Pensburgh wrapup: Alex Goligoski
by Hooks Orpik on Jun 8, 2010 6:00 AM EDT
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Print"I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion." --Alexander the Great
Season stats: 69 gp, 8g, 29a, 37p, +7, 22 PIMs
Playoff stats: 13 gp, 2g, 7a, 9p, +4, 2 PIMs
Month-by-month Pensburgh grades:
October: A+
November: I
December: C-
January: B-
February: C-
March: C
Playoff: B-
Contract status: Signed through 2011-12 season ($1,833,000 cap hit)...Restricted free agent summer 2012
Interesting stat: Goligoski ranked tied for 18th amongst all defensemen in the NHL with six even strength goals. However he only scored two power play goals.
The Good: It's sometimes hard to remember, but 2009-10 was Goligoski's first full season in the NHL. He's been a Sergei Gonchar replacement before, but Goligoski was seldom used in the 2009 post-season (he appeared as a 7th defensemen in two games), so he was basically brand new to Stanley Cup playoffs, and he played 20+ minutes in the post-season.
Goligoski also scored out positively against his teammates when it came to Corsi Ratings and Quality of Competition figures.
Creating offense is Goose's bread and butter though. League wide he tied for 31st amongst points amongst defense, and he probably should, being as he played 3:46 on the power play per game, 18th most among defenders. Much of that time is with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, so being just tied for 27th among d-men in points and only scoring 2 PPG with all that ice-time.
The Not-so-good: Guess maybe the second half of the last paragraph could go in here.
Aside from maybe not producing as many points as could have been expected, Goligoski suffered some other growing pains, which again has to be expected for a young and green defenseman.
There's also the issue of that production. Through his first 15 games Goligoski scored six goals (a ridiculous 33 goal pace over a full season). Then a leg injury set in on him in November and Goligoski didn't look like the same comfortable or confident player, he'd go on to score only two goals in his last 54 regular season game.
Goligoski would appear to need to heed Alex the Great's advice and play more like a lion, and not look tenative like he does at times.
Final verdict: As a growing, developing young defensemen Goligoski had some moments where he looked great and some where he drove Penguin fans mad. Giving general discourse of running a blog, being in arenas, and sitting in bars, I've noticed Penguin fans give Goligoski a tougher time than perhaps any player not named Fleury (not counting guys like Ponikarovsky and Fedotenko that no one likes).
Question and Discussion: If Sergei Gonchar moves on, what does Goligoski have to do to replace him? Have you put specific goal/assist/point rates that you'd like to see Goose hit in 2010-11?
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I really like Goligoski’s powerplay instincts, and I think he could get 50 points next year if Gonch isn’t back. He could make his current deal look like a bargain. Obviously, he isn’t very physical, and I don’t believe players can just develop a mean streak, but I think he will be better in the D zone next year, as well. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see with him. I was impressed with his play in the playoffs (until the game the Pens got knocked out by the Habs), so I am hoping he builds on that.
50 points could happen if he replaces Gonchar, but I think it’s a big stretch. Only 7 NHL defensemen (including Gonchar) scored 50+ points last season and except for 1, they all had 10+ goals. Underlying the obvious point that Goligoski is going to need to score more goals next season.
This is all hypothetical, but I just feel like the Pens PP will be better next year no matter what. If we can actually get Geno and Sid to be at their best AT THE SAME TIME (for the first time in Pens history), the Pens PP should be around the 21-23% mark. If that happens, whoever the PP QB is will certainly get 50 points.
It may be a long shot, but I think Geno comes out firing pucks from everywhere next year, which will help the PP.
I like when Geno played the point while Gonchar was out last season, but unfortunately when you have Gonch as a reference point it’s hard to match up. Malkin could use a little more work on his puck control at the point, but I love that shot from the point. It reminds me of how Atlanta used to work Kovi into the point. NJ too. I wouldn’t be opposed to seeing him back there again on PP chances.
