GDT: | Preseason Game #3 | Pens vs Wings | 1900hrs EST | The one where we ice our starting line up

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Willy had his snarky coffee this morning.

I just get a little weary this time of year... every single year... feeling like I must apologize for being excited about hockey and having the audacity to talk about it with likeminded people.

 

[jmelm]

DOC with the big boys tonight! Would love to see him get a game on 2nd line LW with Geno & Rust given that Heinen is out, but he'll probably end up with Poehling & Caggiula

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I dunno. I would say there is at least as good a chance that DOC gets some time in the top six as there is that Zucker/Malkin figure it out this time. So zero.

 

[vodeni]

I dunno. I would say there is at least as good a chance that DOC gets some time in the top six as there is that Zucker/Malkin figure it out this time. So zero.

or Zucker gets hurt in the first period...better odds?

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

or Zucker gets hurt in the first period...better odds?

He's had some terrible luck in that department so I sincerely hope he turns it around there this year and can be the contributor he CAN be...

...on the third line.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I just get a little weary this time of year... every single year... feeling like I must apologize for being excited about hockey and having the audacity to talk about it with likeminded people.

On one hand, I kinda don't give a shit either. At most, I'm watching with baited breath hoping nobody gets injured. Also, team's set in stone cuz the FO is super stoked to run it back yet again with minimal changes--at least up front--and there ain't much in the way of prospects/young guys to challenge for jobs that matter. On the other, it's f***in' hockey.

I'll be way more stoked for camp/pre-season stuff when the team's rebuilding. I'm actually excited to follow along the development of guys who project to be actual significant impact players.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I'll be way more stoked for camp/pre-season stuff when the team's rebuilding. I'm actually excited to follow along the development of guys who project to be actual significant impact players.

Same here. That's another reason to like this time of year. Perhaps none of these guys are significant players (likely) but you never know. And it's a lot easier to see a breakout coming if you follow along camp and preseason. Sometimes it's just a matter of opportunity. Even some of our lowly prospects have enough raw talent to make it.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Same here. That's another reason to like this time of year. Perhaps none of these guys are significant players (likely) but you never know. And it's a lot easier to see a breakout coming if you follow along camp and preseason. Sometimes it's just a matter of opportunity. Even some of our lowly prospects have enough raw talent to make it.

Fwiw, I'd be entirely fine, if not happy, running a 4th line of like Zoho-DOC-Puustinen and letting them work their way into the NHL game and up the lineup throughout the season. But we gotta have vet grunts, cuz NHL.

 

[Gurglesons]

Same here. That's another reason to like this time of year. Perhaps none of these guys are significant players (likely) but you never know. And it's a lot easier to see a breakout coming if you follow along camp and preseason. Sometimes it's just a matter of opportunity. Even some of our lowly prospects have enough raw talent to make it.

Camp has been fun this year. Poehling, Smith, Poulin, POJ, etc. we have a bunch of young, fun players on the cusp.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Young guys with a lot to prove vs veterans going out for a skate. Could go either way really, that's preseason.

 

[Gurglesons]

Petry looks like Matheson lol

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Fwiw, I'd be entirely fine, if not happy, running a 4th line of like Zoho-DOC-Puustinen and letting them work their way into the NHL game and up the lineup throughout the season. But we gotta have vet grunts, cuz NHL.

I've been saying to do this for years. Many would claim this is folly because something something vet leadership, something something it's actually not that easy and something something penalty killers. But meh... it's the fourth line, man. The difference between any farm system's top level AHL guys and the NHL club's fourth liners is more or less infinitesimal in the vast majority of cases, I promise.

Camp has been fun this year. Poehling, Smith, Poulin, POJ, etc. we have a bunch of young, fun players on the cusp.

For sure. I've really been enjoying it. Stakes seem a little more real for a change.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I've been saying to do this for years. Many would claim this is folly because something something vet leadership, something something it's actually not that easy and something something penalty killers. But meh... it's the fourth line, man. The difference between any farm system's top level AHL guys and the NHL club's fourth liners is more or less infinitesimal in the vast majority of cases, I promise.



For sure. I've really been enjoying it. Stakes seem a little more real for a change.

Nothing makes me roll my eyes until I blackout quite like the over exaggerated importance of veteran leadership (on a team chock full of 35+ year old core players no less) and PK "specialists".

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Nothing makes me roll my eyes until I blackout quite like the over exaggerated importance of veteran leadership (on a team chock full of 35+ year old core players no less) and PK "specialists".

The overwhelming absolute necessity for everyone to be ace in the faceoff circle or they're useless also makes me doze off. Like every 1 in 4 faceoffs in actual game situations is critical. And you can have a guy for that.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

The overwhelming absolute necessity for everyone to be ace in the faceoff circle or they're useless also makes me doze off. Like every 1 in 4 faceoffs in actual game situations is critical. And you can have a guy for that.

Philly were 6th at faceoffs.
Finished 29th in the standings.

 

[Gurglesons]

Nothing makes me roll my eyes until I blackout quite like the over exaggerated importance of veteran leadership (on a team chock full of 35+ year old core players no less) and PK "specialists".

Then you look at Colorado who won with Cogs, Helm and Jack Johnson in bottom pairing and line roles and wonder if it’s true..

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Philly were 6th at faceoffs.
Finished 29th in the standings.

Thank you. I know I've read recent studies about this, too.

Worth noting that Philly is run by a bunch of dino-brains, too. They probably placed emphasis on being "strong in the circle." Congrats... it "worked!"

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Thank you. I know I've read recent studies about this, too.

Worth noting that Philly is run by a bunch of dino-brains, too. They probably placed emphasis on being "strong in the circle." Congrats... it "worked!"

I think it matters with special teams a lot, but ES is pretty meh most of the time.
Better to have it than not I guess...

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

I'm going to make the easiest prediction ever for this game: ZMR flies around wow-ing everyone to the tune of exactly 0 goals and a -2 rating as a line. But they'll have a bunch of weak-ass shots on goal and their special numbers will look special.

I have some confidence in the Malkin-Rust combo but that sure sounds like a Zucker special.

 

[Gurglesons]

The thing with face offs and I think defensive metrics that we see in analytics is they are very valuable in small samples but over an 82 game season I think they are meaningless.

Malkin and Crosby are a perfect example. If they get lit up in a 3 goal game defensively in January it enters that sample.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I think it matters with special teams a lot, but ES is pretty meh most of the time.
Better to have it than not I guess...

Oh sure... I of course PREFER if everyone is good at it. But when people start to harp on it or use it as a wedge issue to try propping up some garbo player I just have to kinda check out.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Great to see Rakell getting a shot on Crosby's line too.

 

[Gurglesons]

Great to see Rakell getting a shot on Crosby's line too.

I think Kessel is going to do big things for you this year.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I have some confidence in the Malkin-Rust combo but that sure sounds like a Zucker special.

Yeah this will at least ensure they are only down one man when the hit the O-zone instead of down two. I'll take it.

 

[Tasty Biscuits]

I bet the Penguins find a way to lose this one haha

W/e just no injuries and I'm fine.