Pittsburgh Penguins: The Hard Truth
By Mike Necciai
The Pittsburgh Penguins are 0-3. Never did I think I would write such a thing in the middle of October after the strong offseason this organization had. But, here we are, searching for answers to why this team has not gelled.
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I recently wrote a piece that dove into a bit of analytics so far in this young season and the results are horrific. The Pittsburgh Penguins, a possession-first hockey team that’s loaded with skill up front is failing at almost all aspects of their own game. And, it’s becoming more clear that Mike Johnston’s system and personnel decisions are a real issue. A real issue that is causing his proverbial seat to get warmer and warmer by the day.
Last season under Johnston, the Penguins witnessed their best year defensively in recent memory. A brief look at the numbers from 2014-15 will show you that they were one of the better shot-suppression teams in the NHL. The reason? A focus on that aspect of the game. A scheme designed around protecting inexperienced defensemen that were launched into duty due to injuries.
This season, though, is quite different so far. The Pens, led by Johnston and company, seem to be blind to the fact that this defensive corps isn’t capable of doing what they’re attempting on a nightly basis. If you need proof, look at the multitude of odd-man breaks occurring from a point man pinching to join the rush but not executing. In turn, his defensive partner and Marc-Andre Fleury are left out to dry.
The Pittsburgh Penguins Need More From All Areas
It may not be fair to place all of the blame on this blue line. There are also multiple instances in which a forward should be covering for the pinching d-man and failing to do so. The issues aren’t isolated to one group, or one individual but rather an overall systematic failure. That’s why so many fingers are being pointed in Johnston’s direction.
To build on the alarming numbers that I covered here, Josh Yohe of DKonPittsburghSports.Com also brought attention to some pretty disturbing stats. The most worrisome of all might be the lack of execution by Sidney Crosby an Evgeni Malkin under Johnston’s guidance. Per Yohe…
"In Crosby’s last 63 games, he has 55 points, easily the worst stretch of his career. He has been held without a point in 28 of his past 63 games.Malkin has been no better. Since the conclusion of that high-scoring 22-game stretch to start last season — don’t forget, Malkin started the Johnston era with an 11-game scoring streak — Malkin, who has battled some injuries, has played in 55 games. He has produced only 43 points, one of the worst stretches of his career."
Let me be very clear. I don’t place the entire blame of Pittsburgh’s struggles on the head coach. Let’s not forget that this team banked on Derrick Pouliot to fill a top-four role and have an impact but he’s now in the AHL due to a poor camp. Pascal Dupuis and Eric Fehr are both out for another few weeks and both would be a nice boost to this team’s defensive struggles, as both are very good two-way forwards.
However, the head coach is often the scapegoat and Johnston knows it. In fact, Our own Dan Kingerski covered that topic recently when discussing his thoughts from the press box and Johnston’s press conference. He isn’t the same calm, mild-mannered bench boss we’ve seen in the past. Is he worried for his job?
Within a matter of weeks, the NHL standings will look much different than they do now. Teams like Arizona will come back down to earth while others like L.A. and the Pittsburgh Penguins should and most likely will find their way. The question, of course, is whether or not the Pens will find their with Mike Johnston still running the show. The hard truth is, this team isn’t very good and struggling in all aspects of the game right now. That isn’t kosher for a team with this much talent.
Thanks for reading. Follow me on Twitter for ongoing Pens coverage at @Michael29Angelo and keep it here at PensLabyrinth.Com
Next: Hindsight is 20/20 - Pouliot vs. Kapanen