Pensburgh wrapup: Tyler Kennedy....(wait for it)...Kennedy
by Hooks Orpik on Jun 2, 2010 6:00 AM EDT
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Photo Credit: Pensburgh commenter PensAreYourDaddy
"All of us do not have equal talent, but all of us should have an equal opportunity to develop our talents." - John F. Kennedy....Kennedy
Season stats: 64 gp, 13g, 12a, 25p, +10, 31 PIMs
Playoff stats: 10 gp, 0g, 0a, 0p, -6, 2 PIMs
Month-by-month Pensburgh grades:
October: A
November: I
December: C-
January: B-
February: B-
March: C+
Playoff: F
Contract status: Signed through 2010-11 season ($735,000 cap hit)...Restricted free agent summer 2011
Interesting stat: Before going on the IR for a groin injury that cost him to miss 13 of 14 games in late October/November, Tyler Kennedy had 6 goals in 11 games played and was averaging 3.45 shots/game. When he returned November 30th through the end of the playoffs, Kennedy scored just 7 goals in 63 games played and averaged just 2.5 shots/game.
The Good: As noted above, TK got off to that quick start and showed a lot of production before suffering a groin injury that also flared up in March. Who knows how much that affected his season, but injuries can't really be used as an excuse if a player is able to take the ice.
Kennedy fits well with Jordan Staal and Matt Cooke on the 3rd line, he's good along the boards, chasing loose pucks and playing his position. He's a shooter too, often throwing pucks at the net from any type of angle/distance when he gets the chance. His Corsi ON was only bested by Chris Kunitz and Sidney Crosby among regular Penguin forwards.
The Not-so-good: As stated in the JFK quote above, the opportunities haven't been too numerous for Tyler, who played 12:34 a game this season. Of that, only 0:17 a game was on the power-play and almost ALL of that was just bits and pieces of tail-end work. TK also played short-handed a whopping 0:17 seconds all season. The guy doesn't get any special teams play, and it's tough to put up numbers playing about 12 minutes a night at regular strength.
When a player doesn't get much time, it's usually because there are better options. As spelled out, Kennedy didn't produce much after his early season injury, which isn't exactly a good reason for a coach to play a player.
Final verdict: Kennedy had a terrible post-season. Whether or not that can be attributed to injuries is one story, but the simple fact is 0 points in 10 games with a -6 means he produced nothing and saw too many pucks go in the net while out there. Disappointing season for a player.
If you throw out the 240 NHL reg. season + playoff games Kennedy has, what does he bring to the table that perhaps a prospect like Dustin Jeffrey, Nick Johnson, Mark Letestu or Eric Tangradi could to a 3rd/4th line at the NHL? TK's spot in Pittsburgh is safe for next season, but he's definitely playing for his Penguin career next season.
Question and Discussion: Can Tyler Kennedy stay healthy and be a productive long-term member of the team? Or does his injury history, lack of size and lack of real production probably see him leave the team sooner than later? Would you let TK get a chance with some PP time to see if he could score more, or has the team about played him correctly?
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After last season TK was looked as as a solution to our dearth of wingers in the top-6, figuring he could man Malkin’s wing. Now we are saying he is playing to stay with the organization? Injuries or an off year clearly factored in, as he was developing nicely as a 3rd ilner with occasional top-6 ability. With his age and willingness to shoot from anywhere, he will be a Penguins for the next several of years.
Every year I think its the season where TK will breakout and score 20+ goals. I dont think its that unreasonable. Hes got good speed, a great shot, and a great centerman.
I’m not so sure that he’ll be a Penguin for the next several years. I think he better come out real strong next year, and hopefully rebound after a terrible year. The Pens have plenty of guys either on the current roster or in the minors that could fill that role. I think TK needs to prove he can score consistenly next year and stay healthy. When your not part of the core group of guys I dont think anything is guaranteed.
by genomachine-O on Jun 2, 2010 7:43 AM EDT up reply actions
As I touched upon, only 39 players scored 20+ goals at even strength last season, and none of them were third liners, they were all top 6 forwards (Crosby, Ovechkin, Gaborik, etc) that get a ton of minutes.
Kennedy isn’t going to score 20 playing 12 minutes a night, all at even strength. There’s just no way.
15g in 67gms and 13g in 65gms. I dont think 20 goals is unreasonable if hes stays healthy.
by genomachine-O on Jun 2, 2010 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions
Over an 82 game season That’s a pace of 19 and 16 goals though. It’s not like health is the only obstacle keeping him from the 20 plateau.
It’s not unreasonable to think 20 goals is his ceiling, but that’s if he stays healthy (which he hasn’t) and probably still if he gets a little more ice-time.
I used to think that too, but I think I’ve seen enough to know that he’s not top 6 material. He’s become as predictable as they get, sure he’ll pop in 10-15 goals doing what he does, but he’s not going to reach 20 without going to the net. He does the opposite, skates from behind the net to the corner for a turnaround shot. It used to be sneaky, I used to like his willingness to shoot from anywhere, but now I realize that’s the only place he shoots from anymore. I don’t think it creates very good rebounds from the angle he’s shooting, but having said all that….he’s a fine fit for that 3rd line. I don’t think he has the creativity for the PP or the strength for the PK. I was very surprised he played less than 13min/g. But I guess when you’re not counted on for PP or PK duties, that’ll happen.
I really like having Kennedy on the team
but I do think he takes too many shots. It’s pretty predictable, although I will admit that some of the time, just putting the puck on net is the right move.
