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Empoleon8771

Registered User
Aug 25, 2015
84,875
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Redmond, WA
If L3 doesn't carry over this strong play to the real games and if DOC isn't getting it done with Sid, Puljujarvi should be tried on L1.
He looks to be on a mission this year.

Nah Puljujarvi's skillset doesn't fit well in a team's top-6. He's a 3rd line play driver, he doesn't have the hockey IQ to fit well with guys like Crosby and Malkin. He's perfect in the 3rd line role he's in, he'd be one of the last guys I'd want to see put in that top-6.

I've been super critical of Puustinen obviously but he'd make far more sense to put in a top-6 role than Puljujarvi.
 

AuroraBorealis

Back-to-back hater
Oct 16, 2018
20,008
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Vancouver, British Columbia
Nah Puljujarvi's skillset doesn't fit well in a team's top-6. He's a 3rd line play driver, he doesn't have the hockey IQ to fit well with guys like Crosby and Malkin. He's perfect in the 3rd line role he's in, he'd be one of the last guys I'd want to see put in that top-6.
DOC worked fine with Sid and his hockey IQ is lower than JP's. A lot of it's just about keeping the puck in Sid or Rust's hands and making them play less defense on shifts. Puljujarvi's one of our best defensive Forwards and he's gonna make zone exits difficult for the opposition. He's gonna win board battles with that frame.
Execution on rush plays is important with Sid too, and that's often generated by confidence. JP seems to have that atm. He can help with net-front presence too.

Like I said, him on L3 works until it doesn't and he needs to be moved. Atm I'm optimistic with today's L3, but playing the CBJ B-team is not an indication of much. I'll care more about how they look vs New York and Detroit.

I've been super critical of Puustinen obviously but he'd make far more sense to put in a top-6 role than Puljujarvi.
Yes, overly critical. He's been totally fine. Generating points like usual. Quality PP setup. Solid top corner snipe.
You can make up for a lot of bleh play in a game with skilled execution in a few critical moments where others would fail.
This team needs more guys with soft hands, not less. There need to be fewer games where they totally outshoot and outchance the opposition, but can't score.
Gotta reduce the amount of work they need to put in per goal. Best way to accomplish that is through skill guys.
 
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Honour Over Glory

Sully-Quinn: Idiots Squared
Jan 30, 2012
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Puusy has a goal and an assist in the pre-season.

Beauvillier has an assist.

One of them has basically played every shift with Sid or Geno..
Yeah, the shit I'm reading by others there's no point in arguing with that shit at this stage.

Can we get a game or two of evaluation before we go full negative? This is supposed to be the exciting part. The delusions of grandeur part. You're already negative without watching the game.
Looking at the roster the Jackets put up, who the f*** are you trying to kid or fool? Yourself?

Cool.

Don't throw a fit if others didn't see it that way.
 

Empoleon8771

Registered User
Aug 25, 2015
84,875
85,206
Redmond, WA
DOC worked fine with Sid and his hockey IQ is lower than JP's. A lot of it's just about keeping the puck in Sid or Rust's hands and making them play less defense on shifts. Puljujarvi's one of our best defensive Forwards and he's gonna make zone exits difficult for the opposition. He's gonna win board battles with that frame.
Execution on rush plays is important with Sid too, and that's often generated by confidence. JP seems to have that atm. He can help with net-front presence too.

Like I said, him on L3 works until it doesn't and he needs to be moved. Atm I'm optimistic with today's L3, but playing the CBJ B-team is not an indication of much. I'll care more about how they look vs New York and Detroit.


Yes, overly critical. He's been totally fine. Generating points like usual. Quality PP setup. Solid top corner snipe.
You can make up for a lot of bleh play in a game with skilled execution in a few critical moments where others would fail.
This team needs more guys with soft hands, not less. There need to be fewer games where they totally outshoot and outchance the opposition, but can't score.
Gotta reduce the amount of work they need to put in per goal. Best way to accomplish that is through skill guys.

For someone who preaches about analytics as much as you do, it's odd that you're ignoring Puustinen getting absolutely dummied in the pre-season so far analytically just because he's a guy you liked last year.

Also it's weird to say "they need fewer games where they outshoot and out chance the opponent, but can't score" when Puustinen literally had 5 goals in 52 games last year.
 

AuroraBorealis

Back-to-back hater
Oct 16, 2018
20,008
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Vancouver, British Columbia
For someone who preaches about analytics as much as you do, it's odd that you're ignoring Puustinen getting absolutely dummied in the pre-season so far analytically just because he's a guy you liked last year.

Also it's weird to say "they need fewer games where they outshoot and out chance the opponent, but can't score" when Puustinen literally had 5 goals in 52 games last year.
It doesn't matter who has the last touch on the puck. It just needs to go in. Besides, he's probably gonna shoot better this year. It was his rookie season. Not exactly a tried and true barometer for seasonal averages from players for their careers. His shot's pretty damn hard and accurate.

