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Penguins Q&A: Playoff Runs, Demotions, & Dinner
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- Penguins Q&A: Playoff Runs, Demotions, & Dinner
Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
DENVER — There is contradicting information, and currently a hide-and-seek sort of game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and, well, themselves.
The team has been increasingly pedestrian since the Olympic break and without their captain Sidney Crosby , posting a 4-3-3 record. The team started angry and won two of their first three games after the Olympics. They also outplayed the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins , losing in a shootout and 2-1 in regulation, respectively.
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The Penguins could have been 4-0 out of the break, but settled for 2-1-1, but after they lost another tight game in Boston, they wilted. They were petulant after another goaltender interference call went against them against Buffalo, were adrift in a shootout loss to Philadelphia , and the next three games against Boston, Carolina and Vegas were far more dispirited than engaged, though they rallied for a win over Boston and a point in Carolina.
The glass half full version is they found the strength to rally against Boston, Carolina, and for a win against the Utah Mammoth Saturday. They trailed by at least two in every game, but won two of those three.
The glass half empty is how often they have trailed, and the blase losses to Vegas and Buffalo, and nearly to Utah.
Of course, the Penguins have weathered the storm without Crosby and the last five games without Evgeni Malkin , who will return on Monday against the potent Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena.
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That's the scene for another PHN Q&A, taking questions submitted via X.
Penguins Q&A
Q: Our buddy Norm, who says hello every summer at Development Camp, has a significant question. Do the Penguins truly have a shot at a deep playoff run, or is it false hope?
A: Can the Penguins beat the New York Islanders in a seven-game series? If Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are healthy, and Erik Karlsson remains healthy, then that is a very winnable series.
If the Penguins face Columbus, that, too, is a winnable series. But if they fall to a wild card and get Tampa Bay? It's over.
So, let's assume the Penguins claim a top-three spot and get the NYI or CBJ. Presumably, the next up would be the Carolina Hurricanes , though Carolina may have Boston or Columbus in Round One.
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I will confirm the Penguins really think they can beat Carolina. In fact, they will admit privately that they want them in a playoff matchup.
Two series wins put them in the Eastern Conference Final. Is that a deep playoff run? I believe so. They are not Stanley Cup contenders, but if they can hang on for the next few weeks and get the right matchups, yes.
Of course, they have to make the dance before they can go dressed up and dreaming.
This question is more complicated than it might appear. Avery Hayes has done little with his recent ice time, but his willingness to scrap and be physically engaged speaks well of his future.
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Ville Koivunen is playing better and better in every game. He battled against Utah and gave it back when Utah tried to physically intimidate him; and they did specifically try. He also had a few good scoring chances, including a breakaway and a nifty inside-out wrister from the slot.
If it's a one-for-one, Koivunen is playing better (regardless of the social media consensus), but here's where it gets tricky. A line of Elmer Soderblom -Ben Kindel- Ville Koivunen sounds objectively terrible.
So, it's not cut and dried that Koivunen slots ahead of Hayes. Lineup construction matters. If coach Dan Muse sees a top-six spot available, then Koivunen stays. If not, Hayes would be the better choice.
Here's a wild idea–Malkin returns to center for a game or two. It seems the young Kindel is getting chewed up a bit, and a brief respite might do him well. In that unlikely case, everything changes.
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When Crosby comes back, both go down.
The question has bounced around this writer's thoughts for a few weeks, too. Here's the cold truth: In his previous 10 seasons, Mantha has never had back-to-back 20-goal seasons. The pandemic thwarted what could have been consecutive 20-goal campaigns, but at 31 years old, if he were to reach that level next season, it would be the first time.
Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas punted on the question when PHN asked following the NHL trade deadline. Is it possible? Yes. Probable? No.
Two factors to consider: 1) Malkin's future. If the Penguins say goodbye to Malkin, they could use a veteran scoring winger. 2) Mantha's contract demands. If Mantha returns on a short-term deal, such an arrangement would give the Penguins a tradeable asset if or when the rebuild takes a hard turn toward youth.
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If Mantha wants a contract that is four or five years, it's an easy no. So, the short answer is that if the Penguins part with Malkin, Mantha would be a suitable replacement, but his demands would have to align with the Penguins' financial goals, and he must agree to zero no-trade clauses.
Now, two questions, one answer.
The blue line has been problematic since the Brett Kulak for Sam Girard (and a second-rounder) trade. Girard played significantly better when coach Dan Muse separated him and Kris Letang , but Girard is a bit of an unknown quantity.
The third pairing of Ilya Solovyov and Connor Clifton has not performed well, and they played only 11 and 12 minutes, respectively, on Saturday against Utah.
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Muse's challenge to figure out the blue line quickly will be a contributing factor to making the playoffs. Ryan Shea-Kris Letang as the second pairing is not optimal, but it is serviceable. If Girard-Clifton can be serviceable, the Penguins' playoff chances are much better. If not, the lack of puck possession born of third-pairing struggles puts the bottom-six forward lines under more pressure, and the dominoes fall from there.
The Penguins' plucky determination, as evidenced by their recent comebacks, makes me like their chances to make the playoffs, with pairings:
Parker Wotherspoon-Erik Karlsson
Ryan Shea-Kris Letang
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Sam Girard-Connor Clifton
And…
Ben Kindel is a No. 2 center in the making. His demonstrated offensive skills thus far, combined with his defensive conscience, will make him a very good No. 3, but likely has 60-point potential, making him a true No. 2 center.
Easily … EASILY … the King's Dining Room in Stockholm (Kaffegillet Restaurang och Café), a 13th-century building in the shadow of the royal palace. I had reindeer with a black currant sauce and a local beer by candlelight. Cmon, nothing is going to beat that.
As for the North American continent, my favorites are Luke's Italian Beef in Chicago and the Anchor Bar's Weck & Wings combo in Buffalo. An honorable mention to the 1000 Islands Brewery in Brockville, Ont. And I have too many favorite spots in Las Vegas.
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The post Penguins Q&A: Playoff Runs, Demotions, & Dinner appeared first on Pittsburgh Hockey Now .
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