Molinari: New Approach to Preseason?; Celebrate Lange Now
Pittsburgh Penguins preseason games are generally about as memorable as, well, Steelers preseason games. Or, for that matter, any other competition that doesn’t count in the standings.
In recent years, the Penguins have tended to dress fairly representative lineups for exhibition games at PPG Paints Arena, but watered-down ones that barely meet the league’s minimum standards for the ones on the road.
That’s been one of the benefits to having a roster whose core has been largely intact for a number of years.
But it’s not out of the question that Mike Sullivan and his staff will have to stray a bit from their usual approach this fall because of all the personnel turnover since the end of last season.
The Penguins will, for example, start the season without their top two left wingers from 2022-23 — Jake Guentzel will be recovering from ankle surgery and Jason Zucker went to Arizona as a free agent — and their bottom two lines will be almost completely different.
It would be good for the coaches to know before the real games start who would be a capable fill-in for Guentzel with Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell, and whether Reilly Smith meshes with Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Rust, as well as how the many newcomers mesh on the third and fourth lines. The latter group includes Lars Eller, Noel Acciari, Rem Pitlick, Matt Nieto, Andreas Johnsson and Vinnie Hinostroza.
What’s more, with the departures of Brian Dumoulin, Jeff Petry and Jan Rutta, all three defense pairings will have at least one new member.
Consequently, just about every unit on the team, including the power play and penalty-kill, will benefit from getting in game action together, to discover which combinations can develop chemistry and which should not remain intact.
With the playoff races in the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference shaping up as ultra-competitive, experimenting during the regular season might be a luxury the Penguins don’t have.
That means this preseason figures to be a little more significant than any in the recent past. And perhaps a bit more entertaining.
It’s (past) time to honor really Lange
Hall of Fame play-by-play man Mike Lange’s impact on the Pittsburgh Penguins has been discussed multiple times on this site, most recently on Sunday.
Lange stepped away from the booth in 2021, ending a run that began in 1974. His tenure included the franchise’s most glorious days — five Stanley Cups, for starters — but also some of its darkest moments, and it was during the latter when he did his most important work.
When the franchise was meandering aimlessly in the early 1980s, his game calls did more to keep pro hockey interest in this area alive than anything the Penguins put forth on the ice. Whether there would actually be Pittsburgh Penguins — as opposed to, say, Hamilton Penguins — today without Lange’s work then is a reasonable subject for debate.
The outpouring of tributes that followed the death of Buffalo play-by-play man Rick Jeanneret, an icon in his market, last week was moving. It also was a reminder that, while there obviously is nothing wrong with posthumous praise, it’s even better to allow people to see tangible evidence of how much they were appreciated while they’re still able to experience it.
The Penguins named the press box in Lange’s honor several years ago — It’s the “Mike Lange Media Deck” now — but most members of the public, the people to whom he meant the most, will never be there.
That’s why it is time — no, way past time — for the Penguins to honor Lange with a banner. Or a statue. Or both.
Now. So that everyone, including Lange, can enjoy it, see a tangible show of appreciation for the incalculable contributions of one of the most important figures in franchise history.
Categorized: Penguins
Dave, an awesome article about Mike Lange. I am old enough to remember Jim Forney (who was quite good) and Bob Prince (who was not). But, Lange is one of a kind. I remember studying into the late night hours at school in Chicago with CNN on in the background. On came their “Play of the Day”, a Pens OT winner in Calgary. But it was the PotD ONLY because of the Lange call. They cut back to the anchors who were cracking up. Since leaving Pittsburgh long ago, I have heard many hockey announcers. Few, if any, can compare… Read more »
The Gunner did admit that he was horrible at hockey announcing. I did like Forney as well, but no one comes close to Mike. Erect a statue in his honor!!!
https://youtu.be/Bbm_sYEYPBM
as a12 year old kid living in Sweden, this is my first real memory of Mike Lange! At the time, I didn’t know who he was, of course! But he’s been there ever since! There will never be another Mike!! Cheers
Is Jim Forney still around? Loved his calls and relaxed manner. Not quite in Lange’s class but still very good. Any chance of a feature on Jim?
Agreed. Should definitely be honored with a banner in the rafters.
Completely agree with honoring the great Mike Lange. Way past time!
Mike’s impact on Pittsburgh hockey is as great as any player that has played here!!!
Agree 100%, Past time to honor Mike Lange! And do it while he’s still with us!!
https://youtu.be/Bbm_sYEYPBM
as a12 year old kid living in Sweden, this is my first real memory of Mike Lange! At the time, I didn’t know who he was, of course! But he’s been there ever since! There will never be another Mike!! Cheers
Mike Lange was the only reason I followed the Pens in the early 80’s. They had guys like Randy Carlyle and Pat Boutette that would just go out for an evening skate they were awful. But Mike being Mike he kept my interest by his phenomenal play calling. Penguins ownership make it happen we need a Mike Lange night this season. And ladies and gentleman Elvis has left the building.
Pat Boutette! A blast from the past. He was a tough son of a gun
Carlyle won a Norris Trophy, best player on those scrap teams. Bad example.
Instead of retiring a number for a player, they should put a banner with his name and a microphone on it next to Lemieux & Briere.
Au Contraire. The Media Deck is twice as big as it needs to be for the regular season. Half of it is vacant and only used for the expanded press needs for the playoffs. I rented the media deck for my 65th birthday and I’m renting it again for this year for my 70th. So yes, you can see the Mike Lange Media Deck if you don’t have a press pass, but it’ll cost you.
Get in the fast lane grandma and get Mike a banner and a statue.
My favorite, “Aaaaaawwww he’s handing out checks like its the first of the month!”
They should give him a banner and name of the sections in the arena after him.
Amen,
He is an icon of Penguin hockey, I loved the way he called games.
Where can I donate to your ideas