In March of 1971 the Canadian Band Ocean sang;
“Put your hand in the hand of the man who stilled the water
Put your hand in the hand of the man that calmed the sea.”
There is a reason my wife, Michele, once gave me a t-shirt that reads “I speak in song lyrics, movie quotes, and sarcasm” she has to put up with me answering her like this all the time – quoting things. I lucky to have a wife who puts up with my idiosyncrasies. It has to get a bit much when it is all the time.
Last night, our Pittsburgh Penguins put their hand(s) in the hand(s) of Goalie Matt Murray, who looked like the Murray of Stanley Cup lore, looking like he was sitting back in the eye of the Carolina storm, calmly rejecting all 39 Shots On Goal (SOG) that the Hurricanes blew his way. At one point this season, much ado was made about how dreadful Penguin Goaltending was. Many of our Penguin faithful weren’t quite that faithful in those beleaguered, over worked back stops. However, as the extremely disturbing trend of the porous Penguin protector party (team defense) continues their extremely disturbing trend of giving up shot after shot to opponents, Penguin Goalies have become Bounty Paper Towels, absorbing the flood of opponent shots.
Very recently, I decided to look at how the Penguins’ team Defense has fared over the last 5 years. They were at a 5 year low in Shots Against (SA), 33.3. Well this morning I looked a little farther back in time, 15 years to be exact. I looked all the way to the first year after the season long strike and do you know what I found? Yep – boys and girls, this is the worst team defense in those 15 years. Only the first year back 2005-2006, Sidney Crosby’s first year as a Penguin came close with 33.2 SA. Let’s be thankful for Matt Murray and Casey DeSmith.
Last night’s shutout (SO) was the 8th in Murray’s nascent career, 2nd this season, putting him alone in 4th place, on the Penguins’ all time SO list. When most Goalies get SOs, it is usually a team effort, with their defenders limiting opponents to less than 30 SOG, often closer to (or less than) 20. Unfortunately for Murray and DeSmith, the Penguins aren’t really blessed with NHL caliber defense (despite the love affair some fans have with certain Defensemen on this team). Of the 4 SOs the team has registered this year, Penguins goalies have had to hold the line like the 101st Airborne at Bastogne and survive 38 SOG in Toronto (Murray), 29 SOG in Vancouver (DeSmith), 39 SOG against Arizona (DeSmith), and another 39 SOG in Carolina (Murray). Murray and DeSmith have had to earn their SOs this season.
The Penguins resurgence over these last 2 weeks certainly is a tribute to Goaltending; Murray’s Save Percentage (sv%) is 0.964% while partner in crime DeSmith has turned in a 0.927% sv%, let’s not over-look the heroics of the Guentzel – Crosby – Rust line. Crosby led the way last night with 3 points (all assists) to climb up into a 3 way tie with his line mates for the month of December with 13 points in 12 games. Crosby looked like a man possessed out on the ice, reinvigorated by the hot hands of Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust. If I had to pick a play from last night’s game to exemplify his play and place it among the highlight reel, I would have to vote for a play on which no goals came but was a paragon of hard work in conjunction with both physical skill and hockey sense. A rebound came of the Canes‘ Goalie Curtis McElhinney and bounced towards former Penguin Jordan Staal. With lightning quick physical and mental reflexes, Crosby recognized an opportunity in the split second of the puck’s flight path, lifted Staal’s stick to open up the scoring chance, and then resettled his stick for the rebound opportunity and got it. Fortunately, for the Canes, McElhinney was on his game too. Unfortunately for the Canes, McElhinney wasn’t Murray. As good as he was, he still was human and Kris Letang found a chink in his armor to open the scoring and Guentzel continued his hot hand to pad the lead with 2 insurance goals.
I hate to be the one harping on some negatives, but aside from the 240 shots the Penguins’ Defense has now given up during this 6 game upswing (still 40 SOG per game), the team has once again been reduced to a 1 line offense. The secondary scoring that started to emerge at the beginning of December seems to have evaporated. In the 1st 2 weeks of the month, the only forwards without a goal were Tanner Pearson, Matt Cullen, and Dominik Simon and Cullen and Simon had only played 2 games in that 7 game stretch. In the 6 games since, 9 of the 18 goals or half of them have come from Guentzel – Crosby – Rust.
