Well it's about time. The Penguins, over the last month have started playing like the way most fans expected all year long. Who gets all the credit here and what was the problem? He took his shots early on after the Miroslav Satan and Ruslan Fedotenko signings and after losing Ryan Malone and Marian Hossa in the off-season, but give Ray Shero some credit here.
First the Chris Kunitz and Bill Guerin acquistions have been great. Sidney Crosby finally has some wingers to play with this year and the results have been positive. Both guys are averaging over a point a game since they came aboard and Crosby's play has been even better because of it.
Next is the coaching change. Replacing Terrien with Bylsma has worked. The team has responded to the up tempo style of play and is playing their way into the playoffs. The team under Bylsma is 10-1-3. That is fantastic hockey. Not only has Bylsma gotten this team on the verge of the playoffs, but he may get that interim label removed soon.
Third is goaltending. Marc-Andre Fluery is healthy and playing like the elite net minder that he is. He has carried this team and will continue to do so. Fluery probably won't get a day off the rest of the season, nor should he. Good move by Bylsma by riding your horse til he drops. After watching Garon on Sunday, here is to hoping that Fluery plays every game the rest of the year.
Finally is health. The team has been ravaged by injuries, dating all the way back to the first preseason game when they lost Gonchar for most of the regular season. The Pens have had a line of guys coming up from Wilkes-Barre and none of them were capable of doing the job.
One thing that needs to get better for the Pens to make a run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs is the power play. It has not been good, even with the new additions and a healthy Gonchar. Yes, I do realize they scored 3 pp goals yesterday, but this unit is nowhere near where it needs to be.
The Rangers have improved as well so I look at the Rangers and Pens flip-flopping between the 5 and 6 seeds for the rest of the year. A good powerplay can keep the Pens away from the Devils or Caps in the first round.
Showing posts with label Chris Kunitz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chris Kunitz. Show all posts
Monday, March 16, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Week in Review- Pittsburgh Penguins
Finally the Pens seem to be clicking. I guess you can say better late than never, but that's what it looks like after the Pens went 3-0 this week. Coach Terrien and Ray Sherro have taken alot of heat during the year, but it looks as if Sherro made the right call with the decision to axe Terrien and name Bylsma interim coach.
After this solid week, the Pens are 5-1-1 under Bylsma, capturing 11 out of a possible 14 points and catapulting themselves back into the playoff mix. Not only the record is impressive, but the Pens seem to have taken to the more aggressive up and down style under Bylsma, and it definitely fits their current personnel better.
Notes for the week
wed: Pens beat the Islanders 1-0 behind a solid performance for Marc-Andre Fluery
thurs: Pens acquire Chris Kunitz and Eric Tangardi from Anaheim for Ryan Whitney
fri: Pens beat Blackhawks 5-4 in a thrilling game. Young talent everywhere for both teams. It was great to see the Pens get to play against Toews and Kane. Kunitz shines in his Pens debut with a goal and an assist and Malken nets the OT winner
sun: Pens dominate Dallas 4-1 Fluery plays well again and Malken has another big game
Fluery goes 3-0 in the week stopping 82 of 87 shots. In two of the games, the Pens limited the opposition to 21 shots. The Pens will win alot of games if they can do that consistently. In the Chicago game they allowed 45.
Stall and Satan have scored in back to back games. This is crucial, if both guys can get hot and provide consistent scoring, it can only help the Pens.
Powerplay still not great 2-13 during the 3 game stretch.
Malken led the team with 5 points during the week
Crosby didn't play during the week, nursing a sore groin.
I like what I saw this week, but I'm not sold on if it's enough to make a long run in the playoffs. I like how the team has responded under Bylsma and think they will just get better. I still think another move is needed, but if management doesn't feel like they can get back to the finals, then I wouldn't pull the trigger on a rental player. Any move must help for at least next year as well. Milan Hejduk?
On a side note, the Devils got back Martin Broduer this week and he looked great. 3 games, 2 shutouts and only 2 goals allowed in the 3. Talk about a major acquisition at the the deadline.
After this solid week, the Pens are 5-1-1 under Bylsma, capturing 11 out of a possible 14 points and catapulting themselves back into the playoff mix. Not only the record is impressive, but the Pens seem to have taken to the more aggressive up and down style under Bylsma, and it definitely fits their current personnel better.
Notes for the week
wed: Pens beat the Islanders 1-0 behind a solid performance for Marc-Andre Fluery
thurs: Pens acquire Chris Kunitz and Eric Tangardi from Anaheim for Ryan Whitney
fri: Pens beat Blackhawks 5-4 in a thrilling game. Young talent everywhere for both teams. It was great to see the Pens get to play against Toews and Kane. Kunitz shines in his Pens debut with a goal and an assist and Malken nets the OT winner
sun: Pens dominate Dallas 4-1 Fluery plays well again and Malken has another big game
Fluery goes 3-0 in the week stopping 82 of 87 shots. In two of the games, the Pens limited the opposition to 21 shots. The Pens will win alot of games if they can do that consistently. In the Chicago game they allowed 45.
Stall and Satan have scored in back to back games. This is crucial, if both guys can get hot and provide consistent scoring, it can only help the Pens.
Powerplay still not great 2-13 during the 3 game stretch.
Malken led the team with 5 points during the week
Crosby didn't play during the week, nursing a sore groin.
