Except this is a totally unique report. This isn't media saying Jerome Bettis just lost six pounds after exiting a McDonald's on a daily basis. Every year the story on DP has been management has doubts, he's not putting in the work, etc. Now we're finally hearing something new, and I'll tell you what it's made me a hell of a lot more optimistic than I was before. And I think it's very reasonable for me to be. The media doesn't like backing off their stories. They love regurgitating narratives and beating dead horses. I think the fact they changed course means something.
- Victoro311

Sure, he was a softbody, and apparently he's not anymore.

But his real issues were being lost in his own end and making the big mistakes, the kind that lead to the puck being in the back of the net. Not sure how finally figuring out he might have to work out after three pro seasons is going to improve those issues.

(frank) the birthday thing. Or Halloween or whatever it was. That incident was irrelevant and it's being over used as an argument by people on both the pro and anti DP camp. The relavent issue is that he did not have a good year last year. He was all but handed a spot on the big club and failed. Perhaps he was still suffering from his shoulder. Fine. He's young and can't expect development to go perfectly. But then he went back to the AHL and had a worse season than he did the year before and DK started reporting that people in the org were questioning his drive. That is not good. That is not excusable. I don't care if your Radulov snorting coke out of hookers' ass holes if you are determined to win and be a good hockey player, so I certainly don't care that a 21 year old went out and got drunk. What I wanted to see was progress and I'm finally seeing it this offseason.
- Victoro311

Just if you haven't seen it. 2nd year in a row now he's said he knows his fitness & conditioning weren't up to scratch!!

https://www.nhl.com/pengu...e-of-his-life/c-282071212

Sure, he was a softbody, and apparently he's not anymore.

But his real issues were being lost in his own end and making the big mistakes, the kind that lead to the puck being in the back of the net. Not sure how finally figuring out he might have to work out after three pro seasons is going to improve those issues.
- hardnosed

I thought the same thing but this shows at least that he's putting in effort. I'd assume that if he's putting in effort on his fitness then he's putting in effort in other areas. We'll see. Kid's got a long way to go but this offseason was a start.

Just if you haven't seen it. 2nd year in a row now he's said he knows his fitness & conditioning weren't up to scratch!!

https://www.nhl.com/pengu...e-of-his-life/c-282071212
- Aussiepenguin

Huh? That article was dated yesterday. Maybe I missed something.

Anyways to me there's a difference between saying the right things and doing the right things. Doesn't really matter if DP said he needed to work on fitness last offseason or needed to improve X facet of his game because last year he didn't do anything about it and took a step backwards. So far he's making progress this time around.

And I will keep taking my angry pills, thanks

I thought the same thing but this shows at least that he's putting in effort. I'd assume that if he's putting in effort on his fitness then he's putting in effort in other areas. We'll see. Kid's got a long way to go but this offseason was a start.
- Victoro311

Exactly. I think he realizes he's getting dangerously close to washing out if he doesn't make changes. Being in peak physical condition WILL help him with things like reaction time and stamina.

NHL Network states that Matt Murray out 3-6 weeks with a fractured hand.

NHL Network states that Matt Murray out 3-6 weeks with a fractured hand.
- Thunderbolt

True, happened first period of the last game he played. Looks like Jarry is going to get a little NHL work to start the season.