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

[Buddy Bizarre]

All you need to know about plus/minus that there was a season not so long was Ryan Graves was number one in the entire league in that department and another one when Brian Dumoulin was fifth.

Do I wish EK65 was better defensively? Of course but the whole point of trading for a player like that is to use him to give your offense a massive boost, not trying to turn him into a Dumoulin with better passing. It would be silly to try it even if he were 23 but the guy is 33 and coming off a 101 points season.

Nothing like attaching a hitch to your new Ferrari and asking it to pull Honda's out of the mud.
That's what we call "playing the right way"

 

[pistolpete11]

All you need to know about plus/minus that there was a season not so long was Ryan Graves was number one in the entire league in that department and another one when Brian Dumoulin was fifth.

Do I wish EK65 was better defensively? Of course but the whole point of trading for a player like that is to use him to give your offense a massive boost, not trying to turn him into a Dumoulin with better passing. It would be silly to try it even if he were 23 but the guy is 33 and coming off a 101 points season.

+/- just needs context added to it. I don't know about Graves, but for Dumo....

1. Before the last couple of years, Dumo was a great defensive-defenseman
2. He definitely benefitted from having Letang as his partner to drive the offense. They were a match made in heaven for many years.
3. He picks up a lot +'s being out there to defend the lead with the empty net (which this team used to see more of than we do now)
4. He probably never picked up a - for being out there when the Pens net was empty

Edit: changing +/- to only include even strength (meaning no empty net stuff) would go a long way in improving that stat IMO.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

All you need to know about plus/minus that there was a season not so long was Ryan Graves was number one in the entire league in that department and another one when Brian Dumoulin was fifth.

Do I wish EK65 was better defensively? Of course but the whole point of trading for a player like that is to use him to give your offense a massive boost, not trying to turn him into a Dumoulin with better passing. It would be silly to try it even if he were 23 but the guy is 33 and coming off a 101 points season.

And the bolded is precisely why I don't want Sullivan anywhere near the rebuild.

Imagine if we DID draft a Karlsson-like prospect who had the potential to be a 70+ point offensive d-man in the league, but Sullivan's in charge of his development and won't let him play his game, instead insisting this kid only gets ice time if he "plays the right way" first.

 

[Fordy]

at the very least i've had the impression for the last couple of games that EK has said f*** it and is trying to play his game. a lot more active in the o zone and letting shots fly

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

at the very least i've had the impression for the last couple of games that EK has said f*** it and is trying to play his game. a lot more active in the o zone and letting shots fly

Good. He seems like the only 1 with enough balls and clout to challenge the dipshit coach

 

[wheelz87]

So bemstrom is gonna be on the nhl squad right? That’s 13F. Has Phillips been waived yet??

I don’t mean to be harsh but. Guy makes the Chris conners/chris bourques look like allstars

 

[AuroraBorealis]

And the bolded is precisely why I don't want Sullivan anywhere near the rebuild.

Imagine if we DID draft a Karlsson-like prospect who had the potential to be a 70+ point offensive d-man in the league, but Sullivan's in charge of his development and won't let him play his game, instead insisting this kid only gets ice time if he "plays the right way" first.

I'm not worried about it. We'd be fortunate to reach the playoffs in the next 8 years or so, with how little urgency there is to restock the cupboards. A kid like that wouldn't change that outcome. He's not gonna be in a position to make a difference, at least not for a very long time.
The fact that Dubas recently said they're gonna re-tool instead of rebuild, despite having such a weak foundation to start from, is very sad news for this team's future.

 

[Andy99]

Let’s hope he’s better for us than Mark Friedman lol

 

[McGroarty2]

So bemstrom is gonna be on the nhl squad right? That’s 13F. Has Phillips been waived yet??

I don’t mean to be harsh but. Guy makes the Chris conners/chris bourques look like allstars

14F

Rakell Crosby Rust
O'Connor Malkin Puustinen
Smith Eller Bemstrom
Harkins Acciari Carter
Puljujarvi, Phillips

 

[Andy99]

If anyone will make Bemstrom a worse PP player, it’s the Pens coaching staff…

 

[The Great Mighty Poo]

Why in shit f***ing blue hell is Jansen pissing Harkins still in the f***ing lineup? God f***ing damn it puss filled bloody hell.