Phil Krundel, Rick Buker, I wish I had your optimism and even though I am enjoying this current run and the play of Goalies Murray and DeSmith and the fireworks of Guentzel – Crosby – Rust, I am not yet sold. I do believe there is a good chance that the team will make the playoffs, but that may be all. Santa did bring all 6 points for our Penguins like I asked, and he has continued to feed Rust’s mojo and the Goalies’ stellar displays, but for me to join you guys, I need to see the team get Evgeni Malkin a solid line mate. A lot of people moan about how many times he gives up the puck, but since Mike Sullivan has begun to regularly exchange his line mates with a parade of pylons (interspersed with Phil Kessel at times to make it look good), all I really see is a star trying to make something out of nothing. What I saw yesterday was turnovers due to no one to which to pass the puck. When players were able to keep up physically with him, they stumbled and bumbled like Keystone Kops in the offensive zone, running into each other, rather than moving about to present targets to pass to each other, or crash the net to get rebounds should someone, somehow, get a shot off.
For me to get on board with you guys, I need to see the Defense get these shot totals back to at least NHL averages. I have read many people patting Letang, Brian Dumoulin, Olli Määttä, Jack Johnson, and even Marcus Pettersson on the back lately, but I can’t help but ask Why?, as these guys are turnstiles watching shots fly on net. We may have our favorite Defensemen, but reality tells me, if not for the way DeSmith and Murray have closed the door, these guys and many of the forwards would still be foundering with +/- numbers down around the center of the earth approaching Old Nick territory.
With no more games before Christmas, and the Santa/the Penguins delivering most of what I asked for, I am going to sit back with a nice warm potent potable, maybe even watch a few snowflakes fall if the weatherman is kind to us, and enjoy the current upswing, hoping to see a couple of my other wishes come true to see a true return of Penguin dominance.
Odds and Sods
Former Penguin Jordan Staal left last night’s game early, apparently with an injury and didn’t return. The injury is reported as an upper body injury. Rotoworld is suggesting that it may be a concussion with Staal listed day-to-day. I always liked Staal. I wish you a speedy recovery.
Our Wilkes Barre – Scranton Penguins finished their pre-Christmas schedule on a sour note, losing 4 – 3 in overtime to the Syracuse Crunch. Jean-Sebastien Dea, Anthony Angello, and Garrett Wilson all scored in the losing cause. Ethan Prow continued to impress, picking up another assist. Tristan Jarry must feel like he is still on the big club. He was besieged with 41 SOG. It was the only way Syracuse could squeeze 4 of them behind him. Baby Penguin shooters only harassed the Crunch Goalie with 23 SOG.
Merry Christmas to all the Penguin Poop readers and writers from the Other Rick
Also …
Yes. Kessel and Malkin can do better of getting back to help. Several occasions they do get back and defend in their zone. They do back check and work hard to defend. Malkin and Kessel are not big defensively acumen fowards on the ice. Never will be. Especially Malkin on the ice. He like to cheap to offensive with effective defender that can move up the ice with puck to him.
I concur . Jack Johnson constantly turn over the puck in their zone and doesn’t effectively have possession to pass to them. Top stars.
I don’t see no great pass to fowards with head on a swivel. He often doesn’t utilize the situation to pass to the right foward to attack the offensive zone.
Johnson should NOT BE PAIRING WITH TOP STARS AT ALL. Stats or not. Eye test confirmed it.
Often times Malkin and Kessel are on the ice with Jack Johnson. Crosby and Guentzel too. Difference Between these duo is that Crosby is more defensively sound and work down low to help his defenseman. Constantly take it in his own hands to get to offensive zone. Malkin too. But Malkin get tired of doing it. Crosby get frustrated too. Going to the bench and explain himself to him.
Either way Sullivan needs to maximize top stars game to let them move the bus. Plus a better 3C . Let Phil and Geno be themselves while help them to be defensively more to no over pass for odd man rushes
Jack Johnson is the answer for it. Malkin got better a center to be more defensive aware,simplify his game and give what the opponents give him. He can get to cute with puck. Try to deke to much
. There’s no reason to blame fowards on this on odd man rushes. Defenseman are the main reason for it. They pinch to much and pass to opponents to much.
Coaching staff IS TO BLAME FOR THE GAME PLANS AND DEPLOYMENT OF PLAYERS.
Malkin and Kessel are not shooting enough and getting to offensive to sustain offensive pressure.
Let’s not kidding ourselves. Sullivan is the problem.
Simon look ok. He isn’t a top 6 foward. Shouldn’t be playing top 6 mins. Malkin doesn’t want to play with him . Nor does he the Malkin playing style. He passes to much, not good shoot, don’t finish .
Hey Dee,
At this point in his career, I doubt Malkin will ever be in competition for the Selkie Trophy. Furthermore, he is not paid to be. You don’t pay someone $9 million to pull a plow. Any coach that wants to try and force a Malkin or Kessel to pull that plow isn’t smart enough to be coaching at an elite level.
Having said that, it was only a few short years ago that managers around the league where pointing to not only Crosby but Malkin as the prototypical 200 foot Centers. When the Penguins were winning Cups, opposing coaches where gushing about both of these stars and their willingness to do the dirty work in the defensive zone and cajoling their own lesser Centers to emulate the Pens big 2. Even at the beginning of the season, Malkin was seen frequently down low trying to help out.
