No more “Big Rig”…at least not in the ‘Burgh. The Penguins traded popular defenseman Jamie Oleksiak back to the Dallas Stars today for a fourth-round pick in the 2019 Entry Draft.
The return seems a bit light for the 6’7″ 255-pound blueliner, who showed flashes of genuine promise after arriving in a trade with the Stars in December 2017.
Indeed, Oleksiak piled up eight goals and 25 points in 73 games with the black and gold over a two-season span, to go with a sparkling plus-18 and 235 hits. A performance that earned the former first-round pick a three-year contract extension over the summer for $2.1 million per season.
“We liked how he fit in with us,” general manager Jim Rutherford told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at the time. “We felt that his game was coming along.”
It’s hard to say exactly when the bloom came off the rose, or why for that matter. Although there didn’t appear to be a noticeable downturn in the big defenseman’s performance, the Pens seemed to sour on Oleksiak roughly around the time he absorbed a concussion in a fight with Washington hit man Tom Wilson on December 19. Sliding behind newcomer Marcus Pettersson and rookie Juuso Riikola on the depth chart, he was a frequent healthy scratch in recent weeks.
With Justin Schultz set to return soon, Oleksiak was obviously deemed expendable. A move Rutherford may come to rue if the Pens are locked in a physical playoff series with the likes of Columbus or Washington.
For now, JR seems happy with extra cap space and flexibility the deal provided.
“Sitting here with potentially nine defensemen, we had to make a move with the possibility of Schultz returning here in the next few weeks,” he said. “We had to move somebody out. It frees up cap space to give us other options.”
To many picks to Florida .🙄😕😠
Oops I spoke to soon . I knew it was going Be trade for Brassard. Likes with Sheahan and Zar in a deal.
Report:
Nick Bjustad is coming here. Riley Sheahan, Brassard and Picks going to Florida.
We will see how this goes. Sullivan hate physicality..
I wish Charlie Coyle was coming this way.
THIS JUST IN!
Pens send Brassard, Sheahan, a second, and two fourths to Florida for Nick Bjugstad and Jared McCann, both centers, I think. No formal confirm on this, but it sounds legit. Where’s the damn winger?!
– 55
Hey you guys,
Penguins going after Ferland is not good, imo. I wouldn’t give up that much for him. I wouldn’t pay him either. He’s injured prone and has substance abuse issues.
Penguins focus should be going after a 3C . I would go after Coyle or Hayes. Probably flip Brassard for some picks or something else. Idk. I just think Adam Johnson deserves a chance on the last part of his contract. I would pay that much for LW rental and with major concerns. When he fights and not ‘play the right way for Sullivan’s ego. He was get scratched.
I don’t want to see A.Johnson walk. He was better and more determined with work ethic than Simon and Zar. I believe he can help the Penguins more than Zar and Simon. Push them out . I don’t think Simon and ZAr belong on the team. Odd fits.
I would like to add that Brassard’s absence was a different feel for the Penguins as team on the ice at times . I’m not saying that don’t have more stuff to figure out. Brassard seems to be a dark cloud for this team .
Thoughts?
Hey Dee,
I saw discussion that the Pens are not only going after Ferland but tried to get Lowry for Brassard but Jets said too much.
JR can trade for all the big players he wants but as you noted Sully just won’t use them. If he had his way the team would be made up of all Shearys and Simons, midgets that get pushed around and disappear for 17 game stretches but who feed his ego.
Justin Almeida has more of a chance next year at playing for the Pens than Nikita Pavlychev and not for any other reason than he is a midget by comparison 5′-9″ 158lbs vs 6′-7″ 201lbs, that is unless Guerin takes over and either gets Sullivan to toe the line or fires that animated ego.
If I were to play arm chair GM I would concede the battle this year. Sullivan has been given too much rope and this team may not really be salvage able for a serious Cup run. They have lost their edge in speed and have no balance. Therefore they cannot out skate or out hit any other team and thus they will be at best middling.
By conceding the game this year I could set the team up for at least 2 more Cup runs maybe 3 before Crosby and Malkin will need serious help.
By conceding this season I would make trades to free up about $10-12 mil in Cap space and trade a certain player whose stock is at its peak and a couple other larger contracts for picks. I would try real hard to get into the top 5 of picks.
I would also then try and get 2 – 3 big tough D men who can move the puck fairly well rather than weak D men who have the reputation of moving the puck really well but who still can’t seem to get themselves caught up in their own end.
If I could get your Coyle for any 1 or 2; Johnson, Maatta, Pettersson, or Riikola and a Forward like Simon I would still jump on it.
I also change GM and Coach. I don’t put up with either an ego put in front of success or a GM that can’t slap that ego down.
Hey Tor ,
Go it right!
Than you for all your responses and not sugarcoating on here .
I just want this team to win and succeed with wasting two elite centers on this team.
I am keeping Määttä on this team. That just me and my opinion. I believe he will continue to grow and get better. I believe it Coaching with bad assignments giving to him that do not let him shine more than what he does on th ice . He looks solid to me on the ice. He’s isnt a flashy player. He gets the job done on both sides of the puck. I love his gaps defensively and when he feel great getting the puck deep with helping offensively.
I don’t think Riikola is great defensive partner for him at all. Let alone a top 3-4 defender
No matter what players come here and play here. Sullivan will have a problem. Rutherford needs to put his foot down with him and stop deferring to him. Rutherford seems to try hard to get better with a tight cap space just a little bit. I believe Rikkola, Pettersson,Letang and Johnston are long term beneficial to this team. Very evident.
