Random Thoughts

∑ John Leclair brings many intangibles to the Penguins; I understand why he’s on the roster. I’m not sure what intangibles Ryan Malone brings to the table. Watching the Penguins play a speedy team in Carolina—watching Malone and Leclair play was hardly the most pleasant experience. Those guys need speed, and they don’t make magic speed skates. Ice time needs to be distributed differently on nights when the Penguins are playing teams against whom the slower players—e.g. Malone, Leclair—simply don’t match up well.

∑ If Sergei Gonchar can be Sergei Gonchar, if Ryan Whitney can perform like a first round pick should, the Penguins defense is vastly improved. Frankly, I far prefer Noah Welch (currently in Wilkes-Barre) to a couple of other Penguins defenseman, and as I already mentioned, I like the way Kris Letang plays. If the Penguins’ defense can resemble a NHL defense—let’s say, everyone legitimately deserves a spot on a NHL roster—the Penguins come way closer to a playoff birth.

∑ Malkin, Malkin, Malkin. I say it all the time, but I’m really curious what difference a real second line center would have made in the two games the Penguins lost. Can Malkin work with Crosby on the power play and get something going when nothing is going? As already mentioned, can he be the player who shakes free of the shadow that’s on Crosby throughout the whole game? I’ll be curious to see what happens when Malkin returns. The temptation to keep Staal could be even greater if we see that Malkin makes a huge difference in the lineup, because suddenly, we have 4 legitimate NHL centers. That would be nice, too, wouldn’t it?

∑ Goaltending matters so much. Being screened didn’t help Fleury much last night, but the games in which the Penguins won—and will win—they’re going to get good or great goaltending. That’s just how it is.

∑ I don’t know what’s going to come of the season. But I like the babies and young players a lot. I have hope, and hope is a good thing to have—and can make even the icky games worth watching.
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