GDT: Game V Pens vs Swords: Can we make it 2 in a row?

[Pens x]

I wonder when McG demands a trade.

 

[SEALBound]

Actually looking into it a little more the Sabres haven't NOT picked in the first round since 2007. And since then often multiple times (three in 2022!). Plus... and maybe most importantly... they've had a BONANZA of second round picks over the years. Those are the real heavy hitters.

Let this be a lesson to all of you on how you successfully rebuild. Ya buncha nostalgic, sentimental goofs.

I think it speaks to more of a "you have to suck at the right time". As I've said in the past, you get 3 1OVs, sometimes that's MAF, Ovie, and Sid and sometimes its Hall, RNH, and Yakupov.

They got Reinhart at 2OV which was solid, but the 2OV the following year was Jack Eichel. Then you get the 1ov in 2018 and it's Dahlin. Again in 2021 and it's Owen Power. These aren't bad picks but they are hardly the franchise-level player Cup teams have.

But I agree, why some people are so quick to want to trade everyone away only to suck again in a little baffling because there's so little guaranteed. If we DID want to suck, NEXT year is the year to do it because Gavin McKenna is up for grabs. THAT is a player you tank for. Otherwise, do the best you can and collect good assets for the future like Blomqvist, Brunicke, and McGroarty.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I think it speaks to more of a "you have to suck at the right time". As I've said in the past, you get 3 1OVs, sometimes that's MAF, Ovie, and Sid and sometimes its Hall, RNH, and Yakupov.

They got Reinhart at 2OV which was solid, but the 2OV the following year was Jack Eichel. Then you get the 1ov in 2018 and it's Dahlin. Again in 2021 and it's Owen Power. These aren't bad picks but they are hardly the franchise-level player Cup teams have.

But I agree, why some people are so quick to want to trade everyone away only to suck again in a little baffling because there's so little guaranteed. If we DID want to suck, NEXT year is the year to do it because Gavin McKenna is up for grabs. THAT is a player you tank for. Otherwise, do the best you can and collect good assets for the future like Blomqvist, Brunicke, and McGroarty.

I'll be very curious to see what this team's stance is (and the fans for that matter) if they are actually respectable.

I'm not even close to counting on that, mind you. But it will be an interesting crossroads.

 

[pistolpete11]

I don't think this should be an unheard of take at all. If Groat was good enough to make the roster as one of their best forwards he should be eligible to be moved up at least on a trial basis to have a look. That's what like... coaching and development is. Groat profiles as a hopeful top six player, The top line needs work anyway and he'd be skating next to Sid flippin' Crosby. I don't think the whole season would blow up in the team's face if that were a thing for a game or two.

Regardless they need to do something with Groats. This is a waste. A predictable waste but a waste.

I meant more unheard of for the goober that could actually make it happen

 

[SEALBound]

Scratching Glass is wild given how dominate he’s been.

It wasn't a defining political statement. It was literally just a jumbling of the line. Relax.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I meant more unheard of for the goober that could actually make it happen

Oh hahaha... well... yeah. Unfortunately.

I just don't understand keeping him up in the first place if they weren't even gonna really try. Dude needs PT

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

Oh hahaha... well... yeah. Unfortunately.

I just don't understand keeping him up in the first place if they weren't even gonna really try. Dude needs PT

They gave up an asset for him...this is what blows my mind!

 

[Invalid cuz QoC]

Some of you have never been a player watching the game from way up above and it shows. Soooo much to learn from the rafters vs being on the ice.

 

[Sideline]

I could play musical chairs with every line at this point:

Beau-Sid-Raks
DOC-Geno-Rust
Bunt-Eller-Puustinen
Hayes-Accari-Puljujarvi

IMO Geno's been too good to mess with what he's doing.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Some of you have never been a player watching the game from way up above and it shows. Soooo much to learn from the rafters vs being on the ice.

I think there is value there but I think there's way more value in letting him play like 18 minutes a night at the AHL level. He's never even played a pro game before this season and clearly has stuff he can work on especially on the offensive side of things. Hopefully if he's still only playing like 10 minutes a night and drawing HS they just send him down after like 10 games of letting him practice and like you said observe. WB/S actually looks like they have some decent players this year so it's not like he's being exiled to the salt mines.

