Erik Karlsson Demoted As Penguins Look To Improve Power Play
The Pittsburgh Penguins have undoubtedly had a disappointing start to the season. The team is currently 6th in the Metro division with a very mediocre 11-10-2 record. A big part of their struggles has been the power play.
Karlsson Taken Off Top Power Play Unit
The Penguins' power play has clicked at a rate just under 12% so far this season, putting them among the league's worst units on the man advantage. Most fans probably did not see this coming after they added Erik Karlsson, one of the league's premier power play quarterbacks, in the offseason. However, desperate times call for desperate measures and now head coach Mike Sullivan has gone back to old reliable Kris Letang to run the top unit.
In a corresponding move, Karlsson was put on the team's 2nd unit.
The 33-year-old blueliner has been producing at a high rate this season, but his current pace of just under a point-per-game is a far cry from his 101 point season last year. He has 19 points this season, four of which have come on the man advantage.
Letang on the other hand, has 13 points so far this season, with none coming on the man advantage.
Both players are still highly capable of running a power play at the NHL level, that much is clear. The Penguins just haven't gotten any puck luck on the power play this season. In the long run, things should even out luck-wise, but their current performance on the man advantage is certainly concerning. The team is going to need a few things to go right in order for them to make serious playoff noise this year. They are already behind the eight ball considering their lack-luster start. Whether or not they can figure things out remains to be seen,
As seen on Karlsson Officially Gets Demoted in Pittsburgh
| POLL | ||
Who do you think should be on the top power play in Pittsburgh? | ||
| Erik Karlsson | 30 | 28.8 % |
| Kris Letang | 23 | 22.1 % |
| Both | 51 | 49 % |
| List of polls | ||
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