Pens add depth with Goc and Stempniak

Zach Laufer, Staff Writer

March 14, 2014

The trade deadline came and went, and the typical blockbuster deal from the “trade wizard” was nowhere to be found.

However, Penguins GM Ray Shero bolstered the Penguins bottom six forwards by adding C Marcel Goc and RW Lee Stempniak.

The Penguins acquired Goc from the Florida Panthers for a fifth-round pick in the 2014 NHL Draft and a third-round pick in 2015, and Stempniak from the Calgary Flames for a third-round pick in 2014.

Most media members and fans alike expected the likes of Ryan Kesler, Matt Moulson, or Thomas Vanek to get snatched up by Shero in a deal that would carry the team to the Stanley Cup Final, but the splash deal just was not there.

In regards to Ryan Kesler, the most likely of the three, Shero had this to say: “There wasn’t a deal there to be made … I think our goal was to try to increase our depth up front and help our forward group … and I think we’ve done that.”

Contrary to popular opinion, their biggest need was not a top line winger for Crosby; they have that coming back in a few weeks in Beau Bennett. What they needed was scoring and physicality on the bottom two lines, and Shero got them just that.

Lee Stempniak is a short-handed specialist, being the highest scoring player in the NHL in such situations (2 G 3 A). He will play right wing along side Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz, adding a grinder’s mentality to the top line. In 55 games this season, he has 8 goals and 17 assists (two since joining the Penguins).

Marcel Goc is the prototypical fourth-line center: big, physical, tough. He led FLA forwards in hits (103) and blocked shots (41) this year. Playing with two other physical, tough guys in Tanner Glass and Craig Adams, Goc should fit right in. He also won an impressive 53% of face-offs this year for a player of his style. In 65 games this season, he has 11 goals and 13 assists (one since joining the Pens).

Also worth mentioning, Ray Shero did not have to give up any players on his bench to get these two guys, and the combined cap hit for their combined salaries for this year is a mere $4.2 M, $0.8 M less than that of Ryan Kesler.

About the Contributor

Zach Laufer, Staff Writer

Balancing work, academics, and extra curricular activities, Zach Laufer is a model student at BPHS. He has a part time job at Famous Footwear shoe store."It's a great job, let me tell you," Zach said. In addition to that, Zach is musically talented. He is in both the Symphonic Band as a percussionist and Bethel Park's Top 21. Zach is also in the Marching Band. In the Marching Band, Zach is a bus monitor and drum captain this year. He plays the quads, which he says is technically "a quint." "There's a little extra one right in the middle," Zach said. As far as athletics, Zach is on the tennis team. He has been on the tennis team since his junior year. Through Hawk Eye, Zach hopes to hone in on his writing skills before he leaves for college after this year. He hopes one day to pursue a career in sports journalism at either Penn State or Robert Morris University. One day he hopes to be a sports beat writer or radio DJ. "Sports is the only thing that interests me writing wise," Zach said. Zach is excited to become a part of the Hawk Eye and looks forward to making the newspaper better throughout his senior year. Written by Katie Zilcosky, Staff Writer