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

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Malkin is black?

The common complaint is that the powerplay is too deferential, indecisive and frankly flaccid particularly on entries. I'm not trying to wag my finger at anyone but I agree with you in that if anything I'd love to see MORE ego out there.

 

[Gurglesons]

The common complaint is that the powerplay is too deferential, indecisive and frankly flaccid particularly on entries. I'm not trying to wag my finger at anyone but I agree with you in that if anything I'd love to see MORE ego out there.

Weird how our powerplay was most successful with a dude who smells like farts and watches movies alone in his mansion on a barber chair.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Weird how our powerplay was most successful with a dude who smells like farts and watches movies alone in his mansion on a barber chair.

Because dude quite clearly gives no f***s and was just gonna do his thing.

This powerplay looks like they are all just standing around in their own personal five foot bubbles saying "oh no I insist... YOU shoot!" to each other for a minute and a half FFS. What ego?

 

[Gurglesons]

Because dude quite clearly gives no f***s and was just gonna do his thing.

This powerplay looks like they are all just standing around in their own five foot bubble saying "oh no I insist... YOU shoot!" to each other for a minute and a half FFS. What ego?

lol I know. It's why it was a powerhouse with Neal too.

 

[vyktor]

The common complaint is that the powerplay is too deferential, indecisive and frankly flaccid particularly on entries. I'm not trying to wag my finger at anyone but I agree with you in that if anything I'd love to see MORE ego out there

It's a rudderless ship with no one in charge

 

[Jacob]

Far too stationary too. And guys get glued to their spots. Nothing wrong with putting Geno on the left wall just as a new wrinkle, Sid in the bumper or Kap (or Rakell) on the left wall instead of Rust. Or Carter as the net front over Jake just once in a blue moon.

Different QB wouldn’t hurt either. Maybe someone more willing to just f***ing shoot. It can still be the main 4 guys 90% of the time, just switch between Rakell and Rust on the left wall depending on who’s hotter. But some unpredictability by itself can make it a little tougher to defend.

 

[Gurglesons]

Far too stationary too. And guys get glued to their spots. Nothing wrong with putting Geno on the left wall just as a new wrinkle, Sid in the bumper or Kap (or Rakell) on the left wall instead of Rust. Or Carter as the net front over Jake just once in a blue moon.

Different QB wouldn’t hurt either. Maybe someone more willing to just f***ing shoot. It can still be the main 4 guys 90% of the time, just switch between Rakell and Rust on the left wall depending on who’s hotter. But some unpredictability by itself can make it a little tougher to defend.

I think Smith could potentially take over the # 1 powerplay spot tbh.

 

[dogthateats]

It would be a fun experiment to see Smith run the PP1 with the other big dogs and no Letang. Just to see what would happen with a skilled guy who is totally new to the org. I understand why we haven’t seen it though, bc preseason is certainly not the time to be experimenting.

 

[vodeni]

T

Far too stationary too. And guys get glued to their spots. Nothing wrong with putting Geno on the left wall just as a new wrinkle, Sid in the bumper or Kap (or Rakell) on the left wall instead of Rust. Or Carter as the net front over Jake just once in a blue moon.

Different QB wouldn’t hurt either. Maybe someone more willing to just f***ing shoot. It can still be the main 4 guys 90% of the time, just switch between Rakell and Rust on the left wall depending on who’s hotter. But some unpredictability by itself can make it a little tougher to defend.

Interesting, last season ERod was super hot on that left wall, the second Rust showed up he was taken off of the PP and that kind of coincided with his arrow pointing down the rest of the season..(if memory serves me correct)

 

[AjaxTelamon]

RR should be the man on the left wall, he's willing to hang around the net, but also has the one timer and wrister to score from over there.

If they don't want a permanent net front on the PP like PH, then they need to do it by committee, and so you need Jake + RR. I'd be happy mixing in Carter now and again also, but since they won't do that, Jake + RR is our best bet to get semi-consistent net front presence.

 

[vodeni]

I think Smith could potentially take over the # 1 powerplay spot tbh.

I think so too. Other than that first PP against I think CBJ he looked rather smooth, and was distributing pucks left and right just as it should be. Not sure if he has a shot that can be a threat fro m that position( Imean I have not seen him dshooting yet)

 

[stardog]

Pretty much. Heinen's missing. Seems like he was the sacrifice to get someone else a look that they're unsure about still.
I'm most relieved to see Sully still taking Z seriously at this stage, which I did not expect.
Caggiula being ahead of Archy is nice. He's outplayed him to this point, so justice is served.

Reality's starting to hit with Puustinen, Poulin, Nylander etc...
They're screwed, barring more injuries.

