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

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I was wrong about Eller this Summer ||| I was not wrong about Jarry, Graves, and Smith


Of course I wish that were reversed. But sitting here doing nothing until the TDL just blows my mind. I'll have to do some math here in a bit - but the assessment before Christmas was that this team needed to win 67% of its' remaining games to make the playoffs. If we continue playing 500 hockey until the TDL AND the division just keeps on accumulating points....I'm guessing we'll need to go on a post TDL tear of like 75-80% win rate.

The thing is - the team has looked better lately with Ned backstopping them. The problem is/continues to be that we have just no offense. Feels like a dead horse here but when you're built to win hockey games scoring 4 goals but only manage to put up 2-3 on a given night....it just ain't gonna work.
 
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molon labe said:
I was wrong about Eller this Summer ||| I was not wrong about Jarry, Graves, and Smith


Of course I wish that were reversed. But sitting here doing nothing until the TDL just blows my mind. I'll have to do some math here in a bit - but the assessment before Christmas was that this team needed to win 67% of its' remaining games to make the playoffs. If we continue playing 500 hockey until the TDL AND the division just keeps on accumulating points....I'm guessing we'll need to go on a post TDL tear of like 75-80% win rate.

The thing is - the team has looked better lately with Ned backstopping them. The problem is/continues to be that we have just no offense. Feels like a dead horse here but when you're built to win hockey games scoring 4 goals but only manage to put up 2-3 on a given night....it just ain't gonna work.
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7-2-1 last 10. All is fine regardless of the on ice product. Unless the winning stops of course.

And yes before you ask I am related to sully.
 
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Invalid cuz QoC said:
7-2-1 last 10. All is fine regardless of the on ice product. Unless the winning stops of course.

And yes before you ask I am related to sully.
Click to expand...

I mean - do you think that's more of an indication of a surge / schedule by the team or a new trend?

With relatively nothing changed about this team/system, there's nothing to say that's a new norm versus a 10 game sample size.
 
Rakell67 said:
Guentzel Crosby Rust
Smith Malkin O'Connor
Rakell Eller Puustinen
Zohorna/Nieto Acciari Puljujarvi
Click to expand...

I think I'd go with this for the top 9:

Guentzel Crosby Rakell
DOC Malkin Puustinen
Smith Eller Rust

Rakell has been productive with that line since coming back from injury.

Promote Puustinen back to the 2nd line. DOC is an a-okay complimentary piece with Malkin. He'll do the heavy lifting for that line. And Malkin has shown some chemistry with both of them.

Demote Smith to the 3rd for his lackluster performance. Have Rust there too for depth purposes but have him do spot duty in the top 6 as necessary. And have both of them get more PK minutes.

And a big ole 'whatever' for the 4th line.
 
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Taking a few more variables into consideration:

Team had 13 games in November, 13 in December.

They will have 11 in January, 11 in February.

Then they surge to 16 games in March - longest break is 2 days with 3 back to backs:

2. Calgary
3. Edmonton
5. Columbus
7. Washington
9. Boston
10. Edmonton
12. Ottawa
14. San Jose
16. New York Rags
17. Detroit
19. NJ Devils
22. Dallas
24. Colorado
26. Carolina
28. Columbus
30. Columbus

You need to believe that, towards the end of the year we are markably better than we have been - and the ramped up schedule somehow does nothing to effect our team negatively (wonder what that may be).

So what is it about this club that needs more time to assess before changing things?
 
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molon labe said:
Taking a few more variables into consideration:

Team had 13 games in November, 13 in December.

They will have 11 in January, 11 in February.

Then they surge to 16 games in March - longest break is 2 days with 3 back to backs:

2. Calgary
3. Edmonton
5. Columbus
7. Washington
9. Boston
10. Edmonton
12. Ottawa
14. San Jose
16. New York Rags
17. Detroit
19. NJ Devils
22. Dallas
24. Colorado
26. Carolina
28. Columbus
30. Columbus

You need to believe that, towards the end of the year we are markably better than we have been - and the ramped up schedule somehow does nothing to effect our team negatively (wonder what that may be).

