Faceoff Factor

Part 8: A Look At the Job Squad

Contributing Writers | Pittsburgh Penguins

Sep 13, 10:04 PM | Hype this story!

Editor’s Note: The following story has been written by our friends Derek and Adam from The Pens Blog. Please take a minute to check out their hilarious site.

There must be jobbers like them in every training camp across the NHL. They’re the guys that can get it for you. A goal off a cycle, a big hit, a Gatorade to help the team celebrate. Damn
near anything within reason.

Yes, sir, a regular ham-and-egger.

So when Faceoff Factor came to us in 2007 and asked us to contribute to their season preview, we said no problem.

But first things first.

Webster’s doesn’t list the correct definition of jobber, because Webster doesn’t know what’s going on.

But if he did…

Main Entry: job·ber
Pronunciation: ‘jä-b&r
Function: noun
Definition: One that does the little things within the game of hockey. Cycles in the corner. Shuts other teams’ big lines down. Plays solid defense. Throws crushing hits. Fights people. Gains back little ounces of momentum that could lead to a victory. It can be derogatory, or it can be affectionate.

Every winning team has a few. Without them, teams wouldn’t be successful. The Penguins are no different. Guys like Phil Bourque, Bob Errey, Troy Loney, Jiri Hrinda, Paul Stanton, and Jim Paek helped the Penguins win two Cups, and there have been many more throughout team history.

This year will be no different. The following are the five most important jobbers to the Penguins and their respective storylines.

5. C #47 Tim Brent (Anaheim Ducks) – 6’0, 188lbs
The most important thing about Tim Brent is the fact that he brings the rare dynamic of having two first names. That just smells like a fourth-liner. In the grand scheme of things, it will be interesting to see if Brent can steal a job. According to TSN, he plays a solid game, and his career potential is listed as a third-line center. According to your mom, he may be too small, and just a younger version Rico Fata. Should know about him early on.

4. LW #37 Jarrko Ruutu – 6’1, 200lbs
Maybe a jobber hall-of-famer before it’s all said and done. No one does it better. Ruutu’s role on the team this year cannot be
under-appreciated. He is a guy that had his ups and downs last year. But we all expect another solid showing. He is going to be key in drawing penalties…and not taking any dumb ones. The reason he plays a important role is he must show some the younger players the finer points of jobbing.

3. C #25 Max Talbot – 5’11, 190lbs
It’s hard to believe Talbot didn’t make the team right out of camp last year. To his credit, he never let that bother him, and when he came up, he was here for good. This year, Talbot is a sure bet to make the team. He will play a huge part in this year’s plans. It all starts in training camp as he will have to re-kindle the chemistry with his linemates and make the strides in trying to become the next Phil Bourque.

2. LW #12 Ryan Malone – 6’4, 224lbs
What a subject here. Someone could start their own blog about Ryan Malone. No one has been more maligned and perplexing than the magician. When he is at his jobbing best, he is as solid as it can be in the new NHL. When he is at his worst, he looks like Jani Rita. Malone will have this camp to prove what he is about. If he doesn’t show up, there are plenty of young players to take his spot. He hung out with the Pens during the hard times of 2002-2006. But it doesn’t give him a free pass. Shero knows.

1. RW #27 Georges Laraque – 6’3, 243lbs
You wanna talk about someone everyone forgets about. Talk about Laraque. Not only could he kill a man with his bare hands and feet, he has some jobbing talent. After coming here in a trade-deadline deal, Laraque wasn’t as effective as some would’ve hoped. But that could change. If he makes the team, and he should, Laraque will be the bodyguard. He will be depended on to rough it up and provide some type of presence. And it all starts at training camp. He must show Lord Therrien and King Shero he can do it.

Bring it.

#	Title	Writer
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9	Schedules, Roster Competition Comes To Fruition Baby Steps From Wilkes-Barre/Scranton A Jump From Juniors To Pittsburgh NCAA All The Way To The NHL A World Of Fantasy "We Talkin’ Bout Practice" A Look At the Job Squad A Saga Fitting For Earl Mann	Matt Bodenschatz Michael Farkas Kyle Dreibelbies Jesse Marshall Andrew Chiappazzi Adam Jennings CJ "Stoosh" Jiuliante ThePensBlog.com DoubtAboutIt.com