GDT: 2024-2025 Training Camp

[Andy99]

A flight would be significantly more than just an hour with the loading and unloading process.

It's not a big deal but you're talking about maybe a 2 hour difference for a flight versus a bus ride. For a pre-season game, I don't know why you wouldn't have a bus ride as a backup for a game this close.



There is zero way to justify Sullivan's decisions regarding Acciari and Puustinen, absolutely none. Acciari was horrendous last year and hasn't looked good in the limited sample size we've seen in pre-season so far. That is purely Sullivan being a moron, there's no other way around it.

You're talking about Puustinen as if he has had a "quiet camp" while clinging to Acciari having multiple past seasons (before last year) for why his camp doesn't matter. Doesn't that seem completely hypocritical to you? You're literally applying 2 different criteria to justify Sullivan's lineup decisions. Who cares if Acciari had a better G/60 than Puustinen in 2019-2020? He put up 4 goals in 55 games last year, looked like absolute crap and doesn't look any better this year.

Yeah, DesertedPenguin just doesn’t like Puustinen for some reason and often defends Sullivan…the coach’s approach towards Puustinen vs Acciari is him elevating PKing over actual production and defensive minutes in the bottom six…and again, what has the defense-only bottom six ever gotten us the last few years, other than out of the playoffs lol…

We should be mixing scorers, playmakers and a defensive-minded player on all lines…unfortunately we have too few of the former, which is why I would give Puusty way more opportunities with NHL caliber talent in games and practices this season than he’s gotten from Sullivan so far

 

[HandshakeLine]

At the end of the day, I'm simply bored with watching a team ice entire lines of guys who, at best, are 10 point PK specialists on a mediocre PK. Who cares if Puustinen isn't as good as some hope? He's at least a move away from the stale, boring, ineffectual style of hockey which has been Sullivan's go to since 2018, for reasons.

I don't mind us being bad in order to tank, I don't care if we're not sniffing the playoffs, but man, just play a different style of game for once. If it's not going to make any difference, I'd prefer to watch something more entertaining than 82 games of "guys that remind Mike Sullivan of himself when he was younger and a few over the hill superstars".

 

[Empoleon8771]

Taking out Puustinen entirely, I just simply do not see any justification for Acciari being one of their top-12 forwards. He had 4 goals and 7 points in 55 games last year. He was a bad PKer analytically as well, he had a +1.6 GA/60rel and +0.98 xGA/60rel. He was pretty clearly their worst PKing forward statistically, only Rust had a higher GA/60 and Nieto and Carter a higher xGA/60.

I think you could feasibly make an argument that Glass, Puljujarvi and Puustinen are battling for the same spot, so I can understand Puustinen not being one of their top-12 forwards in theory. But there is simply no planet where Acciari deserves a spot, and him getting in the lineup because he’s a shitty PKer would be another example of Sullivan being a downright moron. If you’re so insistent on getting a PKer on that line, waive his ass and put Gruden on L4. There is no legitimate justification for Acciari being on that line, it is simply better off putting any of Glass, Puljujarvi or Puustinen in that spot despite none of them being PKers

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Acciari has had multiple seasons in his career with a higher G/60 than Puustinen posted last year, including in his first full season in the NHL

Acciari also plays all three forward positions and eats heavy defensive zone minutes. I would not be surprised if he bounces back this year now that he's on the wing.

All indications are Puustinen has had a quiet camp. He's not standing out in practice or in scrimmages, unlike Puljujarvi.

If Puustinen actually shows something, then I'll agree he deserves a lineup spot. But he doesn't deserve to just be handed anything.

Career 1.12 5v5 P/P60 player. An offensive bounceback is unlikely from Acciari.
He's redundant in the roles he's proficient at. Unnecessary addition to the lineup. Playing really poorly in camp too.
Does accountability not exist? Hell, I'd go with Avery Hayes over him. He's been good in all the games. Playing hungry.

 

[Ulf5]

Maybe the players don't have to worry about anything but show up and it seems like a simple 2 hour trip from getting to and from the airport.

Hours go into road trips.

Bingo. I believe the players are told approximate time the planes will be loaded and ready for for takeoff iirc.
They certainly aren't standing around loading their own gear and such.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

At the end of the day, I'm simply bored with watching a team ice entire lines of guys who, at best, are 10 point PK specialists on a mediocre PK. Who cares if Puustinen isn't as good as some hope? He's at least a move away from the stale, boring, ineffectual style of hockey which has been Sullivan's go to since 2018, for reasons.

I don't mind us being bad in order to tank, I don't care if we're not sniffing the playoffs, but man, just play a different style of game for once. If it's not going to make any difference, I'd prefer to watch something more entertaining than 82 games of "guys that remind Mike Sullivan of himself when he was younger and a few over the hill superstars".

Plus there's room for Puustinen to regress and still be more useful than Acciari.

 

[Ugene Magic]

Jeesh, I don't like the fact Dubas signed Acciari let alone discuss about whether or not to dress Acciari 32 over Puustinen 25.

