End Of Season Grades

As we look forward to the June 20-21 entry draft and, potentially, not look forward to the start of free agency beginning on at midnight on July 1, end of season Penguin player grades are in order.

These grades are given based on the player's contribution when compared to what was reasonably expected during the course of the year from the player, and includes consideration for playoff performance.

So, without further delay .........

Sidney Crosby: Sid was tied for the league lead in scoring when he went down, and probably would have ended up leading the league again had he stayed healthy. He did everything he did last season, but grew his leadership profile and even improved some on face-offs. About the only flaw in his game is the fact that he's never going to be a top-notch goal scorer. Even then, he's good for near 40 each year. He was the Penguins leading scorer in his first extended trip through the playoffs. It's hard to find fault with arguably the best player in the game: A

Evgeni Malkin: Following up on his Calder Trophy, Malkin only finished second in the league in scoring and made himself a finalist for the Hart Trophy as the league's MVP. When Crosby went down with his high-ankle sprain in mid-January, many predicted a playoff berth for the Penguins was in jeopardy. All he did was carry the team on his back and average nearly 2 points per game while the Captain was out. He ran out of steam again at the end of this season and that hurt the Penguins chances of winning the Stanley Cup, but like Crosby, it's really hard to find fault with Malkin. He's one of the top 3 players in the game, with Crosby and Ovechkin: A

Marion Hossa: Since he sprained his knee shortly after the Penguins acquired him at the trading deadline and only played about 6 regular season games, it's hard to judge him on anything but his playoff performance. But oh what a performance that was. He finished 3rd in playoff scoring with 12 goals and 14 assists, 1 point behind Crosby and Zetterberg for the league lead, shedding his prior (somewhat deserved, but frequently exaggerated) reputation for not being someone who can be counted on in the post-season. He scored big goals and was a defensive presence all over the ice each time he was out there. He's an ideal winger for Crosby. The only question remains is whether the Penguins will be able to sign the unrestricted free agent: A

Sergei Gonchar: What didn't Gonchar do this year? He finished 2nd in league scoring among defenseman with 65 points, and finished plus 13 after being matched up against the opponent's top lines most of the year. It was a shame he was not one of the 3 finalists for the Norris Trophy because this year may have been Sarge's best. His power play work is unmatched, and perhaps the best compliment about his game this year is that every partner he had -- Mark Eaton, Rob Scuderi and Brooks Orpik -- undoubtedly played their best hockey while next to him. Although he's 34 and, at $5 million a season, a potential salary cap casualty in the next year or two simply because of everyone else the Penguins need to keep, what he does for the Penguins can't be understated: A

Marc-Andre Fleury: Like the Penguins team, Fleury struggled to start the year, but had won 4 in a row before going down to the favorite team injury -- the high ankle sprain -- around Thanksgiving during a game in Calgary. After missing nearly 30 games, he came back and was the best goaltender in the league during the final 20 or so games, losing only twice in that span. He also was one of the best netminders in the league in the playoffs, finishing with a save percentage over 93% and a goals against average under 2. Although he was a big reason why the Penguins played for the Stanley Cup, he didn't show his best hockey in the final, allowing several questionable goals in the 6-game loss to the Red Wings. That said, he wasn't the reason why the Penguins lost, and has unquestionably established himself as the Penguins main man in the net. Saying the restricted free agent is the Penguins number 1 priority this off-season is not an understatement: A-

Ryan Malone: Malone grew up a lot this season -- clearly his best in the NHL thusfar. He finished with 27 goals, 51 points, over 100 penalty minutes and was plus 14 playing most of the season with Malkin. He does a good job killing penalties and is physical on the ice and in front of the opponent's net. His toughness is unquestionable, as evidenced by coming back from his 2nd broken nose of the Stanley Cup Final in the Penguins' legendary 3 OT triumph in game 5. There were other stretches in the Final, however, where he wasn't as much of an impact offensively, mainly because he depends on Malkin to generate a lot for him. When Malkin isn't going, Malone can be a non-factor at times. Overall, though, Malone had a good season. Like Hossa, he's an unrestricted free agent and there are questions as to whether the Penguins can sign him: A-

