Post-Game Talk: Pens lose to the worst team in the league

[Icarium]

David Todd is right though.

Look at Florida's trio for example. Thachuk certainly outplayed Sid. Hart nominee wouldn't be surprising. +30.
Barkov outplayed Malkin. 6 fewer points but infinitely better defensively, he PK'd and took 74 fewer PIM's. Also missed 10+ games.
Montour outplayed Letang, offensively and defensively. He's sitting on 73 points. Did a great job on the PP.
Jarry could have given us an edge over them but he failed.

No, he is not right, he is demolishing a straw man. Only super casual fans haven't realized how old our trio of stars are and that they are no longer as dominant as they used to be. The point is they are more than good enough to make the playoffs considering the pathetic competition for wild card spots this season.

 

[HandshakeLine]

Madden's rant doesn't mention Sullivan even once. Does he have blackmail material on the local journalists or something? This is becoming more embarrassing with every passing day.

They love having access and they like the idea that they are on peers with the coach. It's as simple as that.

The local media doesn't want to challenge the coach because they want to be buds with him.

Things really can turn to shit in a moments notice.

It wasn't a moments notice though? Lots of the same problems were visible over previous seasons.

 

[Malkinstheman]

They love having access and they like the idea that they are on peers with the coach. It's as simple as that.

The local media doesn't want to challenge the coach because they want to be buds with him.


It wasn't a moments notice though? Lots of the same problems were visible over previous seasons.

Oh no, I meant in 2018. After the b2bs I thought the Pens would keep being contenders but it's been only downhill since.

 

[Giskard]

Sullivan is not the true problem here, it's the people that hasn't fire him yet.
What he has to do, fire himself?

 

[Zbynek]

I'd be perfectly at peace right now if I thought Hextall and possibly Sully would deservedly lose their jobs for this. But I just don't know that FSG gives a shit at all

Ehhh. When NYI wins or makes it to OT tonight I'd say it's pretty much 99% certain that Hextall gets the axe. I'm pretty confident about that. Sully maybe a 50% chance.

Let's hope it eventually goes 100% on both.

 

[Gurglesons]

Ehhh. When NYI wins or makes it to OT tonight I'd say it's pretty much 99% certain that Hextall gets the axe. I'm pretty confident about that. Sully maybe a 50% chance.

Let's hope it eventually goes 100% on both.

It's going to be funny when we fire Hextall and Burke handles our draft.

 

[ThosePuckingPenguins]

Ehhh. When NYI wins or makes it to OT tonight I'd say it's pretty much 99% certain that Hextall gets the axe. I'm pretty confident about that. Sully maybe a 50% chance.

Let's hope it eventually goes 100% on both.

I think Madden reported that both Hextall and Burke are gone after this season and both know it. Could be BS but Madden has been right with some of this stuff in the past. I’d trust him more than Yohe or Rossi (which doesn’t say much but still).

 

[Zbynek]

It's going to be funny when we fire Hextall and Burke handles our draft.

Unless they have another guy ready to go (doubtful) that is definitely what will happen

I think Madden reported that both Hextall and Burke are gone after this season and both know it. Could be BS but Madden has been right with some of this stuff in the past. I’d trust him more than Yohe or Rossi (which doesn’t say much but still).

It SHOULD be both their heads but again, we need a GM ready to go and I'm not sure there are any other internal options or any standout candidates on the market

 

[HandshakeLine]

It's going to be funny when we fire Hextall and Burke handles our draft.

Lol, I forgot Burke originally drafted Tangradi.

Dude has had his share of draft stinkers, but he had some okay ones too, albeit in a vastly different era.

I'm honestly more worried about our scouts than whichever figurehead handles the draft if Hextall is fired, tbh.

 

[Gurglesons]

Lol, I forgot Burke originally drafted Tangradi.

Dude has had his share of draft stinkers, but he had some okay ones too, albeit in a vastly different era.

I'm honestly more worried about our scouts than whichever figurehead handles the draft if Hextall is fired, tbh.

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Burke's last draft..

 

[Josey Wales]

IT'S almost as if the powers that be are intentionally trying to sabotage our chances.


Jesse is absolutely spot on! Particularly with those guys being on the very back end of their careers. Keep in mind that McDavid has more goals than Sid and Geno COMBINED! And they're both deemed at having really good seasons.

BUT BUT BUT Sid & Geno have been incredible !
\

The media will find ways to blame anyone but Sullivan

& you will blmae anyone but The Players

 

[Andy99]

David Todd is right though.

Look at Florida's trio for example. Thachuk certainly outplayed Sid. Hart nominee wouldn't be surprising. +30.
Barkov outplayed Malkin. 6 fewer points but infinitely better defensively, he PK'd and took 74 fewer PIM's. Also missed 10+ games.
Montour outplayed Letang, offensively and defensively. He's sitting on 73 points. Did a great job on the PP.
Jarry could have given us an edge over them but he failed.

Our trio is fine but it's not what it used to be relative to the rest of the league. I expect it'll be worse next year. Sid and Geno didn't miss a game this year. Still wasn't enough to get this team over 92 points. They needed more help from the supporting cast.

Again, look to Boston for the example…they’re supporting their old top two centers with much much better players and Dmen who can all skate and more who can score than we have…not to mention the incredible goaltending they got this season

 

[HandshakeLine]

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Burke's last draft..

