Chirps from Center Ice

News Du Jour: Pittsburgh re-assigned Defenseman Simon Despres and Forwards Nick Drazenovic and Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond back to Wilkes-Barre Thursday morning.

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Technically, the Penguins will have hit the half way mark after Friday’s nights game vs. Providence, then play two more games Saturday and Sunday. But for the sake of ease on the blogger, I am only counting 18 games for the Second Quarter instead of 19 games.

Someone just has to remind me to add a game when we get to the Third Quarter, or else the numbers are going to be wrong.

Anyway, the Penguins are an aggregate 22-11-1-3 through 37 games played and have 48 points, good for second in the East Division currently, just one point of the Division leader Binghamton Senators.

The Penguins have been throttled by call-ups. Example: Zach Sill is a name that is synonymous with Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins hockey. He hasn’t played a game for Wilkes-Barre since November 23. November 23! The same applies for Jayson Megna, Andrew Ebbett and Simon Despres. They have been with the Pittsburgh Penguins on recall and hand not played a game in this Quarter.

Yet, WIlkes-Barre has survived and thrived and remain in contention for the East Division lead, despite dressing an ever changing lineup filled with call-ups from the ECHL.

Anyway, here’s how it works in case this is the first time you have seen my grades. Just like the First Quarter, anyone who skated gets a grade. Results are based off of second quarter production only. Stats are second quarter only also.

If you’ll be so kind as to jump through, let’s get started…

Forwards

Mike Carman — (18 GP, 2-3-5, +5) — I said last Quarter that Carman will see more ice time in the Second Quarter and he has, appearing in every game. Numbers are fine for a supporting cast player asked to play a bigger role. Grade B

Nick Drazenovic — (14 GP, 5-5-10, +4) — Came back from injury, found his way to the the top line playing with Tom Kostopoulos and Harry Zolnierczyk. 10 points from this Quarter match the name points from last. Grade: B+

Bobby Farnham — (14 GP, 1-2-3, +2) — Farnham has been in the AHL long enough that opponents know his style of under-your-skin play. Missed four games due to injury. Grade: B

Brian Gibbons — (7 GP, 2-2-4, -3) — Lone All-Star selection for the Penguins is currently on recall to Pittsburgh where he flourished on a top line with Sidney Crosby. Is currently injured. While here, he has completely redefined his game. On a curve… Grade: A

Tom Kostopoulos — (18 GP, 6-1-7, +1) — The only constant in life is death, taxes and Tom Kostopoulos on the top line scoring power play goals. The best overall player for the Penguins in the second Quarter. Grade: A+

Tom Kuhnhackl — (17 GP, 3-2-5, even) — Kuhnhackl lost linemate Andrew Ebbett to recall and only marginally adjusted. Some nights you notice him, others you don’t. Grade: B-

Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond — (18 GP, 1-0-1, -2) — His consistent play earned him a call-up to Pittsburgh Wednesday. Numbers compared to PIMs makes you think he’s a goon, but Leblond plays the game the right way. Grade: B+

Denver Manderson — (16 GP, 0-2-2, -2) — I am trying to get a handle on these numbers. You’d expect more from a player with Manderson’s skill set, yet it just isn’t there. May get a chance this weekend though centering the top line. Grade: C

Carter Rowney — (6 GP, 0-0-0, -1) — No impact offensively. Normally the 12th forward anyway, so whatever he does provide will be a bonus. Grade: C

Cody Sylvester — (14 GP, 1-0-1, -4) — Wheeling call-up filled in on a fourth / checking line role. Was sent back to Wheeling last week. Grade: C

Paul Thompson — (18 GP, 3-1-4, -3) — If Thompson feels jilted by not receiving a call-up to Pittsburgh when it seems like everyone else is, he’s totally justified in that opinion. The numbers, however, warrant the decision for the Pittsburgh brass to keep him in Wilkes-Barre. Grade: C

