Williams: Pens fans learn to embrace change

For years, the Pittsburgh Penguins have distributed programs free to fans entering the arena. That’s an especially good idea this fall as even diehard fans are going to need help identifying who’s who in the lineup.

A year ago, former General Manager Ray Shero went overboard extending the contracts of forwards Evgeni Malkin, Pascal Dupuis and Chris Kunitz and defenseman Kris Letang. After being ousted by the New York Rangers in the second round of last spring’s playoffs, the Pens have paid the price.

After owners Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle fired Shero and head coach Dan Bylsma, the Pens hired Jim Rutherford as interim GM. Rutherford traded forward James Neal to the Nashville Predators for forwards Patric Hornqvist and Nick Spaling.

Then the Pens watched defensemen Matt Niskanen, Brooks Orpik and Derek Engelland and forwards Jussi Jokinen, Tanner Glass and Joe Vitale depart as free agents.

“I saw some of it coming, but not to this extreme,” Pens radio analyst Phil Bourque said in a recent visit to the Mahoning Valley. “Surprised? Yes.

“To see Ray Shero and Dan Bylsma go, to see all those free agents go,” Bourque said. “But not shocked. I know how hockey works — there will be change next year.”

Bourque is right. Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury and defenseman Paul Martin have a year remaining on their contracts and won’t be looking for bargain contracts next summer. Same with Christian Ehrhoff, the former Sabres defenseman who was signed to replace Niskanen.

“Next year, we could be sitting here again, and you could say, ‘Bouquie, did you expect so much change with the Penguins?’

“Yes, it’s going to happen.”

Bourque understands why a lot of fans aren’t thrilled with the new-look Pens.

“This is probably the most change we’ve had,” said Bourque, a Stanley Cup winner with the Pens in 1991 and 1992. “Sometimes, change can be good.

“A lot of fans are nervous right now, they’re trying to be optimistic but there is an uneasiness because if not only what happened in the last five postseasons but because we’re not used to a lot of change.”

Since winning the Cup in 2009, the Pens have been eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs by five lower-seeded teams.

“Fans in Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio aren’t used to a lot of change,” Bourque said. “They like the same routine, they like knowing the players and connecting to their sports heroes and having their jerseys — that’s what we’re all about.

“You see such a sweeping change, people get nervous.”

Which player will the Pens miss most? Bourque’s answer may surprise you.

“I’m such a Matt Niskanen fan because he had a career year, that came out of nowhere,” Bourque said of the defenseman who along with Orpik are now Washington Capitals. “[But] I can’t get away from Jussi Jokkinen” as the player Pittsburgh will miss most.

“Such a smart player who did so many little things that you take for granted as a fan, because you’re watching the stars,” Bourque said. “But if you’re a hockey purist and you appreciate the players who do the little things that help you win, Jussi Jokinnen is that guy.

“Of all the free agents that we lost, he might be the one sorely missed, not only the little things he did defensively but how he balanced the offense.”

With training camp under way, some of the team’s mysteries are about to be solved.

“My wild-card forward for the upcoming season is Beau Bennett,” Bourque said. “Beau Bennett needs to have a great year, Beau Bennett needs to be healthy” as he knocked on the table, “because he is an integral part of what happens with the Penguins.

“Sid is gonna play with Kunitz and Dupuis,” Bourque said. “And Hornqvist, who has been a 30-goal scorer in the league before playing in Nashville, can be [a good linemate] for Geno.

“The other winger — we don’t really have a skilled guy like [Hornqvist] so] Beau Bennett is huge for us next year.”

The other mystery is why did the Penguins sign former Coyote goalie Thomas Greiss? Is backup Jeff Zatkoff (12-6-2 last season) on the trading block? Or Fleury?

“I love Zatkoff, he put himself on the map last year,” the Ol’ Two-Niner said. “I love that he’s a competitive guy a lot of people underestimated in his career, whether in college or now pro.

“This will probably be the biggest challenge of his hockey career because he’s on a one-way contract. They brought in Thomas Greiss for more money on a one-way contract.

“It will be an interesting training camp because Jeff Zatkoff has to clear waivers. I’m sure other teams are going ‘If you send him down, we’re grabbing him.’ He probably knows that, the Penguins probably know that.”

Let the preseason games begin.

Tom Williams is a sportswriter at The Vindicator. Write him at williams@vindy.com and follow him on Twitter, @Williams_Vindy.