Petr Sykora: Sykora will largely be remebered this past season for his goal in triple overtime in game 5 against Detroit, but it shouldn't be forgotten that, like Malone and Malkin, he was a part of arguably the best line in the league at times this year. Like Malone, however (and perhaps even more so), Sykora depends on Malkin -- mainly to get him the puck. That said, his 28 goals and 63 points this year were pretty productive, and a bargain for a guy pulling down only 2.5 million: A-

Ty Conklin: Who can forget what Conklin did for the Penguins this year in Fleury's absence? Arguably, he was their MVP because they may have not even made the playoffs if he didn't step in and rise to the top of the heap in several goaltending statistical categories, going undefeated in his first 11 starts after being called up to the minors, and winning 9 in a row. When Fleury came back, he wasn't handed the job, and that's because of how Conklin performed in his absence. He was outstanding. Although there are questions as to whether he'll want to come back and be Fleury's backup, there's no denying his performance this year says he's capable of being a number 1 goalie in the league: A-

Jordan Staal: Staal's production dropped this year, but that doesn't mean he didn't improve as a player. Quite the contrary, he filled out the 3rd line center role almost to perfection. Although everyone knows he's capable of more than the 12 goals and 28 points he scored this season, he scored 6 goals in the post-season, and his defensive game improved this year -- and that's saying a lot for a 19 year old who is already known as one of the better two-way players in the league. The big question with Staal in the future is will he be content to stay where he is on the 3rd line behind the big 2: B+

Maxime Talbot: Talbot was another victim of the high-ankle sprain this past year, but put up a respectable 26 points in 63 games for a 3rd or 4th line player. Talbot is a great energy guy and is so valuable in the locker room. He's also good on the penalty kill and has the skill to fill in on the top lines in the short term, if necessary. He filled all of those roles well this past year, and scored arguably the 2nd biggest goal of the year in game 5 against Detroit with 35 seconds left to keep the Penguins season alive. B+

Hall Gill: Gill struggled in his first few games with the Penguins, but once he learned the team's defensive system, he really exceeded expectations. Sure, skating remains a weak part to his game, but his size, physicality, positioning and intelligence out there on the ice make up for that. He was a big (literally and figuratively) reason the Penguins penalty kill improved so much after the trade deadline: B+

Brooks Orpik: Orpik also had his struggles this year, even spending some time on left wing, but played exceedingly well down the stretch and throughout the playoffs, not looking out of place against the other team's top lines, and being one of the first 2 defensemen out on the penalty kill. He had a shift for the ages against Detroit in the Stanley Cup Final when he laid out for Red Wings in 15 seconds on 1 shift. As an unrestricted free agent, there is a legitimate question whether he'll be back, more because of the money some other team may throw at him if he's not signed by July 1, rather than any differences he has with Penguins coach Michel Therrein: B+

Rob Scuderi: The Penguins know what they get with Scuderi, and it's exactly what they need -- solid defensive play. His game grew several steps this year, and he finished plus 5 in the playoffs. As long as he stays within himself, he's a good complement to the Penguins group of skilled defensemen: B

Kris Letang: You didn't hear Letang's name much this year, which I believe is a good thing. Playing on the 3rd pairing, he didn't get to show off his offensive skill and finished with only 17 points. However, his defensive game -- which was the bad rap on him coming into the league -- exceed expectations. He also was pretty physical for a 5'11" player on the blueline, using low leverage to his advantage on opposing forwards. Letang's role is only likely to grow in future years: B

Gary Roberts: Roberts didn't play very much this season, missing a lot of time with a broken leg and, of course, high ankle sprain, but showed his value when he did get in the lineup. He scored the Penguins first playoff goal about 1 minute into the team's first game with Ottawa, setting a tone for how the Penguins would roll through the Eastern Conference. At 42, the conditioning nut also laid as big a beating on any opponent I've ever seen when he just pummeled Flyer forward Ben Eager -- about 1/2 Roberts' age -- in game in Philadelphia after Eager was running around a little too much. Eager was cut from the Flyers days later. There isn't a more intense player in the league, and he adds much to the Penguin locker room, but at his age and with the Penguins' salary cap issues, it's a fair question as to whether he'll return: B