Plus again... I think in the balance I'd prefer to keep him away from Sullivan until his game is at least built up enough to afford some knocking down by playing Sullivan's horseshit zero-event drudgery hockey every night.

 

[Fordy]

glass seems to always be around the puck and getting touches on it, wouldn't mind giving him a look with sid while he's playing well

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

glass seems to always be around the puck and getting touches on it, wouldn't mind giving him a look with sid while he's playing well

Glass actually seems to have a bit of vision/IQ/hands in the OZ. A rare trait on this team. I thought he was showing some interesting flashes going back to training camp and preseason.

It likely won't happen but I wouldn't mind seeing him slotted up there at some point, too. Heck do it now since Sid's line needs tweaked.

 

[SEALBound]

glass seems to always be around the puck and getting touches on it, wouldn't mind giving him a look with sid while he's playing well

I do think they like him at center, which makes sense but given that both Hayes and Acciari are centers, I wouldn't hate it if they tried Glass on L3 wing for spot duty just to see.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

I do think they like him at center, which makes sense but given that both Hayes and Acciari are centers, I wouldn't hate it if they tried Glass on L3 wing for spot duty just to see.

That's why I've been advocating that Acciari needs sent out....he's blocking others.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

That's why I've been advocating that Acciari needs sent out....he's blocking others.

Yeah but he had that one preseason game so that gets him at least half a season of miserable play, right?

(To be honest he's been fine so far but I take your point)

 

[Tom Hanks]

I don't think this should be an unheard of take at all. If Groat was good enough to make the roster as one of their best forwards he should be eligible to be moved up at least on a trial basis to have a look. That's what like... coaching and development is. Groat profiles as a hopeful top six player, The top line needs work anyway and he'd be skating next to Sid flippin' Crosby. I don't think the whole season would blow up in the team's face if that were a thing for a game or two.

Regardless they need to do something with Groats. This is a waste. A predictable waste but a waste.

Scratching McGroaty for a few games isn’t a big deal. It’s not unheard of to scratch a prospect and get them to watch the game in the crowd with a coach as part of their development.

 

[SEALBound]

That's why I've been advocating that Acciari needs sent out....he's blocking others.

I don't disagree but at the same time, he hasn't been enough of a problem for me to demand his trade.

 

[Tom Hanks]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1846567718662643782

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Scratching McGroaty for a few games isn’t a big deal. It’s not unheard of to scratch a prospect and get them to watch the game in the crowd with a coach as part of their development.

Hey if you guys say so. To me players who are a little raw offensively but otherwise look mostly there need one thing more than anything else... lots of ice and lots of touches. But it's not one size fits all.

 

[vodeni]

Well, Yinz should go if they can. Malkin is getting goal #500 and Sid point # 1600.

This Yinz will be in attendance to celebrate Favorite Players #500!

 

[Al Smith]

If Peterka is back, I expect him and other Pens’ killer Tage Thompson to go off and win this game for Buffalo…also UPL is huge and usually stones us…expect a loss tonight…also it’s a prime time game so we usually lose those too lol…

Only hope is that Sid and Geno reach their milestones…

Isn't our recent pattern against the Sabres blowing late leads?

 

[Ugene Magic]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1846567718662643782

As long as the Pens score more than 3 they have a chance at winning. The entire top six sans Rakell/beau is all -negatives. For all of Geno's good showing he's still a -2 as is Rust.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

As long as the Pens score more than 3 they have a chance at winning. The entire top six sans Rakell/beau is all -negatives. For all of Geno's good showing he's still a -2 as is Rust.

I mean... pretty much because of one game where the whole team was blown up 6-0...

 

[HandshakeLine]

Hey if you guys say so. To me players who are a little raw offensively but otherwise look mostly there need one thing more than anything else... lots of ice and lots of touches. But it's not one size fits all.

Yah, they also need sub 7 minutes of ice time and a public dressing down. Don’t you know anything about developing players Willy?

 

[Sike Mullivan]

Isn't our recent pattern against the Sabres blowing late leads?

Every game against the Sabres has been a blur since Kevin Porter helped snap our big winning streak in 2013.