Penguins One-Timers: D-Problems; Criticism; What is Mike Sullivan’s Future?

The glimmer of hope was extinguished, and the tiniest spec of a chance the Pittsburgh Penguins could make a late-season run toward a Stanley Cup playoff berth was squashed Tuesday, not by the New York Islanders, who have a 50-year run of providing the worst moments in Penguins history, but by the Penguins themselves.

To a man, the Penguins admitted they–again–beat themselves.

And their realistic odds of a postseason berth hit 0.

Following any loss, criticism abounds. Surely someone did something wrong to get the result, and if that someone had done something different, then they would have won.

To that end, Penguins fans have piled on coach Mike Sullivan for a few persistent narratives reborn in decisions Tuesday night.

1. Sullivan Hates Young Players!

Vladislav Kolyachonok played just one meaningful shift in the third period Tuesday.

Now, I may have missed the numerous highlights, great defensive plays, or otherwise stellar play fans have seen from Kolyachonok. Nay, instead, I’ve seen a defenseman who plays a soft defense with loose gaps, wasn’t handling the puck well Tuesday, and wasn’t part of the play in the offensive zone.

Let’s make one point clear, criticizing other players and citing mistakes by others has no bearing on the case for Kolyachonok. But Letang…! But Karlsson…!

No, Tuesday was not a banner day for the Penguins defensive corps. In fact, there have not been many of those. Instead, there have been more goats than a petting zoo.

One part of the equation that shouldn’t be overlooked because it holds significant value in understanding the situation is: potential. A player such as Kolyachonok will get a lot more leeway from any coach if he possesses more potential. The amount of leeway is proportional to that potential.

While the Penguins’ defense has been increasingly unreliable since Marcus Pettersson was traded to Vancouver, the Penguins were all-in on winning Tuesday night. If they won their fifth in a row, they would have been five points out of a playoff spot. However improbable those odds, they went for it.

Unfortunately, Kolyachonok has not been a reliable defenseman, and his flaws might not be overcome with more instruction because he plays a soft defensive game. In seven games, he has one takeaway but seven giveaways. Tuesday, the Penguins badly needed tighter D-zone coverage.

Kolyachonok wasn’t getting it done. To cite Letang’s and Karlsson’s mistakes, one must acknowledge even their mundane contributions–making “nothing plays” into something, the puck carries out of trouble, and the subtle passes you’ve seen so many times as to take them for granted. Sometimes, those players submit a net negative performance, but you won’t know until it’s over; recall Erik Karlsson’s game-winner against Vegas last week.

That’s the difference.

Kolyachonok’s benching had nothing to do with his age and everything to do with his play.

2. Unsolvable Problem

The bigger problem on defense is construction.

No coach, or perhaps no deity, could make a competent blue line from the mismatched and spare parts that now comprise the Penguins’ defense.

Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas has assembled a D corps with a frightening lack of physicality, toughness, and perhaps defensive acuity. Dubas did not use the deadline to fix the problem but perhaps made it worse.

Read More: Kingerski: It Seems Dubas Headed Down the Road of Past Mistakes

In some respects, it’s unfair to each defenseman because each could be successful in a different environment. However, the mismatched construction puts an undue burden on all six.

Kris Letang has to be more stay-at-home, Conor Timmins has to play a heavier game, and Matt Grzelcyk has to be “the heavy” when playing with Letang or Erik Karlsson.

It’s a box of crayons without enough primary colors.

3. Overreliance on Grind Line

There is no question that the Connor Dewar-Blake Lizotte-Noel Acciari line has been a bit of gunpowder in the Penguins’ attack.

The line is fast, tenacious, physical, defensively responsible, and fearless.

Yet, it would be a mistake to think of them as more than a premier fourth line. Lizotte had seven goals and 15 points last season and nine goals and 17 points this year. Acciari has eight goals in 125 games with the Penguins. Dewar was goalless in 31 games this season with the Toronto Maple Leafs before the trade to Pittsburgh.

Are those offensive totals cited to denigrate? No. They should put things in proper context. The line is an exceptional grind line and should be valued, but coaches or fans expecting their offensive surge to continue will be disappointed.

The line being pressed into duty as the third line speaks to how bereft the Penguins are of scoring talent at the NHL level and how poorly Kevin Hayes’s level of 5v5 play since the NHL trade deadline.

But they are fun to watch.

4. Sullivan Watch

Mike Sullivan is not on the hot seat.

However, is he prepared for what’s coming next? Sullivan is a serious person focused on winning. Every player who has discussed Sullivan with us also mentions the attention to detail, the preparation, and the Xs and Os (Matt Cullen once called him the best Xs and Os coach he’d ever had).

He also knows how to turn the boys loose. See also: Team USA.

Such strengths are for winning teams, but there’s not going to be a lot of winning in the Penguins’ immediate future. They’re simply not a good team, won’t be a good team, and no coach can change that.

Dubas is rebuilding. One can’t watch this roster and come to another conclusion any longer.

Is a serious, strong coach the right person for the job? Very soon, he will be stuck with a team of Philip Tomasino, Kolyachonok, and Timmins types.

In the immediate future, the Penguins may need a little rah-rah, “that’s OK” energy (before again seeking a coach just like Sullivan).

It’s time to wonder if Sullivan can re-adjust his message to a bad team, simplify his system for players who are not yet able to meet higher standards, and, perhaps most importantly, if he wants to.