Post-Game Talk: Pens vs Wild Loss: We miss you Flower

[Will Hunting]

Can we discuss ice time distribution? Jesse Puljujarvi was used for seven shifts tonight, according to NHL.com. Seven shifts. A game that we trailed for much of it. His ice time tonight was 04:58. We were down a goal late, Michael Bunting was on the ice, he was minus-3 tonight. Anthony Beauvillier, who was minus-3 and took a brutal penalty that would have gotten Puljujarvi waived had it been him, was also on the ice late.

When we say that a coaching change won't change everything, it's true. It won't. But can we try it and see?

It is disgusting what has happened to my team.

Puljujarvi usage is honestly the biggest mystery to me. Guy has been very promising, yet Sullivan is actively ruining his spark and confidence. It´s disgusting. But keeping this clown behind the bench is the best we can do for tanking. Doesn´t matter they don´t want to tank on purpose, the reality is that they are maximazing the chance for lottery ticket. But Sullivan needs to be FIRED THE SECOND THIS SEASON ENDS.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I'm genuinely curious as to whether or not there's a clause in Sullivan's extension that says he gets paid whether he's hired elsewhere or not. Like, it's the only thing I can think of regarding why the team and those on the inside always say his job is 100% safe regardless of how bad this team looks.

His contract is still less than a drop in the bucket for Investor Team Bravo™ but I have no idea, man. It's wild.

 

[Turin]

I for one think we still are ass even with a mid season coaching change hypothetically

Chances are yes, but what’s the risk?

Meanwhile there would be a good chance they might lose in a different way finally.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Not only do they need to be rid of this stench behind the bench, but they need to hire the complete antithesis of this coaching staff and system. Like, whatever Mike Sullivan believes, do the opposite George Costanza style.

Something like hiring Phil Kessel to coach the team.

Team's already about as bad defensively as I've seen a Penguins team be since guys like JS Aubin were in net. f*** it. Might as well.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

I for one think we still are ass even with a mid season coaching change hypothetically

We will never know.

 

[Malkinstheman]

Please fire Sullivan. GIVE US STUFF TO TALK ABOUT

You will get 3 more years of Sullivan and you will love it

 

[vodeni]

I was wrong: it wasn’t an EK pass to nowhere that would do us in with the game on the line…it was a Letang pass to nowhere lol

This team never got close to setting up in the Wild zone or putting a shot on MAF with the goalie pulled…

It’s in their DNA now, just around the wall and pray that the opposing team is stupid and won’t close the wall, but they don’t realize that they are the only team that suck in that

 

[Jag68Sid87]

I'm genuinely curious as to whether or not there's a clause in Sullivan's extension that says he gets paid whether he's hired elsewhere or not. Like, it's the only thing I can think of regarding why the team and those on the inside always say his job is 100% safe regardless of how bad this team looks.

His contract is still less than a drop in the bucket for Investor Team Bravo™ but I have no idea, man. It's wild.

If you were pals with the owners, you too would have complete autonomy and immunity.

 

[Malkinstheman]

"The players don't know what to do and theres not really a system in place but coaching isn't the issue"

Has everyone lost their damn minds? What exactly are Sullivan's job responsibilities if nothing is ever his fault

 

[BillyOcean]

At least Rakell is improving his trade value?

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

If you were pals with the owners, you too would have complete autonomy and immunity.

I mean, I guess. Dude must be exceptional at bullshitting corporate interviews, though billionaires tend to be f***ing dumb enough to be enthralled by jingling keys.

 

[Coastal Kev]

Puljujarvi usage is honestly the biggest mystery to me. Guy has been very promising, yet Sullivan is actively ruining his spark and confidence. It´s disgusting. But keeping this clown behind the bench is the best we can do for tanking. Doesn´t matter they don´t want to tank on purpose, the reality is that they are maximazing the chance for lottery ticket. But Sullivan needs to be FIRED THE SECOND THIS SEASON ENDS.

He did the exact same thing to Kap. Sprong had several games, one in which he looked great with Malkin and then...........poof... he was gone.

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

I for one think we still are ass even with a mid season coaching change hypothetically

We are, but he shouldn't be there anymore and we don't want him to be around the younger players that are there and about to come in via trades

 

[TooManyHumans]

I honestly don't care about Fleury anymore. I'm tired of celebrating the past.

