Line Combos: Pens 2022-2023 Training Camp thread: Its happenings

[Gurglesons]

Also he’s never going to play center for the Pens except maybe on L4 so if he looks good there and like shit on the wings, who cares lol…

Carter can play wing.

True. But that's also just kind of the nature of farm teams, I guess.

One way or the other I sure hope he's right. Poulin is only 21 but he is sorta starting to feel like that guy at camp everyone talks up every season ahead of time only for them to look like some local rando they invited as an extra.

I think you need to give WBS props for making the playoffs last year (I know the A playoffs are difficult to miss with the new format) but Poulin was a huge part of their second half push.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Also he’s never going to play center for the Pens except maybe on L4 so if he looks good there and like shit on the wings, who cares lol…

Hey maybe he can replace BigJeff... in friggin two more seasons.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I think you need to give WBS props for making the playoffs last year (I know the A playoffs are difficult to miss with the new format) but Poulin was a huge part of their second half push.

My dude you just said it yourself... they are pretty generous in the AHL with who makes the playoffs. I'm not saying it's nothing but I dunno... I think Poulin simply recovered back into looking like a guy that was probably picked in the first round. I don't know that he made this big leap... guess we'll see. There were valid reasons for his poor start, though.

 

[Andy99]

Hey maybe he can replace BigJeff... in friggin two more seasons.

Lol…has anyone seen any offense from Poulin that suggests he can play a middle six role? If he plays well enough at center in WBS this season, he’ll have a chance to replace Blueger but I don’t see any more upside to him…he’s not showing offensive skill that would warrant a higher role on the big club

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Lol…has anyone seen any offense from Poulin that suggests he can play a middle six role? If he plays well enough at center in WBS this season, he’ll have a chance to replace Blueger but I don’t see any more upside to him…he’s not showing offensive skill that would warrant a higher role on the big club

I mean I'm not terribly enthused but he's barely old enough to legally have a beer. I think if he can have a relatively normal year in WB/S and build some offensive confidence he'll be back on track as a middle six guy, easily.

 

[Gurglesons]

My dude you just said it yourself... they are pretty generous in the AHL with who makes the playoffs. I'm not saying it's nothing but I dunno... I think Poulin simply recovered back into looking like a guy that was probably picked in the first round. I don't know that he made this big leap... guess we'll see. There were valid reasons for his poor start, though.

I guess. I think I just always expected him to take awhile given his supposed projection.

Lol…has anyone seen any offense from Poulin that suggests he can play a middle six role? If he plays well enough at center in WBS this season, he’ll have a chance to replace Blueger but I don’t see any more upside to him…he’s not showing offensive skill that would warrant a higher role on the big club

He came on strong to finish and potted 3 goals in 6 playoff games. I think he can still be a 20-20 guy at his peak for us given the right usage.

 

[Andy99]

I guess. I think I just always expected him to take awhile given his supposed projection.



He came on strong to finish and potted 3 goals in 6 playoff games. I think he can still be a 20-20 guy at his peak for us given the right usage.

i think that’s overly optimistic for Poulin…he’s not wowing anyone with his skill..I think Puusy has a better chance of that…

 

[Darren McCord]

i think that’s overly optimistic for Poulin…he’s not wowing anyone with his skill..I think Puusy has a better chance of that…

I think they both have a shot. Poulin is a big forward they can sometimes take longer to develop. It can take longer to adapt to the speed. One year in the AHL should not drastically change any views of him. Lets see how he responds for camp.

He only had 70 jr games after being drafted when guys normally have like 130 too.

 

[OtherThingsILike]

I think you need to give WBS props for making the playoffs last year (I know the A playoffs are difficult to miss with the new format) but Poulin was a huge part of their second half push.

To be fair, they finished 4th in the Division, so they'd have made the playoffs even in a normal season.

 

[Pens x]

I think they both have a shot. Poulin is a big forward they can sometimes take longer to develop. It can take longer to adapt to the speed. One year in the AHL should not drastically change any views of him. Lets see how he responds for camp.

He only had 70 jr games after being drafted when guys normally have like 130 too.

We are back to the whole Poulin is a power forward bs? This way, he can suck until he’s in his mid 20’s if he’s labeled as a power forward. The massive 6’0 power forward giant.

At least Tangradi was 6’4, 220+ when this site gave him a free pass for years because those types of players apparently take 10 years to develop. Maybe he’s ready by now?

 

[Harvey Birdman]

I’m curious after listening to the Allan Walsh podcast yesterday they had Hex on the episode and he was asked if he would be saying to the camp roster as a whole when he saw them and he said he would tell them hard choices will have to be made this year being up against the cap so come ready to show something.

