Faceoff Factor

Which Way Will They Go?

Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins

Mar 5, 01:29 PM | Hype this story!

In the week since Marian Hossa was acquired from the Atlanta Thrashers, comparisons have suggested the Pittsburgh Penguins could be traveling down the same road as the Tampa Bay Lighting.

But what about the road the Ottawa Senators took?

It’s only natural for people to look for the negative in every situation, but I want to take a look at the future of the Penguins with an optimistic pair of glasses.

Why can’t the Penguins keep a talent-heavy roster for the long haul and still remain Cup contenders?

The Lightning were unable to do it with Vincent Lacavalier, Martin St. Louis and Brad Richards all earning large paychecks, but the Senators have been able to do it with Jason Spezza, Daniel Alfredson, Dany Heatley and Wade Redden making a pretty penny.

When I look at the Penguins, the model that comes to mind isn’t one from the south, but rather the north. Isn’t that were hockey was meant to be played anyway?

And didn’t general manager Ray Shero start his NHL career with the Senators organization?

The Senators have done a spectacular job of locking in their superstar core, while providing a solid supporting cast through the farm system and through savvy free agency signings.

The Lightning, on the other hand, have had little in the way of minor league talent find its way to the NHL. And, when players have been promoted, they certainly haven’t had a profound impact on the team. They’ve done okay in free agency, but I wouldn’t say their signings have been anywhere close to as good as those made by the Senators.

So, what we are seeing is that one team drafts well, thus keeps its minor league system well-stocked and is skilled at finding free agents to fill niche roles, while the other team is poor at drafting and okay at adding quality free agents.

Which team sounds more like the Penguins?

Considering the rash of injuries this season and the success the team has had, methinks Ottawa is the answer.

What Shero has done since arriving two years ago is add the right pieces through free agency. Veterans such as Mark Eaton, Jarkko Ruutu and Darryl Sydor all have had a positive impact on the team, while depth players including Jeff Taffe and Ty Conklin have emerged as crucial elements to the team’s success

These are the types of players the Lightning rarely employ and, as a result, they have seen a steady decline in their production as their star players have signed big contracts. Essentially, what has happened is that the top-end players were paid the big bucks, while the role players, for the most part, were neglected.

The opposite is true in Ottawa, where the star players have earned big paychecks, but the role players have not been ignored.

Shero’s tenure as GM indicates that his goal is to provide a well-balanced team capable of rolling four lines. The ice time of star players such as Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby supports this philosophy, as neither is being worn thin.

As the Penguins roll into the playoffs and, with time, the offseason, Shero will be posed with a difficult situation: should he sign Hossa or let him walk.

With the certainly of Malkin earning at least $8 million per year, can Shero afford to keep Hossa, who likely will want at least $7 million, and still field a competitive team?

The answer to both is yes, and Ottawa is proof of this.

It’s not going to be easy to fill the supporting roles as Crosby, Malkin, Hossa, Ryan Whitney, and eventually Marc-Andre Fleury and Jordan Staal account for a significant portion of the team’s payroll.

But, through solid drafting and savvy free agency signings, it can be done.

Shero’s no slouch, and his tenure suggests that he is anything but incompetent, which should be a breath of fresh air for Penguins fans who endured years of selling off superstars during the final years of the Craig Patrick era.

Make no mistake about it, the future is bright, and the Penguins will sustain a winning team just as the Senators have for years.