Post-Game Talk: | Pens vs Sens | Loss | Pens 4 Refs 5

[Pancakes]

Jesus Christ this coach is a weak dick.

The guys are exhausted from generating 18 shots on net or whatever

 

[Gurglesons]

Bylsma's ace was the three headed monster with Kunitz, Crosby, Malkin, that was the ace he had. If anything Bylsma would juggle stuff far too much when things didn't work, but then would go back to status quo after a few games. Sullivan will almost exclusively do the same swaps only and then would only do changes based on injuries but would plug in new guys with the same usage as the previous player.

Bylsma also didn't destroy the bottom 6 with the kind of usage Sullivan utilizes, but both were stubborn assholes.

Sullivan used to run a line blender. Now we just ice the same exact shit night in and out and expect different results. It's bizarre. How many games have we won under GCR like 4?

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

The guys are exhausted from generating 18 shots on net or whatever

All the tantrums they were throwing while swinging their sticks around like a bunch of goofs must have really tired the poor little lambs out!

 

[SEALBound]

Bylsma's ace was the three headed monster with Kunitz, Crosby, Malkin, that was the ace he had. If anything Bylsma would juggle stuff far too much when things didn't work, but then would go back to status quo after a few games. Sullivan will almost exclusively do the same swaps only and then would only do changes based on injuries but would plug in new guys with the same usage as the previous player.

Bylsma also didn't destroy the bottom 6 with the kind of usage Sullivan utilizes, but both were stubborn assholes.

Bylsma also had Staal for several years. Then he had to put up with Sutter.

I'm not sure I fully agree with you on the first paragraph. I don't remember much willingness for Bylsma to switch up the lines. As I said, I think he was more limited in how he could do that since he didn't have the roster Sullivan has now. I do recall him starting Kunitz-Crosby-Glass on several occasions.

And you may have to expand on your last sentence...what is Sullivan doing to destroy the bottom 6 that Bylsma wasn't? Or any coach for that matter?

Sullivan used to run a line blender. Now we just ice the same exact shit night in and out and expect different results. It's bizarre. How many games have we won under GCR like 4?

Sullivan in the 2017 playoffs was a thing of beauty. It's really hard to even really peg what the true lines were given how much they changed.

His willingness to do it relatively early in 2016 playoffs is what made us.

He needs to go back to those ways. Jake started on the 4th line for the later part of Ottawa and Game 1/2 of Nashville. By the end, he was on the top line again.

 

[Pancakes]

Sullivan in the 2017 playoffs was a thing of beauty. It's really hard to even really peg what the true lines were given how much they changed.

His willingness to do it relatively early in 2016 playoffs is what made us.

Like any coach he'll make changes when he feels the heat of a playoff series loss coming.

But in the regular season he'll just patiently watch the ship take on water and assume that eventually GCR will fix it.

 

[Ugene Magic]

I have thought (and said) Zucker with Sid was a good idea ever since we traded for him. I will admit that Zucker and Geno have developed good chemistry, but I liked what I saw of Zucker on L1 a few seasons ago and I've always been stumped as to why Sullivan was so reluctant to try it again when we know Guentzel plays well on both L1 and L2.

Sure, as long as Sid is out and they are not sharing top minutes. Meaning Guentzel, Malkin, Rust. It also zapped their energy taking on the full load. Happens every time either one of them are out for extended time. When Geno comes back and L1 starts to falter.

Zucker is also only now being healthy enough and producing what they thought they'd get from him, and Guentzel is still the better player. Now, Rust is the guy who's not looking the part. Sid is still producing even though they are not having the best games. Malkin is still producing with Zucker and Rakell.

Rust is the weak link, and all 4 wingers are looking to pace for 50+ points. The team is pacing to have 4-30+ goal scorers, 6-20+ goal scorers.

Looks like defense and bottom 6 role players need to chime in more offensively, as does the defensive side of the top 6 to help out a seriously inadequate defensive corps. Every single year multiple players are out for a given position and the team suffers for it trying to fill voids.

It's hard to judge a team always missing different parts.

Kapanen wasn't brought here to be a bottom six winger, but he's been inconsistent and there is two players above him still better than him at RW. Kapanen also has played both wings. If there was a way to get Horvat and still keep Kapanen, I think a line of Kap, Horvat, Carter would/could be dangerous. Maybe that's Heinen, Horvat, Kapanen. Carter as the 4c.