I like what I saw this week, but I'm not sold on if it's enough to make a long run in the playoffs. I like how the team has responded under Bylsma and think they will just get better. I still think another move is needed, but if management doesn't feel like they can get back to the finals, then I wouldn't pull the trigger on a rental player. Any move must help for at least next year as well. Milan Hejduk?
On a side note, the Devils got back Martin Broduer this week and he looked great. 3 games, 2 shutouts and only 2 goals allowed in the 3. Talk about a major acquisition at the the deadline.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Penguins Deal Whitney to Ducks
Your NHL trading deadline home will be right here. I will have up to date commentary on each deal on deadline day (March 4), as they happen.
The Penguins pulled the trigger on a deal today that sent defensemen Ryan Whitney to the Anaheim Ducks for forward Chris Kunitz and 20 year old prospect Eric Tangradi. Is this the first of a series of moves that can get the Pens back into cup contention? One can only hope.
My first take on the deal was- What in the hell is Shero thinking? Kunitz is a solid winger, but nothing special. To give up a big chip like Whitney, one that teams were interested in, I would expect a better return. After looking at it for a while though, it isn't entirely that bad of a deal, if it triggers another move.
Entering the season, the Pens had a surplus of young defensemen and naturally they could deal one. With the emergence of Kris Letang and Alex Gologoski (who better return to the big club), it made sense to move Whitney, but what did they get?
Sherro will tell you they got a top winger in Kunitz. He will play with Crosby and needs to produce early and often as a Penguin. He is a VERY quick player with above average hands. He immediately becomes the teams best current winger not named Sykora, but that doesn't say much at all with this current group. The thing i do like is that he will score alot of goals in front of the net (Ryan Malone anyone). Kunitz brings toughness as well. He can go and get the puck, something our wingers can't do right now and he is physical (144 hits). He is also signed for 3 more years so there is no threat of him leaving. His salary breakdown is 3.6mil in 2009, 3.8 in 2010 and 4mil in 2011.
The numbers don't look like a top 6 guy- 16 goals 19 assists, but he played in a more methodical style with Anahiem. His numbers should get better with the Pens, especially in an up tempo style. They better, to warrant dealing Whitney. He also could be a Dan Bylsma kind of player. Bylsma played with and coached Kunitz in Anaheim.
The key to the deal could be Tangradi, a former second round pick of the Ducks. He is a scorer. His 87 points in the OHL are only 2 behind John Taveres, who should be the number one overall pick in this years draft. he should be ready to turn pro next season and join the Penguins organization.
This deal is actually better for the Ducks. They acquire a solid young blue-liner and have been rumored to be shopping Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermeyer. They can now deal one or both for offense and get themselves back into the playoff race.
The Pens are still being linked to Milan Hejduk and Martin St Louis, which means Jordan Stall would have to be included to acquire one of them (thank god). While I can't say I like the Whitney move just yet, it would look alot better if they landed a true first line winger.
If this is Ray Shero's only move as the deadline approaches, it just doesn't make that much sense, because on paper they aren't getting out of the first round anyway. However, IF Shero can pull off a major deal by March 4, then Kunitz could turn out to be a valuable asset to the team.
The Penguins pulled the trigger on a deal today that sent defensemen Ryan Whitney to the Anaheim Ducks for forward Chris Kunitz and 20 year old prospect Eric Tangradi. Is this the first of a series of moves that can get the Pens back into cup contention? One can only hope.
My first take on the deal was- What in the hell is Shero thinking? Kunitz is a solid winger, but nothing special. To give up a big chip like Whitney, one that teams were interested in, I would expect a better return. After looking at it for a while though, it isn't entirely that bad of a deal, if it triggers another move.
Entering the season, the Pens had a surplus of young defensemen and naturally they could deal one. With the emergence of Kris Letang and Alex Gologoski (who better return to the big club), it made sense to move Whitney, but what did they get?
Sherro will tell you they got a top winger in Kunitz. He will play with Crosby and needs to produce early and often as a Penguin. He is a VERY quick player with above average hands. He immediately becomes the teams best current winger not named Sykora, but that doesn't say much at all with this current group. The thing i do like is that he will score alot of goals in front of the net (Ryan Malone anyone). Kunitz brings toughness as well. He can go and get the puck, something our wingers can't do right now and he is physical (144 hits). He is also signed for 3 more years so there is no threat of him leaving. His salary breakdown is 3.6mil in 2009, 3.8 in 2010 and 4mil in 2011.
The numbers don't look like a top 6 guy- 16 goals 19 assists, but he played in a more methodical style with Anahiem. His numbers should get better with the Pens, especially in an up tempo style. They better, to warrant dealing Whitney. He also could be a Dan Bylsma kind of player. Bylsma played with and coached Kunitz in Anaheim.
The key to the deal could be Tangradi, a former second round pick of the Ducks. He is a scorer. His 87 points in the OHL are only 2 behind John Taveres, who should be the number one overall pick in this years draft. he should be ready to turn pro next season and join the Penguins organization.
This deal is actually better for the Ducks. They acquire a solid young blue-liner and have been rumored to be shopping Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermeyer. They can now deal one or both for offense and get themselves back into the playoff race.
The Pens are still being linked to Milan Hejduk and Martin St Louis, which means Jordan Stall would have to be included to acquire one of them (thank god). While I can't say I like the Whitney move just yet, it would look alot better if they landed a true first line winger.
If this is Ray Shero's only move as the deadline approaches, it just doesn't make that much sense, because on paper they aren't getting out of the first round anyway. However, IF Shero can pull off a major deal by March 4, then Kunitz could turn out to be a valuable asset to the team.
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