At times throughout the season, I have tried to put a little background out there on different Penguins players, and even included Ray Shero and Dan Bylsma. I thought it might be a good time to do something along those lines on two of the most important and productive Penguins players this post season, Arron Asham and Tyler Kennedy.
First, Arron Asham, a guy I taunted up close and personal for three years while he was with the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers. I called him a lot of things, but Ass Hammer seemed to bother him quite a bit. On several occasions he was willing to give it back to me pretty good as well. After watching him play a prominent role for the Flyers in their deep run to the Finals last year, I gained a new found respect for the Ass Hammer and was thrilled when he signed here this summer as a UFA for 700K. Asham is a 5'11" 210 winger with a right handed shot. He was was born on 4/13/78 in Manitoba CA, and is considered a Metis Canadien. The Metis are an aboriginal people who are a mix of Indian and Caucasian, with a minimum of 25% indian according to a canadien dictionary. Asham was drafted 71st overall in the 1996 entry draft by the Montreal Canadiens. He made his NHL debut in the 1998-99 season for the Habs. After four years there, he was traded to the New York Scavengers, er Islanders on 6/22/02 with a 2002 5th round pick for Mariusz Crerkawski. In his first season with the Scavengers, 2002-03, Asham had his most productive regular season with 15 goals and 19 assists. On 8/7/07 he signed a one year deal with the New Jersey Devils. After one year there, he signed a two year deal with Philadelphia citiing his fit within their style as the main reason for his interest. In the 2010 playoffs Asham logged solid minutes, playing physical and chipping in 4 goals for the Flyers as they advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals before losing to the Blackhawks. On 8/20/10, he signed a one year deal with Pittsburgh for 700K, citing his desire to be on a team with a real chance to win the Cup. Asham's 2010-11 regular season was disappointing, as he never seemed healthy. He played in 44 games, netting 5 goals, and 6 assists along with 46 PIMs. He just never had the impact that was expected when signed here. Fast forward to the post season, and Asham has been EVERYTHING and more that was expected of him, as he leads the Penguins in scoring, with 3 goals and an assist, to go along with solid forechecking and physical grind it out play. I am glad to see Asham deliver in the post season, and I hope he has much more success, well into June! Asham has 3 children, including son Dexter, and two daughters, Azilyn and Oceane. He has played in 692 regular season games, netting 87 goals and 103 assists for 190 total points. He has played to a minus 34 in the regular season, but has 9 game winning goals and a shooting percentage of 10.9%. He has also amassed 864 PIM's and is not afraid at all to drop the gloves. Asham has fought teammate Mike Rupp on several occasions. In the post season, Asham has played in 56 games, netting 9 goals, 8 assists, and 17 total points, while playing to a plus 5 and netting one game winning goal. His shooting percentage in the post season climbs to 13.8%. Asham's gritty play, and productive stick have made him a key element to the grind it out 2011 post season Penguins, who must play that style without both Crosby and Malkin.
TYLER KENNEDY-Tyler Kennedy is a home grown Penguins prospect who was born in Ontario, CA on 7/15/86. He is a 5'11" 183 pound winger known for his speed, energy and work ethic. Kennedy was drafted in the 2004 NHL entry draft in the 4th round, 99th overall by the Penguins. He played two seasons in the OHL for Sault Ste. Marie, then for the Wilkes Barre Scranton Penguins of the AHL. Kennedy made his NHL debut with Pittsburgh on 10/27/07 against the Montreal Canadiens, and got his first NHL goal on 11/3/07 against the Scavengers of Long Island. He was picked to play in the NHL's Young Star's game in 2008, along with teamnate Kris Letang, but could not play due to mononucleosis. Kennedy became a popular figure amongst Penguins fans due to his high energy style, netting 10 goals as a rookie, then 15 in the 2008-09 campaign. During the 09 Stanley Cup Finals, Kennedy was a factor offensively, scoring a goal in Game 4 against the Wings, and the game winner in Game 6, sending the Penguins on to Detroit where they won the Stanley Cup. Much was expected of Kennedy as we entered the 2009-10 campaign, but he fell back a bit during the regular season, netting 13 goals, and he had a horrible post season, playing in ten games without registering a single goal or assist, and playing to a minus 6. As a result, many fans thought, and even hoped that TK would not make the Penguins roster out of camp due to a highly competitive group of forwards. Well, he did make the team, and he will go down in history netting the first Penguins goal ever at the new Consol Energy Center in a 3-2 loss to cross state rivals Philadelphia. Kennedy started this season slowly, but earned back his respect and more, as TK stepped up BIG in the absence of the Penguins star power, netting career highs in all offensive categories. Kennedy finished the reuglar season with 21 goals and 24 assists, and a plus one rating. His goal and point totals were career highs. Kennedy had 7 goals in the first four months of the season, but added 14 more from February on. He, Fleury, and Chris Kunitz carried this team down their strong stretch run, along with their defense corps. He has continued his hot hand in the post season, scoring two goals in the first four games of the playoffs. So now, Mr. Kennedy, who for much of the past season and a half looked like a man who was playig out his string in Pittsburgh has become one of the biggest priorities for Pittsburgh to retain in the offseason, and more importantly, a central figure in this inexplicable March of the Penguins!
Kennedy has now played in 266 career regular season games, netting 59 goals and 65 assists for 124 total points and a +28 overall. TK shoots a lot, but his percentage of 8.6% is not great. He does however have 13 game winning goals to his credit during the regular season. TK has also played in 58 post season games, netting 7 goals(the Pens have never lost a post season game in which TK scores a goal), and 8 assists. As noted he got the game winning goal in the 2009 Finals, Game 6, one of 4 post season game winners Kennedy has netted in his career.
I would like to extend my congratulations to both Penguins players, and I hope they both have continued success through this post season, and remain Penguins into the future! GO PENS!!
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