Coach Mike Sullivan and Penguins players held their end-of-season media chats yesterday and the discussions were far-ranging and at the same time very focused after a second straight season ended without a playoff appearance.
The Penguins goaltending situation was a hot topic. Sullivan said he has confidence in both Alex Nedeljkovic and Tristan Jarry, and Nedeljkovic starting the final thirteen games of the season was more about him being the “hot hand” than anything else.
Sullivan identified a number of problem areas for the Pens this season, particularly mentioning the inept power play, which finished next-to-last in the NHL in scoring percentage, and overtime games, in which the Penguins were 4-9.
He says the Penguins never quite grasped the strategic element of the NHL’s three-on-three power play format, leading to tired defenders and odd-man breaks.
The Penguins also tied Montreal for last in short-handed goals surrendered, with 12, while scoring only 5, and they were 4-9 in overtime games. Plus they finished near the bottom of the league in the third period with leads surrendered.
Pens captain Sidney Crosby said he anticipates contract extension talks to begin this summer as he enters the final year of his current twelve-year deal. He will be going for a record-breaking 20th straight season of averaging a point per game. Crosby scored 94 points this season and shares the record with Wayne Gretzky.
Sullivan is never at a loss for words describing Crosby.
Like Crosby, Kris Letang played all 82 games but he revealed that he was injured much of the time. Letang indicated he may be having some offseason surgery.
While Sullivan said questions about Letang would be better asked of team president Kyle Dubas, he admires the veteran’s toughness and desire.
The Pens yesterday sent forwards Radim Zohorna and Valtteri Puustinen and defenseman Jack St. Ivany to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to compete in the upcoming AHL Calder Cup playoffs.
Jeff Carter officially announced his retirement after 19 seasons in the NHL.
Kyle Dubas will hold his end-of-season media session at 10 o’clock this morning.
