“Ahh, but the strawberries that’s… that’s where I had them. They laughed at me and made jokes but I proved beyond the shadow of a doubt and with… geometric logic…” That is what Captain Queeg said in the 1954 classic film The Caine Mutiny. Has anyone here seen it? The Captain of the fictional U.S.S. Caine stubbornly refuses to change course in the face of a typhoon with his ship foundering. The executive officer, Lt. Maryk, mutinies and saves the ship and draws a Court Martial for his troubles.
The quote comes from Lt. Maryk’s court martial, when his defense attorney (played by Jose Ferrer) proves that Captain Queeg is incompetent to save his client. Ferrer shows that Queeg is living in past, reliving the one thing he did really well over and over again. In a mental quagmire, Queeg has a “Ground Hog Day” experience of his shining moment (a moment that occurs years prior to movie setting, when Queeg is just a junior officer) where he proves that a duplicate key had been made. Now, lost in his delusions, Queeg tries to resurrect days of yore by making a mountain out of a mole hill trying to prove a duplicate key was made to steal strawberries from his current ship’s food locker.
Well, that is what I keep hearing every time I watch a Penguins’ game. In 2015-2016 the Penguins’ ship Captain, Mike Sullivan, did his one thing; he created the HBK line and gave the Penguins a three headed monster. Sullivan’s hydra carried the team to a Stanley Cup victory, not just once but twice. First the “B” left (Nick Bonino) via free agency, last year. Now this year, the “H” is gone (Carl Hagelin), departed in a trade for Tanner Pearson. Yet, our own stalwart version of Captain Queeg, Coach Sullivan keeps trying to relive past glories brought to him on the back of the HBK line.
I am sorry Sullivan, there is no HBK line anymore (duplicate key). The team no longer has the talent (at least at this time, on this roster) to support scoring from three lines. This team only has 4 legitimate top 6 forwards and although not old by any stretch of the imagination, 2 of those forwards are no longer what you would call young guns. Furthermore, when an overpaid Defense is as bad as the Penguins’ Defense is, focusing on the strawberries of your once golden hydra, Sullivan, is hurting the team.
The good news for us Penguins fans is that our favorite ship really isn’t in peril of completely floundering yet. The typhoon of the rest of the league copying us, adjusting to us, and blowing past us isn’t a fore drawn conclusion. Even though our favorite flightless fowl are treading water at the fringes of the playoffs now after a lackluster (to say the least) road trip, they really still aren’t that far off from the top spot in the division.
Perhaps bringing up Teddy Blueger this year, or maybe Jordy Bellerive next year could replace the “B” in your HBK line Mr. Sullivan. Blueger did have a tremendous World Tournament this past summer and is now leading our Wilkes Barre – Scranton (WBS) Penguins in scoring. And Bellerive seems to have recovered now from his off season injuries. The Penguins prospect now has 23 goals, 32 assists and is a +12 in 45 games.
Perhaps Adam Johnson could replace Hagelin. He has comparable speed but potentially a better scoring touch.
I would still think fixing the 2nd line, giving Malkin at least 1 top 6 forward to work with on a nightly basis is far more important than your strawberries and duplicate key 3rd line, Mr. Sullivan.
Even more important than that Mr. Sullivan, is fixing your defense. You and Jim Rutherford employ one of the most expensive defenses in the league, but it sure doesn’t act like it. It is said that every so often even a blind squirrel finds a nut, well every so often this defense has a good game or 2 but then reverts right back to letting opponents get between them and their own net.
Yes, Justin Schultz is due back soon and once he gets his game legs back under him, he should provide a boost, but get a clue, that doesn’t mean you now can trade Jamie Oleksiak (there are rumors to that affect). Last year that kid was arguably your 2nd best Defenseman behind only Schultz and the two of them made a lights out pairing.
Barring injuries Brian Dumoulin and Oleksiak are your best 2 left handed Defensemen and Oleksiak is only a $2.1 million cap hit. Olli Määttä at roughly $4.1 million and Jack Johnson $3.25 million are much better trade candidates as odd man out. Furthermore, Juuso Riikola can be hidden in WBS until playoff time. Marcus Pettersson may appear to have some upside, but he is being overplayed to justify a trade. He is not going to replace a Dumoulin, Oleksiak, or Määttä in this lineup.
With Matt Dumba injured, expecting to miss 3 months, maybe the team could find a way to trade Jack Johnson or Määttä with maybe Pettersson, Riikola, or Dominik Simon for Charlie Coyle. I am sure frequent commenter Dee wouldn’t object to that trade. Coyle can play both Right Wing (RW) and Center and therefore add to the Penguins more flexibility.
They could then try and trade Derick Brassard for a cheaper Defenseman to replace which ever Defensemen they would lose in the Coyle trade.
I would still not like their chances of getting past Tampa Bay Lightning or Toronto Maple Leafs, even if they could escape their own division, but I do think that their probability of doing just that would go up exponentially.
Rest up Penguins, rest up and get ready for that stretch run!
Go Sidney Crosby! Go Kris Letang! Shine this coming weekend!
Hey tOR,
It’s ironic that this year they actually may need a third line center to replace the one they didn’t need last year. Ah… The nuance.
I guess they’ll trade Brassard — soon — and have to package him with something more to get anything they’d need to make a worthwhile push into the post season. You know there’s a d-man going, too, who’s ticket has already been purchased, but is just waiting for the name and destination to be filled in. Jarry is suddenly trade bait, too, if necessary. And, the d-man? Okelsiak gets my vote, but reluctantly and thinking that would be an unforced error.
What do they need? A winger, or two, to shore up two lines, the second andthird. No doubt Malkin needs a solid winger. He needs, and wants, his Guentzel. He should have that, too, if in any way possible. No Malkin. No second line. No cup, after a mediocre playoff run. Likely one and done.
The third line also needs a certain point producer. They need a third line that’s not only a threat to steal a game, but one that can and will. While some bottom sixers have been pitching in lately, they’re all streaky — Rust, Pearson, Simon, Sheahan… They’ll all notch you a few, but then disappear for several weeks, or months. That isn’t going to work come playoff time.
I also don’t discount the importance of getting Malkin off his ass, and interested in hockey again. Like Phil, I believe he‘s sulking, or brooding, as he’s sometimes done in the past. Remember in the playoffs the year they lost to Philly? Someone tore his chain from his neck in a scrum in the corner. He became the brooding Russian and he was toast after that. Anyway, whatever it takes to light the fire, do it, and do it soon.
Center? There’s always the option of giving Bluegar a shot. It may be worth it now. I can’t imagine how they’d manage to land two wingers and a center. It’s not impossible, but it is improbable. How this works out is completely dependent on whatever trades are made. It’s a wait and see for now.
