Ramblings: Penguins, Pouliot, Pulock (May 22)

Ian Gooding

2017-05-22

Penguins, Pouliot, Pulock, and more…

Hey, it’s Ian again, filling the big shoes of Dobber tonight.

The Penguins scored not one, not two, not three, but four goals in the first period and added three more en route to a 7-0 whitewash of the Senators on Sunday afternoon.

A team can’t get much better than 3-for-3 on the power play, unless it’s 4-for-4, or 5-for-5, and so on… but you can only take advantage of the chances that you’re given. The Penguins did just that; in fact, they shot 100 percent (3-for-3) on the power play as well.

With his first-period power-play goal, Sidney Crosby has scored goals in three consecutive games. He was one of numerous Penguins to record multiple points in this game.

With three assists, Evgeni Malkin extended his lead in the playoff scoring race to 23 points (6g-17a) in 17 games.

The surprise players are always worth mentioning here. Sunday’s longshot success story in daily leagues was Carter Rowney, who also recorded three assists and a plus-4. The three assists were Rowney’s first points of the playoffs in his 12th game.

Matt Murray recorded the 25-save shutout for the Pens. Personally, I think we’ve seen the last of Fleury in a Pens uniform. But as per yesterday’s Ramblings (see the comments for more insight), I’ll stick to my conviction that there’s still a slight chance he somehow stays in Pittsburgh next season. Because nothing is ever 100 percent.

Craig Anderson’s luck wasn’t good on his 36th birthday, as he was in the net for the four first-period goals. So that’s seven goals allowed over Anderson’s last four periods. But if there’s any doubt whether Mike Condon will start Game 6, Guy Boucher has thrown water onto the fire.
 


With the outcome a foregone conclusion by the third period, Erik Karlsson, Cody Ceci, and Derick Brassard were all held out as a precaution. It sounds like all three will be ready for Game 6.

Jumping the gun, I know, but wouldn’t a Penguins/Predators Stanley Cup Final be something to watch?

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With the outcome of the Pens/Sens game already decided early in the game, hockey fans were fortunate to have another option on Sunday afternoon. But in case you missed it, Sweden won the gold medal with a 2-1 shootout win over Canada. Needless to say, the Swedes were pretty excited.
 


You can’t feel too bad for Canada because international games that go to the shootout are either a) a total coin flip, or b) games where Canada would have a disadvantage, since we don’t usually decide playoff games this way. Regardless, congratulations to Sweden on a fine victory.  

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Today’s Ramblings are brought to you by the letter P. (I can’t help myself with that one, since I have two children under the age of 10.) P for prospects. P for Pouliot and Pulock. And P for possibilities… for the Vegas Golden Knights? At least this mock expansion draft, which I also mentioned in yesterday’s Ramblings, believes could happen. Expansion draft aside, it’s worth revisiting these two blueline prospects to determine whether their ship has really sailed.
 


Sunday’s playoff game was yet another Penguins’ game that didn’t have Derrick Pouliot in it. The Penguins’ defense is a revolving door of injured veterans, trade acquisitions, and youngsters that seem to come out of nowhere. You’d have to believe at this point in time that the Penguins would bring back Rob Scuderi and Hal Gill before they give Pouliot a shot.

It’s not as if Pouliot has completely fallen off the map offensively. His 23 points and +26 in 46 games in AHL is respectable, but not spectacular and not worthy of an NHL callup if his defensive skills aren’t there. Plus he’s just turned 23, so it’s not like the window has closed as far as an NHL career goes. But it seems like we’ve been waiting forever for him to become a permanent fixture in the Pens’ lineup. So it’s fair to say that Pouliot as an elite power-play QB just isn’t going to happen.

After time as one of the top blueline prospects for fantasy purposes, Pouliot has sunk to number 18 on Dobber’s Top 50 Fantasy Prospect Defensemen. He’s now behind the likes of Gustav Forsling and Jake Walman but still ahead of Jacob Larsson and Noah Juulsen. If you have to make room for a younger player that has more upside, then I say do it. But before you make that decision, let’s find out whether Pouliot is in another organization to start next season.

I’ll add Ryan Pulock to the discussion, since one of my league mates mentioned that he is in the same boat with Pulock as I am with Pouliot. Pulock has played in fewer NHL games (16) than Pouliot (67) with the same birth year (1994), which explains why his owners believe that time is passing by.

The past season wasn’t easy on Pulock, though, since he missed time with broken foot. Despite that, he still scored 46 points in 55 games in the AHL last season. So it’s all about getting opportunity. Unfortunately the Isles’ defense should remain much the same as it did in 2016-17, with only RFA Calvin De Haan currently without a contract for 2017-18. An opening could result for Pulock should Vegas claim an Islanders’ defenseman, assuming he not the one claimed by the Golden Knights. In that case, Vegas could represent a great opportunity.  

Pulock is still number 8 in the same Top 50 list, so right now he still has more upside than Pouliot. Again, the offseason will be telling, but there’s still the chance that Pulock starts another season in the AHL should nothing budge on the Isles’ blueline. But the opportunity should eventually come, so I’d continue to be patient if possible.

