Post-Game Talk: Game #III Pens vs Flames Win: 2-0 when BlindWillyMcHurt is left outside

[Gurglesons]

Rust wasn't considered a terrific prospect either and now he's "The Ultimate Penguin™"

Very often when it comes to developing players it's putting them in the best positions to succeed and simple opportunity. I'm just not as down about what the Penguins have on the farm as others for that reason. Though I also don't think most of them will get much of a legit chance, either. Sullivan was a different coach, then.

I don’t think the issue with our prospects is talent it is compete. And honestly, given the facts of who gets rewarded here, I can’t say I’m surprised.

 

[Darren McCord]

Before Kuhn's knee got ruined he was a better than PPG prospect in Junior, pretty similar to Poulin. /shrug

I think you think far too highly of Poulin, tbh. But it's also true that I probably think too low of the guy as a prospect.

I think you are remembering a bit wrong even so you call gruden an afterthought but his career is pretty much the same as Kuhn who was also an after thought.

Last OHL season
Kuhn 19 yr olds OHL 30 games 7g 18a 25pts
Gruden 19 yr old OHL 59 games 30g 36a 66pts

Kuhn 22 yr old season 72 games 12g 18a 30pts+10
Gruden 22 yr old season 54 games 16g 15a 31pts

Kuhn made the jump at 23. Kuhn was as much of an after thought as you call Gruden.

Point being. I think they are hoping someone in WBS can put together a solid start and come up in december to provide a spark or boost.

 

[Gurglesons]

Regardless, Kuhn had 15pts in 42 games in his first NHL action, so Poulin's got some catching up before he even hits Kuhn's meager NHL footprint. /shrug

We'll never know for sure because Kuhn's knee injury, but he was definitely well regarded as a prospect. About the same as Poulin's been the last few years imo.

.35 PPG pace at 24 versus .33 PPG at 21

Still not getting your argument. Poulin also absolutely destroyed Kuhnhackl’s AHL numbers at 20.

Just take the loss and throw it up to your usual overblown hysterics about our prospects.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I don’t think the issue with our prospects is talent it is compete. And honestly, given the facts of who gets rewarded here, I can’t say I’m surprised.

The sport and how players come along through different levels of competetion from a young age is just so much higher and more organized than it was even 15 years ago. Scouting and drafting has also come a long way. I don't think the Penguins have a terrific prospect pool due to simply dishing off lots of picks over the years but I don't think they have a bunch of hacks, either. Poulin, Puus, Smith and Blomqvist are all under 25 and certainly have NHL talent. And that's just sticking to guys currently in the AHL. That isn't to say they'll make it but the ability is there.

 

[Fiji Water]

Karlsson helps our pp in so many ways it's ridiculous. Zone entries, unlocks Malkin's one timer, more movement, etc. I honestly think our movement has been so bad on the pp because Letang is a low IQ offensive player who is unable to think on the level of Sid, Geno, and Guentzel, and hence dragged the whole unit's creativity down to his level

 

[Sideline]

Karlsson helps our pp in so many ways it's ridiculous. Zone entries, unlocks Malkin's one timer, more movement, etc. I honestly think our movement has been so bad on the pp because Letang is a low IQ offensive player who is unable to think on the level of Sid, Geno, and Guentzel, and hence dragged the whole unit's creativity down to his level

It's early and the quality of competition has been low, but I love EK65 on the powerplay. He's a legitimate peer to Malkin and Crosby as a threat and does all the things you mentioned. No more penalty kills cheating to the Malkin/Crosby side. Just such a huge benefit.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

.35 PPG pace at 24 versus .33 PPG at 21

Still not getting your argument. Poulin also absolutely destroyed Kuhnhackl’s AHL numbers at 20.

Just take the loss and throw it up to your usual overblown hysterics about our prospects.

It's ironic that the guy who has made his entire forum persona acting like he should be in a padded room and a straight jacket due to his psychotic Mike Sullivan obsession is talking about hysterics and throwing stones, but hey. You do you. It's not even an original bit, you stole it from HOG.

