Every season since the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup in 2009, they have been a favorite to win it again. In each of the following seasons, the Pens have made an early exit. The 2014 series was not any different and may have been the worst yet.
The Penguins were manhandling the New York Rangers and went up 3-1 with game five scheduled in Pittsburgh. Three games later it was the Rangers that were celebrating and the Pens were cleaning out the locker room, firing their general manger Ray Shero and looking for others to blame.
The reality was that the team really wasn't that good.
Everyone likes to blame Marc-Andre Fleury for his annual choking routine come playoff time, but he was actually pretty good in these playoffs. He let in a few bad goals, but nothing like his normal disappearing act. The Penguins would've been out in the first round if not for his superb play against the Blue Jackets in round one.
Yes, the Penguins have two of the best players in the NHL, including the best player in the world, Sidney Crosby (it pains me to write that, but I have to appreciate greatness when I see it). Evgeni Malkin would be the superstar on any other team in the league, outside of Chicago (Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and even Marian Hossa), Washington (Ovechkin) and Detroit (I would take Datsyuk any day over Malkin). Outside of those two, there really isn't much else up front. Chris Kunitz is the biggest benefactor of playing with Crosby. James Neal, Jussi Jokinen and Brandon Sutter are good, solid players, but not game-changers.
The rest of the forwards are essentially worthless. Look at some of the players they have lost over the years. Jordan Staal (though they got Sutter in return, so that may be a wash), Max Talbot,Tyler Kennedy and Matt Cooke. Cooke may be the most evil player to ever play the game, but he is actually a good player. Instead you had Taylor Pyatt (a player the Rangers threw away), Joe Vitale (who?), Tanner Glass (thug on most teams), Craig Adams (career fourth liner), Marcel Goc (who has been cast aside from many bad teams, but good in the faceoff circle), Lee Stempniak (couldn't even play well with Crosby) and Beau Bennett (see: Stempniak).
The real problem is the defense, which is not good. Kris (or Kristopher to Pierre Maguire) Letang and Matt Niskanen are pretty much the same player. Both are good offensively but have big defensive lapses. Brooks Orpik, Paul Martin and Rob Scuderi are very old. Deryk Engelland is slow and bad. Ollie Maata is going to be very good, but he is only 19 and occasionally played like it. Tyler Bortuzzo is the poor man's Brooks Orpik, but slower and with less skill. To reiterate: the defense is bad.
I find it hilarious how just last year everyone was talking about how much of a genius Ray Shero is because of the amazing moves he pulls off at the deadline and the free agents he pulls in during free agency. Yet he was the first to go. His moves really weren't that good. Jerome Iginla was the biggest steal last year, but that was a rental. This year he missed the mark greatly during the deadline. He was so focused on trying to get Ryan Kesler from Vancouver, that he was only able to get Stempniak and Goc, when there were other, better players available.
I still don't believe that Dan Bylsma survives the off-season as the Penguins coach, but really who is available that would be any better.
As I wrote last year, the Penguins window is closing. They have long contracts on aging players, if they don't do something major in the off season, next year will likely have the same fate as the last five. I just don't think there is too much available to help this roster.
OTHER THOUGHTs DURING THE SECOND ROUND:
PK Subban is very good. I was shocked to see the Canadians beat the Bruins, but Boston just doesn't match up well with the faster Montreal team. PK Subban is very good. Milan Lucic continued to be the biggest jerk in the playoffs by apparently threatening players during the hand shake line. Oh, did I mention that PK Subban is very good?
Sad news about Martin St. Louis' mother passing away, though it seemed to be the rallying point for the Rangers. I still don't like the way he left Tampa.
As soon as the Kings went to game seven against the Ducks, you knew they would win. Is there any role player that is better in game sevens that Justin Williams? He thrives in those games. As I said in my first round notes, Bruce Boudrou out-coached himself. He could never figure out the goalie situation. Is Jonas Hiller really that bad. John Gibson was very good in goal until game seven when he reminded everyone that he is still a rookie.
The Blackhawks are very good. The Wild played well, but saying that they put themselves in the elite category due to the way they played in the post season is ridiculous. They still play in the west with the Blackhawks (who are very good), the Kings, the Sharks, the Blues and the Ducks. Elite, they are not. Though add another true scorer (*cough* Thomas Vanek *cough*) and maybe I would be willing to say they could be a real contender. Patrick Kane is so fun to watch. Oh yeah, did I mention that the Blackhawks are very good?
~Brad
