Speculation: Penguins off day talk thread: Yes, Sully is still the coach

[Andy99]

No. Hextall clearly didn't have a plan. To move out the cap he did and then waste it all on someone like Granlund is just mind-bogglingly stupid. Even if you think Granlund has value and can be a contributor in the right role, it's not at $5 million or for a second round pick.

I think it's going to be more of sending Rakell/Smith out and either acquiring a younger forward in that trade, or using assets acquired to then go and do a separate deal.

For example, say you get a third round pick for Reilly Smith (same thing it cost you back in the summer). Then you turn around and use that third and say Ty Smith to get a 24-year-old forward who is blocked somewhere or has promise but maybe hasn't quite put it all together.

one trade is useless…trade anyone you can get a good return on except the core..bring in younger players…it shouldn’t only be Rakell/Smith

 

[BusinessGoose]

I fully expect the press release to appease the local knuckledraggers who want to think they have a chance this year and next and don't concern themselves with the reality of the team

I highly doubt this team sells. They have no assets to buy. It'll be stay the course, we'll get em next year.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

one trade is useless…trade anyone you can get a good return on except the core..bring in younger players…it shouldn’t only be Rakell/Smith

Just to be clear, I don't think it'll be just one trade. It'll likely be multiple.

Dubas has made at least six trades within a month of the deadline each of the past four years. That's 24+ moves. Some are small, just moving pieces around, but others are more significant.

He's going to be active.

 

[Andy99]

I’m expecting Dubas simply to reiterate that they’ll be going for it as long as Sid is here and they’ll look to make trades at deadline to give them the best chance to win now and in the longterm lol…and that could mean current players might be moved…he’ll also reiterate that he has a shit ton of respect for Sullivan, the players love him and he’ll be here as long as he wants to coach here lol… in other words, crap

Just to be clear, I don't think it'll be just one trade. It'll likely be multiple.

Dubas has made at least six trades within a month of the deadline each of the past four years. That's 24+ moves. Some are small, just moving pieces around, but others are more significant.

He's going to be active.

He’s only got a few good players to trade that will yield decent assets and won’t cost a cap dump or premium asset in return…and Jake and Petts are two of them lol

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Dubas' plan was to win a cup and we are 9 points out of the playoffs.

You're funny bro.

I'd take Granlund over Graves. For the record Granlund would be 5th in PPG and points amongst our forwards

You're assuming the same usage, which just isn't reasonable. He's been playing center. He's not supplanting Crosby or Malkin.

 

[Ulf5]

You're funny bro.

I'd take Granlund over Graves. For the record Granlund would be 5th in PPG and points amongst our forwards

You're funny bro.
No he wouldn't. He wouldn't be anywhere near the 20 plus minutes atoi here that he is in SJ.

 

[Sidgeni Malkby]

Is there a single person on this board who has a shred of hope we’ll actually make the playoffs? I’m impressed if there still is lol…

Maybe a sliver. I’m being honest. The glass is 1/9th full.

Dubas' plan was to win a cup and we are 9 points out of the playoffs.

You're funny bro.

I'd take Granlund over Graves. For the record Granlund would be 5th in PPG and points amongst our forwards

Granlund had 5pts in 21 games the last season for us. Based on the “playing for Sully factor”, he would be on the same pace this season.

Graves vs Granlund is like “do you want to be stabbed in the left left or right leg”.

 

[ChaosAgent]

Rising to the highest levels at an extremely young age is great for a player. That means the player is going to be a star-superstar.

The same does not apply to businesspeople, except for company founders. Getting to the pinnacle of your profession as an employee at 32 does not mean you're more likely to excel at the highest level. It means you were just good at selling the owners and making them believe in you.

Kyle Dubas gets the "boy wonder" treatment and label as if it means anything. Theo Epstein at least won championships to earn it.

 

[Invalid cuz QoC]

“I still think that there's another level to 'Karl' that we're trying to unlock here,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “I think it's an important element of us having success moving forward. But what you do see when you watch him every day is you gain more of an appreciation for how talented and how gifted he really is. I think he's a guy that brings that to the table every night.”

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Imagine being Dubas and seeing how he's shaken up the lines and think oh he's using them the best way he can - yikes.

I don't hate the third line?

Sure on paper. But you have to then understand how Sullivan deploys that line. Ideally I'd swap the Geno wingers with the Eller wingers and we'd get a better result.

 

[66-30-33]

I’m guessing Wednesday Dubas will say Pens looking for help to make the playoffs and dangling our 1st and prospects to get someone despite being like 10 points out. Pens 1st will have conditions on if SJ gets it or not otherwise it’s the other 1st.

 

[Gurglesons]

It’s weird how people are saying “Granlund wouldn’t get that usage here”.

