pittsburgh penguins mancave

Mark Madden Podcasts

Mark Madden Podcasts

Alex Ovechkin Drops F-Bomb on Bruce Boudreau (HD)

Penguins Free Agents this summer

I have compiled a list of Penguins free agents this summer for your review, and would welcome any feedback as to who should be back and who should not:

Brent Johnson who was 6-7-2 with a 3.11 GAA and .883 save percentage- salary was 600K
Steve Sullivan who had 17G and 48Pts and -3 in 79 games...big on the #5 power-1.5M- UFA
Eric Tangradi who had 0G and 3Pts and -2 in 24 games-845K- RFA
Arron Asham who had 5G and 16Pts and -5 in 64 games-775K- UFA
Steve MacIntyre who had 0G and 0Pts and even in 12 games-600K- UFA
Richard Park who had 7G and 14 Pts and -1 in 54 games-550K-UFA
Matt Niskanen who had 4G and 21 Pts and +9 in 75 games-1.5M-RFA
Brian Strait who had 0G and 1 Pts and -2 in 9 games-861K-RFA

Robert Bortuzzo RFA-535K*
Carl Sneep-RFA-850K*
Alexandre Picard-RFA-600K*

For me, out of this group, the Penguins should see about bringing Steve Sullivan back. I was not a fan of the signing based on the injury history, but Sully played in 79 games, and chipped in 17 goals and 48 points.  He was also a big factor in taking a sagging power play last year, and helping it to be the #5 PP in the league at 19.9%.

I also like the idea of signing RFA Matt Niskanen.  Niskanen was a steady young player on the Penguins blue line, and chipped in 21 points offensively, and was a plus 9.  If he can be retained at 2.5M, he could possibly step up into a role hopefully vacated by Paul Martin.  If the Pens can move Martin and bring in a better top 4, Nisky is a solid third pairing guy at worst, with top 4 potential.  He is a former 1st round pick.

Arron Asham should come back as well.  Arron played in 64 games, and adds some toughness and sandpaper that is in short supply on this team.

I like the idea of signing Strait, Bortuzzo and Sneep as well.  All three are bigger players who are "stay at home" types that most say are NHL ready, especially Strait and Bortuzzo.  There might be too much of a backup on the blue line for that to happen.

Tangradi is interesting to me.  He had only 2 points in 24 games in the NHL, but was scoring at a good clip in the AHL.  He has good size and can play with an edge.  Could be a good 3rd or 4th liner, but cash may get in the way given his lack of production at the NHL level.  He played a solid checking role in the playoffs, but is no lock to be back.

Offseason Notes-Martin CAN and should be traded

Every radio show I listen to seems to think that the 5M contract of Paul Martin along with his poor performance this year is one of the biggest problems for Pittsburgh in the offseason, especially with three more years of term on the agreement.  Many think that Zybnek Michalek's 4M deal, also with three years on it, is another signficant issue. I agree on both fronts, though much more so with Martin.  They both no movement clauses as well.  Every pundit I listen to and read seems to think that the combination of relatively high salary and remaining term(3yrs), poor play, and the NMC means that Martin and Michalek are not able to be dealt away from the Penguins.  I COMPLETELY disagree in the case of Paul Martin in particular, since he is the bigger issue in my humble opinion.  Here is why I disagreed enough with that theory that I called the Vinny and Cook show at 93.7 today to tell them why I thought they were wrong. Let me give you the backdrop.  Dial back to July 1, 2010 when the Penguins decided not to retain Sergei Gonchar who was immediately signed by the Ottawa Senators for 5.5M per year, and many of the Penguins faithful were distraught, thinking they were done with Gonch.  Moments later, most of us, (including myself from Kill Devil Hills NC) were celebrating as the Penguins signed not one, but two of the most coveted free agent defensemen on the market in Zybnek Michalek and Paul Martin.  National and local experts spoke of the responsible zone play of Martin, his ability to lead the breakout, quarterback a power play, add some decent offense, and provide genuine leadership on the Pittsburgh blue line.  He was HIGHLY regarded by the league, and Brian Burke the GM of the US Olympic team held a spot for Martin despite his inablilty to play due to a broken arm until the last possible seconds.  Martin had provided 30 plus points from the blue line in 3 of his 5 plus seasons in NJ, and the experts drooled over his hockey smarts, skating, vision, and passing ability.  His first year here, he was pretty solid if not quite what we expected.  Then, this year, instead of progressing into the top flight defenseman in year two ala Gonchar when first signed by Pittsburgh, he regressed in a way that has left everyone shocked and unable to explain how a player so solid could suddenly look like he cannot find his ass with both hands.  OK, I went off on a tangent.  Let me say why he can be traded despite the apparent roadblocks:

1.  He was not a player that the Penguins had to give up assets they would feel the need to replace to get Martin in the first place.  He was signed as a UFA.  This removes the "pressure" to get similar assets in return to move Martin out of here.  That means they can view moving Martin as "addition by subtraction" meaning that the real value is having the 5M in cap space to invest in a different player to help the Penguins cause.  They can take anything like a low round draft choice to get this movement done, and be ahead of the game.
2. Despite his horrific season here, read the backdrop.  From 2003 until his signing here in 2010, Martin had built a reputation in the defense first system of the NJ Devils as an excellent defenseman, responsibile in his zone, able to make a quick and efficient breakout pass to lead a rush up ice, and adding some offensive production to boot.  He was literally one of the more sought after players that year, and really a unanimous choice in that regard as a great catch for Pittsburgh.  He comes here, and after an average year one, he regresses in year two to a shell of himself.  BUT, we also hear a lot lately how Bylsma's system is an OFFENSIVE system whose defensive game plan is to possess the puck in the opponent's offensive zone.  Is it possible that Martin simply is not a FIT in this system v suddenly waking up and forgetting to play hockey at the age of 31?  My vote is more a misfit in a different system v forgetting the game, which could make a move to acquire Martin a reasonable risk for the right team with a solid defensive system, especially if the Pens will take a minimal return due to the addition by subtraction theory.

