. Otherwise, I agree with your assessment of the seven D in Pittsburgh being: Sarge, Orpik, Scuds, Eaton, Letang, Gogo, Lovejoy.
If they can’t re-sign Scuds, they’ll have to look to free agency for an able six-spot.
WB/S will have Engelland, D’Aversa, Strait, Grant, and Bortuzzo on NHL deals. Lane Caffaro signed an AHL deal today. Four rooks, maybe they retain another veteran, could be Mormina, Cote, or any of a number of steady career AHLers. Reid Cashman or Elgin Reid are options, as well. If no one else picks him up, maybe the Pens offer Jake Muzzin an AHL deal (though I suspect he’ll end up with a deal in Toronto). =)
Plenty left to be fleshed out.
Derek Roy
Jun 18, 01:01 AM
Great overall grades and comments. What do you mean Sid had an uneven season?? Could it have been any better? I agree with the Satan comment all the way too, he is good, just does not fit on the team. The comments about Dupuis.. spot on.
Pens1967
Jun 18, 07:05 AM
Matt, while my comment about Jagr coming back is mostly wishful thinking on my part, I do think Jags was sincere about returning to Pgh to finish out his career. He’s never sold his house here after all even though he will ultimately return to the Czech Republic to live.
Pens1967
Jun 18, 07:20 AM
Personally, I wouldn’t be that interested in having Guerin back. I realize Sid seems to like having him around as “sounding board”, but we can’t forget that Guerin was mailing it in on the Island last year until he was traded to Pgh. I wonder how he would react if the Pens start off next year like they did this year. Also, I seriously doubt Guerin could keep up with Crosby as his winger for a full year. Last, remember Recchi and Roberts appeared “rejunvenated” in Pgh, too, when they were re-signed and they petered out.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jun 18, 09:53 AM
@Bags, your last sentence says it all: plenty left to flesh out. There are so many ways this whole plan can shape up that it’s next to impossible to predict — and that’s exactly why it is so fun to try!
@Derek, Sid struggled a bit this season, but he pulled it together when it mattered most.
@Pens, I realize your comment was wishful thinking. I simply was adding my thoughts. I too would love to see Jagr finish his career here, but with one year left on his Russian contract, his comments seemed more like ear candy than sincerity. Maybe I’m wrong. I hope I’m wrong.
As for Guerin, good points — but I’d still take him back, at the right price of course. He’s aging, yes. He mailed it in while in New York, yes. But consider these points. At age 39, he’s better now than Roberts ever was, in terms of pure talent and hockey sense. He never seems to make the wrong play. In New York, the team had zero chance to do anything from the start of the playoffs. It’s tough to get motivated in such a situation. In Pittsburgh, he’ll know the Penguins are Cup contenders from day one. That will help keep him focused.
Now, I realize he may not be able to keep up with Crosby all season, but he may be able to be used in a more limited role, playing fewer minutes and taking games off periodically. If he can be had for $2.5 million on a one year contract, I think Shero will and should sign him.
Pens1967
Jun 18, 11:15 AM
Matt, I’m just not sold on Guerin. I’m not sure I want a player who mails it in just because he plays on a poor team. That isn’t showing leadership, especially for someone who was captain of his team. Sid played on a pretty bad team his first year. Did he mail it in?
I know he’s taken a lot of abuse from Pens fans, but Satan played through injuries last year on the Island when it would have been easier for him to have quit and used that as an excuse not to play.
I agree Guerin is far superior to Gary Roberts except in the scariness dept. :)
If Guerin wants to play for 1-1.5M, I might be interested in bringing him back.
Pens1967
Jun 18, 04:40 PM
Tom, I realize Mormina has NHL experience and played very well at WBS this year. I just wanted to point out he is a UFA and there is no guarantee the Pens will re-sign him.
Albert
Jun 23, 10:47 PM
Graded relative to salaries:
Adams = A
Bissonette = C
Caputi = C+
Cooke = A-
Crosby = A (A- reg season, A+ playoffs)
Dupuis = C-
Tenk = B- (>$2M is steep for 16 goals)
Godard = A+ (he’s the best in that role)
Guerin = D+ (great play, not worth $4.5M)
Kennedy = A
Kunitz = C-
Malkin = A+
Satan = F
Staal = A+ (still on lower price contract)
Sykora = B
Talbot = A+
Wallace = C+
Zigomanis = A-
P.S.
I thought Crosby deserved the Conn Smythe. He was fantastic. Pens don’t beat Philly OR Washington without him playing out of his mind. And the 2nd and 3rd lines don’t have the space and time they did against the Red Wings, if Babock isn’t committing his five very best defensive players (Zetterberg line + Lidstrom pairing, ALWAYS) to ONE man: Crosby.
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