DK retweeted this from someone else. It's a rather harsh reality about the Penguins:
http://avoidtheclap.com/2015/02/08/the-penguins-vs-reality/
http://avoidtheclap.com/2015/02/08/the-penguins-vs-reality/
Pittsburgh Sports Media Gibberish - Part IX
- Thread starter Randy Butternubs
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Randy Butternubs
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Night Shift
Registered User
good read, leaving me a little more optimistic than I have been (not this year, I think we already know where this team is headed this year) but after this year maybe things will start getting better.
EVGENIMERLIN
Registered User
Agreed. While I would like to see this Bennett fiasco end, it's nice to see Despres, Pouliot get a chance, see Harrington practice etc. Definitely a few bodies who need to be shipped out, so either March 2nd or the offseason/draft we can address a few more issues and end up with a lot of cap space.
Can't help but continue to feel that something is really wrong with this organization. BB wasn't that bad and it was only for a few games... nearly every other forward has been worse even longer. What's the difference? Youth. This regime stinks of the last one and there is so much they've changed. Can't help but be concerned.
BB needs confidence, not scratches. Anybody who doesn't see potential in this kid is stupid. Not saying he's a sure thing, but he's proven that he has potential and is injury prone. If he's not injured, play him.
BB needs confidence, not scratches. Anybody who doesn't see potential in this kid is stupid. Not saying he's a sure thing, but he's proven that he has potential and is injury prone. If he's not injured, play him.
Sidney the Kidney
One last time
- Jun 29, 2009
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I'd have more faith in things turning around in the future if I saw some improvements from Johnston in the way he handles the roster versus the way Bylsma did. Johnston hasn't changed the culture of this club at all -- the veterans still get passes while the youngsters get benched -- so I'm less optimistic about how the team will perform the following season and beyond.
For me to have had faith in Johnston, and believe he was actually going to change things, he would have had to a]push Kunitz down to the 3rd line permanently due to his play, b]*At most* play Scuderi as the 6th guy, instead of him getting more minutes than Despres most nights, c]Stop ****ing playing Craig Adams, and d]Healthy scratches are for EVERYONE who is playing poorly, not just the youngsters.
Johnston's failed in all four of those categories.
Funny enough, I'm happy with the job JR's done so far. He brought in a better bottom six, he added Perron (his real coup), and he actually drafted a talented European forward in last year's first round. But Johnston still leaves a lot to be desired. And that's not even touching on how sloppy his team has looked a lot of games these past 2 or 3 months.
Honour Over Glory
Blomqvist for Vezina + ROTY
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Honour Over Glory
Blomqvist for Vezina + ROTY
- Jan 30, 2012
- 81,332
- 45,748
Johnston and Bennett have a friendship beyond the team before he joined the Pens, if he sees something wrong in Beau and feels this can kick him into gear, we should probably trust the guy that has done coaching as his career and forget more about coaching than we will ever ever eeeeeever learn.
And he's right.
Quennville was just a really good regular season coach and nothing else until Chicago.
Babcock was just a decent coach until Detroit.
Vigneault had his team unglued in the Boston series and kept having regular season success until he didn't and the team fired him, goes on to have success with the Rangers quickly.
So many other examples.
You have to give these guys time.
Johnston hasn't even had a full ****ing season and we're panicking (My lame ass included with the rest of you lame *****).
MrBurghundy
I may be older but I'm never forgetting #47 & #41
Pretty poorly written and just bashes the old regime without any direction to support why this is a lost season for the most part. Even though I agree with the general tone, I don't think its that good of an article. Certainly nothing in there to convince me to feel good about the future.
All he basically said was, Bylsma and Shero suck ass. Rutherford and Johnston may or may not be good, but we'll eventually find out. The end.
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Speaking Moistly
What a terrible image.
SwordofStMichael
Registered User
- Apr 4, 2013
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Back Checking The Pens
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on 93.7 the Fan
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Penguins defenseman
Derrick Pouliot
Monday, 9 Feb, 6pm
Winger for Hire
Praise Beebo
mikethelegacy
formerly mikelegacy
The article is...okay...?
