Post-Game Talk: Cole's Plus/MINUS: Pens need a 40 goal lead to close it out! (Pens/Bs)

[FreeBobbyFarnham]

He plays a risky game but can’t skate for shit anymore so when his play or read goes bad, it goes really bad. Happens at least once every period. He and Dumo are a nightmare pairing and whoever conceived of it should be fired.

He also looks lost all the time, like when he left the puck behind the net in OT and looked surprised when a Boston player played it lol.

 

[Pancakes]

I don't believe this is a team that has quit on Mike Sullivan. The players wanted him back. I've seen them quit on coaches before and this is not that.

This is almost worse than that. This is a team that wants to play the right way but is mentally incapable of it.

Whether it's a conscious rebellion or not it's time for a change if things don't improve in a hurry. And by "in a hurry" I'm talking the next couple of games.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

The frustrating thing is the process should be leading to better results.

65.52% to 34.48% edge in high danger corsi.
59.15% to 40.85% edge in xGF%.

That should lead to better results. The fact that it did not tonight speaks to the inability to win one-on-one battles and win puck battles. And it also speaks to the fact that Jarry played terrible on top of the mistakes in front of him.

 

[turd]

They’re a poorly coached team, with a poorly constructed roster. Hextall needs to do something soon.

 

[PaulD]

I could do a lot of complaining but I want to actually focus on the thing I see the most: We have absolutely NO compete level. Bouncing pucks... we lose the battle or skate right by it. Need to stop and start? Nope... Big ole loops. Can we make a 6 foot pass? No.. let's force it between 3 guys on the powerplay to see if we can get a crazy 1 timer out of nowhere. Defensive zone? We turn the puck over more.

Getting older and stronger was supposed to stop this. This is the absolute worst I've seen this team at being strong on the puck. We force passes, turn the puck over, and our goaltending is laughable.

The Penguins need a coaching change ( New voice ) like no other team I've ever seen.

 

[ChaosAgent]

It’s a shame because usually this time of year I spend more time watching football then start ramping up hockey later on. Our teams are doing me dirty right now, haha.

This is the worst sports year in Pittsburgh since...I don't even know. Maybe like, 2003?

But though I'm complaining here - and justifiably so, these guys suck right now - I'm kinda numb to it at this point. What's going to suck is when it's cold and there's no going outside to look forward to.

The Ownguons need a coaching change ( New voice ) like no other team I've ever seen.

That is an all-time typo.

 

[PaulD]

Hab fan here

Sick of Petry yet? If not , you will be.

 

[Pancakes]

If we're in that "need structure" stage of coaches, Barry Trotz is just sitting there waiting for a job.

I don't even know if he'd take the job here, but he'd whip this team into a different kind of shape. Boring, but probably more effective.

 

[Jobeycool]

I look at this as a great thing well on our way if this keeps happening to not getting in the playoffs = better draft picks.. trading Malkin = getting more draft picks if they go that route, doubt they will do it, but they might.

 

[PaulD]

This is the worst sports year in Pittsburgh since...I don't even know. Maybe like, 2003?

But though I'm complaining here - and justifiably so, these guys suck right now - I'm kinda numb to it at this point. What's going to suck is when it's cold and there's no going outside to look forward to.



That is an all-time typo.

Thanks

 

[xMOHAWKx98]

holy cow this team is bad. can't hold a lead to save their lives. jarry stinks. we need fleury. trade everyone tank for bedard.

 

[ZorkEnchanter]

Should have kept Marino, at least he's competent defensively. The current top 4 is a joke.

After seeing a few of our Defensemen Gunder, Marino, Olesick, etc.... leave and just be good to decent, I'm starting to think Sullivan (his offensive system and ass coaches) and our Defensive systems has a lot to do with it.

 

[Gurglesons]

But other that we’re all set for our inevitable PO loss lol

We are

Well, i didn't want him fired at any rate. But this current stretch is the type that gets a coach canned.
I truly wonder if there's a limit here to this. I know FSG extended him and it'd be embarrassing to can him, but even they have to have limits, right? What do they do if this becomes an 0-6 or 0-10 or whatever stretch

 

[Pancakes]

I look at this as a great thing well on our way if this keeps happening to not getting in the playoffs = better draft picks.. trading Malkin = getting more draft picks if they go that route, doubt they will do it, but they might.