Also, by and large, our prospects suck, and have for a long time. I don't know why you constantly have issue with admitting that. It's the reality of a team going all-in on the here and now for ~20 years, and having a pretty inept scouting department at both the amateur and NHL levels. If the team didn't dumb luck into 3rd rounders like Jake, Rust and Murray coming out of nowhere, they'd have like a 15 year streak of pretty dismal results. But again, that's the way they approached picks, prospects and development for a long time, and it got them three Cups so it worked. Though the result of that is having f*** all coming up through the farm system.

My original point being Kuhnachkl was drafted (much, much later than Poulin) as an offensive minded prospect, had similar skill to the current crop of guys people wring their hands over, and until knee and shoulder injuries, people were pretty hopeful he'd make an impact in that role. It was a response to Darren's "If a nobody like Kuhn can do something at the NHL level, these guys can", and more a way to say that they're not entirely dissimilar. Even after having to shift to a more 4th liner style, Kuhn made it work and carved out a meager career at the NHL level, playing every game in the playoffs for a Cup winner. Poulin, a guy with much higher draft pedigree, is bouncing around the AHL's middle-6 at the moment as a soon to be 23 year old. /shrug

 

[Gurglesons]

It's ironic that the guy who has made his entire forum persona acting like he should be in a padded room and a straight jacket due to his psychotic Mike Sullivan obsession is talking about hysterics and throwing stones, but hey. You do you. It's not even an original bit, you stole it from HOG.

Also, by and large, our prospects suck, and have for a long time. I don't know why you constantly have issue with admitting that. It's the reality of a team going all-in on the here and now for ~20 years, and having a pretty inept scouting department at both the amateur and NHL levels. If the team didn't dumb luck into 3rd rounders like Jake, Rust and Murray coming out of nowhere, they'd have like a 15 year streak of pretty dismal results. But again, that's the way they approached picks, prospects and development for a long time, and it got them three Cups so it worked. Though the result of that is having f*** all coming up through the farm system.

My original point being Kuhnachkl was drafted (much, much later than Poulin) as an offensive minded prospect, had similar skill to the current crop of guys people wring their hands over, and until knee and shoulder injuries, people were pretty hopeful he'd make an impact in that role. It was a response to Darren's "If a nobody like Kuhn can do something at the NHL level, these guys can", and more a way to say that they're not entirely dissimilar. Even after having to shift to a more 4th liner style, Kuhn made it work and carved out a meager career at the NHL level, playing every game in the playoffs for a Cup winner. Poulin, a guy with much higher draft pedigree, is bouncing around the AHL's middle-6 at the moment as a soon to be 23 year old. /shrug

Kuhnhackl was demoted to the ECHL at Poulin’s age without being part of a pandemic plus missing pieces of two separate seasons with mental health issues.

Penguins have regularly drafted well throughout the Sid years up until Rutherford took over.

 

[KareemTrustfund]

Smith was such a big upgrade over Zucker. Two way player with a better wrister, and Geno is just so good at putting guys in a position to shoot. I don't love Rakell with Geno over Sid, but the way things stand those two wingers are going to provide solid two way play and can both rip it from the slot. Finally a couple of wingers that allow Geno to play to his strengths.

They haven’t even concealed a goal yet. Cant break them up until at least one goal goes in on them, otherwise we hurt Geno’s Selke bid.

 

[OtherThingsILike]

LOL, that was 1 game for Vancouver.....

I watched him play 135 games as a Pen.......trust me, he's a below average backup.

He had a carer .912 save percentage with the Penguins. That's not "below average".

Kudos to Dubas for getting rid of the bum and bringing in Ned.

Trading DeSmith away was the right decision, but not because his play was "below average".

 

[Ugene Magic]

I think Eller and Acciari would do well together. They both seem to be doing fine individually on their respective lines but can't make much happen with their linemates. I also think they would compliment each other well. Eller has been in the middle of some decent opportunities but can't quite finish or get enough help from his linemates and Accairi historically has been a pretty good goal scorer (at least for his role) and plays with a little edge. Send DOC packing and give White the call for L4 center. Decide between Harkins and Nieto for L3 LW.

For his role, sure, with one anomaly with with Florida having some better depth before shipping off Trocheck in the shorten season. He got back to back hattricks playing with Huberdeau and Trocheck.

In any case, if people expect 15 to 20 goals instead of the 10 to 15 a 4th liner will get I wouldn't be pegging him as a staple 3rd liner without some better support this team can't afford to give him. If anything, his contract hampers them having better.