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My only concern would be Geno having to turn around and defend heading back up the ice. I think he could be a lot better at the point than he has been in the past, but I don’t know if I’d start the season with him there.
Pittsburgh sports all the way
Yeah good point. He was kind of a defensive liability when he played the point. I think I specifically remember against the Flyers Mike Richards just taking off down the ice to score a shorty while Malkin was still locked up on his heels.
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Geno was playing the wrong side back then as well. I’m not of fan of having him on the point, but if hes going to play there I would hope it would be in Gonchars spot. He can one time it if he plays there. Putting him on left point is a complete waste. My first choice would be Gogo and Tanger on the points.
I think Gogo will have a strong season next year. I have faith that he can run the powerplay pretty well if he needs too. Hopefully he went through a majority of his growing pains this past year.
by genomachine-O on Jun 8, 2010 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions
If he replaces Sarge at point on the PP, and if anyone expects this team to be elite, than the first PP team will have to be QB’d by a top PP defenseman. As obvious as that sounds, it means that GoGo would have to be a top 20 or better defenseman in terms of points, not 31st. Either he becomes more confident in his passing a play making ability or far better at sniping the crease from the point. If the title of top PP D doesn’t boost his confidence, we’d better hope for a nasty grinder that can dig out rebounds and bully the puck into the net. Which, I’ve been harping on for a while anyway.
When he was healthy, he did show sparks of being worthy as a top line d-man, but like the post reads, his production and confidence did drop off after the leg injury. Can’t let those things change your approach once you feel good on skates again…
Gogo looks
literally like a kid out there on the ice. wasn’t his prime directive last offseason to get stronger? Either he didn’t take that notion seriously last year, and he will this year, or maybe he just doesn’t have the frame for it? Obviously he has NHL skills but not an NHL body. That’s my main concern.
He’s never going to be a fire hydrant out there like Darius Kasparaitis or something, but I don’t think Goligoski was weaker than any other non-physical defenseman on the team.
Goligoski will have 6+ more weeks of summer to rest/train than he did last year, plus no distractions for the Cup or getting a contract. Based on that, he’s seemingly set up perfectly to have a good summer this year. He won’t be the world’s strongest man, but hopefully he can continue to improve. I see no reason why he shouldn’t.
GoGo Wrapup
GoGo has a long way to go to becomming an elite D; he needs to bulk up, for starters. He has great hands and speed but has alot of work to get anywhere at that level. If Gonch leaves for greener pastures it will up to Letang and GoGo to take over the PP. He is young, has potential but how many times have these players not lived up to what we and the pundiits thought they would be??? That they should be? I am hoping this long off-season for the Pens will bring improvement and progress for next season—for all the players and coaches, too. Go Pens!
by PensFanInDenver on Jun 8, 2010 11:15 AM EDT reply actions
but how many times have these players not lived up to what we and the pundiits thought they would be???
Letang is 23 and Gogo is 24. I think it’s early to say they haven’t lived up to expectations.
Pittsburgh sports all the way
D-Men
-Letang JUST turned 23, Gogo will be 25 by the next season.
How does Goligoski get a better playoff grade than Letang? As much as I like reading your stuff, Hooks, that is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve heard. Letang was BY FAR our best defenseman in the playoffs and “Gogo” was BY FAR our worst.
I truly believe Goligoski, when on the ice, makes the team worse. I pray everyday that Shero will trade him this off-season while he still has some trade value.
Letang was BY FAR our best defenseman in the playoffs and "Gogo" was BY FAR our worst.
I strongly disagree, and even a cursory review of the simple stats show otherwise:
- Bulleted list Goligoski finished with 9 points in 13 games compared to Letang’s 7 in 13 games.
- Bulleted list Goligoski got two more points overall while playing 3 less minutes per game than Letang.
- Bulleted list Goligoski finished with a +4 rating while Letang finished with a -5.
- Bulleted list Goligoski finished with 2 PIM while Letang had 6 PIM.