Read that interview where Archie seemed to imply that he came here because he was told he'd get an NHL spot.
It's on Pittsburgh Hockey Now and he didn't straight up say he was promised a roster spot but he also pretty much said the same.

Anyone else read or see that? Did you get the same impression?
It was just the way he said it that seemed kinda odd.

Dunno

 

[vodeni]

It would be a fun experiment to see Smith run the PP1 with the other big dogs and no Letang. Just to see what would happen with a skilled guy who is totally new to the org. I understand why we haven’t seen it though, bc preseason is certainly not the time to be experimenting.

No, not at all, we should wait until Game 6 in playoffs down 3-1

 

[stardog]

The answer is yes.

But Tampa did it…

Tampa argued with brick walls? Like the whole team or the entire city? And which wall are you talking about because I have a few things to say to it myself

 

[stardog]

Did Simon really turn heads at camp last year to warrant a roster spot? I won’t feel comfortable until I see Arch is moved to the AHL that his dumbass won’t be around all year.

See that Pittsburgh Hockey Now article I mentioned a few posts back. Seems like he thinks he's here to stay in Pittsburgh all year... I could be reading it wrong

 

[ChaosAgent]

Interesting, last season ERod was super hot on that left wall, the second Rust showed up he was taken off of the PP and that kind of coincided with his arrow pointing down the rest of the season..(if memory serves me correct)

ERod was for sure the most interesting player last year.

Shocking how influential he was on results. I liked him on the left wall too, especially when he was Good EROD.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

No, not at all, we should wait until Game 6 in playoffs down 3-1

For real though... why does this team hardly ever do heavy experimentation with stuff this time of year? They know how to run the same dumb ol powerplay they've BEEN running. What's the harm in trying to add wrinkles and PRACTICE those wrinkles or switch up some personnel? If the latter IS a case of player ego then, well... I dunno... be a coach?

It's fine to say they know better than we do. But it just seems lazy to never tweak around with ideas during the time of year largely dedicated to tweaking around with ideas.

 

[Andy99]

Rossi mentions Kapanen, Poehling, Archibald and McGinn are in the PK rotation today….if anyone wants to know why Archi is in the NHL group and was promised a job even though he sucks, and why a better player in Caligula will be relegated to Wilkes, this is it lol…it’s like Mike Sullivan thinks PKing is some mystical skill, like Geno stickhandling thru the Tampa defense…can someone please tell him ANY solid player can PK!

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Amazing post disregarding 4 on 5 positioning. Its amazing you're not an assistant general manager yet.

Your 1 or 2 liner posts degrading other posters is your entire repertoire here.
I'm bored to death of this tbh. Same trash year after year.
You literally offer nothing insightful here but act like you're the most knowledgeable poster we have. I don't understand how someone can be so devoid of humility.
So done with grown ass old men acting like edgy teens, baiting people for reactions. Not how I wanna spend my time here. Bye.

 

[Andy99]

See that Pittsburgh Hockey Now article I mentioned a few posts back. Seems like he thinks he's here to stay in Pittsburgh all year... I could be reading it wrong

you’re not…he PKs…enough said…i hate wishing injury on anyone…

 

[stardog]

you’re not…he PKs…enough said…i hate wishing injury on anyone…

I mean, he still gets his full salary so there's that?

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Read that interview where Archie seemed to imply that he came here because he was told he'd get an NHL spot.
It's on Pittsburgh Hockey Now and he didn't straight up say he was promised a roster spot but he also pretty much said the same.

Anyone else read or see that? Did you get the same impression?
It was just the way he said it that seemed kinda odd.

Dunno

Yeah that's not a good look for our management/coaching staff.
They preach accountability and performance, and then do the opposite. I would be pretty discouraged attending these camps in some player's positions, knowing you're just there to maintain appearances for the organization and never had a chance.

 

[Peat]

Rossi mentions Kapanen, Poehling, Archibald and McGinn are in the PK rotation today….if anyone wants to know why Archi is in the NHL group and was promised a job even though he sucks, and why a better player in Caligula will be relegated to Wilkes, this is it lol…it’s like Mike Sullivan thinks PKing is some mystical skill, like Geno stickhandling thru the Tampa defense…can someone please tell him ANY solid player can PK!

Caggiula was also getting PKing reps.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I'm willing to have an open mind and see where the whole Archibald thing goes. He's not on a disaster contract or anything so it's hard to get too worked up.

But I mean... gotta wonder about this team's pro scouting, sometimes. It's not like he was coming off a white-hot playoff performance. Quite the opposite, actually.

 

[SEALBound]

Archibald provides spunk.