 

[vodeni]

He irrationally hates Puustinen I am pretty convinced now, there have been a few cases in the past, he has to put him in the lineup has no choice, but can’t wait to prove that he is not good. He put f***ing Philips now Bestrom on the PP, while Puusty who by nature is probably second most dangerous Pp guy on the entire team can’t sniff it,

What an arrogant piece of shit

 

[Andy99]

He irrationally hates Puustinen I am pretty convinced now, there have been a few cases in the past, he has to put him in the lineup has no choice, but can’t wait to prove that he is not good. He put f***ing Philips now Bestrom on the PP, while Puusty who by nature is probably second most dangerous Pp guy on the entire team can’t sniff it,

What an arrogant piece of shit

Definitely should be on PP2 over Smith lol

 

[vodeni]

He irrationally hates Puustinen I am pretty convinced now, there have been a few cases in the past, he has to put him in the lineup has no choice, but can’t wait to prove that he is not good. He put f***ing Philips now Bestrom on the PP, while Puusty who by nature is probably second most dangerous Pp guy on the entire team can’t sniff it,

What an arrogant piece of shit

I should not write this last sentence, he may be the best person in the world, but he is shitty coach

Definitely should be on PP2 over Smith lol

If you can pull up on u tube or somewhere all PP that Smith played on, 90% of time he is the guy that kills that second unit, he touches it’s turnover and he just cruise after taht

 

[pistolpete11]

I'm not worried about it. We'd be fortunate to reach the playoffs in the next 8 years or so, with how little urgency there is to restock the cupboards. A kid like that wouldn't change that outcome. He's not gonna be in a position to make a difference, at least not for a very long time.
The fact that Dubas recently said they're gonna re-tool instead of rebuild, despite having such a weak foundation to start from, is very sad news for this team's future.

It depends on what your goals are. If it's Cup or bust, then nothing really matters. But if you just want to give the core a chance to get into the playoffs again, I think you can do both IF you can trade Jake and re-sign him in the offseason....

.....and fire Sullivan.

 

[pistolpete11]

I still want to see Smith tried with Crosby and Harkins playing over Poolparty is one of those decisions that probably doesn't matter but still drives me crazy, but....

I can live with those lines (assuming Bemstrom over Phillips).

 

[DesertedPenguin]

He irrationally hates Puustinen I am pretty convinced now, there have been a few cases in the past, he has to put him in the lineup has no choice, but can’t wait to prove that he is not good. He put f***ing Philips now Bestrom on the PP, while Puusty who by nature is probably second most dangerous Pp guy on the entire team can’t sniff it,

What an arrogant piece of shit

Agreed about the opportunity Phillips received, but Benstrom might have one of the best shots on the team and has had NHL success on the power play.

 

[vodeni]

Agreed about the opportunity Phillips received, but Benstrom might have one of the best shots on the team and has had NHL success on the power play.

That leaves the following players that Puusty should be ahead: Eller, smith, ccarter Rakell,

 

[DesertedPenguin]

That leaves the following players that Puusty should be ahead: Eller, smith, ccarter Rakell,

Eller is getting reps as a net front presence of sorts. Same with Carter on PP2. If you can find another way to get bodies to the net, then sure.

 

[Ulf5]

14F

Rakell Crosby Rust
O'Connor Malkin Puustinen
Smith Eller Bemstrom
Harkins Acciari Carter
Puljujarvi, Phillips

Maybe a trade be a brewing? Smith?

 

[Andy99]

Eller is getting reps as a net front presence of sorts. Same with Carter on PP2. If you can find another way to get bodies to the net, then sure.

I think one of Eller or Rakell is redundant. Raks is on PP 1 and Carter is net front presence on PP2 . Eller PKs. No reason Puusty couldn’t replace him on PP2

 

[vodeni]

Eller is getting reps as a net front presence of sorts. Same with Carter on PP2. If you can find another way to get bodies to the net, then sure.

funny, I know that would be response, and I respect and understand, need certain people for certain roles, we narrowed down to Rakell and Smith, so Smith who sucks mightily should not be on the PP. Rakell should not touch the puck unless the play is set and he is in position as a bumper...he is awful anywhere else

 

[pistolpete11]

Pens don't use a net front on the PP. They use a guy off to the side that waive their stick at wrist shots from the blueline.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Maybe a trade be a brewing? Smith?

They don't have to do anything. With Guentzel out they can run the full 23 man roster.

 

[Andy99]

It’s a combo of players and how the coach wants to play…I also fault the coach for the players however, as he favors non-skilled players in the lineup over gifted offensive ones…