Mark Madden: Sidney Crosby's greatness again on display, goaltending woes and more Penguins notes

Not enough wins. Not much hope for this season. But still a lot to discuss. Refreshing Penguins notes are the lifeblood of Pittsburgh hockey! First shot, first goal!

• Sidney Crosby had a goal and two assists in Sunday’s 6-5 overtime loss against visiting Toronto. He passed Bobby Hull on the all-time goals list, Gordie Howe on the all-time assists list. In the same game. Just another reminder of Crosby’s utter greatness. It’s like he skated to center ice and flipped off the Original Six.

• Sending Joel Blomqvist to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and recalling Tristan Jarry is the right move. For the present, it’s merely exchanging one bad goalie for another. Blomqvist was struggling mightily with the Penguins in his first NHL season, playing small and rarely sparkling. You could shoot a bowling ball over his blocker. Maybe Blomqvist, 23, can participate in an American Hockey League playoff run with future NHL teammates at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The netminding switcheroo is best for Blomqvist’s development.

• Goaltender Sergei Murashov, 20, is excelling with Wheeling, the Penguins’ Class AA team. He’s there because Jarry remaining in the organization is blocking Murashov’s advancement. The Penguins must ditch Jarry at season’s end, even if it’s via buyout. The Penguins have three young goalies with potential: Blomqvist, Murashov and Filip Larsson. Alex Nedeljkovic has one more year on his contract. Those goaltenders need to occupy the jobs in Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Jarry is dead weight.

• The Penguins conceding a goal on the game’s first shot 13 times this season is a summation of why they stink: Their goaltending is rotten and their defensive structure is nonexistent.

• Erik Karlsson has never won a significant championship. That’s no coincidence. He doesn’t play winning hockey. His two mistakes that led to two goals allowed in the final minute of the second period in Sunday’s loss to Toronto exemplify his lax approach. He just kept making the wrong play. Karlsson has zero commitment to structure. He plays as he pleases. It’s gotten him points (although lately not as many as previous) and three Norris Trophies as the NHL’s best defenseman. But he won’t help you win.

• Karlsson’s implosion vs. Toronto serves as a reminder that he’s tough to trade, especially given a contract that runs for two more seasons and packs a $10 million cap hit. He’s also got a full no-movement clause. There are rumors of interest from Dallas and Florida, but it would be a difficult deal to make.

• President of hockey ops/GM Kyle Dubas will try to be active between now and Friday’s NHL trade deadline, but here’s betting he makes no major moves. It’s difficult to see him sabotage Crosby’s attempt at a 20th consecutive season with a point per game by trading Rickard Rakell, Crosby’s most productive winger. Defenseman Matt Grzelcyk has had a decent year and might fetch something.

• Winger Boko Imama threw a borderline hit in Thursday’s game against Philadelphia, drawing a minor penalty and knocking the Flyers’ Garnet Hathaway out of the game. The Flyers scored on the power play to take a 4-2 lead, but the Penguins were adrenalized and ultimately won 5-4 in overtime. Hathaway had just taken a run at the Penguins’ Noel Acciari. Imama retaliated. Imama got scratched for the next two games. God forbid a bottom-six player sticks up for a teammate and provides energy. Just play, right?

• It’s not been a banner season for Evgeni Malkin. His burst is minimal. He’s rarely dynamic coming through the neutral zone. But he’s had seven points in six games since play resumed following the 4 Nations Face-Off, had a four-point explosion vs. Philadelphia including the game-winner in OT and has played solid, conscientious hockey despite being shackled by horrific linemates. Full credit to Malkin.

• I don’t believe Mike Sullivan should coach the Penguins through their rebuild because I don’t believe Sullivan will ever trust young players over veterans.

• Canadian hockey analyst Darren Dreger says that Crosby should request a trade out of Pittsburgh this offseason “for the greater good of the NHL.” Why is the greater good of the NHL up to Crosby? What destination could Crosby move to that would help the NHL, and how? The 4 Nations Face-off final drew 16.5 million TV viewers in North America. That won’t help the NHL. The outdoor game in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday drew 94,751 fans. That won’t help the NHL. Wayne Gretzky played in Los Angeles and New York, North America’s biggest markets. That didn’t help the NHL. The NHL is as popular as it’s going to be, which is not very. But it’s a true team sport in execution and attitude and without a bunch of selfish egomaniacs. Who, for example, want to be traded when their team isn’t very good because it’s not their fault.

• How many times does Crosby have to say he’s not leaving Pittsburgh before everybody believes him?