Time and Time again Rutherford claims certain players deserve to be up playing and bring that spark. Blueger did that . Then he flips around with something else because Sullivan is scratching them forcing trades Rutherford wanted Cole,Rig and Reaves on this team. Sullivan did not.
His interview on radio can be something else.
Some can disagree with me.
When Sullivan don’t like you or ‘play the right way’ on his term with assignment that doesn’t fit there potential on the ice. He scratched them , completely passive aggressively call players out and try to claim it’s day to day game basis for the team to win.BS.
He doesn’t hold the right players accountable. Regardless he has the guys he likes in the nhl that doesn’t bring nothing to the table that’s beneficial to this team. Penguins took some steps back and other teams took some big step fowards.
I hate Simon and Rust playing in the top 6 . They weigh top line down. Simon weigh Crosby’s line. To much east – west from Simon. They don’t need a another playmaker and him constantly turn puck over and throwing around like a doll. Simon is Ahl player with Ahl mentality. Rust to streaky and cute. Great bottom 6 spark plug player for 3/4 line every game. They don’t contribute enough and bring consistency.
Agree. I stated several times I foresee Crosby and Malkin willing more cups . (2-3) I see Phil Kessel still being a part of core with them. Guentzel as well. They need help and they better supporting cast with work ethic and great speed.
Again and Again. Rust, Brassard , Wilson, Sheahan, ZAr and Simon isn’t gonna cut it, imo. Angello and A.Johnson should be up here. I guess I saw a different training camp and preseason games.
Either way Penguins needs to clear some cap space to bring speed 1-3 better supporting cast or 2 big right handed defenseman. I would keep Shultz, Dumoulin, Määttä and add around them. I will they could get Parakyo or Pietroglo. I still wish we get Erik Karlsson in a Penguins Jersey. Penguins need a two reliable right handed defenseman on this team.
Agree .Crosby and Malkin still got a lot of juice in them for years. They will continue to get accolades and play their best hockey.
Guentzel and Kessel too. They just needs better two way players that gonna bring it and defensive schemes to Benefit the defensive Corp with reasonable defenseman. Go younger around Crosby and Malkin. Better coaching.
Agree. I would not go after Lowry and Ferland. No good. I see no point for Ferland with Adam Johnson cheap and Better . I see no point going after Lowry with Penn State Nikita on way to be playing up here.
I wouldn’t mind Morrissey or Trouba down the line.
I do believe Rutherford has 4 million in cap space. I hope he do good to strengthen this team. Malkin and Crosby need help and consistency.
I have seen on a well – known Wild’s website that Brassard and Zar would work . Or Simon and 3 or 4 pick to get him.
Thoughts on Reechi?
I think he needs to be replaced.
Johnson, Pettersson , Letang and Rikkola should be replaced on D . Either way Rikkola play in WBS to develop more and to see it benefit him to be better than what he brings now. Pettersson need to be 6/7 . He does great things and can be lost on the ice. He can get outmuscled and man handled on the ice. He can make brutal costly mistakes. I’m curious to see him without Johnson . Riikola and Pettersson should be depth players on D . They both should be playing in WBS. That’s probably one reason why Oleskiak got the boot as well.
As you wrote before Pettersson is only playing to justify trading for him. He has shown some good things but is still a ways a way from an NHL defensemen. Both he and Riikola should be in WBS while Prow should at least be given a look at up here on the RHD side.
Johnson was a bad, bad signing; probably worse than the Hunwick signing.
Without Oleksiak Murray and DeSmith are going to have nightmares should the team make the playoffs.
Hi TOR,
Exactly.
Yup. They are tryna justified Rikkola and Pettersson playing time . They are bottom low pairing defenseman. They can get deal or playing WBS. (Originally stated) they are blocking players.
I’m not try say Oleskiak was a world beater. He got cut out to dry and hold accountable for the wrong reasons. He did regress a little bit . I mean most defenseman did this season. No consistency D partner and missing two -right handed defenseman.
Oleskiak is 5x better than Rikkola,Pettersson and Johnson. They do not skate better than him. They don’t even chip in offensively and mediocre defensively. Oleskiak was doing exactly Dumoulin is doing on the back end.
They are not two way defenseman thst can chip on both side of puck. Biggest problem for D.
I feel like it will back fired, again.
Malkin is already taking to many hits and defending himself every game. . Crosby throwing blow as well to defend himself. Dirty slashes and check on / off behind the plays.
It’s amazing . Reaves couldn’t control everything on the ice. He did it a pretty good job once he fitted in more. He had a presence and some leadership. He battle on the ice. Malkin , Kessel and Crosby love him.
Stars were able to play their best hockey and play 82 games without nothing hanging over their shoulders.
Maybe I sound stupid. Rutherford could’ve easily/ maybe put Sprong, Brassard, Johnson in a deal with a low pick. For one or two better players.
I continue don’t understand not calling up Prow, Blueger , A.Johnson and Angello.
Like I said Zar -and Simon did not have impactful training camp and preseason games . Rough nhl games without playing with two elite centers.
They could’ve have easily scratched Johnson or throw him in a deal. They can flip him and remove cap space.
Jack Johnson’s experiment needs to be over. Rutherford needs wash his hands and take his mistake into a strong positive to strengthen D.