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For more fantasy hockey information, follow me on Twitter @Ian_Gooding.

One Comment

  1. Striker 2017-05-22 at 11:54

    Karl.

    Arizona:

    Sorry was at Midget competitive ball tournament in Maple Ridge BC for the long weekend here in Canada so couldn’t get to team #2. Son’s team played well in round robin but went 1-1-1 going home early having given away a win to the Delta Blue Jays Jr. PBL team on a routine catch missed by our LF costing 2 runs & the win in the bottom of 7. lost our consolation game to the Richmond Chuckers College Prep team 2-1 in the bottom of 7 with my kid on the mound as closer, ball got drilled at him on a line drive, couldn’t catch but made contact, the SS got there but bobbled the ball due to the redirection for the winning run to score. Got robbed on 2 Knuckle balls that should have been strikes for the final out but the plate ump gave up on them to early to see them drop into the strike zone. Stood up before caught by the catcher. If you don’t know what a knuckle ball does it drops about 6 to 8 inches in the last 10 feet or about .5 of a second. Our manager lost it on him. Ha-ha!

    Numerous teams are going to benefit from the expansion draft not just Vegas. Few teams are as well positioned as Arizona to do so. They aren’t the best but certainly top 3. We’ll hit the others as we progress. Players that normally wouldn’t be available except for expansion, especially at D, will be on the trade board from at least 5 teams. At least 8 teams, probably 12 will bid with those D that are guaranteed to be lost if not traded prior, or they don’t pay Vegas significant compensation to avoid selecting them. Anh, Clb, Min, NYI & Ott. Nas & Win don’t have to move D nor do I think Nas will but I do believe the sooner Win moves Trouba the better for all parties & the compensation extremely significant regardless of expansion looming.

    Arizona is very well positioned to take on assets pre expansion draft as they set themselves up perfectly to do so. There were reasons that players like Domi, Perlini, Dvorak, Fischer, Strome, etc. had their NHL careers deliberately delayed on a team dying for players with NHL ability. This summer’s expansion draft & the 1 coming very soon in Quebec to follow are a big part of that reason. It made all these players already drafted since say Domi in 2013 that have been held back for years in Jr & others recently drafted to be exempt for this expansion draft & for those still buried or about to be drafted to be buried for when Quebec enters the NHL in 2 years, 3 tops. The other primary reasons are it’s simply a far better development model, better controls the salary expectations, & keeps allowing for solid picks as the rebuild progresses. But the time to step up to the plate is close at hand.

    Arizona can take on players very soon from teams confronted with losing them in expansion & they have the picks, prospects & cap space to do as they choose. They aren’t locked into either formula as yet & what you see isn’t what your going to get as they can commit to either formula based on what trades they make prior. They can bid for the best forwards & or D available. Few teams futures look as bright as Arizona’s although it’s still a few years away but that could be accelerated rapidly based on what they do this summer both pre expansion, post expansion when teams will have holes to fill & taking on players & salary from cash strapped teams as we approach the start of next season in trades.

    Arizona has 19 players signed for next season with 25 mil & change to spend not counting putting Bolland on LTIR when the time comes, that’s another 5.5 mil. That’s 31 mil & change before the cap rises 2 to 3 mil next season! Ka ching!!!!

    Here’s all we know today. The existing guaranteed protectors unless moved out in trades prior to secure these potential assets mentioned above.

    F. Reider, Martinook & Duclair.
    D. OEL, Goligoski, Murphy.
    G. Smith.

    There is not another single player of consequence that isn’t expansion draft exempt. Richardson, McGinn, Holland, Burmistrov, Schenn etc. who cares if they lose 1 of these players & not certain Vegas would select any of these players regardless. Obviously they have to select someone. It could be a player like Dauphin if not protected although there’s certainly room to add him to the protectors today & I assume that will happen depending upon what plays out in trade or possibly Dominque a good up & coming young goalie. Dominique is the player I think Arizona will lose as I would select him over Dauphin if available.

    Arizona will be bidding for anyone of the D potential available, Vatanten, Savard/Johnson/Murray, Brodin/Dumba/Scandella, Hamonic/De Haan, Methot & Trouba! I assume Arz will be locking themselves into the 8 skater option securing 1 of these dman in trade pre expansion draft.

    Columbus, Minnesota & Winnipeg potentially have to many forwards as well, although there is a way for Columbus to shed their problem, they simply buyout Hartnell or pay Arizona to take him. I’m not saying Arz would take Hartnell in trade but if enticed to do so they may well do so & he would fit a perfect need there, a veteran presence with an edge to his game. He can help protect all that youth. Not a fighter but a rat & not fun to play against, he hits to hurt. Columbus simple asks Hartnell to waive his NMC & says they have a trade in place with Arz post expansion draft if not selected by Vegas. Either team, Arz or Vegas is a better situation than playing 4th line minutes in Clb for Torts. Better yet take a Zucker or Armia with a Dman from Minnesota or Winnipeg in trade pre expansion.

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