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

[Pancakes]

Plotnikov 2 assists in 32 games while playing with Malkin for a good chunk of that. Amazing work.
Ended up with 1 more assist in 13 games with the Coyotes before getting the boot. I assume there was a slapshot that bounced off his ass and went right to a teammate, looking at an open cage. Something like that, surely.

I gotta admit, I really liked Plotnikov even when he was struggling here.

I thought he had some good games and I remember him hitting a few posts. He coulda had some goals with a bit more puck luck.

Still woulda been a fringe NHLer at best even if given more rope. But I liked him lol

 

[KrisLetAngry]

Unpopular opinion time - can we dedicate a thread to just Sullivan/coaching staff? I come into here for news about the team. To hear Ned is starting tonight. To see Shea is on waivers. To play with line configurations. To see if any injured guys are coming back.

Every.damn.thread. is about sully. Can we just make one so everyone has their safe space to bitch and moan about him?

Really late response but feel free to get a thread started if it hasn't already been started.

Take action.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

I gotta admit, I really liked Plotnikov even when he was struggling here.

I thought he had some good games and I remember him hitting a few posts. He coulda had some goals with a bit more puck luck.

Still woulda been a fringe NHLer at best even if given more rope. But I liked him lol

You are a kinder man than I lol

 

[Dennis Reynolds]

I gotta admit, I really liked Plotnikov even when he was struggling here.

I thought he had some good games and I remember him hitting a few posts. He coulda had some goals with a bit more puck luck.

Still woulda been a fringe NHLer at best even if given more rope. But I liked him lol

You have to cheer for a guy who wants to be here so badly he buys himself out of his own contract in the KHL for the opportunity.

 

[BusinessGoose]

I can never tell if BlindWilly loves or hates Geno in any given post and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Geno's advice to Puus during faceoffs "Hey kid... watch and learn how NOT to do it."

See, even here.

Praise Geno for helping the younger players. But then also shit on Geno taking faceoffs.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

See, even here.

Praise Geno for helping the younger players. But then also shit on Geno taking faceoffs.

I would say something about being a complicated man full of seeming contradictions and conflicting points of view. But in reality I'm just a spaz.

 

[McGroarty2]

See, even here.

Praise Geno for helping the younger players. But then also shit on Geno taking faceoffs.

 

[Andy99]

Caps won tonight, unfortunately a three point game with the Isles…they hold WC2, 5 points above the Pens and have a game in hand…not looking good…Dubas better sell off a lot, including Jake, if we can’t make inroads the next few weeks….

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Caps won tonight, unfortunately a three point game with the Isles…they hold WC2, 5 points above the Pens and have a game in hand…not looking good…Dubas better sell off a lot, including Jake, if we can’t make inroads the next few weeks….

Penguins are tied with the Rangers for the fewest number of games against Metro opponents. They've each played 7 metro games. Philly, meanwhile, has played 13.

That means the Pens have a number of opportunities to make headway in the division. They just need to actually execute and perform better than their current 2-3-2 record in the division.

 

[BusinessGoose]

They just need to actually execute and perform better than their current 2-3-2 record in the division.

... Lol.. Yup.. Hope springs eternal or something

Let me know how did in three months

 

[PensandCaps]

I think the hole they dug is too much to overcome. 5 points out.

 

[Pens x]

I was willing to give Hextall more than one off season, Dubas has certainly earned at least that. He's not been perfect (hint, no GM is), but I think he did well with what he had to work with.

Hextall was an atrocious hire. Sometimes it is okay to criticize your team. You dont need to give foolish hires two years before criticizing them.

 

[Al Smith]

... Lol.. Yup.. Hope springs eternal or something

Let me know how did in three months

I guess the more they lose to the Canes, Devils, Isles, and (to a lesser extent) the Rags (split series last year), the odds go up that eventually we'll beat them. Just like we eventually ended that 15-year losing streak in Philly.

