Kudos To Miro
Jesse Marshall | Pittsburgh Penguins
May 20, 12:24 PM | Hype this story!
In the NHL, timing is everything.
It’s not always about how good you are, but whether or not the moments in which you shine are timely.
With Petr Sykora and Miroslav Satan, Penguins fans should have known what they were getting.
Two streaky, goal-scoring veterans; neither of which would ever become a physical presence, neither of which would ever be Selke Trophy candidates.
They were two players that have played a good amount of games, had a little left in the tank, and would go on hot streaks throughout the season and hopefully net a good amount of goals in the process.
Something went horribly awry.
By the time we reached the first round of the playoffs, Miroslav Satan had been relegated to the minors and Petr Sykora had only scored 2 goals from March 1 to April 11.
The Penguins were in desperate need of help on the wing.
The easy way out for Miroslav Satan would have been to report to the minors, go through the motions, get an easy paycheck, and find work elsewhere in the offseason.
In fact, that’s the route many players of his type would have probably taken. A graceful exit from the NHL and a move to hockey pastures of a different kind.
However, Satan took the assignment with a sense of conviction. He worked hard, didn’t complain, and simply did what he had to in hopes that the time would come when he could get re-inserted into the line-up and make a different for the Penguins when it counted.
When guys like Satan and Sykora get hot, you love every second of watching them. They are, plain and simple, the definition of a sniper. They have dynamic shots. Their offensive instincts are strong.
However, when things aren’t clicking and the grip on the stick gets tighter, things go from good to horrible in the blink of an eye. Perhaps we just saw Miroslav Satan in the depths of a cold streak the likes of which Petr Sykora currently finds himself mired in, perhaps it was a result of Michel Therrien’s defensive-oriented gameplan.
Whatever the case, Satan just didn’t fit.
Enter: Dan Bylsma.
Satan earned 4 points in 7 games under Dan Bylsma before getting demoted just after March 3rd. It seemed that the open ended style of play suited him.
Just before his recall at the end of the regular season, Bylsma praised Satan’s attitude and good spirits for accepting his minor-league assignment with the right mindset.
Satan did everything he needed to do, and then opportunity presented itself.
It was Game 5 against Philadelphia. Satan didn’t net any points, but he fit well into the Penguins puck-possession game, used his body, and showed up in the defensive zone.
After giving Sykora another chance in Game 1 against Washington, Satan was back for Game 2, and played with a physical presence while generating three shots on goal.
He was playing playoff hockey. The door was closing on Petr Sykora.
The rest is history. Some timely assists, a bodycheck on Alex Ovechkin that sprung Sidney Crosby on a breakaway, and a beautiful breakaway goal in Game 1 against the Hurricanes.
When the Penguins needed it most, Satan showed up and delivered.
The ending to this story has yet to be written, but let’s give Miroslav Satan some credit.
And let his story be a lesson to others that find themselves in a similar position.
Comments
TheOneAndOnlySurge
May 20, 12:33 PM
Very nice article. I love it when people give credit where credit is due.
Pens1967
May 20, 12:45 PM
Don’t forget Satan, not Marian Hossa, is captain of the Slovakian national team. That is a huge honor, one that players without leadership skills or with no sense of playing for the team rarely get. Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised Satan behaved like a true professional during the ups and downs this year.
Anyway, I’m happy Miro is playing well. Hopefully his stint here will end up with a Stanley Cup ring.
Jon
May 20, 12:52 PM
He didn’t light it up during the regular season, but as stated above, it is nice to give credit when deserved. I think he’s played pretty well since being added in place of Sykora. I think the Pens are in pretty good shape when you’re getting scoring from guys like Satan and Boucher.
Nathan
May 20, 01:06 PM
I had chills watching Miro on that breakaway, it’s so satisfying even for myself to watch a player create redemption like that for himself. I have soo much respect for Satan since the second half of this season, and I have lost so much respect for Sykora, with the way he’s handled himself.
Matt Bodenschatz
May 20, 01:14 PM
Great article, Jesse!
I agree with the comments above. Satan’s attitude has been that of the consummate professional, and as a result, his hard work and determination has resulted in more playing time and more responsibility. He’s produced with the time he has been given, and if he continues to do so, he may very well play himself into another contract (albeit smaller) with this team.
Prior to the playoffs, I mentioned that Satan would be back in the NHL and could find his way back onto the roster. I got laughed at. The thing is that depth is ultra important, and the benefits of having guys like Boucher and Satan waiting in the wings are underrated.
Ray aka WildcatRay
May 20, 02:30 PM
I hope I was not one who laughed at the notion of Satan returning. I’m pretty sure I didn’t. :lol:
I saw him as a nice “just-in-case” insurance policy. Since getting back in for Sykora, not only was it nice to have an experienced hand to sub to Petr, that experienced hand has been a key presence on the ice, to boot!
TheOneAndOnlySurge
May 20, 11:04 PM
I don’t know if I laughed at the notion Matt but I will say I would have thought it pretty far fetched. But the Satan now and the Satan then are diffrent people or just the diffrent playing styles of the teams. Bylsma may very well be the Satan saver.
emo
May 21, 12:06 AM
I’m glad to see him do well for two reasons. First, it helps the team win, and that’s what I want to see most. Second, I thought the guy took an unfair amount of grief from a lot of people when he was sent down. It’s one thing to say he hadn’t played up to expectations this year and those kinds of criticisms are fair game. However, many people weren’t content to leave it at that and had to take shots at his character and IMO, that’s going too far.
Personally, I’m not that surprised. He started to play better when Dan Bylsma came on board and I believe the only reason they sent him down was because of cap issues. I figured he would be back up when the playoffs began and the cap was no longer an issue, though I had no idea when he’d actually get back into the lineup…
Ray aka WildcatRay
May 21, 09:26 AM
@EMO,
Thanks for reminding us about the change in Satan’s play after Bylsma took hold of the reins.
Matt Bodenschatz
May 21, 10:04 AM
@Ray, I don’t think you were. Then again, I didn’t take names to pull out the “I told you so.”
@Surge, I didn’t really expect Satan to come in and play the way he is now, but was quite confident that, with the rigors of the playoffs, he’d find his way back into the lineup.
@Emo, I agree. I never understood why people have to degrade players who don’t do well. Criticizing his play is one thing. Suggesting he has no heart, passion, desire, etc is uncalled for.
It’s difficult to say if Satan’s improved play is a result of Bylsma’s system or a result of Satan realizing he needs to play for another NHL contract. Really, I think it’s a combination of both — coupled with a bit of confidence, as well.
I’ve said it to some of my friends…if Satan keeps playing this way, I’d be fine with giving him another contract at a steep discount ($1.5 – $2 million). But that’s getting a bit ahead of myself, as there’s plenty of hockey left to play!
Commenting is closed for this article.