So what is it about this club that needs more time to assess before changing things?
Click to expand...
I will beleive when I see it, otherwise have zero reason to beleive, this is the same team and same guys that had arrow pointing down last year, not up, the same team that lost to CBJ and Chicago, two the worst teams in NHL when they needed a point to get in. Sully is doing much better coaching job in the last 10 or so game so thats a hope, I just see him getting triggered and reversed to old habits the second things get not so good...
 
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Ulf5 said:
Anyone who thinks Sid is gonna retire-

THIS NEEDS META INFO YET

www.dkpittsburghsports.com www.dkpittsburghsports.com

SID NEVER STOPS​

Kyle Dubas told an entirely unsurprising story on his radio hit with Josh Getzoff on Wednesday.
Dubas went into the offices at the Lemieux Complex for work the day after Christmas. The NHL's holiday break wouldn't end until the following day on Dec. 27, when the Penguins flew up to Long Island for a game against the Islanders that night.
When Dubas got into the office he heard the sound of someone skating on the sheet of ice below. He looked out to see who it was, and of course it was Sidney Crosby. Alone.
"He's out with a weight vest in his tracksuit on a mandatory off day," Dubas said. "He opens the rink up himself and puts himself through his paces."
It's just the latest example of Crosby's work ethic.
"It's the commitment to his craft and wanting to master his craft, and how meticulous he is about everything," Dubas said. "Not only does he do it for himself, he pulls other people along with him. I think that's a major difference between him and some others. He's obviously going to be very meticulous about his preparation. But he's bringing others along with him. I think that's what helps too. I know that's what helps to raise the level of the group, even at 36 years old. It's remarkable. And it's been a special experience to see him in action every day."
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And yet he doesn’t raise the level of the group enough for it to be a contender…sad
 
Now there’s a real team lol…

“But how do the Bruins keep winning despite a lineup that doesn’t look completely impressive on paper? Crushing the special teams battle and receiving excellent goaltending goes a long way towards getting regular season results. Here’s one outlook to show how the teams match up this season.”

pitbos.JPG


wont embed the chart, so look in this article…

www.pensburgh.com

Game Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins @ Boston Bruins 1/4/2024 - Lines, how to watch

The Pens ship off to Boston
www.pensburgh.com www.pensburgh.com
 
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I can’t say I ever paid attention to Graves when he was in Jersey, but yeah it seems like there’s nothing there. Big swing and a miss for Dubas… with that contract and how bad he’s performing it will be difficult to find a trade partner. In this salary cap environment you can’t really afford to miss giving the wrong guy 4+ million.
 
According to MoneyPuck.com, the Penguins’ playoff chances fell from 52.4% to 41% after their loss to the Washington Capitals on Tuesday.
 
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vodeni said:
I will beleive when I see it, otherwise have zero reason to beleive, this is the same team and same guys that had arrow pointing down last year, not up, the same team that lost to CBJ and Chicago, two the worst teams in NHL when they needed a point to get in. Sully is doing much better coaching job in the last 10 or so game so thats a hope, I just see him getting triggered and reversed to old habits the second things get not so good...
Click to expand...

Agree. I haven't had quarrels with Sullivan over the last stretch. That version of him with 2-3 roster moves would be interesting.

But making zero changes and looking at our schedule which was really .... restful(?) over the past few weeks versus what we have coming up - coupled with late season hockey where every single club is pushing harder....just doesn't give a lot of hope. This team is still one player and a goaltender on most nights and that hasn't changed. That can't be if they want to even make the post season let alone do anything at all once they're in it.

Washington started double teaming Sid late game...game over. Funny how that works. Who else do we have that makes that push for the tying/GWG any more? Those types of games used to be won by Hornqvist, Sid, occasionally Jake / Letang. It just seems like that vibe has been gone for so long.

You have to overcome an expensive Graves sitting on the third pair. Fine. Jarry playing like the 1B goalie he is....maybe. Zero offense in the bottom 6...welp. And a second line that plays like a mediocre 3rd line in the NHL. That's a LOT of variables to consider.
 