As for Hornqvist, I understand your view, and Rick’s. I have no doubt for his time here he’s been a top six winger, and a good one. After the last two concussions, he hasn’t been the same. Maybe he’s having a crisis of conscience and is a bit gun shy right now. This, too, is a detriment to any playoff hopes this team harbors. He’s a team leader. His enthusiasm and work ethic can’t be over emphasized. He should be on a top line, but in any slot, on any line, he has to be a team leader. When he’s at the top of his game, there are few better examples of what it takes to win hockey games than Hornqvist.
The defense is what it is, vacillating between two and a half solid pairings, and none. They could get a d-man in a trade, but I’m not convinced that will carry them where they need to go. I prize solid defense, but having only one scoring line, at this point, is the more pressing issue. Sid and Guentzel, and Kessel, will not carry this team to another cup. It won’t hurt, under these circumstances, for coaching to keep preaching defense, to everyone, and for everyone to heed the sermon.
And, finally… Goaltending. Yep, it’s of paramount importance, too, but also quite simple. If 2016 Murray shows up, then thumbs up. If not, DeSmith will hold the fort for a bit, but he won’t carry the team to the promise land — thumbs down.
Still, these coming 30-plus games will be exciting. They’re right on the cusp, the edge. The moves JR makes in the next few weeks will determine which side of that edge they come down on. Well, that, and solving Malkin.
— 55
Hi TOR!
I enjoyed reading your article (as always since I discovered Penguin Poop). My observations of the 2018-2019 season are the following:
1- The bottom 6 has definitely lost its edge. Bonino, Hagelin, Kuhnhackl are gone. As a Pens fan, I am missing them. Bones has very good defense skills. He anticipates well and doesn’t try to be too fancy. He can also add a scoring touch every now and then (it has been going well in this department lately). Hagelin may not have good hands but his speed can be deadly and deceiving, especially in PK. He was covering a lot for Malkin’s and Kessell’s lack of D-skills. Kuny is doing well in New York because he has more opportunities to play. I think that Barry Trotz knows how to get the better of him.
2- The current bottom 6 is unidimentional and players are interchangeable. Cullen is a real trooper but I think the game is going a wee bit fast for him. He is definitely in his final moments as a NHler. As for Brassard, he doesn’t fit in and he is just suffocating in the Pens system. He plays by instinct and needs a lot of space to craft his plays. Pearson can be useful if he is working in a limited space with very specific tasks to perform. He doesn’t belong to a top 6. Simon, in my opinion, could be a good third or fourth liner but really needs to improve his ability to read the game. For Sheahan, it seems that he is assigned to a role that is not suited for him .
3- There is something really wrong with Malkin this year. I can feel that he is utterly disappointed with something. Maybe even bitter. I believe he really misses Hagelin. I heard that Sullivan complains about Malkin’s and Kessel’s D-skills. Well, these guys are paid to score goals and they are very useful in that role. That’s why it is essential to have a versatile bottom 6, players that can compensate for their lack of D-skills. I suspect Geno to be at odds with Sullivan. They obviously don’t see eye to eye on how top lines should be balanced. It is very risky to get under Geno’s and Phil’s nerves…
4- Goaltending is another issue. This issue probably stems from a weak D. DeSmith is doing the best he can but needs to work his technique. But I like the way he fights for the puck. He doesn’t give up. As for Murray, it has been tough for him for the last two years, both psychologically and physically. He needs to be stronger physically (gaining 10 pounds would be reasonable). His lateral moves are not always in sync and really struggles with the glove side. My opinion is that he was not mentally ready to be a no.1 goalie. Winning two Stanley cups can set the standards very high and can be difficult to handle for Murray, especially if his mentor (Flower for instance) is not around to guide him through it. He is a very good goalie but needs to be more consistent.
5- Finally, the first line literally carries the team at some point. Sid is aging really well hockey wise. He has become an excellent two-way player. He reminds me of Steve Yzerman back in the day. Guentzel has a stellar year so far. He really gelled with Sid. My only concern is that Jake’s performance relies strongly on Sid’s contribution. Sullivan did put him on other lines and things were not going as well. So the Sid-Jake combination must be maintained but the team really needs to strengthen the bottom 6 and the D. Otherwise, making the playoffs will be a hazardous road.
Hey Jorenz,
I agree with some of your points.
I strongly disagree with assessment of Jake Guentzel. He has produced and did good with other centers on this team. Geno, Bones, Cullen and Sheahan. Hell he want move the needle for Sheahan. Because he cannot effectively use his wingers to get them to score goals.. etc.. so I disagree..
Jake Guentzel look the same ( same way he came on this team and more better than ever. Progress a lot. He works hard with or without scoring a goal.
He has been great on both sides of puck. He has been consistently consistent all season.
Sid and Jake are contributing to both their production. You lost me there. He actually creates a lot of offensive work in all parts of the ice. and became better defensively. They both suppose to be relying on each other and work hard with each other . They are do it.
You can argue that Crosby needs to shoot more when Jake setup him up for a goal. Crosby like to be in a playmaker role a lot and finds happiness to set up his teammates with goals ..That they need a better right winger and some defenders with try to shut him down more with Crosby. He’s deadly . He has become more that way since his unfortunate, undeserving concussion issues . He like to play give and go a lot and get behind defenders a lot. He loves the down low cycle game . Jake and Sid are playing the same way each styles .. they play the same game and work well one another. No each spots on the ice. You cannot teach that at all.
He like be more selfish and give his teammates successful.
Jake Guentzel has earned his keep to be with Sidney Crosby. He’s a top 6 foward that shouldn’t even play on the bottom lines. So it’s asinine to put him there.
Playing Guentzel with a low hockey iq player that doesn’t fit his style and strengths will not have him produce every game. Kessel with Brassard or Sheahan is a prime example..
Only ones that relying on Crosby performance is Rust and Simon. They bring down Crosby and Guentzel chemistry on the ice.
Guentzel is Sidney Crosby ‘s LW and should remain that. Guentzel is a passenger and deserves to stay with Crosby.
I find it funny that some still take Guentzel for granted. He’s a part of core with Crosby, Malkin, Kessel .. Guentzel has nothing else to prove .. He’s low maintenance and one of best LW that Crosby ever play with.. Whether believe stats or eye test.. Both confirmed he’s a great high level player that continues to get better.
Jake Guentzel is not a product of Sidney Crosby. He drives the play very well on the ice. He’s a statue in his own right.
At this point no one should be questioning Guentzel and Crosby success. They needs a better RW.
Would you prefer brutal Sheary?
Cullen ? I don’t think he’s that bad. I think he needs better wingers. He does a very good job with assignments that given to him. I have seen him on the ice. He does his job and not slow to me. I would love Blueger to get a look with him. Cullen look better than Sheahan and Brassard combine together.
Hi Dee!
I see that you disagree with my ” assessment” of Jake Guentzel. I put the word ” assessment” in quotes because it was not really an assessment. It was rather an opinion or impression. We can’t deny that Jake is getting better and has a better understanding of the game.
Not any player can play with Sidney Crosby because he anticipates 2-3 plays in advance. Positioning is very important with Sid and Jake got the jist of it rather quickly.