I mean, I agree with most of what's said, but I still can't excuse HCMJ for some of the crap he's done this year. It's ridiculous on a Bylsma-level.
I also don't agree that this team can't be built into a contender quite quickly. We aren't the Edmonton Oilers or the Sabres. We have a few bad contracts lingering, but this team was pretty much washed out in the offseason, and rebuilt. A lot of the pieces are there, we just need 1 or 2 more (not including getting Comeau back). Once we are fully healthy and make 1 or 2 more personnel changes, I think we are gonna be a serious force to be reckoned with. Especially now that Fleury is playing so well.
I mean, I agree with most of what's said, but I still can't excuse HCMJ for some of the crap he's done this year. It's ridiculous on a Bylsma-level.
I also don't agree that this team can't be built into a contender quite quickly. We aren't the Edmonton Oilers or the Sabres. We have a few bad contracts lingering, but this team was pretty much washed out in the offseason, and rebuilt. A lot of the pieces are there, we just need 1 or 2 more (not including getting Comeau back). Once we are fully healthy and make 1 or 2 more personnel changes, I think we are gonna be a serious force to be reckoned with. Especially now that Fleury is playing so well.
themethod7
Registered User
Well, he at least got this part right:
No one wants to see BB as a permanent fixture in the top-6 more than I do, the hatred for Craig Adams' immunity to being benched is warranted, and on and on, but give me a break - at some point you have to accept the fact that you have a rookie head coach and he's going to make decisions you disagree with, BFD.
Shaftception
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- Apr 6, 2011
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Nothing directed towards you, this quote is just a useful summary to bounce off of. So before the season started a majority acknowledged and were satisfied with the notion that it would take more than one season to retool the team to get back to being a realistic contender again. Adjusting to a new system with a rookie coach, still saddled with aging expensive contracts, and lack of experience for the young D. Now, half way through the season, everyone's back to win now, stars exiting their prime's, couple trades and they're dandy mentalities again.
What aspect of all the drubbings at the hands of the actual good teams they've played this season leads anyone to believe they're a quick rebuild with a couple roster changes away from being a "legitimate" contender again? Giving up 4/5/6 goals against the Isles/Rangers/Capitals/Predators/Canucks/Flyers (laugh), being shutout what 6 times already, go down the list. Matchups are everything in the playoffs, regardless of regular season records, and all this is happening mostly against the teams they'll have to somehow beat in the divisional rounds. Outside of the first few weeks of the season, almost every team with either a strong physical forecheck or a fast transition has embarrassed them, it's a pattern not an outlier. Either there's a flaw in Johnston's system (probably, defending behind their goal for one), the roster is flawed (definitely), or both. 1 or 2 players swapped out for better isn't going to magically solve the 4-0, 4-1, 5-0, 6-3 drubbings by the Rangers/Isles/Capitals/etc., 3 of which they're almost assured to face in the first round unless they sandbag it back to a wildcard position and hope to play the Atlantic winner. Beau Brittle being sat isn't going to be the difference in those matchups, no matter how dumb Johnston's treatment of him may seem. And go ask the Isles (who've run Pitt out of the building ever since the back to back weekend) how big a savior Blake 4th line Comeau is going to be.
You'll all be a lot less disappointed if you accept the reality that unless they're pulling an Orpik and saving all their energy and effort for the playoffs, they aren't winning this year, probably not even next year. Best you could hope for is seeing progress in the development of the younger players and maybe a sign that the 2 stars can show up in the playoffs once again, build towards next year when they might be able to finally get the bad contracts off their books and truly retool for the next few seasons. Babcock isn't happening, so get used to Johnston for atleast another year. It'll be a lot more enjoyable.
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mikethelegacy
formerly mikelegacy
I've watched hockey long enough to know that teams can "click" at any moment. This isn't a bad team we have. It's a very good team playing bad hockey. I'd much rather have the latter.
There are definitely some major concerns about the make-up and attitude of this team, I'm not debating that.
