Penguins Training Camp Thoughts
From the few games I have watched this preseason and the articles I have read, I am excited about this team. When you look down the roster, there are not as many superstar names as there have been in the past and while that may upset others, I am positively thrilled. No longer do these have these ridiculously lofty expectation of sweeping every team throughout the playoffs and winning the Stanley Cup in three games. Instead, they have a similar build like they did in the late 2000's, ie 2007-08 and 2008-09 teams. They are going to have to mesh together and blend their respective skills to make this team as successful as possible.
Essentially what I'm getting at is that the Penguins should not and hopefully will not run roughshod on an already weak Eastern Conference.
What made this team successful years back was their gritty, underdog team that fought for respect and fought to be taken seriously. They were not handed anything easily and they were overlooked. This year's team has a similar look. They do not have James Neal. They do not have Olli Maatta, yet. They do not have this elite look to them anymore.
Instead, new General Manager Jim Rutherford and Head Coach Mike Johnston have an abundance of character players that have more than average skill. Look at the acquisitions of Nick Spaling and Patric Hornqvist. Look at the additions of Blake Comeau, Steve Downie and Marcel Goc. And let's not overlook the best signing the Penguins made all offseason, Christian Ehrhoff. Not to mention, they resigned Brandon Sutter for two years.
When I look at this team, I feel confident that they will be more competitive when it comes to tougher games against tougher opponents like Boston, Montreal, New York, Chicago, Anaheim, and who I think will be a powerhouse this year, Dallas. I also see some players that I think could fix some of these holes that this offseason has created.
First, the Penguins 2014 first-round draft pick Kasperi Kapanen has impressed me with his minutes on ice. He has great hockey sense, solid vision and his shot is ridiculous. The goal he scored against Columbus was at a tough angle with a good goalie in net. The placement was outstanding. He could fill the role on the second line vacant wing spot with Evgeni Malkin and presumably Patric Hornqvist.
Second, I can not express how big of a Simon Despres fan I am. His skating ability, vision, and sheer size is amazing added with his defensive prowess and offensive potential, how can one not want him in the top six? I like Robert Bortuzzo, I do, but he does not bring what Despres does to the table. Despres was not given the time to shine in the Dan Bylsma era, but hopefully in the Johnston administration, he is looked at the way most fans see him; a superstar in the making.
Lastly, there have been some rumblings that Craig Adams is no longer what he used to be. The penalty killing machine is a step slower and another year older. Does he have what it takes to keep up for another full season and if he does not, who could replace him? Oscar Sundqvist is an interesting prospect, but I believe he is still a year away. What about Jayson Megna? Megna is skilled but he was sent down to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton rather early in the training camp.
My solution: Zach Sill. The kid is rough, rugged, and in your face. Imagine facing the duo of Sill and Steve Downie on a regular basis; you'd go nuts. The amount of chirping and irritation these two would cause is indescribable. Sill, while a wild man, can play some real sound hockey. He can block just as many shots as Adams, can rack up hits like no other player on the Penguins roster and can add some goals here and there. Sill is a kid that deserves an extended stay in the NHL and would make quite the impression with the Pittsburgh fans, potentially becoming a fan favorite.
All in all, this team can do some damage and I believe they will, however, it will not be an easy road like they have had the last four, five years. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are going to put up their points. Letang and Ehrhoff may become one of the best first line pairings in all of the league. Marc-Andre Fleury will win 35+ games as well.
I believe though, that players like Comeau, Spaling, Downie, Goc, and the other bottom six wingers are going to be the unsung heroes of this team.
Do I see a Stanley Cup for this team's future? I hope so, but I doubt it. Unless the West is uncharacteristically weak this year, the Penguins will be just another contender, however, the disappointment will not sting as badly this year. Like I said a sentence ago, I hope I'm wrong.
Essentially what I'm getting at is that the Penguins should not and hopefully will not run roughshod on an already weak Eastern Conference.
What made this team successful years back was their gritty, underdog team that fought for respect and fought to be taken seriously. They were not handed anything easily and they were overlooked. This year's team has a similar look. They do not have James Neal. They do not have Olli Maatta, yet. They do not have this elite look to them anymore.
Instead, new General Manager Jim Rutherford and Head Coach Mike Johnston have an abundance of character players that have more than average skill. Look at the acquisitions of Nick Spaling and Patric Hornqvist. Look at the additions of Blake Comeau, Steve Downie and Marcel Goc. And let's not overlook the best signing the Penguins made all offseason, Christian Ehrhoff. Not to mention, they resigned Brandon Sutter for two years.
When I look at this team, I feel confident that they will be more competitive when it comes to tougher games against tougher opponents like Boston, Montreal, New York, Chicago, Anaheim, and who I think will be a powerhouse this year, Dallas. I also see some players that I think could fix some of these holes that this offseason has created.
First, the Penguins 2014 first-round draft pick Kasperi Kapanen has impressed me with his minutes on ice. He has great hockey sense, solid vision and his shot is ridiculous. The goal he scored against Columbus was at a tough angle with a good goalie in net. The placement was outstanding. He could fill the role on the second line vacant wing spot with Evgeni Malkin and presumably Patric Hornqvist.
Second, I can not express how big of a Simon Despres fan I am. His skating ability, vision, and sheer size is amazing added with his defensive prowess and offensive potential, how can one not want him in the top six? I like Robert Bortuzzo, I do, but he does not bring what Despres does to the table. Despres was not given the time to shine in the Dan Bylsma era, but hopefully in the Johnston administration, he is looked at the way most fans see him; a superstar in the making.
Lastly, there have been some rumblings that Craig Adams is no longer what he used to be. The penalty killing machine is a step slower and another year older. Does he have what it takes to keep up for another full season and if he does not, who could replace him? Oscar Sundqvist is an interesting prospect, but I believe he is still a year away. What about Jayson Megna? Megna is skilled but he was sent down to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton rather early in the training camp.
My solution: Zach Sill. The kid is rough, rugged, and in your face. Imagine facing the duo of Sill and Steve Downie on a regular basis; you'd go nuts. The amount of chirping and irritation these two would cause is indescribable. Sill, while a wild man, can play some real sound hockey. He can block just as many shots as Adams, can rack up hits like no other player on the Penguins roster and can add some goals here and there. Sill is a kid that deserves an extended stay in the NHL and would make quite the impression with the Pittsburgh fans, potentially becoming a fan favorite.
All in all, this team can do some damage and I believe they will, however, it will not be an easy road like they have had the last four, five years. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are going to put up their points. Letang and Ehrhoff may become one of the best first line pairings in all of the league. Marc-Andre Fleury will win 35+ games as well.
I believe though, that players like Comeau, Spaling, Downie, Goc, and the other bottom six wingers are going to be the unsung heroes of this team.
Do I see a Stanley Cup for this team's future? I hope so, but I doubt it. Unless the West is uncharacteristically weak this year, the Penguins will be just another contender, however, the disappointment will not sting as badly this year. Like I said a sentence ago, I hope I'm wrong.
