Thoughts on Pittsburgh squads
It’s been a while since I gave my thoughts on the big boys to the north. With the Pittsburgh Steelers gearing up for their 16th appearance in the AFC title game, the Penguins knee deep in their Stanley Cup title defense and the Pirates beginning their offseason maneuvering, I thought I would briefly shift my focus from the local high school and college scenes to the pro landscape.
— It seems as though the Steelers can do no wrong. With their ninth-straight victory advancing them to the final stop before Super Bowl LI in Houston, seemingly every player from the offense to the defense has been basking in the glory of an appreciative fan base and local media. Even the offensive line and defensive secondary, two units that have been the targets of intense scrutiny for years, are being described with words like “young,” “exciting,” and “improving.”
However, there may be one group that isn’t getting enough love. The Pittsburgh special teams, led by kicker Chris Boswell, have not only limited back-breakingly long returns by the opposition, but have become rock solid in terms of making positive decisions and limiting mistakes when returning punts and kicks.
Boswell has been the rock star of the group, twice connecting on six field goals in a game to drive the Steelers to victory, including this past weekend’s 18-16 win over Kansas City. Even if the team’s offense would again have trouble finding the end zone this postseason, the coaching staff has to feel more confident in a combination of the second-year pro and that rising defense to carry Pittsburgh to victory.
— Despite a recent three-game losing streak, the Pittsburgh Penguins continue to fly, or swim, near the top of the NHL’s Eastern Division with 59 points coming from a 27-11-5 record. However, unlike last year’s late-season run to the Cup, the Pens have looked like the high octane offense most expected them to be following last year’s wheelings and dealings.
All of Pittsburgh’s big three scoring options are currently ranked in the top 11 of the NHL in terms of total points, albeit in somewhat surprising fashion.
Sidney Crosby is leading the team, and the league, with 27 goals after struggling to find the back of the net over the stretch run of the 2015-16 campaign. His 50 total points have him in second place behind only Edmonton second-year sensation Connor McDavid (51).
Meanwhile Evgeni Malkin and, even more surprisingly, Phil Kessel, rank ahead of Crosby in terms of assists with 28 and 29 helpers, respectively. Kessel has also found the net 13 times, while Malkin’s 21 goals have him at 49 points, right behind Crosby.
The total body of work put forth by the Penguins offense has helped to mask the struggles of goaltenders Marc-Andre Fleury and Matt Murray. The team decided to keep both keepers after an offseason chocked full of discussion as who would be the man in net going forward.
Murray currently ranks 23rd in the league with a 2.53 goals against average and a .916 save percentage. After a solid start, Fleury’s numbers have dipped to .904 in terms of save percentage and risen to 3.23 in goals against average.
— Believe it or not, the Pirates have been spending money and have stayed at the top of the rumor mill for a potential top of the rotation pitcher. Could the management finally be listening to the fan base?
My own optimism began with the resigning of last year’s deadline darling Ivan Nova, who posted a 5-2 record with a 3.06 ERA in 11 starts with the Buccos. Nova not only resigned with the club, but did so with a very team-friendly three-year, 26 million-dollar deal at age 29.
With Nova firmly in place as a top-three starter along with Gerritt Cole and Jameson Taillon, the Pirates have stayed in the race for White Sox lefty Jose Quintana. While Quintana’s numbers are not gaudy by any stretch, he has posted a .500 record and a 3.35 ERA since 2013. He has also ranked 12th in the major leagues in innings pitched over that same stretch.
However, the Sox want the typical boatload of prospects to make the deal. After years of miserly holding onto young, promising talent, could this finally be the year that the club parts ways with some of its prized farm system for a proven contributor to the big club?
Outside of Josh Bell, I see anyone, including former wunderkind Tyler Glasnow, as expendable to not only improve your pro roster, but prove to the rest of the league, and the paying customer, that this is no longer a money-making entity, but a franchise hungry to win.