PITTSBURGH — It’s only two weeks into the season, and yet, we have so much to discuss.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are 5-2. Justin Brazeau has eight points in seven games. The team, believe it or not, is playing defense.
Thank you, as always, for the great questions. I’ll have another mailbag in a few days.
Away we go.
Are the Pens actually good? — @Beep02408171
I love this question because it’s so simple, so honest, so hopeful.
The truth is, I don’t know. It’s too early to say. What I will say is that, at the very least, I do think they’re better than what we were expecting. Here’s why:
• New Coach Energy is a real thing.
• Speaking of the new coach, Dan Muse has been impressive.
• Penguins GM Kyle Dubas may have found thrift-store gems in defenseman Parker Wotherspoon, forwards Brazeau and Anthony Mantha, and goaltender Arturs Silovs.
• Goaltender Tristan Jarry has been sharp.
• Defenseman Erik Karlsson is responding to this coaching staff much, much better.
• Evgeni Malkin is upset that he hasn’t been offered another contract, and, if this is his last season, he wants to put on a final show.
• Ben Kindel, an 18-year-old rookie center, is special.
• Harrison Brunicke, a 19-year-old rookie defenseman, is special, too.
I see some sustainability on this list.
Do I think the Penguins will be a playoff team? No. Do I think it’s far more possible now than I did a few weeks ago? Yes. I don’t know that they can keep this up, but their early-season success has not been a fluke. They’re playing well, and they’re playing hard. Look at the list above. I didn’t even mention Sidney Crosby.
How sustainable do you think the early season success will be? Obviously a lot of hockey left to go this year, but I’d imagine holding this pace might throw any deadline and offseason plans for a loop. — @masondeel
It is interesting, right? Let’s have some hypothetical fun. Let’s say Christmas arrives, and the Penguins are in a wild-card spot.
Then, a contender comes along and makes a big offer for Rickard Rakell. What does Dubas do?
The answer is simple. The future is Dubas’ priority, and it should be. However, I sense that if the Penguins produce a magical season and give themselves a chance to reach the postseason, Dubas wouldn’t do much to harm their cause. He’s already delighted with the Penguins’ most recent draft class, and the team has an enormous amount of draft picks arriving in the next two years. He will continue to worry about the future, but don’t look for Dubas to trade any big names if the Penguins keep this up. (I don’t really think they will, but it’s been fun to watch.)
What is the biggest surprise to you so far, both good and bad? — @itsspelledgraig
I’d have to start with Brazeau. The guy has eight points in seven games. Enough said.
I also have been pleasantly surprised with Karlsson’s more professional style of play this season and with Jarry’s resurgence. That is pretty incredible, given where he was in early March (in Wilkes-Barre, and playing poorly there).
Bad surprises? There aren’t many, but Tommy Novak and Philip Tomasino have been a letdown.
Chances they keep Kindel up for the year ?? — @jtotheoey23
I think it becomes more likely with each new day. I think both of the teenagers are here to stay.
If you’ve seen them play, you know how good they are. Will it help their respective developments to go play against a bunch of kids in Western Canada? I don’t think so. And I don’t think the Penguins think so, either.
Does Kindel and Brunicke making this roster show how good they are or how bad the Penguins are? — @ZuckerVision
I think it shows how good they are. The Penguins aren’t great on paper, but they aren’t the Sharks or Blackhawks, either.
These young guys are something to watch — they literally get better almost every night.
Is there any indication that the Global Series has anything to do with Karlsson and Rakell not being traded so far? Or is it just about waiting for the right offer and seeing where this season goes? — @DMetag
I assure you that the Global Series has zero influence. Dubas isn’t going to prioritize promoting a game in Sweden over what’s best for his hockey team.
I’m not hearing that anything is imminent.
Hey Josh. Hope the layover is going by fast. With the cap space the team has, if by some chance they are in contention at the deadline would Kyle use it to improve the team? If not, any idea what he is saving it for? — @Ohiopensfan
He still is the president of the team and answers to ownership. While he does have the authority to spend to the cap, the Penguins aren’t exactly selling out their arena these days. So I wouldn’t say that he’s “saving it.”
Regardless of their wonderful start, it’s hard to imagine a world where the Penguins are buyers at the deadline.
