It would be unfair to point at specific individuals following the New York Islanders’ startling, suffocating and clinical destruction of the Penguins in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The whole team, in general, was putrid.
But what fun would it be to simply hold everyone accountable on equal terms?
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It’s report card time. A gentle reminder: I know Sidney Crosby is a better hockey player than Erik Gudbranson, but when you see these grades, remember that I’m grading based on expectations. Things are about to get very, very ugly, but you’ve got to call it like you see it. Here we go …
Forwards
Sidney Crosby — D-plus
Ultimately, Crosby is paid the big bucks to produce, and he managed a mere one point in this series. No one saw this coming. I did think Crosby played considerably better in Games 3 and 4. In fact, he was pretty dominant in Game 4. He made a wonderful play to set up the Penguins’ only goal, drew penalties and was a handful all game. His performance in the two games on Long Island, however, was really poor for his standards. It was a wonderful season for Crosby. One of his best. He shows up quite prominently on my Hart and Selke trophy ballots. This, however, was quite the forgettable postseason for the captain.
Jake Guentzel — D
Crosby wasn’t himself, but I thought Guentzel was even worse. Crosby set up Guentzel for a number of quality opportunities in Game 3, and the normally reliable Guentzel wasn’t able to finish. His performance in Game 3, in fact, was probably one of his poorest outings in a Penguins uniform. He looked utterly out of sorts throughout the entire afternoon. Much like Crosby, Guentzel enjoyed a spectacular season and we shouldn’t forget that. But he was disturbingly underwhelming in this series.
Bryan Rust — D-minus
I’m going to assume that Rust wasn’t 100 percent. He was dealing with a high ankle sprain late in the regular season and he never looked himself at any point during the series against the Islanders. He is a very good NHL player, and a proud one, a guy who always excels in the postseason. This wasn’t the version of Rust that we are accustomed to seeing.
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Evgeni Malkin — D
Malkin started the series in fairly good form, producing two points in Game 1. However, for most of the series, he was ineffective at best. He took a couple of bad penalties in New York and generally was plagued by the same mistakes that we’ve seen over and over. Malkin spoke after Game 2 about the Penguins needing to play more of a north-south game. Pot. Kettle. Black. Also, Malkin simply brought nothing to the table in Games 3 and 4. Crosby wasn’t on top of his game, especially in Game 4, but he was doggedly determined. I never saw that from Malkin in this series. He looked like a great player who has lost a step and isn’t adapting well.
Phil Kessel — B
I thought Kessel was pretty good in this series. He was probably the Penguins’ best player. He was very good in Games 1 and 4, in my view. Kessel isn’t known for his hard work, but he was backchecking like a maniac in Game 4 and won a couple of board battles. He also made a spectacular pass in the second period to Crosby, who hit the post on a wide-open net. Kessel wasn’t good in the second half of the regular season, and this is a concern. I liked his game in this series, though.
Jared McCann — D
Perhaps this grade is a little unfair because he was clearly playing hurt, as evidenced by the fact McCann didn’t even play in Game 2 after absorbing a nasty Cal Clutterbuck crosscheck in Game 1. Still, the guy who became such a sensation so quickly after being acquired from Florida never really surfaced in the playoffs. The Penguins have a good one in McCann, but he didn’t offer much in this series.
Patric Hornqvist — F
This one stings. Of all the people I have great respect for in that locker room, and there are many, Hornqvist is at the very top of the list. He is an all-time warrior and his playoff history speaks for itself. I don’t believe the Penguins win the Stanley Cup in 2016 or 2017 without him. This doesn’t change the reality that Hornqvist offered nothing in this series, except for a silly penalty he took while engaging Robin Lehner. Hornqvist has scored three goals in his last 39 games since suffering a concussion. This is a massive red flag. He was benched from the top power-play unit and demoted to the third line in recent weeks. The Penguins need much more from him, given his contract.
Nick Bjugstad — D
He was just too … quiet. This is a talented player who was fairly successful in his first, brief stint with the Penguins. The talent is off the charts with this guy. His puck possession skills are very good, as is every portion of his physical skill set. Great shot, sees the ice well. You name it. But Bjugstad was far, far too quiet in this series. He needs to play in front of the net more often to maximize his considerable talents. This wasn’t good enough.
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Dominik Simon — D
He’s everyone favorite whipping boy, which probably isn’t fair. He’s actually a very, very good hockey player. He just doesn’t finish enough and he shouldn’t have been on the top line. In a bottom-six role, he’s fine. Still, like everyone else, he didn’t do much to distinguish himself in this series. I’m not sure what the future will hold for him. He’s a legitimate NHL player but the Penguins need guys with more speed and snarl. He doesn’t really offer much of either.
