Guerin's effort must improve
Alex Kirshner | Pittsburgh Penguins
Nov 28, 01:21 PM | Hype this story!
Bill Guerin gets it. He gets that to play at the highest level, he has to perform at both ends of the ice night in and night out. Even when he’s not scoring goals, he must backcheck and give due diligence in a defensive effort. He has to finish off a beautiful feed from Sidney Crosby every once in a while.
Well, he hasn’t been cutting it. Not even remotely, actually.
Aside from the most memorable goal of the season that he scored against Boston a few weeks ago to tie the game late, everything about Guerin’s 2009 campaign has been forgettable. He has been stopped while shooting on a nearly empty net more than once. His defensive effort has been putrid, with a good backcheck appearing roughly once a week. His pass catching has been below average, especially for someone with such silky hands as Guerin has shown to have in the past.
Guerin’s greatest contribution — what has kept him in the league for the better part of two decades — is his laser of a shot. Even that has been rendered relatively useless, because Guerin hasn’t moved quickly enough with any regularity to get into position to actually shoot the puck when Crosby gives it to him.
I understand that Billy is a lovable guy and a fan favorite. What he gave the Penguins last spring was tremendous and will etch him in Penguin lore forever. He’s a fine locker room presence, a good leader, and adored by everyone in the organization.
However, if he doesn’t want be ousted like Miroslav Satan, Petr Sykora, and John LeClair have been in recent seasons, he has to step it up, and soon.
If he doesn’t, he’ll find out that he’s replaceable.
Comments
Jane
Nov 28, 01:42 PM
I wonder if Bylsma has shown more patience with him because of his locker room/veteran presence. Some games he just doesn’t look like he cares – that may not be the case, but more often than not, he doesn’t finish, especially on the power play.
TheOneAndOnlySurge
Nov 28, 01:46 PM
Yeah I don’t think hes been tearing things up either but I also don’t agree that hes been performing as putrid as you describe either. Crosby on the other hand has looked rather regular as of late. The super things we are use to seeing from Sid the Kid haven’t been there and thus his linemates who once looked rather good are also looking rather regular. Believe it or not but captain is in a funk and the only thing that will likely get him fired up is an injury or maybe some time at the olympics.
Harley
Nov 28, 03:27 PM
As pedestrian as Sid’s looked for much of this year, Guerin’s been nothing but a black hole on that line. He’ll get feeds gift-wrapped in front of the net and bugger it up, he’ll flub glorious two-on-ones, and he can’t retain possession on the PP to save his life.
That’s without even addressing his embarrassingly poor defensive efforts.
Vet presence or no, he needs to pick it up or get Recchi’d.
Pens1967
Nov 28, 03:49 PM
Guerin’s here because he helps Sid in the locker room more than on the ice. He’s not going anywhere anytime soon for that reason alone. I agree that Crosby hasn’t been “all that and a bag of chips” lately. After all, Crosby was the one who let Tavares escape for the winning goal yesterday, not Guerin.
tom
Nov 28, 03:53 PM
i hate to see lovejoy sent back sown….he and sloula have ben great together…..he is plus five….his speed maks him an nhl player
Ben Schmidt
Nov 29, 01:36 AM
Personally, I think Crosby might have been hit with illness worse than we’ve been told. He was looking a bit out of sorts until these last few games.
Of course, I’m pretty sure he’s better now, considering the 5 point night tonight… ;)
Idiots
Dec 1, 01:01 AM
Yea good one guys. Crosby has been real pedestrian. You know eight points in two games isn’t going to cut it. We need him to put in more than five goals in a home and home series.
You people are the reason everyone thinks Penguin fans are bandwagoners. You have no clue about the game and are highlight watchers and talk completely out of your ass. The kid has been in the top 5% of the nhl for points all season long, and now he is playing terrible? Just plain stupid.
Matt Bodenschatz
Dec 1, 11:50 AM
@Idiots, the conversation took place prior to Crosby’s 8 point weekend. He’s now in third place in scoring, but prior to Saturday, he had fewer than one point per game this season. He has scored nearly 1/4 of his points for the season in the last two games.
Compared to previous years, he was not performing at the level most have come to expect.
There’s nothing wrong with pointing out negatives of Crosby’s game. He’s turned it around. Let’s hope that continues.
DaBich
Dec 1, 12:24 PM
Feel better now, Idiot?
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