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VANCOUVER — The Pittsburgh Penguins’ forwards are frighteningly good right now.
The Penguins’ top 12 is very well defined: Sidney Crosby’s longtime top line; the juggernaut second line featuring Evgeni Malkin, Tommy Novak and Egor Chinakhov; rookie Ben Kindel centering Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazeau on the third line; and a fourth line that has been one of hockey’s best all season.
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Past the top 12, the Penguins also have substantial depth at forward. Rutger McGroarty is a phone call away, as is Ville Koivunen, who has endured a rough season but keeps a positive reputation around the organization. Kevin Hayes has slowed down but is still around if a forward spot needs to be filled. The Penguins also genuinely like Tristan Broz and Avery Hayes in AHL Wilkes-Barre.
In other words, Penguins president/general manager Kyle Dubas doesn’t feel obligated to add a forward before the March 6 NHL trade deadline. This doesn’t mean he won’t get one if an upgrade becomes available, but there’s no glaring need. The same can be said of the Penguins’ goaltending.
The blue line is a different story.
Jack St. Ivany will miss up to eight weeks with a broken hand. Connor Clifton, who will enter the lineup, has been much better lately, but I don’t sense the organization is totally sold on him just yet. Ryan Graves has been better this season, but I don’t think the Penguins are eager to see how he performs in the postseason.
Kris Letang has been much better in recent weeks after a rough first half of the season, but he’s also injury-prone.
The Penguins’ top defensive prospect in Wilkes-Barre, Owen Pickering, did not endear himself to the coaching staff during training camp.
All of these variables are leading people within the organization to believe that Dubas will likely pursue a defenseman — preferably right-handed — before the deadline.
The left side of the Penguins’ defense was believed to be the team’s biggest weakness entering the season, but it hasn’t played out that way. Parker Wotherspoon and Ryan Shea have played significantly better than expected. Brett Kulak, following a slow start, has gotten comfortable in Pittsburgh and been a wonderful partner for Letang. Although Graves isn’t what I’d consider trusted, he’s been better this season.
The right side, behind Erik Karlsson and Letang, remains a little up in the air.
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If Dubas goes shopping for a depth player on the blue line — which appears more likely than a big name — a right-handed defenseman is on the wish list.
Stand pat?
On the surface, it would appear possible that Dubas could do absolutely nothing at the trade deadline.
His forwards are pretty well set. So is his goaltending. And though the Penguins are banged up on the blue line, everyone should be good to go for the postseason.
If Dubas does nothing, his plan of building for the future remains intact, as he wouldn’t be obligated to deal any draft picks or prospects. That said, almost everyone expects him to do something. Maybe not a blockbuster. But something.
Dubas isn’t one to stand pat very often, and no one is expecting him to at this deadline.
Stellar Skinner
In case you haven’t noticed, Stuart Skinner has been utterly sensational over the past month. The goaltender has allowed 13 goals in his past eight games, and while no one is anticipating those numbers to continue, he has entrenched himself as the Penguins’ No. 1 goaltender.
That decision became quite clear when coach Dan Muse broke his every-other-game rotation and went with Skinner three times in the Penguins’ 4-0 road trip.
Skinner is an unrestricted free agent this summer, and the Penguins have 21-year-old Sergei Murashov waiting in the wings in Wilkes-Barre.
While it’s obviously to be determined, I’m under the impression that the Penguins are open to all possibilities with Skinner. If he continues to perform well, team sources have told me that the Penguins would be open to bringing him back regardless of Murashov’s progression. They like Skinner as a goaltender and a person. There is little reason to believe he wouldn’t work well with Murashov.
One potential problem, at least in the long term: If Skinner continues to play so well, he may price himself out of Pittsburgh. Of course, the Penguins could afford him — they are projected to have more than $50 million in salary-cap space next summer — but they don’t want to pay a huge sum for a veteran goaltender given how close Murashov is to becoming an NHL mainstay.
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The Penguins don’t think Skinner’s performance is fluky, and the door is open for him to receive a new contract this summer. The trade with the Oilers last month was made largely due to flexibility. Dubas knew he could let Skinner walk this summer with no harm done. He also knew he could bring Skinner back if he wanted. Dubas would have been stuck with Tristan Jarry for another two seasons after this one. That was not appealing, despite Jarry’s solid play this season.
Kindel’s reputation
You may have noticed that Kindel has his teammates’ affection. That’s genuine.
I’ve witnessed my share of rookies come through the locker room over the years. Some were liked, some were not. It’s not easy being a rookie — let alone an 18-year-old — sharing a locker room full of 30-something millionaires.
From what I’ve observed and from what people around the team have told me, that whole locker room, to a man, loves Kindel. He’s got a humility that is noteworthy and rare for someone in his position. The Penguins locker room is filled with likable personalities these days, but that doesn’t make it any easier for a teenager to earn respect from veterans and find a high level of comfort for himself.
Kindel has done just that.
Fortunate timing
Speaking of Kindel, I’m convinced the upcoming Olympic break will do wonders for him.
He says all the right things about the fatigue he’s feeling, but people within the organization believe Kindel’s recent 19-game skid without a goal was his version of hitting a physical wall. It happens to everyone in the NHL from time to time, but especially teenagers who are not used to the heavy schedule, particularly in a condensed season caused by the Olympics.
People within the organization credit Kindel’s hockey IQ for helping him overcome that wall. Even when he wasn’t scoring, he was helping the Penguins thrive because he’s so good defensively and so intelligent with the puck.
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Having a few weeks off, the thinking goes, will be greatly beneficial to Kindel, who has scored 10 goals this season while settling in as the Penguins’ third-line center.
The incredible Evgeni Malkin
The Penguins locker room looks at Malkin in awe these days.
Crosby continues to amaze, but in his case, it’s expected. He’s Crosby. He’s different. He’s basically becoming the Tom Brady of the sport.
Malkin was seemingly on a slow but steady decline for the past few seasons — but nothing about his game suggests a decline right now.