Line Combos: Pens 2022-2023 Training Camp thread: Its happenings
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Factorial
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- Oct 7, 2019
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I know this is an overreaction from pre-season, but I think Poehling looked like he could handle Blueger's role entirely if they were to trade Blueger. The issue with trading Blueger is that you already lost one center option in Zohorna and you shouldn't want to lose another.
Or maybe they'll just say he has a phantom injury that he'll need surgery for
Habs board here after the trade said he ain't a legit center.
Empoleon8771
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Here's the thing I don't understand. If the Penguins do intend on keeping Smith in WBS for a bit longer, why did they try literally no alternatives to Smith-Rutta in the pre-season? It's just incredibly bizarre that they used that pair so much all through training camp, only to send him down with the intent of keeping him down.
If you're giving POJ a look in the NHL, why didn't they ever try POJ-Rutta? Or if they're playing Ruhwedel there, why didn't they ever try Rutta or Ruhwedel on LD to make sure that worked? It's just odd.
This just seems like this team has a very clear preference of what they want to do, but they're just being stubborn about not wanting to lose POJ for nothing and are digging into that. It's not the end of the world, I just don't understand it.
Empoleon8771
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And Devils fans said that Smith couldn't skate after the trade.
Most of the time, the mob think on HFBoards is wrong
The only thing I've got is that there's an attitude throughout the org of "regular season lol". They think they want Smith and Rutta together for the post-season, so that's the only one they practiced, and they'll just bullshit their way through a new pairing for a few games. Ditto the way they'll bullshit their way through any inconveniences caused by 22 men rosters.
Only other logical answer is they absolutely did not expect this situation... but, I mean, I still find it a tad bizarre.
edit: Or perhaps even less regular season lol than being willing to accept a bit of pain for 5 games to be as prepared for 60 games as possible.
I know this is an overreaction from pre-season, but I think Poehling looked like he could handle Blueger's role entirely if they were to trade Blueger. The issue with trading Blueger is that you already lost one center option in Zohorna and you shouldn't want to lose another.
Or maybe they'll just say he has a phantom injury that he'll need surgery for
Wasn't Blu offered to Montreal in the Petry deal? If true, I would'nt be shocked if he's the cap casualty with the whole 22 man roster situation. If thats the case, I just hope we don't have to pay a second ala Vancouver with Dickinson..
Empoleon8771
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The only thing I've got is that there's an attitude throughout the org of "regular season lol". They think they want Smith and Rutta together for the post-season, so that's the only one they practiced, and they'll just bullshit their way through a new pairing for a few games. Ditto the way they'll bullshit their way through any inconveniences caused by 22 men rosters.
Only other logical answer is they absolutely did not expect this situation... but, I mean, I still find it a tad bizarre.
But even then, you have the risk of running into problems if you have a bad start to the season due to those "regular season lol" thoughts
I'm not mad about it, I'm just confused. I don't understand why they're doing this to Smith to protect POJ and Ruhwedel to begin with, but the more important part is that I don't understand why they didn't even try alternatives to Smith-Rutta if they were willing to do this to Smith.
The only thing I can think of is that they're comfortable enough with Ruhwedel's game, even on his off-side, that they didn't feel the need to test it out before rosters were due. I think that would be an incredibly dumb opinion to have, mainly because I don't recall Ruhwedel ever playing on his off-side in Pittsburgh outside of a game here and there, but that's the only thing I can think of.
Darren McCord
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Habs wanted him to be more than a 4th line center I think. I think he could handle 4th line center which is all he will be here.
AuroraBorealis
Back-to-back hater
So Ruhwedel - Rutta to start in the end.
That was my guess months ago. Certainly didn't look like that at points in pre-season though.
Hopefully Smith gets a fair number of games up here this year. Fun player to watch.
Last year our #7 got 26 games, our #8 got 5 games and our #9 got 4 games.
It's worth noting that we had an unusually healthy year on the back end, and it's unlikely to happen again.
Smith needs to outplay Friedman in Wilkes. Best case scenario for him would be POJ getting into action early, shitting the bed and getting waived.
That was my guess months ago. Certainly didn't look like that at points in pre-season though.
Hopefully Smith gets a fair number of games up here this year. Fun player to watch.
Last year our #7 got 26 games, our #8 got 5 games and our #9 got 4 games.
It's worth noting that we had an unusually healthy year on the back end, and it's unlikely to happen again.
Smith needs to outplay Friedman in Wilkes. Best case scenario for him would be POJ getting into action early, shitting the bed and getting waived.
Factorial
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And Devils fans said that Smith couldn't skate after the trade.
Most of the time, the mob think on HFBoards is wrong
Smith looks good on the PP and in his own end but he seems slow but I wont forecast results so we'll see starting Thursday.
I'm ready for the new season to start.
Empoleon8771
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Yeah he looks like a more impactful Sheahan from what I saw in pre-season games. I'm honestly not worried about his ability to be a 4C going forward.
My bet is that Poehling replaces Blueger as 4C once Blueger leaves after the year and Poulin replaces Carter as 3C whenever Carter gets moved to wing or retires.
But even then, you have the risk of running into problems if you have a bad start to the season due to those "regular season lol" thoughts
Eh. All things are possible, but we're talking the fate of the third pairing and second PP unit on a team that regularly does stupid shit like play 10 games without their top six centres, or use POJ and Marino as their top pairing for a game, and so on, or play multiple seasons with Jack Johnson, with no real problems overall. Problems could stack, but any major problems bring Ty Smith back to the line up.
