- I have been, by my own admission, curiously quiet since the Penguins closed out their season with a Round 1 loss to Ottawa. Call it my mourning period; my time to grieve. However, this season was an obvious success and will pay huge dividends down the road when Sid the Kid meets Lord Stanley for the first time. I emphasize first time because with this core group of guys, I fully expect at least two and at most five Stanley Cups over the next 10-12 years. Lofty expectations? Yes. And that is why I will start the review with things we have to look forward to.
- The future is bright in Pittsburgh. Mostly because we are dealing with the game’s best player. Crosby is this generation’s superstar. And while this is a seemingly obvious statement, the skills he possesses are limitless. He is an amalgamation of Gretzky’s vision, Lemieux’s skill, Yzerman’s leadership, and Messier’s grit. He will win this year’s MVP and continue onward to establish himself as a Hall of Famer. The only thing that will keep him from becoming a threat to Gretzky is the massive increase in league-wide talent from the early 80’s to now. Players today are bigger, stronger, faster and better conditioned overall to excel throughout a season. The difference in skill levels between players is still there, but the effort gap has closed dramatically. I once saw an interview with Lemieux during which he referenced players smoking cigarettes between periods. Can you imagine that? Next thing you’ll tell me is that baseball players around here snorted lines during games. Whoops. This is not to say that Lemieux and Gretzky wouldn’t have been as good today as they were in their hey-days. They are and were transcending talents, and so is Sid. But the rest of the league is no longer filled with pushovers skating with 50 lb. weights attached to their ankles. Because of this, Sid’s numbers will likely not approach those of the Great One or Le’Magnifique. But he’s good. He’s real good (Ron Burgundy voice). And we will bear witness for years to come.
- And he is surrounded by a group of youngsters that will lift him to even greater heights. Jordan Staal will eventually redefine the way we think of two-way forwards. He is already the NHL’s foremost defensive forward at 18, and coming off a 29 goal season. Evgeni Malkin is the Jagr to Crosby’s Lemieux. He is a dynamic offensive force who probably possesses more offensive skill than Crosby himself. Witness his goal against the devils early in the year, or the show he put on in Boston later. Not many people combine his size, skating, stick-handling, and shooting abilities. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is still just 22 years-old and while he may never reach the level of his idol (Martin Brodeur), his athletic ability and a continuing dedication to the finer points of goal-tending will bring him into the conversation of league’s best goalies. Ryan Whitney is fulfilling his promise as an offensive defenseman extraordinaire. Look for his goals and assists to climb with each pinpoint breakout pass.
- Don’t be too quick to discount the importance of players like Colby Armstrong, Maxime Talbot, and Brooks Orpik to this team. They may not be the top flight talents their previously mentioned teammates are, but in the long run they will be the difference in this team’s overall ceiling. Witness the effects that Chris Neil, Dean McAmmond, Christoph Schubert, and Mike Fisher of Ottawa had on the series with the Penguins. Quick, gritty, and physical, these players won’t win any scoring titles, but come playoff time their rattling body checks and ferocious forechecks make a world of difference. The same will eventually be said for the likes of Armstrong, Talbot, Orpik and other Penguins youngsters with similar styles of play. The efforts will always be there and results will follow.
Season Grades
Centres:
Sydney Crosby – A+++++++: MVP. Not much more to say.
Evgeni Malkin – A-: Almost a lock for Rookie of the Year, but a playoff slip keeps him from the plus. In his defense, he played more games this year than ever before on the heels of his Cuban like defection from Russia while not speaking much English. Give him a break. In two years, he’ll put up 120. You’ve been warned. Plus, this just in from http://www.espn.com/ about how he chose number 71:
As explained on the Penguins' Web site: "When I started to play hockey, I had number 11. It was a prominent number for many, many years. When I got to Magnitogorsk, it turned out that the number was given to somebody else. So, I gave it some thought and decided to get a number close to 11 and that's how I came up with 71.”
Jordan Staal – A: Hockey’s Cy Young, Staal went for 29 and 14 this year. And he wasn’t supposed to make the team. PS, he was the Penguin’s best defensive player besides Fleury. PS jr. – He is from Thunder Bay, Ontario. This is easily the best hometown name to have. Well, besides Fire Skull, Wyoming.
Maxime Talbot – B: A great year from the Pens’ resident grinder. He had a great year on the penalty kill and some surprising offensive production, albeit in spurts. Career third liner and this is just fine with me.
Erik Christensen – C-: Put up 18 goals in 61 games as a 24 year-old. But with his shot and skill level, more can be expected here. Prone to slumps and hot streaks, he will be a contributor if he can level out his consistency. A member of the “K replaces the C Klub.”
Chris Thorburn – D+: Mostly played wing during the year, but provided good spark during early season enforcer role. Most of this grade is due to inactivity towards the end of the year, but a solid extra forward with a little skill and serious hustle.
Wingers:
Colby Armstrong – B-: Given his production from last year, Armstrong’s numbers slipped a bit. However, his impact this season was felt from the first game (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqmHhJXs7Q8), throughout the season (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2RMT5LrqaY), and into the playoffs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gTisKFrh4A). Hockey fans have to love this guy if he’s on their team. But we need more goals.