They won't do anything that dramatic unless they miss the playoffs two years in a row.

The most dramatic thing we might see is Sullivan getting canned. The "move a core player" type stage wont happen unless it's an extended playoff drought. One bad year can be written off.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Honestly, I think this team needs more youth. They are committed to the old core, so surround them with kids who are fighting for their NHL lives.

 

[SomeDude]

What’s the solution? Gonna find solution.

 

[Kristopher Letang]

Eh, I think extending Sullivan was really nonsensical when they did and I've been a supporter of his. His new contract extension doesn't even kick in until 2024-2025. He wasn't in a lame duck year, he still had 2 years left, so why give him an extension now?

FSG sent the contract to [email protected] instead of [email protected] and he ran with it lol

 

[Pens x]

I wanted Sullivan extended and the Pens did that. There's a lot of people (rightly) calling for his head right now.

None of those people foresaw *this* level of slump though. If you're one of those people, don't even pretend you did lol. You saw first round exits, sure, but not a team that would be in danger of digging their own grave in October.

But either way, I'm not afraid to admit I was wrong and unless the Pens pull out of this tailspin and soon then I was absolutely wrong to call for Sullivan to be extended. But who saw this coming? I saw the danger of first round exits. I did not see the danger of a team completely looking like they forgot how to play hockey. That's whta we're seeing right now.

This is hideous to watch and even the most ardent anti-Sullivan posters did not see this coming.

Why would you even consider extending a head coach that had underperformed in four straight playoffs when they are under contract for two more years? What was the rush????

This isn’t hindsight, it’s called common sense - something this team desperately needs.

When I said it was an idiotic decision to extend Sully after four years of playoff failures, I was told FSG has deep pockets, wouldn’t be afraid to fire Sullivan.

We are waiting….

 

[PaulD]

They’re a poorly coached team, with a poorly constructed roster. Hextall needs to do something soon.

Hextall is the same guy that left Philly in a friggin mess.
Hows that extension to Sullivan looking ?
Guy should have been fired 2 years ago.

 

[Pancakes]

Honestly, I think this team needs more youth. They are committed to the old core, so surround them with kids who are fighting for their NHL lives.

New youth maybe. The youth we have sure isn't doing much. DOC sucking tonight

 

[Ragamuffin Gunner]

Sully is a f***ing loser. He should have been fired in the summer.

 

[Empoleon8771]

The most concerning thing to me is that there are really only a handful of players who are both playing well and also having a noticeably positive impact on the ice. I think Malkin, Zucker, Rakell, Guentzel and maybe Rutta are really the only guys who look noticeably good and are also contributing to wins. Everyone else either looks like shit or looks solid but aren't really contributing anything towards wins.

Pettersson is a great example of "looks solid but isn't really contributing anything". He's kinda just on the ice and getting good on-ice results, but I don't see him really doing anything to warrant those great results (at least not recently). I think Poehling, POJ and maybe Rutta (if he's not in the above group) also fall in this category. Everyone else just looks like varying levels of crap or are just irrelevant pieces.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

JB echoed my thoughts.

 

[metalan2]

The frustrating thing is the process should be leading to better results.

65.52% to 34.48% edge in high danger corsi.
59.15% to 40.85% edge in xGF%.

That should lead to better results. The fact that it did not tonight speaks to the inability to win one-on-one battles and win puck battles. And it also speaks to the fact that Jarry played terrible on top of the mistakes in front of him.

It also speaks to the fact that advanced stats mean nothing when it comes to the penguins. Did you see what they did advanced stat wise to the rangers? It was historical dominance. Still lost. This penguins iteration are just losers. They mentally prepare to lose.

 

[PaulD]

They won't do anything that dramatic unless they miss the playoffs two years in a row.

The most dramatic thing we might see is Sullivan getting canned. The "move a core player" type stage wont happen unless it's an extended playoff drought. One bad year can be written off.

Really , I'm shocked Sullivan is still coaching this team.
What does he have to do to get canned........miss games without calling in sick?
Last 5 play off series - eliminated.
Last 5 regular season games - all losses
Powerplay - lousy
Penalty kill - lousy
Protecting leads - lousy
Playing according to score and clock - lousy

What does he actually bring to the team anymore? Pep talks about " getting swagger back"
Come on....it was a goid run......but it's over. Time for a change.