Andy99 said:
According to MoneyPuck.com, the Penguins’ playoff chances fell from 52.4% to 41% after their loss to the Washington Capitals on Tuesday.
Click to expand...
That's about in line with how I feel. I was starting to get my hopes up, but then they came out flat against a rival team that is ahead of them in the standings and they give up 4 goals in the first period. Losing is one thing, but to lose like that? Just goes to show that there are still major issues on this team.

However, that seems like waaaaaaay too big of a swing to be true statistically :laugh:
 
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molon labe said:
I mean - do you think that's more of an indication of a surge / schedule by the team or a new trend?

With relatively nothing changed about this team/system, there's nothing to say that's a new norm versus a 10 game sample size.
Click to expand...

New trend. Plenty has changed iMo. Team is looking decent at this point. Good enough for a playoff spot, latest sample indicating so.

Show me what you’ve done recently Vs the past type thing.

We all like to shit on the team about various things, but I think you’d have to be blind not to notice the shift in play. To be a doomer just for the sake of it doesn’t make any logical sense given the new information.
 
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pistolpete11 said:
That's about in line with how I feel. I was starting to get my hopes up, but then they came out flat against a rival team that is ahead of them in the standings and they give up 4 goals in the first period. Losing is one thing, but to lose like that? Just goes to show that there are still major issues on this team.

However, that seems like waaaaaaay too big of a swing to be true statistically :laugh:
Click to expand...
This is why I advocate heavily in the Salary Cap thread for trading Jake lol
 
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Invalid cuz QoC said:
New trend. Plenty has changed iMo. Team is looking decent at this point. Good enough for a playoff spot, latest sample indicating so.

Show me what you’ve done recently Vs the past type thing.

We all like to shit on the team about various things, but I think you’d have to be blind not to notice the shift in play. To be a doomer just for the sake of it doesn’t make any logical sense given the new information.
Click to expand...

I don't live in a vacuum.

You're literally taking the past (past 10 games) to determine the future but arguing against the exact same logic:

[ this failed product of 6 calendar years, with the same system, and same overall roster, is not good enough and requires changes ]

What makes your 10 game sample size a better measuring stick than the past 400 games?

A doomer would be giving something new zero chance based on hyperbole (the X team is going to be bad because they're ALWAYS bad)....it is not saying the same thing that's been a certain way - for a sustained period of time - is going to continue being that way with zero change.
 
molon labe said:
I don't live in a vacuum.

You're literally taking the past (past 10 games) to determine the future but arguing against the exact same logic:

[ this failed product of 6 calendar years, with the same system, and same overall roster, is not good enough and requires changes ]

What makes your 10 game sample size a better measuring stick than the past 400 games?

A doomer would be giving something new zero chance based on hyperbole (the X team is going to be bad because they're ALWAYS bad)....it is not saying the same thing that's been a certain way - for a sustained period of time - is going to continue being that way with zero change.
Click to expand...

Ehh editing this because not in the mood to debate something I’ve made a 20 year career out of.

But i will say I still want to fire Sully lol.
 
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pistolpete11 said:
That's about in line with how I feel. I was starting to get my hopes up, but then they came out flat against a rival team that is ahead of them in the standings and they give up 4 goals in the first period. Losing is one thing, but to lose like that? Just goes to show that there are still major issues on this team.

However, that seems like waaaaaaay too big of a swing to be true statistically :laugh:
Click to expand...

Why? It was a in division game with a team that had a game in hand and was above us.
 
Pancakes said:
I legit can't remember Matt Nieto doing more than like one or two positive things this whole season.

In fact I think even Jeff Carter has contributed more moments than him
Click to expand...
I thought he was coming around, along with Acciari, right when he got hurt.

I really wouldn't mind seeing a fourth line of Nieto, Eller and Acciari next year.
 
I am shocked that the team is struggling to score after assembling a dog **** bottom six. This aint hindsight, folks.
 
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