Injuries happen…Two simple words, but words spoken often when it comes to the 2013-14 Pittsburgh Penguins. In spite of the almost comical number injuries that seemingly never end, the Penguins keep winning. How are they doing it? How can it possibly continue? Ultimately, even with the impressive 14-point lead the Penguins hold in the Metropolitan Division, these questions, among others, invariably will continue to be asked, and in the wake of a string of disappointing playoff exits in recent years, rightfully so. They certainly will be amplified once the playoffs begin again this spring.
The list of replacements for key players who have missed time due to injury or suspension are not exactly household names. These are not players with a track record of long term success, really in most cases, any success in the NHL. How many Pens fans this time last year can honestly tell you they knew names like Jason Megna, Brian Dumoulin or Jeff Zatkoff? How about Olli Maata, Chris Connor and Chuck Kobasew? I asked, honestly…
These names, among others, have filled in for the likes of Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, James Neal, Brooks Orpik, Rob Scuderi, Paul Martin and Tomas Vokoun. That’s a just a sample from a list of players that have missed over 200 games so far this season, a remarkable number for the half way point of the season. Remarkable when you realize that the list includes a Hart/Ross/Conn Smythe winner, a 40-goal scorer and a Norris Trophy finalist. It becomes even more remarkable when you consider the Pens are on pace to challenge the franchise record for points in a season of 119 in 1992. Its almost as if the Pens win in defiance of the old cliche — injuries happen.
OK, point made, injuries happen, and the Pens have been resilient so far this season. They have found a way to spit in the face of logic that tells you theres simply no way to win in the face of all of this. Logic that tells you the winning can’t possibly continue, right? Fortunately, the Pens are getting key players back, and this would certainly give some indication that the Pens can keep their winning ways.
Scuderi, Orpik and Neal have returned, Malkin is very close and might play in next game or two. Letang and Martin are expected to join the team soon also. Megna and Beau Bennett should join the team after the Olympics and should help provide much needed help at wing. It also certainly can’t hurt that the Penguins have discovered there are capable replacements who can provide depth and reinforcements from Wilke-Barre if and more likely, when the injury bug comes back to bite.
However, the Pens loss of Pascal Dupuis, almost certainly for the remainder of the season, is a critical one. Not only a key cog in one of the best lines in all of hockey, Dupuis was a important contributor on the penalty kill, and invaluable as a leader on and off the ice. His loss leaves a serious void for the Penguins. We can conclude that the Penguins have a great deal of depth on defense, but with the loss of Dupuis, there are some real questions as to where the Pens stand at wing.
The real question becomes where do the Pens turn for help at the winger position? Do they stand pat and hope that players like Megna and Bennett can fill those roles, not only during the regular season but the playoffs? Do they rely on players like Connor and Jussi Jokinen to be consistent enough scorers to play in top six forward role? Tough questions and the answers do not get easier when you consider the Penguins cap situation. Even with the relief they will receive with the loss of Dupuis, the Pens cap situation is precarious at best. According to capgeek, the Pens have a little over $1 million to play before you include some of Dupuis’ salary. That does not give the Pens a lot of wiggle room, clearly.
Some speculation has revolved around potential trades involving current Pens like Jokinen, Orpik, Matt Niskanen and Simon Despres. Considering the physical presence, leadership, and popularity of Orpik, this would be a tough move for Ray Shero. In the case of Niskanen, its hard not to recognize his plus-19 rating, 3rd among all defensemen and 6th in the NHL. Does a team whose ultimate goal is to win the Stanley Cup, trade that kind of production? Jokinen could be a viable candidate, but does a player you got for so cheap late last season suddenly become desirable on the open market? Despres makes some sense, but how much value does he have if you are shopping for a proven top 6 forward?
Some names that could potentially be fits are players like the Coyotes Radim Vrbata, the Islanders Kyle Okposo and Michael Grabner, and the Sabres Matt Moulson and Drew Stafford. In the case of Vrbata and Moulson, you have players that have proven they have goal scoring ability, and have been productive top 6 forwards. Each have scored 30 goals or more in a season, and both will be UFA’s after the season. That could be a key for the Pens, as more of a “rental” type of player that could potentially fit from a cap standpoint. Okposo and Grabner are names that Pens fans should recognize, as both have had some success against the Pens in recent years.
Okposo not only is a young player with scoring ability, he plays with an edge, something that could come in handy come playoff time. Grabner brings speed, a ton of it, to the table. He could be a very intriguing player for the Pens. In each case, you have to wonder if the Islanders would want to trade to a rival, but their need for quality defenseman can’t be understated, something the Pens can clearly offer. Stafford is a little bit of a wild card. Three seasons ago, he scored 31 goals and 52 points in 62 games and looked like one of the better young forwards in the game. Still only 28, his game and production have slipped badly, and with the loss of line mates Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville, and the dreadful play of the Sabres as a whole, he seems to be languishing in Buffalo.
Could a change of scenery resuscitate Stafford’s career? Maybe playing on a line with Kunitz and Crosby could be magic elixir that gets him back on track as a productive, dangerous player? Though his contract of 4 million per season through next year is not a bargain on the surface, but it certainly could be money well spent if he could step in and contribute in Dupuis absence.
Another potential in division trade possibility is the Devils Michael Ryder. Ryder has been a proven scorer with great hands and playoff experience, including a Stanley Cup title with the Bruins in 2011. At $3.5 million through next season, he’s relatively affordable. Ryder is another player who seems like he could flourish playing with Crosby, as he has the skating and finishing ability to excel. The Devils are on the outside looking in right now in the playoff hunt, and there are already rumors that they could be sellers sooner than later.
Any decision Ray Shero makes will be difficult. The stockpiling of talented young defenseman for trade has come in handy in the past, as players like Kunitz and Neal were acquired in this fashion, and that has worked out exceedingly well. Shero has some options, trading popular, productive players like Orpik and Niskanen might be harder for some to swallow, so you would think he will look for other options. Either way, one would have to think that at some point in the coming weeks, he will look to upgrade his forwards, something that could be critical once playoff time comes around.