I think that Jake is a very talented young player and can establish himself as top 6 player. There is no doubt about that! But Dee, you can’t deny that Jake benefits from Sid’s experience and sound piece of advice. I am sure that when Sid and Jake are sitting on the bench, Sid is showing Jake on the I-pad his good and bad moves.
So, to sum it up, Jake has his own personality, his own talent but when you have the privilege to play with Sidney Crosby, you can only get better.
No hard feelings Dee, I just wanted to clarify my point! :o)
Hello Jorenz,
Ok .I get it. Thanks for Clearing it up .
Guentzel is a great hockey player whose numbers far exceed the eye-test experience. Jake’s very low key and low maintenance
But damn is he good. He wants to do everything and not be passenger playing alongside his biggest idol. Consistency is key for them.
Yes. He’s benefiting and major interactions from him on the bench with Crosby . Greatest of all time. He’s mentoring him and they are picking each other brains to be the best on the ice.
Since day one . Crosby has taking him under his wing and has a instance connect with him. Make sure he sits next to him in the locker room etc. More than Conor Sheary.
Sorry. I got little out of hand . I understand. I just think Guentzel is least of Penguins problems this season. I hope Penguins can get A better LW for Malkin that succeeding like Guentzel. I hope Adam Johnson. Not ZAR.
Thoughts on Jack Johnson?
Thoughts on Letang?
I would like to move on from both …Penguins can benefit with two more great young RHD and Määttä get a better partner to let him succeed on the ice..Shultz can a great solid permanent quarterback on the top powerplay unit .
Maybe it’s just me. It’s time to move from Kris Letang and invest new younger two way defenseman ..
Hi Jorenz,
Thank you for the kind words.
1) Isn’t it funny how when the team lost Bonino and Cole they lost their playoff mojo, 2 players that knew how to funnel shots to the perimeter and keep the danger zones clearer. Both were fearless shot blockers too.
Also, I agree that Hagelin certainly added a dimension, especially to Malkin and Kessel. Although they weren’t quite torching the league like they were at the start of the season, that line was still helping drive the teams offense and they still were on the plus side of the +/-. That is why I keep beating the drum for A Johnson, he may be the closest player to Hagelin in speed but may have an edge in scoring. If he were brought up and asked simply to be the new Hagelin and cover defensively for Malkin and Kessel, I don’t think he would look bad at all. He certainly couldn’t look worse than any of the others Sullivan paraded on that port side. Keeping it simple by asking him just to stay high and be defensively responsible should also help him transition to the NHL. When Hagelin came over to Pgh his game was simplified to just be a puck hound. the K.I.S.S principal can still be a good philosophy to get players rolling. I think that Hagelin’s UFA factored into that trade.
I always liked Kuhnhackl. I also thought when employed on the RW he brought more offense to his game. Problem was a numbers game; lots of RWs and no LWs, so Sullivan kept trying to play him on the LW. That may have played into his decision. However, last I saw, even though he was doing better in Pnts/GP he wasn’t getting a lot of GP.
2) I agree completely in your assessment of the bottom 6 and would extend that a little further in saying that the bottom 6 may really be interchangeable with not only each other but more than a handful of WBS Penguin forwards. In fact, I can’t help but wonder if at least 2 or 3 players in WBS may be better than most of the bottom 6 on the big club.
3) Again I agree. I can’t help but think that what we heard during Dupuis gate was only the tip of the iceberg. Once Dupuis gate hit the media the spin doctors went to work in damage control mode only showing bench shots when there was no arguments and possibly staged amicable teaching sessions, liberally sprinkled with commentary from the announcers to draw our attention to the dog and pony show. That may sound just like the conspiracy theorist type I mention below in other discussions, but I am not saying it is a fact, I am only saying that it is my gut feeling.
4) Agreed a weak defense will eventually lead to poor goaltending. There are only so many odd man breaks a goalie can face before he breaks. There are only so many times a goalie can be assaulted by opponents in front of his own crease before he starts fighting back for himself, often times taking himself out of position. There are only so many rebound attempts the defense can give opponents before they eventually score. I know that NHL.com tracks shot length from every goal on a play by play basis, I can’t help but wonder if anyone has taken on the daunting task of crunching those numbers. I would be interested in seeing what the average goals against shot length is by goalies across the league and where Murray and DeSmith stand.
I am a Murray fan. I like large positional goalies rather than smaller acrobat, battlers. Although I would never throw away a Tony Esposito, I would always take a Ken Dryden over him. So keep that in mind when I voice my opinion of Murray. Even though I do try to stay objective and therefore have to acknowledge how bad the start of the season was for him, I still see his recent play combined with his previous play and look at the rough spots in between as the anomaly, like all goalies eventually go thru. Looking at his Sv% at 24 yrs of age, his numbers are better than MAF and the conditions are similar but reversed. MAF came up with a bad team that grew into Cup contenders, Murray came up and won Cups but now has to deal with a dissolving talent pool.
5) I do agree that this team is being carried by the 1st line and if it makes the play offs and more importantly goes anywhere in the playoffs, Murray will be fighting those 2 as the MVP. They will need him to be barring a change in D. However, I do remember that Guentzel got his first shifts with Malkin and looked really, really good there too. A comment I made at the time was that he reminded me of how James Neal always found the soft spot in the opponents D. The only time I think he struggled was trying to center the 3rd line last year.
However, Guentzel no doubt benefits a lot greatly from playing with 87.
HI TOR!
I haven’t planned to write such a long post but I was kind of carried away with the subject!
About the goalies, I must tell you that I am not a huge fan of Murray but I am able to acknowledge that he played a pivotal role in the Pens successes. I prefer Flower because he is more athletic and agressive with the puck. This is a personal choice.
I think that the D-line must be improved or even rebuilt. I would keep Dumo, Shultz, Pettersson, Oleksiak and Maatta. But the problem with Maatta is that he is often caught flat-footed. He really needs to be paired with a fast skater. I would certainly trade Johnson. He is dragging everybody down! I am a wee bit ambivalent about Letang. Offensively, he still has it and plays an important part in the PP. But defensively, he has been struggling for the last two years. His D-coverage can be bad at times. The things that prevent GMJR from trading Letang are his huge contract and his injury history.
Hey Other Rick,
Another exceptionally clever, creative, well-thought article. Per our usual, I don’t necessarily agree with everything you say, but I always enjoy reading your thoughts … 🙂
I don’t know that I agree with your assertion that we don’t have enough talent to flesh out three reasonably productive lines, although I will agree there doesn’t appear to be a potential HBK combo lurking in the weeds. After half a season of trying in vain to develop chemistry between Brassard and anybody, I agree…leave Kessel with Malkin and work around that.
I know points are dear and the Pens aren’t exactly a lock for a playoff spot. But I wouldn’t mind seeing Blueger and Adam Johnson at least get cameos to show what they can do. At this stage I don’t think it would hurt and they might provide a spark.