Pittsburgh sports all the way
This is a case where the stats don’t tell the whole story. Goligoski always looks better on paper than he does on the ice. Letang did have a few blunders in the Montreal games, but overall, he was a force in the playoffs. Don’t his 5 goals count for anything? No matter how badly Goligoski plays, he ends up with a point and a plus because a pass ended up in the net. The plus/minus is the most inaccurate stat in hockey. For example, Letang made the diving attempt to save the Moen goal as Gonchar watched it go by, but Letang ended up with a minus. There is a reason Goligoski was in the AHL for 2 seasons while Letang was in there for 3 weeks. Goligoski is 2 years older than Letang. No doubt Goligoski is a good player with good offensive skills, but I don’t think he is going to get much better than he is now. Better hockey minds than ours made Letang part of the core going forward.
I agree with a lot of what you said, except for the part about Goligoski not getting much better. I don’t think we’ve seen enough of him to determine that yet. In particular, we have yet to see what he does from season to season in terms of changes to his game (his first pseudo-year in the NHL in place of Gonchar doesn’t really count). If he’s smart, he’ll figure out specific things to work on, and get better each year. He may never be a Nicklas Lidstrom, but I suspect he’ll improve if he thinks about it and works at it.
Go, Shero, Go!!! And also Brian Burke.
First off, I think Letang is a good player and I’m happy we signed him. He has enormous potential, and I wrote about why I think he’ll be great in the future.
But as far as the playoffs are concerned this year, Gogo had a stronger showing. Stats don’t tell the whole story (just most of it), yet they point overwhelmingly in Goligoski’s favor, which is what Hooks was indicating with the playoff grade. On top of the stats I mentioned above, Gogo was second on the team in relative Corsi (Letang was 8th). Gogo was 6th in adjusted /- (1.52) while Letang was 20th (-2.16). Goligoski was also better in points per 60 min (0.84) than Letang (0.53).
I won’t belabor the point, but the positive in the end is that Penguins have two young defensemen who had good showings in the playoffs this year. And they both, IMO, have bright futures.
Pittsburgh sports all the way
Any stats on quality of competition?
The Pens will be back.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Jun 9, 2010 6:52 PM EDT up reply actions
The QCOMP rating has Gogo at +1.52 and Letang at -2.16, but the individual QCOMP stat pegs Letang at 0.41and Gogo at 0.266.
I’m not sure what the difference is but I’ll let you know when Gabe responds to my email.
Pittsburgh sports all the way
Goligoski wasn't great in the playoffs
but did you see how many goals were scored against the Pens when Letang and Eaton were on the ice?
www.californiagoldenblogs.com
I hope him moving to the point
Will help him stop bungling pucks off his stick on the power play. It seemed like whenever we had consistent pressure and puck control on a power play, someone would pass to GoGo, he would fumble the puck, and the opponent could clear the puck. He also fumbled the puck a few times in the defensive zone. I don’t understand how an offensive defenseman could do this?
not everyone is as good at Gonchar at settling down a bouncing puck or a bad pass, in fact there might not be anyone as good as Gonch at that. its not an easything to do. Thats another thing I think will come with experience, staying calm at the point. Its not an easy thing to do when you have forwards rushing at you, knowing your the last guy between the puck and the goal. Its going to take some time if Gogo is going to take over the PP next year. Going from Gonchar to anyone is going to be a difficult transition. I think Pens fans in general are too hard on Goligoski. Give the dude a break, hes still young.
by genomachine-O on Jun 8, 2010 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Him Moving To The Point--
Exactly, that is the stuf GoGo needs help with! There were so many times I cringed when he had the ouck on his stick duirng the PP and in general….those are the things he really needs to work on. Like I stated before, he has a very long way to go but he can achieve it, hopefully, with time. Perhaps not but we will not know until the next season begins.
by PensFanInDenver on Jun 8, 2010 11:34 AM EDT reply actions
I’m sorry—I should have said the “players we all hoped and thought would achieve higher then expected, and did not”—like John Michael Liles, case in point. I forget Letang and GoGo are 23 and 24, respectively. I did not mean to imply they haven’t lived up to expectations.
by PensFanInDenver on Jun 8, 2010 11:59 AM EDT reply actions
No problem Pens Fan In Denver. Also, I’m not sure if you’re new, but if so, it helps if you hit the reply button when replying to someone’s comment. It makes it easier to keep track of responses.