We all expect trades to be forthcoming at some point this season, and of course, it takes two teams to make a deal, but if you had to guess right now, which “bigger” player do you think will be the first one to move from the Penguins? — @Wizard1Lord
I assume you’re bringing up the possibility of the Penguins going into sell mode, which is still utterly plausible and perhaps even likely, despite the feel-good start.
Rakell would be the most likely person to go, I think. He doesn’t have the organizational roots that Rust does, and he’s a lot easier to trade than Karlsson.
With the Pens looking like a different team than last year, system, speed, youthfulness etc… and if they continue an upward trend, does it change Dubas’ plan at all? They aren’t contenders, but they aren’t as bad as we all thought they would be. — @DarkSithLord17
I could see him doing very little this season if they keep playing like this. Dubas is in no position to trade future assets, and he knows it. If the Penguins organically shock the world and make the playoffs, good for them. Hell of a story. And Dubas wouldn’t get in the way of that. But he still has a future to worry about.
What’s the funniest interaction you’ve had with someone you have covered? (Excluding the Montreal Fleury story) — @franty_n
That’s tough to say. There have been many. Once, I accidentally stepped on Steve Yzerman’s foot in the dinner line in the Pittsburgh media lounge. He was not amused and gave me a dirty look. This is in stark contrast to the time in 2005 when Joe Namath stepped on the same foot that stepped on Yzerman’s. My left foot has been through wars.
My favorite conversation was probably in the Columbus locker room in 2014 with Nick Foligno. He laughed hysterically for five minutes while telling me what it was like to play against Bobby Farnham.
“That f—— guy was telling us he was going to kill us and throws his body around like no one I’ve ever seen,” Foligno said. “I wish we’d sign him. I’d just be laughing all the time. I actually love that guy.”
Other than 2 for Talking, what other hockey podcasts do you enjoy appearing on/listening to?— @Yatch18
Thanks for the plug. I never watch or listen to podcasts, but if you ask me, I’ll probably appear on your podcast. I enjoy talking hockey.
You are coming back from the west coast…probably nice weather and all that. Would you rather have to go there now, when it’s fall in Pittsburgh OR winter (get away from the cold) OR late in the year for a nice trip before the season ends? — @Nuttinghatesus
This is the kind of question I can appreciate. My girlfriend should answer this one because she had to hear me complain about going to California and Florida in October.
There’s nothing wrong with going to those places in October, but you really want those trips in January or February, when we’re in the dead of winter. I also happen to love October in Pittsburgh. It’s the best.
And Western Canada in January? I clearly need to speak with the league’s schedulers. That’s the trip you want in October, I assure you.
What is the travel process like? Are you booking your own stuff? Let a company travel agency handle it? Worst travel nightmare story? — @CDatres24
We have an app that we use for travel. It’s pretty nice, and we get to keep the Marriott and airline points, which is what makes the world go ’round.
In 2014, my luggage was lost in the Toronto airport. Then, a snowstorm hit Toronto and shut the airport down for a couple of days. So, I was in Vancouver with no clothes except for what I was wearing. Everyone in Vancouver is physically fit. I’m more of a thick gentleman.
So, I went walking around Vancouver looking for clothes that fit me. No luck. I was sucking in, and nah, not happening. So, finally, I walked up to an employee at a mall in Vancouver and said I needed some clothes that fit me.
She looked at me and said, “You must be an American.”
I responded, “How’d you know? Don’t answer!”
She then said, “There’s an Old Navy that way.”
And I was saved.
Hi Josh, I visited Al’s cafe for the first time a couple of weeks ago. It was terrific and precisely as you’ve described! Those types of places are few and far between these days, unfortunately. Anyway, what’s your go-to order when you go? — @11816TD
Well, you’re a man of taste and integrity.
Al’s Cafe, my favorite restaurant, is a Bethel Park staple. My go-to order is the chicken Romano with pasta and a Caesar salad. They also recently switched from Pepsi to Coca-Cola products, which makes it even better.
Thanks for all of the questions, everyone. Another mailbag will be coming in a few days, as will several articles on the latest entries to the Penguins’ Hall of Fame class.
Until then, it’s off to Florida … in October. But I have the greatest job in the world, so no complaints.