Agree that the ‘d’ seems to have unraveled a bit lately. After a great start, the Pettersson-Johnson combo has struggled. Although I like elements of his game (hits, blocked shots) Johnson seems to be consistently at the heart of our issues. I sure wouldn’t want to part with Oleksiak in order to maintain a spot for him. Nor do I want to part with Maatta. I agree with Dee and Phil…this kid is really solid.
Anyway…my two cents.
Rick
Hey Rick,
I think the Johnson/Pettersson combo is a 3rd line combo that Sullivan can hide during home games when he gets the match-ups he wants. On the road it is a whole different story when the other teams can match up their best lines against them. Johnson is a -6 in the last 4 games and back to defensive worst on the Pens at -9. Chad Ruhwedel is the only other defenseman in the negatives.
I also would love to see the Pens work in and try out some of the younger WBS guys. I really think Sullivan tries to bring them up towards the end of the year to get a little enthusiasm in the locker room with it being such a long season.
If Kessel and Malkin are together they need someone that will get back and play defense for them. Kessel -14 and Malkin -19 are the by far the worse defensive guys on the team. It also probably wouldn’t hurt for the coach to go over where they are supposed to be in the defensive end. Malkin just goes anywhere and messes up the works. He does hustle though.
Hey Phil,
Interesting observation about Pettersson/Johnson. Something sure flipped on the recent road trip. Suddenly, they looked extremely vulnerable.
Also great point about Kessel and Malkin and their collective lack of defensive conscience. It’s increasingly apparent that Hagelin covered a myriad of sins for them, similar to the way Bob Errey covered for Mario and Rob Brown back in the day.
I think Geno’s capable of playing a more responsible two-way game. The bug that’s bitten him seems to be similar to the one that infected Letang last season, causing him to press too much and force things, leading to some truly ghastly turnovers. Hopefully, he can settle down.
Kessel is…well…Kessel. Don’t know if it gets much better defensively with him.
Rick
No 2 people ever agree all the time Rick and that is okay.
However, let me ask you, outside of Malkin, Crosby, Kessel, and Guentzel, who would say is a top 6 player on this team?
Hornqvist? If you said that I would understand but disagree. I think he is a third line and PP specialist. Plus let’s not ignore the elephant in the room, what about the concussion issue?
Pearson? hmm I would like to see that happen but the numbers really don’t support that right now. He seems to do the right thing but there still seems to be a disconnect. Right now he would seem to be better suited with Hornqvist (if he is healthy) on the 3rd line
After that who? Rust? ZAR? Simon? Brassard? Cullen? Sheahan? Wilson?
Hey OTR,
You asked the question…and pretty much answered it for me in one fell swoop.
While I understand your argument to the contrary, yes, Hornqvist. He’s got eight 20-plus goal seasons. In my mind, that constitutes a top-six forward in this day and age, a role he’s frequently filled while slotting in beside Crosby during our back-to-back Cup runs.
And yes, I think Pearson has top-six potential, although he obviously needs to establish himself more consistently in that regard.
Although he’s technically not a top-six guy, Rust can step up pretty effectively when the occasion calls for it. I don’t think Simon embarrasses himself, either, when called upon. Neither has Zach Aston-Reese in the limited playing time he’s received with the big boys.
No, none of those guys is top-six. But they’ve masqueraded as one at least reasonably effectively in a pinch.
Rick
Hey Rick,
As I said I do understand your belief that Hornqvist is a top 6, I just don’t share that opinion. I think he is too slow to work effectively 5 on 5 with this team. I think he serves this team best as I said 3rd line and PP specialist. I am also concerned that he will not finish the season.
Again, I can see some potential in Pearson, but it hasn’t been fulfilled. He is a trade up from Hagelin in most respects but he fails my top 6.
Sorry, for me, Guentzel is Crosby’s LW and Pearson really hasn’t meshed with Malkin. Hornqvist really hasn’t found a solid home with either. No I don’t see any players other than Crosby, Malkin, Kessell, and Guentzel that are top 6.
I did write that I think Rust can play a shift here and there in a top 6 but he does weigh his lines down. ZAR, like Rust is a guy I would love to succeed, but I have to look at him honestly, he just doesn’t have it to be top 6 and may not make the team next year. As for Simon, sorry, he went 17 games without a point, that is a ridiculous period of time, other players got benched and thrown off of the team for less than Simon has gotten away with.
Hello Rick,
I always enjoy your work with the other Rick
Shultz’s return can help tremendously and letting go of Jack Johnson will do wonders for this team. Although, they do needs to have better schemes to have defensively minded first defenseman that don’t get involved in a play to much that leaves to odd man rushes and neutral zones problem with bad transition game.
I do think Penguins needs to get another power top 6 fowards that bumps Simon and ZaR out. They can easily be call ups or get traded in a deal that strengthens Penguins and give cheaper WB\S opportunities. I wouldn’t play Zar over 1 million dollars..
I would say another better LW that Nhl ready and can play on the second or third lines. Penguins LW is very weak. You don’t have no one outside of Guentzel that will produce and get the job. He’s a top 6 foward.
Pearson? I’m not sure bout him. Jury still out. He’s isn’t a fast skater either that drag defenders with him to opens space for Malkin and Kessel .
I would suggest him playing with Hornqvist on the third line. H doesn’t necessarily fit Malkin’s style of play unless they give him 10 games to see where it goes consistently..
Penguins needs to get a top 6 LW for Malkin. I can only think about Adam Johnson thats cheap and better if they can’t get one during the TDL. He’s projected to be a top 6 and have some abilities to help out Malkin and Kessel. I would say Michael Ferland, But he has significant concussion issues, ask price uis to much and he fights to the point that Mike Sullivan will find any reason to scratch for that. Sullivan hates physical play that help this team. He want them to be soft and push around..
I hope Rutherford fix his mistakes and cut Jack Johnson. All I know Penguins are not really that thrill with him that much. They are starting to come down earth about their mistake to sign him.
We will see.
Hey Dee,
Thank you for your kind comments. I enjoy your responses as well…they’re always passionate, detailed and insightful. It’s obvious you know the game and spend a great deal of time really watching the players.
I agree we need a left wing. I would love to get a guy like Ferland, too…I personally like my team to play with a little bite and toughness. I’ve long envied Columbus for having guys like Josh Anderson, Nick Foligno and Boone Jenner…but I digress.
I’d also like to add some speed, and I do think Adam Johnson may be worth a look at some point. He may be one of those guys whose game translates better at the NHL level.
Like you, I really hope we don’t bleed off a young defenseman like Oleksiak to accommodate what appears to be a blunder in signing Jack Johnson.
I’m not sure if JR will be able to fix this one. If someone’s hard after Brassard, maybe we insist they take Johnson, too. I dunno.
Nor would I want to trade Maatta. He’s quietly evolved into a really solid second-pairing defenseman. About the only thing he can’t do is get up to speed when he gets turned, but he’s pretty smart and does a good job of mitigating that. And I’ve always been impressed with his passing, vision (always has his head up) and shot. Wish he’d get a little more opportunity to display the offensive side of his game.
