Ten Names that Ray Shero Should Have on His List
Justin Maffei | Pittsburgh Penguins
Jan 31, 04:27 PM | Hype this story!
With the NHL Trade Deadline little more than a month away, GM Ray Shero is likely going to be busy trying to swing a deal that will improve the Penguins roster. This is a list of players with whom Shero should start. There is much potential on the trade market, but how much he is willing to give up is the question.
The season stats are current as of January 30, prior to the games that night.
Nik Antropov ($2.15M, C/RW, TOR)
What’s to like?
Antropov is very Staal-esque. He is big, strong, and has a long reach. He is still young at 28 and his contract is somewhat small.
What’s not to like?
Antropov is very Staal-esque. He has trouble scoring at times. It would also likely take a significant player or two to persuade Toronto to give him up.
Season Stats: 14 G, 22 A, 36 Pts, -10
Potential Role with the Penguins: Top Six Forward.
Radek Bonk ($1.6M, C, NSH)
What’s to like?
Bonk is second in the league in Faceoff Percentage at 60.8%. With Zigomanis out for the rest of the season, the Penguins could use a strong faceoff man.
What’s not to like?
His salary is pretty high for the role in which the Penguins would likely use him.
Season Stats: 5 G, 10 A, 15 Pts, -6
Potential Role with the Penguins: Fourth Line Center/Faceoff Specialist
Keith Tkachuk ($4.5M, C/LW, STL)
What’s to like?
Tkachuk is the power forward that the team has been lacking since Malone and Roberts left. He also can provide some veteran leadership to our young team. Finally, he has the potential to show Jordan Staal how to use his large frame to his advantage.
What’s not to like?
Tkachuk is getting up there in age and his production has slowed a bit. His 14 +/ is a little worrying, especially since it is tied for the second worst on the Blues.
Season Stats: 15 G, 16 A, 31 Pts, -14
Potential Role with the Penguins: Top Line Winger
Bill Guerin ($4.5M, RW, NYI)
What’s to like?
There is much about Guerin to like. He has a sweet scoring touch. Guerin also has Stanley Cup experience, winning it with the Devils when he was 24. Beyond all of that, Guerin is a right-handed shot; something for which the Penguins have been looking for a few years now.
What’s not to like?
It is likely that Guerin would be a rental. His contract ends after the season, and he has not been known to take a discount to play for a good team. His leadership skills have also been questioned.
Season Stats: 14 G, 18 A, 32 Pts, -8
Potential Role with the Penguins: Top Line Winger
Maxim Afinogenov (RW, BUF)
What’s to like?
Afinogenov has blinding speed. In the seven seasons in which he has played in at least 56 games, he has scored less than 15 goals only twice.
What’s not to like?
This looks like another year in which he will score less than 15 goals. He has been a big disappointment this year for the Sabres. Afinogenov also has a groin injury that has caused him to miss 10 games so far.
Season Stats: 2 G, 10 A, 12 Pts, -14
Potential Role with the Penguins: Top Six Winger
Colby Armstrong ($1.2M, RW, ATL)
What’s to like?
Army is a hard worker. He is not afraid of jumping into a scrap, but he also has a scoring touch. He is (or was) good friends with Sid. He has a modest salary as well.
What’s not to like?
He passes on shots far too often to be a legitimate scoring winger. He plays best as an energy line winger.
Season Stats: 13 G, 9 A, 22 Pts, +1
Potential Role with the Penguins: Top Six Winger/Energy Line Winger
Martin St. Louis ($5M, RW, TB)
What’s to like?
St. Louis is signed through 2011, meaning the Penguins would have his services for 2+ years if they were to trade for him before the deadline. He produces. In the years from 2002-2008 (minus 2004 due to the NHL lockout), St. Louis scored 33, 38, 31, 43, and 25 goals, respectively. He has good speed, is an above average penalty killer, and gives his all.
What’s not to like?
St. Louis has always taken criticism for being small. He needs to shoot more.
Season Stats: 18 G, 30 A, 48 Pts, +9
Potential Role with the Penguins: Top Line Winger
JP Dumont ($4M, RW, NSH)
What’s to like?
