Salary Cap: Pens '23-'24 Salary Cap Thread: "But if you don't get the President of the Pittsburgh Penguins on that phone, you know what's gonna happen to you?"

[Victor Z]

Friedman Blows Goats

He's still better than the status quo here.

It's all a moot point since Friedman probably will never play another game for Pittsburgh, but if Sully could undo the neutering of Friedman (give him his testicles back) which Sully imposed last year and let Friedman play the way he is capable of playing, he could be a passable #6 who brings something we otherwise totally lack.

But neutered he's useless, since he brings nothing else to the table aside from the willingness to play with physicality and being an agitator. I know there are Sully-like fans who fear "agitation" because then the other team will just cheap-shot us hardurrr or some such simpering. But it's not about cheap shots, it's about giving a shaky goalie *some* help and protection, because he gets zilch in those departments now.

A team chock full of nothing but Sully Vanilla could use at least a little bit of something else mixed in.

 

[66-30-33]

So Friday's game is on ESPN+/Hulu. Is there another way to watch this game? Thanks!!

Yes, watch it online.

So Lafferty traded to VAN for a 5th just 7 months after getting traded to TOR for a 1st+2nd? I know McCabe came over in that deal too but how did his value get pumped so much last year?

Should I be concerned it was the Doobler that made that deal?

Dubas had to answer to multiple people so I am sure the trades was made by several people. Now he answers to nobody.

 

[Headshot77]

I remember people still insisting over the off season that we were a “speed” team, lol.

I don't. Everyone knows we're old and slow.

 

[Gurglesons]

I don't. Everyone knows we're old and slow.

Old and slow and playing an old and slow system.

 

[Zirakzigil]

Yeah i don’t really have an unhealthy fixation. Outside of hoping every Canadian team is relocated to the Southern US.

Ruh - No shot attempts or shots when he was out there.

I hope we take our trophy back just to spite you

 

[66-30-33]

@Rakell67 PM'd you.

 

[SomeDude]

I hope we take our trophy back just to spite you

A Canadian team hasn’t held the cup in 20 years. 1 more year until, at least according to Pennsylvania law, US can claim adverse possession and get legal custody.

Tick tock.

 

[molon labe]

He's still better than the status quo here.

It's all a moot point since Friedman probably will never play another game for Pittsburgh, but if Sully could undo the neutering of Friedman (give him his testicles back) which Sully imposed last year and let Friedman play the way he is capable of playing, he could be a passable #6 who brings something we otherwise totally lack.

But neutered he's useless, since he brings nothing else to the table aside from the willingness to play with physicality and being an agitator. I know there are Sully-like fans who fear "agitation" because then the other team will just cheap-shot us hardurrr or some such simpering. But it's not about cheap shots, it's about giving a shaky goalie *some* help and protection, because he gets zilch in those departments now.

A team chock full of nothing but Sully Vanilla could use at least a little bit of something else mixed in.

One of Sullivan's biggest flaws - he prohibits the use of physicality in a physical sport.

Struck lightening in 16/17 with those nearly identical teams which had a Hornqvist on them and actual scoring depth. Our defense now has never been better, but our scoring depth is certainly worse. We're older, we're slower. As I've said before, several times, a heavier and more physical style would suit this team a hell of a lot better than whatever product Sullivan insists on targeting. We haven't had the personnel for it in years and now face much stiffer competition as the counter punch we once had - is now the standard.

Not much we can do at this point. But I certainly think (said so yesterday) that Smith should have been a player with significant jam. Ruh should also be substituted for a defender with jam. At least then we'd have 2 players on a roster full of Charmin. However - even that won't matter when Sully gonna Sully and bench anyone that throws a check that might be felt by the opposition.

 

[Zirakzigil]

A Canadian team hasn’t held the cup in 20 years. 1 more year until, at least according to Pennsylvania law, US can claim adverse possession and get legal custody.

Tick tock.

Too bad it resides in Canada and not Pennsylvania

 

[canadianguy77]

What I don’t quite get, is we go and add the preeminent offensive defenseman of his generation, and there is exactly zero change in system or tactics.

 

[66-30-33]

What I don’t quite get, is we go and add the preeminent offensive defenseman of his generation, and there is exactly zero change in system or tactics.

Too bad we didn't fire Sully for BB in the offseason. BB would get the most out of this roster of everyone left probably.

 

[SomeDude]

Too bad it resides in Canada and not Pennsylvania

You mean the display replica they keep in the HOF?

The real girl sits in Uncle Gary’s office in NYC and is used as a candy dish when the players don’t have it.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

Of course. But you're talking about insulating Jarry with guys like Jake and Karlsson. I know I half-jokingly picked the worst defensive players, but genuinely, I don't think this team has the guys to do it--nor do I think Sullivan's the guy to coach that style.

And people would just shit their pants and whine about Sullivan neutering the offense or something anyway, because people are psychotically obsessed with the dude at this point. /shrug

I've said repeatedly that I'd rather the team lose in entertaining ways than eek out wins by playing what I'd consider awful, boring hockey. Wins and losses don't matter to me as much as how fun the game was to watch, as I don't think this team's ever gonna compete again during the era. Hell, they may not even win another playoff round, let alone Cup. As awful standings-wise last season was, I still got a hell of a lot of entertainment out of watching this team comically blow leads in the most absurd ways possible.

