I don't know. Jason Mackey used to work for DK until this summer. He's trust worthy.
- Victoro311

I think Mackey is just answering random questions from people online. Personally I think Malkin looks off because Russia's not a well coached team.

I think Mackey is just answering random questions from people online. Personally I think Malkin looks off because Russia's not a well coached team.
- j.boyd919

Yeah that is what he's doing. He opened up a live chat on twitter earlier today.

Laine is going to be a special player for Winnipeg

I'm over it. Lombardi constructed a team that won 2 stanley cups and could still get another. Torts is torts as long as he isn't coaching the pens i don't care. The pens current head coach regaurds torts as a mentor though. All in all i think kessel should have just let it go. There's really no dignity in doing anything via twitter.

Finland doesn't have enough grit to beat the Russians

That was a bullpoop gaffe by the ref. Complete dumb luck that play even happened cus the ref took out Risto.

Let's see. Kessel was passed up in favor of players like Abdelkader, Palmieri, and Dubinsky. These guys are not one or two tiers below Kessel - they are five or six tiers below him. They would at best crack the fourth line of the current Pens roster but in all likelihood be sent to WBS. If all the guys on the roster were at or even reasonably close to Kessel's skill level I would agree that he shouldn't make a tweet like this. The presence of these guys on the roster gives him every right to. Of course Kessel is better than most of the other forwards as well but the gap is smaller with those guys.

The one good thing about this is that it may prompt some "housecleaning" in USA hockey and will probably be the last time we see Tortarella coach at the international level. The last time he coaches in the nhl will be up to Columbus.
- PghPens668771

Umm Abdelkader, Palmeri and Dubinksy are all bonafide NHL players. Abdelkader and Palmeri would probably slot in on the 1st and 2nd lines over Rust and Sheary. I love Cullen but Dubinsky would be an upgrade over him centering the fourth line. These guys are not plugs they just aren't the most talented from USA.

Umm Abdelkader, Palmeri and Dubinksy are all bonafide NHL players. Abdelkader and Palmeri would probably slot in on the 1st and 2nd lines over Rust and Sheary. I love Cullen but Dubinsky would be an upgrade over him centering the fourth line. These guys are not plugs they just aren't the most talented from USA.
- Grinder47

Ur idiocracy never ceases to amaze me

Umm Abdelkader, Palmeri and Dubinksy are all bonafide NHL players. Abdelkader and Palmeri would probably slot in on the 1st and 2nd lines over Rust and Sheary. I love Cullen but Dubinsky would be an upgrade over him centering the fourth line. These guys are not plugs they just aren't the most talented from USA.
- Grinder47

Palmeri's turned into a good goal scorer. He has a legitimate stake, but is a guy I'd consider on the bubble. Abdelkader is a solid middle six guy but shouldn't even cross your mind when making a national roster. Dubinsky is a poophead. He's a high end fourth line talent.

Finland doesn't have enough grit to beat the Russians






- pensfan024

Well, not your prototypical team from Finland. This is the worst I've seen them. Being outscored 9-1 in this tournament ... not good.

Palmeri's turned into a good goal scorer. He has a legitimate stake, but is a guy I'd consider on the bubble. Abdelkader is a solid middle six guy but shouldn't even cross your mind when making a national roster. Dubinsky is a poophead. He's a high end fourth line talent.
- Victoro311

I really think both Adbelkader and Dubinsky are both third line guys. Palmeiri is not a sure top six guy. Yes, he turned into a scorer in NJ (sounds crazy). However, before that, he was a 30-point guy. He hasn't had a track record as a point producer.

Well, not your prototypical team from Finland. This is the worst I've seen them. Being outscored 9-1 in this tournament ... not good.
- Oneonta Penguin

Thought they played Russia quite well at first. Then Russia scored on their first two shots of the second back to back after being held shotless for like 16 minutes. After that Finland had no answer. It was unrealistic to expect Finland to give Russia a run for it. Most of Finland's good talent is absurdly young and their vets are pretty bad at this point in their careers. Also, Russia's team defense wasn't nearly as bad as I assumed it'd be.

wow, just got a notice from NHL.com that the U.S. is out of this tournament!!