Like St. Louis, Dumont would have an extended stay in the ‘Burgh. He signed a four year extension in early 2008. He has a nice scoring touch and is willing to work in front of the net and in the corners. Six out of nine years in the NHL, Dumont has scored 20+ goals
What’s not to like?
His production is not great this year. He needs to put in some extra effort and use his size more effectively.
Season Stats: 9 G, 26 A, 35 Pts, -4
Potential Role with the Penguins: Top Six Winger
Milan Hejduk ($4M, RW, COL)
What’s to like?
Think Sykora, but slightly better. Hejduk is a true scorer. He has a great shot and moves well without the puck. Hejduk is also under contract until the end of next year.
What’s not to like?
Hejduk has had problems outside of the rink. In 2001, he was charged with careless driving in which some say alcohol was involved. He has trouble standing up for himself at times.
Season Stats: 17 G, 19 A, 36 Pts, -9
Potential Role with the Penguins: Top Line Winger
Erik Cole ($4.0M, LW, EDM)
What’s to like?
Cole is a power forward who is willing to put in the work. He is not afraid to throw his body around and has been a consistent double digit scorer.
What’s not to like?
$4 million is a lot of money for a guy with serious injury concerns. He injured vertebrae in 2006 and missed a good deal of time. He’s 30 and has had a difficult injury. It is not out of the question that his production starts to slide.
Season Stats: 12 G, 10 A, 22 Pts, -2
Potential Role with the Penguins: Top Six Winger
Honorable Mentions
Petr Prucha ($1.6M, LW, NYR) – Prucha would be a great pick up for the Pens, and the Rangers do not hold Prucha in very high esteem. However, a trade within the division is unlikely.
Mike Knuble ($2.8M, RW, PHI) – See Petr Prucha. However, the Flyers do recognize the contributions of Knuble.
Ilya Kovalchuk ($7.5M, LW, ATL) – Kovalchuk is definitely worth the money, but it is unlikely that he will ever be anything but an opponent to Sidney Crosby.
Martin Erat ($3.5M, RW, NSH) – A very good playmaker, but the Penguins have enough of those. They need someone who can finish.
Comments
Dave
Feb 1, 03:00 PM
I like some of the names on this list. I’d love to see the Pens land a younger power forward who is signed (Dustin Penner who seems to be in the dog house in EDM, Bobby Ryan but that’s very unlikely, Nathan Horton but that would be expensive). Would like to see Army back.
Chrislovesthepens
Feb 1, 03:44 PM
I like hejduk or Guerin. Either of these players would be a great addition.
DaBich
Feb 2, 06:46 AM
St. Louis seems to be the best one on your list.
Small can be overcome…he can finish, and that is good.
Matt Bodenschatz
Feb 2, 10:10 AM
Justin, nice list. I have to say, some interest me more than others, but most would help in some way, shape or form. Honestly, though, the area the Penguins need most help in is defense. They’re scoring goals, but they just can’t prevent them, and I’m not sure many of these players — aside from Hejduk — play a two-way game.
Tom, I’m not sure the answer to the Penguins’ woes is to utilize an AHL team. Experience is lacking in Pittsburgh…rookies won’t bring that.
Dabich, St. Louis would be very intriguing, though his small size leads me to think he’s more of what they already have. My belief is that they are missing the size and grit up front to create sustained pressure and to wear out opponents.
Heath Condiotte
Feb 2, 11:37 AM
I’m a fan of Eric Cole, but I am not sure he and Brooks could co-exist in the same dressing room.
Matt Bodenschatz
Feb 2, 01:21 PM
Promotions to the NHL aren’t and shouldn’t be “given” to players to keep morale up. They must be earned — and they must be timed in such a way to keep a steady flow of prospects filtering from ECHL to AHL and from AHL to NHL.
By having a mass promotion of young players, the Penguins would first send a message to the minor leaguers and all players in their system that they don’t have to earn a promotion. All they have to do is put in their time and they’ll be called up. Promotions are earned on merit, not morale.