 

[Andy99]

Rust has started skating at least…maybe too late lol…This is from Taylor’s blog this am: hopefully Puusty can pot a couple because our regulars won’t be able to do it lol:

“That leaves 24-year-old Pyotr Kochetkov as the likely starter tonight vs. the Penguins. He's 7-6-2 this season and has a 2.65 goals-against average and an .895 save percentage. He has two career games played vs. the Penguins, two wins in the 2022-23 season in which he recorded a 1.96 goals-against average and .930 save percentage.”

 

[Andy99]

Interesting…I wonder if something is wrong with Jarry or the analytics scream don’t start him against Carolina…

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I've been missing a ton of games this year. I'll be certain to miss this one.

Penguins versus the Hurricanes? That's like Pirates-fan levels of masochism.

 

[wheelz87]

Interesting…I wonder if something is wrong with Jarry or the analytics scream don’t start him against Carolina…

I mean his play deserves it. Should be much more than just a play the second of back to backs guy. Not to mention the minute Jarry starts to play well.. he gets overplayed and inevitably s**** the bed. More Ned less jar is more than fine by me.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Ned has been great this year.

Were I them I'd want to see exactly how much he has to offer. Wasn't too many years ago when he was thought of as one of the next stud starting goaltenders. And frankly Jarry's 5ish million dollars and all the Jarry-ness that comes with Jarry wouldn't hurt my feelings all that much if it went bye-byes.

 

[ThosePuckingPenguins]

Jarry has started 22/30 games. Ned’s playing well recently. I’m perfectly okay with this.

 

[Gurglesons]

Interesting…I wonder if something is wrong with Jarry or the analytics scream don’t start him against Carolina…

 

[SEALBound]

I gotta admit, I really liked Plotnikov even when he was struggling here.

I thought he had some good games and I remember him hitting a few posts. He coulda had some goals with a bit more puck luck.

Still woulda been a fringe NHLer at best even if given more rope. But I liked him lol

I went to a game in Pittsburgh in late Oct 2015. Saw 50% of Plotnikov's production that game.

That was a fun off-season honestly - summer of 2015. We made lots of moves and there were three "high potential Russians" that were looking to sign - Plotnikov, Tikhonov, and Panarin. I remember us being interested and talking to all three. I, for one, had all three penciled into our new line up (early mind you).

Perron-Crosby-Hornqvist
Plotnikov-Malkin-Panarin
Kunitz-Tikhonov-Dupuis
Bennett-Sutter-Sunqvist

Oh man...that was gonna be a Cup winner under Mike Johnston for sure!

Interesting…I wonder if something is wrong with Jarry or the analytics scream don’t start him against Carolina…

Neds has been really good lately. Jarry could be dealing with a minor undisclosed injury but hey, while Neds is playing well you may as well take advantage. Or maybe they are just trying to get him a goal to tie Jarry.

 

[Rave7215]

See, even here.

Praise Geno for helping the younger players. But then also shit on Geno taking faceoffs.

Meanwhile, Malkin currently has the second best faceoff percentage of his career this year at roughly 50% (49.4%).

 

[Ginormousthumbs]

Rust has started skating at least…maybe too late lol…This is from Taylor’s blog this am: hopefully Puusty can pot a couple because our regulars won’t be able to do it lol:

“That leaves 24-year-old Pyotr Kochetkov as the likely starter tonight vs. the Penguins. He's 7-6-2 this season and has a 2.65 goals-against average and an .895 save percentage. He has two career games played vs. the Penguins, two wins in the 2022-23 season in which he recorded a 1.96 goals-against average and .930 save percentage.”

This just screams of shutting out the Pens.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Meanwhile, Malkin currently has the second best faceoff percentage of his career this year at roughly 50% (49.4%).

I'm just goofin' on him a little bit. Malkin is doing the best he can this year. None of this is his fault IMO.

 

[Gurglesons]

Much like the Powerplay, I bet as soon as we bet Carolina we get off the snide.