Most of the buzz about the Penguins these days involves our bottom-six forwards. Do we have enough to support what, at least on paper, looks like a pretty imposing top six?
At first blush, the answer would appear to be yes. Jeff Carter, Teddy Blueger and newcomer Ryan Poehling should provide plenty of center depth behind our venerable Two-Headed Monster of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Drew O’Connor can play in the middle, too.
On the wings? The recently re-signed Danton Heinen and Kasperi Kapanen join forces with fellow returnees Brock McGinn and O’Connor and fresh arrivals Poehling and ex-Pen Josh Archibald.
However, on closer examination, the Pens may need help from within the organization. Carter’s defensive play and possession numbers tailed off as the season wore on, and at age 37, he ain’t gettin’ any younger. Following difficult seasons albeit for different reasons, how much can Kapanen and Archibald be counted on? Or for that matter oft-injured top-sixer Jason Zucker?
While both display promise, kids O’Connor and Poehling aren’t sure bets, either.
Factor in the inevitable injuries? Our Pens are likely to need forward help from within the organization. Here are a few players who might be called upon to fill a void, temporary or otherwise.
Radim Zohorna (26, 6’6” 220, LW)
Big “Z” has shown well in cameos over the past couple of seasons (four goals and 10 points in 25 games), to say nothing of his underlying metrics, which have been terrific. An intriguing blend of size, hands, hockey smarts and deceptive speed, Zohorna’s game seems better suited to the big show than the minors. He’s probably the most NHL-ready of the Baby Pens’ bunch.
At 26 years of age, it’s safe to say the veteran of the Czech Extraliga has reached a tipping point in his career. It would seem to be a case of now or never, especially since he’s entering the final season of a two-year deal.
The most sizeable option in the organization, I’d love to see Radim get a legit chance to establish himself.
Samuel Poulin (21, 6’2” 213, F)
When the Pens selected Poulin (pictured above) with the 21st overall pick in 2019, I admit I was salivating. Here was the brawny power forward I’d so long coveted for the black and gold. Or so I thought.
Indeed, following a highly productive junior career, the Quebec League star didn’t burst onto the scene as I’d hoped. To the contrary, he was remarkably unassertive…physically or otherwise…during training camp and the preseason last fall, making it an all-too-easy choice to ship him to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. His uninspired play continued in northeastern PA, leading to time spent munching press-box nachos.
Shortly afterward, coach J.D. Forest shifted Sam to center and the Blainville, Quebec native rediscovered his game. Over his final 49 regular-season games he tallied a respectable 12 goals and 30 points, including his first pro hat trick. Poulin followed up with a strong playoff, notching three goals in six postseason contests.
Reason to believe Sam may eventually fulfill his promise. Whether it happens this season remains to be seen.
Valtteri Puustinen (23, 5’9” 183, RW)
A former seventh-round pick (2019), Puustinen showed very well in his first pro season. The native of Kuopio, Finland tallied 20 goals and 42 points, both team highs, for the offensively challenged Baby Pens. Nor did he disappoint in a one-game cameo with the Pens, notching an assist and finishing a plus-2 in 10:14 of ice time.
As with most European players, there’s a bit of an adjustment to the cozier confines of North American rinks. But Puustinen is smart, speedy, crafty and diligent, precisely the type of player coach Mike Sullivan prefers.
Nathan Legare (21, 6’0” 205, RW)
Following a stellar junior career and equally impressive showings at training camp, hopes were high that the feisty Legare would develop into a legit NHL power forward. And he still may. A Montreal native and long-time friend of Poulin’s, Nathan possesses a wicked shot and release, not to mention a goal-scorer’s instincts. However, his first pro season fell far short of expectations.
Following an okay start with five points in his first 11 games, Legare fell into a prolonged funk. With the exception of a few all-too-brief spurts, he pretty much stayed there, to the tune of a disappointing seven goals and 16 points in 57 games. He did finish on a high note with a one-goal, two-point game in the Calder Cup playoffs.