Anyway, it’ll be interesting to see what JR’s able to do.
Rick
Hello ToR,
Thank you!
Yes. Something that I heavily dislike with Mike Sullivan with his deploying Olli Määttä. He’s a very solid great second pairing guy with all them qualities. He’s very , very good and goes great things. That’s why Shultz and Määttä succeed. Even tho Shultz points were down to people expectations he was very solid on both side puck and help bring the best out of Määttä to be himself with confidence. Everything you described about Määttä is what I love about him. It just how he turns around with defenders.thats the only negative. He takes hits and beating to get puck out to fowards and transition well to offensive zone. I am big Määttä fan.
I would like him pairing with Malkin’s line to give him the puck. I always would like to see Shultz take over the top powerplay for good. It’s just more simple and better with him.
I like love two more tough guys on this team that give Penguins physicality and skill.. I feel like Sullivan negates that and block the solid grit that scares team away.
Whether we agree on this about Letang. He has done good enough back from severe neck injury. Hes good enough player that does some ok great things here and there. He just wildly inconsistent and one of biggest flaws on the D core. To much money tied up with him that block other great player to stay and to coming here to stay.
I see that Dumoulin is doing his job and Letang job to much. It hinders him and Dumoulin take a beat for it.
I don’t see the two way great hockey Penguins needs to shutdown opponents and maturity to his game.He isn’t very good on the powerplay. He’s a weakness to their powerplay. I’m tryna say at some point with Shultz return or /couple months/in one year Penguins should trade him to decent return that can be flip to get younger defenders. I still believe Dumoulin, Määttä ,Shultz and Oleskiak can get the job on this team. With two new RHD to overhaul the d core to whole another level. Moving Johnson and Letang at some point will make the d core younger and better . Give Shultz a opportunity to quarterback the powerplay a lot.
Something happens to give. I think those you players deserves to stay and Letang help them get younger on defense..
You thoughts?
J. Johnson been on the ice for 54 goals against so far this season, almost 38 percent of all Penguins goals allowed.
Brutal.
Do you like the contract and deploying with Malkin and Crosby?
Hey Dee,
Not sure what the contract and deploying is. I think their salary’s are great if that’s what you mean. I also think that Sulli uses them in the correct manner. I really like having three lines.
I believe that Malkin sulks (not sucks). He gets in moods and doesn’t try as hard because he is unhappy with how something is playing out. Perhaps he didn’t get his way. He wants a quality winger and he wants Kessel.
I think getting him a Russian friend or two would really help. He probably has Ovechkin whispering in his ear to come center him in Washington where they have 4 Russians on their team.
Hey Dee,
The J Johnson deal may be worse than the Hunwick deal.
Phil,
If the Penguins had the top 2 lines working then yes, a hydra is great, but sacrificing the 2nd line to start a 3rd at best still only leaves you with 2 lines but more often than not reduces you to 1. The Pens don’t have the quantity of quality players to support 3 lines right now.
Maybe Malkin is sulking, maybe he is trying too hard because he has pylons for wings half of the time.
He and Kessel were bread and butter early on this season until Hagelin was traded. The only player the Pens have that may be equal to Hagelin is A. Johnson.
Maybe the great ape is trying to steal Malkin ala Lebron James basketball rigging. But Malkin is still under contract for some time. I would hope that the NHL won’t allow that kind of stupidity. I would hope that they would crack down hard on tampering at least with players under contract.
Hey Phil,
I dont know what games you go to or watch on tv all season.
Mike Sullivan has been put out to the media every game that Johnson and Pettersson are bottom pairing. During every game Johnson pairing is with /on the ice countless time with Malkin and Crosby lines. It has been going on all season. Recently Vegas game he kept putting him out their with top lines instead of Määttä who plays very , very good games better than Johnson and have a better way of getting the puck out to fowards. First goal was reminiscent that.
I’m sorry . Maybe I writing long overtop comments and very long blatantly insightful honest observations. I have a lot of money , time and homework to do so. Mike Sullivan has been sheltering and give players that belong to play on the defensive pairing short end of stick compare to Jack Johnson. It isn’t good Defense is a mess. Certainly his deal hurts you players that should be consistently over him. Jack Johnson is bad , bad contract that hampers the D core and take away younger players that deserve their opportunity to stay and play. There’s was no point to sign Jack Johnson to a deal.
Penguins had opportunity to trade brassard with that 4 million for a RHD and potentially cheap LW to help them. It isn’t a concidence that Rutherford move are questionable with better input from Jason Botterill and not deferring to Sullivan to much. Sullivan and Rutherford defer to much with each other.
Penguins should have did better.
From the get go Penguins should have gotta a bottom pairing RHD/LW or give ErhanProw /Rudwedel some ice time. It doesn’t make without a strengthening RHD position.
Dumoulin-Letang
Määttä-Shultz
Oleskiak-?
Rudwedel/Prow/Rikkola extras.
I don’t care for Rikkola . He’s ok good for bottom pairing call up..
I repeat, repeat Sullivan suppose to put his players really top stars to suceed and drive the bus on the ice. He’s hasn’t . Malkin season is resemblance to Crosby last season. Malkin needs a better LW and better defenseman that get puck to him. Pearson and Hornqvist needs to be on the third line. Pearson is ok good and do ok small things. At best Penguins needs to realize/ understand Malkin’s needs to be a to produce.
He like speed, he likes a shooter/playmaker like Kessel and LW that get into the dirty areas that help him do whatever his like to do on the ice. That makes him happy and do the little things that get him active and produce in scoring..
Hey Tor,
Absolutely. I just realized that. Hunwick bad/good at times. Way better than Johnson.
Hey Tor ,
Absolutely
You build your foundation and load top lines every game until they sort of out 3C position.
You stop a 2nd great line to help a struggling 3C line to have 2nd line struggling with bad different anchors…
Malkin got bad wingers and , playing hard with the weight on his shoulders bad consistency all this season
Malkin is doing his job with no help and no consistency to do what he does on the ice. It’s evident.
Penguins do not have 3 scoring let alone four rolling deep lines that will help them every game this. They have one half top line producing without a significant RW that will get the job.
So Phil,
Malkin deserves better on this team. Players ( superstars that drive the bus and sales) they thrive over consistency and to know who their wingers tendencies every game to be able to be a force on the ice. Simon, Sheahan ZaR, Hornqvist, Pearson isn’t gonna cut it. Two natural side right wingers( Hornqvist and Kessel won’t cut it either) Malkin has been on this team for more than an decade. So everyone should know his wants and dislikes that help his line succeed expectations .. He plays harder and damn sure showing his frustration with inconsistencies that hampers his production and his line to be needed behind Crosby’s line.
I think it need be some more analyzing from you on Malkin’s situation..
We can agree he can get going. He isn’t the root or blame for Penguins big problems or a players that hurting this team every game..
I fail to to mention that Sullivan has very favoritism and babysitting problems with Murray like he did with Sheary and other players ..