Yeah that’s the point. Our coach has no idea how to utilize players and when they acquired Granlund the first thing they should’ve done was put him on the top Powerplay and in the top six.

 

[Tender Rip]

“I still think that there's another level to 'Karl' that we're trying to unlock here,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “I think it's an important element of us having success moving forward. But what you do see when you watch him every day is you gain more of an appreciation for how talented and how gifted he really is. I think he's a guy that brings that to the table every night.”

f*** Sullivan very much.
He “thinks” that there’s another level to a guy who has conservatively speaking been among the top offensive D-men in the world for more than a decade, with his most recent Norris being last friggin’ year!, and Sully thinks that level is something he has “uncover” rather than stop hiding. What a tool, and screw any “journalist” who didn’t at least intimate as much in a follow-up question.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

It’s weird how people are saying “Granlund wouldn’t get that usage here”.

Yeah that’s the point. Our coach has no idea how to utilize players and when they acquired Granlund the first thing they should’ve done was put him on the top Powerplay and in the top six.

Matthew Phillips, a 6th round pick who turns 26 in April, has 1g and 4 assists in 27 games on a Capitals team that is in a retool/rebuild season and on his third team in 2yrs. That was a team that gave him a big opportunity and he didn't succeed. He is a diminutive winger that you maybe add as a 3rd or 4th line injury replacement, but big brain Sullivan now has him with Malkin. Refusing to play Puustinen with Malkin or play Gruden, Hinostroza etc over White and Harkins. Phillips sucks, he's fast and small and it's not his fault he's being used this way but the coach's rationalization for why is so idiotic, even someone like Dan Bylsma is seeing that like "what the f***, really?"

Yet blokes want to blame players that struggled here and did better elsewhere?

L
M
A
O

I’m guessing Wednesday Dubas will say Pens looking for help to make the playoffs and dangling our 1st and prospects to get someone despite being like 10 points out. Pens 1st will have conditions on if SJ gets it or not otherwise it’s the other 1st.

I hate the Islanders but I really hope they destroy the Penguins.

This is not a team you can even force yourself to cheer for right now with how this coach is shitting all over it.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

It’s weird how people are saying “Granlund wouldn’t get that usage here”.

Yeah that’s the point. Our coach has no idea how to utilize players and when they acquired Granlund the first thing they should’ve done was put him on the top Powerplay and in the top six.

No, it's more that San Jose sucks donkey dong, so it gives schlubs like Granlund every opportunity. He is literally playing the most minutes of his career, averaging 20:33 per game.

With all that ice time, he has six goals. Every single one has come on the power play.

That's right. Guy is getting 20:33 per night and does not have a single even strength goal this year.

The guy sucks.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

No, it's more that San Jose sucks donkey dong, so it gives schlubs like Granlund every opportunity. He is literally playing the most minutes of his career, averaging 20:33 per game.

With all that ice time, he has six goals. Every single one has come on the power play.

That's right. Guy is getting 20:33 per night and does not have a single even strength goal this year.

The guy sucks.

Hold up.

So it gave "shlubs" like Granlund to produce like he normally did in his tenure with the Wild and Preds?

Weird. A shlub huh?

You act as if Granlund has never been capable of this production, yet there's a f*** ton of proof that he has actually done it. Outside of his time with the Pens, which we all know why.

Also what the f*** are you on about? Granlund does have 6 goals and all are even strength. And you think a team missing Couture for massive parts of the season meant maybe they used him more because of the injury? You know, like logically how shit would work? You understand context? f*** of course you don't. Tomas Hertl is also playing the most of his career. Weird, I wonder why, oh right, injuries and they need him and Granlund to carry the load.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Hold up.

So it gave "shlubs" like Granlund to produce like he normally did in his tenure with the Wild and Preds?

Weird. A shlub huh?

You act as if Granlund has never been capable of this production, yet there's a f*** ton of proof that he has actually done it. Outside of his time with the Pens, which we all know why.

Also what the f*** are you on about? Granlund does have 6 goals and all are even strength. And you think a team missing Couture for massive parts of the season meant maybe they used him more because of the injury? You know, like logically how shit would work? You understand context? f*** of course you don't. Tomas Hertl is also playing the most of his career. Weird, I wonder why, oh right, injuries and they need him and Granlund to carry the load.

I looked at the wrong column. He doesn't have a single power play goal.

So, how is a pass-first player going to help put the puck in the net for this anemic power play? They'll just pass it around the perimeter like they already do.

The guy has two 20 goal seasons in his entire career, is soft as Charmin, and is on the wrong side of 30.

Put him on a good team, he'll slide down the lineup and his production will crater. His only other productive season in the last decade was when he rode Forsberg and Duchene's coattails on a Nashville team that got stomped in the first round.

