GDT: 2024-2025 Training Camp

[WickedWrister]

IDK if it's accurate but ESPN has Beau and McG with 14 seconds apiece of PP TOI

 

[Gurglesons]

IDK if it's accurate but ESPN has Beau and McG with 14 seconds apiece of PP TOI

Your right it was DOC not Beau.

 

[Kasperi kapanen]

The 22nd PP was Beauvillier, Hayes, Eller, Pulju, Gryz which is honestly the stupidest PP2 you could come up with lol.

It’s just comical at this point. Also, is Quinn the one deciding personnel or is that our boy

 

[WickedWrister]

Your right it was DOC not Beau.

Yeah, McG and Beau both got like an abbreviated shift at the end of PP2 when Grz rang one off the post.

 

[Empoleon8771]

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]

It’s just comical at this point. Also, is Quinn the one deciding personnel or is that our boy

Yes. Quinn is running the PP this year. He's also coaching the D-corps.
Sully and him go back decades. He respects him. He's gonna trust his judgment with the units and stay out of it.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

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.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

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]

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.

 

[HandshakeLine]

I would rather watch an entire line of Puustinens than a season of Beauvellier, lol.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

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.

 

[Ulf5]

EMP line blowing up

 

[Ulf5]

Time for an eight-year extension.

8×$800k- Sold!

 

[Tender Rip]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

Some thoughts:

- last year, many of us were scratching our heads wondering why Acciari was being used as the fourth-line center over Jeff Carter, with the latter on the wing. It made no sense then, and it makes even less sense in hindsight. This is the Acciari I remember watching with St. Louis and other clubs. Mainly St. Louis. Keep him on the wing, please.

- Beauvillier should not make this roster, let alone play with a legend. He flat-out stinks. He made one nice pass last night. The rest of the time, he looked lost. Armstrong and Aho were talking about his hockey sense during the broadcast last night, as if he had any. Most of the time, he is out there looking like somebody cut his head off and he forgot where he needs to go. It will be a very poor decision if they don't waive him. And stop it with this nonsense about scoring chances. He is playing with Crosby and Malkin. Let's see what McGroarty does with those chances? Or literally anyone else???

- Cody Glass looks much better as a fourth-line center than as a third-line winger. As the latter, he is completely useless. As a fourth-line center option, he might be useful. We just don't have any right-handed centers (another reason NOT to trade Yager, but I digress).

- I fully expect them to send down Brunicke and McGroarty. Does not mean it is the right call.

- Graves looked better last night. Was it because he was playing next to Brunicke? Let's find out, shall we! Graves played a more physical game. He HAS to play that way.

- I was worried about Blomqvist last night, after those two early goals against. I love his response, though. That goal-mouth save he made really helped him. He seemed far more confident after that save, and I think he rode that the rest of the way. After that performance, I think they can safely start him as the No. 2 and get the back-to-back games (at least) for the time being. Larsson has had a good camp, too. But Blomqvist can push Jarry. I don't think Larsson can. That is what Jarry needs, IMHO.

- this will never happen because hierarchy rules the day with this coaching staff, but we should absolutely start the season with Bunting, Crosby, Malkin, Letang and Rakell as the first PP unit. Let Karlsson get back up to speed on the second unit with Rust, Eller, Puljujarvi and McGroarty. That makes sense to me.

- Puustinen should be in the lineup over Hayes, Glass and Beauvillier (in that order). But we know it won't happen.

- I don't understand why Ryan Shea was not waived. I don't know what they see in him.

- I don't know if they offered this to Winnipeg when negotiating for McGroarty, but they should have tried to deal a lottery-protected first in 2025 for No. 2 instead of Yager. Because in 2025, we are going to basically be looking for another Yager. And Yager will have two big seasons of development ahead of the guy we select. I think this is what UgeneMalkin is talking about when he says we should have both. Let's see what they can do in the '25 draft but I just hope we can get a center with high upside.

- Rakell looks good. I hope he has a huge season because he looks comfortable and confident out there.

- Puljujarvi's hands are ridiculous. And his hockey sense is way better than people give him credit for. But when you have injuries that hamper you physically the way his hampered him, you cannot do what your mind wants you to do. Hopefully, he busts out.


Last night was encouraging. Let's see what Sullivan and co. do to f%$k that up.

 

[Andy99]

Kinda weird McGoat didn’t get any PP time, I hope that shithead Sullivan isn’t trying to turn him into one of his beloved PK specialists.

Graves is f***ing horrible, holy f***.

This is my fear…McG isn’t as good an offensive,player as Michkov but this is the philosophy I hate from coaches…let him find his offensive game and play him in the top six…not interested in having him focus on defense on a third line Sullivan deploys as primarily a defensive line…we have so little scoring as it is

'I'm not interested in turning him into a checker': John Tortorella's plan for Flyers rookie Matvei Michkov

"I have no doubt that there's going to be some fireworks," GM Danny Briere said. But the pairing must work for Philly to get back to the playoffs.

www.espn.com

 

[eXile3]

I think it’s widely recognized at this point that if any young player on this team is to succeed they will need to do it in spite of Sullivan.

 

[Andy99]

Also, Sportsnet is really really down on the Pens this season lol…

they don’t let me embed their articles but it’s another “power rankings:reason for optimism for each team,” and here’s the Pens lol…

29. Pittsburgh Penguins When 87 skates onto the ice, hope automatically overtakes the body.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Find someone who loves you like Andy loves posting articles/videos shitting on the Penguins.

 

[Ugene Magic]

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.

Really, the only purpose of the backup is to take on one of the B2B games and spell the #1 from time to time. The real dummying down (50/50) the starter role is kind of well, dumb.

You play your best, and sometimes your backup ends up being your best at times.

I don't know, I'm fine with the 55/60-22/27 split.

They've got like 13 B2B situations so Ned gets another 10/15 looks the rest of the way.