The burgeoning rivalry between the Pittsburgh Penguins and their nearest opponent is heating up as they have been butting heads with the Columbus Blue Jackets over social media and have been vying for free agent supremacy. Whose summer signings look to make the biggest impact this year?
Cornerstone Additions: Columbus made a splash when it was announced that they had acquired Brandon Saad from the Chicago Blackhawks, while the Penguins stole the show on the opening day of free agency with a trade for Phil Kessel from the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Thanks to Toronto retaining salary in the deal, the Penguins will be hit for $6.8 million for the next seven years. While Columbus hasn’t re-signed Saad yet he is reported to be looking for $6.5 million for the next six years. Saad is however 5 years younger than Kessel and he could be getting even better as he matures.
Over the past three seasons Kessel has scored 82 goals and 193 points in 212 games, an impressive 0.39 goals per game and 0.91 points per game while playing for one of the least successful teams in the league. In that same span Saad had 52 goals and 126 points in 206 games, putting up a solid 0.25 goals per game and 0.61 points per game and winning two Stanley Cups.
In the short term Pittsburgh appears to have acquired the better player. Kessel is an elite goal scorer and should complement their generational playmaking centers. In the long run, however, Saad may prove to be the better acquisition as he continues to improve and Kessel eventually declines with age.
European Forwards: Pittsburgh signed Russian winger Sergei Plotnikov to a one-year entry level contract with the intention of giving him a chance to play with Evgeni Malkin in the NHL. Columbus picked up Finnish winger Markus Hannikainen as a depth option that will have a chance to make the big club.
Last season in the KHL, Plotnikov scored 15 goals and 36 points in 56 games, which comes out to 0.27 goals per game and 0.64 points per game. While the Liiga isn’t as talented of a league as the KHL, Hannikainen still impressed with 19 goals and 46 points in 60 games, a slightly higher 0.32 goals and 0.77 points per game.
At a glance, their stats suggest they may be similar players, but considering the greater challenge in facing KHL opponents and his higher upside as a potential top 6 scoring winger, Pittsburgh comes out ahead in this comparison.
European DefensemenPittsburgh picked up Swedish blue liner Niclas Andersen to serve as AHL depth and push the young prospects for a chance at making the NHL lineup. Columbus brought is Swiss defender Dean Kukan as a youth option on the back end.
Andersen had 5 goals and 22 points in 54 SHL games last season. For a defender it was a nice 0.09 goals per game and 0.41 points per game. Kukan also played in the SHL and had 3 goals and 13 points in 52 games, a still respectable 0.06 goals per game and 0.25 points per game.
Both are primarily defensive defensemen with solid NHL frames, and both skate well enough and have the offensive potential to be two-way defenseman. At the NHL level, however, they are both unlikely to be more than third pairing depth options. Columbus probably got the better end of this comparison because Kukan is a developing prospect who is six years younger than Andersen.
Other Acquisitions: Columbus signed the only other definite NHL option with fourth line utility forward Gregory Campbell, he may not be the most electrifying addition but he is a hard worker that shows up every day. Their other additions were young prospects from Chicago, forward Alex Broadhurst who had moderate success at the AHL level and Michael Paliotta, a big bodied defenseman who just finished up an award filled college career.
Pittsburgh was busy shoring up their AHL depth, re-signing Conor Sheary and signing veteran firepower with Kael Mouillierat and Kevin Porter. They also have defensive forward Tyler Biggs who could try to push for a fourth line NHL spot. On the back end they have Tim Erixon and David Warsofsky who could be pushing the youngster for NHL time, as well as feisty AHL veteran Steve Oleksy.
From a win-now, Stanley Cup-or-bust perspective, Pittsburgh looks like the winner here. However, if their fans can remain patient, Columbus may wind up winning the long game.
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