In my quest to pinpoint why our Penguins are so bad when it comes to playing with and protecting leads, I suggested in a recent post that the collective age of the players we rely on at crunch time may be a significant factor.
I may have been closer to the mark than I know.
According to the web site, HockeyStats.com, a number of our big guns (not to mention golden oldies) are among the worst players in the league when it comes to even strength defensive WAR, or EVD.
Before I go any further, I confess I haven’t a clue in terms of the methodology used to develop the ratings and rankings. However, the results, based on a two-season sample (’24-25 & ’25-26) sure do match the eye test. They go a long way to explain why we struggle to protect leads.
For example, Bryan Rust, who I personally regard as a poor defensive player, is ranked 912th out of 914 skaters with an EVD of -2.0. Erik Karlsson, whose defensive shortcomings are well-documented, checks in at 907th with an EVD of -1.7.
Next on the list of defensively deficient? Evgeni Malkin, ranked 876th with an EVD of -1.0, then Kris Letang (832, -0.6). Skipping ahead just a bit, Sidney Crosby (754, -0.3).
In plain English, the guys we lean on the most, often at the end of games, are our worst defensive players. Talk about stacking the deck in the other team’s favor!
Unfortunately, some of our second-tier guys every bit as bad, including Tommy Novak (817, -0.5) and Justin Brazeau (776, -0.4).
As an aside, guess who was on the ice when Beckett Sennecke of Anaheim skated through our entire team back on December 9 to score a shorthanded goal with a fraction of a second left? If you answered Crosby, Novak, Rust, Karlsson and Letang you’re correct.
Talk about your poor choices!
So who are our options? Do we have anyone with favorable EVDs?
The answer is yes, including some surprises.
Newly acquired Brett Kulak is 15th among all NHL skaters with EVD of 1.4. Parker Wotherspoon ranks 52nd with an EVD of 0.9. Rickard Rakell is 59th with an EVD of 0.8. Ryan Graves (!), 101st and 0.6, respectively.
Not surprisingly, our buzz-saw fourth line of Blake Lizotte (147th, 0.4), Noel Acciari (165th, 0.4) and Connor Dewar (238th, 0.2) all have solid EVDs.
A short list of the players coach Dan Muse should consider riding at crunch time as opposed to our defensively challenged stars.
Here’s a complete listing of black-and-gold EVDs from worst to best for games played through December 16. Again, out of 914 NHL players ranked.
| FORWARDS | ||
| Player | Rank | EVD |
| Rust | 912 | -2.0 |
| Malkin | 876 | -1.0 |
| Novak | 817 | -0.5 |
| Brazeau | 776 | -0.4 |
| Crosby | 754 | -0.3 |
| Tomasino | 710 | -0.2 |
| Hayes, K. | 622 | -0.1 |
| Hallander | 600 | -0.1 |
| Mantha | 578 | -0.1 |
| Koivunen | 563 | 0.0 |
| McGroarty | 536 | 0.0 |
| Koppanen | 465 | 0.0 |
| Imama | 374 | 0.0 |
| Heinen | 289 | 0.1 |
| Kindel | 282 | 0.1 |
| Dewar | 238 | 0.2 |
| Acciari | 165 | 0.4 |
| Lizotte | 147 | 0.4 |
| Rakell | 59 | 0.8 |
| DEFENSE | ||
| Player | Rank | EVD |
| Karlsson | 907 | -1.7 |
| Letang | 832 | -0.6 |
| Dumba | 780 | -0.4 |
| St. Ivany | 446 | 0.0 |
| Brunicke | 431 | 0.0 |
| Jones | 384 | 0.0 |
| Shea | 332 | 0.1 |
| Pickering | 327 | 0.1 |
| Clifton | 237 | 0.2 |
| Graves | 101 | 0.6 |
| Wotherspoon | 52 | 0.9 |
| Kulak | 15 | 1.4 |