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

[ThosePuckingPenguins]

Not all, but I'd add McCann, Gaudreau, and Noesen took off elsewhere.

I’d argue McCann and Gaudreau had success here. McCann obviously exploded but he was also put in elevated roles than here.

Our management/coaching at the time just wanted prioritize Carter and Kapanen instead.

 

[Andy99]

Good one…no mention of Sullivan lol

What happens to the Pittsburgh Penguins if they miss the playoffs in 2023-24?

The Pens have plenty of time to right the ship. But if they don’t: tough decisions loom.

www.dailyfaceoff.com

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Koppanan and Nylander down, Acciari to LTIR, Johnstone, Puustinen and Gruden up.

 

[Andy99]

Hey, we’re trying something…Puusty!

 

[Josey Wales]

Hey, we’re trying something…Puusty!

OH GOOD LORD

 

[Victor Z]

Hey, we’re trying something…Puusty!

Puusy will likely sit while a talentless scrub like Johnstone (who is much more a "Sully" player) gets in the lineup. Coz he killz pennulltees or something.

 

[WickedWrister]

Say what you want about the team’s performance this year, but it’s not like Sully isn’t trying shit.

We’ve pressed every button there is to press.

 

[Ulf5]

Not all, but I'd add McCann, Gaudreau, and Noesen took off elsewhere.

Gadreau fell back to Earth, only 1-2-3 in 14 games.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Congrats to Marc Johnstone for making it to the NHL!

 

[Ulf5]

Congrats to Marc Johnstone for making it to the NHL!

Looks like typical ham and egger energy guy. Sully will probably give him 15 minutes.

 

[Gurglesons]

Gadreau fell back to Earth, only 1-2-3 in 14 games.

So the two 30+ seasons don't count?

There has been a distinct trend since 19-20 of players being forced into diminished roles to uphold GCR or other players that make more cap wise in this organization.

 

[Andy99]

Say what you want about the team’s performance this year, but it’s not like Sully isn’t trying shit.

We’ve pressed every button there is to press.

He’s only trying shit because his job is on the line…we got to this point because he wasn’t making the right adjustments or trying shit earlier

 

[Andy99]

This is from Taylor re the new recalls and how they might fit in…my guess is that Johnstone plays next to Geno if he can play RW and Puusty sits because I don’t think Sullivan sees him as a puck retriever on L2…either that or L3 is really going to be our L2 minutes-wise because Smith and Geno haven’t been getting it done

“These were the lines the Penguins used in practice Thursday before the moves were made:

Jake Guentzel - Sidney Crosby - Drew O'Connor
Reilly Smith - Evgeni Malkin - Alex Nylander
Vinnie Hinostroza - Lars Eller - Jeff Carter
Jansen Harkins - Joona Koppanen - Radim Zohorna

One scenario could see Puustinen, a right wing, slot in on Malkin's right in place of Nylander. Gruden, a center, could take Koppanen's spot on the fourth line.

Puustinen has five goals and five assists in 18 games this season with Wilkes-Barre, and Gruden has five goals and five assists in 21 games. Johnstone has two goals and three assists in 21 games.

If the Penguins wanted to add a winger who can play either side, plays with an edge and can play up and down a lineup, then Johnstone would be that guy. He was Gruden's winger in Wilkes-Barre, too. Here's a feature I did on him after training camp this year on his quick rise. Extremely unsurprising that he's already gotten his first NHL recall. Kyle Dubas really likes him”

 

[Ulf5]

So the two 30+ seasons don't count?

There has been a distinct trend since 19-20 of players being forced into diminished roles to uphold GCR or other players that make more cap wise in this organization.

Absolutely they count. But do you honestly believe he would get the 51% and 40% offensive zone starts he's gotten in Minnesota? And the same offensive success?

 

[Fordy]

wow they sent these guys down and recalled other guys? who’d have guessed or asked for that

 

[pistolpete11]

Can't wait for Puusy to score a goal and then be sent back down when Rust/Rakell is back in favor of Jansen Harkins.

 

[Grouch]

Puusy will likely sit while a talentless scrub like Johnstone (who is much more a "Sully" player) gets in the lineup. Coz he killz pennulltees or something.

Nah...Sully will play all 3 plus Harkins over Hinostroza who is 4th on team in pts per 60 all while averaging 1.75 goals per game over the last 8 games, coz ,you know, had good opportunities to put the puck in the net.

Ought to sit Harkins.

Guentz - Sid - Hino
Smith - Malkin - Puu
DOC - Eller - Z
Gruden - Carter - Johnstone

 

[Randy Butternubs]

my guess is that Johnstone plays next to Geno if he can play RW

That's a terrible guess.

 

[SEALBound]

This is from Taylor re the new recalls and how they might fit in…my guess is that Johnstone plays next to Geno if he can play RW and Puusty sits because I don’t think Sullivan sees him as a puck retriever on L2…either that or L3 is really going to be our L2 minutes-wise because Smith and Geno haven’t been getting it done

“These were the lines the Penguins used in practice Thursday before the moves were made:

Jake Guentzel - Sidney Crosby - Drew O'Connor
Reilly Smith - Evgeni Malkin - Alex Nylander
Vinnie Hinostroza - Lars Eller - Jeff Carter
Jansen Harkins - Joona Koppanen - Radim Zohorna

One scenario could see Puustinen, a right wing, slot in on Malkin's right in place of Nylander. Gruden, a center, could take Koppanen's spot on the fourth line.

