Penguins Update: How Are the New Guys Doing?
I confess, I’m excited by the news filtering out of Penguins practices that Vinnie Hinostroza may be replacing venerable Jeff Carter on the fourth line. No disrespect intended for big Jeff. But here’s hoping the speedster helps to spark a revival in the unit’s play, which has been consistently lacking in any type of offensive zip.
Hinostroza was just one of a small stable of free agents signed by GM Kyle Dubas this past summer as part of an ambitious and massive overhaul.
It got me to thinking. In the wake of our wobbly 3-6 start, how are the new guys doing?
GRADE: A
Two of our newbies have earned A’s in my book, forwards Reilly Smith and Radim Zohorna. To digress, I’m a Jason Zucker guy. So when Dubas acquired Smith from Vegas for the low (low) asking price of a third-round pick to replace Zucks, I admit I had a bit of a chip on my shoulder.
Suffice to say, Smith has knocked that chip off…and then some. While Zucker has missed time with a lower body injury in his new digs (the reason we were reluctant to re-sign him) Smith has in my estimation been one of our top three or four players.