Also, by having a mass promotion, the Penguins would have a dearth of minor league players in their system for years to come. The idea is to gradually ease players into roles so as to have a steady stream of 1-3 players per year attaining NHL status. Calling up 10 or even 5 on a permanent basis (unless 100% truly worthy) would create far more problems in the future than solve problems in the present.
Dave
Feb 2, 01:43 PM
I agree with Matt, I don’t think calling up W/B players willy nilly is the answer. I also agree that the big problems the Penguins are having now are with their defense, not their offense. They’ve coincidentally scored as many goals as they’ve given up this year – 154. No one with more points has given up more, and only three teams in the league are worse. 154 scored is sixth in the league, but you can’t win too many games giving up one for every one you score. (Boston has scored the most goals and given up the fewest goals — could explain why they’re doing so well.) Fleury’s save percentage is a solid .911 — they are just giving up too many shots. So if they get a player down the stretch, maybe they should be thinking defense first — plus they tend to be cheaper.
On the +/- front, Malkin still leads the team at +17, with Talbot bringing up the rear at -11. Goligoski and Scuderi are at +8, Crosby at +6. Whitney, despite only having played 18 games, is making a strong run after Talbot, already having worked his way down to -8. People talk about all the defensemen the Penguins have, but they really aren’t distinguishing themselves at all this year. One of the Therrien mysteries for me is why Goligoski isn’t playing (defense) more. I’d scratch Eaton/Gill/Boucher/Whitney ahead of him, right now anyway.
Matt Bodenschatz
Feb 2, 02:03 PM
Dave, defense certainly is the primary issue. Of course, there are other issues, such as secondary scoring, special teams, team physicality, etc. But if the Pens sure up the defense, they win more games. Period.
If I’m Therrien, I’m using the following pairings:
Whitney-Eaton
Orpik-Letang
Scuderi-Goligoski
Eaton has stepped up his game of late, and Whitney needs a reliable defenseman paired with him. Orpik and Letang worked quite well together early this season. And Scuderi is a veteran reliable defender to help Goligoski grow into a solid NHL’er.
I think Shero needs to look to dump Boucher in a trade for a draft pick to a Cup contender looking for depth. Gill is nice depth for this team and really seems to play his best closer to the playoffs. When Gonchar returns, I really think it’s time to shop Whitney. His defense isn’t getting better, and his offense doesn’t justify his defensive woes.
Matt Bodenschatz
Feb 2, 02:44 PM
Tom, again, you don’t promote just to promote. “Graduating” five players next year would be problematic. It requires management to take a passive approach to free agency with expectations that five spots will be given to players regardless of their production in training camp. That’s a recipe for disaster. We’ve seen this time and again when players play real well in the AHL, then have horrible camps the following year, when they were shoe-ins for NHL spots. Most notable are Jon Filewich and Ryan Stone. And again, promoting five players at one time is a good way to deplete the minor league system.
Players should and will be motivated and morale will be up as long as deserving individuals find their way to the NHL. If undeserving players lose their morale due to a lack of promotion, farewell!
Fixing this team requires NHL-caliber talent. Mormina, Taffe, Minard, Pesonen, and James are not NHL talent. They also aren’t prospects, as evidenced by their ages. They are depth players good for filler when needed. If they really were capable of helping the team, don’t you think they would be in the NHL right now? Or is Shero and his entire staff really that dumb?
Justin Maffei
Feb 2, 03:02 PM
I am in agreement with Matt. Goligoski needs to be in the lineup. I don’t see how he played his way out of it. I like Gill playing, mostly because of his ability to clear the net. However, he has not been doing this lately. I am also in favor of trading Whitney when Gonchar returns. His defense is not good and his offense is average to slightly above average.
I also understand the criticism of the defense. There are times that the Penguins cannot seem to get out of their own zone. However, I do not necessarily believe this is down to the ability of the players. It seems at times that they lack the desire to make the necessary plays. It could also be argued that some changes are needed to the defensive plan.