Too much small hole to fill. Penguins stars players deserve better , imo.
Murray isn’t a number #1 top goalie for the Penguins,. There’s no way you start DeSmith to play with the Vegas. I get it. You don’t want to get in to the hype. I guess. Agreement with a Phil..
DeSmith has has better experience with Coyotes this season. Murray could’ve take a challenge to stand on his head. It doesn’t make sense at all. Especially with the days they had off ..
There’s no point to compare Fluery and Murray. Fluery is top 10 goalie among the great of all time goalie and will be hall of famer..
Whether Penguins hold onto Jarry.. I feel bad for Jarry .. I hate it.. They needs to get a another reliable great goalie. I thought Calvin Pickard would help them..
Either way Penguins gotta play better great hockey in front of their goalie.
As I wrote Below Dee, DeSmith lost to Chi 2x and LAK 1x in the last month. He hasn’t played well against bottom teams. I don’t see Sullivan babying Murray, I see him conceding a loss and looking for at least 2 points out of 4.
Nice post Rick spot on!
Thanks Rick Z
I am not trading Oil Määttä!!!!!!!! He isn’t the problem . Sorry. It will be stupid. It the coaching Staff wanting to play Johnson as 3/4 Defensemen while giving Määttä short end of the stick .. Heavily scratching Oleskiak for no reason at all. Penguins won’t win a stanley cup with Johnson, Rikkola and Pettersson in the line up. Especially Pettersson with Johnson.
Olli Määttä is playing the assignment that giving to him that very unfortunate and pretty lame for his skill set.. He played really good all the time and still Sullivan still chose to deploy Johnson with top lines. I respectfully Disagree about Olli Määttä.
Penguins organization already said several times that not giving up Olli myand not spoke to do that..
I would trade Pettersson, Riikola Johnson..
Dumoulin, Oleskiak, Määttä and Shultz should stay….
It’s needs to be
Domo-Letang
Määttä-Shultz
Pettersson-Oleskiak or LD-Oleskiak
Penguins biggest problems is their coaching staff(not Martin) who slots players wrongly and keep line shuffling among other things..
I already gave my comment about the consistently inconsistent glaring issues..
Mike Sullivan have not done nothing great as coach for two seasons..
He claims he want part to buy in more and find a identity late in January..
Jack Johnson playing with your stars all the time is a recipe for disaster.. Playing two right wingers on Malkin line is a recipe for disaster.. Giving Simon top line minutes is recipe for disaster.. etc…
Penguins can Trade Brassard and Reese for Coyle… Resse is on his last contract and he won’t be missed with giving Adam Johnson a chance. Johnson is projected top 6 fowards with explosive speeds with grea attributes..
Trading Johnson in a flip or three way trade is the better way to remove him. He buyout him out for 8 years at 1 million. Penguins organization isn’t that overlying thrill with him at all.they are saving grace..
Trust me. There’s stupid GMs that will pay for him.. it was GMs willing to give a first round pick for him..with blue Jackets long time ago..
Penguins should be consistently put in position to be able to have consistency through their lines combos.. it not like that. I would personally say Malkin doesn’t want to be pairing with Johnson every game. You can seee it. It isn’t rocket science..
Guentzel-Crosby-RW. Occasionally Rust or Hornqvist. They need a RW . No Simon and Zar.
I hate Simon, Rust and ZAr on Crosby’s line. It brings it down. Bottom line players that don’t drive the play and very inconsistent with no finishing and no wonngong battles. Turnovers. Simon isn’t it. Rust and Zar either.
A .Johnson/Pearson-Malkin-Kessel I like Pearson for his little things he does but he seems to disappear and not a fast skater that overly take the weight over Malkin’s shoulders.. A winger that drives the plays and battles to win the pucks in all three zones. I’m advocating for Adam Johnson.. He showed that in preseason games and training camp with his speed..
LW-Coyle-Hornqvist
I don’t about bout fourth line.. But it needs to be speedy younger wingers..
I hope Penguins can rest up and looking themselves in the mirror. Especially Mike Sullivan.. I wish Penguins fire him long time ago..
Hello ToR,
Hey Dee & tOR,
Coyle is interesting, but aren’t the Pens deep at right wing? Kessel, Hornqvist & Rust. Guentzel, Pearson & Simon seems way thinner. Especially with Pearson in a drought.
Speaking of wingers, people are always quick to jump to the conclusion that Kessel has been the problem wanting to be on Malkin’s line. Is it possible that Malkin is the one throwing the tantrums? I watched Sullivan switch up the lines the other night and Kessel was put back on Malkin’s. All of the sudden Malkin was skating again with purpose.
It was weird to me that Sprong was never even tried on Malkin’s wing. I’m willing to bet that was not Sullivan’s fault. I have a hard time believing that he wouldn’t even try it for a shift or two.
You can say because of this Sullivan has lost the team or you can look at it like Johnston came in and tried that stuff so the team quit altogether. The Pens should probably be trying to make a deal to land a quality Russian friend/winger for Malkin.
I can’t seem to find any good Russian left wingers that anyone would part with, but Rangers Buchnevich or Florida’s Dadonov would do in a pinch. I really think the Pens just need to get someone in there to make him happy. Pavylchev may be a year or two.
*This is the era of $10-$20mil a year athletes and $1 mil a year coaches. If they don’t like what they are dealt they stop hustling, quit or leave. Coaches have to work around it the best they can.
*Reference John Tavares, William Nylander, Lebron James, any number of Steelers these days and or almost any other high paid player other than Sidney Crosby.
Hey Phil,
Coyle is a center. He can play both center and rightwing. He’s on a slow aging team where he needs change of scenery and new direction .. ImHo. They keep consistently moving him around to center to wing back and forth..
it isn’t good he has better possession metrics number than Brassard and little slightly low faceoff numbers than Brassard. That’s if you caught up in numbers
From my eye test, he’s pretty good when he given a consistent role to help the center postion. He effective down low, use his body with confidence, Pk and effectively e use his wingers. Great skater with a big body.
Kevin Hayes and Charlie Coyle are great younger options for Penguins. I would go with Charlie Coyle because he’s younger,cheap contract with one year left and needs a change of scenery that help him utilize his skill set ..I believe he can help the Penguins in 3C role . 3.2 mil isn’t bad, imo.
I like him a lot. Right shot and cheap contract where in two years Penguins get him a new decent extension at 4×3 or 4X4 to stay with them.
Penguins have been scouting Minnesota Wild’s game a lot this season. I won’t be surprised they go after him. I really hope so. They can swap brassard and Resse or 2 or 3 round pick with prospect or something. Hell Jack Johnson. Make flip Brassard to get him..
Honestly, I don’t care about what people say about Kessel or Malkin at all. Malkin is human. I believe Malkin needs to have consistency and LW that will help give him confidence with Kessel. Malkin just got to simplify his game where he takes what’s given to him on the ice. Take the simple route of not overpassing and not dangling when he’s double team a lot.