I do know that would be the best group of centers down the middle probably all-time. Horvat can take on minutes that would see the team to never have their top centers over 20 minutes on a regular basis. The right guy can make a huge difference. I'd consider Horvat to be liken a Kunitz add and not so much a Kessel add, but at center. Horvat would also be a staple on the PP and there'd be 2 #1 units with all who can play on it.

Rakell, Crosby, Malkin
Guentzel, Letang

Zucker, Horvat, Carter
Rust, Petry

Also, Horvat is worth signing to a 8.0 contract and is of the age to do so. He'll turn 28 in April. I think the jolt of excitement and buzz around the team probably wouldn't be able to quantify both eternally, on the ice, and into the fan base.

This team kind of needs that kind of ejection into their ranks. At 5.5, the cost would be worth it no matter what the Pens had to pay.

Bylsma is laughable but at least he did things like double shift Crosby/Malkin on other lines and/or play them together when they needed offense. These days you get Big Jeff for nearly 17 minutes when they need offense.

One was decidedly more effective than the other.

EDIT: Canceling practices now huh? Pretty soon they will be vet optional like the Edzo days!

Crosby and Malkin are no longer 27 to 30 anymore.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

A big reason for Sullivan's success was also that he fully embraced and helped coach up a youth movement.

I don't even recognize that guy, now. I'm not saying Gruden is any great shakes necessarily but calling the guy up only to play him like 3 minutes or whatever isn't even worth the paperwork filed.

Crosby and Malkin are no longer 27 to 30 anymore.

Yeah I know. They're still playing 18+ minutes a night and it doesn't seem to be killing them. Divvy up how those minutes are deployed. Trying nothing aside from rolling your dumb lines that don't work when you NEED a goal is maddening.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

That didnt last long. Bylsma also mixed his lines up wayyyyy more during the game.

For better or worse Bylsma had all kinds of lines throughout the game.

Bylsma never hit this level of line stubborness.

Unless you have a hall of fame 500 goal scoring winger. Better put him on his off wing.

 

[SEALBound]

A big reason for Sullivan's success was also that he fully embraced and helped coach up a youth movement.

I don't even recognize that guy, now. I'm not saying Gruden is any great shakes necessarily but calling the guy up only to play him like 3 minutes or whatever isn't even worth the paperwork filed.

Yeah I know. They're still playing 18+ minutes a night and it doesn't seem to be killing them. Divvy up how those minutes are deployed. Trying nothing aside from rolling your dumb lines that don't work when you NEED a goal is maddening.

Yeah, even a guy like Kuhnhackl was getting a respectable 10-13min a night when he was called up in 2016. I can't imagine Gruden is any worse than him.

 

[Gurglesons]

A big reason for Sullivan's success was also that he fully embraced and helped coach up a youth movement.

I don't even recognize that guy, now. I'm not saying Gruden is any great shakes necessarily but calling the guy up only to play him like 3 minutes or whatever isn't even worth the paperwork filed.



Yeah I know. They're still playing 18+ minutes a night and it doesn't seem to be killing them. Divvy up how those minutes are deployed. Trying nothing aside from rolling your dumb lines that don't work when you NEED a goal is maddening.

My favorite part of Gruden getting called up was he "plays PK". Then we proceed to not play him on the PK. Like what is going on?

 

[vodeni]

Didn't watch again and I'm only on page 1 of this thread. But did anyone else point out that Gruden only got 3:20 and POJ 12:16? I know POJ is having a bit of a rough stretch but Ruhwedel got like 22 minutes.

probably got a response already...but POJ has been a real mess last 5-6 games, he was awful last night (I am his big fan!) maybe just hit that tough stride...and Gruden started the first PK, obviously looked lost, got scored on and I think benched after that...

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Yeah, even a guy like Kuhnhackl was getting a respectable 10-13min a night when he was called up in 2016. I can't imagine Gruden is any worse than him.

Kuhn is the exact reason I shake my head every time people are like "but we MUST spend 3-4M on <Depth Player X> -- who else can POSSIBLY do this job?!?"

My favorite part of Gruden getting called up was he "plays PK". Then we proceed to not play him on the PK. Like what is going on?