Whether the 205-pounder can rebound and fulfill the promise that made former GM Jim Rutherford trade up to nab him remains to be seen.
Alex Nylander (24, 6’1” 192, LW/RW)
An almost a forgotten man in the Pens’ scheme of things, once upon a time (2016 to be exact) Nylander was a No. 8 overall pick. He was just beginning to gain traction thanks to a 10-goal season with Chicago when he blew out a knee and missed the entire 2020-21 campaign.
The kid brother of Toronto star William Nylander and son of long-time NHLer Michael Nylander, Alex certainly has pedigree. He’s a good skater and creative to boot, with a quick, deceptive release. Skills he used to tally 22 goals in 67 AHL games split between Rockford and the Baby Pens.
The silky Swede’s intensity and attention to detail have been questioned in the past. But if the Pens find themselves in search of a middle-six option? Nylander might be worth a look.
Lukas Svejkovsky (20, 5’9” 170, RW)
Entering his first pro season, it may be a bit much to ask of Svejkovsky to play a role for the black and gold. But the former fourth-round pick in 2020 earned rave reviews during his junior career, so who knows?
Svejkovsky’s a good skater, quick and elusive, and possesses creativity with the puck and a nose for the net. Although undersized at 170 pounds, he plays with a bit of an edge, a quality the Pens could sorely use.
Hopefully his scoring touch (35 goals and 76 points in 57 games last season) will translate to the pro game.
“They also overvalued E-Rod but kept putting him in roles for failure. ”
I promised my self that I would not respond to your nonsense but this is really too much. You’ve said a lot of absurd things but this really takes the cake. When Malkin and some of Crosby were out, Rodrigues played top two lines and kept the Pens afloat scoring 15 goals and 30 points in 33 games. All for $1 million. Yeah, they really misjudged badly.
What kind of cake did it take? Maybe you should indulge a bit in that cake.
Why are you the only uncivilized voice on these boards? Where you never taught how to engage in civil discourse?
I guess not.
So
You really should use your gray matter for more than self aggrandization. Not all value is tied to monetary discussions. Only the small minded see in 1 dimension. Value can also be used to discuss a players ability to fill different roles. Now let me walk you through this so you may try and wrap your brain around what was discussed. Not only Sullivan, but all of the teams Spin Doctors proselytized the idea that E-Rod could play up and down the line-up like Bryan Rust. If he can only play top 6, then he is capable of being another Bryan Rust and therefore over-valued.
Now let’s talk about E-Rod’s 15 Gs and 33 Pnts in 33 Games, 33 games doesn’t make a season. Most importantly, our Penguins were the beneficiary of a very favorable schedule. While sans Crosby and Malkin, the Penguins played out the bulk of their games against non-playoff teams. Now look at E-Rod’s splits. Against non-playoff teams, E-Rod scored 12 of his 19 Gs and 26 of his 43 Points and was a +12 in 43 GP. Four of those 12 Gs were PPG, only 8 were EV. Against play-off teams, E-Rod scored 7 Gs and had 17 Pnts and was a -9 in the 39 GP against playoff teams. Three of those 7 Gs were PPG. While 5-on-5 E-Rod really was not all that effective. You are really impressed by raw numbers.
Now let’s fast forward to the playoffs, Game 6 of the Penguins – Rangers series, with the Penguins leading 2 – 0 in a closeout game, 5 minutes into the 3rd period, that $1 million man of yours takes a retaliatory roughing Penalty. Zibanejad scores a PPG 5s later and the Rangers pot 3 more Gs. That $1 million that the Penguins paid E-Rod then turned around and helped them exit the playoffs. E-Rod’s indiscretion helped the Rangers get up off the floor and beat our Penguins. So, yes E-Rod was over paid.