How can that be? Already - it's not even the semis yet & they haven't even played their last game!

I'm gob smacked especially with such a fantastic coach & having Dubinski running around with all those other BlowJacket players - just not possible that they wouldn't be successful???? Was Patrick Kane injured? That's probably it (or was he required to be defensively responsible - (frank) we all know that's not happening!!).

Still they'll probably make a movie about this - such a shock it's probably going to be called something like 'The miracle on ice' because it's just so unbelievable!!!

Did Brooksy do an interview with his best mate yet?

Thought they played Russia quite well at first. Then Russia scored on their first two shots of the second back to back after being held shotless for like 16 minutes. After that Finland had no answer. It was unrealistic to expect Finland to give Russia a run for it. Most of Finland's good talent is absurdly young and their vets are pretty bad at this point in their careers. Also, Russia's team defense wasn't nearly as bad as I assumed it'd be.
- Victoro311

I think they should have put the kid that was drafted by Edmonton in there for experience. He could have helped in scoring. Finland's vets are nothing more than complementary players at this juncture. The Russian team's biggest question mark was its defense. It looks better, but did Finland really test that D?

I watched Maatta carefully in these games. I really believe he can be a point producer for the Pens.

Ur idiocracy never ceases to amaze me
- pensfan024

You obviously can't look at the team you root for without pens fans goggles on if you think those three players wouldn't be upgrades over players on our team. They have all scored 20 goals. Abdelkader and palmeri both have more of those i. them. Sheary and Rust might never score 15 in a single season. Just because someone doesn't play along with a boring narrative doesn't make them an idiot.

You obviously can't look at the team you root for without pens fans goggles on if you think those three players wouldn't be upgrades over players on our team. They have all scored 20 goals. Abdelkader and palmeri both have more of those i. them. Sheary and Rust might never score 15 in a single season. Just because someone doesn't play along with a boring narrative doesn't make them an idiot.
- Grinder47

and a guy that you said would be a top six for us in Palmieri hadn't scored over 14 goals since playing in Syracuse of the AHL in 2011-12. Adbelkader didn't crack the 20-goal barrier, which he has only reached once in his career, two years ago. It was his SIXTH full year in the league. You make it sound like they reach that barrier every year.

I really think both Adbelkader and Dubinsky are both third line guys. Palmeiri is not a sure top six guy. Yes, he turned into a scorer in NJ (sounds crazy). However, before that, he was a 30-point guy. He hasn't had a track record as a point producer.
- Oneonta Penguin

Having third line guys that float about or above 20 goals a season is pretty rare. They both kill penalties and Dubinsky is good at draws. In a fake world where pittsburgh was gifted these players they would be on the roster. I'm not drinking the Sheary Rust coolaid yet. Stanley cup playoffs aren't a very good measuring stick as to where rookies are going to eventually stick. Mike Rupp was onnce a stanley cup rookie hero who was suppose to play in a scoring role the rest of his career.

Kessel's tweet simply proved the point that many have said all along. He's a "me first" person. As Mark Twain once said..."it is better to remain silent and have some think you a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt...

I guess that's okay when he's playing on the third line and another team is picking up 1.2M of his 8M salary, but, like his time in Boston and TO, his poor attitude and lack of conditioning will catch up with him.
- BernardShakey

Oh (frank) off with your self righteousness. Dude is one of the best US born hockey players and got snubbed. So when they got bounced he gave them two giant middle fingers just like any of us would want to do.

With the poor showing they had, the management that put together this pathetic roster and picked one of the worst coaches ever deserved to be publicly shamed. I hope it continues to happen so that we see an entirely new management structure and thought process for the next international tournament.

