Pittsburgh Sports Media Gibberish - Part IX

[Fordy]

Holy ***** people can turn a whole bunch of nothing into whatever they want to hear. Jesus christ you people. Perspective.

did you watch his interview after the first time he was scratched? listen to his tone

 

[Ugene Magic]

did you watch his interview after the first time he was scratched? listen to his tone

It's going to be different when you don't expect it.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

Those quotes by Beau are not good. That proves, right there, our locker room is more divided than we will ever know. You can tell he doesn't agree with the coaching staff and young guys probably feel the same way. They are probably uber pissed that Adams gets to play every night.

Definitely not good.

I didn't get that sense.

The things I got out of that interview are:

- he was in fact benched for the few bad games, which is ********.

- BB feels the same as us, that he can't correct his mistakes from the bench and needs to get in a rhythm. Obvious stuff, but not to his coach I suppose.

 

[Koempel]

I can understand benching a young guy for one game to send a message, benching him for three games is a bit much, especially considering the other players on this team. Bennett should be pissed, hopefully this will help him in the game against the Canucks.

 

[Iffyiffiffer]

Kovacevic:

"They’re very much set on a healthy Blake Comeau being ‘the best possible acquisition we could make at the deadline,’ as one executive told me"

Uh oh.

"Kunitz is not a lock to stay on the top line. No, not even after this night."

Oh? It sounds like the preference though.

" He’s stayed alongside Sidney Crosby in large part because Crosby appreciates that Kunitz understands his style better than anyone"

ehhhh...


"the coaches see this as a pivotal period for Kunitz, these next couple of weeks. If they don’t like what happens, based on what I was told in definitive terms, they’ll drop him to a lower line, and they’ll do so without apology. I say the latter because, while all concerned recognize that Kunitz is 35 and won’t possess the quickness he once did, they also wanted to see a conditioning adjustment to his age last summer. They apparently didn’t. That’s not to suggest Kunitz came into camp in substandard shape. He absolutely did not. But more and/or different work is needed with age, especially when the sluggish playoff last spring had raised such a glaring red flag, and that clearly didn’t happen to the coaches’ satisfaction."

Lazy?

"earlier in the day, Johnston met individually with the members of the Crosby line. In the morning, he’d described that as a couple of those players coming to him to talk about why they should stay together despite some recent flatness — the coach didn’t identify which players — but he later downplayed it as something of a strategic session."

Just shot and able to reach into his youth temporarily for a game or just usually lazy when not challenged to not be?

"What it could mean beyond this game is that cap-strapped Jim Rutherford might not need to find a top-six winger, whether Jagr or anyone else. That’s absolutely his preference, and not just because of the money squeeze. It’s also, for what it’s worth, the preference of the coaching staff and the locker room, where the sentiment is unmistakable that the needed scoring wingers are already in the fold."

Meh!

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

Kovacevic:

"They’re very much set on a healthy Blake Comeau being ‘the best possible acquisition we could make at the deadline,’ as one executive told me"

Uh oh.

"Kunitz is not a lock to stay on the top line. No, not even after this night."

Oh? It sounds like the preference though.

" He’s stayed alongside Sidney Crosby in large part because Crosby appreciates that Kunitz understands his style better than anyone"

ehhhh...


"the coaches see this as a pivotal period for Kunitz, these next couple of weeks. If they don’t like what happens, based on what I was told in definitive terms, they’ll drop him to a lower line, and they’ll do so without apology. I say the latter because, while all concerned recognize that Kunitz is 35 and won’t possess the quickness he once did, they also wanted to see a conditioning adjustment to his age last summer. They apparently didn’t. That’s not to suggest Kunitz came into camp in substandard shape. He absolutely did not. But more and/or different work is needed with age, especially when the sluggish playoff last spring had raised such a glaring red flag, and that clearly didn’t happen to the coaches’ satisfaction."

Lazy?

"earlier in the day, Johnston met individually with the members of the Crosby line. In the morning, he’d described that as a couple of those players coming to him to talk about why they should stay together despite some recent flatness — the coach didn’t identify which players — but he later downplayed it as something of a strategic session."

Just shot and able to reach into his youth temporarily for a game or just usually lazy when not challenged to not be?

"What it could mean beyond this game is that cap-strapped Jim Rutherford might not need to find a top-six winger, whether Jagr or anyone else. That’s absolutely his preference, and not just because of the money squeeze. It’s also, for what it’s worth, the preference of the coaching staff and the locker room, where the sentiment is unmistakable that the needed scoring wingers are already in the fold."

Meh!

Just kind of funny at this point I guess.

But BB now... better not be having those 3 game bad stretches... not when the coach needs a scapegoat.

 

[madinsomniac]

I keep saying its not intelligent to put that many eggs in the no more top 6 winger basket.
I like Comeau, but we are talking about a guy who has never even gone a full season producing at the same level keeping up a pace where he is shooting 15.5% instead of his career average that was 5% lower, and a guy who has had huge defensive meltdowns in his game as he tries to force offense in the past. To say its risky to count heavily on him down the stretch and into the playoffs is an understatement. he deserves the chjance, but we best have an option B ready.
Then lets talk Kunitz. He is 35 and we already know they are worried about him being able to keep pace during the less stringent regular season...
And lets totally not plan for injury either.. cause this team is certainly not injury prone.