His Block shots, Hits, ok Pk is nothing to this team overall expectations for defenseman .
Cole, Kunitz, Reaves and Oleskiak type players are missed. Tremendously.
All of them wanted to play here for cheap and do whatever it takes. Kunitz was willing to play fourth line , do PK time and probably retire after that
Rutherford and Sullivan has shoot themselves in the foot.
I’m not say Archbaild, Wilson , Kuhnackl were world beaters. They both a certain speed attack game and work ethic to this team on the ice. They chip in and did all the small things that Penguins needed to their original identity. Cole, Reaves and Oleskiak did the same thing with physicality two way hockey.
It so sad. Going up against teams that will beat the hell out of them make them soft and slow on the ice.
I missed the hard work, attention to details, grit, heart, borderline physicality and getting in the dirty areas that make teams mad at them. Leadership with Malkin and Crosby thst balanced them. I missed ‘A ‘ on Kuni’s sweater here. Malkin and Crosby are great leaders . Another positive void is missing. I do think ‘A’ on Letang was a mistake.
They barely shooting, chemistry/consistency and getting in those dirty areas. Crosby’s line only get dirty and battle hard.
I would go after Pietranglo, Faulk, Peesc, Trouba and Parakyo. Hell Erik Karlsson lo. Lol.
Rutherford needs to clear cap space. I think you said 10-13 million to get 2-4great players. I would say Rust, Brassard, Johnson , Sheahan could do that. Send Rikkola and Patterson down. Prow gets a shot. You can throw Zar and Simon in a deal. I would sign ZAr long term. Simon either.
Eventually you trade Kris Letang.
I like Rust , I really do . At this point he needs to play fourth line with occasional top line duties for injuries. I don’t see no fit for Zar, Rust , Simon. Sheahan too. Rust is odd strange fit st times. Penguins organization ( well Rutherford/Sullivan) are overestimating these guys in situations that do not fit and won’t win a game for them.
Sheahan seem to be ok good if he can remain 4LW or dump him . 2. 1 million is not good for him . He always consistently out of position, rarely use linemates right offensively and very wrong on the Pk at times. Bad defensively and offensively. He’s who he is.
Sullivan has to much trust in his mediocre play.
Cullen will be gone. I won’t get into it. Sullivan needs to give Blueger consistent spot 4 C add Angello and Johnson. Slowly move Adam Johnson up.
Rutherford should Trade Brassard, Johnson, Rust, Simon, Sheahan
Penguins needs to go younger..
Jeff Carter, Brian Boyle, Lowry, Ferland, Eric /Marc Staal and Schenn and Bozak . No no.
Thoughts on Mark Reechi?
So bad coaching now is expecting players to follow your coaching plan? You guys do realize that part of coaching is playing the players that best fit into your coaching system and sitting the ones that don’t. Maybe Sullivan should hand out participation trophies.
I am not following your comment as to how it relates, Sullivan has no room on the team in what I wrote. His bad coaching is gone.
Today I got this text from a friend( screenshot quote.
I smell bs. It will remains of every dealing with deserves players that should on the ice.
“I know he’s hungry to play as well,” Sullivan said. “He’s deserving of an opportunity and the coaches will sit (down) on a game-by-game basis and decide what’s the best lineup on a given night and if Teddy’s a part of it. But he’s certainly deserving of being here.”
I don’t get it.
At some point players (great -decent prospects) that’s ready and deserves a chance to be with this team will walk to another team to excel through their potential.
Blueger has been up here two to three times with no opportunity to showcase his game on the ice. One time scratched for 11 games.
Blueger and Adam Johnson are on the last part of their contract. They deserve to be playing up here. I would scratch Sheahan and Wilson to play them.
Blueger practice today and was the last of players going off the ice. That give you indication he probably wont play again.
I would do
Guentzel-Crosby-Hornqvist Maybe Rust again. They need a solid RW.
Brassard /Pearson -Malkin-Kessel
Pearson-Blueger-Rust
Sheahan-Cullen-Wilson/Rust
Let it play out for 10-20 games. Trade Brassard. Add 3C /LW or Adding Adam Johnson to play up here.
Yes!!
Blueger is recalled from WBS. I’m happy he will get a opportunity to play. I stated it last night on the other article. I have stating that he should get a opportunity all season.
Blueger, Johnson, Prow, Angello deserves to play up here. Zar and Simons should be fight for a spot . Sheahan too. Maybe Rust might be trade too. I don’t where he fit on this team to contribute consistently..
I pray Sullivan let him play more than 6 minutes and let him play to his potential.
Hey Dee,
I am hoping that the Blueger recall means Brassard trade is around the corner.
Hey ,
Yup!
There’s no point of return for Derick Brassard. Inevitable.
I hope to see something other players go.. I’m so disgusted to see some players still getting a uniform..
Penguins lost physicality, heart, grit, hungry players thst wants to work with core. Sullivan’s boys are comfortable and great well do your job attention to details players are being push out of town.
I miss Cole ,Kunitzand Reaves. Oleskiak too.
Prediction: Blueger will stay in the lineup and force Mike Sullivan to give him a shot. Rutherford comments about him not needing up here will back fired. They will probably look stupid.
I bet. You are shaking with Simon and Rust playing on the top lines.
Hey Rick and ToR,
I don’t know. Other comments probably didn’t go through for replies. (Last night)
I understand they were on a short break. They have been the same team for whole season.