Even Phil has noted that Malkin still does come down low but Phil has qualified that by saying that Malkin is ineffective and playing 6 year old hockey chasing the puck rather than positional hockey.
If Phil is right, then the question must be asked as to why Malkin is being ineffective in his D zone. I can think of a host of possibilities from not trusting in the players he is deployed with to poor defensive schemes. In the end as you note Dee, it is the responsibility of the coaching staff to fix the problem and they aren’t getting their job done.
Right now, I am just thankful that Murray and DeSmith with enough help from Guentzel – Crosby – Rust were able to steal these 6 points going into the Christmas break.
Hello Rick, ToR, Phil , Others,
Great 2 points . Murray look like his old self with confidence and more comfortable in the net. Sid & Jake has been elite all season and very consistency.
Sullivan played Kessel 11 mins with the third line . He got assist on Guentzel’s goal and once again he was driving the play to get something while Brassard was just invisible as 3C . I don’t understand why Sullivan put Kessel there. It don’t click nor benefit Phil Kessel.. Thoughts?
Penguins MVP all season so far with two -way hockey and consistency with or without points that make this team drive through wins..
1.Crosby
2. Guentzel
3. Dumoulin
4.DeSmith
5. Martin and PK unit.
Another take on Johnson.
Jack Johnson is Jack Johnson. Hits and Blocks is good. Good enough on the Pk, fine. It doesn’t bring nothing impactful nor more the needle for Penguins back end. It doesn’t effectively help top stars to get puck to sustain offensive pressure than them being hemmed up in their zone out shot from opposition while constantly defending to clear the puck out.
Especially if he being deployed with top lines. Mike Sullivan started deploying him more there. Because people question him being on the ice for a lot of goals. ( after 27 goals on the ice with him and he see that he’s bad)
Jack Johnson is adequate due to shelter with top players. It will not cut it.
Jack Johnson isn’t very good. any metric you look at past or present is negative. Eye test confirmed it .
Johnson essentially suffocates the Pens offensively e and via eye test and data Does nothing to help there. Not very good defensively.
Last offensive chart. I got.
Jack Johnson Cf/60 43.42 , XGf/60 1.77
I’m not big stats individual. I love eye test better. Then some stats.. Jack Johnson isn’t very good.
His Eye test and Stats give you a picture
PIT’s Goal Share at 5v5 this year:
Team total: 53.8% (86-74)
Johnson on ice: 38.0% (19-31)
Johnson off ice: 60.9% (67-43)
In his 12-season NHL career, Jack Johnson has been:
a) a negative 5v5 Corsi player 12years
b) a negative 5v5 shots player 12years, and
c) a negative 5v5 goals player 11 years
He is not a player who significantly moves the needle.
Either way he suffocates Penguins offensively and drag down his partner.
He looks somewhat tibit effective because he’s getting shelter with stars while hurting doing and doing GooD Pk. He’s only effective enough on Pk.
I already presented CF% /minutes with or without other pens players . He drags them down.
Tonight
All strengths CF 14 , CA 28 CF% 33.33
Every game it bad. Nothing can convince that he’s a useful NHl player to help the Penguins. Especially with a 12 negative career. 31 years old.
Hits, BS ,PK is ok good. It isn’t good enough. To be deployed with top stars that needs have countless strong possessions defenseman that can effectively more the puck to sustain offensive pressure without constantly hemmed up in their zone.
Jack Jonson All strengths .
36 GP 696:58 TOI CF 578 CA773 CF%42.78
Merry Christmas to All
Dee.
Hey Dee,
First before I get to answering your question on thoughts about Kessel, I would agree that Crosby is the unquestionable top candidate for MVP thus far. I can also agree with the next 4 rank positions with the caveat that the distance between Guentzel, Dumoulin, DeSmith and the PK is not all that great and could easily shift even before game 41.
As for Kessel, his play and where he is played?
I don’t see Kessel as a problem (nor do I want to jump on the the dump on Malkin band wagon that the friends of Mike Sullivan want to do after Dupuis-gate. The picture I see would appear to be one of mismanagement of resources, of improperly deploying talents.
Through the first month of the season Sullivan played the Hagelin – Malkin – Kessel line as a constant, even though he gave no other line consistency or a chance to take root; that line was sacrosanct. And that line responded by being on of the best and most consistent line in the league, pushing even MacKinnon – Rantenen – Landeskog. Then Hagelin got traded.
