This is because they are in the mindset that they have to score because Zatkoff cant be trusted to save anything.
Kessel needs to start shooting, it is getting rediculous that a guy can have that kind of shot and is looking for the pass all the damn time now. I agree complete opposite of what I was expecting as well.
- stackthepads

He has been a massive disappointment. Even at 6.8M it is still an overpayment. The predictions coming in to this year were 50 goals, even 40 goals! Hell is 20 goals even gonna happen at this point? I believe Bos and Tor fans call this the Phil affect or something along those lines, lol. Oh well were stuck with him now.

Soooo what are the repercussions of sending Zatkoff down and calling Murray up?... We might lose Zatkoff to waivers?... If that's it, so f'n what. I can't watch him poop away a game like that again this season.

Soooo what are the repercussions of sending Zatkoff down and calling Murray up?... We might lose Zatkoff to waivers?... If that's it, so f'n what. I can't watch him poop away a game like that again this season.
- MattStrat

Rather trade him... Maybe Montreal will give up a mid-late round pick for him... I don't think Scrivens is working out for them.

Legit ideal... Zatkoff to Montreal for whatever... or package him with someone else and maybe try to get back something decent.

Soooo what are the repercussions of sending Zatkoff down and calling Murray up?... We might lose Zatkoff to waivers?... If that's it, so f'n what. I can't watch him poop away a game like that again this season.
- MattStrat

How many years of Murrays ELC do you want to waste with him playing 1 in 5 games? Its a better idea to keep Murray in WBS and trade a nothing pick for a backup.

He has been a massive disappointment. Even at 6.8M it is still an overpayment. The predictions coming in to this year were 50 goals, even 40 goals! Hell is 20 goals even gonna happen at this point? I believe Bos and Tor fans call this the Phil affect or something along those lines, lol. Oh well were stuck with him now.
- Weisenheimer

Just seems odd that every fan base is happy he's gone and Babcock ships him out the door as soon as he gets to TOR. Seems to me there more to the story and we probably should not have traded all that for him and paid him 6.8 while Cole, Lovejoy and Scuds were on the roster.

Just seems odd that every fan base is happy he's gone and Babcock ships him out the door as soon as he gets to TOR. Seems to me there more to the story and we probably should not have traded all that for him and paid him 6.8 while Cole, Lovejoy and Scuds were on the roster.
- sammy87

its odd to me though. i do see effort from him while hes out there. but the shot is either hesitant, or so (frank)ing bad when he uses it, you get to understanding why hes so hesitant.

Just seems odd that every fan base is happy he's gone and Babcock ships him out the door as soon as he gets to TOR. Seems to me there more to the story and we probably should not have traded all that for him and paid him 6.8 while Cole, Lovejoy and Scuds were on the roster.
- sammy87

I really only miss Kapanen from that deal but with that money we could have done something else with it in the offseason. Sharp is looking awfully awfully productive in Dallas! Not saying he is what we shouldve went after but we wouldve have had a ton of cap space to do any number of things.

I'm not on board on bashing Phil. He's not doing great but he's alright. No one was playing well on this team for quite a few games but Malkin. I'm glad Crosby, Hörnqvist and Kunitz are getting better. Hoping Hagelin can gel with Kessel and Geno.

its odd to me though. i do see effort from him while hes out there. but the shot is either hesitant, or so (frank)ing bad when he uses it, you get to understanding why hes so hesitant.
- stayinthefnnet

I mean Jussi Jokkinen looked better with Malkin than Kessel does. I see his effort, but I just dont see him ever being a difference maker out there. They traded for Kessel at his peak, its really only down hill from here. Even I had higher expectations for him.

I'm not on board on bashing Phil. He's not doing great but he's alright. No one was playing well on this team for quite a few games but Malkin. I'm glad Crosby, Hörnqvist and Kunitz are getting better. Hoping Hagelin can gel with Kessel and Geno.
- Barnaby36

20 goals and 30 assists isnt terrible by any stretch of the imagination, its just not what any of us imagined, and certainly not for 6.8M let alone 8M

I mean Jussi Jokkinen looked better with Malkin than Kessel does. I see his effort, but I just dont see him ever being a difference maker out there. They traded for Kessel at his peak, its really only down hill from here. Even I had higher expectations for him.
- sammy87

Jokinen was good for this team. Different skillset and good defensively too. Phil is used to be the guy on his line that's the difference I see. He'll get used to it.

I mean Jussi Jokkinen looked better with Malkin than Kessel does. I see his effort, but I just dont see him ever being a difference maker out there. They traded for Kessel at his peak, its really only down hill from here. Even I had higher expectations for him.
- sammy87

There it is! Thats what everybody has been looking for since Jordan Staal or Marian Hossa. He simply hasnt been that type of player.

I really only miss Kapanen from that deal but with that money we could have done something else with it in the offseason. Sharp is looking awfully awfully productive in Dallas! Not saying he is what we shouldve went after but we wouldve have had a ton of cap space to do any number of things.
- Weisenheimer

The rumor was there was a deal set for Oshie. Had JR done that there would have been enough left over to trade for a Dman. They possibly still could have Kap in the system. That would have been kap and Sprong both up and coming F's on ELC's.

