GDT: 2024-2025 Training Camp

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Oh how I wish Pittsburgh had its own Larry Brooks. It would be Brooks vs Tortorella 2.0. Always funny seeing Sullivan start complaining over the lightest bit of criticism over the years. Dude would melt if he faced actual criticism from the fans/media

He gets SO salty whenever even non-pointed, completely relevant questions are asked. Imagine what he'd do in a real media market.

 

[deakka]

So glad we traded our top prospect for a guy that looks closer to a bust with skating issues than sniffing the NHL-lineup atm.

Just tear it down instead of doing more dmg...

 

[Empoleon8771]

So glad we traded our top prospect for a guy that looks closer to a bust with skating issues than sniffing the NHL-lineup atm.

Just tear it down instead of doing more dmg...

That is a comically dumb take to have on McGroarty. Just an awful, awful opinion to have.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

So glad we traded our top prospect for a guy that looks closer to a bust with skating issues than sniffing the NHL-lineup atm.

Just tear it down instead of doing more dmg...

I think McG is a legit prospect for sure. On the same level as Yager, at least.

But yeah I mean... it's kinda funny how the big talking point was his "NHL readiness." Even if true (and he definitely has things to work on in the A regardless of Sullivan)... he came to the Penguins to play. That wasn't happening in year one, here. Even if they no longer have anything to lose.

 

[eXile3]

Nothing is going to change until people in the media start calling out this bullshit, but we all know that's never going to happen.

Toronto media is asking their coach if he’s worried after two preseason losses. Sullivan’s tanked this team for a handful of years and no one has challenged him.

Obviously Toronto is insane but the lack of any real media coverage of Sullys failure is crazy.

 

[MrBurghundy]

Toronto media is asking their coach if he’s worried after two preseason losses. Sullivan’s tanked this team for a handful of years and no one has challenged him.

Obviously Toronto is insane but the lack of any real media coverage of Sullys failure is crazy.

He's just way too comfortable and there's no heat or pressure at all. He's like a damn tenured professor. No threat whatsoever of losing his job.

 

[SEALBound]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1839317913662271719

This team isn't giving a reason for me to not believe the "waive Puustinen to keep Ludvig" idea they seem to be planning on doing. Maybe it will just end up that they wanted to have 4 full D pairs on the NHL side, but count me as skeptical.

That forward lineup with who they have on defense combined with Blomqvist and Murashov...WBS might actually be good this year.

So glad we traded our top prospect for a guy that looks closer to a bust with skating issues than sniffing the NHL-lineup atm.

Just tear it down instead of doing more dmg...

Log off. Forever.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Has this team ever kept 14F to open a season?

We’ve been against cap for a long time but I feel like we typically go 8D if we have a 23 man roster. Could be completely incorrect though.

 

[MrBurghundy]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1839332592296022198

Translation: This kid can f*** off. There's no way in hell I'm playing him unless I'm forced to.

 

[Andy99]

I personally don’t think any of the waiver exempt players are ready to start in the NHL but I do think the coach should be playing the prominent prospects like McG, Pono, Broz in prominent roles with NHL players in preseason games to get them good experience and gauge their readiness, and especially Puusty….that that’s not happening for their development is the most egregious error imo

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

I think McG is a legit prospect for sure. On the same level as Yager, at least.

But yeah I mean... it's kinda funny how the big talking point was his "NHL readiness." Even if true (and he definitely has things to work on in the A regardless of Sullivan)... he came to the Penguins to play. That wasn't happening in year one, here. Even if they no longer have anything to lose.

The initial idea he wanted games out of school this spring and that’s why he asked for a trade has been shot down a few times IIRC. I don’t think it was same situation as Gauthier. Seems like he just didn’t wanna be a Jet.

 

[MrBurghundy]

I personally don’t think any of the waiver exempt players are ready to start in the NHL but I do think the coach should be playing the prominent prospects like McG, Pono, Broz in prominent roles with NHL players in preseason games to get them good experience and gauge their readiness, and especially Puusty….that that’s not happening for their development is the most egregious error imo

Maybe. Maybe not.

The problem is we'll never know. You sometimes have to just live with the growing pains to reap the reward on the other end. We'll never see if that happens though.

What the hell is the point of drafting and developing players if you skip the final and most crucial step in the process. Actually f***ing playing them.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Poulin getting outplayed by Poolparty at the current moment so ultimately while it doesn’t seem like he’s ever gotten a fair shake or been treated like a 1st rounder, I’m fine with him getting waived. I’m 50/50 if he gets claimed.

But the treatment of Puustinen makes no sense. He was better than Glass last year, makes less, is homegrown and Glass has gotten every chance in the world while Puustinen hasn’t really gotten a shot. Really think he would be claimed too. Hopefully I’m wrong.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

The initial idea he wanted games out of school this spring and that’s why he asked for a trade has been shot down a few times IIRC. I don’t think it was same situation as Gauthier. Seems like he just didn’t wanna be a Jet.

Oh for sure. I mean more how Penguins fans and some media were "selling" the trade.

For the record I don't think Groats is demanding anything of anyone. He seems like the kind of player that will give the AHL his all and use it as an opportunity.

 

[Empoleon8771]

McGroarty is likely going to go the same route as Guentzel: dominate in the AHL for half a year and then jump directly to Crosby's line. Him starting off in the AHL isn't a bad thing.