Once Hagelin was traded, Pearson stepped in and, at first, during the honeymoon phase, after the trade, slipped in seamlessly for a couple of games. Then the wheels fell of the wagon. Pearson has brought a solid dynamic to the team but he hasn’t built the chemistry needed to play with Malkin and Kessel. So Sullivan, rather than search for a new LW for Malkin and Kessel tore the line apart. Rather than try and fix a flat, Sullivan has tried to re-invent the wheel. Rather than using the Keep It Simple Stupid philosophy, he has exhausted pretty much every other avenue of change except the most obvious, find someone to fit with Malkin and Kessel.
In what has to be the worst decision, even though Kessel and Pearson didn’t work out with mega talent Malkin, he tried Kessel and Pearson between lesser and apparently fading luminary Brassard (Did you see Rutherford’s comments on Brassard and his need to start impressing?) Big surprise it doesn’t work.
I love the 3 wins and 6 points that I asked for several days back. However, with only the PP and 1 line scoring the precious few goals the team eked out and the goalies needing to play epic games to net those wins and points, I have no idea why Malkin and Kessel aren’t skating together with a search for a line mate.
Kessel is a top 6 Winger, quite frankly a top 3 Winger, that is constantly being asked to play bottom 6. Kessel is a thoroughbred constantly being asked to pull a plow. I know we no longer live in a world where logic and proportion are sought but this is now in the absurd category.
If Brassard was playing with any level of compete, if the veteran was being held to the same standard of production and walking on water that rookies have to be held to and answering that call, I could accept Kessel playing 3rd line. Maybe if Blueger were to be brought up and inserted at 3rd line, maybe the 3rd line could start rolling. And that would be great. nuff said.
However, doesn’t logic suggest that getting the 2nd line rolling is more important than getting the 3rd line rolling? Before worrying about tertiary scoring, shouldn’t we worry about secondary scoring? After breaking the 2nd line, shouldn’t the team fix what it broke? Since Pearson, Aston-Reese, and Simon haven’t worked out with Malkin and Kessel how about looking elsewhere?
Good Morning TOr,
To all your comments
Spot on.
Absolutely. Crosby is top MVP . I hope get a Hart Trophy this season.Guentzel is next. IMO. He has been very consistent and help drive offensively . With or without points. Crosby and Guentzel up lift each other and support one another to a high lead hockey.
He keep doing all the little things. He continues to mature his game and show his identity through his game. He isn’t no leech or passenger. New article out that show that Guentzel has been very consistent and doing what Penguins need from him.
Sullivan needs to let them be. Agree. Other Candidates can change.
Kessel and Malkin? Sullivan did the same thing to Crosby and Guentzel last season. Broke them up . Deploy them wrong and they didn’t produce well. Long streak without goals. Draining them with non contributing factor players his line.
It seem to me players with great chemistry and consistency production get split up because they are missing a key winger on their line or to quick to deploy unwarranted players with them. He likes to keep them apart for what?
Sullivan’s inabilities to objectively see that certain players working together and needs much consistency with linemates to produce well on the ice. He thinks players should play up and down line up every game.
Penguins have great stars to run two top lines in the league. Very sad. They are not talking about within top lines in the lines.
He wants to sacrifice the top lines foundation to give bottom lines scoring that doesn’t work at all.
That why Penguins have so much Inconsistency in their game. ( Line combination s) Writer for Nhl wrote about that. (NHL)
Everyone complains about it .
He’s punishing them. Believe or not. It’s a big rift that hurting Kessel and Malkin ..
He needs to let them be. ZAr , Sheahan, Simon , Pearson are not the answer. Adam Johnson is the answer.
Malkin only has one even-strength goal in 25 games.
Malkin &Kessel will continue to sulk with Jack Johnson . Sometimes with Crosby too.
He want his guys that are bottom feeders to play with them . He seems to don’t understand that bottom 6 players shouldn’t be playing top 6 roles while you top winger ( Phil Kessel) is put in a situation to be a bottom 6 foward. It isn’t working.
He’s too harp on 3 scoring lines from 2015-2016 season. Malkin and Kessel been having great success since 2017 season..
No. I don’t see no logic at all Penguins are rolling on one line on this team. Resemblance of last season. Malkin’s line was the only line rolling and Crosby’s line was poorly constructed. Bad coaching.
They needs to fix it. It’s important for Malkin and Kessel to be themselves for rest of this season.
Malkin is on the left side and Phil Kessel is on the right side on the powerplay. Not good.
I would hate to see more players run out town .
I don’t know what else to say. Penguins will continue to fail little bit and be a pretty flawed team with Mike Sullivan. Have Inconsistencies. Some can agree to disagree with me. Because deploying, poor lines combos, tactics & strategies, weak defensive schemes , ego and favoritism toward players. ‘Play the right way’
Penguins don’t have a great transition game on the ice.
