Let's Face It - 3/6/2009
Jonathan Farzalo | Pittsburgh Penguins
Mar 6, 09:18 AM | Hype this story!
Let’s Face It...If you thought Jordan Staal was going to be traded you were smoking something, and something good. While he isn’t the #2 pick overall that Malkin has turned out to be, he is a good two-way player, nice addition to the penalty kill, a 20-25 goal a year producer, and YOUNG. He is not the type of player you move at the deadline, not yet anyways.
Let’s Face It...Bill Guerin is a playoff bust, he won’t produce and he will tank when the Penguins need him most. Well, at least that’s what all the “message boarders” will have you believe. If you look at his past, he hasn’t been an overachiever in the playoffs I will grant you that, but 50 points in 105 games in the playoffs isn’t something to simply dismiss. Remember when Marian Hossa was a playoff bust at the trade deadline, with 35 points in 55 playoff games and joined the Penguins last year and went on to score 26 points in 20 games. My point, don’t dismiss Bill Guerin, he is NOT Marian Hossa, but he isn’t Marcel Hossa either.
Let’s Face It...With Ryan Whitney gone our weakest link on the blueline is Hal Gill; he’s slow, he’s not physical (which is sad given his size), and he doesn’t make a great first pass (I will give him props on his blocked shot totals though). The problem is Alex Goligoski just isn’t ready to be at the NHL level full time. He was a big contributor to the backend problems earlier in the season when Gonchar was out, and he was a problem on Thursday night against Florida (though it didn’t cost us the game thankfully). Alex is stuck in this limbo, too good for AHL, not yet ready for full time NHL. Hal Gill is stuck too, in mud.
Let’s Face It...Dan Bylsma has this team believing in itself and its ability to win hockey games, whether they score first or not, whether they are down, beat-up, out gunned, doesn’t matter. It’s nose to the ground smack you in the face aggressive hockey. They have peppered goalies with more shots since the coaching change then almost anyone would have imagined. While Therrien had the reigns, you heard all the time, “we need to shoot more”, “our players are thinking pass first”, yet nothing ever changed. All of a sudden Bylsma steps in and boom, they take more shots on goal then they have all year. That’s not the players, it’s the coach, and it’s the coaches system and game plan. They no longer bought what Therrien was selling; but they are packing their carts with cans of Bylsma.
Let’s Face It...Marc-Andre Fleury can not play the drums, however, HUGE props to him an FSN Pittsburgh for doing that for the kids.
Let’s Face It...We’re tied with the New York Rangers and Florida Panthers with 74 points, while # of games puts us in the 8th seed. At the beginning of the season who could have imagined the Pittsburgh Penguins all the way down in the 8th seed? On Valentines Day who could have imagined the Penguins all the way up in the 8th seed and in the playoff picture?
Comments
Matt Bodenschatz
Mar 6, 05:14 PM
Jon, very nice read! Am I to assume this is a new weekly column? I sure hope so…
Eric
Mar 6, 07:42 PM
I like the accurate perspective. Nice work.
RELENTLESSFORECHECK
Mar 6, 09:55 PM
re: Jordan Staal
Don’t kid yourself. If Ray Shero could have worked out a deal for a legitimate 30-goal scoring winger with reasonable contract terms, Staal would be wearing a different sweater.
re: Guerin
My concern with Guerin is not his playoff performance but his ability to keep up in the high-tempo game Bylsma has established. Last night he wasn’t skating nearly enough, never established himself as a physical presence, and had trouble keeping up on the breakout. Unless he can skate with Sid off the rush, his role may be limited to PP specialist.
re: Hal Gill
Not physical??? Seriously? Gill is very physical; he and Orpik are the two best in the lineup at clearing the slot. If Gill had a little bit more mobility than the Titanic, he’d be lighting up guys with more regularity. And, he’s always been the Pens weakest link defensively because of his mobility and his marginal passing ability. Whitney could at least pass the puck…
re: Alex Goligoski
Not ready for the NHL? I have to question your assessment there. The only reason why Gogo is not in the lineup regularly is because of his style and his limited presence physically, but he is clearly ready to play in this league. If you have been watching Bylsma has been trying to balance out his defensive pairings: one offensive (Sarge/Letang) with one defensive (Orpik/Eaton). Gill/Scuderi are the exception, but that’s due to their effectiveness as a tandem on the PK. Goligoski needs more seasoning, but not at the AHL level.
re: Therrien vs. Bylsma
I agree that Dan Bylsma has been a breath of fresh air, but I am more impressed at his decision making and his approach towards the players than I am with his aggressive style of play.
Jonathan Farzalo
Mar 7, 10:22 AM
Staal – I will agree if a contract of 4 mill a year, @ 4 years, for a 30 goal scorer were offered for Jordan Staal, they would have done it, but no such thing will happen, so I’m not kidding myself…
Guerin – I can agree he may be a little slower than say Sid, but it’s the space he will create that matters.
Gill – Physical….he is a baby. He is HUGE and can’t knock a player off the puck to save his life at this point in his career. He never lays a player out, instead, he has to “try” and catch them with his long reach, which sometimes works, sometimes doesn’t….it’s sad when a Kris Letang is more physical than Hal Gill, sorry, it’s true.
Gogo – NHL ready, yes, I suppose I should have said I meant with the PENS, not just in general. On another team he cracks the lineup, here, he is not in the group at this level yet. And I DID say he has outgrown the AHL, it’s just right now is not the time to be ‘seasoning’ him at the NHL level, too much at stake each night.
Bylsma – True true….he actually TALKS to his players, along with each of the coaches, they COACH, not just demand.
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