Inside the Penguins’ celebratory locker room on Saturday night, Jared McCann settled into his chair, wearing a backwards baseball cap – and a smile.
For the first time in the young season, the Penguins got in the win column with a 7-2 victory over Columbus. And it wouldn’t have been possible without a standout performance from the Penguins’ left wing… um, I mean, center… or…
Well, that brings up a good point. What exactly would you call yourself these days, Jared?
“I grew up a centerman,” McCann said. “I’ve always been a centerman.”
Always? You sure about that?
“I’m a utility player,” McCann said with a laugh, correcting himself. “That’s what I like to call myself.”
He definitely showed it on Saturday night.
The Penguins’ 23-year-old Canadian scored a pair of goals and assisted on a third. But even more than finding the back of the net, it was how he seamlessly transitioned into a different role mid-game that showed his value to the organization.
McCann, who was acquired from Florida last season, began the game as left winger on the third line, with Nick Bjugstad at center and Patric Hornqvist on the right side. Then, when Evgeni Malkin was forced to leave the game after taking an awkward tumble into the boards, McCann’s job description changed.
He took over Malkin’s position on the second line, with Alex Galchenyuk on his left wing and Brandon Tanev on the right.
Almost immediately, McCann made an impact. After Tanev won a foot race to a loose puck at the neutral zone, McCann scooped it up, raced in and burned goaltender Elvis Merlikins, who was making his first career start.
Later in the second period, Galchenyuk gained the blue line and veered toward the right circle, drawing two Columbus players in his direction. He backhanded the puck to McCann, who buried his second goal of the second period.
“Nobody can replace Geno,” Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said. “But when guys go down, other guys have to step up. He did a good job of that tonight.”
If McCann looked at home at center, that’s because he was.
Growing up and all through his career — from the OHL to the Vancouver Canucks to the Florida Panthers and Team Canada — McCann has defined himself as a center man. But when the Penguins acquired McCann and Bjugstad near the trade deadline from Florida last year, they chose to shift Bjugstad to the middle. For the first time in his life, McCann became a winger.
As recently as Saturday morning, McCann was talking about being a team player and doing his best to learn a new system and a new position in a new city.
“I feel like I still have a bit of a learning curve to go through and figure it out quickly,” McCann said before the game. “I’ve got to focus on my job and being a winger and try to help the team.”
Depending how some injuries shake out, that might change.
In addition to Malkin’s injury, Bjugstad also left the game. Coach Mike Sullivan had little to offer in terms of an update, other than saying that the Penguins are evaluating both players.
Should one – or both – miss time, the Penguins could be without their second-line center, their third-line center or both. The good news for Pittsburgh is that they have no shortage of options.
This offseason, the Penguins added Galchenyuk, Tanev and Dominik Kahun. The new-found depth has produced a ripple effect, adding more versatility and interchangeable pieces. It took until just the second game of the season before the Penguins were forced to show it.
“You can never have enough centers in your lineup,” Sullivan said. “Tonight, was an example of why. We ended up down two centers with a significant amount of the game left. To have the ability to just move guys in and it’s their natural position really helps.”
As the Penguins gather more information about their injured centers, they may be forced to fill at least one of vacant center positions for more than just a few shifts.
Earlier in camp, Dominik Simon was taking shifts in exhibitions games at center, which would make him the most likely candidate to plug an additional hole if needed. On the NHL roster, Kahun has played center previously and Galchenyuk was drafted as a center. Although, the latter two probably add more value on the wing.
If the Penguins are forced to call up a player from their AHL affiliate, Andrew Agozzino centers the top line and Oula Palve is in the faceoff circle for the second line.
And, obviously, McCann would be a clear choice to keep filing his role as… utility man.
Mike DeFabo: mdefabo@post-gazette.com or on Twitter @MikeDeFabo.
First Published: October 6, 2019, 2:54 p.m.