Justin Brazeau, Ben Kindel, Evgeni Malkin lead way in Penguins' midseason report cards
SOURCE:The Athletic|BY:Josh Yohe
The Penguins are in a better place than we could have guessed three months ago, and their report cards say as much.
PITTSBURGH — The Penguins technically don’t reach the halfway point of their schedule for three more games, but I find a new year is a perfect break in the schedule to call the 38 games we just witnessed the first half of the season.
So, with that in mind, it’s time to hand out some report cards.
As always, please keep in mind that I grade players not only on their performances but also on expectations. I know, for example, that Sidney Crosby is a better hockey player than Ryan Shea, but these are players with different expectations, so it doesn’t mean Crosby automatically receives a higher grade.
Away we go, and Happy New Year, everyone.
Forwards
Sidney Crosby — A-minus
Like the rest of his team, Crosby’s performance dipped in December. His defensive work hasn’t been as good as usual, and he’s struggled in overtime.
But here’s the thing: He’s 38 years old and on pace to score 45 goals. He’s also on pace to again average better than a point per game. I’d also remind you that, in recent seasons, Crosby has been much better in the second half than in the first half. Bryan Rust, one of his primary wingers, has played hurt much of the season. His primary winger, Rickard Rakell, missed more than a month with an injury.
It hasn’t been Sidney Crosby at his best by any stretch, but I still think he’s been terrific and playing high-level hockey. (Justin Berl / Getty Images)
Crosby’s goal-scoring touch remains in peak form. It hasn’t been Crosby at his best, but those on social media who are complaining about his body of work — Ask him about his 5-on-5 and 3-on-3 play, Josh! — must consider the numbers he’s still putting up and his age. It hasn’t been Crosby at his best by any stretch, but I still think he’s been terrific and playing high-level hockey.
Evgeni Malkin — A
Putting up 29 points in 26 games speaks for itself. The Penguins have not been the same without Malkin in the lineup.
Malkin knows this could be his last season and, just in case it is, wants to leave Pittsburgh with a lasting memory of his greatness. I’m also of the opinion that he would love to get one more contract from the Penguins and is playing to impress Kyle Dubas. Both things can be true.
Whatever the case may be, he’s been outstanding.
Bryan Rust — B-plus
He’s on pace for 33 goals and 76 points. And he’s been banged up.
Rust’s defense hasn’t been as good as usual this season, much like Crosby’s, but any criticism of his game is just pettiness. This remains a wonderful NHL player whose productivity shows no signs of slowing.
This is tough because Rakell has played in only 18 games. Still, he’s scored but four goals, which I think is a slightly concerning number.
He’s been a little too quiet in some games. Rakell hasn’t reached last season’s level. Still, the broken hand kept him out for more than a month, and he deserves more time to find himself. He’s not playing poorly. Just hasn’t looked himself.
Justin Brazeau — A-plus
He has 12 goals and 20 points in 24 games.
When he was signed, I figured he’d be a 13th forward or thereabouts.
Better yet, the numbers don’t appear to be a fluke. This guy has a serious pair of hands. What an incredible find.
Anthony Mantha — A-minus
He’s on pace for 30 goals and has been a steady producer despite the injury to his center, Malkin.
I don’t rank him quite as highly because there was a stretch in December when Mantha was utterly invisible. He has a history of disappearing from time to time. However, I have to give him credit. He’s paid to produce, and that’s exactly what he’s done.
Ben Kindel — A-plus
His scoring has slowed, but I’m sorry, I can’t give him anything other than this grade. Not only does he have a chance to score 15 to 20 goals as an 18-year-old, but he’s also already one of the best defensive forwards on this team. He was also thriving on the top power play before being removed in favor of veterans.
Special player.
Rutger McGroarty — B-minus
He’s been good, not great. I’m encouraged by his progress and believe he will be a very good NHL player.
I’d like to see him play with a little more snarl in his game, but I think that will come. You can see him getting more comfortable at the NHL level. The sky is the limit for him.
Ville Koivunen — D
Koivunen has been quite disappointing. He has one goal and four points in 26 games. Koivunen is often a second behind the play, getting shots blocked that wouldn’t have been blocked at the AHL level.
He isn’t ready for prime time just yet. And he’s not at the level he was in April when he looked so promising.
This is a concern.
Tommy Novak — B-minus
I didn’t like his first month, but I’ve liked his game since then quite a bit. He’s got seven goals and 20 points and has played a big role in many of the season’s most important moments, and his overall game is getting better. He’s an intriguing player, though I still don’t know where he slots into the lineup when and if the Penguins ever get healthy. He’ll be somewhere in the lineup, but where? It’s a good problem to have.
Blake Lizotte — A
The Penguins missed him terribly when he was out most of this month. The Penguins are 16-7-6 when he’s in the lineup. That’s no coincidence.