I’d find interesting that when Penguins win a game . Bad Pgh media / some fans are always tryna praises Mike Sullivan like he’s the best in the world . He can’t be wrong and above criticism every game. Win or lose.
When Penguins lose games they are calling out the players and finding ways to make Sullivan look good. He’s mad and wants to make changes to the team. Sullivan get no criticism to his continuously bad coaching and brutal line combos with sad deploying with players
He consistently inconsistent wants players to pinch hard and not be great in all three zones.
I’m very serious… Mike Sullivan needs to be fired.. He has been badly coaching for almost two to three seasons. Inabilities to get the bad out these players and to have significant game plans through out the game that help them win. Teams can play two different designs to out work them on the ice to beat them.
Stars are not themselves . Malkin shouldn’t be struggling like this.
I don’t see the happy stars that were happy to be on the ice and play their best hockey..
Devils have been playing the same different design against them for two seasons. Mike Sullivan hasn’t not been able to find ways to be it. Penguins players are playing like they are tired of coaching and want a new voice in their ears to win game.
I see the same issues from last season. It has become worse and his ideas are not good at all.
Mike Sullivan do not give these players consistency to create chemistry and to thrive on urgency and work ethic on the ice. They are not playing hard against. They are not winning battles and they do not get through teams better execution on the ice. He has abilities to care about the negatives opposed to accepting the positives to give this team the best.
I repeat, repeat Angello, Johnson , Prow , and Blueger deserves a chance to play up here to this time a spark, bring speed and to win battles from them
Penguins needs to add some better spark and new coaches. Mark Reechi and Sullivan needs to go. I think it’s very inevitable that if they do not go far this season. Mike Sullivan , Reechi and some changes will happen. I think Penguins organization should give Guerin a chance to be GM. It time to move on from JR..
This team is the reflection of the coach. Something happens to give. Mike Sullivan needs to go. Penguins organization should have fired him last year . 8 game ok winning streak save him.
Points that Penguins are not earning to their total will come back and haunt them ..
Current roster and Coaching won’t get a cup..
When will Mike Sullivan get call out and get fired from this team. He isn’t above criticism .
Hey Dee,
While I’m not even close to agreement with you about Sullivan, it is time to bring up some young blood.
I personally would like to see Blueger (Blugers) get a shot at centering the third line. Throw Brassard on LW (he has played LW before and loves it) with Kessel and Malkin. It would make all three of them happy and be one hell of a line. There is no way Malkin and Kessel’s defense can get any worse.
Bluegers, Hornqvist & Pearson wouldn’t be that bad of a line either. Bluegers can kill penalties and Hornqvist goes on PP and this line would not need to get the playing time Brassard’s line gets.
Crosby, Guentzel Rust. Then Sheahan, Cullen and Wilson or Aston Reese on the 4th.
I would warn this about Bluegers though, he gets about a third of his points from the powerplay and won’t see a minute of powerplay time on the Pens.
Hey Dee,
Who is responsible for Personnel Decisions? The Coach and GM.
Who is responsible for Tactics? The Coach.
Who is responsible for making sure the team is up for the game? The Coach.
Who is responsible for the Coach? The GM.
Not the players, the Coach and the GM.
Nothing ticks me off more than a coach that blames his players.
No wonder Malkin has said he has lost confidence.
Malkin may have said that he lost his confidence but I am willing to bet that he really means he has lost confidence in a pathetic excuse of an egotistical coach who has no answers and is squirming about trying to make it look like he is doing something – I don’t blame him!!! not in the least.
A good coach knows it is his job to make sure each player is in a position to succeed. Simon on the number 1 line? Sullivan complained that Sprong wasn’t scoring, Simon went 17 games without a point, even when skating with Crosby and Malkin.
A good coach tales the blame but shifts the accolades to his players.
A good coach makes sure his team is ready for the start of the season or for the resumption of play after the bye week.
A good coach makes sure his team is up and ready to play the rivalry teams, the good teams, and the cellar dwelling teams.
It is time to move on from this tandem, they are played out!
JR made some very great moves at the beginning of his tenure.
Now he his moves have been at best average and his putting up with a FAILING COACH who can’t get along with his players condemn him.
Sullivan came here at the perfect time, the planets were aligned.
He has disassembled the team JR built and they are now hanging on for dear life to the last playoff berth.
I have said this before, the team he took to the Cup was not his team.
Now after 3 years this is HIS team and it is now average at best.
He has forced the trading of many players while others have seen the writing on the wall and ran away while the getting was good.
The Oleksiak healthy scratches and trade are just one more debacle to lay at the feet of the coach with a serious ego problem.
Mario, please get involved and move on from this comedy team. It will only get worse if you don’t. The value of your team is already dropping. They are not all that exciting to watch anymore.
Crosby and Malkin are no longer at the beginning of their careers. There is no time to play anymore.
Save Our Pens!
Fire Sullivan and JR.
Move Guerin up to GM.
Yes, save our Pens from this horrible coach that didn’t win the Cup last year.
Who is going to be the new coach?
You are only as good as your last game.
The Penguins teams of 2015-16 and 2016-17 won the Cup not Sullivan. The players won the games on the ice.
Sullivan has had 3 years to mold the team into his image and that image is failing!
Who can coach the team? – Oh by all means let’s suffer a known failing rather than risk finding a possible winner.
Start with Guerin as GM and work down.