Let me add this as well. For those of us that are regulars here, none of our statements exist in a vacuum, only absurd thinking views these statements as discreet. If you have been reading this site for any length of time, you will have read that I have always written that E-Rod can play top 6, but top 6 on a bottom 1/3 team. I also wrote even at the beginning of last season in my season preview, that the team use E-Rod while Crosby and Malkin were out and then trade him when they got back as his numbers were going to tail off dramatically – and they did. Therefore, a thinking person would have thought beyond the dollar signs to understand what was in my statement.
Now consider this, had they traded E-Rod then that $1 million would have been well spent. But since they didn’t, that $1 million only paid for their exit of the playoffs.
With Crosby, Malkin, Carter, and Blueger, $1 million spent on a unidimensional player who cannot play bottom 6 as well is not money well spent. Not only was E-Rod over-valued in that he couldn’t play up and down the line-up, he was over-paid in that the $1 million spent on him only bought the team an early tee-off.
It’s amazing how everyone ignores Hallander, even though the man who coaches almost all these players mentioned above said straight out that he was the most NHL ready.
You’re right, Zeidel, I did overlook Hallander. The fact that he can play left wing, a position of comparative need, may give him a leg up on some of the others I mentioned.
I guess I’m thinking back to last year’s training camp, when Hallander was quoted as saying he came to win a job…then thoroughly underwhelmed. He had a rough start with the Baby Pens, too, although if I’m not mistaken he was battling an injury. Like Poulin, he came on as the season progressed.
Anyway, good catch.
Rick
Hey Rick,
If you recall, I was intrigued by the scouting reports on Hållander when he was drafted; I couldn’t find game footage, but his scouting reports suggested he was just the kind of player the Penguins needed. Unfortunately, he has suffered multiple injuries so far in his nascent career. A couple of things though,
1) I don’t put much stock in how our coaching staff evaluate players. They kept giving Simon chance after chance, giving him prime TOI, with tons of O-Zone starts that buoyed up his CF% during blowouts so they could justify his existence. They also overvalued E-Rod but kept putting him in roles for failure. The overvalued Pettersson and Marino and over paid them to the point where many people want them both out of the ‘burgh. They Passed on Mikheyev, Reidenborn, and Kaski for Palve, and Larmi. I could keep going but you get the point – their recent mistakes are far greater than their recent successes.
2) Having said that, let’s not evaluate Hållander on his goal production only. If Sullivan does give him a chance it will be in a bottom 6 role. We need to look at his play in that light. Is he doing the job physically? Is he wearing down the opponent’s Defense? Is he helping the team with tilting the ice?
I am also going to throw this name out there Rick, Jordan Frasca. I am not saying he will or earn a roster spot or even get the spot if he earns it, but he was Shane Wright’s line mate in the Jrs and may have played a fair role in Wright’s success. We signed him as an over-aged Jr. Watching his game films, if (and I know that may be a big if) he may be able that player that can start on the third line for a couple of seasons and then move up as he develops. Look back at what I wrote of him when we signed him.
Mind you, I am not saying he will be able to step in, but he is an over-aged Jr, so we are not seeing him as a teenager like many of our prospects coming into training camp are, he may be far more ready physically than others. On the flip side, there is a difference between being a bigger fish in the small pond of the Jrs and coming in to an ocean full of the sharks and Orcas and other large predators of the NHL and having to now carve out a niche in that larger environment.
Rick
Great article as always. I believe that we had a conversation about this during this past season. Do the Pen’s
have players that could play in there bottom six “YES” – The question i have are these players really true 3rd
and 4th line players? The Pen’s seem to take players that don’t make it in their top 6 and immediately throw
them into the bottom 6. I personally feel like this is part of the problem. It takes a different type of player to
fill a spot on your 4th line and I’m not sure we’ve had a true 4th liner in the past 5 years plus. Example:
Dominic Simon – not good enough to play on your top 6 so throw him on a checking line with Blueger and
ZAR – They played well together, controlled possession but other than ZAR they didn’t make any kind of physical
impact on the game. I like Blueger but for him to be effective he needs a couple of horses on his wing and on
the 3rd line we shouldn’t be relying on J. Carter to be our physical leader just based on size.
