pistolpete11
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- Apr 27, 2013
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The problem is his defense has nosedived. In the past when he went cold, you could at least count on him to be reasonably responsible defensively.
Salary Cap: Pens Salary Cap Thread: If we score 6 we win, its science!
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Icarium
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- Feb 16, 2010
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Yeah, Rust is streaky like all non-superstar wingers but I can't recall him being that bad defensively for so long. He also has a mere 8 shots on goal over the last 7 games, despite playing on PP1 and in a top 6 full of players who keep scoring quite a lot.
- Jun 13, 2010
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Rust is doing a lot of gliding and watching. He's not moving his feet and he's not using any remaining speed he may have to his advantage. Thus, when those perfect tippy tappy plays aren't foregone conclusions for him, he struggles. He needs to "work" to get out of this rut. That starts with solid defense, moving your feet, going the extra mile in the corners, etc. There's just a lot missing from him game at the moment and right now, he can only blame himself because Sullivan is giving him the opportunity to get out of it by putting him with Malkin. If it was Kapanen and he turned in the exact same performance, Sullivan would have yanked him off that line well before now.
The good news is that Rust is still a good player and history suggests that he WILL snap out of it. Once he does, it will be a big help for the entire team.
The good news is that Rust is still a good player and history suggests that he WILL snap out of it. Once he does, it will be a big help for the entire team.
Why Evgeni Malkin is hockey’s most underrated superstar of all-time
‘Geno’ isn’t just great. He’s one of the best forwards ever. Why isn’t he always acknowledged as such? A few...
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pistolpete11
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The good news is that it seems to be mostly a lack of effort with Rust. If he just started trying, I have confidence he'll bounce back.
....although, maybe that's bad news if he's got his contract and is now just going to coast for the next 6 years.
....although, maybe that's bad news if he's got his contract and is now just going to coast for the next 6 years.
Scored 35 points in one playoff series with Max Talbot and Ruslan Fedentenko as his wingers. Couldn’t be broken even with an extra round in the Covid bubble year.Why Evgeni Malkin is hockey’s most underrated superstar of all-time
‘Geno’ isn’t just great. He’s one of the best forwards ever. Why isn’t he always acknowledged as such? A few...
He’s criminally underrated.
Ryder71
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- Nov 24, 2017
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Kk needs to go! What an absolute waste of a player! Probably won't get anything for him, but we got to get him off the books, he's absolutely destroying our cap. Thanks Ronnie!
KK situation has to be resolved by trade or waivers he clears and hello WB. I think he needs to be reinvented as to his play and continued dependence on his physical skills that just limit his play. Get the million in cap space and move on. He may be a nice add later if he just gets his game to be more precise and smart. If not, he can be moved in the off season.
- Jun 13, 2010
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He's been screwed by himself and Hextall. He should never have been offered the $3.2mil deal for two years. He's not "immoveable" but that will hamper his ability to go elsewhere. I blame Hextall the most here. If he had taken a 1yr $1.5-2mil deal, there would have been opportunities by now to move him or swap him in a crap-for-crap trade. Now he has to be a HS and potentially sit in the AHL.
It wasn't smart by either side to do the contract. He could easily be a viable $1.5mil 3rd/4th line RW who PKs. The sooner he absolves himself of the contract and reinvents his game to manage expectations, the better. No one is trading for "2nd line RW Kapanen at $3,2mil" but someone might take a flyer on "bottom 6 skill, speedy PK'er Kapanen at $1.5mil"
Gurglesons
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Not sure how he's been "screwed by himself". He got what any RFA in his position would've gotten. Our coach is giving him no breaks and it is tanking his value.
- Jun 13, 2010
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Sullivan is part of the equation, no doubt, but it's not like Kapanen has done himself any favors.
I did say that Rust gets the benefit of the doubt 10x more than Kapanen with poor play. So I did defend him on that front.
AjaxTelamon
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- Jul 8, 2011
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He's been playing no defense for years, it's just gone to a new level this year. Every year he scores the most in December against Detroit, and his scoring dries up down the stretch and in the post season. He gets assists, but the goal scoring goes away, especially 5v5.
It's been covered up by playing with our best players almost exclusively.
I used to think it was poor conditioning or something, now I think it's just lack of motivation to win and heart.
How he could be tied for the worst +/- on the team at -10, and Rakell can be the best at +12, while playing with the exact same players is beyond me.
Gurglesons
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It’s odd Kap isn’t playing in the bottom 6 at least on a rotation but I wouldn’t say the Sully has it out for him.
Gurglesons
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What would you say Sullivan's usage of him exactly is?
Heinen is hideous right now. He gets more ice time than Blueger lol.
Sidney the Kidney
One last time
- Jun 29, 2009
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Considering Kapanen's play prior to being healthy scratched is no worse than what we're seeing out of Rust, plus Heinen isn't exactly playing great lately, what would you call it? He's being healthy scratched while Rust continues to get the second most minutes among wingers on our team and his cushy spot on the top PP unit.
The problem with how Sullivan is handling Kapanen is it's a self-fulfilling prophesy. He's so tentative and unsure of himself because he doesn't want to make mistakes, but playing that way results in him making mistakes and not contributing.
It's like having a boss you know hates you, so you constantly feel him looking over your shoulder.
I agree it’s odd he hasn’t found himself in the lineup more often but I think that’s Sully just going with what’s working at the moment.
I honestly can’t say how good he is defensively compared to a Heinen so not sure if that’s it. They’re production is probably pretty similar.
BlindWillyMcHurt
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- May 31, 2004
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Who knew "doing a better job coaching Kap" simply meant stapling him to the bench forever. I'm not super coaching genius Mike Sullivan but that seems kinda like the easy way out.
Rust is in because of that contract. It would look awful if he scratched him after giving him that money.
What I originally came here to say and forgot was Hextall does deserve some credit for the Rakell deal. Dude has chemistry with Sid and plays both ends of the ice. Not bad for a 2nd & a mid prospect.
Gurglesons
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They don't need to scratch Rust. Scratch Heinen and put Rust on L3.
Sidney the Kidney
One last time
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Remove Rust from the top PP unit and stop forcing him onto Sid's line. That's literally all they have to do to show "accountability for all". Not scratch him, just those two things.
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I mean, that's completely fair to be honest. I was just thinking yesterday how quiet he's been.
It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to scratch Heinen for Kapanen for a game or two. That said though, I do like the McGinn-Carter-Heinen line. Perhaps one where the sum is greater than the individual parts.
Gurglesons
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That’s where you lose me. He’s proven that he’s not that player. He’s played there before with both the Pens and Leafs and he just doesn’t have the hockey IQ for it.
He’s best used as a 3rd/4th liner where his speed can take advantage of match ups. At this point the 2 years when he did produce at a top 6 level look to be the outliers.
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