A known failing? Two Cups and a loss to the team that won the Cup. Major failure in anyone’s book. Probably go down as the worst coach in NHL history. Any respectable even halfway decent coach would have won three Cups with this team. I could have done it. Everyone knows this was Therrien’s team anyway.
Do you have any idea how preposterous this whole fire Sullivan concept is?
Think about this a second and the job that Sullivan has done so far. What results could he or any other coach have had that could have been better than the results he has gotten so far?
The only answer is 3 Cups, and he has failed miserably.
I get it now. Players win games. Coaches lose them. Goaltenders win games. Defensemen lose them.
Got it.
Again Phil,
The Players won that Cup not the Coach, he was a passenger on the Crosby, Guentzel, Malkin, Kessel, Murray express. Sullivan was a by stander riding the coat tails of greatness.
That team that won the Cup was built before he got here and just like Chuck Tanner in 1979, Sullivan went along for the ride.
Now, after he has time to reshape the team it is mediocre at best. The team that bowed out agains the Caps bowed out due to Sullivan’s stupidity; his forcing of the trading of Cole and Reaves and his Captain of the Titanic obstinate ego of not pulling the empty jersey Sheary off of the 1st line and insistence of giving Letang 26 minutes of TOI per game, of not benching, sitting demoting giving consequences to a turnstile that twice watched Caps skate past him in the opening seconds of a period to go un-impeded on goal, a pylon that was on the ice for over half of the goals the Caps scored in the series including 3 of the WGs.
What a great Coach, standing around clueless as the Caps destroyed his star Defenseman and Left Wing.
A pathetic excuse of a coach who tried shifting the blame after the debacle to Kessel’s lack of scoring goals.
Kessel may not have scored goals but he was setting them while Nero/Sullivan watched Pittsburgh burn!
Then with that disgusting display of blame deflection he started the rifts that have spread into this season with Sprong, Oleksiak, Kessel, Malkin, and the Dupuis gate.
Gloss over and ignore all of Sullivan’s numerous short comings. The team that won the first Cup was inherited, the Team that won the second Cup was still inherited, since JR did keep it pretty much in tact.
The team that lost to the Caps last year was the start of the Descent into Sullivan’s team. That team was the ghost of the teams that won the Cup, dismantled in part due to natural erosion but that was exacerbated by Sullivan’s gargantuan ego and poor personnel decisions.
The team that is now struggling for its play-off life. this team that has routinely lost to the worst teams in the league is molded in Sullivan’s image an image of also ran.
That is the most insane ridiculous argument I have ever heard about the Penguins and I have heard thousands of them.
RIDICULOUS.
Hey Phil,
I won’t knock you for your observation and your opinions. It what it is.
I was always taught when multiple people are staring the same facts or have same complete thoughts on something. 9/10 . They right in a sense and know what they are talking about against one person.. Truth serum is real.
Facts are facts. Penguins have been dismantle and have not replaced this team with better players that will help them be a better team and to win a Stanley cup again. Mike Sullivan and Rutherford have been failing for two seasons. Everything starts with Mike Sullivan and his ridiculous stubbornness that ran quality players out of town .
Rutherford deferring to much with Sullivan. Rutherford is turning this team in his last days of Carolina tenure. He has assessed this team be more fragile, soft and bad support cast that do not do nothing at all. Slow not go enough support cast . Stars are struggling because they do not have consistency and coaching isn’t doing his job .
Mike Sullivan has run out ideas, run great players out of town and do not get his team to play on the ice. Stars are fatigue trying and trying every night to get this time a win .
They are not hungry enough (supporting cast)and to busy depending on the Stars. They are weak bottom level player that don’t belong on this team and some prospects deserve to play here to bring a better spark.
Tocchet’s departure has hurt than anyone want to admit .
Powerplay looks a mess. Reechi has assembled it wrong with stars on the wrong side on the powerplay. Letang doesn’t belong on the powerplay and he should be facilitating the second unit or sitting on the bench.
Brassard, Patterson,Riikola ,Rust, Simon , Zar , Wilson , Johnson, Sheahan isn’t gonna cut it.
They lose their sustain the speed game/physicality/ heart/hunger grit/fresh of breath air to keep this team going and going.
I understand cap space can be tight on this team. But Rutherford has failed to strengthen this team with win now mode. He’s has mad it slow and incompetent around Sid and Geno. He keep tryna get bottom level players that are not nhl ready to help this team. I’m tired of so call reinventing projects on players. They are missing out on big fishes that will fry this team to better.
•Letang
•Brassard
•Sullivan
•bad supporting cast
•
•
•
Has hurt this team to be very fragile and lost.
Last straw was with Cole, Reaves , Reaves and Letang’s saga. Johnson seem to be a very negative effect harping on Kessel and Malkin’s shoulders. Sometime Crosby as well.
New voice , better prospects to play and some serious minor significant changes needs to happen..
Facts are facts. Yes. Dee, what would you say the positive things about the Penguins are?
I’m not going to say Sullivan is a bad coach. I don’t think he is. However, he does have some personality quirks/issues that do effect the team. We’ve seen them. Several times. He won’t play players he doesn’t get along with except when forced by circumstance. And, he almost always plays his favorites no matter what they’re up to on the ice. This isn’t a good thing, good coach or not.
Yes, he was coach through two successful cup runs, but this year it seems like – and I’m stealing this from DK Sports, and wholeheartedly agree – he’s coaching for the team he wants instead of the team he has. He doesn’t have the horses for three scoring lines. That’s been made abundantly clear via the endless four-line roulette playing nightly at a rink near you. Still, he never gives up on the line fiddling in search of it. If there was a spark there, it would have sparked by now. This isn’t a good thing either.
