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Vacation mailbag with Nintendo, Phish, and hockey

July 18, 2017, 10:44 AM ET [187 Comments]
Ryan Wilson
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Hello again, back from vacation. The readership was kind enough to send some questions my way as we jump back into this and here are the answers to those questions.




Six, three of them.




I actually own an original Super Nintendo and N64 that I have hooked up to the television in the garage for the summer. The problem with the SNES is that it loves losing my saved information. Not ideal for Zelda! I'm trying not to think about the SNES mini because I don't think I'll get one of the 65 they actually produce. And even if you acquire one their 1 foot cord for the remote isn't very user friendly.

If I did get one... I love Super Punchout, not sure if I'm in the minority but I like that version better than the original Mike Tyson Punchout. Mario Kart will be fun to play with the kids. I enjoy having the old Nintendo consoles around because my little ones can enjoy some of the same things I did when I was younger.




The next one!

Favorite I have attended is easily Magnaball, best of the four festivals I have been to (Oswego, IT, Superball, Magnaball). I had great neighbors for Magnaball and their friend was kind enough to save a spot for us in the fifth row for the two Saturday night sets (didn't use a tarp!). The atmosphere and music were both on the same level. The Tweezer>Caspian is legendary and I'm happy I had a front row seat for it.



Best non-festival show I went to was Guyutica back in 2010. I've been a part of a lot of meaningful hockey games in that dumpy arena and I never left that city with a NYS state title playing or coaching, unfortunately. I left with a smile on that night. Bonus points for Slap Shot filming some of their on-ice parts in the movie here.




I heard a rumor there's a show tomorrow night at some college.




I'd like to say I could answer this confidently, but I just watched the Penguins use a fourth line that included Carl Hagelin and Patric Hornqvist win the Stanley Cup. I think Ryan Reaves will check off enough boxes for the coaching staff to use him as a regular in the lineup. That was always the problem with this signing. He will look the part just enough to keep him in when in reality there are a lot of interesting things they could do with that roster spot.



I think Sheary is in that 2.75-3.25M range with arbitration. His point production was legit last year. Yes, he played with Sidney Crosby, but he led the league in 5v5 points per 60. No matter who you put next to Sidney Crosby isn't the best you can do is lead the league in point production based on the ice time you get? I do understand why the Penguins are gun shy on giving Sheary a long lucrative extension. I don't blame them for filing for arbitration. They want to buy a few more cheaper years to see if last year was an aberration or legit. I personally think you'll get decent value at 3.5M and Sheary would probably sign a three year deal at that number.

Brian Dumoulin is a more difficult arbitration case to peg because a lot of what makes him valuable isn't up for discussion in the hearing. They can use possession stats, but not Ryan Stimson's tracking data. It's the tracking data that makes him valuable. Dumoulin's offensive numbers are bad for a "top pairing" guy and his possession this year was just OK. I think the floor is 2M and I can't see him getting over 3M. I mean look at how suppressed RFA values are for defensemen in arbitration




A fair value for Parayko would be around 7M for a 24 year old in his prime defender. He's going to get ~4.2ish which is ridiculous.




It depends on what side of the equation you are looking at. I have seen a lot of hypotheticals throwing out a first round pick, Daniel Sprong, and Olli Maatta as a fair deal for Colorado. Is it? The Garage League Podcast made some good points about this deal (which a lot of PIT fans would believe to be an overpay). The Penguins first round pick is going to be a late one, basically a second. Olli Maatta is a frequently injured player who has seen a big drop in offensive production at 5v5, possession has never been very strong. He's basically a #4 on a good day. Is Daniel Sprong ever going to be as good as Matt Duchene, not likely. If I'm Colorado I am not listening to any deal that doesn't have Jake Guentzel in it and if I'm the Penguins I'm not listening to any deal that has Jake Guentzel in it. But hey, it's Colorado so who knows.




I am certified to teach health and physical education, but the last couple of years have been health only. I get to teach our next generation about sex, drugs, suicide etc... I like it. I feel like I can help every student that walks through my door in a way that Pythagorean theorem just can't.

As for summer I get to hang out with the kids by day and hopefully hit up a lot of live music by night. I usually make an effort to hit up multiple Phish shows if possible. Pigeons Playing Ping Pong is now on my list of bands to see in the summer. There's usually some time for blogs here and there (except when your Hyatt hotel has wifi worse than the connection you had in 1996).




I don't think you can ever have enough puck moving defensemen when you have the kinds of forwards Pittsburgh does. Even if that player has "defensive" issues the value in getting the forwards the puck with control more than makes up for it.




It's hard to know if the player is available, but I think Eric Staal would be my choice. He was very good last year and still has two years left on a very reasonable cap hit. He would be a perfect fit for where the team is and where Staal is in his career.




I think you shouldn't push your starting goaltender past the 60 game mark. Pittsburgh will lead the league in back to back games this year with 19. There is plenty of opportunity for Matt Murray's backup to play this year. I'd try to get him close to 55 games this year with Niemi (or whoever) picking up 28 games or so.




I would not entertain moving him this summer unless a team bowled Pittsburgh over with an insane offer, but why would they? There is no reason to trade Phil Kessel at the present time. Play this season out and re-evaluate next offseason. Chances are you won't want to move him next offseason either.




Mario I have to disagree with the Dallas answer. They are just as likely to flame out as they are to take off. Also, what are the odds the Stars and Penguins both make the Stanley Cup Final? That is the only scenario in which they can "dethrone" the Penguins. The team that will knock the Penguins off will more than likely come from the East. If I'm being honest I don't know who that team will be. Washington will be good, but definitely not the powerhouse they have been. I think Tampa Bay would be in a great position to knock the Penguins off but for some reason I see Dan Girardi dragging down Victor Hedman much like he did with Ryan McDonagh. I still don't know what Steve Yzerman was thinking with that signing.




I don't think there is a realistic match here that makes sense for either team. Whatever Carolina would accept to part with the talented Lindholm would create more holes in Pittsburgh's lineup than it is worth. Really good player, no match here.




Which one? All kidding aside this is a very interesting case. Ron Francis played forever (24 seasons) and almost a third of that career was in Pittsburgh. In 533 games he had 613 points with Pittsburgh and played Selke caliber defense. He did win the award as a Penguin in 1994-95 when Mario Lemieux took the season off. He was a big part of two Stanley Cup winners. I think after the Mt. Rushmore of Penguins who should all have their numbers retired (66, 68, 87, 71) he's probably the next guy up. I would have no problem if the Penguins retired his #10 I just don't see it happening.



Thanks for reading!
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