I wouldn't have taken Bennett 4OA, for example, but I would have loved if we took ANY player like Sam Bennet at some point in the draft. Or acquired him when he was available.

 

[Josey Wales]

No, he is not right, he is demolishing a straw man. Only super casual fans haven't realized how old our trio of stars are and that they are no longer as dominant as they used to be. The point is they are more than good enough to make the playoffs considering the pathetic competition for wild card spots this season.

UMMMMMMMM Have you been on this Site much lately ?

I think Madden reported that both Hextall and Burke are gone after this season and both know it. Could be BS but Madden has been right with some of this stuff in the past. I’d trust him more than Yohe or Rossi (which doesn’t say much but still).

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with Pens

 

[Gurglesons]

I wouldn't have taken Bennett 4OA, for example, but I would have loved if we took ANY player like Sam Bennet at some point in the draft. Or acquired him when he was available.

Would've loved to see Sam Bennett playing 100% of his minutes in the d zone and pking.

 

[StaalForOne]

Sullivan gives quotes, Hextall doesn't. That's why one gets blamed and one gets a free pass.

 

[HandshakeLine]

Would've loved to see Sam Bennett playing 100% of his minutes in the d zone and pking.

Yeah, that's the other thing.

It's weird that everyone was afraid of Burke coming in and Burking it up, but he's been largely inconsequential.

 

[BusinessGoose]

Sullivan gives quotes, Hextall doesn't. That's why one gets blamed and one gets a free pass.

I don't think so

Outside of sullys stupid "we will learn from this" post games, the biggest panned quote all year here was hextalls "the plan for the team is in my head"

They both suck. Sullivan failed as a coach. Hextall was giving a steam shit pile from JR, and only managed to piss on it.

 

[Jaded-Fan]

The Pens have a significant off-season coming.

As pointed out, Crosby, Malkin and Letang remain great players.

But at this point great complimentary pieces, no longer players who can take a mediocre and borderline bad team on their backs and carry them.

And hopefully management knows that there are no moves that they can make that will turn the team into a cup contender. None.

So the question is whether to ride out the next three to five years of the end of those three careers into a long retirement victory tour where they tip the hat to the remaining fans and play it out on increasingly bad teams.

Or the Pens begin the needed rebuild now and trade off their assets to teams where they can play the roles that they are best suited at this stage of their careers, and gain a haul of talent in return to start the rebuild.

We know which direction the Pens should go.

We also know which direction the Pens will go.

 

[Gurglesons]

SID LOVES MIKE SULLIVAN

 

[vodeni]

David Todd is right though.

Look at Florida's trio for example. Thachuk certainly outplayed Sid. Hart nominee wouldn't be surprising. +30.
Barkov outplayed Malkin. 6 fewer points but infinitely better defensively, he PK'd and took 74 fewer PIM's. Also missed 10+ games.
Montour outplayed Letang, offensively and defensively. He's sitting on 73 points. Did a great job on the PP.
Jarry could have given us an edge over them but he failed.

Our trio is fine but it's not what it used to be relative to the rest of the league. I expect it'll be worse next year. Sid and Geno didn't miss a game this year. Still wasn't enough to get this team over 92 points. They needed more help from the supporting cast.

the only problem with your statement: If Geno and Sid had played with better forwards and dman (or if you will guys that could score on all the glorious chances they set up), or lines were better arranged, or PP was drawn better or have some half decent bottom 6 that can draw attention...their stats would be way better than you would not be talking about having Tkachuk and Barkov ranking better...Next year different story

 

[Jaded-Fan]

SID LOVES MIKE SULLIVAN

If anything shouts volumes about where Sid, Geno and Letang are in their careers, and secondarily about the team around them, the fact that both played the entire season uninjured and the Pens still will miss the playoffs is the cherry on top.

Yes, the build of the team and the sheer mediocrity and outright suckage of some of the team was the primary reason for missing the playoffs.

But the Pens have had many of the same issues for years. From a powerplay that had serious issues to getting stuck in their zone to a bad bottom six, it is the same song played over and over.

The difference this year is that those three couldn't pull the team up despite the obvious flaws. Even when having a fairly injury free year.

 

[PensPlz]

Lose to bad teams because bad teams are typically playing young and hungry players.

Young and hungry beats old and bloated playing the style they play.

And since Sullivan has no interest in playing a defensive scheme against faster teams then this is the season he gets.

Can't say I didn't see this coming. Been 4 years of the same thing.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

SID LOVES MIKE SULLIVAN

Honestly, the only way Sullivan gets canned is if the core give him bad reviews in their exit interviews. He's going nowhere if Sid/Geno don't think he's an issue.

So while I 100% agree that Sid doesn't like missing the playoffs, I'm not encouraged by his disappointment because I'm not sure it's aimed at the right source.

 

[Gurglesons]

Honestly, the only way Sullivan gets canned is if the core give him bad reviews in their exit interviews. He's going nowhere if Sid/Geno don't think he's an issue.

So while I 100% agree that Sid doesn't like missing the playoffs, I'm not encouraged by his disappointment because I'm not sure it's aimed at the right source.

We will see. I imagine Crosby's rope gets very thin with this coach after this season.