Zach Aston-Reese — D-minus
He really struggled in this series. I like him, I think he’s going to be a solid NHL player and I think he was very much on his way before injuries derailed his season. But he was essentially invisible in this series and mishandled the puck on a number of occasions. Nothing about his game looked good. I’d like to see him play with some more passion. He’s a really nice kid, maybe a little too nice.
Matt Cullen — C
I thought the old man was one of their better players in this series. He was really good in Game 3 and his penalty killing was outstanding throughout. I am quite certain he will soon announce his retirement. Cullen did nothing to hurt the Penguins this season. His analytical numbers weren’t good, but I’d suggest that was more a reflection of his linemates than of Cullen. The guy can still play, but I’d have to think this is the end of the road. He did not play poorly on his way out.
Garrett Wilson — C
He is what he is. Wilson scored a goal and added some physical pop in this series. He never did anything to hurt the Penguins during this season, nor do I necessarily know whether he’s in their future plans. They need to get faster and that’s what attribute he doesn’t provide. Still, he’s a dependable enough fourth-liner and he was fine against the Islanders.
Teddy Blueger — Incomplete
I would have liked to have seen more of him. He’ll be the No. 4 center next season, I would imagine. His future is a bright one.
Defensemen
Kris Letang — F
No one is more important to the Penguins than Letang. Given his potential and expectations, no one played worse for the Penguins than Letang. His reads were horrific all series. Letang’s blunder in overtime of Game 1 was simply unacceptable and left the coaching staff fuming. He struggled on the power play, ultimately getting benched from that unit in Game 4. Letang also struggled to get shots through the Islanders’ defensive wall. It’s a shame that his season finished like this because Letang enjoyed arguably his finest regular season. He was absolutely great, and give him credit for returning from last season’s struggles to play like this. Also, I realize he probably wasn’t a hundred percent as neck issues have persisted. Still, his decision-making was absolutely horrific and not becoming of a player of his talent.
Brian Dumoulin — D-plus
He was out of position for at least four goals in this series and, quite simply, wasn’t himself. I realize he was playing at less than a hundred percent and that should be taken into account when deciphering his performance. But Dumoulin is one of the Penguins’ best players and they needed a far better showing from him. Great season, bad playoff. You see the trend.
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Justin Schultz — B-minus
He was perfectly solid, though not spectacular. Schultz did score a dramatic, game-tying goal in Game 1 and finished with three points in the series. His play seemed to decline slightly during April and into the playoffs. Tough season for him because of the broken leg he sustained in Montreal in October. But he bounced back nicely and remains a very good player.
Jack Johnson — D
It wasn’t a particularly good postseason for Johnson. His play undeniably improved during the regular season’s second half, but Johnson’s foot speed issues were apparent against the Islanders. His penchant for getting shots blocked was also on display. It was encouraging to see his play improve during the second half, but the playoffs went wrong for him from day one, starting with his healthy scratch when the series began.
Erik Gudbranson — A
I thought he was, without question, the Penguins’ best defenseman in this series. His defensive work was sturdy, he scored a goal and contributed a number of scoring chances with his big shot from the right point. His contract might not be ideal, but this was a very good trade for the Penguins. Tanner Pearson was bringing nothing to the table. Gudbranson gives the Penguins a right-handed defenseman who was nothing but solid from the day he was acquired. Also, he was one of the few Penguins who actually looked engaged during this series.
He was OK, but just OK. Pettersson took a really bad penalty in the first period of Game 1, something that opened the door for the Islanders. He looked a step slow at times in this series, but in general, he was perfectly fine for a rookie playing in the postseason.
Olli Maatta — Incomplete
Oh, he was dreadful in his lone appearance in this series. The benching following Game 1 was warranted. Still, I don’t like to gauge players on one game, and history says Maatta probably would have started playing better had he been given another opportunity.
Goaltending
Matt Murray — C-plus
I thought Murray was fine and, quite frankly, Patrick Roy in his prime wasn’t going to save these Penguins. The only thing Murray is guilty of is that he didn’t steal a game. But that would have been asking a lot. He was wonderful in the second half of the season, and he isn’t why the Penguins lost this series. Not by a long shot.
Coaching
Mike Sullivan — D
I have much respect for this man and I think he’s among the greatest coaches in hockey. This series wasn’t his finest moment, though. I didn’t like the lineup moves before Game 1, nor did I like some of the tinkering with the line combinations, notably putting Simon on the top line. Also, it’s pretty clear that Sullivan’s teachings weren’t getting through to his hardheaded stars in this series. He is a great coach. His job is safe, and it should be safe. But, like so many of his players, this series didn’t exactly represent his finest moment.
(Photo: Brad Penner / USA Today)