Puustinen has five goals and five assists in 18 games this season with Wilkes-Barre, and Gruden has five goals and five assists in 21 games. Johnstone has two goals and three assists in 21 games.

If the Penguins wanted to add a winger who can play either side, plays with an edge and can play up and down a lineup, then Johnstone would be that guy. He was Gruden's winger in Wilkes-Barre, too. Here's a feature I did on him after training camp this year on his quick rise. Extremely unsurprising that he's already gotten his first NHL recall. Kyle Dubas really likes him”

Here's an interesting side story that I think will help give perspective. A camera team followed the Leafs in 2020-2021 and there were several behind the scenes looks with Dubas and Keefe. In one scene, they talked about Galchenyuk. They noted his obvious struggles but Dubas came to his defense and said "well he's being put in bad situations and not performing. You don't bring him in and stick him in the bottom 6. You have to bring him in and stick him with Matthews and Tavares. That's his game." (Or something to that effect). To me, it shows that Dubas at least understands that you can't bring up guys like Nylander and Puustinen and put them on the 4th line for 8min and expect big things. You need to put them where they will succeed.

If Nylander is going down, and Puustinen is up...I'm betting Puustinen does indeed take the slot next to Malkin. Or else why else call him up? I also would not shake a stick one bit at sticking him with Sid and Jake. Puustinen could easily be like Sheary on that front. Stick DOC with Malkin and Smith.

That said, we really need to make a trade for an additional offensively capable wing. DOC in your Top 6 is the purest definition of "not ideal" there is.

 

[Gurglesons]

Absolutely they count. But do you honestly believe he would get the 51% and 40% offensive zone starts he's gotten in Minnesota? And the same offensive success?

I question a lot of our team's deployment.

 

[PensandCaps]

Actually don't understand why Gruden hasn't gotten a look before this. Seems like a guy who has solid bottom 6 traits.

 

[Gurglesons]

When Crosby couldn’t play against the Capitals in Game 4 of the classic 2016 playoff series against Washington because of a concussion, Hörnqvist was there to score on a breakaway to jump-start what had been a staggered Penguins team.

Yohe can't even get cup memories correct.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Actually don't understand why Gruden hasn't gotten a look before this. Seems like a guy who has solid bottom 6 traits.

He was up for a few games last year and didn't register on the stat sheet. But he's only 23 and in just his fourth pro season overall, so he's still a work in progress.

 

[vodeni]

This is from Taylor re the new recalls and how they might fit in…my guess is that Johnstone plays next to Geno if he can play RW and Puusty sits because I don’t think Sullivan sees him as a puck retriever on L2…either that or L3 is really going to be our L2 minutes-wise because Smith and Geno haven’t been getting it done

“These were the lines the Penguins used in practice Thursday before the moves were made:

Jake Guentzel - Sidney Crosby - Drew O'Connor
Reilly Smith - Evgeni Malkin - Alex Nylander
Vinnie Hinostroza - Lars Eller - Jeff Carter
Jansen Harkins - Joona Koppanen - Radim Zohorna

One scenario could see Puustinen, a right wing, slot in on Malkin's right in place of Nylander. Gruden, a center, could take Koppanen's spot on the fourth line.

Puustinen has five goals and five assists in 18 games this season with Wilkes-Barre, and Gruden has five goals and five assists in 21 games. Johnstone has two goals and three assists in 21 games.

If the Penguins wanted to add a winger who can play either side, plays with an edge and can play up and down a lineup, then Johnstone would be that guy. He was Gruden's winger in Wilkes-Barre, too. Here's a feature I did on him after training camp this year on his quick rise. Extremely unsurprising that he's already gotten his first NHL recall. Kyle Dubas really likes him”

L1 will be no doubt Jake Sid and DOC...he'll probably slot Puusty with Geno and Smith, I expect over under on possession for that line about 30%...than L3: Harkins Eller Carter (just because Sully) and forth will be Z-Gruden-Johnston (I think Gruden can play center?)

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Here's an interesting side story that I think will help give perspective. A camera team followed the Leafs in 2020-2021 and there were several behind the scenes looks with Dubas and Keefe. In one scene, they talked about Galchenyuk. They noted his obvious struggles but Dubas came to his defense and said "well he's being put in bad situations and not performing. You don't bring him in and stick him in the bottom 6. You have to bring him in and stick him with Matthews and Tavares. That's his game." (Or something to that effect). To me, it shows that Dubas at least understands that you can't bring up guys like Nylander and Puustinen and put them on the 4th line for 8min and expect big things. You need to put them where they will succeed.

If Nylander is going down, and Puustinen is up...I'm betting Puustinen does indeed take the slot next to Malkin. Or else why else call him up? I also would not shake a stick one bit at sticking him with Sid and Jake. Puustinen could easily be like Sheary on that front. Stick DOC with Malkin and Smith.

That said, we really need to make a trade for an additional offensively capable wing. DOC in your Top 6 is the purest definition of "not ideal" there is.

Puustinen spent some time with Sid and Jake in camp last year. I wouldn't be surprised if they try that.