As for defensive analytics, you can compensate for poor numbers very quickly with a few scoring plays. You just need to do enough to not concede more than you produce.
He did this last season and he's probably gonna do it again, wherever he plays next in the NHL.
 

Tender Rip

Wears long pants
Feb 12, 2007
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Shanghai, China
Puustinen has produced more than Beau has with tons of time in the top six.
Caveat that I’ve seen nothing, I can never understand why NHL teams prioritize the “vet” journeyman who at best will be passable compared to the young player who might still come good (and could also fail).

If the decision comes down to Pus and Beau and handedness, you play Pus on the offwing and see what happens.

Nah Puljujarvi's skillset doesn't fit well in a team's top-6. He's a 3rd line play driver, he doesn't have the hockey IQ to fit well with guys like Crosby and Malkin. He's perfect in the 3rd line role he's in, he'd be one of the last guys I'd want to see put in that top-6.

I've been super critical of Puustinen obviously but he'd make far more sense to put in a top-6 role than Puljujarvi.
So, Malkin is not 2009 Malkin. Obviously. You don’t get dominance with Feds and Talbot combo’s. But the things that work for him, are not the same as what works for Sid. Never was. He plays to other players hockey IQ more so than Sid does.
If Pulju is on, works hard, lets Malkin handle the puck, goes to the net and cashes in on some feeds, Malkin will be fine with that.
I don’t think it would work with Sid.

And not for nothing, Rakell doesn’t much care if he is RW or LW, so if we are relatively deep on RW and not on LW… you move Rakell over, IMO.
 

Big Friggin Dummy

Registered User
Feb 22, 2019
25,309
24,249
Just gonna remember how fun McG and Puljujarvi have been in pre-season so down the line when Jarry's playing like shit cuz he's injured in February, and Sullivan's playing anyone under 29 for 6 minutes a night, it's not as shitty.
 

Honour Over Glory

Sully-Quinn: Idiots Squared
Jan 30, 2012
79,253
44,241
It’s just comical at this point. Also, is Quinn the one deciding personnel or is that our boy
What's the difference?

I mean outside of the stunning blue eyes, they're both empty behind their eyes.

Just gonna remember how fun McG and Puljujarvi have been in pre-season so down the line when Jarry's playing like shit cuz he's injured in February, and Sullivan's playing anyone under 29 for 6 minutes a night, it's not as shitty.
You mean after Jarry is exhausted from playing so many games in a row when the back-up should be splitting up some of his workload early and then goes to shit for a month and a half at the end of the season, we'll always have the memory of seeing McGroarty, Puljujarvi, and Puustinen being fun to watch.
 

Honour Over Glory

Sully-Quinn: Idiots Squared
Jan 30, 2012
79,253
44,241
Caveat that I’ve seen nothing, I can never understand why NHL teams prioritize the “vet” journeyman who at best will be passable compared to the young player who might still come good (and could also fail).

If the decision comes down to Pus and Beau and handedness, you play Pus on the offwing and see what happens.


So, Malkin is not 2009 Malkin. Obviously. You don’t get dominance with Feds and Talbot combo’s. But the things that work for him, are not the same as what works for Sid. Never was. He plays to other players hockey IQ more so than Sid does.
If Pulju is on, works hard, lets Malkin handle the puck, goes to the net and cashes in on some feeds, Malkin will be fine with that.
I don’t think it would work with Sid.

And not for nothing, Rakell doesn’t much care if he is RW or LW, so if we are relatively deep on RW and not on LW… you move Rakell over, IMO.
The thing is, with Lizotte on the IR and the fact that Acciari can play LW, you can move one of them over and be fine to keep Puljujarvi and Puustinen like they should, the player they should be waiving is Glass to be honest. With his cap hit, he might just slide down to WBS.

O'Connor, Crosby, Rust
Bunting, Malkin, Rakell
Beauvillier, Eller, Puljujarvi/Puustinen
Acciari, Hayes, Puljujarvi/Puustinen

And then really, you're still fine to rotate Lizotte in where they see fit, being that Lizotte can play all 3 forward positions and is adequate with faceoffs.

This is absolutely not a playoff team and playing older veterans that have very little left to offer with the years they have and ability vs a younger player they should be playing should be something blokes here need to care about.

A 33yr old Acciari isn't going to bring back shit, but if you play Puustinen and Puljujarvi in positions to succeed and they do well like they will when you do that, they can bring back more.
 

chethejet

Registered User
Feb 4, 2012
8,700
1,926
Pens will be better this year and will make the playoffs. PP is playing with quicker movement and getting pucks to the net. A good PP just adds so much to the win total. I have said they wouldn't make it 2 years ago and thought it was unlikely last year. This year with the caveat of health, Pens make it is a declining Metro. NJ better, Canes fall back, Rangers as well. Philly looking for the promised land again and Caps who knows. Columbus is building a talented core but are probably 2 years away.
 

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