He's basically your average 4th liner. 2 years at 1.5 maybe. What exactly made him worth 2.0 x3 coming from 1.250 for 1? St. Louis to Toronto, look at the lineups who he was playing with.

He's seriously overrated and this team is not blessed with the depth to make him stand out in any way. Unless you want to pine him on one of the top two lines.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Trading DeSmith away was the right decision

We don't know that yet. It'll depend on Ned's play.

 

[Big Poppa Pump]

He had a carer .912 save percentage with the Penguins. That's not "below average".

Trading DeSmith away was the right decision, but not because his play was "below average".

LOL

Numbers don't trump his play.

I watched every minute and he was below average. End of story.

He sucked and Dubas got rid of him for a better backup, who has starter potential, unlike DeSmith.

No sense of anymore talking about the bum. Good riddance, lol.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

CDS was like... anti-clutch. He was Fleury without the talent. He had some good streaks though when he was dialed in.

I'll be curious to see how Ned does. He was extremely highly thought of as a potential league starter not so long ago.

 

[3ladesof5teel]

CDS was like... anti-clutch. He was Fleury without the talent. He had some good streaks though when he was dialed in.

I'll be curious to see how Ned does. He was extremely highly thought of as a potential league starter not so long ago.

It had to be done.

The very definition of insanity was running them both back together.

I might be on a small island but am perfectly fine with signing Jarry for the amount he was signed for but running them both again I wasn't on board with.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Detroit is going to beat this team with Sully giving out dipshit excuses.

CDS was like... anti-clutch. He was Fleury without the talent. He had some good streaks though when he was dialed in.

I'll be curious to see how Ned does. He was extremely highly thought of as a potential league starter not so long ago.

If only he defended the crease as hard as he defended his depiction in the local news for beating his ex. f*** that Frisbee playing and the collection of cast offs to Vancouver.

 

[tom_servo]

All I recall from Guentzel so far is staring at the sky after every miss and yet he has 6 points. Weird.

If only he defended the crease as hard as he defended his depiction in the local news for beating his ex.

And that's really all one can ask of a backup goalie, isn't it

 

[Son Goku]

They're not gonna. Maybe Zoho, but he's like a whatever 4th liner if he's anything.

Still hoping DOC finds the confidence he displayed in pre-season. Dude can be pretty pivotal if he figures his shit out, but I don't expect him to.

Excuse me

 

[reino]

Can't stop laughing

 

[OtherThingsILike]

We don't know that yet. It'll depend on Ned's play.

It seemed to me that for whichever reason, the team had given up on DeSmith. Ned would have to be pretty bad for him to be a mistake, as long as the team doesn't give up on him.

LOL

Numbers don't trump his play.

Numbers are the primary method of defining his play. They aren't exactly equivalent, but you can't separate his play from the numbers that describe it, either.

 

[pistolpete11]

DeSmith was a decent backup, but between terrible stretches of play and injuries, he was unreliable. That's not what you want from a backup goalie...especially when your starter is also unreliable.

 

[molon labe]

Feels like a two-line team with a wildcard punch on the blueline. But I'm here for it. Other teams have had success that way (Boston).

That was probably the finest game I've seen from Rust since 2017. And Geno beast mode (why were they so aggro towards him early?).

 

[JTG]

The biggest thing having a PMD behind Geno is that it allows Geno to not have to sift through 5 opponents to get to the offensive zone. It also lets him get a head of steam before getting a pass. The unit is coming up the ice as a whole with speed. It's a massive change.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

This is the perfect PP setup if it runs like this they will have top-5 PP this year

It's weird that this PP can actually be dangerous if it decides to not be stagnant! I think that's only been talked about on her for the past, oh 4 seasons

 

[KrisLetAngry]

Karlsson helps our pp in so many ways it's ridiculous. Zone entries, unlocks Malkin's one timer, more movement, etc. I honestly think our movement has been so bad on the pp because Letang is a low IQ offensive player who is unable to think on the level of Sid, Geno, and Guentzel, and hence dragged the whole unit's creativity down to his level

Yea I am shocked he only has one point on the 3 games.

His zone entry capability for the PP is definitely huge for us.

I hope he knows he is doing great. Was a big fan of his before. Bigger fan now.