Penguins Blue Line Doesn’t Line Up

Defense. It’s defined by Merriam-Webster as a means or method of defending or protecting oneself, one’s team, or another. A more sports specific definition states: to take specific defensive action against (an opposing team or player or an offensive play): to attempt to keep (an opponent or play) from scoring in a game or contest.

In the wake of a rather spotty retool this summer, one of my chief concerns entering the upcoming campaign is the Penguins’ defense. Getting to the heart of the matter, can our defense defend?

Like everything else about the present iteration of the black and gold, our blue line corps is built for speed and not heavy lifting. It’s no secret Mike Sullivan likes his rearguards to move the puck. The 19 forwards approach, as Other Rick succinctly puts it. A style predicated on spending as little time in your own end as possible. And I get it. Why loiter in your zone when you can play in the other team’s end?

But just because you don’t want to doesn’t mean you won’t need to.

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