There’s no question the Penguins’ first-round exit at the hands of the hated Flyers put a damper on what was for the most part a resoundingly upbeat season. However, on the plus side of the ledger, there are positive developments aplenty down on the farm.
Namely, the guys you want to have producing for the Baby Pens are, in fact, producing. Center Tristan Broz notched three assists in Tuesday night’s Game Three triumph over Hershey. Ville Koivunen collected two assists. Russian import Mikhail Ilyin and defenseman Harrison Brunicke each tallied their first point of the series, a goal for the former and an assist for the latter. Rutger McGroarty scored the game-winner at 5:02 of the first overtime.
In last night’s series-clinching Game 4 victory over the Bears, Koivunen and Brunicke each potted their first goal of the playoffs, the former thanks to a slick net-front setup from Ilyin. Broz chipped in with his team-best fourth helper on the play as well.
Spitfire Avery Hayes scored two goals during the series. Aidan McDonough likewise netted a pair. Atley Calvert, Gabe Klassen and Owen Pickering, one each.
Of course, it’s just as important to stop ‘em as it is to score ‘em. Projected goalie-of-the-future Sergei Murashov shone like a diamond, posting a sparking .937 save percentage and 1.99 goals against average, including a spectacular 37-save (on 38 shots) effort in Game 4.
It certainly bodes well that so many kids are coming up large on the Calder Cup stage. After all, one or (hopefully) more may challenge for full-duty with the Pens next season.
Off hand, I’d say Brunicke, who’s drawn praise from coach Kirk MacDonald, has a pretty fair shot at opening next season as our No. 3 right-side defenseman, supplanting UFA-to-be Connor Clifton. I would also think Hayes (the Avery variety) is pretty much a lock to replace Noel Acciari on the fourth line.
If I squint real hard (and conveniently ignore the fact that we may not re-sign Evgeni Malkin), I can see Ilyin, an excellent playmaker, joining forces with Geno and rising star Egor Chinakhov on a “Comrade Line.”
From the looks of it, Murashov appears to be all-but-penciled in as the starter in goal.
A bit murkier? The futures of McGroarty, Koivunen and Broz. Although they lit up the AHL, neither McGroarty or Koivunen progressed the way Kyle Dubas & Co. would’ve liked at the big-league level. Based on this season’s performance, Koivunen doesn’t appear to possess the physical tools to thrive in the NHL. Although McGroarty generally showed well, he may lack the speed and high-end skill to be a top-sixer.
As for Broz? He seems to be a victim of his position. There just doesn’t seem to be an obvious opening for him down the middle, unless Dubas plans to peddle Tommy Novak or shift him to wing and elevate Ben Kindel to second-line center.
Still, Tristan’s well-earned reputation for coming through in the clutch, as he did in Games 3 and 4, would seem to hold him in good stead.
Although Pickering has evolved into solid AHL defenseman, he flunked an early season cameo with the Pens and was quickly dispatched to the minors, with nary a recall. Even when it meant turning to a largely ineffective Ryan Graves when injuries struck.
It doesn’t speak volumes for how the former No. 1 pick is viewed by the higher-ups, to say nothing of the fact that he was a Ron Hextall pick. As a rule, Dubas hasn’t exactly warmed to players procured during the previous regime, Murashov and Broz being the notable exceptions.
Still, it’s a good sign that so many kids are doing well.
Gauthier, Too
While Murashov, Arturs Šilovs and Joel Blomqvist are generally regarded as the team’s goaltending future, another netminder is quietly enjoying a sensational postseason.
Backstopping the Wheeling Nailers to a five-game conquest over Reading in the opening round of the ECHL playoffs, Taylor Gauthier posted some truly extraordinary numbers, including a microscopic 0.71 goals against average and equally stunning .974 save percentage, not to mention three shutouts!
Nor is this an isolated spurt for the Calgary native. Over his past three seasons with the Nailers, the 25-year-old silly-sider (catches right) has posted a 2.13 goals against average and .927 save percentage.
Given the state of goaltending around the league, you wonder if some team (hello Oilers) might take a flyer on the UFA-to-be.