Noel Acciari — B-plus
He might be limited because of his skating, but one can’t deny how effective he’s been on the fourth line and on the penalty-killing unit. He’s been excellent.
Connor Dewar — A-minus
The ideal fourth-liner. Knows his role, plays it well, chips in the occasional goal and plays like the adult in the room. I like this guy.
Kevin Hayes — C-minus
He still does some good things with the puck, but his lack of speed is increasingly becoming a problem in the defensive zone. He’s been responsible for way too many goals against, and there isn’t a spot for him in the lineup when the Penguins are healthy. (The Penguins are aware of his foot-speed issues and put him in a position to fail at times in the first half, which isn’t something I hold against Hayes. But things such as that horrible turnover in Toronto are indeed on him.)
Philip Tomasino — D
Not good. He seemed to have lost his way at the NHL level before getting traded to the Flyers.
Joona Koppanen — D
The lack of impact was palpable.
Filip Hallander — B-minus
Here’s hoping for a speedy recovery. He has a future as a bottom-six guy in the NHL.
Defensemen
Erik Karlsson — B-plus
He’s had three or four terrible games. Otherwise, however, he’s been magnificent.
This is the player the Penguins thought they were trading for. We know he’ll have the occasional bad game, and we know he’ll make mistakes. He’s a high-risk hockey player. He is who he is. This has been a very good version of Karlsson, and he’s made a huge difference.
Parker Wotherspoon — A
Absolutely solid as a rock. What a find he’s been.
Kris Letang — D
He’s among the biggest problems on the Penguins’ roster. Sure, he still helps the Penguins’ offense, but not as he once did. More concerningly, Letang’s defensive game has fallen off dramatically. His mental mistakes are increasing. No player has been responsible for more goals against this season. If he doesn’t start playing better — or getting his minutes reduced — the Penguins will not sniff the postseason.
I actually think he’s been a bit better in recent games, which is perhaps a sign of things to come. The Penguins had better hope so.
Brett Kulak — C
It’s too early to make a call on him. In general, he’s not been good. At all. However, two things must be noted: He played, by far, his best game with the Penguins against Carolina on Tuesday, and his presence has absolutely made Letang better. So, there is that.
Ryan Shea — B
Steady as they come. I really like his game. On a good team, he’s probably a third-pairing guy. But he’s a good third-pairing guy, and there’s something to be said for that. Great presence in the locker room, too. I think he’s a keeper.
Jack St. Ivany — Incomplete
That said, I like what I’m seeing from him quite a bit. I’d leave him with Shea. They simply work.
Connor Clifton — C
He’s perfectly OK and probably best suited as a No. 7 guy. I like his willingness to hit people.
Matt Dumba — C-minus
I loved his game in training camp. Regular season, not so much.
Ryan Graves — B
I have to give him credit. He’s displayed a lot of character and has been much better this season. He helped more than he hurt during his 17 games at the NHL level.
Caleb Jones — B-minus
Remember him? He’s been out since October, but I actually liked his game. He can really skate. It will be interesting to see if he can find his way back into the lineup.
Harrison Brunicke — C
Yeah, you remember him. He was outstanding in his first few games, then fell off a cliff. I was probably guilty of overhyping him a bit, but I maintain he’s going to be a really good player for a long time. Alas, he’s 19.
Goaltending
Arturs Silovs — C
Great start, terrible run in November and December, but seems to have righted himself a bit.
Remember, he’s 24 and playing behind a fairly poor defensive team. He’s been OK, but just OK.
Stuart Skinner — Incomplete
He’s played in only four games, one of which was against Connor McDavid on one of his God-mode nights. So, I can’t fairly grade him yet. He’s been a bit underwhelming, I’d say, but the win against Carolina was a big step in the right direction.
Sergei Murashov — B
He had an up-and-down first few NHL games. But he did earn a shutout, and given the way the Penguins were playing in front of him on some of those days, I’d hardly blame him for much. The talent is real. The performance was actually pretty good. And he’s only 21.
Coaching
Dan Muse — B
I have disagreed with some of his decisions, namely his tendency to use Letang and Karlsson together, which is asking for trouble. I’ve disagreed with some of his deployments in general.
However, his work with the special teams has been spectacular. And really, let’s look at it this way: Did you expect the Penguins to be two points out of a playoff spot on New Year’s Eve? Me neither. In general, he’s done well but has much to prove.
Management
Kyle Dubas — A
I can’t question anything he’s done this season. Sure, trading your best goaltender might not help the Penguins make the playoffs, but did Dubas win that trade? Yeah, he did. And he’s on quite a heater lately in general. The Penguins, big picture-wise, are in a way better spot than they were even a year ago. It’s night and day. Then consider the moves he made in the summer for the short term, adding inexpensive but valuable pieces such as Brazeau, Mantha and Wotherspoon. He’s doing outstanding work.
