Salary Cap: Pens Salary Cap Thread: If we score 6 we win, its science!

[HandshakeLine]

I honestly think the bigger problem is the 4th line isn’t really trusted to eat significant minutes. That’s be fine if it was a more dangerous energy line, but it’s really not and with Archibald out, it’s even less of a physical factor.

 

[Andy99]

I don’t disagree with managing his minutes better throughout the regular season. The guy is old after all. If you look at his minutes compared to last year (when we had a lot worse injury issues) his TOI is down by 3 per game.

And it’s apparently still not enough lol…maybe try him at RW some games…he can take some FOs there…or give him whole games off…maybe he’s nursing an injury

 

[HandshakeLine]

Go watch Teddy on the tying goal last night.

That’s our shutdown C? Lol

Yeah, exactly. There’s a reason he’s getting 10 > minutes a night.

 

[Andy99]

Also, I despise the narrative, coming particularly from Sully, that this was a really close game blown by a mistake in OT…no, it was not…Carolina was dominating play and had 19 HD chances to our 11…guess who was on the ice for half of those HD chances? You guessed it…I mean I know Sullivan is not going to throw Dumo under the bus but someone needs to ask him about how he thinks the D is playing and what he wants to see from his Dmen and go from there lol

 

[vikingGoalie]

Trade idea.
Let's send Dumo+Casey DeSmith to the ducks for Gibson
We shore up our goal tending and have a much better chance of having a serviceable goalie for the playoffs.
The ducks almost ensure they get Bedard in the draft, just play dumo big minutes and watch your chance to draft him improve...

 

[Peat]

On the other hand, if we're going to go into the postseason with our blueline, might as well load up the top 9 and just try to run and gun it. We're not built to play a really stifling defensive game.

For my money that points at going a different acquisition path so we can play that game.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Gibson's legit the most overrated player in hockey at this point. Dude has been below average for 4 straight years yet people still talk about him as this surefire top starting goalie.

People write off his shitty numbers as "he plays for a bad defensive team", as if it's not possible for goalies to put up good numbers on a bad defensive team.

 

[Andy99]

Gibson's legit the most overrated player in hockey at this point. Dude has been below average for 4 straight years yet people still talk about him as this surefire top starting goalie.

People write off his shitty numbers as "he plays for a bad defensive team", as if it's not possible for goalies to put up good numbers on a bad defensive team.

I’d definitely rather have Fowler from the Ducks…

 

[Pancakes]

I honestly think the bigger problem is the 4th line isn’t really trusted to eat significant minutes. That’s be fine if it was a more dangerous energy line, but it’s really not and with Archibald out, it’s even less of a physical factor.

I think Teddy is capable of it but Sully doesn't want to use him that way.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I’d definitely rather have Fowler from the Ducks…

What option is behind door #3?

 

[HandshakeLine]

I think Teddy is capable of it but Sully doesn't want to use him that way.

I used to think that, but now I'm not so sure. Maybe he's gotten stunted in the 4C role for too long?

Man, I hate that I'm saying this because I'm not totally convinced that his late breakout isn't gonna turn out to be a fluke, but maybe we really should have kept Gaudreau?

 

[Andy99]

What option is behind door #3?

He’s been great for them…he’s signed for another three years at $6.5M but that’s probably a reason he might be available

 

[HandshakeLine]

For my money that points at going a different acquisition path so we can play that game.

Oh for sure. There's really no easy path to either route, I think. We're kinda stuck between two paths that we can commit to, but until we haven't fully committed to either possible retool yet.

 

[Gurglesons]

I’d definitely rather have Fowler from the Ducks…

Yeah, he’d be a nice addition.

 

[Pancakes]

I used to think that, but now I'm not so sure. Maybe he's gotten stunted in the 4C role for too long?

Man, I hate that I'm saying this because I'm not totally convinced that his late breakout isn't gonna turn out to be a fluke, but maybe we really should have kept Gaudreau?

I'm not surprised Gaudreau broke out. He looked quite good for us even before that breakout.

As for Teddy...I dunno. Sully has never tried to use him any other way so we won't ever know how he could perform given a larger role unless he leaves in FA and signs for someone else who uses him more.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

I'd like to see Zucker and Dumo traded for assets by the trade deadline, no matter how we are doing!! I know I'm dreaming though, but that's what Hextall should do!

