By: Kevin Antosz
With all the talk swirling around over who the Penguins might pick up
with their newly freed cap space, I had to get into the
debate over who the Penguins could/should sign. Obviously its possible they might not sign any big names, but there’s no doubt they will make a strong
attempt to sign at least one.
In 2012, Penguins fans watched their defense collapse at the end of the regular season and into the playoffs. Most will argue this was a fluke, but was it really? They finished 15th in the NHL in total goals allowed in the regular season; nowhere near strong enough for a team of this caliber. In the playoffs their struggles continued, except their normally elite back stop, Marc-Andre Fleury was not himself and whose poor play finally exposed the Penguins mediocre defense.
This was actually a valuable lesson for the Penguins as it showed management where the problems laid.
However, because the Penguins have a surplus of young defenseman in their system, many people are shying away from Ryan Suter of the Nashville Predators, as a possible target. The problem with this logic is that the majority of those prospects still need a few years before they will be NHL ready. Whereas Suter would be an immediate upgrade as a top line defenseman, pairing with fellow All Star, Kris Letang.
Let's take a look at the Penguins defensive pairings this year compared to the 2009 season when they won the Stanley Cup:
In 2012, Penguins fans watched their defense collapse at the end of the regular season and into the playoffs. Most will argue this was a fluke, but was it really? They finished 15th in the NHL in total goals allowed in the regular season; nowhere near strong enough for a team of this caliber. In the playoffs their struggles continued, except their normally elite back stop, Marc-Andre Fleury was not himself and whose poor play finally exposed the Penguins mediocre defense.
This was actually a valuable lesson for the Penguins as it showed management where the problems laid.
However, because the Penguins have a surplus of young defenseman in their system, many people are shying away from Ryan Suter of the Nashville Predators, as a possible target. The problem with this logic is that the majority of those prospects still need a few years before they will be NHL ready. Whereas Suter would be an immediate upgrade as a top line defenseman, pairing with fellow All Star, Kris Letang.
Let's take a look at the Penguins defensive pairings this year compared to the 2009 season when they won the Stanley Cup:
2012 Playoff Pairing 2009
Playoff Pairing (Cup winning team)
Letang-Martin Orpik-Letang
Orpik-Michalek compared
to Eaton-Gonchar
Niskanen-Engelland Scuderi-Gill
The disparity in depth between the Penguins this season versus their Stanley Cup winning one, is considerable.
Hall Gill and Rob Scuderi - once regarded as a top shutdown pairing in the NHL - made for their third line! A shutdown pairing life that might have turned the tide against Claude Giroux in 2012, when he torched the Penguins.
In addition to the clear need for viable depth, Zybnek Michalek was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes so the Penguins are already down a starting defenseman. Ryan Suter would make an immediate impact defensively for the Penguins and help a group whose confidence has appeared shaken as of late.
Hall Gill and Rob Scuderi - once regarded as a top shutdown pairing in the NHL - made for their third line! A shutdown pairing life that might have turned the tide against Claude Giroux in 2012, when he torched the Penguins.
In addition to the clear need for viable depth, Zybnek Michalek was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes so the Penguins are already down a starting defenseman. Ryan Suter would make an immediate impact defensively for the Penguins and help a group whose confidence has appeared shaken as of late.
Even without Sidney Crosby, the Penguins scored 282 goals this season, tops in the NHL. Now with the entire team healthy it seems only logical that that number should increase. So why bring in another star forward like Zach Parise? At this
point it seems somewhat unnecessary.
Already the Penguins have expressed interest in adding the former New Jersey Devil, and for good measure. In addition to his hard working locker room mentality, Parise would give Sid a winger he would work well with. In Crosby’s highschool days at Shattuck St. Mary's, he would occasionally live with the Parise family.
Already the Penguins have expressed interest in adding the former New Jersey Devil, and for good measure. In addition to his hard working locker room mentality, Parise would give Sid a winger he would work well with. In Crosby’s highschool days at Shattuck St. Mary's, he would occasionally live with the Parise family.
As much as I'd love to see the Penguins add yet another superstar to an already stellar offense, I realize the need for a great defenseman outweighs the excitement of adding a player like Parise.
Which is why I hope to see Ryan Suter in the black and gold next season. Obviously, I would be happy with either player but Suter is a better fit. Look at the Los Angeles Kings: they won the cup this year with phenomenal defense. Ray Shero is looking to build a winning team, not just an exciting one, and Suter would help the Penguins return to the pinnacle more so, than another forward.
This is, of course, purely speculation and in a dream scenario, the Penguins land both, but for the time being I'll try not to get too far ahead of myself.
Which is why I hope to see Ryan Suter in the black and gold next season. Obviously, I would be happy with either player but Suter is a better fit. Look at the Los Angeles Kings: they won the cup this year with phenomenal defense. Ray Shero is looking to build a winning team, not just an exciting one, and Suter would help the Penguins return to the pinnacle more so, than another forward.
This is, of course, purely speculation and in a dream scenario, the Penguins land both, but for the time being I'll try not to get too far ahead of myself.
Agree/Disagree feel free to comment
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