Physical, Physical: Boko Imama deserves minutes for the Penguins

What looked to be a very controversial roster move before the Penguins' game against the Kraken ended up actually moving us. We've seen enough. Let's get Boko Imama some big boy minutes.

The Injury Bug

Listed at 6'1", 214lbs, Imama was brought up from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton due to the ongoing injury to Bryan Rust and Blake Lizotte's illness.

In the first period, Evgeni Malkin took a shot to the knee and was removed from the game. Geno would return to the ice for just one shift before then being ruled out the rest of the game. The way his knee bent did not look good.

Later in the game, Matt Nieto took a deflected shot off the ear and was bleeding heading off the ice. While his injury might be minor, the point remains the same: Pittsburgh forwards are dropping like flies.

Imama's Profile

Quoting Colby Armstrong on the radio broadcast regarding Imama:

"Some guys play a physical brand of hockey because they have to. This guy plays that way because he wants to..."

Imama was making just his 16th career NHL start on Saturday. He played in parts of two seasons with the Arizona Coyotes as well as six games last season with the Ottawa Senators.

In 15 career games before yesterday, Imama had amassed 89 minutes of ice time - an average ice time of just under six minutes.

Take a gander at how many hits he'd amassed in that time.

Forty-five. Hits.

That is a hit for every two minutes he's on the ice.

And here's the crazy thing: all three of his hits against Seattle created positive offensive looks. In just under nine minutes of ice time, he arguably generated the most dangerous chances out of the white sweaters.

Our Request

Losing twice to the Kraken in two weeks as well as getting mopped by the Ducks is not rectifiable. No matter how much people want to try and salvage the wreckage, it's not worth the time.

So, what do you do? Let Imama go out there and instill some fear. Let him toss his weight around. Let him fight.

If the Penguins continue to allow the core to age while not going into full rebuild mode (which they literally can't while Crosby is still on the team), then make sure the core lives to see the 2025-26 season.

There are some nasty matchups coming up against Boston, New York, and Ottawa just to name a few.

Punting this season is the right move, however, the only way it's justifiable is to ensure the core of Crosby, Malkin, and Letang are healthy when October 2025 rolls around.

We can't be having any cheap shots on our veterans and hope that next season pans out. With the way the Penguins are structured, those three aren't going anywhere until the Penguins make another deep playoff run or they all retire.

So, again, leave Imama out there. Then maybe the Brady Tkachuk's and Brad Marchand's of the world will think twice about throwing a cheap shot on one of the Big Three, or anyone for that matter.

The Penguins haven't had a real fighter since...oh gosh, Ryan Reeves? What a waste of space he was. The point is Imama doesn't have to be prime Gretzky, but he has a role, an important one at that.

It's a feel-good story for the 28 year-old to get another crack at the NHL level. In a year where the overall narrative doesn't feel so good, why not turn that into some big hits and gloves dropping? At this point the Penguins are just base level entertainment. Why not let them entertain?