I really don’t see no problem with Phil Kessel and Malkin at all. Let them work out their small lapses. They need a effective LW ..
Mike Sullivan and Rutherford needs to let go HBK line.. Its best to load up your top lines and find a better 3C that handle the role and win games ..
Hornqvist is great top end player. I think he should be utilize on the 3rd line..
Pens needs to win at least 26-29 games to get 100 something points..
I blame the coaching staff for the inconsistent play and not using players to play where they don’t belong to succeed on the ice. Malkin and Kessel will never be Selke trophy plAyers on the ice. I do see heavy chemistry and players that do get involve to backcheck and work hard enough to defend.
Simon doesn’t play defense at all Some many other players don’t play defense. It odd to call them out . Consistently turn the puck over too..
Penguins biggest defeat on foward position on their team is Derick Brassard holding a massive weight and toxic to their team on the ice.
Yes . Malkin needs to get it going more and feel more appreciated with better wingers and consistency. He needs a better defenseman pairing they will carried the puck to him , defend better, better clearing attempts and to make a pass that connect to him. Malkin and Kesse are doing to much defend with Jack Johnson.. They play better defense than Brassard..
Mike Sullivan?
He lost the team long time ago. Point Blank Period. Cole and Reaves was the last straw for this team. They were bombarded and shock that it happens. They didn’t like it all.
There’s no reason you stars are struggling plus very frustrated with their head down with tapping stick very hard on the benchbecause you don’t give them consistency and better linemates to produce with.. It has been going to back to Johnston and Dan Blysma days again and again..
He want them to buy in and build a identity.. Sorry. That comment tell you a lot and all the game this season speaks volumes to glaring issues since last season with deploying of scratching wrong players and continuously line shuffling that very brutal.. He needs to stop try always work about match lines and utilize players wrong to their potential to where needed to help this team. Mike Sullivan hast lost the room and completely a good enough coach that got two back 2 back cup under his belt..
Penguins needs to get their ish together!!! Players are not to blame here at all.. Yes. They do needs to be better in a regard.
Coach job is to prepare guys to play better elite hockey and put them into places to succeed with better adjustments that’s beneficial to game to game …Use the roster right that given to him. There’s no way with this much elite talent that Stars are struggling and have bad support cast that depend on the stars every game…
Penguins organization needs to build the foundation with better supporting cast and consistency. Better 3C and better defensively schemes that let their offensively mentality speak for themselves..Defensemen needs to be worrying about playing defensively first with puck in all three zones. Defenseman heavily pinching and playing like a foward in all facets of the game will have them constantly defending and tired to even get foward a chance to get to the offensive to tired the other team players.. teams will win..
Hey Dee,
I agree that the Cole Reeves issue really hurt Sullivan’s integrity. If there was any respect whatsoever after that, giving Letang 26 min TOI in the Playoffs last year when he was a millstone on the team obliterated it.
I also agree that Coyle is a better choice than Hayes. I don’t like trading in the division if nothing else.
Hey Phil,
I really don’t see the Pens deep at RW. Kessel is the only true top 6 there. Maybe next year Bjorkqvist, but right now no. Hornqvist is certainly a good player and extremely important to the team, but with the number of concussions he has received over a very short period, I am worried that he is one more away from becoming Despres. Rust, I love him. I wish he could develope a scoring touch, but he isn’t a top 6.
Coyle may not be top 6 either but with Hornqvist’s health and Rust’s scoring droughts, a plan B is needed. Besides as Dee points out and I wrote above, Coyle is also a Center and can give the team flexibility possibly driving the 3rd line this year.
I would rather not keep talking about Sprong but since you brought it up, last season Sprong played pretty much with Crosby until Sullivan decided to banish him. This year, with Kessel pretty much entrenched on Malkin’s RW for the bulk of the time Sprong was here, I still don’t see any insidious Russian plots.
I am not sure that Malkin needs a Russian. He played great with Neal and Jokinnen on his Wings. But I wouldn’t mind seeing them get Panarin in the off season as a UFA. That is why I want to shed salary to make a play for him.
That is also why I suggest Podokolzn in the draft, but at this rate the team won’t have a shot at that Russian young gun.
Pavlychev? I would rather the Pens get a Winger rather than convert a Center again. There are precious few pure Wingers on this team.
Hey Dee,
Had JR not signed J Johnson, I may not have broached the idea of Määttä. I have no problem with Määttä. But with the mess that Sullivan and JR have created on D I could trade him. I would rather keep a 23 year old kid but the Pens are a mess. They have more average to below average (maybe some players short comings are experience related, I am not saying it isn’t) defensemen. When Schultz comes back there will come a reckoning. I would rather lose Johnson than Määttä but I would rather keep Oleksiak rather than Määttä.
As for Pettersson or Riikola, neither is likely to more than a throw in on another deal.
I just can’t imagine anyone taking Johnson – but then again, I could imagine anyone taking Scuderi, so maybe JR can still fix this.
All told I would rather have Dumoulin, Cole, Oleksiak, on LD but Sullivan threw that away.
With Dumba out for 3 months, I would think any trade for Coyle will require an NHL level D-man, so that ill probably be Määttä unless JR can work his voodoo and work J Johnson into that deal.
You know I agree with you about Simon, just because a 1 trick pony likes to play give and go with Crosby doesn’t make him a top 6 forward. It doesn’t take long for NHL players to read that and eliminate it or even turn it the other way.
ZAR? I don’t quite share your dislike for him, but I certainly wouldn’t mourn his loss.
I like Rust and think he can sneak in a top 6 shift every now and then but he is a bottom 6 checker.
The more I think about Coyle, I hope that the Pens find a way to deal.
Hey ToR,
Absolutely
I don’t want to part with Määttä or a Oleskiak. I just don’t at all. I see it can backfired. They are extremely very good young players that belong here to stay. Boy . I dislike Jack Johnson’s saga more for it.
Zar ? I don’t necessarily dislike him that much. I could careless about him. Dislike him. I believe wholeheartedly he’s a Sully boy and A. Johnson is better than him. I prefer another LW to bump him and Simon . They both should be fighting for fourth line. I don’t want to see them no where near top lines with top line duties. They both weak vanilla, bottom 6 fringe nhl player .They don’t win enough battles, not good defensively, turnovers, often lost on the ice, get thrown around/ outmuscled from the puck, not good finisher/ ok skaters, when they play in bottom 6 you don’t see nothing significant standing, they get a one goal from a player hard work they are warranted top 6 undeserving minutes. Very inconsistent and lacks the needs for this team.
If they gotta play on the top lines with stars to produce and look better . They shouldn’t be on this team. I watch them closely they don’t bring nothing that stands out that has a identity to be a long term fixture for this team. All I know they are Sully’s boys and I don’t see nothing that suggest a roster spot for them. I go on a long list about the these players they do that is unacceptable and don’t get reprimanded at all.
Zar is one last part of his contract. He can be trade in a deal. To bring a better NHl ready LW or for Charlie Coyle.