One has promise while the other wastes time and cap from the 4th line.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Any post that is trying to frame Acciari as anything other than borderline useless is just not going to get taken very seriously lol... dude was hot trash last season and in his 30s. I get that he shouldn't have been playing center last year but I don't think changing that is going to lead to some resurgence at this point.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Any post that is trying to frame Acciari as anything other than borderline useless is just not going to get taken very seriously lol... dude was hot trash last season and in his 30s. I get that he shouldn't have been playing but I don't think changing that is going to lead to some resurgence at this point.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I feel like his nose is trying to escape his face.

 

[PensandCaps]

Any post that is trying to frame Acciari as anything other than borderline useless is just not going to get taken very seriously lol... dude was hot trash last season and in his 30s. I get that he shouldn't have been playing center but I don't think changing that is going to lead to some resurgence at this point.

Idk, I think if he is played on wing all year, he will be much more useful. He looked like an NHLer when he was not a centre. I don't mind giving Accari one more shot on the Wing.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Idk, I think if he is played on wing all year, he will be much more useful. He looked like an NHLer when he was not a centre. I don't mind giving Accari one more shot on the Wing.

I absolutely agree with the notion that he shouldn't have been playing center. Sullivan for you, I guess. I just don't think it's going to make a impactful difference to the team if he moves back to wing. But maybe he can actually use his shot a little more depending on who his center is? I would hope for some more disruption and physical play but guys who have shown this ability in the past seem to lose it when they come here... weird, I know.

I just don't think a bounceback is going to be very realistic for a player in his 30s playing in a Sullivan bottom six but we're GOING to find out regardless because he's going to make the team, of course.

 

[HandshakeLine]

I feel like his nose is trying to escape his face.

He's suffering from Mikericcitis, please be kind.

 

[Andy99]

Yikes…

https://x.com/i/web/status/1840057827361968383

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I really need to stop wishing that players I greatly admire and respect would come here and play.

First Iginla and now this. EK's situation is particularly striking, though. In regards to the short amount of time it took to go from "this rules" to "this is probably a disaster."

EDIT: I feel stupid but what even IS this injury and when was it first reported? Is this another asinine "rehab and pray for three months oh shoot that didn't work time for surgery I guess" situation?

 

[Andy99]

Our RDs behind Letang look like hot garbage too, all disrespect to Aho, Shea and Ludvig lol…hopefully our 18 year old prospect is ready now lol

 

[Andy99]

Ok lol…hopefully Lizotte is scratched so we can see Koivunen…no need to get Lizotte a look in the top six lol

From Taylor

Penguins' lines and pairings at the morning skate:

Anthony Beauvillier - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust
Blake Lizotte/Ville Koivunen - Evgeni Malkin - Rickard Rakell
Michael Bunting - Kevin Hayes - Cody Glass
Jonathan Gruden - Sam Poulin - Boko Imama

Matt Grzelcyk - Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson - Harrison Brunicke
Dan Renouf/Owen Pickering - Nathan Clurman

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Harrison Brunicke sounds like the name of a character from a dystopian future in a novel by Vonnegut or Philip K. Dick.

I don't know where I'm going with this. But that can't be a BAD thing for his chances.

 

[WickedWrister]

Yikes…

https://x.com/i/web/status/1840057827361968383

Who the f*** is @Bakerwisconsin

 

[SomeDude]

Can we just say some people said something and will it to happen?

Some people are saying Mike Sullivan has come down with a bad case of rickets and will be resigning by the end of the weekend.

 

[Andy99]

Can we just say some people said something and will it to happen?

Some people are saying Mike Sullivan has come down with a bad case of rickets and will be resigning by the end of the weekend.

Hey, we can dream…

Also Yager back to Moose Jaw in the Winnipeg cut down today lol

 

[pistolpete11]

Acciari was so bad last year that if that's what they are going to get, then he shouldn't be in the NHL let alone a starting lineup.

IF he bounces back after being moved to wing, I think there's a case to be made that he's roughly equal to Puusy. Acciari more defensive minded and Puusy more offensive minded. Given how Mike Sullivan uses his bottom 6, it's not THAT crazy he would play over Puusy.

BUT, the problems are:

1. How Mike Sullivan uses his bottom 6.
2. The age difference. We know even if he bounces back, Acciari isn't really going to make a difference. Puusy probably doesn't either, but we don't know.
3. The cap difference. Why would they pay Acciari $2M for something one of the younger guys can do less than half the cap space?

The Pens are no longer good enough that they can play it safe in their bottom 6. They need to take chances with guys like Puusy over guys Acciari to try and find a diamond in the rough. It's a long shot that Puusy is that guy, but you've got to try. If it doesn't work out, move on to the next guy.

 

[HandshakeLine]

Also playing the cheaper player means the Pens could in theory actually weaponize their cap space for a rebuild. Of course we all know that was a bald faced lie? But in theory that would be one way to do it instead of icing awful expensive players we signed for free.

 

[Gurglesons]

Boko Imama over McG in a pre-season game.

LOL.

 

[GilbertSeinfeld]

Karlsson has to have surgery to fix the "Sullivan hockey" that seemed to be missing, so when he returns he can be highly disappointing.