 

[Victor Z]

I was hoping that Fleury would get the empty-net goal. And probably so was 3/4 of the crowd.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

He did the exact same thing to Kap. Sprong had several games, one in which he looked great with Malkin and then...........poof... he was gone.

There is a certain skill set that a hockey player has that Mike Sullivan never had as a player. It almost feels like it is his mission to destroy the one-way offensive winger.

He did it to Kessel. He did it to Sprong. He is doing it to Puljujarvi. There will be more.

I don't think we are asking too much with regards to Puljujarvi. He has arguably the sweetest hands on this team. When you are down two goals, MAYBE that is the time to play him? You know, offensive specialist. Like defensive specialist, only different. Because, you know, you need goals. You no longer need to prevent them when already down by two.

Is anything getting through Mike? Mike? Miiikkke?

 

[Turin]

There is a certain skill set that a hockey player has that Mike Sullivan never had as a player. It almost feels like it is his mission to destroy the one-way offensive winger.

He did it to Kessel. He did it to Sprong. He is doing it to Puljujarvi. There will be more.

I don't think we are asking too much with regards to Puljujarvi. He has arguably the sweetest hands on this team. When you are down two goals, MAYBE that is the time to play him? You know, offensive specialist. Like defensive specialist, only different. Because, you know, you need goals. You no longer need to prevent them when already down by two.

Is anything getting through Mike? Mike? Miiikkke?

Puljujarvi is the antithesis to Sprong. He is always decent defensively and gets in on the forecheck he just historically has no finish.

 

[Headshot77]

Just checked the standings. We are second last in the entire league and we've played more games than all but 2 other teams. We're cooked already.

Looking at the lineup tonight, I saw a 1st line, two 4th lines, and an AHL 1st line. Karlsson also was completely invisible.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

"Why bother? Team's done."

Because this guy fetishizes players like ZAR and Harkins, he said he wanted to fix EK's game after the dude posted 100pts as a blueliner, he said the team's best prospect in a decade needs to learn how to PK to succeed in this league, etc.

Get him outta here, man. It's not about the wins and losses. It's about a smug douche who probably reeks of burnt ass Dunkin coffee being held accountable for his role in torpedoing the franchise.

 

[Will Hunting]

He did the exact same thing to Kap. Sprong had several games, one in which he looked great with Malkin and then...........poof... he was gone.

We can go on and on and on and on. He did the same to Jared McCann too and many many others.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

Puljujarvi is the antithesis to Sprong. He is always decent defensively and gets in on the forecheck he just historically has no finish.

Yeah, but recent history suggests he is getting his finnish back, pardon the pun.

But it is clearly his fault that he did not make more with his less than 5 minutes of ice time tonight.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I'm still annoyed McG-Eller-Puljujarvi or McG-Eller-DOC isn't the permanent 3rd line. Eller's been very good with the younger guys, pretty much regardless of who it is. Seems to get the most out of 'em. But we've gotta dick around McG for three games, one on his off-wing, before sending him to WBS despite not actually being bad. He just simply didn't score and isn't a finished product, so off he goes.

 

[Ryder71]

This team blows. You can’t fix this without a coaching change.

That won't matter, this team needs to draft well, the on ice personnel isn't good regardless of the coach. It's better they are the 2003 or 1983 version and just build through the draft. Winning this game would only hurt them.

 

[Big McLargehuge]

I for one think we still are ass even with a mid season coaching change hypothetically

Not all losses are created equal. You can lose because you're less talented than the opposition or got outplayed on a given night, but losing because nobody looks like they know what the f*** they're supposed to be doing over and over again is unacceptable.

We're not losing hard-fought games, we're jumping out to a lead and wilting upon the slightest pushback and never recovering. Game after game, month after month, season after season.

There's a reason coaches never last this long in this damn league.

I wouldn't trade the successes we experienced to get out of this, but I do want this team to at least look like it knows what the f*** it's doing. This team looks as oblivious as it did under Mike Johnston, just older and slower. This is an 80 point roster that's heading towards a 60 point season...so maybe there's some merit in keeping Sullivan.

 

[Tacitus Kilgore]

Never like to see my favorite Team on a massive losing streak. But if it gets Ownership to put Sully on the hot seat, then so be it.

Bot post