Having third line guys that float about or above 20 goals a season is pretty rare. They both kill penalties and Dubinsky is good at draws. In a fake world where pittsburgh was gifted these players they would be on the roster. I'm not drinking the Sheary Rust coolaid yet. Stanley cup playoffs aren't a very good measuring stick as to where rookies are going to eventually stick. Mike Rupp was onnce a stanley cup rookie hero who was suppose to play in a scoring role the rest of his career.
- Grinder47

Neither Palmieri nor Abdelkader are traditional goal scorers as I have said. Palmeiri's best was 14 before this last season. Abdelkader reached 20 only once in his career. I'm willing to bet Sheary or Rust, maybe both, reach 20 goals in a season before either one of those you mentioned. After all, all they need to do is do it before their SIXTH full season in the league. It took Abdelkader four years to reach 10. Advantage Sheary and Rust.

Neither Palmieri nor Abdelkader are traditional goal scorers as I have said. Palmeiri's best was 14 before this last season. Abdelkader reached 20 only once in his career. I'm willing to bet Sheary or Rust, maybe both, reach 20 goals in a season before either one of those you mentioned. After all, all they need to do is do it before their SIXTH full season in the league. It took Abdelkader four years to reach 10. Advantage Sheary and Rust.
- Oneonta Penguin

If abdelkader had been thrust into a top six role with Crosby as a rookie we wouldn't have traded neal for hornqvist. Sheary and Rust just got lucky. They are more third liners than Abdelkader and Palmeri I'm afraid.

If abdelkader had been thrust into a top six role with Crosby as a rookie we wouldn't have traded neal for hornqvist. Sheary and Rust just got lucky. They are more third liners than Abdelkader and Palmeri I'm afraid.
- Grinder47

Not meaning to jump in (but if I may ), doesn't playing style have a little to do with the success each would get in the big picture? I'm not familiar with Abdelkader and Palmeri but Rust & Sheary appeared to be very good in the roles they were required to do. Both scoring goals in vital games, but as you say the season will sort them out & we'll see who is right & wrong. Could Abdelkader and Palmeri fill the roles that both Rust & Sheary did? Basing an argument on goals scored is like an analytical guy just throwing Corsi statistics at you supporting his opinion (& we all know that Corsi .................. ).

Not meaning to jump in (but if I may ), doesn't playing style have a little to do with the success each would get in the big picture? I'm not familiar with Abdelkader and Palmeri but Rust & Sheary appeared to be very good in the roles they were required to do. Both scoring goals in vital games, but as you say the season will sort them out & we'll see who is right & wrong. Could Abdelkader and Palmeri fill the roles that both Rust & Sheary did? Basing an argument on goals scored is like an analytical guy just throwing Corsi statistics at you supporting his opinion (& we all know that Corsi .................. ).
- Aussiepenguin

They did well in the stanley cup playoffs in a top six role much like max talbot. He never s.iffed big minutes again. 15 Games into this season those guys could be goaless. How do you not know Abdelkader and palmeri they both play big roles for they're. teams

If abdelkader had been thrust into a top six role with Crosby as a rookie we wouldn't have traded neal for hornqvist. Sheary and Rust just got lucky. They are more third liners than Abdelkader and Palmeri I'm afraid.
- Grinder47

Nope. Their styles, both Palmeiri and Abdelkader are both third liners. Same with Dubinsky. IF is a big word. IF I had Maldivean in me, I could become President of the nation. See ...

Isn't luck a part of it? Besides, not everyone has had success being the winger of Sid and Geno ... hence why Pittsburgh is normally trying to get a winger for both each year. Not rocket science here.

Nope. Their styles, both Palmeiri and Abdelkader are both third liners. Same with Dubinsky. IF is a big word. IF I had Maldivean in me, I could become President of the nation. See ...

Isn't luck a part of it? Besides, not everyone has had success being the winger of Sid and Geno ... hence why Pittsburgh is normally trying to get a winger for both each year. Not rocket science here.
- Oneonta Penguin

I'm calling it. by the 20th game of this season Rust and Sheary are being talked about as third liners on here. Hope I'm not right but i usually am.

You know guys, I think I figured out what Lombardi was trying to say.

Team USA didnt need to win a trophy. They wanted to build a team that CARED. Above and beyond all they had to FEEL every single horrible loss of this poorly built team. We had HEART and thats all that matters! GO USA!