Ryan Whitney: By all accounts, Whitney underachieved this season. After finishing 6th in league scoring among defensemen last season, he put up only 40 points this season. Whitney may be the favorite whipping boy among Penguin fans, but after finishing plus 8 (tied for best on the team, and best among all Penguin defensemen) in the playoffs and stepping up with 50 minutes of solid play in Gonchar's absence in the triple OT game 5 against Detroit, it's tough to be too hard on him. More will be expected of him next season, however. He needs to be more consistent and contribute more offensively. As Gonchar continues to get older, the Penguins would ideally like him to step up and show he can be their number one man on the blueline: B-

Jarkko Ruutu: Ruutu really improved his play down the stretch and was a visible player in the first few rounds of the playoffs. Balancing against that, however, was the fact that he was a non-factor for the first half of the year and didn't play much (or well) against Detroit in the Finals. The fans in Pittsburgh love him for his abrasive, in-your-face game, but he needs to bring that play more consistently. He's an unrestricted free agent and, although it would be nice to have him stick around, it's probably no more than a 50/50 bet that he will. 11-12 teams made him offers the last time he was a free agent and with Penguins' salary cap issues, they could be outbid for him by any number of other squads that would love to add him to their team: B-

Adam Hall: Hall was a depth player for most of this year, but brings a good 4th line game when he is in the lineup. He also added a few big goals in the playoffs, and is one of the Penguins better (and right-handed) face-off men -- even if that isn't saying much. Although not his fortay, it would be nice if he were able to generate a little more offense: B-

Pascal Dupuis: Dupuis, viewed by most as the throw-in to the Marion Hossa trade, was a decent player for the Penguins when he first arrived. He has the speed and defensive awareness to be a nice complement to a scoring line, and to be a good penalty-killer. The scoring touch that he did have abandoned him when the checking got tighter in the playoffs, however, and he mostly was a non-factor playing with Crosby and Hossa then: B-

Tyler Kennedy: Kennedy started off the season well, but struggled in the 2nd half and didn't have a goal in the post-season, despite getting regular time on the 3rd line. He brings good speed and tenacity, but needs to add consistency to his game: B-

Georges Laraque: Laraque is a great team player and is valuable in the regular season as the league's top enforcer. He has some skill and ability on the forecheck and when the team is cycling offensively, but when the speed and stakes rose throughout the playoffs, Laraque ended up being the odd-man out among forwards in the Stanley Cup Final. He's an unrestricted free agent, but the right price, should be back: B-

Darryl Sydor: Sydor was a steadying influence most of the time he was in the lineup, but was the odd man out in the playoffs. At $2.5 million a season, it's questionable as to whether the Penguins will bring him back: C

Jeff Taffe: Taffe was a scorer in the minor leagues, but has never been able to show that touch consistently at the NHL level. To compensate, he's developed a grittiness to his game, and didn't look entirely out of place as checker when he was in the lineup this year: C

Dany Sabourin: Sabourin played well enough at times this year to win 10 games, but struggled in others and demonstrated he clearly wasn't ready to take over the #1 role when Fleury went down, leading to Conklin's recall and record-setting run. He has talent, but needs to show it more consistently: C

Mark Eaton: After tearing his ACL 30 or so games into the season, many have forgotten about Eaton. He's a defensive defenseman and solid shot blocker who adds to the lineup when he's able to play. The problem is that he's injury prone. He should be fine for next year, but is an unrestricted free agent. He may be a good insurance policy, however, in the event that the Penguins are unable to sign Brooks Orpik: C

Kris Beech: In his 2nd go-round with the Penguins, Beech didn't stand out. He was brought in because of the rash of injuries that hit the team mid-season and pitched in 11 points in about 25 games, but is nothing more than a depth player and with the Penguins depth at the center ice position, may not be back: C