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

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They could run and minimize by...

O'Connor, Crosby, Rakell
Guentzel, Malkin, Rust
Smith, Eller, Zohorna
Nieto, Acciari, Hino

That's a start.

There's very little that can be done with the bottom pairing outside of letting Shea and Ludvig roll with it when Ludvig is back from the concussion and see where that goes.

That's about the best they can do from within.
 
To be fair, we're likely not going to be able to see any system changes if/when they are made until games, specifically with a forecheck/neutral zone setup.

And, let's be real, the biggest issue is consistency. So even if we saw systemic changes in practice, this question would still be can this team stick with it for 60 minutes? What about for multiple games?
Maybe try not running Rust on the top line? Maybe try balancing the top 3 lines so that we're not "top heavy" and can actually see regular production from the bottom six? Maybe shoot Ruhwedel into the moon?

These moves are a microcosm of Sullivan. Sit random 4th liner and random young 3rd pairing defender and call things a day.
 
Maybe try not running Rust on the top line? Maybe try balancing the top 3 lines so that we're not "top heavy" and can actually see regular production from the bottom six? Maybe shoot Ruhwedel into the moon?

These moves are a microcosm of Sullivan. Sit random 4th liner and random young 3rd pairing defender and call things a day.

Yeah but fire Hextall and everything will change.
 
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Yeah but fire Hextall and everything will change.
It's just crazy to me that you still have people defending him with "but what else can he possibly do? there's only so many options available to him" when all he did was sit Carter and POJ in favor of Hinostroza and Shea, but keep EVERY OTHER LINE INTACT.

Who does that? Who takes a struggling roster and doesn't shake up the lines that actually play 20 minutes a night and instead just swaps out the 12th forward or the 6th defenseman?
 


It's a good start but why is Sullivan so scared to make any radical change? Buddy the team missed the playoffs last season and is last in the east right now. Try out every guy from WBS and break up the stale ass top-6
 
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The offerings to the GCRust altar have been plentiful these past few years. Whatever eldritch abomination Sullivan prays to is pleased.
 
Road trip and see what happens. Pens are 3-6 and just playing up and down. For the most part Pens need to find a way to get the bottom 6 playing better and Jarry to pick it up. But I sense Dubas won't go 20 games of this before he makes the moves he can.
 
Honestly I'm surprised it took Sullivan fewer than 10 games to decide to scratch Carter this year. Really thought it would take a lot longer.

Also lol that Sullivan finally does something that people here have been screaming about yet people are now just complaining about something else. You guys will never be happy :laugh:

Maybe try not running Rust on the top line? Maybe try balancing the top 3 lines so that we're not "top heavy" and can actually see regular production from the bottom six? Maybe shoot Ruhwedel into the moon?

Zohorna-Eller-O'Connor has a 5v5 goals/60 of 4.5, with having 3 5v5 goals in 5 games together. I don't know what that 3rd line is doing wrong that you think it should be broken up.

The only change to that lineup that Sullivan should be making as well is swapping Rakell and Rust. And frankly I'm iffy on that because I really like how Rust has played with Crosby this year.
 
Honestly I'm surprised it took Sullivan fewer than 10 games to decide to scratch Carter this year. Really thought it would take a lot longer.

Also lol that Sullivan finally does something that people here have been screaming about yet people are now just complaining about something else. You guys will never be happy :laugh:
Also lol that imo Carter actually isn't playing that badly this year and this is when Sully possibly decides to scratch him. He hasn't been good by any means, but I actually think he's been better than he was last year apart from the fact that he isn't scoring at all.

Also if he does actually get scratched, I bet it isn't for long unless we go on a winning streak without him.
 
Also lol that imo Carter actually isn't playing that badly this year and this is when Sully possibly decides to scratch him. He hasn't been good by any means, but I actually think he's been better than he was last year apart from the fact that he isn't scoring at all.

Also if he does actually get scratched, I bet it isn't for long unless we go on a winning streak without him.

Agree with this 100%. He hasn't been bad, he's been invisible. Not playing well but not playing poorly.

Scratching him for Hinostroza is a no brainer though, Hinostroza definitely brings an element to that 4th line that it needs.
 
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Agree with this 100%. He hasn't been bad, he's been invisible. Not playing well but not playing poorly.

