S.O.S. - The Ship Is Sinking
Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins
Oct 7, 10:17 AM | Hype this story!
With two games behind the Pittsburgh Penguins, fans already are worried about the season.
The power play is terrible, the defense needs another offensive-style player, Marc-Andre Fleury isn’t in playoff form, Crosby needs “real” wingers, etc.
And, really, that’s about half the list.
Sure, the Penguins exposed a few major flaws in their first two regular season games in Stockholm, Sweden, but they also took home two points.
While 26 other teams continued training camp and fielded rosters of minor leaguers for their preseason games, the Penguins and three other teams had had a trimmed roster for more than a week.
Think about that.
Twenty-six teams remain in training camp mode — and will until Wednesday, when final cuts must be made — while the Penguins already have had a week of traditional practice and two regular season games.
It’s not natural to expect them to be in playoff form because, well, they should technically still be in preseason form.
My intention is not to get into the negatives of the trip to Europe, as Jesse Marshall did a fine job of that yesterday. What I do want to point out, however, is that the Europe trip has sped up the process for the Penguins in a number of ways.
First, they started camp early. Instead of reporting to camp Friday, September 19, they reported three days earlier on Tuesday.
Next, they had to have their roster trimmed significantly before their flight to Sweden Saturday, September 27.
Last, they had to adjust to a new time zone, a smaller rink, and screwed up benches (with one door).
So, instead of losing three days of training camp, as their three day jump start would indicate, they really lost nine days.
Anyone expecting a team, any team, to be in playoff form — or even typical early season form — is expecting too much.
It’s not time to panic.
It’s not time to make trades or sign free agents.
And it’s not time to juggle line permanently.
What it is time for is patience.
The season is 82 games long, and the Penguins have played just two.
If, a month or two down the road, the Penguins continue to struggle on the power play, continue to need another offensive defensemen, continue to get good but not great performances from Fleury, and continue to need wingers for Crosby, it might be time to start questioning the team.
But not now. Not yet.
We’re just coming off a summer without the best sport in the world. Let’s at least enjoy it a little.
Comments
Head Coach Michel Therrien
Oct 7, 11:12 AM
Dear Reader of de Faceoff of de Factor,
A year has pass since I write my note
But I should ‘ave known dis right from de start
Only ‘ope can keep de team together
De PP can mend your life but
De PP can break your heart
Me and Yeo sen’ an S.O.S. to de world
I hope dat some message board poster gets my
Message on de message board, oh
I love de Sting an’ de Police. De make my heart sing an’ de make de plane ride go faster.
After reading de message board poster an’ de opinion of de mass, it seem as dough we ‘ave jus’ loss ten game in a row, no?
Matt is right. We need de patience.
De season is jus’ start.
Are you de same fan dat came along for de ride las’ season? Do you not remeber de up an’ de down?
Listen, all I can say is buckle up. We ‘ave eighty more game to go-ligoski.
What, did you forget about de HCMT?
-Michel
Stravers
Oct 7, 11:22 AM
Are there that many fair weather penguins fan? Did anyone learn anything last season? Lets take a quick look back. Last season they won 8 of 21 games before their season changing performance on November 22 with a OT win against Ottawa. I think Matt is right it is time to relax and watch the start of this season unfold to see how things work out. The start of the 07-08 season including preseason the pens won 3 of 8. The start of the 08-09 season including preseason the pens won 5 or 7 games. Things are looking good to me.
Matt Bodenschatz
Oct 7, 11:44 AM
Michel! Very nice Police reference! Nice to see you back.
Stravers — am I to assume this is Mark? — you hit the nail on the head with your reference to last year’s start and their preseason performance.
The team is without its top two offensive defensemen. Of course the power play is going to start out slow. The team is without its top two minute-logging defensemen. Of course the defensive side of things will be shaky. Fedotenko and Satan have been with the team 3 weeks. Of course they’ll need time to adjust to the world’s best center.
Two games do not make a season. There are 80 to go.
Thanks for the comments, fellas!
THEONEANDONLYSURGE
Oct 7, 12:43 PM
Matt, you just pointed out the biggest concern in your last comment. I’m not saying the season is lost but I’m worried now more than two weeks ago. Two weeks ago referring to when we first found out that Gonch would miss the majority of the season. Also, counting on what happend last season to happen again is a mistake. Hope we perform that well after a bad start ok. But to count on it is a mistake. I’m not saying we are going to have that bad of a start but I’m concerned seeing as how our top defensmen are more like 3 and 5 usually. Letang does have a lot of talent but lets not froget how young and in-expeirenced he is. As for the two new top line forwards, let just say I now see why people called them soft. The back check does seem better than expected from these two but did you see how many times Satan fell after a bump with another player. Again, I’m not saying I think the Pens need a blockbuster trade, signing or anything of the sort. I’m just saying I see concerns.
