The Pittsburgh Penguins have long been known as the “Country Club” organization. Along with offensive hockey, comfortability is the standard from the fourth line up to the ownership box.
In that context, recent critical comments from Rob Scuderi followed by Brooks Orpik should be seen as a seismic blast across the generally obtuse nature of the organization, which also includes the coaching staff.
Scuderi categorized the Penguins lust for offense as “globetrotter” hockey. Orpik correctly cited the Penguins lack of patience and the Boston Bruins willingness to win ugly defensive games.
It should be pointed out that both men were defensive stalwarts on the last Penguins team to win the Stanley Cup. That team was schooled in coach Michael Therrien’s defensive philosophy, which Dan Bylsma piloted to a championship after a late season coaching change.
It should be discussed, the Penguins have a losing playoff record (20-21) in Dan Bylsma’s four full seasons. Byslma’s friendlier approach was a breath of fresh air after the abrasive Therrien in 2009, but now the question is obvious — Is Bylsma too enamored of the offensive talent to win in the postseason?
The Penguins, under Bylsma, are just 2-10-1 against the notoriously defensive New Jersey Devils in New Jersey. The Penguins frequently lose patience on the road against tight defensive teams. The results are losses because the Penguins cannot humble themselves to play the ugly game necessary to win.
That arrogance has also translated to the playoffs. A losing record with the games best players speaks volumes.
There is also an important connection to make.
The Penguins have long been the “Country Club” organization as a direct result of its most influential member, owner Mario Lemieux. When Lemieux was a player, he won a second straight Stanley Cup with coach Scotty Bowman. As a coach, Bowman was cold, calculating and made his own players uncomfortable.
Largely behind Lemieux’s rejection, Bowman lasted only one season as coach and was replaced with player friendly, Lemieux buddy Eddie Johnston, a.k.a. EJ. Lemieux never again won a Stanley Cup and reached only two more Eastern Conference finals.
Since Lemieux gained figurative control of the Penguins in the early 1990’s through Lemieux’s current literal control, players have long loved to come to Pittsburgh for the player-friendly atmosphere and offensive hockey.
However, the lesson that gritty, defensive hockey played with talented players is what wins Stanley Cups seems terminally lost on the Penguins organization. For 30 years, the organization has been too easily mesmerized by brilliance. It is too easy to assume that having the game’s best player or players will translate to championship parades.
In short, it has been too difficult to forgo the best players for the right players.
What stands out from Orpik and Scuderi’s comments is the blunt and colorful language with which they impugned the team’s philosophy. If the Pens had a few isolated defensive lapses or couple bad games, calling it “globetrotter” hockey would be a small criticism.
But since “globetrotter” hockey has been the Penguins image for four decades, the criticism runs deeper. Whether they meant to or not, the defensive pair’s barbs call into question the trust of the current coaching staff amongst part of the team and the locker room leaders belief in “Penguin hockey”.
This column has written that another playoff failure will mean the loss of several jobs, but it was not previously believed Bylsma’s would be in question, at least this season. However, team leaders openly questioning the style of play is never a good sign.
Top defenseman Kris Letang softly refuting Orpik and Scuderi, conceding only the team has to limit its defensive lapses, indicates an obvious schism between players who play offensive hockey and those that understand it takes more to win the Stanley Cup.
Letang’s high-risk play and lapses this season clearly fit into Scuderi’s criticism of high risk offensive play. Perhaps Letang, a Norris Trophy finalist last season, should listen.
Scuderi also won a Stanley Cup with a 2012 L.A. Kings team that struggled all season to score goals and was coached by gruff, defensive minded Daryl Sutter.
Championship success has found the Penguins when the comfortable offensive paradigm has been changed. From Badger Bob Johnson’s left wing lock to Bowman’s counter attacking style and coaching head games to Therrien’s rigidity of adhering to defensive responsibility and accountability, success has followed when talent was superseded.
Sometimes, it’s hard to teach a shark table manners. Fortunately, for the Penguins, the core of this team found success with a defensive system, so it should not take a Herculean effort to convince the room to do what is necessary.
The second half of the Penguins season may be figuring out who is able to play playoff hockey and those who are regular season flashes.
But first, the coaching staff may have to convince itself of the necessary path. The addition of Jacque Martin, master of the “trap,” to the coaching staff this season was a step in the right direction. However, a 20-21 postseason record since 2010 doesn’t lie.
