I'm not a homophobe, I just like to call people gay and homo as insults.

I bet you're a Libertarian.
- Blackstrom2

Whatever you disgusting ableist hypocrite.

Ryan - please in your next blog - provide the quote where anyone in the Penguins organization stated Reeves was added to "deter" hits. Please do it. Otherwise your entire argument is built on a false assumption, therefore illogical, therefore false, therefore, useless.

Thank-you in advance.

(frank), I had to stop reading half way. Ridiculous.

Nuff said.
- Aussiepenguin

So true - for a writer allegedly so hopped up on analytics, this "piece" was nothing more than an opinion that anyone, even someone who has never watched a second of hockey in his/her life could have written.

We should've given Hartnell Reaves money and kept our higher draft pick and Sundy. Then we'd have more assets to move down the road (although I've been impress with McKegg)
How much of this is Tocchet's fault? He tweeted the smiley when the trade happened. How do we know he was hugely influencing the organization on this deal before skipping town? We don't

We should've given Hartnell Reaves money and kept our higher draft pick and Sundy. Then we'd have more assets to move down the road (although I've been impress with McKegg)
How much of this is Tocchet's fault? He tweeted the smiley when the trade happened. How do we know he was hugely influencing the organization on this deal before skipping town? We don't
- WSCTeton17

Completely agree. 100%.

Ryan - please in your next blog - provide the quote where anyone in the Penguins organization stated Reeves was added to "deter" hits. Please do it. Otherwise your entire argument is built on a false assumption, therefore illogical, therefore false, therefore, useless.

Thank-you in advance.
- DaPenz

Jim Rutherford says it was a priority to add some muscle in the form of Ryan Reaves because of how hard teams play his stars.

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) June 24, 2017

Also...
“We won the Cup (in 2016), and teams played us even harder than they usually do,” Rutherford said. “Now we expect them to come again this (coming season), so it was important to get him.”

Everybody talking about Reaves, i'm sitting over here thinking how much better Maatta looks this season. He looks like a completely different player.

Actually.... I'm in agreement with Boyd here. That's pretty funny.
- cranktheradio

But neither is really cool in 2017

But neither is really cool in 2017
- Garnie

Hey, I got 2 balls. One for Dcoms and one for you if you'd like.

Everybody talking about Reaves, i'm sitting over here thinking how much better Maatta looks this season. He looks like a completely different player.
- cap1681

3 reasons;
1st: confidence.
2nd: a good summer training without injury.
3rd: I heard he has started to take the right amount of medicine

Everybody talking about Reaves, i'm sitting over here thinking how much better Maatta looks this season. He looks like a completely different player.
- cap1681

But if you talk about Maatta, that would mean you don't want to focus on divisive and meaningless issues. That's not how things are done these days.

But neither is really cool in 2017
- Garnie

2017... where you can't make a black joke without being called rasict, a gay joke without being called a homophobe and not talk back to a girl without being called a rapist.

But if you talk about Maatta, that would mean you don't want to focus on divisive and meaningless issues. That's not how things are done these days.
- madmike71

I think Maatta has looked a poop load better than last season, and I think pairing him with Schultz is going to make all the difference in his game. Daley/Maatta was a dumpster fire and while I think Schultz/Maatta COULD be a dumpster fire... I think Schultz is a better overall defenseman than Maatta. I don't think Schultz is going to leave Maatta on an island nearly as much as Daley did in the past.

Everybody talking about Reaves, i'm sitting over here thinking how much better Maatta looks this season. He looks like a completely different player.
- cap1681

I think it's because Reaves is allowing maatta to feel comfortable on the ice again

I think it's because Reaves is allowing maatta to feel comfortable on the ice again
- jchst22

Just a joke btw

Just a joke btw
- jchst22

lololol

I think Maatta has looked a poop load better than last season, and I think pairing him with Schultz is going to make all the difference in his game. Daley/Maatta was a dumpster fire and while I think Schultz/Maatta COULD be a dumpster fire... I think Schultz is a better overall defenseman than Maatta. I don't think Schultz is going to leave Maatta on an island nearly as much as Daley did in the past.
- j.boyd919

I think him finally having a healthy offseason has done wonders for him. He isn't the fastest out there, but he is a better skater than people give him credit for. The one thing that impresses me is his shot. You can tell he's been working with Gonchar. He is constantly putting it on net now, and is getting it off quick. People seem to forget that he is only just 23, and is still growing/maturing as a player. The fact that we are seeing improvement in him is a very good sign.

I think him finally having a healthy offseason has done wonders for him. He isn't the fastest out there, but he is a better skater than people give him credit for. The one thing that impresses me is his shot. You can tell he's been working with Gonchar. He is constantly putting it on net now, and is getting it off quick. People seem to forget that he is only just 23, and is still growing/maturing as a player. The fact that we are seeing improvement in him is a very good sign.
- cap1681

All of this is true. Plus, like Martox suggested, I saw a report about getting medicine dialed in since the removal of his thyroid.

I'll remain cautiously optimistic. Even though he didn't have a long offseason, he should look fresh 3 games into the season. Let's see how he's doing in March. It's encouraging however.

All of this is true. Plus, like Martox suggested, I saw a report about getting medicine dialed in since the removal of his thyroid.

I'll remain cautiously optimistic. Even though he didn't have a long offseason, he should look fresh 3 games into the season. Let's see how he's doing in March. It's encouraging however.
- madmike71

I didn't hear about that? What kind of medicine does he have to take?

I didn't hear about that? What kind of medicine does he have to take?
- j.boyd919

He had his thyroid gland removed 'cause of the cancer. So you need to have thyroid replacement meds. When you read about the possible side effects of not having a thyroid gland, it kind of mirrors what we've seen with Olli the last few years.

Edit...

We were talking about this last year... Why does OM look so much slower than he was his rookie year? Powerhouse was the first person to say it was because of his thyroid removal. I think it was Yohe who did an interview with OM and it was the first time I remember him acknowledging getting the medicine right.

Just saw that Sheary was the extra skater in practice today. From 1st line to scratch in 3 games?

Why the F was Maatta dropped to Ruhwedel on the bottom pairing? Multz was really clicking. I think they should have just gone with the top 4 and hid the bottom pairing. Hunwick in the top 4 is not good.

Listen, you either hate everyone equally (equality), or, love everyone except non whites, blacks, yellows, Browns, Asians, Africans, euros, Latinos, New Zealanders & Tasmanians!

You're forgiven.
- Aussiepenguin

I don't trust those wacky Tasmanians. I think they are building a nuclear program.

Just saw that Sheary was the extra skater in practice today. From 1st line to scratch in 3 games?
- Thorny87

He sucks...honestly would be ok if he is trade bait. Of course scratching him doesn't add value for a trade.

Also it's about time more people here are becoming aware of how slanted our blogger is. I barely read them anymore and every time I do it's just to confirm he is still campaigning for a job in the NHL as a analytical guru.

Just saw that Sheary was the extra skater in practice today. From 1st line to scratch in 3 games?
- Thorny87

I wouldn't be surprised if Jim Rutherford wasn't floating his name to Colorado