Simon and ZaR should be call ups or on another team. I would throw them in acdeal. They are blocking more WBS deserving players, imoSame thing for Riikola and Patterson. They can be throwing in a deal . If Rutherford wants to go after someone like Alex Pietrangelo.(who play RHD) Give Angello, Adam Johnson and Angello ice time. Blueger and Johnson are on their last year contract They can fill the void and to see what They can do..
I hate to lose Blueger, Angello and A.Johnson.
Jack Johnson? I believe that Rutherford can cut his losses and move him to the point he get something decent and let that team flips him. Some GMs do take on dumb contracts and flip them out. Imagine Rutherford not signing him someone else would be dumb enough to give him5-6 million deal or give away picks to have him on their team.
We shall see. I hate this messy defense , no solid LW for Malkin and solid RW for Crosby.
Rutherford had a chance to do better. Quite a few good players to get to strengthen this team.
Coyle? I’m hoping it can be a swap for brassard with a player like Zar .
He’s a better cheap option to get for long term .While cap space goes up . It give him time to show what he can before exist contract expires in a year.
Hayes? I wouldn’t mind. I just won’t give up to much for him. He definitely want sa long term deal at 5-6 million.
Either way. I’m fine with both.Both good younger players that can fit the 3C and the Penguins system.
As long as Penguins are not giving up to much and keep one of them long term with some WB/S center getting a chance to play up here. I still want to see them.
Heard Stars are interested in Brassard..keep fingers crossed.
Hey Carol, welcome aboard.
I will have to look down the Star’s roster to see what might help the team.
Although I have heard that JR will be asking for picks
Hell yeah this team should b winning more then losing.
Hey Jon,
Welcome to these boards.
Actually the team is winning mare than it is losing, but I understand your sentiment. They certainly aren’t winning enough to justify believing in a serious Cup run right now. They need new parts for that.
I think the real problem is goaltending. The Pens should work hard to throw in Brassard and a defenseman and prospect for a #1 goaltender. Murray is not cutting it as #1.
The last year the Pens won the cup they averaged 32.6 shots against per game last year only 31.1 shots per game. Matt Murray finished #46 in the league in save% last year. There are only 32 teams. That was even being thrown the softies while goalies like Niemi played the hard ones.
This year the Pens are giving up 32.7 shots per game. Almost exactly the same as the cup year. Murray is #16 in the league, but only after Sullivan has been giving him the easiest of games. He has only played against 3 teams that are in playoff contention since being back.
In comparison, this year before Murray was once again given the Sullivan easy pass and had to play against the tough teams he was #48 in the league in save%.
Everyone had to see out how Murray is being babied by getting the Phoenix game instead of Vegas.
I can’t take any more Murray excuses, unless the Pens find a #1 goaltender, they will be mediocre.
Interesting Phil
1st – Are you agreeing with me that Sullivan has been acting like Capt Queeg, living in the past on the one thing he did right, and focusing his current attention on the wrong problem but just disagreeing with me as to what the most important problem is?
2nd – You assert that Sullivan is Cherry picking games for Murray and babying him, by starting him at the front end of the last back-to-back series against Phoenix. Okay lets look at it a little closer.
An alternative look at Sullivan’s decision may be that he was conceding the loss to Vegas and looking to ensure at least 2 of the 4 points out of that series. That still could be looked at as babying I suppose if some really hates a player or it could be looked at as Sullivan choosing to lose a battle to win a war.
So I ask myself if Sullivan was cherry picking games for Murray, does he play him against Toronto (Tied for 4th in the league in GPG and 3rd in the league in S%) twice this year (a 38 save shutout in one of them). Does Sullivan play Murray against Winnipeg (6th in the league in GPG, tied for 5th in the league in S%). Murray had a 33 save shutout in that one. If Sullivan is Cherry picking games for Murray, does he start him in any of the 6 games of the Stanley Cup finals in 2015-2016 against the Sharks who had the best GPG and S% that playoff year. By the way Murray won 4 of those 6 games with a 92% Sv% in those 6 games (923 over the whole playoff year) and the Penguins hoisted the Cup. If Sullivan was Cherry picking games for Murray does he start Murray in the final 5 games of the Ottawa series in 2016-207 or all 6 games against the Predators that same year? (a 937 Sv% over those 11 games that year)
Of course the answer is no! Emphatically no!
Since logically if Murray is Sullivan’s go to man when the chips are on the line (MAF was actually playing pretty darn good in 2016-2017 but Sullivan went to his go to man Murray – even though I argued that MAF had earned a little longer leash that year, Sullivan never listens to me) Sullivan had a different motive for the his choices during that last back-to-back.
Furthermore, in the last month DeSmith has lost to bottom feeders Chi 2x and LAK 1x. So again if a coach is looking to get at least 2 points he plays the %s.
You can argue all you want but you would still be wrong.
As for me now proving that Sullivan isn’t a bad coach by saying he chose a sound battle tactic in opting to at least get 2 points, well, I am looking at the team longer term, even if I am coaching. At the rate the team is going, the status quo mediocrity of this season will net them no Cup and no top 5 pick. If I were to chose to lose a battle to win a war, I would think that trading off Letang for draft choices would head my list, his stock will never be any higher and the team has shown it can win without him.
AS for Murray not being a number 1, I can’t argue that he had a rocky start to the year, but since coming back from his injury (an injury that some fringe, conspiracy theorist don’t believe existed) Murray has posted a 944 sv%.
I realize some people prefer goalies to make the mundane look exceptional rather than a goalie who makes the exceptional look mundane. The point is moot though since if the team were to stop throwing money at D-men who aren’t getting the job done, or put a system in place that plays to the current D-men’s skill set then the Goalie never sees the shots. Long before a puck gets past a goalie it has to get past 5 other players. When looking at priorities, fix the D, cut down the shots, then we can argue over the goalies.
Wow tOR,
Now your cherry picking games. You mention Sullivan starting Murray against Toronto two games and the shutout he had in one game. You fail to mention he got blown out .839 sv% 5 goals against in the other.
I have no doubt that he came in and played great playoff games. I question his “injury” in the second year before going against the best two teams in the NHL then magically coming back at the right time, but hey it is what it is.
Fank Pietrangelo won the tough games to lead the Penguins back from a 3-2 deficit against the Devils in the 1990 Cup run. He played great in the playoffs, but was never able to be a #1 goalie though.
Well check back on this subject February 10th, unless Murray gets hurt for that stretch. I imagine because of Murray’s shutout against Toronto that he will get that game of the back to back. lol.
Hey Phil,
Look at fox sports, they list team Sv%. despite Murray’s early struggles the Penguins are in the top 1/3 of the league in Sv%. And Murray’s Sv% (again despite his poor start) has climbed up to a .913 only .004 lower than DeSmith. I really don’t think goaltending is the problem. Lots of shots and giving up tons of grade A scoring chances are.
(A recent Trib article talks about this as well)