When Jim Rutherford and company goes to start putting together their team for the 2015 season, they will do so trying to put their own stamp on the club to make it stand over and beyond the rest of the league.
But despite trying to create their own version of a winner, it doesn’t mean they won’t look for outside influences in what may – or may not – work.
With three Stanley Cup Final appearances in the last six years, it is kind of hard to argue against the Chicago Blackhawks being the model franchise other teams should try to model their own after. Not only are they armed with two of the best players in the game in Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, the Blackhawks are constantly among the best in the league due to their depth.
Being able to plug in another player once a player is hurt or leaves the organization and not miss a beat is arguably the biggest reason for the Blackhawks being perennial contenders.
After their first championship, Chicago jettisoned several key players that were going to be due big pay raises and retooled on the fly.
Antti Niemi wanted too much money? That’s fine, they let him walk, and now Corey Crawford is in position to be a two-time Stanley Cup winning goaltender.
Looking for scoring depth? Former first round pick Teuvo Teravainen has provided just that, playing minimal minutes and doing the most with it.
After scoring only nine points in 34 games in the regular season, Teravainen has scored the same amount in just 14 postseason games – including three in the first two games against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Finland native has averaged just 13:52 of ice-time during the playoffs, slightly a minute more than what he got during the regular season. His average shift has been 0:37 long, just long enough for him to get in there, do what he can offensively, and get out.
If the Penguins plan on competing next year, they are going to have to offer more consistent scoring depth than they had last year. Rutherford recognized that common theme not only from the Blackhawks, but the Lightning as well “I look at these teams, and I see four lines that can score,” he told Josh Yohe on DK on Pittsburgh Sports ($). “That’s exactly what we need. Look at the balance these teams had. We never were able to get that balance among our 13 forwards.”
Kasperi Kapanen: Penguins Not So Secret Weapon In 2015
With that quote, you can almost guarantee the end of the fourth line pluggers filling out the bottom of the depth chart for the Penguins. It was already known that Craig Adams – the player most fitting of that generalization – would not be brought back, so who can fill his shoes without actually filling his shoes?
It’s pretty easy, because in his final draft Ray Shero grabbed the one player that he was probably waiting his entire tenure to come along.
Like his countryman Teravainen, Penguins first round pick Kasperi Kapanen can be that offensive spark plug at the bottom of the lineup – for now – that Pittsburgh has been missing.
Playing for Kalpa of the Finnish League, Kapanen scored 21 points in 41 games before coming over to North America to play in four regular season and seven playoff games for the Penguins’ minor league affiliate in Wilkes Barre-Scranton.
From all the way back in the preseason, Kapanen has shown the potential upside of an offensive player, one easily destined for a top-six role flanking one of either Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin.
For the mean-time, having a shot like that and playing some easy, protected minutes to ease him into the NHL will go a long way to help the 2015-16 Penguins. Preseason or not, that was a near side top-shelf shot against a recent Vezina Trophy recipient.
It should be more shocking if Kapanen doesn’t make the team next year, especially in a role like this on the fourth line. Despite having a lot of money coming off the books, the Penguins still have a lot of cap space tied into their forwards.
Depending on what is done with upcoming free agents Steve Downie and Blake Comeau – two players likely to be higher up on the Penguins radar to bring back – Pittsburgh may not have a choice but to go with a cheaper option like Kapanen to fill out the roster.
Judging by these highlights, wouldn’t that be a shame?
Don’t Forget About Oskar
Starting at the top with Crosby and Malkin and adding in Brandon Sutter, the Penguins are pretty set at the NHL level when it comes to the center position. But with Maxim Lapierre set to become an unrestricted free agent, that may open the door for Oskar Sundqvist to make the team next year.
Despite the need to have four lines that can be a threat offensively, a physical presence is still needed and Sundqvist can do both. Standing at an impressive 6’3”, the 21-year-old from Sweden looks to have the makeup of a perfect complimentary bottom-six role player.
While the Penguins have been rightfully criticized for trading away high picks, the ones they have kept – if utilized – look like they could put them back on the right path to contending for the Cup.
Main Photo:
