There has been a lot of talk for a long time now about how Crosby has garbage wingers to work with, or how its such a waste having wingers who are not elite around him.
I have often remarked that elite players don't always mesh well together. You end up with clashing personalities in many cases which makes things function horribly as far as chemistry. Just look at this years New Jersey team with Kovalchuk, Zajac and Parise having no chemistry and where they are in the standings to see this happening.
Lots of people forget this, but Kunitz had 25 goals in 2007, which was the year of Anahiem's cup run. That's not "sub par" in my books. He's physical and has pretty good hands. In a weird way he sort of reminds me of Kevin Stevens and Rick Tocchet back in the early 90's, however with less fighting skill. These legends had a great physical presence on the ice and combined it with excellent hands and scoring prowess. Kunitz is certainly cut from this same cloth which gives him a reasonable excuse to be riding shotgun with Crosby at the very least until Eric Tangradi has developed enough to earn a spot there.
Pascal Dupuis is by no means an elite winger. What places him on Crosby's wing is that he's a 2 way forward with a defensive edge. his role is to be responsible defensively and to take the corners and rough play on Sid's line - all things he does very well. He also plays the role of a sub as well, where if the play gets more physical and rough, Dan Bylsma is able to switch Dupuis out with someone like Adams or Rupp to give a little protection to Sid. This happened recently on the Dec. 8th game against Toronto where Rupp skated part of the game with the top line when the Leafs tried intimidation. Ultimately Pascal opens the ice up for Crosby and that alone makes him a worthwhile winger for Crosby.
Could they bring in someone who would be a better fit? Yes of course, however due to salary cap restrictions it is not always just so easy to do so, despite what a lot of armchair GM's feel when they throw out names like Ales Hemsky from Edmonton or Alex Kovalev in Ottawa. But perhaps one day when the decision comes on who to keep and who to move between Staal, Crosby and Malkin will they finally be able to afford a top end winger to play with Crosby, As mentioned looking ahead, Eric Tengradi once he develops should be the riding shotgun with Crosby. He appears to be destined to be a power forward much like John LeClair was in his prime which bodes well for the Penguins moving forward if he can reach this potential. Outside of this they will most likely have to bring someone in from the outside in the next couple of years to complete the line-up once Dupuis and Kunitz start to decline in the next 3-5 years. But until then, they certainly getting the job done adequately on Crosby's wings.
I have often remarked that elite players don't always mesh well together. You end up with clashing personalities in many cases which makes things function horribly as far as chemistry. Just look at this years New Jersey team with Kovalchuk, Zajac and Parise having no chemistry and where they are in the standings to see this happening.
Lots of people forget this, but Kunitz had 25 goals in 2007, which was the year of Anahiem's cup run. That's not "sub par" in my books. He's physical and has pretty good hands. In a weird way he sort of reminds me of Kevin Stevens and Rick Tocchet back in the early 90's, however with less fighting skill. These legends had a great physical presence on the ice and combined it with excellent hands and scoring prowess. Kunitz is certainly cut from this same cloth which gives him a reasonable excuse to be riding shotgun with Crosby at the very least until Eric Tangradi has developed enough to earn a spot there.
Pascal Dupuis is by no means an elite winger. What places him on Crosby's wing is that he's a 2 way forward with a defensive edge. his role is to be responsible defensively and to take the corners and rough play on Sid's line - all things he does very well. He also plays the role of a sub as well, where if the play gets more physical and rough, Dan Bylsma is able to switch Dupuis out with someone like Adams or Rupp to give a little protection to Sid. This happened recently on the Dec. 8th game against Toronto where Rupp skated part of the game with the top line when the Leafs tried intimidation. Ultimately Pascal opens the ice up for Crosby and that alone makes him a worthwhile winger for Crosby.
Could they bring in someone who would be a better fit? Yes of course, however due to salary cap restrictions it is not always just so easy to do so, despite what a lot of armchair GM's feel when they throw out names like Ales Hemsky from Edmonton or Alex Kovalev in Ottawa. But perhaps one day when the decision comes on who to keep and who to move between Staal, Crosby and Malkin will they finally be able to afford a top end winger to play with Crosby, As mentioned looking ahead, Eric Tengradi once he develops should be the riding shotgun with Crosby. He appears to be destined to be a power forward much like John LeClair was in his prime which bodes well for the Penguins moving forward if he can reach this potential. Outside of this they will most likely have to bring someone in from the outside in the next couple of years to complete the line-up once Dupuis and Kunitz start to decline in the next 3-5 years. But until then, they certainly getting the job done adequately on Crosby's wings.
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