Zack Torquato — (10 GP, 2-3-5, +2) — Really has been the best of the ECHL call-ups just on production alone. Hey, every little bit helps. Grade: B+

Dominik Uher — (11 GP, 1-1-2, -1) — You’ll want to see more from Uher now that he is back from his injury and the increased role he’ll be given with all the call-ups. Two points in the third quarter simply will not be good enough. Grade: C

Anton Zlobin — (16 GP, 4-3-7, +7) — Breakout Quarter for Zlobin. I like the way the kid plays. His +7 leads the Penguins in the category for this period. Grade: A

Harry Zolnierczyk — (12 GP, 4-6-10, -2) — Drazenovic and Zolnierczyk’s 10 points each lead the team in the second quarter which has basically defined the Penguins as a one line team. Despite this, Wilkes-Barre keeps winning and Zolnierczyk keeps putting up points, nearly point-a-game. Grade: A

Defensemen

Nick D’Agostino — (13 GP, 1-4-5, +1) — These numbers aren’t bad for a guy in in first year of professional hockey. Steady improvement from the first quarter to the second. Grade: B

Brian Dumoulin — (11 GP, 2-2-4, -1) — Dumoulin earned himself a call-up to Pittsburgh in this Quarter. It’s benefitted. He’s lead the defense, which has some nights won games for Wilkes-Barre. Grade: B+

Barry Goers — (7 GP, 1-4-5, +1) — Of all the Wheeling recalls, Goers has been the most productive from an offensive perspective. The problem is the D pool is to deep for him to make a big enough splash to stay here. He was sent back this week. On a curve… Grade: B

Scott Harrington — (18 GP, 0-6-6, -1) — Harrington has played every game for the Pens. Really with all the call-ups and injuries surrounding this organization, a remarkable feat. Grade: A

Reid McNeill — (10 GP, 0-0-0, -1) — An injury limited his ice time this period. Still looking for his first point of the season. Grade: C

Brendan Mikkelson — (18 GP, 1-7-8, +2) — With the call-ups, it’s clear that the Penguins are winning games on defense and goaltending. Mikkelsson has missed just one game this season and has played a huge role in that. Grade: A

Harrison Ruopp — (11 GP, 0-0-0, even) — Hasn’t done anything offensively. Has been in and out of the lineup as the warmup scratch. Some nights you notice him, some nights you don’t. Grade: C

Philip Samuelsson — (16 GP, 2-7-9, +1) — He, too, has earned himself a call-up to Pittsburgh. His 9 points leads defensemen playing this Quarter in offensive production Grade: A

Goaltenders

Jeff Deslauriers — (11 GP, 6-5, 2.12 GAA, 0.915 SV%) — If the season ended tomorrow the MVP of the team would be Deslauriers. His aggregate 16 AHL wins are tops in the league. Grade A

Eric Hartzell — (9 GP, 4-2-1, 1.94 GAA, 0.918 SV%) — This has been Hartzell’s first full Quarter of AHL work in his pro career and the numbers are astronomically good. He and his counterpart Deslauriers are a huge reason why the depleted Penguins are still in contention for a Division Championship halfway through the season. Grade: A+

Incomplete

Players with less than 5 games played go here. No grades. Just blurbs.

Peter Merth — (2 GP, 0-0-0, +1) — The Peter Merth Effect had been sidelined by injuries. He healed, then was sent to Wheeling.

Adam Payerl — (2 GP, 0-1-1, even) — Payerl is out long term with injury. Should be back if everything goes right by the end of the season.

CJ Severyn — (4 GP, 0-0-0, -3) — Things were bleak when the Pens brought in Severyn, who plays for ECHL Orlando but was in camp with the Pens. Then he got hurt, recovered and was released back to the Solar Bears.

Dustin Stevenson — (4 GP, 0-0-0, even) — Really didn’t look out of place here. I’d call him up over Merth and feel good about my chances.

I welcome your thoughts on how I did in grading the students this period.