If you read the first part of this, which graded out the Pittsburgh Penguins‘ forwards, welcome back for part two. If you’re new here, I graded the forwards on Wednesday.
As I write part two grading the defensemen and goalies, keep in mind I will be grading based on the players’ expectations and role. If a role player ends up grading out higher than a star player, don’t crucify me. I’d love to debate the gradings, too. We’ve all got a lot of time on our hands at the moment. Tweet me @Cody_625 or @LetsTalkPIT and we can discuss these amongst other sports topics.
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Due to his long-term injury, Brian Dumoulin did not receive a grade in this edition.
Without further ado, let’s do some grading, shall we?
Kris Letang
Grade: C+
Don’t get me wrong, Letang is a magnificent player — when he can keep his cool. Far too often this season, Letang took ill-advised penalties and cost the Penguins on a few occasions.
His defensive acumen took a hit this year, too. He made some mistakes, as every defenseman does.
A few years ago, Letang had an outburst when a media member suggested he quit taking risks and become a more defensive minded player. Letang shot back by saying that the media would still complain if he upped his defensive game, but allowed his offensive numbers slip.
Letang had a nice offensive season scoring 44 points in 61 games. His defense admittedly suffered as he spent most of this season with Jack Johnson instead of his normal partner in Brian Dumoulin. No ideal situation has Johnson playing top pair minutes.
Letang should be better next season. However, he struggled at times. Considering his role as the premier defenseman on the team, he needs to be better.
John Marino
Grade: A+
I’m trying to keep this abbreviated but certainly Marino blossomed into an absolute steal for the Penguins.
Marino was acquired from Edmonton in the offseason for a sixth round pick. He had a strong training camp and eventually stole a spot on the roster. As Marino continued to play, it became evident he hadn’t stolen anything. He earned that spot because he is good enough.
In 56 games, Marino notched 26 points. Realistically, Marino became more noticeable because of his defensive play. His gaps are incredible. He rarely got beat. The Penguins acquired a steady defensive presence who’s offensive game is also ahead of his years.
Six goals for a defenseman surely isn’t anything to write home about. However, if you watch his game, Marino is a smooth skater who knows where he wants to go with the puck and executes it to a T.
When the time comes, Marino will be paid handsomely and used in a top-four role on defense for the foreseeable future. What a trade for Jim Rutherford and what a player Marino has become.
Marcus Pettersson
Grade: B+
This season, Pettersson earned himself a nice pay raise. Before training camp, the Penguins had promised him a deal at some point. He signed his one year restricted free agent deal because of that promise. Eventually, Pettersson got a five-year, $20.1 million deal with an AAV just north of $4 million.
He gave back to the Penguins by playing all 69 games, the only other player besides Teddy Blueger on the roster to do so. Again, durability counts for something. Especially on a team that couldn’t quite ever get fully healthy.
Pettersson scored two goals and 22 points and was a staple in the Penguins’ top four. He joins Letang, Dumoulin and Johnson as defensemen who will be a part of the Penguins’ plans for the next few seasons.
Justin Schultz
Grade: D+
Schultz’s stock was once through the roof. The Penguins rescued him from Edmonton — I’m sensing a trend here — for a mid-round pick a few years ago. He found a new gear in Pittsburgh and won a Stanley Cup after almost washing away in Oilers country.
Now, Schultz has struggled mightily the last two season dealing with long-term injuries and not being able to really hit his stride. Schultz had 12 points in 46 games and had a lengthy goal-scoring drought.
Schultz and Pettersson were supposed to be the Penguins’ second pairing. Between injuries, bad play, and other things, Schultz got shuffled around and never quite found his footing.
He enters free agency this year and seems like he’ll be moving on. He likely will command some money the Penguins won’t shell out to an oft-injured defenseman. As a right handed defenseman who is talented if he stays healthy, I’d expect a solid market for him.
Jack Johnson
Grade: C+
Everyone’s favorite whipping boy.
Johnson’s season wasn’t quite up to par with his contract. However, that could’ve been assumed when he signed it. They gave him a lot of money for extended term.
This season, with all the injuries, Johnson was forced into a heightened role. He spent a vast majority of his season on a top pairing with Letang. Obviously, this wasn’t ideal for either player.
Johnson is at a stage in his career where he plays enough defense to get by. He may not be that great at it but he’s not awful. Any offense he can provide is an added bonus.
You take the good with the bad. That’s where we are at and likely will be until Johnson and the Penguins eventually part ways.
Jusso Riikola
Grade: C+
It’s been a weird season for Riikola.
He hasn’t really gotten a chance to play a ton. When he did, his minutes seemed to be sheltered. There was even a stretch where he was used as a winger in the bottom-six while the Penguins were vastly injured.
It doesn’t seem Mike Sullivan likes Riikola all that much. Then again, maybe it is being read into a bit too much. Rumors swirled earlier in the season that the Montreal Canadiens had tried to acquire Riikola. The Penguins held onto him for depth.
Riikola is still young so he’s got a chance to develop. However, it doesn’t seem the ceiling is all that high.
Chad Ruhwedel
Grade: B+
If you look up Mr. Dependable in the dictionary, it’s 99 percent certain you’d see Ruhwedel’s face. With all the injuries on defense, Ruhwedel saw action in 41 games and posted six points.
Certainly, he is not going to light up the scoreboard. However, for someone who is a mere plug-and-play with no consistent role other than being the seventh defenseman, the Penguins have a solid player in him.
He is the prototype of what you’d want your seventh defenseman to be. Ruhwedel fits the system, pairs well with everyone in the defensive core, and can more than handle his allotted minutes a night even if it’s his first game in quite some time.
This guy is a great depth piece and will never get enough credit for doing the job he does as well as he does.
Goalies
Matt Murray
Grade: B-
We’re on to the goalies. We’re going to start with the one who is becoming one of the most polarizing figures in Pittsburgh sports.
Murray’s season has really been a mixed bag. It started so poorly that he had been replaced. Then, he again was given a chance and ran with it. It got to the point where Murray likely would’ve started into the playoffs.
The beginning of the season certainly wasn’t a bright spot. However, the rebound was quite admirable and it found Murray ready to lead his team once again.
His .899 save percentage and 2.87 goals against average aren’t the prettiest figures. But, it helps illustrate exactly why his second half has been such a breath of fresh air. The team needed it and so did he.
Tristan Jarry
Grade: A-
Jarry wasn’t even supposed to be the backup at the beginning of the season. Casey DeSmith was. Jarry made the team because of a salary cap crunch and never looked back.
Jarry began to outplay Murray so badly that he had been receiving the bulk of the work. He played so well that he eventually earned a trip to the all-star game for his efforts.
He never truly fell off. However, he had a minor rough patch in which the Penguins decided to give Murray a chance to ride his own hot streak. Jarry’s numbers are very solid. He owns a .921 save percentage and a 2.43 goals against average. Those numbers were much better before the team hit their own rough patch.
Regardless, Jarry proved the Penguins have two capable goalies in Murray and himself come playoff time. That is a luxury the Penguins currently have but likely won’t forever.
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