Can't take the shine off of PK stalwarts Ted "Theodore" Blueger and Big Jeff!

 

[ChaosAgent]

It could just be that he makes his line preferences known when the coaches talk to him and that's why they stubbornly stick to these combos against all sense.

Like I doubt Sid is saying give me xyz wingers or else. But probably Sullivan asks him for input his linemates and Sid says oh I think Rusty and Jake would go well with my game and there you have it.

I think that's all it is. It's not Sid demanding anything, it's coaches giving his opinions too much weight.

Or the alternative is that the coaching staff genuinely thinks these line combos are the best for the team and they aren't relying on Sid's opinion to inform those decisions.

But I don't particularly care why they're doing it. I just want them to stop and do something - anything - else

They have been putting Kapanen there after PKs. The line hasn't exactly been humming, although I'm guessing Kapanen gets nervous

Kuhn is the exact reason I shake my head every time people are like "but we MUST spend 3-4M on <Depth Player X> -- who else can POSSIBLY do this job?!?"



Can't take the shine off of PK stalwarts Ted "Theodore" Blueger and Big Jeff!

Double like for Kuhn comment. L4 should be hungry and cheap. Like it's stoned heading to White Castle

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

probably got a response already...but POJ has been a real mess last 5-6 games, he was awful last night (I am his big fan!) maybe just hit that tough stride...and Gruden started the first PK, obviously looked lost, got scored on and I think benched after that...

Yeah.

Meanwhile Big Jeff takes a double minor on a high stick that they score on both ends of and plays 17 (shitty) minutes.

Acoutabilibuddy.

 

[orby]

Also, Horvat is worth signing to a 8.0 contract and is of the age to do so. He'll turn 28 in April. I think the jolt of excitement and buzz around the team probably wouldn't be able to quantify both eternally, on the ice, and into the fan base.

This team kind of needs that kind of ejection into their ranks. At 5.5, the cost would be worth it no matter what the Pens had to pay.

I don't think the Pens have the assets to land Horvat in a trade.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Double like for Kuhn comment. L4 should be hungry and cheap. Like it's stoned heading to White Castle

Double like for the understanding that this is always how the fourth line should be.

I've never had White Castle

 

[ChaosAgent]

In fairness on Ruhwedel, we have no RD right now. I expect him to be scratched once we are healthy.

 

[vodeni]

I think it's that The core doesnt want to play a more defensive style, its not that they can't play D. They still want to run and gun like they are 25 and won't adjust to play different due to age.

The Bruins core is the same age as ours. Isn't their core and team devoted to a more defensive style because they are "older?" Look at their success and they're probably not running their bottom 6 to play just defense.

Maybe I'm wrong but I'm just echoing changes need to be made with coaching and I think Sid and Malkin need to be open to playing different than to be worn out at the end of year because of age

what run and gun, they are just standing watching skaters flying by them

 

[Gurglesons]

In fairness on Ruhwedel, we have no RD right now. I expect him to be scratched once we are healthy.

yeah I agree.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

No wiffle ball today I guess.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

In fairness on Ruhwedel, we have no RD right now. I expect him to be scratched once we are healthy.

My issue with Ruh isn't that he plays when the roster is beat up.

It's that he's been the go-to first option there since like the Carter administration.

 

[vodeni]

Yeah.

Meanwhile Big Jeff takes a double minor on a high stick that they score on both ends of and plays 17 (shitty) minutes.

Acoutabilibuddy.

Carter literally can't make a move like from a static position to the puck, he just stands and watch, thats why playing him on PK and defensive roles is mind boggling, he is still useful when he gets a swe strides and kind of gets momentum in the offensive zone, he would be a good back up to a 4th line winger

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Carter literally can't make a move like from a static position to the puck, he just stands and watch, thats why playing him on PK and defensive roles is mind boggling, he is still useful when he gets a swe strides and kind of gets momentum in the offensive zone, he would be a good back up to a 4th line winger

He started off the first 20-30 games OK but he seems to be quickly devolving.

 

[Ugene Magic]

I don't think the Pens have the assets to land Horvat in a trade.

They do, but do they want to? They want u24's.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

They do, but do they want to? They want u24's.

To do what with?

Send to the minors until they're 30 while occasionally calling them up to play like 5 minutes a night if they're lucky?