The frustrating part is the Penguins keeping these shit-tier players like Acciari in NHL minutes while better players are being shown the door. Even if they want to run with 8D, I don't see why they're not running with something like this F group at minimum:

O'Connor-Crosby-Rust
Bunting-Malkin-Rakell
Beauvillier-Eller-Glass
Lizotte-Hayes-Puljujarvi
Puustinen

Poulin getting outplayed by Poolparty at the current moment so ultimately while it doesn’t seem like he’s ever gotten a fair shake or been treated like a 1st rounder, I’m fine with him getting waived. I’m 50/50 if he gets claimed.

But the treatment of Puustinen makes no sense. He was better than Glass last year, makes less, is homegrown and Glass has gotten every chance in the world while Puustinen hasn’t really gotten a shot. Really think he would be claimed too. Hopefully I’m wrong.

Hell take out Glass entirely, why is Acciari making the NHL team over him? Acciari was horrendous last year and doesn't look any better this year.

Even if you want to run with 8D and not have Puustinen in your top-12, I simply do not understand why they would waive Puustinen and make a needless risk in losing him for nothing. For what, so you can have Noel Acciari on your 4th line?

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Even if you want to run with 8D and not have Puustinen in your top-12, I simply do not understand why they would waive Puustinen and make a needless risk in losing him for nothing. For what, so you can have Noel Acciari on your 4th line?

"Absolutely"

-Mike Sullivan, probably

 

[Malkinstheman]

Maybe JR was onto something with just throwing away picks like candy. As long as Sullivan is here, just trade the prospects for vets that Sullivan will love and misuse

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Maybe JR was onto something with just throwing away picks like candy. As long as Sullivan is here, just trade the prospects for vets that Sullivan will love and misuse

Bingo. That's why I hate this "soft rebuild" idea.

There is a HUGE component of the equation that is totally rotten and is going to derail the process. It's a total joke of an idea until that is addressed. Which won't be til like 2027ish at the earliest so... WTF are we doing, here?

 

[MrBurghundy]

Bingo. That's why I hate this "soft rebuild" idea.

There is a HUGE component of the equation that is totally rotten and is going to derail the process. It's a total joke of an idea until that is addressed. Which won't be til like 2027ish at the earliest so... WTF are we doing, here?

Basically enjoying getting to watch the last years of Crosby's, Malkin's, and Letang's careers. If that's even possible with the rest of the things happening around them.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Basically enjoying getting to watch the last years of Crosby's, Malkin's, and Letang's careers. If that's even possible with the rest of the things happening around them.

Were it even enjoyable! lol

That's maybe the worst part. I could take the losing... the confused team philosophy... this wishy-washy concept of "rebuild while competing" but they are SO. f***ING. BORING.

At least TRY to play the sport. I promise that turning the puck over here and there are the least of your concerns these days, guys. Maybe try out that whole "middle of the ice" part of the rink. I heard neat stuff can happen outside of just dragging the puck up and down the walls all game.

Anyway... for real though... we should be thankful. This projected lineup could have been put together way worse by these cretins.

Also also just because I haven't heard much about it (for good reason I'm betting) -- what are they doing with the powerplay so far this camp... anything?

 

[Ulf5]

I don't think Poulin has played RW since before his trade in the Q.

Not only that. I fully realize Koivunen and Broz might not amount to much or anything at all. But they're going to give trash like Bemstrom, Huntington and Imama 2nd line minutes over them. Yeah yeah it's just practice. But you should want your actual prospects getting all the ice time they can get.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

I don't think those minor-league group lines are accurate. Pickering-Renouf is two lefties. Clurman-Brunicke is two righties. Bemstrom has not played center in several years, etc.

Not only that. I fully realize Koivunen and Broz might not amount to much or anything at all. But they're going to give trash like Bemstrom, Huntington and Imama 2nd line minutes over them. Yeah yeah it's just practice. But you should want your actual prospects getting all the ice time they can get.

Most teams either give prospects a chance to make the big team in a lesser role, or give them prominent roles in the minors.

We give our prospects a lesser role in the minors.

 

[Dennis Reynolds]

If they waive Puustinen I will lose my f***ing mind.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I know I sound like a broken record but I'll just never understand why the Penguins don't use this time to fully assess at least their most promising prospects while playing with some established NHL talent that isn't like... Noel Acciari. It should have been more or less a slam dunk to stick Groats on Crosby's line for a game or two, for instance. See what they can do in the roles eventually expected of them, right?

And that isn't even going into why they don't actively work on things like the powerplay and instead drop indignant, salty one-liners when asked what people should take away from what they are seeing out on the ice in scrimmages etc.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Not only that. I fully realize Koivunen and Broz might not amount to much or anything at all. But they're going to give trash like Bemstrom, Huntington and Imama 2nd line minutes over them. Yeah yeah it's just practice. But you should want your actual prospects getting all the ice time they can get.

That's fairly standard for how the AHL operates. AHL teams aren't purely just trying to give young player the most minutes possible, they're also trying to build a good team.

There are also AHL veteran lineup limits that basically guarantee that Koivunen and Broz will be playing a ton. This shouldn't matter because Puustinen should be in the NHL, but I wonder if that is a small factor in the decision of keeping Puljujarvi up over Puustinen. Puljuajrvi counts as a veteran by AHL standards (356 NHL games, limit is 310 AHL+NHL games) but Puustinen doesn't (223 NHL+AHL games), which does have implications for making WBS a better team. Basically, Puustinen being in the AHL allows them to have another veteran playing regular minutes, while Puljujarvi would take one of the 5 veteran spots.

Edit: actually this is incorrect, some of Puustinen's Liiga games do count. His 21 year old season definitely does but I'm unsure if his 20 year old season counts. He's at either "development player between 260-310 games" or "veteran" depending on whether that 20 year old season counts.