I look forward to your feedback. GO PENS
Thank you, my friend.
It’s uncanny, but Other Rick and I had a conversation just the other day that echoed almost word for word with your thoughts and observations. In particular, Sullivan’s habit of starting out virtually every kid on the fourth line, no matter what his skill set may be. Compounding the issue by generally restricting their TOI to about 6 or 7 minutes a game and/or severely limiting their role.
I’m thinking specifically of Drew O’Connor, who I think shows some ability. But throwing DOC out there for a handful of minutes in a checking role is a poor fit for the kid’s abilities and does absolutely nothing to further his development.
With very few exceptions, you don’t ask a prom queen to play tight-head prop in rugby. As you so aptly note, you need give a player a role that reflects their strengths and abilities. One size doesn’t fit all.
Not only does Sullivan tend to restrict the kids’ ice time, but he seems to have a very quick hook and low tolerance for them learning on the job. I’m thinking of Sam Lafferty in particular, who I still think could have been at the very least an effective fourth-liner for us. I’m not saying Sam was perfect. But every time he made a mistake it seemed Sully stapled him to the end of the bench or banished him to the press box.
You simply can’t develop players that way.
Rick
Hey Mike and Rick,
Gonna jump in here.
I agree Mike, there are players in the organization that can play bottom 6 and I will go a step further, they have kids that actually have the skill set to play there, but the problem is that our Coach doesn’t value the skill set to be successfully play bottom 6 and invariably buries those prospects so deep in the minors that they either fail to develop or they realize that they will never get a legitimate chance to play in the ‘burgh and move on.
Not only do Bottom 6 players need size (not just height but muscle) but they have to know how and when to use it. It was only a couple of seasons ago that Sully was caught on a hot mic saying to JR that the team needed Rodrigues and that E-Rod would score tons of Gs for the Pens. When playing top 6 and Center, E-Rod did score a couple of Gs (not tons) but on a team with Crosby, Malkin, Carter, and Blueger, there just was no room for him at Center or Top 6, so Sully made him a bottom 6 and he couldn’t find the net with a GPS. Then in the playoffs, since he really was not a true bottom 6, he chose the wrong time to get physical, retaliated, took a bad Penalty, and Coach Sullivan glared at him? But whose fault was it. It was Sullivan’s fault for assigning E-Rod a role he didn’t have the ability to fulfill.
When Angello came up, he not only has the sized but he showed the willingness to use that size. Not only did Angelo use his size to open up room but he had soft enough hands to score Goals from Hornqvist’s office. However, every time Angello used that size, Sullivan rewarded him with press box time or a trip back to WBS. Sully did that so often he defanged Angello.
Let’s face it, this season, when they had the opportunity to draft a Defenseman who had size and and wasn’t afraid to use it (Lamoureux), but he could skate and skate well enough to display the same type of aggressiveness Ulfie had, stepping up and knocking down forwards in the neutral zone, slowing down opponent zone entries. And that same Defenseman displayed a heavy shot from the point. Instead they chose a tall string bean of a defenseman that could skate well enough forward, but still hasn’t mastered backwards skating, is slow on his turns, and is lazy when entering the attacking zone so that he loses the puck and it goes the other way. They chose a defenseman that not only looks like a stalk of wheat in the wind like another prospect in WBS, but has no inclination for physical play, chasing the puck around his own zone like a 6 year old rather than defending his goalies crease. A defenseman that was so unphysical that he almost got injured and put on IR during a photo op workout at the City of Pittsburgh Fire Academy during prospect camp just a couple of weeks ago.
Even if Hextall and Burke would keep their promise and bring in more physical players, unless Sullivan changes, he will not use them.