Lines combos for more than 30 games barring no injuries. I read don’t know. It needs to be better
Crosby-Guentzel ? ( between Rust or Angello) ( really Hornqvist) I don’t like Rust and Simon there )
Adam Johnson-Malkin-Kessel ( Hornqvist)
Pearson- 3C-Hornqvist ( Rust) or Pearson-Brassard-Rust ( Sheahan)
Zar/Simon-Blueger-Sheahan
Either way I would Pens to get Charlie Coyle. I would sway Brassard with Simon or ZAr in deal. Minnesota can just swap and retain 200 salary. Thoughts?
I think he’s a great fit and big big that seems to play Penguins game. Can play C and Wing.
They get him . I will be remove Cullen, Sheahan, Grant out the line up. I like Cullen and his great attributes. But I want to see youth . I get the feeling Blueger will leave soon or later.
Grant or Sheahan will play LW or be healthy scratches . Either way you can pick and chose who will be your extra center. Grant and Sheahan were playing good. They don’t play Penguins drive tempo style of hockey and wasted cap space.
With Charlie Coyle
Guentzel-Cro
Talking about this
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/penguins/2018/12/23/Jim-Rutherford-Derick-Brassard-Penguins-third-line-center-trade/stories/201812230191
And this
https://ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/nhl/traik-eotomy-penguins-decision-to-stick-with-sullivan-is-paying-off/wcm/cb989a77-d034-49b4-ae74-b23861e81282
Honestly, I see and smell bull crap from Rutherford’s latest Interview articles.
Rutherford and People within Penguins organization are frustrated and tired with Brassard. They want to trade him. Supposed to be trading him soon.
I see no difference in Brassard’s game. He’s invisible and heavy black hole on the bench every game. He doesn’t drive for himself and his linemates. He don’t want to be here. His linemates are pushing the pace to get a goal and offensive pressure. He doesn’t kill penalties. He think he shouldn’t score and take face offs. Often times he take offensive face offs and do not doing nothing after Crosby or Malkin heavy offensive pressure. He don’t want to help this team. He doesn’t battle in tough areas and boards. He’s weak and look for his wingers to carry the load. No points on his own or linemates. Kessel get assist on Guentzel. Will tell you.
He’s injured prone and has been expose thru his play. Penguins lost trade
Cullen seems to battles more to help offensively.,
Penguins are wasting their time. Nothing else can come from Derick Brassard. He needs to go . Penguins want to have a reliable 3C so swapping for another 3C will benefit them.
It is what it is.
Rutherford thinks nothing is going on with Sullivan. He’s blind. Quite frankly seems to defend the coach more than players. He’s stuck in the past. Penguins need a new coach to win a cup this season. That’s my opinion. They need new foward coach that isn’t Mark Reechi.
He probably don’t remember what happen to Ray Shero. Rutherford can still get fired.
Hockey is business. If Mario doesn’t get his profit back on spend on this team. Get the right money back. With Further deep playoff run this season. Mario will be doing some firing..We’ll see.
I hope Penguins enjoy their break and ready for their of season
January and February is crucial.
Penguins showed something ok good signs with Crosby’s carrying them with Guentzel.
Hey Dee,
I am not as sure that A Johnson is the answer for Malkin’s line, but he looks like to have the proper skill set. He looks to be the best fit in in the organization to try on Malkin’s line. If A Johnson doesn’t work out, then the team will need to look outside the organization, this year. Maybe next year, Bjorkqvist will fit the bill, or Militec, or Drozg, but no one right now meshes with Malkin.
The funny thing about the Sullivan’s feuding with Malkin and Kessel is that it didn’t take long at all for Sullivan to move on to the next player(s) to be thrown in his dog house once he ousted Sprong. No sooner was Sprong gone than Sullie opened up a new front.
I was not quite enamored of Sprong as my defense of him may have seemed. I do think he is a top 6 maybe even a top 3 winger with a little experience. I also think had he been treated better, he may already be a top 3. I hear you and Phil and all those Sprong detractors. I have heard from multiple, multiple sources about Sprong’s personality. However, I have also watched Sullivan over and over again have problem after problem with players. I also know it takes 2 to tango and problems are rarely completely one way. I truly believe Sullivan has at least help to create a toxic environment. I think he is his own worst enemy with his players.
My question is when is the organization going to learn the basics; when it is one player it is the player, when it is two players, it still can be just those 2 players, but when it has now mushroomed out from at the very least, Cole, Reaves, and Sprong (Potentially Lovejoy, Kunitz, Pedan, and Bengtsson too) to now include Malkin and Kessel (Kessel again) it is the coach. You can’t have your coach running off player after player. At the very least the GM has to get the intestinal fortitude to have the hard conversation with what now appears to be an out of control egotist coach.