It’s not up to Hextall. Sullsma would take a bullet for Dumo, he’d go whining to FSG before he’d let Hextall trade him.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

I dunno, he was putrid defensively against the Rags when it counted. His offense is nice, but if he’s not going to be a shut down guy, don’t give him those minutes.

We don’t lose because we’re getting shut out. We lose because we can’t lock it down when we need to.

I looked at all the goals against when he was on the ice when addressing this before.
2 or 3 were certainly his fault. The rest were just failures of teammates he had no control over.

Considering he scored 4 in the series, I'm pretty forgiving overall.
I know it's deeper than that, but yeah.

 

[Gurglesons]

I looked at all the goals against when he was on the ice when addressing this before.
2 or 3 were certainly his fault. The rest were just failures of teammates he had no control over.

Considering he scored 4 in the series, I'm pretty forgiving overall.
I know it's deeper than that, but yeah.

I think Handshake was talking Teddy not Carter.

 

[eXile3]

Jeff Carter’s playoff numbers as a Penguin:
13 games, 8 goals, 10 points, 40 SOG, 60.5% face off wins.

I’ll take that energy.

Last year in the playoffs he had 4 goals and 1 assist for 5 point in 7 games.

He was a team worst -7 EV goal differential. The next worse was -3. The dude can't score enough to offset how bad he is defensively. He played 15 EV minutes a game and was on the ice for 11 goals against in 7 games.

People complain about guys like Teddy B not producing in the playoffs but at least he doesn't bleed goals to the other team.

 

[Peat]

Oh for sure. There's really no easy path to either route, I think. We're kinda stuck between two paths that we can commit to, but until we haven't fully committed to either possible retool yet.

I think the acquisition of Petry and Rutta signals the path Hextall wants to walk. Although arguably that's counteracted by the third line he's put together a little.

The big problem is constant defensive responsibility is just not in this org's DNA... but there's zero way we're making a cup final through track meets and pond hockey. There's too many orgs in the NHL that have serious scoring power and can shut down run and gun. I feel pretty sure a team has to do both.

Right now I think this team has sufficient offensive firepower, albeit exercised a bit inconsistently. But the top end defence - that usually results in us playing our best offensive hockey anyway - is even more inconsistent and would be a priority to me.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

I think Handshake was talking Teddy not Carter.

Welp. Somehow connected Somedude's comment to Handshake's...

Carry on...

 

[Gurglesons]

I think the acquisition of Petry and Rutta signals the path Hextall wants to walk. Although arguably that's counteracted by the third line he's put together a little.

The big problem is constant defensive responsibility is just not in this org's DNA... but there's zero way we're making a cup final through track meets and pond hockey. There's too many orgs in the NHL that have serious scoring power and can shut down run and gun. I feel pretty sure a team has to do both.

Right now I think this team has sufficient offensive firepower, albeit exercised a bit inconsistently. But the top end defence - that usually results in us playing our best offensive hockey anyway - is even more inconsistent and would be a priority to me.

I’d argue top end defense wasn’t in Tampa or Colorado’s blood either, but they built a bottom six and right side that complemented their players.

 

[Peat]

I’d argue top end defense wasn’t in Tampa or Colorado’s blood either, but they built a bottom six and right side that complemented their players.

Fair. Like we did back with the double.

That said... I haven't been watching regularly, but it doesn't feel to me like the team is embracing defence the way it has shown it can. I think there's a touch of the gambler, and a touch of conserving themselves, and possibly a touch of over-belief in Jarry.

 

[SEALBound]

I honestly think the bigger problem is the 4th line isn’t really trusted to eat significant minutes. That’s be fine if it was a more dangerous energy line, but it’s really not and with Archibald out, it’s even less of a physical factor.

I think that may be more Sullivan than the 4th line itself though. I didn't think they played poorly enough to be benched more or less last night.

Heinen-Bleuger-DOC should be able to skate a regular shift. The fact they don't is more on Sullivan. But maybe more to your point, if they aren't going to skate a regular shift, we need to bring in guys that help with that. Maybe that involves sending Heinen out for someone in return. A reverse Heinen for Ritchie so to speak. Then spend an asset or two on a bottom 6 forward.

Maybe something like:
Bonino+Kunin for Bleuger+Heinen+NJD 3rd
Pius Suter for Dumoulin

Jake-Sid-Raks
Zuck-Geno-Rusty
Kunin-Suter-Kapanen
McGinn-Bonino-Carter

Petts-Letang; POJ-Petry; Smith-Rutta

What option is behind door #3?

Comtois?

 

[McGroarty2]

Friedman was sent down today.