Player-By-Player Analysis - Centers
Justin Maffei | Pittsburgh Penguins
Aug 3, 09:45 PM | Hype this story!
Sidney Crosby – Arguably the best player in the NHL. He came back from a nasty high ankle sprain at the end of the season and appeared to continually regain his strength through the playoffs. He was visibly upset anytime that he discussed losing most of the season to injury, so look for him to come back with a vengeance this season.
Random statistic – For every sixty minutes that Crosby spends on the ice, the other team commits 8.4 penalties. Compare that to 3.8 penalties per sixty minutes when Crosby is not on the ice. His 3.4 penalties drawn per sixty seconds leads the league. The next closest comes in at 2.7.
Evgeni Malkin – Showed last season that he is ready to take on a bigger role. He carried the team on his back while Crosby was in the press box. His skills helped LW Ryan Malone to a career season that he will have a hard time duplicating.
Random statistic – Malkin proved to be a worthy investment for the Penguins. With a base salary of $984,200 and a total of 106 points, Malkin cost the Penguins only $9,284.91 per point. Compare that to Jarome Iginla who scored 98 points, 8 points less than Evgeni Malkin. His $7 million paycheck meant that he cost the Flames $71,428.57 per point scored.
Jordan Staal – A potential Selke Trophy winner. Most valuable at the center position because of his defensive skills, but may find himself on Evgeni Malkin’s left side this season. If Malkin could have the same production from the LW position, Staal would fit right in as the center on that line. After a strong offensive performance in his rookie season, Staal’s production declined last season. Look for Staal to regain some of his offensive game this season.
Maxime Talbot – A solid energy-line center. He could hold down a third-line or fourth-line center position. Talbot has some offensive upside, but it may be a stretch to put him on the first or second lines. Ideally, Talbot would replace Staal as the third line center this season with Staal moving to the second line.
Jeff Taffe – Taffe was a solid third and fourth line forward for the Penguins last season. He found himself at a wing position more often than center. This season he may settle in as the team’s everyday fourth line center. He showed a little offensive ability, but do not expect much from him unless he has a strong supporting cast.
Kris Beech – Beech is a solid reserve center to have on the team. Has the ability to be a solid offensive playmaker, but has never lived up to the expectations. He looked decent in the short time that he spent with the Penguins last season.
Coming soon: Player-By-Player Analysis – Wingers
Comments
HOCKEYpAT
Aug 4, 08:31 AM
I don!t like Beech and that was one signing I wish we didn!t do he was bad the first and second signing I dont expect him to be much better. Am I right does he have a two way contract?
Pens1967
Aug 4, 09:46 AM
Yesterday the Tribune-Review had a Q&A with Crosby. The most interesting thing was that in what seemed about every answer he talked about how disappointing losing in the final was. It sure sounded to me like Sid is already uber-motivated for this year!
THEONEANDONLYSURGE
Aug 4, 11:09 AM
HOCKEYPAT, Beech was signed to a two way contract. I think signing Beech was a good idea. He still posses the skills to make him a decent playmaking center, as stated above. If he fails to be that he is still no worse than a fourth line grinder. Like Pesonen, that is a fair risk. Well not really a risk, they aren’t paying him much so if he doesn’t’ perform as a playmaker so what. If he does finally perform to his potential it just creates another weapon in the Pens arsenal.
Matt Bodenschatz
Aug 4, 11:45 AM
Pens1967, here is a quote that stood out to me from the “Trib’s”: Q&A.
“Q: How much more motivated are you to win the Stanley Cup after losing in the final?
“A: I thought I was motivated before. It’s definitely more now. Being that close and not being able to do it — it’s just hard. The quicker you can get back and win it, the better.”
HockeyPat, yes Beech is on a two-way contract. He was brought in for depth purposes only and is signed to a very affordable contract. The signing isn’t that bad, considering he likely will ride the pine or the buses of the AHL (if he somehow clears waivers…which he couldn’t do last season on numerous occasions).
Surge, you nailed it.
Pens1967
Aug 4, 01:54 PM
Matt, in another of the questions Sid was asked about Hossa and said they’d been playing “phone tag” since he signed with Detroit. Boy, I’d love to listen in that call. I’ll bet that will add even more fuel to Sid’s fire. :)
HOCKEYpAT
Aug 4, 02:21 PM
Matt: As reported on one of the radioi stations Sid was to have spent hours on the phone trying to connvince Hoss to stay I didn’t believe it then and I believe Sid when he said they played phone tag. I do believe also that Sid will be biting at the bit to get to the Cup again this year. And I believe we will and we will win it.
Matt Bodenschatz
Aug 4, 02:52 PM
It’s definitely not out of the question for the Pens to win the Cup this year. Clearly, Detroit is the team to beat, but I suspect that, had they played a more physical/challenging opponent in the initial three rounds of the playoffs, the Penguins would have done much better. And, with another year of experience under their belt, the Penguins certainly will be one of the teams everyone is gunning for.
Slipstream
Aug 4, 10:24 PM
HockeyPat, well, to be specific, the question was whether Crosby had talked with Hossa since Hossa signed with Detroit. Crosby never said that they hadn’t talked BEFORE the signing. And there were enough media reports about that for me to believe that Crosby did try to convince Hossa to sign here. It just seems like the kind of thing Crosby would feel he owed it to the team and to himself to try. I don’t think it’s farfetched at all.
Justin Maffei
Aug 6, 08:09 PM
Jeffrey could have been included in this list, but I chose not to put him here because of the depth at the position. Because of that depth, I do not believe we will be seeing Jeffrey in 2008-09. Crosby, Malkin, and Talbot are locks. Staal may be moved to wing, but if not, he will be included in the depth at center. Throw Taffe and Beech in that mix and I think seeing Jeffrey is unlikely though not impossible. He has impressed the coaches.
Matt Bodenschatz
Aug 6, 09:42 PM
Justin, I think you made the right call. Barring extreme injury scenarios, Jeffrey is a longshot to make this team. There is absolutely zero reason to rush him to the NHL, especially if his role is on the fourth line, where he’d play very little.
Justin Maffei
Aug 8, 11:22 PM
He won’t be on the team this year, Tom.
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