Turin
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- Feb 27, 2018
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Pretty identical stats to Rust so far, I think he might be a similar player to Rust pre-2020 glow up.
AHL: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins: '24-'25 The Players Sully Hates
- Thread starter Zirakzigil
- Start date
Randy Butternubs
FDJT
Hell yeah, Poulin with the hatty
Gurglesons
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Big Friggin Dummy
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- Feb 22, 2019
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I think you're probably getting a third wheel, do all the little things kinda guy in McG if he pans out well. Doubt he ever hits legit top line level, but probably a middle 6 dude who can work in all situations and gets by on his smarts more so than skill or frame.
Honour Over Glory
#firesully
- Jan 30, 2012
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Honour Over Glory
#firesully
- Jan 30, 2012
- 82,366
- 46,702
I hope when Sullivan is fired at the end of the season that they make sure they hang on to Kirk MacDonald, if another team tries to poach him, promote his ass to Assistant Coach to the new Pens coach.
Then promote Nick Luukko as the WBS coach to replace Kirk.
Then promote Nick Luukko as the WBS coach to replace Kirk.
He won't be a play driver but he'll rack up some points next to good playmakers
Dipsy Doodle
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DesertedPenguin
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- Mar 11, 2007
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I would tap the brakes a bit. MacDonald is using Sullivan's system.
WBS uses the same concepts and style of play so that players don't have to learn a new scheme when they arrive in the NHL.
I'm not sure we can learn much of anything just yet of MacDonald. The early signs are positive, but it'll be more telling when we see how prepared/unprepared prospects are when they reach the NHL level, how well the team performs in the playoffs, and if he can consistently help develop players.
He has a promising resume and reputation, but the ECHL and USHL are different than NHL/AHL.
What do people thik we do with Pickering next year? Do we leave him in the AHL to see if he can develop a bit of the offensive side of his game? And which propsects do we have joining WBS next season? Just Finn Harding or is Tanner Howe eligible too.
OtherThingsILike
Registered User
Pieniniemi will be AHL-eligible next season. I believe Howe will also be; I think he has an earlier birthday than a lot of other prospects.
It's possible Mikhail Ilyin will come over next season.
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Don’t let people tell you otherwise but that’s what he was drafted to be. The idea he could be some 3rd line penalty killer didn’t start until he got here.
Go check some of his scouting reports. They talk about his scoring, not his penalty killing.
McGroarty2
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Another team will probably hire MacDonald because Sully isn't going anywhere.
Empoleon8771
Registered User
I think the struggles that guys like Bemstrom and Ponomarev have had in the NHL after having great AHL seasons make me a bit more hesitant to predict NHL upside based on AHL stats. Both of those guys are having really strong AHL seasons but looked completely ineffective in the NHL.
I think the thing that needs to be looked at more is skillset, in that whether these guys have notable attributes that is causing them to have success in the AHL. Someone like Poulin is doing fairly well in the AHL, but I don't see anything in his game that really screams "NHL contributor". I'm really concerned Ponomarev falls in that category as well. On the other side of that, McGroarty's super high hockey IQ stands out and his all around game is great that I think he's an extremely safe bet to be at least a good 3rd line caliber player. I think Koivunen also has some noticeable traits with his skill and hands that make me think he's more likely to have success in the NHL.
The good thing with Broz is that I've really liked what I've seen from Broz when I've seen him, but I want to see more of him myself to get a better idea of what NHL traits he has. If he's just a generally good player without any notable traits, I'd be worried that his upside is capped as just a good AHLer/fringe NHLer. I'm also super interested in seeing Hayes, that stat line as a 21 year old is super impressive.
I think the thing that needs to be looked at more is skillset, in that whether these guys have notable attributes that is causing them to have success in the AHL. Someone like Poulin is doing fairly well in the AHL, but I don't see anything in his game that really screams "NHL contributor". I'm really concerned Ponomarev falls in that category as well. On the other side of that, McGroarty's super high hockey IQ stands out and his all around game is great that I think he's an extremely safe bet to be at least a good 3rd line caliber player. I think Koivunen also has some noticeable traits with his skill and hands that make me think he's more likely to have success in the NHL.
The good thing with Broz is that I've really liked what I've seen from Broz when I've seen him, but I want to see more of him myself to get a better idea of what NHL traits he has. If he's just a generally good player without any notable traits, I'd be worried that his upside is capped as just a good AHLer/fringe NHLer. I'm also super interested in seeing Hayes, that stat line as a 21 year old is super impressive.
Don't think it is fair to lump Ponomarev with Bemstrom. Bemstrom has played 234 NHL games, Ponomarev has played 6. Bemstrom is also 2 years older.
OtherThingsILike
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Plenty of teams have top-line players who kill penalties; maybe McGroarty can be one of them.
Empoleon8771
Registered User
I'm not writing Ponomarev off based on that but I think he has been really bad in the NHL so far.
The two have different problems, Bemstrom's issue is that he can't play at the pace of play in the NHL. He can succeed in the AHL where he has a bit of extra time to make plays and use his skills, but he can't cut it at NHL speeds. With Ponomarev, my concern is very similar to my concerns with Poulin: what exactly is he offering? He's just a generally well rounded guy without any notable traits, but generally well rounded guys without any notable traits don't usually cut it as NHLers.
That said I think Ponomarev's versatility (able to play C or W, can kill penalties, ect) will likely result in him at least having a decent career, but I'm not sure he'll be anything notable of a player because I'm just not seeing any sort of skills that make me think "this guy is a future 3C" or "this guy is a future top-9 winger".
I don’t think we can write off anyone in Wilkes or Bemstrom until we see them with another coach in the NHL lol
Darren McCord
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- Dec 15, 2015
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This is his line for almost his whole NHL penguins career.
NOEL ACCIARI - MATT NIETO - VASILY PONOMAREV
He played with 2 potatoes and you want him to succeed. This is why young players fail with Sullivan.
Empoleon8771
Registered User
The entire discussion about players on this website gets so damn boring when people just say "what about Mike Sullivan!?!?!?!!?" in any discussion.
Yes, Ponomarev was not playing with good linemates. You can still evaluate him individually with understanding that context that he was playing with crap.
Darren McCord
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- Dec 15, 2015
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Ok I mean forgetting Sullivan, he still play with trash linemates so he struggled. Individually I didn't think he looked that bad. He played a total of like 30min. And even when he played with trash they were still outshooting the opponents. It's one of the only line combos that Nieto and Accari had a positive shot differential.
I think he still has third line center upside but he wont drive the play and needs better wingers.
8:36, 8:40, 9:16, 10:20 is his entire Penguins career. New league, new teammates, nerves. Sure he hasn't looked the part. But the majority of non-elite players wouldn't under those circumstances.
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DesertedPenguin
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Darren McCord
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Doesn't mean he can't use the same system better. Sullivans issues is adaptable in game. He doesn't adjust and doesn't trust players allowing them to develop.
Look at McG the two halves of his season are night and day. MacDonald seems to be allowing the players to focus on strengths and not forcing them to change the games.
All of Broz, Hayes, Pono, McG and Koivunen are having good years. That alone says a lot about him as a coach to have all the turn over but get this team winning.
Ya you can pump the brakes on him but I would 100% take him over sullivan right now still lol. I would take a potato over Sullivan.
Gurglesons
Registered User
McGroarty was never slated or projected to be a top line forward. Third wheel guy I guess if you’re lucky.