I think this post is a near perfect summation of my feelings as well. I do however think that there is hope for significant progress this year. At this point, its obvious that some massive weaknesses are inherent in the system as they are current playing it. If, and I know its a big if, they can find a way to shore-up those flaws and get the power play working even just decently again, I think that will go a long way towards making that progress we were all hoping for.
I do agree however that between the already existing problems with the roster, to say nothing of the sheer amount of turnover, quirks of a new system being implemented, and some odd personnel decisions that the idea of this team being a contender this season seem rather far fetched.
Shaftception
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You're certainly right in that there's examples you can point to from past years of teams playing badly through the regular season making a run in the playoffs, "getting hot at the right time", the Kings and Pens being recent examples. But the Kings added major pieces in Carter and Richards that season to fill out their already deep lineup and defensive system, that was a team built for the playoffs who added what they needed to win. The 09 pens are the biggest outlier of any cup winner after the lockout regarding play style, and that took the league still relatively calling more penalties back then, a coaching change, the 2 stars both putting up 30+ points, and not facing 1 defensive style team until the finals, where their scoring promptly dropped compared to the previous 3 rounds. That team like most cup winners was healthy and more importantly got extremely lucky in their matchups on the way to the finals, not exactly something you can plan on replicating with ease going forward.
I think it's a lot more logical to base one's expectations for the future on the to this point bad matchups against the teams they're almost guaranteed to play in the divisional rounds, then on the hope they're sandbagging until the start of the playoffs. We'll eventually find out, but I'm betting I'll be less disappointed by the result then most.
Asuna
Lvl 94 Sub-Leader
Exactly, which is why I always find it odd when people keep comparing this year's (and probably future) team to the 09 version. Shouldn't really want to replicate that team.
madinsomniac
Registered User
I think if we give up on Bennett we will regret it in time. the guy is three years from his prime. he has played less than 70 NHL games and rarely above the third line.
Adjusting his production to minutes played he has outproduced some of the established top 6 wingers first 70 games and done so without playing much on the PP or with real talented players. I think we are expecting a ton from him, but not realizing that a bit of patience might save us from losing another really good winger for a fraction of his worth.
I mean if Kane were healthy and the deal was Bennett + a vet for him, then sure you move the 23 year old injury prone player for the more established injury prone player, but we aren't that far off from the Winnipeg debate over whether Kane was a true top 6 forward where it was determined he was right around the middle of the pack for top 6 wingers.... I think the number crunchers put him around 40-50 among all wingers in total production. This guy isn't a star. he isn't worth 3 first round picks. He is the kind of guy we need, but there are way better netfront guys to get than a sub 10% shooter with locker room issues.
put Bennett, Doumulin and a 1st up for bid and see what it brings back if you must, but don't just overpay for a sexy name young winger just for the sake of making a change or we will have nasland 2.0 type regret in time
Adjusting his production to minutes played he has outproduced some of the established top 6 wingers first 70 games and done so without playing much on the PP or with real talented players. I think we are expecting a ton from him, but not realizing that a bit of patience might save us from losing another really good winger for a fraction of his worth.
I mean if Kane were healthy and the deal was Bennett + a vet for him, then sure you move the 23 year old injury prone player for the more established injury prone player, but we aren't that far off from the Winnipeg debate over whether Kane was a true top 6 forward where it was determined he was right around the middle of the pack for top 6 wingers.... I think the number crunchers put him around 40-50 among all wingers in total production. This guy isn't a star. he isn't worth 3 first round picks. He is the kind of guy we need, but there are way better netfront guys to get than a sub 10% shooter with locker room issues.
put Bennett, Doumulin and a 1st up for bid and see what it brings back if you must, but don't just overpay for a sexy name young winger just for the sake of making a change or we will have nasland 2.0 type regret in time
I think people (me included) are too hung up on Bennett because he was our only offensive prospect for a very long time and we really want him succeed in the NHL, that said if you can exchange him for someone like Kane you do it.
Winger for Hire
Praise Beebo
Agreed. If you can keep him and get Kane, awesome. If you have to include him to get Kane, you have to do it.
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