I guess it doesn't have to be an either/or approach.

How about when they get the lead they start trapping or Sully tells his Dmen "hey, no more green light"? That might avoid the repeated blown leads that this team was known for last year.

But I understand that's perhaps too nuanced for an NHL coach to employ in game tactics and strategy...

 

[Zirakzigil]

You mean the display replica they keep in the HOF?

The real girl sits in Uncle Gary’s office in NYC and is used as a candy dish when the players don’t have it.

Common misconception. The real one is in Trudeaus house. He takes selfies with it every morning.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I guess it doesn't have to be an either/or approach.

How about when they get the lead they start trapping or Sully tells his Dmen "hey, no more green light"? That might avoid the repeated blown leads that this team was known for last year.

But I understand that's perhaps too nuanced for an NHL coach to employ in game tactics and strategy...

I kinda feel like they need -more- urgency and pressure to avoid these collapses tbh. Almost every one of these games, they seem to be overwhelmed and on their heels for the entirety of the 3rd period. /shrug

Play to the team's strengths--if they even have any. Which means, without question, not trying to go into a defensive shell.

 

[Empoleon8771]

@Zirakzigil can we also get an off-day thread in addition to the salary cap thread? I don’t believe there is one right now

 

[AjaxTelamon]

Sullivan will stick with Rust on that line for the next 10 games, and then when the Pens are 2-8 during that stretch and it becomes impossible for him not to try something, he'll move Rakell there for 2 or 3 games and then immediately switch back to Rust the second GCRakell has a bad game.

We saw this same script last year. Rust gets 20 games of lack of production before he's swapped out for Rakell, while Rakell gets 2 or 3 games of lack of production before he's swapped out for Rust.

Rust should have been traded years ago when he was no-efforting it and JR traded Hags instead. It needs to be a priority now.

 

[Factorial]

So Friday's game is on ESPN+/Hulu. Is there another way to watch this game? Thanks!!

Nope and it's annoying when games are exclusively on these services.

 

[Zirakzigil]

@Zirakzigil can we also get an off-day thread in addition to the salary cap thread? I don’t believe there is one right now

 

[The Old Master]

Too bad it resides in Canada and not Pennsylvania?

little known fact; Philly is actually part of jersey.
edit; I still can whish, can't I?

 

[Zirakzigil]

little known fact; Philly is actually part of jersey.

Philly cheese comes from Jersey cows?

Now sure what that has to do with hockey, but sure!

 

[The Old Master]

Philly cheese comes from Jersey cows?

Now sure what that has to do with hockey, but sure!

if you read it here, you can bet cole's shoes on it.

 

[Josey Wales]

He's still better than the status quo here.

It's all a moot point since Friedman probably will never play another game for Pittsburgh, but if Sully could undo the neutering of Friedman (give him his testicles back) which Sully imposed last year and let Friedman play the way he is capable of playing, he could be a passable #6 who brings something we otherwise totally lack.

But neutered he's useless, since he brings nothing else to the table aside from the willingness to play with physicality and being an agitator. I know there are Sully-like fans who fear "agitation" because then the other team will just cheap-shot us hardurrr or some such simpering. But it's not about cheap shots, it's about giving a shaky goalie *some* help and protection, because he gets zilch in those departments now.

A team chock full of nothing but Sully Vanilla could use at least a little bit of something else mixed in.

They Put him on waivers & wasn't claimed

 

[Andy99]

Yeah, sounds like the worst garbage hockey imaginable. People are wishing for Trotz brand Isles-style hockey and they'd get Mike Johnston brand Penguins hockey. Jarry's not the goalie for that, and this team's skaters are all varying degrees of soft, sluggish, and dogshit defensively.

I’m happy to stop watching the third periods if they start playing garbage hockey and win…I’ll watch the first two lol…because they sure ain’t winning playing non garbage hockey lol

I kinda feel like they need -more- urgency and pressure to avoid these collapses tbh. Almost every one of these games, they seem to be overwhelmed and on their heels for the entirety of the 3rd period. /shrug

Play to the team's strengths--if they even have any. Which means, without question, not trying to go into a defensive shell.

They can’t, they’re old…that’s the biggest issue with third periods

 

[Andy99]

BTW, this was Sullivan’s comment today re the blown leads per Taylor…his idea about what to do is not trustworthy since the team can’t apparently do it and he won’t change tactics…having #s back doesn’t do it if the players are getting beat repeatedly…they should be in the NZ preventing easy entries

"We're going to try to play the game a certain way that that gives us the best chance to win," he continued. "To answer your question, specifically, the best way to hang onto leads is to make sure you don't beat yourself, you don't take careless penalties and put your opponent on the power play where they have an opportunity to build momentum. We took a stick infraction in the offensive zone three minutes into the third period. You've got to manage the puck and make sure that you force teams to have to go 200 feet in order to beat you, so that you have numbers back I don't think we did as good a job managing the puck in certain situations."