Sullivan didn’t win those Cups, the players did. If Sullivan runs off Malkin and Kessel, replacing him with the little engine that good players that fit HIS system, good luck Mario! The Pens will not only fail to win the Cup, but the value of the team will go into a death spiral. I totally enjoyed the 3 Ws in a row, but remember the team won 4 in row earlier this year – looking like world beaters on the Canada tour only to absolutely tank immediately following that brief run.
There have been some good signs to be sure. Murray’s play of late. Rust hitting his stride (He is a streaky player though – so how long will this run be? Hopefully, Santa gave him all the mojo he will need to not have as deep of a valley after this peak.
However, the reliance on 1 line and the ridiculously high shot totals should alarm everyone. (I deleted a rant about stats and eye-tests, this is supposed to be the season for good will, so I won’t open cans of worms)
I am going over my brothers in a few minutes so I will not have time to read those articles until later tonight, so maybe I will have something more to say then.
Hello ToR,
Thank you for always telling it is and reading my mind.
Mike Sullivan walk into a perfect storm where players were hungry and great trade were made to be a deep team in the league. Agree with you . 1000% I stayed it before players won him B2b cups. Crosby and goaltending led them to it.
Honestly, I don’t he has done nothing great for two and half seasons. He hasn’t got best out of players and evolved as coach. I don’t think the organization see that and blinding on B2b cups . I don’t like a coach who is to comfortable and have problems with players that have significance to this team. To much heart, small leadership and do what it takes players are gone. Never replace.
Quite frankly during 2017 summer if Rutherford and Sullivan stop thinking/stating they didn’t need a 3C and counted on their best players to much . We won’t be have a discussion about Brassard. Keep a pick, young, Reaves, Cole. Or Penguins won’t have these problems to be assessing this again. He didn’t addresses Penguins needs to strengthen them .
I think Penguins organization needs to put their foot down . It’s to many alarming signs going on here. (Agree) Penguins can not win games with one line, numbers of shots and unhappy stars that means a lot to the team . (Agree)
I don’t think you need to delete you honest rants and fair objectively assessment on this team. Some can disagree with it. It is what it it is.
They made some ok strides. But they are still a one sided team that lacks a lot of things. We can hope it for the better and it can be sustainable with Kessel and Malkin’s get going and back to themselves. I don’t know. They seem to win 1-3 games then lose more games. Suddenly they trying harder to find way to get points.
Your article with Senators and Penguins weeks back is very truth in the last two paragraphs . Rutherford have a choice. It what it is. I guess he like his hand to be forced to trade to protect Sullivan
Either way Penguins have some little youth down in WB/S that can help them and have fresher speed legs.
Adam Johnson? Whether he plays with Malkin or not . I think he should be up here playing here . He has a nice two way skill set Penguins needs on this team to succeed. Other young players too. I don’t see that in Wilson, ZAR and Simon. (Sullivan’s guys)
I will say this . Penguins better hope Blueger, that great kid from Penn State and other players that want a chance up here don’t leave and get a opportunity somewhere else.
Blueger is frustrated . I won’t be surprised he leave soon or later.
Blueger should be playing fourth line C. I think Cullen and Sheahan is blocking that and Sullivan’s hard -hardness is making it hard. No hate against Wilson,ZAR and Simon . I think they can be playing on another team. I’m starting see players that necessarily really bring nothing and are bottom 6 players getting unwarranted top 6 roles that they can not play nor sustain to be beneficial. Time and time it upset stars players. They are not finished ready hockey speedy players that give Penguins a speedy boosted identity.
That’s just me. I would prefer Johnson,Angello and Blueger up here. They were great during training camp and preseason games. They were hungry and very mature. Penguins needs that.
Sprong? I will admit , I was tough him that he didn’t do himself any favors. I get it. I don’t think a player can find consistency in their game with scratches and 6 mins a game. Sprong does have a lot things he needs to improve in his offensive game and to showed consistency through the hard withstand in this league.
Attitude or not. Slow mature to think the game at a high level . Sprong was mishandled and botched in this organization. Crosby and Malkin didn’t want to play with him either. Coaching staff didn’t maximize him to potentially grow and be himself on the ice. They didn’t work well together to make each better.
I say this . To this article…
https://triblive.com/sports/penguins/14368382-74/daniel-sprong-needed-more-than-upside-to-crack-penguins-lineup-coach-mike
I smell bs … Zar and Simon to a big extent didn’t play bottom 6 a lot and got throw on top 6 lines where it was warranted. Several times you don’t know who they are on this team until Crosby or Malkin elevates their game.
At end of day Sullivan slowly getting his guys that don’t belong on this roster.
I have no problem with Disagree on this. I believe getting Charlie Coyle on this team can help Penguins 3C problems and adding little youthful from AHL with small trade will benefit them. Eventually move Letang, Sheahan,Johnson..