3. As far as the NMC, PLEASE!  Martin seems to a whipping boy here, and his chances of getting off the mat in that regard are slim and none.  He seems uncomfortable on the ice, and is not used to being a whipping boy for his consistent mistakes.  I would be willing to bet that Paul Martin would be as happy to be out of here for a team that better fits his mentality and skillset as many here would be to see him go.  If none of that works, it is also not unusual for a pair of GMs with quality players who are struggling on their teams to get together, and make a deal for a "change of scenery" for both players to jump start their careers.  In short, there are legitimate options out there that could and should result in the Penguins moving Martin to free up the cap space to address their other needs.  I will touch on my thoughts as to those needs at a later date.  For the blue line, in short, Tanger is untouchable due to his unreal skills.  Engelland is untouchable due to the toughness he brings to the lineup and his VERY cap friendly salary.  Orpik, though a little off his game, makes a great pairing with Tanger.  Niskanen for 2.5 to 2.75M should be resigned.  Despres should be on the big team.  Everything else to me is open for discussion on the blueline.  More to come on my thoughts on the offseason.

Pens lose game 5-1 and series 4-2

I have to say that the loss today is not sitting very well with me, not that you would expect a series ending loss to do so.  However, this one stings more than most, as it is the third early exit in a row, and it was an exit in round one by a team favored by most to win the Stanley Cup.  It is also the second time in three years the Penguins not only LOST an elimination game early in the playoffs, but it is the second time in three years that they were bitchslapped in that situation.  Absolutely bitch slapped.  The Penguins somehow looked flat today with their season on the line, and the Flyers looked hungrier and sharper.  Claude Giroux, came out on the first shift and made a big hit on Crosby and then scored the opening goal unassisted at just 32 seconds of the first period.  It was one hell of a statement by the star of the Flyers, and one that none of the Penguins stars came close to answering.  Giroux accounted for 14 points in the series, only 2 shy of the 16 posted by BOTH Crosby and Malkin.  That play was indicative of one of the reasons the Penguins lost the series.  Their star player was better than both of the Penguins superstars.  Malkin won the Art Ross Trophy, and likely the Hart trophy in the regular season but was mostly a nonfactor in the series, except for some ill timed penalties.  Crosby, who was supposed to carry us with his fresh legs was a noshow today.  Another reason they lost is their netminding.  Folks, I had the chance to meet Fleury and spend time with him this winter, and I came away loving the guy.  However, you will have to forgive me when the next post season analysis gives the Penguins a nod due to their superior goaltending, if I laugh out loud.  Yes, Fleury was to two finals and won the Stanley Cup in 2009, a track record that most people point to when calling him an elite netminder.  However, Fleury has not posted a save percentage above .900 in the post season since then.  He was a key factor in losing to Montreal in 2010 and again a key factor in losing to the Flyers this year.  Fleury let in many soft goals and ill timed goals, like the one less than a minute after Malkin closed the gap to 3-1 today.  He gave up 26 goals in 6 games, which is the third most ever given up in  six game series behind Gump Worsley's 28 in 1958 and Arturs Irbe's 27 in 1995.  His save percentage was a HORRID .834 the worst of all playoff goaltenders.  His GAA was 4.63.  The defense was bad, but Fleury, outside of a few periods, was just horrendous in the net.  This is a real issue for the Penguins going forward.  The Penguins also lost the series becasue their special teams gave up 3 short handed goals, and a 60% plus power play to the Flyers!   The Flyers scored 12 power play goals in 6 games or an average of 2 per game.  You will not win many series when you give up shorthanded goals and allow that many power play goals, period.  The defense, which was supposed to be a plus for Pittsburgh was horrible.  Even Letang and Orpik looked bad defensively, and the Penguins had no answer for the Flyers.  The Penguins also continued to try to be too fancy for most of the series, never learning their lessons from passing up shots or making bad passes in the neutral zone that led to odd man chance for the Philadelphia.  I am not sure how you come out flat in a game like today, but the Penguins did.  In short, the Penguins showed up for two of six games in full force, and were sent home early AGAIN as a result....they gave up a 3-0 lead in game one to lose, and in general were outworked, outsmarted, outplayed, and outcoached.  They lost to a team that is very very good, and they earned the victory, leaving the Penguins with more questions than answers as they enter another offseason after a disappointing playoff.   After a two year run playoff run that ended in a trip to the Finals and a Stanley Cup, the Penguins have won only one playoff round in the next three seasons.  I am saddened as I believe that there will be some people that I have grown to really admire and respect who may have to move on as part of a change in the makeup of this team.  Either way, LETS GO PENS!

MAF's awesome penalty kill