Time’s a wastin’. The season isn’t going to get any longer. There’s nothing wrong with stacking two lines, and hoping for some grit, puck possession, and a couple goals from the other two. That’s what he has, unless some major deals come through that change the mojo of the team. Deal with that if and when it happens.
This isn’t a bad team, but they’re all over the place. Their inconsistency is self-inflicted, and both the coaches and the players are guilty. To gain consistency, though, you actually have to be and act consistent, as in, perhaps, assembling four lines and letting them play for more than two games in a row. That’s been an issue all year. A players goes out one game on a new line, has a rough night, then he spends the next day or so wondering where he’ll slot in come Thursday. You can’t have that as a team characteristic and expect consistency, or success. And, it IS a characteristic of this team. It was for a lot of last year, too. It needs to change, and change right now. All possible combinations have been tried, and looked at, and… Set your lines and let ’em go.
– 55
Hey Phil,
Postives:
•Guentzel and Crosby are continuing to building a lot chemistry and consistency together. They are working hard.
•Crosby more comfortable with Guentzel. Mentoring him more and creating a bond .They are doing a pre game ritual together. It’s great.
•Always Great work ethic and leadership from Crosby. Guentzel isn’t far behind of show that on the ice to succeed.
•Guentzel continues to blossom and getting better to whitstand the rigors of the hockey league.
•Guentzel hitting the 69-75 points mark
• Guentzel Signing his deal.
•Crosby will probably / hit maybe 100 points with some milestones to his legacy.
•Crosby winning the Selke trophy.
Malkin reach /very close or to 1000th points and 400th goal milestones . It could be a wonderful ceremony for him.
•Phil Kessel close to his 800th point . 6 points way. 50 goal from 400th goal mark.
•Dumoulin continues to play steady and consistent. He’s blossoming into something special on the back. Underrated.
• Määttä is playing solid through this rough assignment given to him. He’s working hard to find that bigger stride. He will be partner with Schultz soon.
•Schultz is recovering well. He’s skating and around the team more. He’s practicing in non contact jersey.
He will return soon and help Malkin and Crosby.
•Letang is playing ok good enough. Coming back from a neck injury.
Wild consistently inconsistent. Overrated. Bad defensively. Play to risk and out of control.
•Crosby undeniable still the best in the world. Always.
Crosby enjoy all star weekend and win all star mvp to add to his great accolades. Holding another special place with great hall of famer players before him . He share another accolades with Mario Lemieux.
• Crosby getting first star of this week.
• Guentzel receiving his first star of his career.
•Crosby smiling and happy face. Enjoying hockey.
Continue to be great ambassador fir the game. Great unbelievable person. Way to many words to describe.
This is a great team with a ton of talent (only about 4-6 players)that being poorly run with bad coaching, continuously line shuffling, bad tactics and strategies, bad slow support cast, bad weak flaw non evolving system,favoritism/egotistical coaching , lately mediocre non sustainable trades and signings
Coaching staff is embarrassing the players every game. Mike Sullivan has not ideas and players are look like they Are tired of the shenanigans. Mike Sullivan lost this team log time for various reasons .
Trading Cole, Reaves , Oleskiak, forcing Kessel with bad non existent Brassard , removing physicality/more heart /hunger with no solid replacement,complete to line shuffling every game/ego coaching with Letang’s /Sheary brutal saga has been a burden physiology on this team.
I’m sorry . I love positivity, But Negative things going with this team is hurting the positives to be a better successful team. They are not play fun sustainable hockey and for one another on the ice. They don’t even know each other’s tendencies with line shuffling.
Malkin, Kessel , Crosby, Guentzel should be all in top scoring and playing more their best hockey that can be sustainable in the playoffs with better deserving supporting cast that wants to bring work ethic among other things.
Mike Sullivan has been coaching on D to F status for two seasons.
They are not. February is around the corner.
HI 55 on Point,
Spot on.
Correct.
He coach a teach he wants instead a team that given to him that can reach a higher succeeding potential.
Wilson, Rust, Simon,Zar,Sheahan replaceable players. (His guys)
He’s harp on the negatives and not positives to correct the issues this team. He thinks he has great game plans and sufficient game adjustments. They continuously back fired. Glaring issues were there last season. Bad coaching too.
It has been worse during this season.
He supposed to bring chemistry, stability, character to this team. Getting ready to play and show trust that can play together on one line for more a momth to be a stronger team.
He hasn’t done it.
Yes. That’s players are all over the place and regressing in their play with no responses on the ice. They are up and down. They want to win and do better. Mike Sullivan and Mark Reechi is holding the back to succeed to whole different inferior level.
Everything falls on mike Sullivan. Players cannot building consistency and urgency on this team . Line shuffling needs to stop.
Packing your top lines doesn’t hurt all . Never will. It help them through the playoffs with Kessel and Malkin.
You build your top foundation and slowly with bottom foundation to integrate together as team to succeed. Stars means more to this team than bottom replacement level players that gotta play with them to succeed.
Hey 55,
You and I have a very similar take on Sullivan. This guy’s no dummy…he’s extremely intelligent and well-spoken and seems to know the game. But, with all due respect to the sons and daughters of the Emerald Isle, his Irish stubbornness gets the best of him in certain situations.
