What an absolutely perfect video from the Penguins PR staff last night. Moments after the Penguins defeated the New Jersey Devils by a score of 5-2 the Penguins put out this video:
All year the team has been asked about the script that was seemingly pre-written about them. Every period of sustained success early in the season was said to be a fluke. When they stumbled around the holidays everyone quickly resorted back to their preconceived narratives that this team was bad. However, after Christmas it has been hard for anyone to debate that this team is not for real this season. from the second lowest odds to making the playoffs to clinching home ice in the first round, what a story. They really did flip the script.
This was a team effort. There was no hero ball from Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin which is what we have seen in the past. Not this year. Sid and Geno both were out with injuries during the crucial stretch over the last month. If the team was being propped up by their two legends they would have drowned. Sure, the Penguins deploy Erik Karlsson, another legend, regularly but without Sid/Geno they needed other forwards to step up. The entire team stepped up and they did so all year long. Nearly the entire roster that isn’t destined for the hall of fame had a career year. Seriously almost every single player. Even players who have been here for a month.
It doesn’t stop at the players, the coaching staff deserves it’s props too. Under Sullivan the Penguins defensemen pinched at every single opportunity. The forwards were trying to go East-West more than North-South. The system worked, it won 2 cups, but it grew to be stale as the roster changed and got older/slower. When you watch the Penguins under Dan Muse you will notice how fast they seem this season. It’s a little bit of smoke and mirrors though. The Penguins are being instructed to play close. Short passes, follow your passes, and support your teammates everywhere. Defensemen can pinch but they strictly have a forward back covering. Last night was a bad example because the Penguins gave up way too man odd man rushes, but for the totality of the season they have been so much better in the department than seasons past. When they are playing close and supporting one another they can move the puck quickly and accurately which gives off the perception that they are in fact faster. However, per the data on the NHL website the Penguins are near the bottom third of the league in speed but they finally have a coach that knows how to coach around that challenge. Bravo to Dan Muse, give this man coach of the year.
We have spoken about it at length but it requires reiterating right now. Kyle Dubas is your general manager of the year. He quite literally had the Midas touch. Everything he touched turned into Pittsburgh Gold immediately. There was no treading water for any of these players. Everyone started out on fire, and stayed that way. The Penguins will likely finished the season 100+ goals scored by players who had been acquired by Dubas since the end of last season.
They are also going to finish as the highest scoring team in the Crosby era. The Penguins regularly had hockey versions of super teams in 2010s and they never produced as much offense as this squad. Phil Kessel was once on our third line and the teams didn’t produced like this. Jarome Iginla, James Neal, Marian Hossa, Bill Guerin, Chris Kunitz, and Patric Hornqvist were all brought in and none of them helped the Penguins produce more offense than the likes of Egor Chinakhov, Anthony Mantha, Justin Brazaeu, Ben Kindel, Elmer Soderblom, and so on. Just an incredible year by Dubas. We don’t know if he did this on purpose. Was his goal sign a bunch of guys, hope they pop, and trade them for assets? Probably. However, once every guy started to pop simultaneously he rewrote his own script, slightly. He wanted to aggressively acquire younger talent and most people expected that to mean prospects on the fridge of the league. Maybe at one point that is what he meant, but as the season progressed it turned into already established early 20s players who were castaways with upside. Egor Chinakhov might have been the best trade addition by any team for this entire season. Quinn Hughes is the better player (maybe) but what Chinny has done is further beyond expectations than what Quinn has done in Minnesota.
Elmer Soderblom quietly added during the deadline. Everyone just mentioned his size and thought it was really a nothing-burger. Then Lizotte left the lineup, forcing Soderblom in, and now fans are heavily debating who comes out with Lizotte is back. Soderblom has been that good in his new role. The coaching staff quickly diagnosed what would make the glue-guy stick and he bought in seemingly immediately. Elmer has been a physical force since arriving in Pittsburgh, a role Detroit refused to use him in, and he has been a menace along the boards. A true giant grinder on the fourth line who was acquired by the GM and sculpted into an effective hockey player.
What a phenomenal season all around. I am so excited for playoff hockey in Pittsburgh again. This team deserves it, but the job isn’t done. Go get Lord Stanley boys.
