The Pittsburgh Penguins lost to the NY Rangers in a hard fought series, with most games have a deciding factor of one goal. With a decimated blue-line the Penguins were always inches away from beating the Rangers. The Penguins loss just show ls how vital defence really is.
The Penguins blue-line though looks promising with Oli Maata, Kris Letang and Derrick Pouliot set to return next season. Paul Martin and Christian Ehrhoff however, could be a different story. The Penguins have options here, Ian Cole and Ben Lovejoy played solid minutes when needed. Ian Cole impressed me with his play at times and could see a bottom pairing if brought back. Lovejoy will be here next season and Rob Scuderi will be as well. Ehrhoff was brought in for $4million and with his caliber, it was a steal deal and most likely will ask for tons of money, as well as Paul Martin, who is aging, but plays well with Letang. Ian Cole however, for a short term could be cheap shot, but the Penguins have loads of talent. Brian Dumoulin however, is a free agent this upcoming offseason. The Penguins need a big bodied defensive guy. They need to develop an intimidating edge to their game. If you remember Ovechkin tripping Letang as he crashed into the boards, Kunitz and Perron, both of which are generally small guys in the face of the big Russian who stands at 6'3 and weighs 230lbs. Ovechkin later demolished Kunitz behind the net with a hard check. As you can see, they are missing an edge. If you remember the Stanley Cup champion Pens, Matt Cooke, Hal Gill, Max Talbot, Ryan Whitney, Eric Goddard, and even small tyler kennedy was never afraid and always able to prove his grit. The Penguins had guys who demonstrated grit and physical ability. Hal Gill was a tower at 6'7. A key to this upcoming season, is to find the right pieces. Scuderi, Lovejoy (who only played two games during their stanley cup run) and Cole are not what they need right now. Ehrhoff or Martin and then a big physical but diciplined type of D-man is suffice.
With their forwards, Steve Downie, Max Lappiere, Beau Bennett, Blake Comeau, Craig Adams, and Daniel Winnik are key forwards who are free agents. Adams is more than likely out the door and Winnik provee he is a penalty killer, but at what cost? Winnik will hopefully be brought back, but not for a top six role. Comeau scored 17 goals and maybe more if he wasn't injured. He won't come cheap though due to his career year. Steve Downie and Lappiere bring the physical aspect, but Downie's dicipline is in context. Matt Cooke had only 101 penalty minutes compared to to Downies league leading 200+ minutes. Cooke was physical and more diciplined than Downie. Lappiere didn't bring much offense, but the right type of grit the Pens need. Beau Bennett is a mystery. Who knows if the organization has any faith in him after a disappointing season. The Penguins must depart ways with Kunitz before it is too late. Kunitz is on the wrong side of 30 showing his age as it affected his play. He also eats a ton of cap space the Pens could invest else where. Dupuis is another hit or miss after a hot start before his blood-clot. The Pens need a sniper to go along with Hornqvist and Crosby. Perron had a nice start when traded, then looked awful afterwards. Malkin also needs forwards, if Perron can step up he has one. Kasperi Kapanen will be available next season, but who knows how good he may actually be. The Pens need to look for a top winger for Sid or Geno. Finding someone for cheap who can make a difference won't be hard. The right player isbout there they just need to look.
As for a backup goalie, Greiss may ask for too much. Look for changes everywhere on the ice. Something big is coming.
The Penguins blue-line though looks promising with Oli Maata, Kris Letang and Derrick Pouliot set to return next season. Paul Martin and Christian Ehrhoff however, could be a different story. The Penguins have options here, Ian Cole and Ben Lovejoy played solid minutes when needed. Ian Cole impressed me with his play at times and could see a bottom pairing if brought back. Lovejoy will be here next season and Rob Scuderi will be as well. Ehrhoff was brought in for $4million and with his caliber, it was a steal deal and most likely will ask for tons of money, as well as Paul Martin, who is aging, but plays well with Letang. Ian Cole however, for a short term could be cheap shot, but the Penguins have loads of talent. Brian Dumoulin however, is a free agent this upcoming offseason. The Penguins need a big bodied defensive guy. They need to develop an intimidating edge to their game. If you remember Ovechkin tripping Letang as he crashed into the boards, Kunitz and Perron, both of which are generally small guys in the face of the big Russian who stands at 6'3 and weighs 230lbs. Ovechkin later demolished Kunitz behind the net with a hard check. As you can see, they are missing an edge. If you remember the Stanley Cup champion Pens, Matt Cooke, Hal Gill, Max Talbot, Ryan Whitney, Eric Goddard, and even small tyler kennedy was never afraid and always able to prove his grit. The Penguins had guys who demonstrated grit and physical ability. Hal Gill was a tower at 6'7. A key to this upcoming season, is to find the right pieces. Scuderi, Lovejoy (who only played two games during their stanley cup run) and Cole are not what they need right now. Ehrhoff or Martin and then a big physical but diciplined type of D-man is suffice.
With their forwards, Steve Downie, Max Lappiere, Beau Bennett, Blake Comeau, Craig Adams, and Daniel Winnik are key forwards who are free agents. Adams is more than likely out the door and Winnik provee he is a penalty killer, but at what cost? Winnik will hopefully be brought back, but not for a top six role. Comeau scored 17 goals and maybe more if he wasn't injured. He won't come cheap though due to his career year. Steve Downie and Lappiere bring the physical aspect, but Downie's dicipline is in context. Matt Cooke had only 101 penalty minutes compared to to Downies league leading 200+ minutes. Cooke was physical and more diciplined than Downie. Lappiere didn't bring much offense, but the right type of grit the Pens need. Beau Bennett is a mystery. Who knows if the organization has any faith in him after a disappointing season. The Penguins must depart ways with Kunitz before it is too late. Kunitz is on the wrong side of 30 showing his age as it affected his play. He also eats a ton of cap space the Pens could invest else where. Dupuis is another hit or miss after a hot start before his blood-clot. The Pens need a sniper to go along with Hornqvist and Crosby. Perron had a nice start when traded, then looked awful afterwards. Malkin also needs forwards, if Perron can step up he has one. Kasperi Kapanen will be available next season, but who knows how good he may actually be. The Pens need to look for a top winger for Sid or Geno. Finding someone for cheap who can make a difference won't be hard. The right player isbout there they just need to look.
As for a backup goalie, Greiss may ask for too much. Look for changes everywhere on the ice. Something big is coming.