Especially good point about him coaching the team he wishes he had rather than the one he actually has. You simply can’t force a team to play a way it’s not built to play.
I wrote this in another comment, but his line juggling drives me nuts. He seems to tear units apart at the first sign of cooling…the very effective Guentzel-Crosby-Rust combo the most prominent example.
I know Sully wants to get a third line going. But you don’t want to cripple your top two lines in the process.
Anyway…my two cents. Admittedly not worth much … 🙂
Rick
PS–Loved your “endless four-line roulette” comment.
Hey Other Rick,
I’m not as down on Sullivan and Rutherford as you seem to be. But I don’t give ’em a free pass, either.
Sully’s habit of juggling lines drives me nuts. I’m not saying he should leave a combination together until it turns glacial. But he seems to break combinations apart at the drop of a hat.
For example, I thought the Guentzel-Crosby-Rust combo really clicked. All three play a ‘dirty’ game and I felt they not only brought scoring but energy as well. Then Rust cooled off…he’s always been a streaky scorer…and Sully pries ’em apart.
I guess this is his way of trying to keep the mix fresh, but I’d like to see him stay with combinations longer.
Also agree that, at least on the surface, he appears to have had a hand in running some pretty serviceable-to-decent players out of Dodge.
Still, I can’t think the Pens won two Stanley Cups despite him. I’m willing to give Sully the benefit of the doubt.
Rutherford does seem to have fallen off since his uniformly great work through the back-to-back Cup triumphs. I think he was asleep at the switch a bit (or in a post-Cup lull) during the mass exodus in the summer of 2017. And hindsight’s always 20/20. But as we discussed the other day, what if he’d signed Nick Bonino to an extension when he had the chance? There’d have been no need to make the chemistry-altering Brassard trade. And what if he’d signed Ron Hainsey, instead of trying to plug the gap with Matt Hunwick? Which indirectly led to the Jack Johnson signing.
A lot of what ifs…
It also seems JR’s fallen into the trap of making a lot of one-off moves, rather than working to a plan as he did during the Cup seasons. It doesn’t help that he and Sullivan don’t always appear to be on the same page when it comes to personnel.
Rutherford brings guys in…Ryan Reaves and Daniel Sprong the foremost examples…and Sullivan doesn’t play them, forcing his boss’s hand on trades.
Rick
Hey ToR,
Absolutely
We are on the same page.
I feel bad for Malkin so bad . I really do. I don’t no blame him and don’t fault him for his game. I see and have talk to people who get the senses of what going on . Malkin has lost his confidence and mental toughness with Mik Sullivan. It lies with him. It reminds me of Johnston’s days with Crosby..
Sullivan isn’t above criticism. He isn’t some captain-save-hoe. He isn’t the ship that rides this team. He isn’t reason why these players excel and scarified themselves on the ice to win B2b cups . He inherited a perfect storm that he can’t sustain and do better to bring it to another level to play players where they belong and stop running players out town.
Mike Sullivan do not deserve a pass. More pass he get over and over again. This team will sulk and continue to dismantle.
Rutherford needs to do better and have a better plan with winning cups. He needs sit Sullivan down to let know him that this is the players I want to play on team. He hasn’t do it. He wants consistency to build to consistency. That he will fired him pretty soon.
He’s letting Sullivan control the ship and really don’t listen to Rutherford’s wishes. Rutherford’s has several chances to put his foot down to keep players and no force them to be ran out of town.
He needs to defend players and stop defending Mike Sullivan while giving Sullivan what he wants.
Decent-above-average hungry-impactful players are running out of town.
They do not get to play.
Mike Sullivan continues to forcing Rutherford’s hands to trades and players are playing scared on the ice. They are not themselves.
Mike Sullivan and Rutherford are not on the same page.
Mike Sullivan is scapegoating players and has no inability to teach players at National hockey level..
A lot of What ifs.. A lot of passengers and bad coaching. Continuously line shuffling and bad game adjustments will continue to hurt this team . Rutherford needs to go hard on trades and put his foot down with Sullivan.
Rutherford mediocre signings and trades are ailing this team. Wonderful impactful players has left and Sullivan’s boys are to comfortable.
Mario Lemieux needs to step in.. Penguins are not a exciting team..
Everything you said .. is nothing but truth.. everything I have been expressing.
All season Penguins have been losing 1-3 games …winning 1-2 games .. one ok 8 game winning streak with holes.. sitting on losing 4 games out of five game losing streak.. They have not find their identity and improved on the ice ..
All the evidence are there.
It time move on from Sullivan and Rutherford. Sullivan needs to be the first go . Get Donatili and go after Coach Q to help this team.
Trades to Letang and Brassard needs to happen. Something happens to give with Johnson’s saga. Find a way to trade him or buy him out.
Hopefully Penguins can play defensive mind together and work down low together with better alerted goaltending.. Win tonight. Something in me feel that Sullivan can hopefully get fired soon..
Rick
I felt this coming. I don’t understand JR’s thinking at all – he had the perfect two
players Reaves & Oleksiak to patrol the team. Neither one a goon and both smart
intelligent players who knew when to flex there muscles. They didn’t do stupid
things on the ice they wouldn’t take un-timely penalties to hurt the team. I’m
in a loss for words.
Nothing against Garrett Wilson but players like him are a dime a dozen – Reaves
and Oleksiak were special players – You have a defenseman who stands at 6’7 with upside and a winger who no one wants to challenge to a fight playing alongside one of the more skilled teams in the league and you give them away.
