Matt Vensel: Hey, Pens fans. Just walked into my hotel room in Columbus, tossed my suitcase on the bed and flipped open the laptop. I'm ready to rock now. Fire away. I'll go for about 30-40 minutes before my pregame jog.
Penguin Joe: Do we have any idea what the nature of Zucker's injury is?
Matt Vensel: We do, Joe. Mike Sullivan said last game that Jason Zucker is out again with the lower-body injury that recently sidelined him for a few weeks. I'm not sure if he aggravated the injury or if it simply never got right in the first place. You can't help but wonder if surgery may be needed. All Sullivan shared is that he's week-to-week. Obviously, tough blow for Zucker, who scored twice Monday night. But the Pens have done just fine this season despite getting little from him.
Ray Guy: I still think Sid is the best all-around player the NHL has seen over the past two decades -- but man, what Ovie is doing this year at age 36 is just remarkable. His passing has gotten better with age too. Is Ovie the better all-around player at this point? Or does Sid still have an edge when it comes to defense, faceoffs (Ovie doesn't take more than 10 or so a year), and other intangibles?
Matt Vensel: Ray, interesting question. First, I always like to see fans show proper respect to rival players. Alex Ovechkin is an all-time great, too, and him leading the league in goals and points is wild given his age and that he physically is just not the same athlete he was a few years back. That suggests he's evolved some, though I still think you could throw him out on the power play at age 55 and he'd still be able to bury one-timers. That's a special skill right there. As for comparing him to Sid, he's certainly having a better, more impactful season statistically. If I am picking which guy I want for a Game 7, it's still Sid.
Jason: I remember watching 66 just take over games day in and day out but I’ve never seen 87 really do this. Yes he’s had some great games and is a great player but you don’t say wonder if he’s getting 4 or 5 points tonight like we use to do with Mario. I don’t think Sid is anywhere near the level Mario was.
Matt Vensel: Sure, Jason, but to be fair it's a completely different era of hockey. Just look at the top point scorers from 1992 compared to now. And, obviously, Sid is 34 and not at his apex. If you really want to compare and contrast two of the top seven or eight players ever and argue Mario was better, I think most people would side with you. That's not a knock on Sid by any means. It's just that Mario may be the most talented player to ever lace up hockey skates.
Guido: What's to say, the Penguins fell into the we're up 4 with one to go, that happens to all NHL teams. Unless you have a couple of guys who live to crash bodies, what can a coach do?
Matt Vensel: Apologies, but not entirely sure what the question is here. If you're asking me what I think about last night's win over the Senators, I would say the concern is that some of the hiccups were a continuation of what we saw in the final three games of that long road trip. It's starting to remind me of two seasons ago, the year the pandemic first hit, when the team so was so stingy for several weeks but slowly unraveled and couldn't seem to put it all back together. Given that, there should be some urgency for the Pens to get their team game back in order ASAP.
Guest: Given the defensive play is so poor lately, how can you not get Aston-Reese back in the line-up? Loving the play of Boyle and Simon. May-be Heinen gets a night off and let Aston-Reese play with wreckless Geno?
Matt Vensel: You had me until you suggested the Pens play ZAR next to Geno. Like him as a player and he's got one of the best personalities on the team, but it's clear at this point he's not the type of guy who should see much time in the top six. That said, it was curious that Mike Sullivan went with Brian Boyle and Dominik Simon over Aston-Reese last night against Ottawa. ZAR said two days ago that he felt good physically after not experiencing symptoms in his latest bout with COVID. And then he was on the ice for warmups last night, suggesting he was a healthy scratch. Will try to get clarification on that when we talk to Sullivan before tonight's game in Columbus.
Enzo: This may be a bit of a hot take, but I’m starting to feel like Guentzel is the best player on the team. What say you?
Matt Vensel: Enzo, he's definitely their best goal-scorer without a doubt and a deserving All-Star. But I'm not ready to declare that he's better than Sidney Crosby. Or Kris Letang for that matter. Maybe that intersection happens next season. But in my opinion he's not there yet. And that says more about the other two guys than it says about Jake.
