Chris Kunitz out 4-6 weeks, Penguins call up Luca Caputi
by FrankD on Jan 5, 2010 10:39 AM EST
in 2009-10 injuries
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PrintChris Kunitz is expected out of the Penguins lineup for the next 4-6 weeks after suffering an abdominal tear.
According to GM Ray Shero, this is something that has lingered for a while:
“Chris has played with this injury for an extended period of time and although it is always difficult to lose a very talented player, we all believe this is the best decision for him. We are confident that he will come back strong after this surgery. In the meantime, we’ll look to our other forwards to step up in his absence.”
Ray Shero
Official Penguins site
In an effort to fill the roster, the Penguins have recalled prospect Luca Caputi. More on him after the jump.
Luca Caputi is the sort of name you've seen thrown around the Penguins roster for the past two seasons. Whenever everyone went down on the NHL roster it was often paired with a "Call up Caputi" rally. Well, last season it was also Janne Pesonen. This season, Eric Tangradi.
But here we are with a new guy to welcome aboard, and one who may add a little energy to the wings. From what I've read and what little I've seen, Caputi is the sort of forward who likes to chip away in front of the goal and score some dirty goals. He is currently ranked third on the WBS Pens with 26 points, but his 13 goals lead the team. And hey, he's also received a ton of times on the WBS PP that has been pretty effective as of late, according to the official release on the Penguins' site:
He has been able to produce when the Baby Penguins head to the power play, as he leads the squad with seven man-advantage scores, and if he could supply the big team with help in this area.
I guess this is where the speculation begins. Where do you put Caputi? Who do you pair him with?
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According to the Penguins website, Kunitz has been playing with an injury for an extended period of time. This makes me respect him even more — not because I think it’s good or manly to play injured, but because he has been performing well despite an injury. He has been trying hard — you can see the effort — and he has been outperforming some of the other wingers.
same injury that hit Emery in Philly. Like I said then, I can’t even begin to imagine what that must feel like.
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Damn!!!
damn again…
I was actually beginning to like him… he was not only playing with energy (like he always does), but also racking up some much-needed-points-from-a-winger. He’s actually third behind Sid and Geno in points per minute played.
Tough injury to take… this is not the way I wanted the WBS call-up to happen!
You have to see it for yourself...
In the interview he said he hopes the call-up is permanent — and of course we know he’s hoping that is the case, but it was a pretty bold statement considering that he is replacing an injured player, so one of our current NHL forwards would have to leave / be indefinitely scratched for that to happen. I’m hoping that his drive helps the team.
Not to mention he hasn’t really been tested much on the NHL level. I think it was more of a response to, “What do you hope comes of this call up?” I don’t think it should be taken too literally, although it definitely has that vibe. He’s probably just beyond excited he’s getting a shot right now, but I also think he knows where he fits.
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Right, I don’t hold it against him — of course that’s what he’s hoping, that’s what everyone in the AHL hopes will happen — I just thought it was interesting that he said it out loud. That’s the part that struck me as bold.
It’s nice to see someone get a chance to achieve his dream. But, he has to do an amazing job to make the call-up truly permanent.
I don’t think it was a bold statement. Thats what every single AHL player thinks when he’s called up. I heard Engelland say the same exact thing on a radio interview. Why would people keep playing in the AHL if they werent hoping for a permanent call up. Luca hopes he can perform well enough to stay with the Pens, who wouldnt say that.
by genomachine-O on Jan 5, 2010 11:27 AM EST up reply actions
I’m not knocking the guy for his confidence and I don’t think Cari is either. Definitely good to see he’s fired up about it. Maybe a hyped-up guy can do some good in the locker room too. Unless your name is Don Cherry you don’t plan on spending your entire career in the minors (minus one game of course). But Caputi is likely very aware of the hype surrounding his name, for good or bad, and really just needs to go out there and do what he does, which is mix it up in front of the net and eat up some rebounds.
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Guerin-Crosby-Caputi
I feel like it’s too bold, but I also think it’s possible. After all, Bylsma coached him last year and probably has as good a notion as any as to how to play to his strengths.
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I put him with Geno. It plays a style similar to what Malone used to. Not comparing skill sets more locations. Malone was always down low and in front of the net, and he put up a lot of points playing with Geno. Caputi seems to play a similar game. Theyve got to find someone to play with Geno so I’d put him there. I wouldn’t expect a dramatic imput right away with Luca like goal on first shot, first shift again.To go from Skating on a line with a WBS center to having Malkin as your center will be a big adjustment. I just hope fans dont set their expectations too high for Luca. Just In time for me to make my
PUTI-TANG! sign.