Just looked up Sharp, I didn't realize he was playing that well. Even Iggy might hit 30 again this year.

I mean Jussi Jokkinen looked better with Malkin than Kessel does. I see his effort, but I just dont see him ever being a difference maker out there. They traded for Kessel at his peak, its really only down hill from here. Even I had higher expectations for him.
- sammy87

jussi was a good player, but great fit chemistry wise. i do miss him. but the price was rough.

youre right. i dont see him being a difference maker, or what i thought. but i dont exactly know why. its just not happening for some reason. its not like hes just straight loafing. he just looks timid and egregiously ineffective. he doesnt find the creases and rip like neal did. he doesnt score on the rush with people. net crasher isnt his game. i just dont understand his inability to get to whats made him good in this league with this team.

20 goals and 30 assists isnt terrible by any stretch of the imagination, its just not what any of us imagined, and certainly not for 6.8M let alone 8M
- Weisenheimer

Not its pretty terrible when you have to move a 1st, Kap, Harrington, 4th liner and still pay 6.8 for that level of production.

Is there a worse team in back to backs than the Penguins? 2nd game is an automatic loss. Pens are turning into the blue ribbon try hard team; great effort and sh!t results.

20 goals and 30 assists isnt terrible by any stretch of the imagination, its just not what any of us imagined, and certainly not for 6.8M let alone 8M
- Weisenheimer

I see. We all expected Crosby/Malkin/Kessel to have great offensive numbers but this year is just weird. No expected Sid to have those numbers. Here's hoping Kessel can find a place on this team. Right now he's been just alright.

I'm not on board on bashing Phil. He's not doing great but he's alright. No one was playing well on this team for quite a few games but Malkin. I'm glad Crosby, Hörnqvist and Kunitz are getting better. Hoping Hagelin can gel with Kessel and Geno.
- Barnaby36

If at this stage next season he's the same then he's done. Let him play his way into the group.

Yep, Rust is good, Cole is bad!
- so_buzz11

Rust still hasnt passed the puck once yet..

jussi was a good player, but great fit chemistry wise. i do miss him. but the price was rough.

youre right. i dont see him being a difference maker, or what i thought. but i dont exactly know why. its just not happening for some reason. its not like hes just straight loafing. he just looks timid and egregiously ineffective. he doesnt find the creases and rip like neal did. he doesnt score on the rush with people. net crasher isnt his game. i just dont understand his inability to get to whats made him good in this league with this team.
- stayinthefnnet

Neal had one of the best one timers in the world. Kessel is not able to do that.

jussi was a good player, but great fit chemistry wise. i do miss him. but the price was rough.

youre right. i dont see him being a difference maker, or what i thought. but i dont exactly know why. its just not happening for some reason. its not like hes just straight loafing. he just looks timid and egregiously ineffective. he doesnt find the creases and rip like neal did. he doesnt score on the rush with people. net crasher isnt his game. i just dont understand his inability to get to whats made him good in this league with this team.
- stayinthefnnet

IMO its too many star talent. You can't have guys like 87 and 71 doing the grunt work. I think thats why PH, Kuni and Dupes worked well with Crosby. JJ did that too with Malkin. Kessel is use to having players do that for him too. Theres no physicality to his game, he gets knocked down pretty easy. The game plan vs the Pens is to play dirty and take runs at the stars. Not sure if Kessel is use to that.

The rumor was there was a deal set for Oshie. Had JR done that there would have been enough left over to trade for a Dman. They possibly still could have Kap in the system. That would have been kap and Sprong both up and coming F's on ELC's.

Just looked up Sharp, I didn't realize he was playing that well. Even Iggy might hit 30 again this year.
- sammy87

Sam if Kap was still in our system you would be putting poop on him all the time!

The rumor was there was a deal set for Oshie. Had JR done that there would have been enough left over to trade for a Dman. They possibly still could have Kap in the system. That would have been kap and Sprong both up and coming F's on ELC's.

Just looked up Sharp, I didn't realize he was playing that well. Even Iggy might hit 30 again this year.
- sammy87

One can dream . . .

Sam if Kap was still in our system you would be putting poop on him all the time!
- Aussiepenguin

IDK where this idea that Kapanen is a great prospect comes from. He's not doing much in the AHL and he wasn't all that great in the junior tourney either (and no scoring the clinching goal doesn't make for a great tournament). He'll probably be a tweener.

Neal had one of the best one timers in the world. Kessel is not able to do that.
- jfkst1

i know he isnt. which is partly the point. but i also wish he could do his little curl drag in and pick goalies apart with his snap/wrist like he's made a career out of doing. but to do that, he needs to be able to find those little creases. either on his own, or in waiting for a pass. and he is struggling finding those zones. right now, he basically just chills far out on the perimeter, and looks to just string together a few cross ice passes. its frustrating.