Guest: OK well how about moving Mr. Carter back to Geno's left wing and get Erod centering a 3rd line? We need to get him going also?
Matt Vensel: I really don't see Carter on the wing, especially the left wing, as a real long-term option. I would play Rodrigues there. Felt that way even before Jason Zucker got injured. He seems like he would be a good fit because, like Geno and Kasperi Kapanen, he can also produce on the rush and would bring a defensive element to that line.
Sunner in Orlando: Don't love how Jarry has looked the last 3 games. Is it a coincidence his play trended downward the moment he was named an all-star? In addition, I liked Lou off the bench. Does Sully give him another start after his foot heals from Boyle's shot?
Matt Vensel: I'm with you. I just wrote a little bit about that at the end of my weekly From the Point column. He allowed four goals in the third in L.A., struggled in Vegas and even though he made several key stops against Ottawa he still looked off. Two of the goals were the direct result of his own poor rebound control. So, yeah, I think there should be a little concern that he might finally be cooling off.
Matt Vensel: Here's that column, BTW. I think you'll really enjoy the main focus, which was a fun chat with Kris Letang and Sidney Crosby about all the guys Letang has partnered with over the years. https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/penguins/2022/01/21/Kris-Letang-Pi...
Guest: Any thoughts on possible moves by this team for the playoff push? Still think we need a stay at home defenseman to pair with MM. Ruh as number 7 would be better for us overall.
Matt Vensel: I don't know that we will see Ron Hextall, given his track record here and in Philly, make multiple moves where he gives up prospects or picks. Maybe one trade if they keep winning games. But I'd think a physical right-handed blue-liner would be at the top of his list. I also think they could and should sniff around for a backup goalie with playoff pedigree and a middle-six power forward type.
Dennis: Where do you see the Pens most glaring weakness? My choice is backup goalie, unless DeSmith comes back around.
Matt Vensel: That's a top-three concern for sure, especially now that Louis Domingue is out week-to-week after Brian Boyle hit him in the foot with a shot at Thursday's morning skate. Domingue looked to have eased up at the end of the drill when Boyle threw a puck on net. Now he's on crutches apparently. This team, man. Unbelievable.
Jason: Hi Matt. Is it just me or is this the first year I can remember that we don’t really need much at the trade deadline? Maybe a backup goalie or maybe trade for Zucker? Thoughts?
Matt Vensel: I hate to pile on Jason Zucker, who is having another tough season here and is now out again, but what makes you think that he's a positive trade asset right now? If anything, they will need to incentivize a team to take his contract, which has another year left, in a trade.
Jay Daven: Matt, the Pens look like they will compete for the cup and go far into the playoffs. They score often, win at home and away, and check well. What do you think is their biggest weakness?
Matt Vensel: Jay, I've consistently said, even during that long win streak, that the Penguins look like a second-tier contender to me. That's not to say they can't win the Cup. They've got a shot. But I believe several teams, such as Colorado, Carolina, Florida and Tampa Bay, have better odds of going all the way. I think it's fair to wonder if their recent run of solid defense and great goaltending is sustainable. And it's hard to shake the memories of the Pens flaming out of the playoffs in the first round the last three years against hard-nosed, disciplined squads.
penfan: Are both Malkin and Letang going to be around next season?
Matt Vensel: I'll say this: I think both the Pens and the players want that to happen. Which goes a long way but does not mean everything, because concessions will need to be made financially, at least with Malkin. Letang, based on his play the last two years, is actually earning less than market value right now. So middle ground will need to be found financially. I feel pretty comfortable saying that at least one of them will be back, possibly two.
Matt Vensel: All right, that's going to do it for today. Thanks to everyone who sent in a question. Some really good ones this week. We'll do this again next Friday. Now I'm off to aimlessly run through the streets of Columbus in the frigid cold, with the thought of the juicy burger that awaits me pushing me through. Have a great weekend, everyone.
First Published: January 21, 2022, 4:00 p.m.
