Story by
Penguins Q&A: Murashov, Rookies, & Real Trouble Ahead?
- Story by
- Penguins Q&A: Murashov, Rookies, & Real Trouble Ahead?
Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
KANATA, Ont. —The Pittsburgh Penguins are unexpectedly racing toward the crossroads of their season. No one thought they would be in a playoff position on Thanksgiving, but general manager Kyle Dubas hung on to his veterans, and things jelled with new coach Dan Muse .
Then the scrappy team went splat in the NHL mud as injuries to Evgeni Malkin and Blake Lizotte from the lineup. Six games later, the Penguins haven't won since, and that looming specter of low expectations is back.
Advertisement
The ghost of Christmas future is banging on Dubas's door. Loudly.
So, in this week's Q&A from the outlet mall across from the Canadian Tire Centre, where I have taken advantage of Canadian prices and dollar conversions to score some spiffy new threads, a lot of you are already focusing on the rookies and soon-to-be rookies, as well as the presumptive fall of the Penguins.
Note, I do not yet subscribe to the guaranteed fall. It's quite possible, likely even, but not a fait-de-complet.
Penguins Q&A
Well…no, not yet. This is a funky, weird, potentially soul-crushing six-game slide. There is no question that this Cecilia of a losing streak has shaken their confidence daily. From Muse to Sidney Crosby , there is a vexed feeling when the topic is broached.
Advertisement
There is no singular explanation for blowing successive large leads on the heels of punting away a few wins when the opponent pulled the goalie, nor is there a good hockey reason. It has entirely snowballed into a thing.
Worry? Yes. Assume the bloom is off the rose? Let's see how December unfolds. In fact, one of my answers as to fixes for this slide is next…
Truth? I don't know, and I haven't been able to corner the one person in the organization who might spill the beans (but I might on this road trip).
Broz might be able to help this middle-six trouble while Malkin is out by keeping Kevin Hayes and/or Tommy Novak on the wing, where they are more effective.
Advertisement
Sam Poulin voiced polite disagreement with the Penguins' call-up decisions on his way to Edmonton . I would imagine if I sat down for a beer with Broz, he might tell me the same.
The Penguins don't need to waive veterans–they could create a roster spot for Broz by demoting Ville Koivunen , who needs a little confidence booster because his game has been too intermittent.
Broz, 23, earned his NHL sweater in training camp and preseason. He got one NHL game, then watched two before making the lonely drive east.
The answer is … when his play demands it. I do not believe that Arturs Silovs and Stuart Skinner will both play so well as to close the door behind them. Perhaps one, but there is yet no indication that both are due for a spike in results.
Advertisement
However, if you watched Sergei Murashov against the Utah Mammoth Sunday, you saw the rough edges. I'm no goalie expert, but the players speak very highly of him, on and off the record.
As Owen Pickering said in July, "He's just sick," but the NHL will destroy a young goalie and scatter the carcass if he's not ready.
When? Unless the Lady of Guadalupe has left a letter with seven seals for Dubas that he's willing to share, your guess is as good as mine.
I've spoken with Sid on a couple of occasions this week, but only postgame. Also, he would absolutely never, ever … ever bag a teammate. He wouldn't think of it.
Advertisement
There are some positives to take from Skinner's acquisition. First, Jarry was eager to go. Even if he didn't request a trade (which he did not), he believed that his time here was over. That surprises me, but the wounds of being waived may have healed, but scars remained.
Two, Skinner has big game experience, and an enormously positive locker room presence. You may have seen Connor McDavid basically cut short his TV interview when he saw Skinner walk past. If McDavid believed in Skinner, so, too, will Crosby.
Love this question, Felix.
Ben Kindel : 9.5. He's not yet a superstar, and probably won't be that guy, but to be 18 and playing this well in some difficult roles has been enormously impressive.
Advertisement
Ville Koivunen : 3. He's capable of so much more. He really needs to grab his own bootstraps and play with some of the feistiness and confidence he had last season.
Rutger McGroarty : 7.5. He's solid, everywhere. The production, or lack thereof, is the reason I didn't grade him higher. He has a lot to give, and he's just starting to scratch the surface. He could be the defensive conscious on a high-powered top-six line or a scoring winger on a third line.
Sergei Murashov: 5. He's had a couple of chances to grab the net and has not. Fortunately, he's only 21. Plenty of time.
In an ideal world, yes. If all three goalies are playing near their ceiling, Murashov is ready, and there is a market for one or both of the other two, yes.
Advertisement
However, those odds are long. Dubas has been pretty clear for the past year. Whoever deserves to be in the net will, in fact, be there. The great benefit of trading Jarry is the lack of future obligations to slow that decision, in whatever direction the players take it.
Make no mistake, the players are the ones making that decision, now.
One of the fourth-line jobs is to protect leads. Boko Imama isn't in close to Noel Acciari or Connor Dewar in this regard. Nor does Imama kill penalties. Or score.
I will sing Boko's praises all day, but realism is a cold song. He is good for spots and short runs, but not when the regular fourth-liners are healthy.
The Penguins organization does not own the Wheeling Nailers. Perhaps if it were an AHL team, there might be a small discussion on the matter, but the ECHL would have no reason to suspect or worry about a competitive imbalance.
Advertisement
Perhaps the NHL might worry a smidge since Florida is contracted to St. Louis . Still, hockey has had far worse potential conflicts of interest (see also: head of discipline's son playing in the league, players under contract but on LTIR working for the league, and so on).
It's no coincidence that the Penguins' slide began without Malkin AND Blake Lizotte. They're missing that player to score a big goal, but also a center to get that loose puck or protect the slot in tough situations.
Lizotte is far more important to the team than people realize.
In the meantime, the biggest hurdle now is guts. They have to believe they can do it and go do it without getting too tight or manifesting negative destiny.
Advertisement
The post Penguins Q&A: Murashov, Rookies, & Real Trouble Ahead? appeared first on Pittsburgh Hockey Now .
Related Headlines
