Photo: Jared Wickerham
Dustin Penner was acquired at the trade deadline to improve the Caps’ flagging top six. Instead, he played garbage minutes on the bottom line. He was a huge disappointment, but was it his fault? (Not really, no.)
By the Numbers
| 18 | Games played |
| 12 | Average time on ice per game |
| 1 | Goals |
| 2 | Assists |
| 47.3% | Shot attempt percentage during 5v5 |
| 100% | Goal percentage during 5v5 |
| 4.9% | On-ice shooting percentage during 5v5 |
| 100% | On-ice saving percentage during 5v5 |
Peter’s Take
I was pretty excited about the addition of Dustin Penner to the Capitals. With Martin Erat in the rear view, it seemed for a fraction of a second that the Caps had put the bad blood behind them and brought in a productive top-six forward replacement. Nope. Dustin Penner basically filled Erat’s spot in the lineup and did nothing of note.
Imagined by some (including, I think, George McPhee) as a potential opposite wing for Alex Ovechkin, D.P. instead spent most of his time with Tom Wilson on the fourth line and a short stint opposite Troy Brouwer in the season’s final week. To his credit, Penner didn’t get scored on, but he also didn’t move the needle much.
I don’t have much more to say. No one really expects Penner to stick around, though I’d bet Barry Trotz could use him better than Adam Oates.
D.P. on RMNB
- McPhee didn’t say outright that he pictured Penner on the top line, but he did say this: “I sure like what Knuble did for us a few years ago. It’s nice to have those guys who can just go to the front of the net and just hold people off and jam pucks in.”
Awesomeawful press conference.- Uhh…
In Pictures
Beautiful no-look pass to Joel Ward for his first Caps apple. Penner and Ward are underrated and underutilized PP players.
Hitting up Obama for a place to stay.
This shirt would’ve been more popular, but it also suffered from the Oates Effect.
Your Turn
No way he comes back, right? I mean– no way. Do you even want him back? ‘Cause I kinda do.
Read more: Japers Rink