Alex
Oct 7, 01:23 PM
Tom and all complaining about the PP,
While I do agree with your take on one timers from the point, I think it is still too early to have huge concerns about the power play issues. These PP lines have had two games together (yes, I know, 14 chances and a 5 on 3).
The thing that I noticed a few times (when we actually could set up and possess the puck in the zone up high) and liked was how willing Goligoski was to move around on the point with Letang. Goligoski was set up on the RIGHT a few times, would criss-cross with Letang and then move down low with everyone else cycling around. I hope that this type of movement on the PP is a sign of things to come.
The PP had two horrible games. The coaches know this, the players know this, and I’m sure it will be addressed.
Also, Surge, I’m not sure I agree with your assessment of the top two lines being soff. Fedo can bang with the best of them, Sid always takes the body, and Satan (while not known for physical play) doesn’t shy away from contact or prime scoring areas. The times he fell could have something to do with the opposition actually getting a good hit on him, him losing an edge, bad ice, etc. It does not mean he is soft. Now, if I saw him shying away from all contact or not competing for lose pucks I would agree, but it’s not the case. As for the second line, I saw no evidence of them being soft at all. What did you see that makes you say this?
Ultimately, give it time. They’ve played two games, one of which they won.
Matt Bodenschatz
Oct 7, 01:24 PM
Surge, I agree there is room for concern. Panic? Not even close. The preseason looked great even after Gonchar was out. Nothing is guaranteed, and every win must be earned, but there is too much talent on this team for me to panic after 2 games.
Tom, I also agree that more offense would come from the points on the power play if the defensemen had their sticks facing the middle of the ice rather than the boards. With that being said, I’m quite confident the reasoning is that, since we’re talking about two very young players to be PP QBs, Therrien wants them to be in a more comfortable position defensively, which would have their sticks against the boards.
As time goes on and these two become more comfortable with their roles as PP QBs, you’ll see them switched so they are better set up for one timers. This team is coached defense first, and this is an example of that mentality.
Fed
Oct 7, 02:24 PM
As already said, it’s early. The European trip (while it may help with overall chemistry) did not help the on ice chemistry. It may take a while for things to gel. I am not worried about the start of the season. I would rather have the Pens start slow and peak closer to the playoffs than start fast and fade like last year’s Sens.
DAVID SCOTT
Oct 7, 03:57 PM
Let me see if I get this right…
We play 2 games, take away 2 points, and the fans are panicking?
The PP, especially in a shortened pre-season, is barely worked on in camp. Not only do we have our point men out in Gonch and Whitney, Sykora is out and we lost Malone to FA. The PP will get worked out, players will get healthy, and the Pens will be fine!
I would LOVE to see 2 COMPLETE PP Units, with each being a threat.
PPU 1a. Malkin, Satan, Stall, Gonch and Letang
PPU 1b. Crosby, Sykora, Kennedy, Whitney and Goligoski
While the team works out the Kinks (You Really Got Me), we need to acknowledge that we to 2 of a possible 4 points. HCMT and the Pens have almost a full week with the FINAL ROSTER to work it all out.
PENS IN ’09
THEONEANDONLYSURGE
Oct 7, 04:59 PM
Alex, you misread my post. I never said Sid or the second line was soft. I said the two new players on the top line seemed soft. The main reason I posted this was, when they were signed that was the most common concern. Everyone seemed to think they were soft. Fedotenko played really well for Tampa but seemed to decline in NY. Now after watching the first two games of the season I can kinda see what folks were talking about. Satan might not of avoided contact but even with a small amount of pushing he seemed to go down easy. Now I’m not saying he didn’t take a hit, I’m talking about a little pushing against the boards. I don’t believe Satan is a big guy. He’s listed as 6’3 and 191. So he is 3 inches taller than Sykora and weighs 1 pound more. I can understand he might not throw a big hit but he should be able to at least stay on his feet against the boards. Sorry just had to clarify that as you completly took what I said out of context.
THEONEANDONLYSURGE
Oct 7, 05:32 PM
I think some have the wrong impression here. At least based on comments referring to my comments. I don’t think anyone can make any true predictions as to the outcome of the season beyond a complete guess. I think there are some major concerns but these guys are professionals and could turn the concerns right around. It’s going to be a fun season and I’m sure we will have the usual ups and downs but part of the fun is trying to analyze everything that happens. The outcome of this past weekend is a good one but the on ice performance is scary. Then again Ottawa is a good team with few new faces. It is possible they will have another great start but its the finish that counts.
Dabich
Oct 7, 06:37 PM
Matt, well said. Two games into the season, and already we have fans hitting the panic button.
Give the guys a chance to hook up and get some chemistry going.
I’m not alarmed…let the games roll on!
Commenting is closed for this article.