Faceoff Factor

Minard Should Get A Tryout Next To Crosby

Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins

Dec 5, 01:34 PM | Hype this story!

It’s difficult to gauge any player on one game or even a handful, but Chris Minard made a solid impression on me last night in filling in for injured winger Tyler Kennedy on the third line.

He played with intensity and speed, and even had a beauty of a pass in close on Michael Leighton that surely would have resulted in a Matt Cooke goal had his stick not been lifted at the last second.

At age 27, Minard hasn’t found his way to the NHL on a full-time basis, but as a fill-in, he certainly hasn’t looked out of place.

In fact, with a team-high five hits, he stood out in a good way last night.

And, with 30 points (17 goals, 13 assists) in 22 games – good for second in the AHL – Minard has proven capable of scoring at the minor league level.

The question is: does he have what it takes to do so against NHL-caliber talent?

If nothing else, we know he at least is capable of converting on passes from elite NHL playmakers.

In 2004-05, as the NHL season was canceled due to a lockout, Minard found himself the lucky recipient of Scott Gomez’s passes, as the then-New Jersey Devil played for his hometown Alaska Aces of the ECHL.

The result was Minard’s best year statistically, posting 78 points (49 goals, 29 assists) in 69 games, and the undrafted winger also earned himself a call-up to the AHL for a game.

Minard’s play and relationship with Gomez earned him a tryout with the Devils following the lockout, and he later signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

He’s taken his play to a new level this season in the AHL, and is doing so without the help of a brilliant playmaker, such as Gomez.

With the Penguins struggling to get production out of their wingers – in particular, those from the left side – Minard very well may be in line for a tryout on Sidney Crosby’s left wing.

Pascal Dupuis is fast and feisty, but has hands of stone. Max Talbot has better hands, but is a natural center playing out of position on the wing. And Janne Pesonen, the Finnish player signed as a free agent this past summer, apparently has not yet earned the trust of Michel Therrien’s coaching staff, as his stints in the NHL have resulted in minimal ice time – and that’s being kind.

None have proven themselves worthy of a permanent spot on Crosby’s wing, and a winger by committee scenario just doesn’t seem ideal.

Minard has the size – he stands 6’1 and weighs 190 pounds (though I’d bet he’s closer to 200) — the speed, and the drive to succeed.

After all, the undrafted winger has worked his way to the NHL. A player with that kind of motivation certainly can’t be ruled out.

An audition couldn’t hurt.