 

[Flying Dego]

I think they both have a shot. Poulin is a big forward they can sometimes take longer to develop. It can take longer to adapt to the speed. One year in the AHL should not drastically change any views of him. Lets see how he responds for camp.

He only had 70 jr games after being drafted when guys normally have like 130 too.

As down as I can be on Poulin he could turn into a 3rd liner or middle 6 tweener...but can we stop acting like him being above average in size is a reason he hasn't taken that next step? I know this team is used to Conor Sheary sized forwards but Poulin isn't some outlier.

 

[HandshakeLine]

I'm willing to give Poulin and the other prospects some slack because the pandemic utterly destroyed about 2 (or possibly 3) years of development. That said, at some point, you need to show something so I'm not so keen about extending the benefit of the doubt too long.

 

[Flying Dego]

I'm willing to give Poulin and the other prospects some slack because the pandemic utterly destroyed about 2 (or possibly 3) years of development. That said, at some point, you need to show something so I'm not so keen about extending the benefit of the doubt too long.

No excuses. If Crosby were in their shoes he would've picked up a 2nd dryer to fire pucks into under quarantine and crafted the greatest wrist shot ever seen.

 

[dogthateats]

Maybe if we drafted players based on their skill and not on them being childhood friends we would have better prospects than Poulin and Legare.

 

[Andy99]

We haven’t figured out how to draft a prospect since 2013 but I have high hopes still for Pickering….also Sullivan eschews skill for speedy grit with stone hands, so don’t you be bringing actual skill into it lol….

 

[Gurglesons]

We haven’t figured out how to draft a prospect since 2013 but I have high hopes still for Pickering….also Sullivan eschews skill for speedy grit with stone hands, so don’t you be bringing actual skill into it lol….

Since 2013? Don’t be so dramatic Andy.

 

[dogthateats]

Yeah explain Kapanen, Lafferty, and Simon

 

[Andy99]

Since 2013? Don’t be so dramatic Andy.

Not drama…it’s true…Guentzel was the last very good player they drafted lol…unfortunately

 

[Flying Dego]

Not drama…it’s true…Guentzel was the last very good player they drafted lol…unfortunately

I thought you were being over the top but you aren't wrong...even with the lack of 1sts we missed on basically a ton of 2nd/3rd rounders through the last 8 years.

That list is depressing

Edit:
2nd rounders post Guentzel
Sprong
Gustavsson
Bjorkqvist
Lauzon
Addison
Hallander

In fairness I won't do past 2019 as they are still fairly young in their stages but...

 

[Gurglesons]

Not drama…it’s true…Guentzel was the last very good player they drafted lol…unfortunately

Kapanen?

I thought you were being over the top but you aren't wrong...even with the lack of 1sts we missed on basically a ton of 2nd/3rd rounders through the last 8 years.

That list is depressing

Edit:
2nd rounders post Guentzel
Sprong
Gustavsson
Bjorkqvist
Lauzon
Addison
Hallander

In fairness I won't do past 2019 as they are still fairly young in their stages but...

People said the same thing in 2015 then we had an explosion of talent. I don't think we have the same quality right now, but I think some of the players in the A would surprise you if they actually played.

 

[Darren McCord]

We are back to the whole Poulin is a power forward bs? This way, he can suck until he’s in his mid 20’s if he’s labeled as a power forward. The massive 6’0 power forward giant.

At least Tangradi was 6’4, 220+ when this site gave him a free pass for years because those types of players apparently take 10 years to develop. Maybe he’s ready by now?

Did I say power forward?

As down as I can be on Poulin he could turn into a 3rd liner or middle 6 tweener...but can we stop acting like him being above average in size is a reason he hasn't taken that next step? I know this team is used to Conor Sheary sized forwards but Poulin isn't some outlier.

Poulin would be the biggest forward on the team after carter in weight. Last year was his first pro season. The pros are much faster and taking a year to adapt is normal. Faster players can definitely adapt more quickly

 

[Andy99]

Kapanen?



People said the same thing in 2015 then we had an explosion of talent. I don't think we have the same quality right now, but I think some of the players in the A would surprise you if they actually played.

You call Kapanen a very good player? Lol

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

People said the same thing in 2015 then we had an explosion of talent. I don't think we have the same quality right now, but I think some of the players in the A would surprise you if they actually played.

Yeah on one hand I agree with this notion that the team hasn't had much success with draftees, lately. But on the other I have a really, really hard time believing that at least a handful of 'em couldn't hack it on the 4th or even 3rd tomorrow if they were given a spot. But of course that makes NHL coaching itchy.

Hell I dunno how much it would shock me if a guy like Puus somehow found himself on the second line and went on a productive run. Often times the biggest part of player development is simply opportunity.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

I'd like to start calling these new age "power forwards" thicc bois.