Pittsburgh sports all the way
Hey, yes, I am new, only posting a couple of times. Thanks for the info!
I do think we are hard on GoGo, I know I am. I guess I just expect alot.
by PensFanInDenver on Jun 8, 2010 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Welcome aboard PensFanInDenver!
One thing I found really helpful when I first started was the SBN Welcome Guide. It’s got a ton of great information for new users. And if you ever have any questions don’t hesitate to ask. I’m sure Hooks, Frank, Justin, myself or anyone else would be glad to help.
Pittsburgh sports all the way
I have not read much of it, just a little; I have read all the Wrap Up sessions so far, I like the ratings thing, kind of like being in school and getting graded! I plan on checking it out in better detail.
Hey, do you think the Hawks will wrap it up tomorrow in Philly?
Or do you think Philly has the edge, force a game 7? I believe the Hawks will win it all, either way. Plus, I picked the Hawks to win the Cup back in October. (My heart wanted the Pens; my mind told me different)
by PensFanInDenver on Jun 8, 2010 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions
I think that Philly will win tomorrow but that Chicago will edge them out in a close game 7 for the Cup. Philly has done a nice job rebounding throughout the playoffs and I’d be surprised if they drop another dud tomorrow night.
Either way, I’ll be upset that hockey is over though…
Pittsburgh sports all the way
I’d like to see it end tomorrow, if only because the odds of me watching G7 seem pretty stacked against me. So here’s to hoping the Cup goes out tomorrow night to Chicago, if only because of my inability to watch Game 7. Heh.
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I didn’t know Gogo was 24, for some reason I thought he was older. I would like to see him be more physical. Funny (not in a ha ha way) but MAF was not the same after his injury either.
GoGo
.
I’m looking forward to GoGo coming out strong like he did last year and carrying that through the season.
On the subject of young defensemen, do we feel like we have the coaching necessary to fully develop these guys? We have a couple of forwards turned coaches in Bylsma and Granato. Will they be able to get Tanger and Goose up to their full potential?
The Pens will be back.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Jun 8, 2010 1:20 PM EDT reply actions
On the subject of young defensemen, do we feel like we have the coaching necessary to fully develop these guys? We have a couple of forwards turned coaches in Bylsma and Granato. Will they be able to get Tanger and Goose up to their full potential?
Interesting point. Mike Yeo was also a forward too.
I would think it doesn’t necessarily matter — after all the Pens had a crappy defense when ex-defenseman Randy Hiller was in charge of of the defense.
The Pens also didn’t have an ex-defensemen in ’09 when Fitzgerald and Savard (both forwards) were around.
I would think that even though Bylsma wasn’t a blueliner he still understands the game enough to teach the proper system to Letang/Goligoski and then it’ll be on them to show their skills/consistency to execute what the team wants to do.
I think Bylsma has a way to go—a long way to being that kind of coach. He is still young. I think the 2009 season he got very lucky with the Pens—plus rode on Sid’s passion and grit and purpose—all the way to winning the Cup. Fair is fair: if you give Bylsma the credit when they played well then you have to give blame when blame is due. I think this past season showed all of Bylsma’s weaknesses and his inability to build on from last year. I think he will grow as a head coach and hopefully get better. I believe you would not coach the same at 49 as you did at 39—one hopes you would have learned alot, progressed the right way, learned from your mistakes, etc.
I do not think it matters which position he played when he was in the NHL has how well he adapts and learns, and adjusts. Same for all the coaches. That being said, I feel MAF needs a new coach. A new direction, new perspective.
by PensFanInDenver on Jun 8, 2010 5:54 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s tough to assess how much of an impact a coach has on his team since we’re not privy to almost everything that goes on and actually matters. Superficially, Bylsma led the team to a 100+ point season and they came within 1 game of going to the Eastern Conference Final. Sure there were bumps along the way, but I’d be uncomfortable saying this year exposed Bylsma’s weaknesses without more information.