Matt Bodenschatz
Feb 2, 03:33 PM
I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree. Taffe has proven to be nothing more than a fourth line/depth forward in his 153 career NHL games, while Minard and Pesonen have done little in their NHL stints to stand out and earn additional playing time.
Suggesting that Mormina and Lovejoy are a better option that Whitney, Boucher and Gill is ridiculous. While none of the three are playing well in the NHL right now, I’d much, much rather have them than a defense that includes 27-year-old career minor leaguer Mormina.
Matt Bodenschatz
Feb 2, 04:17 PM
Tom, I don’t think you have to choose between the two. You can have a happy medium of experienced players who bring different intangibles to the table AND develop prospects. Interestingly, seven of the Penguins 15 forwards currently in the NHL were either drafted by the Penguins and/or have spent time in the AHL with the Baby Penguins. Five on nine defensemen have followed the same path, while one of two goalies has done the same.
In other words, the Penguins are mixing talent quite nicely by combining experienced NHL players with young players from the system. Successful teams (Detroit, New Jersey, San Jose, Boston, etc) use this approach. Unsuccessful teams (Tampa Bay, Florida, Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh from the mid 2000’s) choose one or another.
Jon
Feb 2, 04:47 PM
Penguins should also take a look at this guy, think his name is Petr Sykora. He’s third on his team in scoring despite less than 20 minutes a game of ice time…
Dave
Feb 2, 04:57 PM
I think the way for Pesonen, or anyone else, to stand out right now is to play excellent defense — to be aggressive on the forecheck and to be hustling back all the time. Regardless of their scoring opportunities or physical size, players can at least do that. Perhaps that is what Therrien isn’t seeing with them — I know I didn’t see it. I don’t think the fact that some of these guys are mostly offensive players is lost on Therrien, but the Penguins really don’t need anymore freewheeling offensive talent right now.
Matt, I liked the defensive pairings you put up before, though I might reunite Whitney and Orpik for old time’s sake. I would not have a problem with them shopping Whitney — and not even because he’s not playing that well. It’s just that the Penguins have several offensively minded, cheaper young defensemen, and you have to give up something to get something.
Matt Bodenschatz
Feb 2, 05:25 PM
Dave, a very solid point many are overlooking. I’ve made it a point to repeat numerous times that offense is not this team’s issue. Secondary scoring would be great, but the Penguins are in the top 10 in scoring and bottom 10 in goals against. They need defense — both in terms of defensemen and defensive play out of the forwards.
Players like Pesonen, Taffe, Minard, etc, who are great offensively really haven’t shown much defensively, even at the AHL level. Until they do, there really is no need for them in the NHL, aside from just improving minor league morale, as Tom suggests.
Those who have played a good defensive game have stuck much longer than those who haven’t. See Jeffrey and Thomas.
Dave`
Feb 3, 09:00 AM
If I was a young forward with the Penguins, playing at WB, I’d be excited about my opportunities with the Penguins. This year I would say that three of the top four forward positions are up for grabs, and next year they all will be if they don’t bring Sykora back (which I hope they do). If any of the WB forwards can distinguish themselves sufficiently, they have an excellent chance to play with Crosby and/or Malkin and to thus put up some big numbers and ultimately make some big bucks. I think Shero/Therrien would love to fill those slots with WB talent. But so far, none of them have stuck. And I suspect it has more to do with their defense than their offense. But I certainly wouldn’t be without hope — it’s not like the Penguins are stacked at the forward position.
Now if I was a center, that might be a different story.
Nate
Feb 3, 05:34 PM
Jon, that is something that has chapped my arse all year long. People complain about scoring, but the third best offensive player this year has been relegated to third line duty. How is this not evident to Shero/Lemieux? I know it’s HCM’s team, but if he won’t open his eyes, then one of the two of them need to open them for him. Petr has said it himself, there is no continuity to the lines this year. Last year we had the steel city line that was dominant much of the latter half of the season, TK or Tank-Malkin-Sykie should be line two/1b for the remainder of the season. What worries me most is if things do not change, Sykie will not want to come back, and we will be stuck looking for four top six forwards not three.
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