By Ryan Wilson aka Gunner Staal
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2011-2012 Penguin forward end of the year review:
Over the next few days I am going to review the 2011-2012 Pittsburgh Penguins line by line. Along with these reviews I am going to try and keep up with any draft info, trade rumors, etc… However be forewarned, I have not watched any of the prospects that are about to be drafted play hockey and any information I have about them will be second hand.
On to the first line, which was the first line.
Evgeni Malkin
Malkin used his season ending knee injury from the 2010/2011 season as motivation to train harder this offseason than he had before. The results were magnificent. Malkin was the best player in the NHL this season while winning the Art Ross trophy and almost certainly the Hart Trophy later tonight in Vegas. Malkin returned to the player Penguin fans have come to know and love. Dominant in all zones, consistently high compete levels, and dazzling skill. Malkin carried the load for a Penguins team who was missing its captain Sidney Crosby for extended periods of time yet again this season. Malkin was everything a hockey fan would want out of a player this past season. Most importantly he provides the Penguins with insurance in the case of Crosby missing extended time in the future. Bonus points to Malkin for having his lowest PIM total since entering the league (full seasons only) and cutting down on the emotional retaliatory penalties he has been known for . Malkin is a generational talent and the Penguins would be wise to keep him as their own for as long as they can.
Some comments from Malkin on the cusp of winning his first Hart Trophy:
“@pgshelly: #Penguins Malkin on Shero dousing Staal trade talks: I was a little nervous because Jordan Staal is a good player. Sidney Crosby, too. cont.”
“@pgshelly: More Malkin: It's tough to sign both. I hope we sign both. If we can sign both, it's a good chance to win again. Both are great guys. cont.”
“@pgshelly: More Malkin: I hope they sign me, too. I want to stay in Pittsburgh. I like #Penguins hockey, Penguins organization and fans.”
With Malkin’s Hart Trophy he joins one of the most exclusive groups in hockey history. He will be the 4th player ever to win the Hart, Conn Smythe, Art Ross, and Calder trophy. Can you name the 3 other players? (no cheating) Answers will be below.
James Neal
James Neal’s Penguins career started off rocky if you were only studying the stat sheet in 2010-2011. He was only able to pot one goal in 20 games for the Penguins. The lack of goals had some Penguin fans worried if Ray Shero slipped up and made a mistake. However Neal was not playing bad hockey. He was getting scoring chances and doing good things away from the puck. He was by no means a liability on the ice. The problem lied more with his center being Mark Letestu and his other winger being Alex Kovalev.
Fast forward to 2011-2012 and Ray Shero looks great in trading for Neal. He finally found the sniper winger that he can implement with either Malkin or Crosby. Neal exploded for a career high 40 goals, while adding 41 assists. On top of the offensive production he brings his playing style meshed perfectly with linemates Malkin and Kunitz. Neal’s physical play opened up room in the corners and allowed that line to become one of the better cycling lines in the league, if not one of the best lines period. Neal also hooked up with Malkin on what became the deadliest faceoff play in the NHL.
Shero wisely locked Neal up long term with a quality cap hit of 5M for 6 years. Neal will be a big part of the Penguins success for the foreseeable future. Neal’s one downfall? He should probably wash his hair more often.
Chris Kunitz
Kunitz was healthy and played in all 82 games this season. This led to his best statistical season since 2006-2007 with the Ducks. Kunitz had 26 goals and 35 assists. He was a necessary part of his line and was the engine that drove the forecheck. Kunitz excels at creating havoc which leads to opposition’s mistakes. These mistakes were a feeding frenzy for Malkin and Neal. He had the third best corsi number on the Penguins this past season.
Corsi Number = (Shots on Target For + Missed Shots For + Blocked Shots Against ) - (Shots on Target Against + Missed Shots Against + Blocked Shots For)
In a nutshell it is a fancier more accurate plus/minus stat that tells you about the flow of play when that player is on the ice.
However with all the good that Kunitz provided he was not immune from errors. Discipline was a problem for Kunitz this season. A handful of times he was guilty of taking a minor penalty at extremely bad times. Also his postseason was not up to his normal standards. While he was a point/game player in the Flyers series he was not the physical factor on the forecheck that has been his bread and butter in playoff hockey.
Staal trade opinon
Personally I hope Ray Shero does everything in his power to keep Jordan Staal a Penguin for the long term (McKenzie reporting that Pens might try to sign him 7-10 years). I think he is just coming into his own and is only going to get better. for arguments sake lets say Jordan wants to move on because of his role moving forward, money, whatever, it doesnt matter. What kind of return should the Penguins be looking at? I would focus on Bobby Ryan. A proven player with a good contract who can immediately help the Penguins maintain their goal, trying to win a Stanley Cup in the present time. Its not going to be easy, especially if Staal is not extended but the Penguins would have potential pieces to make it happen.
The Penguins could ship Staal, a signed Niskanen, Scott Harrington (2012 WJC Canada team member) and somebody like Tyler Kennedy. Its just a starting point for discussion purposes, no reason to get up in arms about it. Bobby Ryan is one of few players that would make sense for the Penguins in a Staal trade both short and long term.
It also really depends on what the Ducks are looking for or if Bobby Ryan is legitimately available. I think the Ducks would be foolish to trade Ryan.
Regardless of all the talk about Staal's hockey playing status he is making a big life decision later this week on Friday. He will be getting married. Hope those Staal boys stay out of trouble this time around. Congrats to Jordan.
Tidbits from Twitter:
Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
My take on Jordan Staal situation: PIT doesn't want to trade him, wants to sign him and may make him a long-term (7 to 10 yrs maybe?) offer.
Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
At that point, it would be up to Staal to commit long term to Pens or not sign. If it's not, PIT would have to explore trade options.
Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
IF outcome is trading Staal, PIT's return/field of teams SEVERELY limited by fact Staal 1 yr from UFA. No team pays big for 1 yr rental.
Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
So even in trade scenario, Staal drives bus to large degree. Decisions, decisions, but first things first...he's getting married Friday.
Dave Molinari @MolinariPG
Ray Shero: Staal has not told the Penguins he is interested in playing elsewhere after his deal expires in 2013, still hopes to re-sign him.
Dave Molinari @MolinariPG
Shero says teams have inquired about Staal's availability, but that Penguins have not put him on the market.
Dave Molinari @MolinariPG
Shero confirms that he expects to trade a defenseman or two before next season, declines to say if he's asked any to waive no-trade clause.
Dave Molinari @MolinariPG
Penguins have, or are expected to, extend qualifying offers to Niskanen, Tangradi, Veilleux, Strait, Bortuzzo, Grant and Sneep.
Dave Molinari @MolinariPG
RFAs Mattias Modig, Boris Valabik, Casey Pierro-Zabotel and Alexandre Picard are not expected to get qualifying offers from Penguins.
Dave Molinari @MolinariPG
Shero says there is no deadline, informal or otherwise, for getting new deals with Staal and Crosby, both of whom can be signed July 1.
Dave Molinari @MolinariPG
Shero says Sullivan and Asham "have been good players for us" and that he plans to discuss their futures with their agents next week.
Here is the link to Dave Molinari’s great article which touches on Jordan Staal’s status with the Penguins from Ray Shero’s perspective.
Here is a story from Josh Yohe covering similar ground.
Answer to the trivia question:
Mario Lemieux, Bobby Orr, Bryan Trottier, and now Evgeni Malkin. Not too shabby Geno. And not too shabby that 3 out of the 4 have ties to the Pittsburgh Penguin organization.
Thanks for reading and check in tomorrow for the next Penguins line breakdown.
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