Besides, after about three games, they'll have had as much as time as Smith had with Rutta, and you're either at they can do it or they can't.
Never say never but it feels fairly safe that we won't be looking back at the time they didn't try other defence pairings and cursing it as the reason we don't reach the playoffs. Please don't bookmark that though
CheckingLineCenter
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I really think it’s simple as they couldn’t find a move that made sense for POJ and didn’t want to lose him to waivers, while Smith is not this guaranteed good thing based off his time in NJD.
It makes sense to me. If POJ blows in real games you waive him and it’s likely no one takes him, and even if he did get claimed- who cares he sucks so no harm done. Bring up Smith. If POJ plays well then great.
Also I mean every roster spot is important but we are talking about the 3rd pairing LD at Game 1. If Rutta is solid POJ v. Smith shouldn’t matter too much either way in terms of winning and losing and it’s a long season. It’s not like Smith is sitting in WB/S at the expense of Jack Johnson (what’s funny is that he kind of is)
It makes sense to me. If POJ blows in real games you waive him and it’s likely no one takes him, and even if he did get claimed- who cares he sucks so no harm done. Bring up Smith. If POJ plays well then great.
Also I mean every roster spot is important but we are talking about the 3rd pairing LD at Game 1. If Rutta is solid POJ v. Smith shouldn’t matter too much either way in terms of winning and losing and it’s a long season. It’s not like Smith is sitting in WB/S at the expense of Jack Johnson
(what’s funny is that he kind of is)
Darren McCord
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Ya I think this is what the penguins are planning with Poulin moved to center. Also with DOC at center you have two options to fill in for the third line center. Injuries will happen and then it will be more telling.
Pens x
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You gotta play these guys though. Let’s not pretend we won’t sign other plugs to play center because we won’t be able to trust these young guys because they’ll be used sparingly this season.
Gurglesons
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Empoleon8771
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I really think it’s simple as they couldn’t find a move that made sense for POJ and didn’t want to lose him to waivers, while Smith is not this guaranteed good thing based off his time in NJD.
It makes sense to me. If POJ blows in real games you waive him and it’s likely no one takes him, and even if he did get claimed- who cares he sucks so no harm done. Bring up Smith. If POJ plays well then great.
Also I mean every roster spot is important but we are talking about the 3rd pairing LD at Game 1. If Rutta is solid POJ v. Smith shouldn’t matter too much either way in terms of winning and losing and it’s a long season. It’s not like Smith is sitting in WB/S at the expense of Jack Johnson
I agree with you if they're playing POJ. I don't agree with you if they're playing Ruhwedel on LD and healthy scratching POJ.
wouldnt surprise me…Sullivan is still our coach lol…hopefully the FO wants to showcase POJ and is going to force Sullivan to comply lol
Is anyone in the media going to ask the hard questions? Like why did you trade John Marino for this situation?
Just embrassing. Ty Smith is an NHL player. He surely has room to grow, no doubt, but he doesn’t belong in the AHL. They’re going to ruin this guys confidence.This is the most Pittsburgh Penguin, trust the process bullshit ever. Reading what Mike Sullivan had to say about it was nauseating. I hope Smiths agent demands a trade asap.
Shouldn’t we be embracing youth right now, and the mistakes that come with? Or are we still clinging on to the delusion that this same roster, that’s sucked balls for years now, is going to win anything more than a narrow opportunity to be eliminated in the first round?
Crosby is going to live long enough to become the villain. He’ll be 42, and Mario’s country club will still be trying to build a “competitive” roster around him.
Just embrassing. Ty Smith is an NHL player. He surely has room to grow, no doubt, but he doesn’t belong in the AHL. They’re going to ruin this guys confidence.This is the most Pittsburgh Penguin, trust the process bullshit ever. Reading what Mike Sullivan had to say about it was nauseating. I hope Smiths agent demands a trade asap.
Shouldn’t we be embracing youth right now, and the mistakes that come with? Or are we still clinging on to the delusion that this same roster, that’s sucked balls for years now, is going to win anything more than a narrow opportunity to be eliminated in the first round?
Crosby is going to live long enough to become the villain. He’ll be 42, and Mario’s country club will still be trying to build a “competitive” roster around him.
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Flying Dego
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Let's look at this from Sully's eyes. Not what fans think or what from an outside perspective makes sense.
Ask yourself one question.
-Who does Sully trust more?
-Then think, who has he kept on the team for 7+ years.
-Add in the rumblings of trying to move POJ and Sully obviously doesn't much care for him.
So who do you expect to start come opening night?
If by now you don't reach the conclusion being heavily in Ruh's favor...
Been away all summer, all fall, and now I'm back to hockey.
Check out opening night roster and Josh Archibald is on it and Poulin was sent down.
Love to see how nothing has changed.
Check out opening night roster and Josh Archibald is on it and Poulin was sent down.
Love to see how nothing has changed.
Lol Sully sent him down and he's staying there. No need for a dynamic d man up here.
Pens x
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Gurglesons
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I’m fine with them trading John Marino for Petry.
I don't think it's obvious Sully doesn't care much for a guy who he played 18 minutes a night last year.
Nor is it obvious how the org feels about POJ in general. Whether they like him more than it appears, whether they are fixed enough on getting trade value for him that they'll play him to showcase him, or what. Maybe some people think this is all obvious, but then a lot of people thought it was obvious Smith would be starting come opening night and all of a sudden that's in doubt, sooo...
I do think it's obvious that Sully really likes having guys on their natural sides though.
As such I think it's a live question.
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