Crosby and Guerin play well together thats why I think you put Luca with Geno. Dupuis and Fedotenko have been awful lately. You’ve got to spread the wealth when you’ve you two nickles in a bag of pennies for wingers.
by genomachine-O on Jan 5, 2010 11:15 AM EST up reply actions
I dont know how you justify sitting Dupuis and putting Talbot on the 2nd line. Dupuis hasn’t been great lately, but Talbot has just been awful. Im not talking about point production either. It doesnt matter to me if Talbot doesnt score any goals. He doesnt seem to be bringing the same energy to the line up as he did before the surgery. His board play and fore checking have been very underwhelming too.
by genomachine-O on Jan 5, 2010 3:25 PM EST up reply actions
Need grit on every line.
Rupp – Crosby – Guerin
Caputi – Malkin – Fedotenko
Cooke – Staal – Kennedy
Dupuis/Talbot – Adams – Godard
Not that Crosby needs help with his grit, but he gets mobbed so much, having Rupper there is not a bad idea. I think with a good netfront guy, you’ll see Feds take off too.
Rupp on line one. I like it. I also admire keeping L3 intact because that to me remains one of the consistent things about this team. As much as I’d love to see Staal take a jump up a line or two, I don’t think you can risk losing him on L3.
If anything I think line 4 is entirely interchangeable. So to me it just reads Dupuis/Talbot/Adams/Godard. The order doesn’t matter much. They’re just bodies that can mix it up a bit and preferably not take penalties (cough Godard cough).
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I agree with your format for L4. Except to me, you don’t sit Adams. I don’t know why, but I just wouldn’t. His constant energy and work is leadership incarnate. The guys see him work, and they work too. At least that’s my take watching him play.
Nah I don’t hold anything against Adams. I know a lot of people are disappointed in his play lately but I really can’t see why. He didn’t come to this team as a goal scorer and if the nets not empty he likely won’t tally one. But he does everything right on the PK and still shows a constant hustle. Plus, as of Godard’s play lately, he’s taking less penalties and contributes more. So I say you sit Godard and let Adams go out there. If you need someone to mix it up and drop the mitts, I think Adams is a punching bag of sorts, but at least he’s a more versatile forward because he’s not strictly an enforcer.
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Why not just dress Godard and have him mix things up? The Pens have been flat lately and if Godard goes out and has a good fight – it may motivate the boys. I’m in favor of scratching Dupuis for a game or two. Let’s try to change things up a little.
Even if they dress Godard they’d play him for 3-4 minutes.
And lately he’s been taking minor penalties. No sense of him putting the Pens at a disadvantage that way.
The Pens have been flat lately and if Godard goes out and has a good fight – it may motivate the boys.
The spirit of this is fine, but in reality who from Atlanta will fight him? Boulton fights but isn’t a true heavyweight. Nowadays there are only a handful of true heavyweights like Brashear, Laraque, Cote, etc that are around for Godard to fight. It takes two to tango and Godard doesn’t have many partners.
You come at the king, you best not miss.
Forgot to mention, if anyone's worried about Malkin, jump off a bridge.
The guy will bust out and up his game. No worries there. If there’s anything we’ve learned about Malkin, it’s that he has slumps, and he absolutely hates them. When they break, he tears it up.
Truth.
Absolutely. Malkin is the least of anyone’s worries.
I’m glad they’re putting Caputi with Geno, at least for the start of the game. It’s someone new and someone who has a little skill in his hands. Caputi’s not going to be Kevin Stevens or Rick Tocchet right off the bat, but he may give a little flare to Malkin’s game.
You come at the king, you best not miss.
Kunitz is one of those guys you never really appreciate until he’s not in the lineup. His ability to make space for Sid is invaluable.
I agree, it’s a significant loss.
Kunitz was also doing some great dirty work on the PP, where he’d gotten assists on most of the goals scored there lately.
Kunitz aint a star and can be frustrating, but he does a ton of little things very well that make him an incredibly valuable member of the team.
You come at the king, you best not miss.
I agree I was very surprised to find out he was going to be out for so long. Other that the last two games I think hes played well lately. Hes just not a natural goal scorer. Ive accepted that he does just about every thing else well. Kunitz has grown own me, i like him. And If his salary was more like 2.5 million I would love him.
by genomachine-O on Jan 5, 2010 3:15 PM EST up reply actions
I have to admit I was impatient with him at the beginning of the season, but now I definitely share the opinion that he’s doing a great job. So as I wrote above… a tough injury to take.
And since my favorite number is 14 I’m seriously considering to go a bit off the mainstream and buy a Kunitz jersey:)
You have to see it for yourself...
won’t the Pens put Kunitz on LTIR? it seems he’ll most likely miss all the games before the Olympic break and that’s more than 10 games and 24 days…
But would that really help the Penguins’ cap situation?
You have to see it for yourself...
I don’t think it would really help anything to put him on LTIR. They could still fit Caputi under the cap without doing that. Not sure how much it would affect the overall cap situation.
by genomachine-O on Jan 6, 2010 8:53 AM EST up reply actions
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