Mikael Granlund's problem wasn't Mike Sullivan. Granlund's problem was simply being terrible.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

I looked at the wrong column. He doesn't have a single power play goal.

So, how is a pass-first player going to help put the puck in the net for this anemic power play? They'll just pass it around the perimeter like they already do.

The guy has two 20 goal seasons in his entire career, is soft as Charmin, and is on the wrong side of 30.

Put him on a good team, he'll slide down the lineup and his production will crater. His only other productive season in the last decade was when he rode Forsberg and Duchene's coattails on a Nashville team that got stomped in the first round.

Mikael Granlund's problem wasn't Mike Sullivan. Granlund's problem was simply being terrible.

He has 31pts on an offensively anemic squad where 10 of them are powerplay assists. The team isn't exactly oozing with potential or talent at the moment, but the draft picks Grier has hoarded will allow him to do so while using Granlund to recoup more picks. 31pts in 42 games is incredible on a team like that.

The thing with Granlund is that he has produced like this before, that's not opinion, it's fact.

The Sharks are the 2nd worst team in the league, their powerplay is 23rd which is actually impressive given the roster they have the moment, there's not a lot to work with for Hertl and Granlund. Good players are still good when they're being used correctly even on poor teams, but good players can struggle on good teams if used incorrectly and that's happened far too many times to be ignorant to it for certain players just because you don't like them.

Meanwhile, the Pens are 30th for the powerplay. I mean, those 10 assists led to 10 goals on the powerplay. That means of the 23 goals the Sharks have scored on the powerplay, he's helped set up 6 of those with primary assists and 4 of them with secondary assists to help create (6 of those being primary assists and he leads the Sharks with powerplay points). Sharks are dead last for Goals For, which makes 100% sense when you look at that roster.

I don't get why you just dislike certain players for no reason, especially since these are players that were misused by Sullivan. It's like on one hand you want to say Sullivan needs to go but then you defend Sullivan inadvertently by trashing players that are directly affected by Sullivan and his misusage of them. Granlund is a good case of that as are other names on the team like Puustinen and even Puljujarvi (as well as Gruden, Hinostroza, etc).

 

[HandshakeLine]

lol the Sharks have a better power play than we do.

Anyhow, I'm sure none of this is Mike Sullivan's fault.

 

[Leaf Lander]

Your coach as good as he has been is toast in the off season. Perfect fall guy for dubas.

I myself would break up the pens to rebuild because the longer you wait to turn the aging superstars into more picks and prospects the worse those picks and prospects are. Then the longer the rebuild

Don't drink that dubas coolaid it's losing poison

If Crosby doesn't get traded I would expect Smith nad Graves to stay. All are Nova Scotia boys

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

Your coach as good as he has been is toast in the off season. Perfect fall guy for dubas.

I myself would break up the pens to rebuild because the longer you wait to turn the aging superstars into more picks and prospects the worse those picks and prospects are. Then the longer the rebuild

Don't drink that dubas coolaid it's losing poison

If Crosby doesn't get traded I would expect Smith nad Graves to stay. All are Nova Scotia boys

Ahhhh a Leafs fan coming in to say that it's Dubas' fault.
Ipso facto strikes again...

 

[Josey Wales]

Your coach as good as he has been is toast in the off season. Perfect fall guy for dubas.

I myself would break up the pens to rebuild because the longer you wait to turn the aging superstars into more picks and prospects the worse those picks and prospects are. Then the longer the rebuild

Don't drink that dubas coolaid it's losing poison

If Crosby doesn't get traded I would expect Smith nad Graves to stay. All are Nova Scotia boys

Let it go about Dubas ! Good Lord

I looked at the wrong column. He doesn't have a single power play goal.

So, how is a pass-first player going to help put the puck in the net for this anemic power play? They'll just pass it around the perimeter like they already do.

The guy has two 20 goal seasons in his entire career, is soft as Charmin, and is on the wrong side of 30.

Put him on a good team, he'll slide down the lineup and his production will crater. His only other productive season in the last decade was when he rode Forsberg and Duchene's coattails on a Nashville team that got stomped in the first round.

Mikael Granlund's problem wasn't Mike Sullivan. Granlund's problem was simply being terrible.

Don't you know everything is Sullivan's fault, even the economy

 

[Leaf Lander]

Let it go about Dubas ! Good Lord


Don't you know everything is Sullivan's fault, even the economy

I just lived it what do I know eh

Good luck

 

[Josey Wales]

I just lived it what do I know eh

Good luck

What other GM has Won a SC for The Laffs???

 

[Invalid cuz QoC]

Ahhhh a Leafs fan coming in to say that it's Dubas' fault.
Ipso facto strikes again...

He has his own blog though, must know his stuff.