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

[Buddy Bizarre]

It's not like we haven't seen them in the past as a unit. Everyone was jazzed about them, then. They put a bunch of shots on goal, dominated territorially and scored I think zero goals that entire playoffs.

At this point I'm mostly thinking toward how to best configure L1 to carry the entire offensive load and just hope that L2 can play the opposition to a draw most nights. Huzzah. How exciting.

I do not think the the solution to making L2 anything other than a glorified possession 4th line that eats minutes... best case... actually exists on this roster.

I believe it was discussed before though, that playoff line was 2/3 of guys coming back from injuries. So I don't think it's fair to evaluate what happened then and extrapolate it to what's possible now.

Again, what is the downside to attempting this trio for an extended period of time? The worst thing is it doesn't work and you try another set of wings with Geno. The process of elimination is fruitful

 

[Andy99]

HockeyBuzz.com - Ryan Wilson - Things can go off the rails if they aren't careful

www.hockeybuzz.com

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I believe it was discussed before though, that playoff line was 2/3 of guys coming back from injuries. So I don't think it's fair to evaluate what happened then and extrapolate it to what's possible now.

Again, what is the downside to attempting this trio for an extended period of time? The worst thing is it doesn't work and you try another set of wings with Geno. The process of elimination is fruitful

Yeah I mean I'm fine with it simply in order to make L1 better. Maybe you guys are right... we'll see. But I've pretty much tossed the idea completely out the window that L2 is going to be a contributor offensively at 5 v 5 this year. Hopefully they can simply manage the puck and hold it in the o-zone until someone puts a weak-ass bad-angle shot on goal for the freeze.

Plus I mean Zucker has ALREADY been in and out of the lineup with something. Matter of time for Malkin, too. Even if you guys are right about it just being injuries derailing them... well... that isn't going away, either.

 

[jmelm]

The AHL doesn't keep official stats on faceoffs, but from what I've seen this season it seems like DOC is being destroyed in the faceoff circle.

Anyway, DOC has looked better than his stats suggest. And he's at 0.75 points per game*.

*6 points in 7.616 games.

Finally!!!

and the faceoff prowess (or lack thereof) won’t matter when he’s playing wing.

 

[Gurglesons]

Letang and Carter not at practice this morning..so maybe we will see new D pairs…although if he was injured you’d think Smith would be called up

Letang probably is putting on a special costume for Halloween.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Bless jmelm's heart for thinking DOC isn't gonna be a healthy scratch. Keep the dream alive, little buddy.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Letang probably is putting on a special costume for Halloween.

He's gonna eventually come flying out on to the ice in a gigantic Pepé Le Pew costume, trip over the tail and be out for like a month.

 

[Gurglesons]

Bless jmelm's heart for thinking DOC isn't gonna be a healthy scratch. Keep the dream alive, little buddy.

Looks like we are scratching Poulin for him.

 

[Gurglesons]

Finally got a reporter with some balls too…

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Looks like we are scratching Poulin for him.

Poehling really is gonna be the new Blueger, huh? Destined to play alongside the McGinns and Archibalds forever, even when centers above him are injured.

Also, huge fan of the panicked return of Jake-Sid-Rust. Very cool and good, Sully my dude.

 

[vodeni]

Looks like we are scratching Poulin for him.

which is weird since Pouling was on PP2 unit practicing

 

[Gurglesons]

which is weird since Pouling was on PP2 unit practicing

Yeah, that was the only thing that threw me off. What I’m thinking is Zucker may still be hurt and there is a possibility he is scratched for Poulin on L2.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Finally got a reporter with some balls too…

Something something decisions! Something something all duos are equal but some are more equal than others!

 

[vodeni]

Finally got a reporter with some balls too…

not sure if you are following him on twitter, but he has been a breath of fresh air with his comments, questions and he is not repeating company mantra or asking questions they think would give them Sully's approval. Too bad he is behind the DK's paywall, but between him and Taylor they have by faaaar the best Pens coverage.

 

[Gurglesons]

not sure if you are following him on twitter, but he has been a breath of fresh air with his comments, questions and he is not repeating company mantra or asking questions they think would give them Sully's approval. Too bad he is behind the DK's paywall, but between him and Taylor they have by faaaar the best Pens coverage.

Yeah both of Taylor and Danny rock.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

lol it's such a softball question, too. Like... what's the big secret, here. What IS the thought process there, exactly? What is it that they need? Give us some insight into that brilliant coaching mind, Mike. Shirey isn't asking for the nuclear codes here or something.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

The criticism of Sully is entirely warranted, no arguing that. But this shit's been a problem since like 2019. No use in even giving it much thought anymore. Sully is gonna do asinine shit with his line combos and TOI distribution. Death, taxes, yadda yadda.

 

[Gurglesons]

lol it's such a softball question, too. Like... what's the big secret, here. What IS the thought process there, exactly? What is it exactly that they need? Shirey isn't asking for the nuclear codes here or something.

Danny is one of the few people I’ve seen on Twitter not blindly anointing Marino based on his defensive metrics too.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Yeah, that was the only thing that threw me off. What I’m thinking is Zucker may still be hurt and there is a possibility he is scratched for Poulin on L2.

I think so. I was initially surprised Poulin was kept up if he was going to be scratched, but that makes sense. Sullivan said they needed a center who could PK to replace Carter and they see DOC as that option. Poulin is more of an offensive option.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Danny is one of the few people I’ve seen on Twitter not blindly anointing Marino based on his defensive metrics too.

Yeah he's solid. I didn't start noticing his reporting until preseason but he's been very consistent and seemingly not beholden to shitting his pants over access before asking even the tamest of questions.

Even by head coach standards that was a hilariously canned response, though.

 

[Gurglesons]

I think so. I was initially surprised Poulin was kept up if he was going to be scratched, but that makes sense. Sullivan said they needed a center who could PK to replace Carter and they see DOC as that option. Poulin is more of an offensive option.

Yes, because our penalty kill has been so dynamic with Carter, Mike

 

[Andy99]

Finally got a reporter with some balls too…

Thats the bs answer…real answer: “Sid prefers to play with Rust”…

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

If this shit streak continues I wonder how long it will be before Sullivan starts Living In His Fears™?

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Finally!!!

and the faceoff prowess (or lack thereof) won’t matter when he’s playing wing.

I think so. I was initially surprised Poulin was kept up if he was going to be scratched, but that makes sense. Sullivan said they needed a center who could PK to replace Carter and they see DOC as that option. Poulin is more of an offensive option.

Welp, hopefully he gets more help from his wingers. Svejkovsky and Nylander aren't known for their strength.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

If this shit streak continues I wonder how long it will be before Sullivan starts Living In His Fears™?

Based on other long-tenured coaches I posted yesterday, we've only got about 10-13 years left of Sullivan. Maybe more, because he's got two Cups to the one of Tortorella, Laviolette, Hitchcock, and the zero of Ruff.

Gettin' there!