No . I don’t see Rust staying on the top line. I hope Rutherford look to get Malkin and Crosby better wingers .( with Guentzel and Kessel)
I’m happy with little strides with concerns.
I just can’t wait til Malkin and Kessel can be themselves again. Stars start scoring more and deployed better with worth it supporting cast.
Penguins beginning to keep alarming shots down and staying healthy.. Penguins addressing defense, neutral zone , zone entries and consistency..etc.. I will get them more benefit of doubt. Win more solid game with better monthly record.
Hey Dee,
Give me a moment. I am in the process of posting a new post. I will get back to you on this.
Dee,
Agreed, Sullivan really hasn’t done anything but rest on his laurels since the first Cup. Even the 2nd Cup was more a testament to Crosby and Guentzel rather than Sullivan. Sullivan’s idea of making adjustments is playing carousel with his lines. That works once in a while but that is it.
To be fair, Sullivan introduced the Penguins to a speed game and got them to start sucking it up when the calls went against them, instead of whining like they were doing under Bylsma and Johnston, but once the league caught on to the speed game and started copying it, that ended. Also, Sullivan did bring some youth up with him; Rust, Sheary, Kuhnhackl, and Sundqvist, but again, that died the next season. He turned into the same archaeologist that his predecessor was. He stopped giving youth its day and the team got older and slower.
Agreed – Blueger will probably want to jump when his contract is up. How can any young Center want to stay in an org that thinks Brassard (The way he is playing now), Sheahan (same thing), Cullen, and Grant are so much better than them that even in the depths of the afore mentioned players major, major slumps, no call was sounded for help from a player busting the back of his front in the AHL.
I have wonder if the Pens had kept Cole and Reaves at the trade dead line, sat Letang after the 3rd or 4th major guffaw of the Caps series, and inserted Sprong on the top line instead of the ever – (playoff) disappearing Sheary would they have at least gotten past the Caps. And having gotten past the Caps, would they have had enough to get to the finals.
Interestingly enough, as I have mentioned many times in the past, despite actually getting his team to the playoffs and being in position for a 3-peat, something that hadn’t been done in years, no one put Sullivan’s name in the mix for the Adams trophy. If nothing else, that should have opened up eyes here in the ‘burgh.
Also, I agree about Wilson, ZAR, and Simon. I do like all 3 little engines that could. They all make great hman interest stories but 4 lines of Wilson – ZAR – Simon get you the best percentage chance of the 1st pick in the draft, that is all.
Furthermore, I do agree, give Blueger, A Johnson, and Angello their due. Use Angello as the back-up plan to Hornqvist on the PP and the 2nd unit net front presence.
There is a lot of fire extinguishing going on right now. The team is winning but they have a very shaky foundation and they need to trot out the PR. Unfortunately for them, right now, they are not doing a very good job at their PR and anyone with half a brain should be questioning their responses. If there really was nothing with the Dupuis interview, there was no need for Sullivan’s protective whine. If there was nothing with the Sprong issue, again there would have been no need for the continued talk.
Hey Dee,
I did find the Traik article interesting, defending JRs apparent decision to stay the course with Sullivan. I do agree you don’t even hint of a change unless you have a plan B, but even though the team is winning and some of the problems are resolving, the most glaring aren’t.
With no intent of disrespect, I will have to disagree with that article. JR had better get a plan B and implement it unless Sullivan learns how to treat his players. I honestly would care either way. Get Sullivan to put his big boy pants on and stop the high school circus of guess who I hate this week and take less than 1/4 of a season to adjust a worn out game plan and I am okay
Hey tOR,
I love that Murray has done well over the last few games, but let’s face it two of the three games he just won were against the 30th and 31st worst scoring teams in the NHL. Sullivan is cherry picking the games for him again to get his confidence up and yes, that is good coaching.
The Capitals game had 4 times that the Penguins defensemen actually had to put themselves in physical danger to stop the puck from crossing the line behind Murray. The guy is still ranked #39 in save % in the NHL.
Is there reason for optimism? Hell Yea! Is it time to start chiseling the Murray statue to put beside Lemieux’s? Maybe we should wait a few more games.
The shots on goal is in interesting stat. I was looking at that the other day also. I was surprised to learn the Penguins led the league in shots on goal for maybe 3 or 4 of the last few years. I was looking for probably the shots stats probably the same reason as you, it really feels like the Penguins have a lot of shots against them.
When going to the games my horrible seats allow me to see who is in position and who is out of position all game. Unlike TV, I can watch what the players are doing away from the puck. I can tell you the defense for the first time in a good while has been in solid position.
The problem with the Penguins is the forwards are not coming back and or are coming back out of position.
