Pionk adds to offence, but puts defence first

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This article was published 10/11/2021 (1436 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There was a time when Neal Pionk wasn’t much appreciated here in Winnipeg, a seemingly collective feeling among Jets fans that was no fault of his own.

Pionk joined the Jets as part of a trade package that also included a first-round pick in 2019, shipped over from the New York Rangers in exchange for beloved defenceman Jacob Trouba. Trouba had asked the Jets to be traded; at the time, he viewed himself as a 25-year-old budding star that despite having 179 points in 408 regular-season games, didn’t feel he was getting the kind of opportunities he had hoped for at all ends of the ice.

As for Pionk, he was still relatively unknown, having just come off his first full NHL season at 23 years old, registering six goals and 20 points — 13 of which came on the power play — in 73 games. He was also a minus-16, the worst plus-minus of the entire Rangers defensive group.

For many fans, it didn’t feel like a proper payoff when compared to Trouba, even with the additional first-rounder — a pick that ultimately led to the selection of talented defensive prospect Ville Heinola.

“When Neal came here it was really almost his first full year in the NHL,” Jets head coach Paul Maurice said after Wednesday’s practice. “He had played with the Rangers and then he had gotten injured at the all-star break, and after that he didn’t play a whole heck of a lot.”

Maurice added: “To describe him now, he is an exceptional all-around defenceman. Because his defensive game is good enough to call him a very good defender. And his points say that he’s an offensive producer.”

Maurice continued with his glowing report, adding that he sees no ceiling to Pionk’s career and that the Jets are still learning new things about the veteran defenceman. The latest example was a spin-o-rama, game-tying goal Tuesday night, in what turned out to be 3-2 shootout loss to the Central Division-leading St. Louis Blues.

With Blues forward Jordan Kyrou attacking the puck at the St. Louis blue line, Pionk, thinking quickly on his skates, spun backwards to his left, towards the middle of the ice, before letting go a fierce snapshot that ricocheted off a St. Louis defenceman and into the back of the net. After the game, when asked about the goal and the inherent risk involved with the move that led to it, Maurice not only gave Pionk a free pass, but he encouraged it.

“It gives a player a lot of confidence,” Pionk noted when asked about his coach’s words of support. “And I’m sure it’s free rein until I turn it over and then the reins will come on.”

Pionk isn’t one to over speak; always calm and collected, he prefers to let his play do the talking. Just consider it took about five separate questions for him to talk in depth about Tuesday’s goal, clearly not wanting to gush over himself while sitting beside teammate Adam Lowry.

“Just something I picked up skating around the rink as a kid, just doing whatever I want, really,” he said. “It works sometimes, but it also looks really bad when it doesn’t work.”

Shortly after being acquired, and without playing a single game with the Jets, Pionk inked a two-year, US$6-million deal. That cost came in much lower than what Trouba received from the Rangers: seven years at US$8 million per season, totalling US$56 million.

In his first season with the Jets, Pionk hit new season highs in assists (39) and points (45), while logging top-pairing minutes. He followed that up with three goals and 29 assists for 32 points in a COVID-19 shortened campaign, where he played 54 of 56 regular-season games in 2021.

He was also an integral part of a busy off-season this year by general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, agreeing to terms on a four-year deal worth a modest US$23.5 million. The Jets also boosted their defensive group by acquiring Nate Schmidt and Brenden Dillon in trades with the Vancouver Canucks and Washington Capitals, respectively.

Pionk and Dillon now make a formidable second pairing, behind the top duo of Josh Morrissey and Schmidt, with Logan Stanley and Dylan DeMelo rounding out the top-six.

Dillon said it was Pionk who welcomed him to the Jets and made him feel comfortable in his new hockey home. When asked, Dillion didn’t hold back on giving Pionk credit for his highlight reel goal against the Blues.

“We’re talking best league in the world here, the best forwards, it’s a heck of a play. To cap it off by scoring too, in a big Central Division game against the number 1 team in your division, it’s a big goal,” he said. “You can practice that stuff all you want, but to pull it off in a game and have it work like that — you tip your cap for sure.”

Dillon added: “He’s an undrafted guy like me. He’s had to work and earn everything he’s got. Someone who had a great start in New York and any time you’re part of a trade like that for Jacob Trouba — you’re talking a first round pick, elite defenceman in the league too — you obviously have to have some skill and be a heck of a player. I think he was just scratching the surface and is continuing to get better every year.”

The goal was Pionk’s second of the season and 10th point in 12 games, putting him in a tie for 10th in scoring among NHL defenceman. The offence is just part of his game, along with an ability to play physical and defend responsibly in his own zone.

“My mindset is always to defend first and then, to help the offence second. Points will come and go,” Pionk said. “Sometimes you’re on a cold streak, sometimes you’re on a hot streak. That just is what it is. I’m just more worried about the overall aspect of the game.”

 

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.catwitter: @jeffkhamilton