Scratching him for Hinostroza is a no brainer though, Hinostroza definitely brings an element to that 4th line that it needs.
I mean yeah it should 100% happen. Hinostroza might bring a little offense on that 4th line which is more than Carter is doing.

I know Dubas set out to create a bottom six that is defensively responsible but you have to get some goals from them. The top six clearly isn't good enough to carry the load by themselves. Maybe if they were in their 20s, but not now.
 
For one more point on the top-9:

Guentzel-Crosby-Rust: 9 5v5 goals in 9 games, 4.77 GF/60 at 5v5
Smith-Malkin-Rakell: 5 5v5 goals in 9 games, 3.28 GF/60 at 5v5
Zohorna-Eller-O'Connor: 3 5v5 goals in 5 games, 4.56 GF/60 at 5v5

Their top-9 has been super productive since Zohorna was called up. The problem at 5v5 is that Jarry has been downright garbage, so the extremely strong production from their top-9 is being wasted from Jarry being shit.

Subbing out Carter for Hinostroza on the 4th line while not doing anything else is exactly what Sullivan should be doing, because the 4th line is the only line that is having trouble producing. Like I said, I'd be good with swapping Rakell and Rust but that is literally the only move they should make with the top-9 if they're making any moves.
 
Hinostroza is Jeff Carter.

For one more point on the top-9:

Guentzel-Crosby-Rust: 9 5v5 goals in 9 games, 4.77 GF/60 at 5v5
Smith-Malkin-Rakell: 5 5v5 goals in 9 games, 3.28 GF/60 at 5v5
Zohorna-Eller-O'Connor: 3 5v5 goals in 5 games, 4.56 GF/60 at 5v5

Their top-9 has been super productive since Zohorna was called up. The problem at 5v5 is that Jarry has been downright garbage, so the extremely strong production from their top-9 is being wasted from Jarry being shit.

Subbing out Carter for Hinostroza on the 4th line while not doing anything else is exactly what Sullivan should be doing, because the 4th line is the only line that is having trouble producing. Like I said, I'd be good with swapping Rakell and Rust but that is literally the only move they should make with the top-9 if they're making any moves.

Aw shucks. Poor Mike Sullivan and goaltending.
 
Honestly I'm surprised it took Sullivan fewer than 10 games to decide to scratch Carter this year. Really thought it would take a lot longer.

Also lol that Sullivan finally does something that people here have been screaming about yet people are now just complaining about something else. You guys will never be happy :laugh:



Zohorna-Eller-O'Connor has a 5v5 goals/60 of 4.5, with having 3 5v5 goals in 5 games together. I don't know what that 3rd line is doing wrong that you think it should be broken up.

The only change to that lineup that Sullivan should be making as well is swapping Rakell and Rust. And frankly I'm iffy on that because I really like how Rust has played with Crosby this year.
Yeah agree with all this, except I'd swap Raks and Jake before Raks and Rust, 'cause what you said. But two lefties and two righties wouldn't work 'cause reasons.

Either that or Raks to L4 for a spell and one of Nieto or Hino if they look like they suddenly have some jump.

But yeah, a competent PP first and foremost, and league average goaltending and we're looking decent.
 
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Carter scratched. Watch us go on a 73 game win streak.
I genuinely think this is a job on the line game for Sullivan. The Sharks are terrible. They are trying to be terrible. If the Penguins can't win against them you don't leave that rink without making major changes.
 
Jake and Rust are somewhat useless now with Sid. Massive defensive liability and Sid needs more physical wingers to get pucks and drive some of the play. RR does that. Smith looks to be that. If Dubas extends Guentzel for 7 years at say 7 million AAV, that is an exit stage left for many Pens fans. Trade him for cap space and physical LW and go after a physical left wing in the off season.
 
Not sure I understand the opposition to Rust on L1 with Crosby. Rust has easily been one of our best players this year. Is the idea to move him to L2 with Malkin and have that be our defacto L1?
 
GCR - 50% GF
Graves - Letang - 50% GF
Malkin Line - 45.5% GF
Shea Ruhwedel - 33%

Gotta keep those lines together. We could win 3 of 9!

Are changing the lines going to make Jarry be able to stop pucks at a NHL level? Because that is the reason their GF% totals are weak.
 
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