Malkin and Kessel are the biggest offenders. Malkin comes back and doesn’t cover his guy as much as he just skates to wherever the puck is. Kessel many times lollygags to the bench forcing guys to jump in the play late. Much of their problem used to be circumvented by having them play puck possession in the offensive end most of their shifts. That has not been happening.
As the defense goes, I just read somewhere, can’t remember where, but someone ranked Letang and Dumoulin the best defensive pairing in the NHL right now because of their defensive and offensive acumen. I think Dumoulin is a +20 or something.
I really like what I am seeing on defense in the last week or so. It might not be perfect, but it is a step in the right direction. Hopefully they don’t forget everything over the holidays. Which reminds me… Happy Holidays!
Hey Phil,
Happy Holidays to you too.
Perhaps if I saw as many games, live, as you do, I would feel the love that you feel. You are decidedly right, there there is a significant advantage to being at the game. On TV, one can only see the plays that the bias of the producers deem worthy. However, I am not all that sure we would still view the game quite the same, and that is OK.
We all bring different biases that cause us to see and more importantly remember different aspects of the game. I was a goalie when I played. Yes, occasionally, I did play out as a center, but 90% of the time you would find me between the pipes. You may say that getting hit with all those pucks may have warped my views, and you may even have a small point. We goalies are a different breed. We have to be humble enough to accept the fact that the skaters often forget that before the puck gets passed us, it has to get by at least 3 skaters in cases of penalties, but more often than not, 5 skaters. The skaters rarely want to acknowledge that long before we failed, they had to fail.
We also have to be humble enough to share the kudos of a shutout with our whole team, because we actually do realize that most often, at least one player went above and beyond to help us get that SO.
To that end, you tend to remember the Sheahan or Pettersson play pulling the puck off of the goal line against the Caps, while I tend to remember the toe save Murray made on Teravainen or the break away shut down he had on Fogle. You may tend to remember the 16 blocked shots the Penguins Skaters made against Carolina or the 22 blocked shots they made against the Caps, while I don’t ignore those plays, I also remember the 69 shots that Murray stopped in those 2 games.
I am an unabashed Murray fan who has, if you looked back, also took him to task for his bad plays. However, I am not yet ready to have his image carved next to Mario’s on Mount Washington. I would be hard press to be willing to place anyone next to his image. Even as superlative Crosby and Malkin have been in Pgh, they still pale in comparison. Crosby, Malkin, may not be out of place next Jagr but in all of hockey, only Orr, Gretzky, Howe, and maybe Coffey would be able to shine next to Lemieux.
As for Malkin, since Crosby’s CA/60 at EV strength is 55.4 and Malkin’s isn’t that much higher at 58.3, it doesn’t seem that their is evidence to blame Malkin for shots against using the eye test when objective data doesn’t support it. Riley Sheahan, a Center/Wing who is alledgedly a D-phenom has a EV CA/60 of 65.7 it would seem he would be the best culprit among Centers to blame. Brassard i higher too at 58.9.
The eye test fails even more when it comes to Kessel, when reasons for high shot totals are looked into. Kessel actually has the lowest EV CA/60 at 54.2. His numbers are actually lower than Crosby’s. Rust has a EV CA/60 of 59.3, Hornqvist 61.8 and ZAR 65.0.
Looking down the Defemsemen;
Letang 55.4
Dumoulin 55.9
Oleksiak 59.4
Maatta 59.7
Riikola 64.1
J Johnson 65.2
Pettersson 66.6
Since none of them have lower CA/60 lower than Kessel, none of them can blame Kessel for not helping out and only possibly Letang and Dumoulin could blame Malkin. However, these numbers are not using Dee’s with or without you stats so they aren’t as strong as they can be and if Dee is right, J Johnson tends to play with Malkin,, then we should be looking closer at J Johnson than Malkin.
I am rooting for you to be right and me to be wrong. I am rooting for the Pens to get it all together, even if no other personnel changes occur. And I am really enjoying going into the Christmas break on this high note, 3 straight wins, 1 a SO, Rust knocking down goals and assists like he was Guy Lafleur or Mike Bossey.
Again Happy Holidays and have a Cup of Cheer!!!!
Hey tOR,
Those stats are useless to me. You know as well as I know that Stamkos & Kucherov going in on a 2 on none breakaway counts the exact same as Ian Cole lobbing the puck at the net from the point. The key part about Kessel getting off the ice is that the shots don’t count against him for the odd man situations he creates. Neither does the +/- for the goals it creates.
Malkin and Kessel have the worse offensive +/-‘s on the team along with they lead the team in giveaways. That is REAL objective data.
I’m just saying I see it night after night with Kessel & Malkin. They should be split up, but they complain when Sullivan does it. Just telling you what I see, take it for what it is worth.
*Simon on there line has done a great job getting back when on their line.