Pensburgh wrapup: Pascal Dupuis

"I'm a great believer in luck and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it." ~ Thomas Jefferson

Season Stats: 81gp, 18g, 20a, 38p, +5, 16 PIMs

Playoff Stats: 13gp, 2g, 6a, 8p, +5, 4 PIMs

Month-by-month Pensburgh grades:
October: C+
November: A-
December: B-
January: B+
February: C+
March: A-
Playoffs: B+

Contract Status: Signed through 2010-2011 ($1.4 million salary cap hit). Becomes an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2011.

Interesting Stat: Dupuis was third overall on the Penguins during the regular season with a 9.9% even strength shooting percentage. He was second on the team in both ES snap and slap shot shooting percentage.

The Good: Dupuis had a very productive offensive year. His 1.14 even strength goals per 60 min was 2nd on the team, and his 2.35 ES points per 60 min was third right behind Crosby and Malkin. His total GVT was also 8.7 on the season, which was first among all Penguins wingers. And what he gained in offense was not sacrificed through defense: Dupuis' 2.4 ES blocked shots per 60 min was tied for first among all Penguins forwards. Though his 38 total points don't seem like a lot, when one considers that he sees no time on the power play, isn't a permanent top-six forward, and had the 6th lowest ES time on ice per 60 minutes, his offensive production is pretty impressive.

The not-so-good: Dupuis' Corsi numbers were pretty low, which indicate that whenever he was on the ice, he was usually hemmed inside his own zone. His -8.1 relative Corsi was 4th worst on the Penguins this year. He was also in the negative in terms of adjusted +/- (-0.07), and it's even less flattering when you factor in his below average competition.

Final Verdict: Dupuis had a very good year this year. In fact, it was his most productive since his 02-03 season with the Wild. While you'd like to see him playing in the other team's zone more than he did this past season, it's tough to complain about a guy who is third on the team in ES points/60 and gets paid $1.4 million dollars. If Dupuis gets more top-six forward time next year, he might very well hit the 50 point mark, especially if he continues to improve as he did this season. He's not glamorous or flashy, but he's a very talented and energetic forward who does a lot of little things right.

Question and Discussion: Is Dupuis a top-six forward? Should the Pens work to re-sign him at the end of next year?