Ryan Malone – D: Slippage in numbers not in line with rest of team’s progression. Need more from him. Not sure of long term value to team. However, gets high marks for defending teammates and being good locker room guy.
Michelle Ouellet – C+: Much better year than was expected. Played more physical and skated better as year went on. Has a great shot, but lack of foot speed keeps him from being a great goal scorer.
Rondald Petrovicky – C: Was not asked to do much and complied. However, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYoPMAz03W4, speaks for itself.
Mark Recchi – C+: Good, not great year for the Recchin Ball. Started off hot, cooled off late. He is at the top of the hill, has he gone over?
Nils Ekman – D: Kept from D- by a good performance in his one playoff game. Provided exactly none of what the Pens expected when they signed him in the off-season. Another plus – his name is Nils. Not too many of these guys around, so we need to keep an eye on him.
Georges Laraque – F: This is the most disappointing grade to me. I was unbelievably excited about the prospects of Laraque roving the ice looking for heads to collect. Instead, he ran around the ice attempting to do avoid altercations and instead concentrating on puck control. I know it sounds strange, but we have guys to do that for him. Less passes, more punches. Please.
Gary Roberts – A+: Rumor yesterday was that the Pens and Roberts are negotiating a contract for next year. This would make me exceedingly happy so long as two things happen: 1) Only a one year contract and 2) We are guaranteed a playoff spot. Watching Gary Roberts in the playoffs should teach this team a few things. It taught me a lot, too. He is psychotic. In the best way possible. Goals and guts.
Jarko Ruutu – C-: I enjoyed his play at times, but for the most part, Ruutu did a bad job of most things and a good job of gaining entry to the penalty box. I see better things for him next year, including the adding of another “u” tuuu his name.
Needs: The Pens need another top flight scorer. Jarome Iginla would be great, but too expensive. Same can be said for Ryan Smyth. I honestly don’t know where this player will come from, but we need him. Hopefully a trade or a draft pick will net us that skilled winger to play with Crosby. We are all taken care of on the grit side of things. Plenty to go around there.
Defensemen:
Mark Eaton – B+: One of GM Ray Shero’s crown jewel signings, Eaton blocked a billion or so shots, played great positional defense and was accountable for his own zone. A great signing and an undervalued member of a playoff team.
Sergei Gonchar – A-: Back to normal, Gonchar put up great numbers for a defenseman. He is getting older, but was still very effective, especially on the power play. Could have used a bit more in the defensive zone, but a solid year nonetheless.
Josef Melichar – C: Not nearly as bad as everyone believed. Responsible if not skilled defenseman who SHOULD be a 7th defenseman, but played as well as he could this year. Also, phonetically friendly to those learning to read, Melichar spells his name as it sounds instead of using the confusing “p” and “h” combo.
Alain Nasreddine – B-: Little known fact: Nasreddine finished second in plus/minus for the Pens this year, checking in at a +12 in 44 games. Respected by teammates, Nasreddine’s nickname was NOT “Lady”.
Brooks Orpik – B: Orpik reestablished himself as the preeminent physically presence of the Penguins. Ask Donald Brashear. Orpik, played smart hockey in his own zone and will continue to progress as a Scott Stevens Lite type of player in the league. Orpik is also a very good skater and teamed wonderfully with Ryan Whitney to form an offensive/defensive threat from the blue-line. Plural of Brook.
Rob Scuderi – C+: Scuderi got the most out of what he had and played a solid brand of hockey for this year’s Penguins. He is a solid top 6 defenseman who’s best value is that when he’s playing well, you don’t notice him. I think.
Ryan Whitney – A+: The Pens’ best defenseman this past year, and most likely for years to come. At 24, Whitney is rounding into a player that may soon challenge for a Norris trophy. In fact a case could be made for him this year. While he was outscored by Sergei Gonchar (67 to 59), he was by far the more defensively responsible of the two (+9 to -5). A great player who will get better from here.
Needs: Another shooter and another physical presence. This could be taken care of in one player with Sheldon Souray an unrestricted free agent, but that could be a tough financial pill to swallow. Nashville’s Kimmo Timmonen is another possible addition. From within, Kristopher Letang should join the big boys next year after spending all but 2 games with the Wilkes-Barre-Scranton Baby Penguins. He is an offensive talent who needs to be more responsible in his own zone.
Goalies:
Marc-Andre Fleury – A-: Fleury showed flashes of brilliance in almost every game he played in. However, he showed flashes of un-brilliance a few times as well. A major positive from the playoffs, is that he did not bow in a high pressure situation. He was absolutely the Pens’ best defensive player all year long, starting with his opening night shut out of the Flyers. Vezina trophies to come. Also, claims to be 22, but may actually be closer to 13.
Jocelyn Thibault – C+: Didn’t do much for me, but had few solid games. Not likely to be here next year.
Needs: Depth, depth, and more depth. The Pens are lacking a viable goaltending option outside of Fleury. Thibault will be gone next year and addressing this through the draft and/or free agency is a must.
Coaching:
Michel Therrien – A+: Therrien had a great year. He transformed one of the league’s worst teams into one of its best in exactly one year. Granted he was aided by amazing play from a group of world-class youngsters, but this was no small feat. That’s it. That’s all I have to say about him. He was that good.
No comments:
Post a Comment