I can’t remember which player this was said to(over the broadcast), but I’ll never forget when said that he doesn’t want to mess with TK because he’s a little ball of hate.
I thought it was fitting, and then you throw in some of the youtube videos of TK slashing a dude from the bench.. pretty funny stuff.
Anyways, I’d like to see TK continue his role on the team. He’s feisty and plays bigger than he is. He’ll also drop the gloves from time to time and battles well around the boards.
I remember that ball of hate comment. Seems like it was during the Montreal series, referring to Calamari, and I could be wrong (about all of this) but I think it was Bourque who said it. I was dying to see TK pound him into submission.
The Pens will be back.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Jun 2, 2010 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Actual quote:
“Nicklas Bäckström doesn’t want to fight Kennedy. Tyler Kennedy is a little ball of hate and he’d obliterate Bäckström!”
~Pierre McGuire, Feb. 07, 2010
Yes, good call there, though I’m sure there was a similar comment made earlier in the playoffs….or maybe I said it to myself, having Pierre’s comment stuck in my head.
Anyway, now that you have so effectively refreshed my memory, I think it may have been in reference to this little altercation:
.
The Pens will be back.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Jun 4, 2010 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Yup
That’s the very situation. It escalated a bit after that. TK wanted to go with Bäckström real bad. I would’ve liked to see that fight. We’ve all seen TK fight and he turns into a lunatic when his gloves are off. I don’t think he actually feels pain after he throws down.
This was the last shot I got of the incident, after TK took him down.
.
Yes, I would have loved to have seen that fight take place.
The Pens will be back.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Jun 5, 2010 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions
I think this is a bad case between the chicken (Kennedy) and the egg (coaches). With more ice time, Kennedy might start producing at the level we all want him to be at. But he hasn’t performed well in the 12 min he sees, and it’s tough for a coach to bump a guy down when Kennedy hasn’t shown he can break through.
I wonder who will budge…
Pittsburgh sports all the way
Kennedy? Kennedy who?
As much as I think our Third line is the Pens best Energy and Momentum Building line… Kennedy NEEDS to produce or hes gone.
Sure the third line spends a lot of time in the opponents end, they hit, they scrum, they do everything a FOURTH line should do; just a touch better.
For as much as people tout Kennedy as some awesome player, hes done nothing to prove it. Cooke is a much more valuable asset than Kennedy, and unless Kennedy pulls a Malone and goes goal crazy next year, hes out of a job with the Pens.
WBS and Draft Picks are too numerable to count that could come up and do the job TK does. Tangradi, CPZ, Johnson could all step in and EASILY put up the numbers TK does. At.42 ppg and missing 20% of the season… you don’t hold up draft picks and development just to keep him around for ‘potential.’
As much as I like TK, he needs to light it up in the first half, and be packaged for a top 6 winger at the trade deadline. This team has too many Tyler Kennedys.
Trade kennedy for...
so crazy it just might not work…
Trade Gogo to St. Louis for the rights to D’Agostini (RFA) and a 2nd rd pick. Then trade that 2nd and Kennedy to Chicago for Versteeg. Chicago is going to have to unload people for peanuts, so maybe kennedy and our 3rd will be enough…but I wanted to get rid of Gogo too :) D’Agostini will sign for .75 per year at 2 years (at most), and will be given the chance to become a sniper on Crosby or Malkin’s wing. Then sign Eaton and/or Leopold, Lovejoy, and target one or both of Coyotes Dman Michalek (2.5 – 2.75) and Shoane Morrisonn of the Caps (2.0 -2.3). That gives the Pens 5 proven 50+ pt players, with D’Agostini as an X factor, plus Cooke and Dupuis and Talbot. On D you have skill and toughness with Orpik, Michalek, Morrisonn and Letang, and a 3rd pairing of Eaton/Leopold and Lovejoy. Oh, and also sign Eager at 1.1 or 1.2 to split enforcer duties with Rupp and get rid of Godard.
Gogo is young
I doubt the Pens trade him yet – they’ll give him a couple more years to develop. Other than that that, I like it. I’d love to get Versteeg for cheap from chicago
www.californiagoldenblogs.com
if given the option getting of versteeg or sharp, who would people ‘round here like more? i’m just curious.
STAAL FOR SELKE. SIDNEY FOR EVERY OTHER ONE OR JUST THE HART. THAT IS ACCEPTABLE.
I’d like to go with Sharp, but the problem is he’s a centerman. Versteeg could be a top six forward with Crosby or Malkin, but I’d be up for opinions on whether switching Sharp to wing is a bad idea.
Pittsburgh sports all the way
Kennedy Stays
As long as he continues to have the same kind of salary cap hit that he has right now. If he wants more money for the same kind of production he’s been giving then it will be time to part ways.
Gotta remember in the salary cap world you need bang for your buck. If Kennedy is making under $1 million a year and scoring 13-15 goals that is solid value. Shoot, Chris Kunitz gets paid almost 4 times more than Kennedy while scoring almost the same number of goals while playing on the #1 line.
I think we can write off this season for TK. Between his injury and lack of PT, TK didn’t really have a chance to showcase what he’s worth. If his cap hit is manageable after next season, I want him back.
I'm 21 now... I still feel 20 and I still feel way too old.
Just so I never have to answer this again. I'm from Singapore so whenever you see me online, I'm either sleep deprived or just waking up.
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