I worked for three different Pro teams (different sport) but there was always an
unwritten law when making trades – you had to supplement what that particular
player brought to the team. For instance the Hagelin trade – the Pens lost a portion of there team speed – did they replace it – “NO” – With Reaves and Oleksiak they lost size and toughness – did the replace it “Not Yet” – This is a problem.
I hope JR has a plan to address these issues leading up to the trade deadline – if not it won’t be pretty come playoff time.
Hey Mike,
I don’t know what it is about the Penguins’ organization, but they have a long history of downplaying the need for physicality.
In 1969-70, they made it to the Semifinals with a scrappy bunch that included Bryan “Bugsy” Watson, Tracy Pratt, Bryan Hextall, Glen “Slats” Sather and goalie Al Smith. So they divest themselves of Pratt, Sather and Smith and the team tumbles.
In ’73-74 they were getting annihilated by goon squads like the Flyers and Blues, so they acquire Steve Durbano, Bob “Battleship” Kelly and Bob Paradise. The team’s fortunes rise. In ’75-76 they dump Durbano and Paradise (and 6’4″ Harvey Bennett) and get run out of the playoffs by an infinitely tougher Toronto team.
In the early ’80s we had Kevin McClelland and Marty McSorley. Both get dealt to Edmonton to serve as Wayne Gretzky’s bodyguards. We pick up Dan Frawley, who had the heart of a lion but couldn’t fight a lick. There was nobody to shield Mario from the abuse that contributed to his back issues.
I could go on and on.
I know the game has changed since then and the need for heavyweights has lessened. And, yes, the Pens won back-to-back Cups with a team that really didn’t have any tough guys. But those teams were deceiving in that they had tons of character and grit.
The naked truth is, the Pens haven’t been the same since they parted with Reaves and Cole in the Brassard trade. Oleksiak and Cole formed a really effective third pairing, and Reaves is showing what he can do when he’s given more than three shifts a game.
Forgive my negativity, but I don’t think we’ll ever get back to that mix.
Rick
Hey all,
The Pens trade Oleksiak…and Johnson goes down with an injury.
Not that I hate Chad Ruhwedel, but I really didn’t want to see him back in the mix. Especially with the Lightning and Leafs on the horizon.
Rick
How about Ethan Prow? It is a time for a change and that could be the change. He couldn’t be any worse than the jokes masquerading as NHL defensemen on this team.
Put Cole, Oleksiak and Pedan back on this team and remove Johnson, Pettersson, and Riikola and you have a serious contender.
Wait strike that you still have a buffoon for a coach. All Cole, Oleksiak, and Pedan would do is sit in the Press Box and watch other d-mean make mistake after mistake with no consequence for their ineptitude.
Hey Rick,
You are being way too kind, tap dancing through this trade. The Pens/JR got robbed. Until last year, JR was one of the shrewdest horse traders getting Daley for Scuderi, Kessel for Kappanen etc. Over the last 2 seasons his UFA signings have been abysmal at best and now his ability to trade is shot.
Worse than the scraps JR got in return for Oleksiak is the fact that he traded him to begin with; Johnson Stinks! Pettersson and Riikola are very green and Maatta is overpaid.
Worse, Oleksiak is the only D man capable of handling himself and opponents like NYI’s Ander’s Lee, Was’ Tom Wilson, Phi’s JVR and Simmons. Even if this Pens team does make the playoffs (and as you stated down the gym about an hour ago, there is no guarantee of that) the chances that the team get out of their own Division, let alone conference just dropped significantly.
I asked a question in a post a little while back, if only idiots learn from their own mistakes while wise men learn from the mistakes of others what does that make JR and Sully. The self inflicted wounds of Sully not getting along with Cole and Reaves caused the Pens to trade away 2 very important grit pieces last year. About 1 year later, a year where they were bounced in the 2nd round, JR and Sully tossed away another important grit piece.
What ever is less than an idiot, that is what JR and Sully are.
Maybe JR was forced into this trade because of Sully’s pathetic ego trips, it sort of smells that way, but even if the trade really wasn’t JRs idea but another instance of Sully’s in ability to get along with players, JR is pathetic for not putting his foot down (Again!!)
It is time not only to move on from Sully but from JR too. Teams are interested in Guerin for GM, it is time to turn the reigns of the Pens over to Guerin.
Hey Other Rick,
I’m not thrilled with the trade or the return, either. I’d like to think we could’ve gotten at least a third-round pick for Oleksiak.
The Penguins’ organization continues to be remarkably allergic to players with a physical bent. They have a long history of adding muscle only to “de-fang” in relatively short order. The lone exception…about a five-season span following the acquisitions of Scary Gary Roberts and Big Georges Laraque back in 2007, when we consistently iced one of the tougher teams in the league.
Those days are long gone.
I know it’s a different game. And I guess JR and Sully feel Garrett Wilson can handle whatever policing chores need to be done. Take nothing away from him, Garrett’s a decent and willing scrapper, but no Ryan Reaves…or Oleksiak for that matter. And I can’t imagine he’ll play a lick come postseason.
I don’t know how we’ll survive a playoff series as constructed…especially against physical foes like Capitals and Blue Jackets. If a team comes at us like the Caps did last season, we’re toast. Or “Done Like Dinner,” as the immortal “Tiger” Williams once described.
Rick