I am not sold on anyone outside of Bennett as a top 6 guy. I think Spaling and downieshould be chained to the third and frankly I would rather them be down on the 4th. I do not want sill and Adams both dressed for the playoffs. one we can carry, but not two.
I think Rust or Wilson might have bottom six promise, but not for these playoffs. I know they would rather make the big trades at the draft, but adding at least one borderline top 6 guy is not a bad idea at all... it doesn't have to be a long term fix guy or star... find the one that can be had for a low draft pick or a borderline prospect... they are out there every year

 

[Captain Hook]

Yeah, I wouldn't put all my eggs in the current top 6 winger basket either. I think they'd be wise to add another top 6 capable forward as insurance no matter what. It just can't be some butter soft winger that can't help on a lower line if the current crop are getting the job done.

 

[Joejosh999]

Wait, what?
Didn't DK tell us only yesterday that per the coaches KCP was a lock going forward?
I can't keep up anymore.

 

[cheesedanish87]

Wait, what?
Didn't DK tell us only yesterday that per the coaches KCP was a lock going forward?
I can't keep up anymore.

Here is DK article on Friday

http://dkonpittsburghsports.com/2015/02/06/friday-insider-time-running-low-trade-plan/

And to that end, I’m told — definitively, I might add — that the plan will be to flank Sidney Crosby with Chris Kunitz and Perron, his current linemates, and Evgeni Malkin with Patric Hornqvist and Comeau.

Here is DK article on Saturday


http://dkonpittsburghsports.com/2015/02/07/column-kunitz-must-mirage/


• Kunitz is not a lock to stay on the top line. No, not even after this night

 

[Winger for Hire]

Genius move... whatever happens he can point to the correct article and say, "Look, I told you this was coming all long." Perfect CYA move to pander to the yinzers and gain their trust.

Is it too much to ask for just one decent hockey writer??

 

[mpp9]

It's frustrating seeing Kunitz just given things, but that's how it is when you're best friends with Sid. The coaches are going to give Sid some freedom to choose who he plays with.

I still have confidence that JR will bring in another winger, and MJ/Tocchet will drop Kunitz down the depth chart if he doesn't build on his game last night.

I just don't see Kunitz having that extra gear in the playoffs anymore.

 

[Joejosh999]

Most interesting bit was (presumably) KC going to MJ to plead their case to stay together.
Cos it's not Perron who's been flat...
Anyway I think it's all talk,to put forward the notion that vets might be held accountable.
If Kunitz is ass the next few games and still is anchored to Sid, then we'll know it was BS.

 

[SHOOTANDSCORE]

Thought you guys might get a kick out of this

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

Most interesting bit was (presumably) KC going to MJ to plead their case to stay together.
Cos it's not Perron who's been flat...
Anyway I think it's all talk,to put forward the notion that vets might be held accountable.
If Kunitz is ass the next few games and still is anchored to Sid, then we'll know it was BS.

You mean the guy who has like 8 goals since he became a Pen and has been playing outstanding hockey, wouldn't be one of the guys?

This takes some real pro like sleuth skills to solve...

 

[WheresRamziAbid]

did you watch his interview after the first time he was scratched? listen to his tone

I don't care about his tone. I hope he's disappointed and I hope he is mad as hell. I hope when he gets a chance he wants to shove it right up everyone's collective *sses.

I hope every hockey player feels that way when scratched from Bennett to Ebbett.

 

[Joejosh999]

You mean the guy who has like 8 goals since he became a Pen and has been playing outstanding hockey, wouldn't be one of the guys?

This takes some real pro like sleuth skills to solve...

Never said it was a difficult jump. Chill bro.

 

[Lomez]

Why do you guys even evaluate this crap, let alone endeavor to glean significance from the petty, low-brow, and uniformed reportage you find in the Pittsburgh media? This reads like a bunch of gossipy middle school girls taking about their friends and rivals. No offense intended, of course.

 

[Joejosh999]

Sadly, it's all we have.
No truly good hockey writers in this town. DK or Molinari could be best and if that's not a low bar, dunno what is.

 

[Lomez]

Sadly, it's all we have.
No truly good hockey writers in this town. DK or Molinari could be best and if that's not a low bar, dunno what is.

Molinari is, IMHO, the only guy worth paying attention to. He's been around a long time and generally just reports. Everyone else, literally, is a moron.

 

[Speaking Moistly]

I see that the Pittsburgh media is at work.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

Never said it was a difficult jump. Chill bro.

 

[Shrimper]

Dejan is the best to me. Don't know about you guys.

 

[Waffle Fries]

Dejan is the best to me. Don't know about you guys.

Molinari is the best. Molinari is the only one I have any respect for.

DK likes to sensationalize stories or play both sides of them for clicks (see above). Everyone liked him last year because he was the only one openly criticizing Bylsma.

 

[MrBurghundy]

Dejan is the best to me. Don't know about you guys.

He's just as much of a piece of trash reporter as the rest. He just disguises it better.