That being said, I feel MAF needs a new coach.
Seconded.
Pittsburgh sports all the way
That being said, I feel MAF needs a new coach.
I don’t agree. As I pointed out in Fleury’s wrapup, he played 200 games in about the last 17 months of hockey (about 26 months real time). I think his focus/consistency wasn’t there because he plum ran out of gas and was too tired mentally.
I’d give it another year, I expect better out of Fleury. If not, then let’s talk changes. But the way the defense hung himout to dry this year, I would chalk it up to the extreme amount of game’s played.
I still feel Fluery could use a new coach. I feel at his age, he should not have so many bad games. But, yes, the D did hang him out to dry! My husband and I would watch the game (NHL Center Ice in Denver), and he would scream “where is the DEFENSE!?!” I would reply, “They don’t have Defense! They have Puck-Moving Guys!”
I think MAF wears his heart on his sleeve and when they rest of team feel apart, when the D never showed up, it affected him badly.
Maybe we should give him another year. I don’t know. It just affects me when they don’t play well as a team.
We don’t know if they were all just out-of-gas. I think everyone—including coaching—was to blame for the series loss to Montreal. But that game 7 really hurt. Ouch.
MAF did play in 200 games, as your excellent Wrap Up stated. I forgot that.
But I have high hopes for next season. Can’t wait!
by PensFanInDenver on Jun 8, 2010 9:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Living in Denver, you should be accustomed to watching teams with no defense.
The Pens will be back.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Jun 8, 2010 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions
o snap
STAAL FOR SELKE. SIDNEY FOR EVERY OTHER ONE OR JUST THE HART AND THE MESSIER LEADERSHIP AWARD. THAT IS ACCEPTABLE.
by katielynn906 on Jun 8, 2010 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Let me use this: In game 7 vs Montreal, Crosby was out on the ice for 11 out of 17 even strength matchups—with Gill/Gorges! I could tell how extremely frustrated Sid was thorughout that series. I feel for most of that series, Crosby was matched-up against those two guys and they completely shut him down. I feel Bylsma needed to do a better job with matchups; I don’t think he did not care. I am sure Sid is the type to speak up. But what happened?!? You know this will bug Sid all summer long.
I just think that Bylsma and Company could and should have done a better job during that series. It still upsets me to think about it. Maybe, Bylsma can recognize his shortcomings from that and improve, too. I think Sid also will be working to imrpove, as he does every summer. I wish every Pens player had his work ethic.
by PensFanInDenver on Jun 8, 2010 9:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Martin was as committed as anyone to getting the match-ups that he wanted. It’s nearly impossible to get away from it on the road, and it’s not a whole lot easier at home if the opposing coach makes it a fundamental part of his game plan. That Bylsma got Crosby out there for six ES shifts without Gill and Gorges is more good than bad.
And getting Crosby away from Gill and Gorges usually has a downside too. The easiest way to do it is to put the 4th line out and then quickly switch centers after the draw. But obviously, Crosby loses out on having average teammates.
Pittsburgh sports all the way
That is interesting; I think GoGo on 2nd unit could work: perhaps he would have something to work for, to strive for, to be better at; then he could move up to the #1 PP unit. Interesting idea.
by PensFanInDenver on Jun 8, 2010 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions
I like this idea a lot if we don’t retain Gonchar. I’d also like to see Letang at the point more than Leopold.
Pittsburgh sports all the way
I do like the idea of Leopold and Letang being on the first unit, but I think it works better with Leopold at the top of the umbrella, as that keeps the one timer options open for both Letang and Malkin on either side. Maybe Geno can work with Letang on where to shoot the puck so it actually hits the back of the net instead of the glass behind it.
Get ready for Power Play A GoGo
The Pens will be back.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Jun 25, 2010 5:58 PM EDT reply actions
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