You're whining about people whining...
- MattStrat

He just wants to argue today. I think it's that time of the month.

The pressure mounted so much that you just had to say something.
- Rinosaur

Tanners alt, always seem to chime in regardless if Tanner is making sense or not.

Tanners alt, always seem to chime in regardless if Tanner is making sense or not.
- Garnie

Who me?

Considering how many replies he gets talking about him fishing for replies he might get them into a damn good school

The problem with Tanner's posts are its full of i thinks, i guesses and i feels. The value is where someone takes the time to do their research, come to a conclusion and then share the results of that analysis backing up your claims. Then you can say, but IMO - blah blah blah.

Also, James Tanner is a SJW.

The problem with Tanner's posts are its full of i thinks, i guesses and i feels. The value is where someone takes the time to do their research, come to a conclusion and then share the results of that analysis backing up your claims. Then you can say, but IMO - blah blah blah.

Also, James Tanner is a SJW.
- zipfel

Well, I have to disagree. The issue is he doesn't think it's objective in any way. He thinks it's hockey is quantifiable with numbers and any aberration just weird or luck.

I also think our D is significantly better than the Pens.
Maybe you'd even say "sneaky good" Tanner?

I was just reading (after Philly won game 5) all the Pens-fanboys comments about how overrated Letang is, and how brutal he is/ waste of money/ should have traded him, yet he is their 'best' defenseman.

Schultz is the NHL's best conman. If the Pens hadn't won 2 years ago, I'm pretty confident Justin Schultz would be in the AHL or Europe. Instead he is making 5 million a year. #NHL

Maata is fieldable, but he looks a shadow of what his potential was. I suppose health-scares and injuries will eventually do you in (I know, I've had 3 ACL surgeries).

And then who? Dumoulin?....

Carlson and Orlov are a tier above all of them (unless Letang produces some magic).

Niskanen has got a bit of his MarcusJohansson going, and KEMPNY has been amazingly effective /visible /and has speed? Who knew. (his stick might have saved a few goals yesterday).

BUT BEYOND ALL THIS, Holtby looks to poised and on point. Murray does not.

Can Pens win while having terrible D? Sure, they did it two years in a row. But at some point you'd hope (fingers crossed) that such a weakness is their downfall.
- ghostibator

Dumo is a beast. Letang, for all the crap he gets, is also a beast.

The problem with Tanner's posts are its full of i thinks, i guesses and i feels. The value is where someone takes the time to do their research, come to a conclusion and then share the results of that analysis backing up your claims. Then you can say, but IMO - blah blah blah.

Also, James Tanner is a SJW.
- zipfel

I actually agree 100%. I'm a hockey writer for entertainment purposes only. There are some excellent very dry analysis guys and some amazing insider and also tons of guys who do a good job in between. While the Godfather is an amazing movie, sometimes you just want to watch McGruber. And I'm really more of a SWF.

I actually agree 100%. I'm a hockey writer for entertainment purposes only. There are some excellent very dry analysis guys and some amazing insider and also tons of guys who do a good job in between. While the Godfather is an amazing movie, sometimes you just want to watch McGruber. And I'm really more of a SWF.
- james_tanner1

I read all types of bloggers. I think my favorite are ones who have stories to tell that relate to the subject of the blog, usually ones that are from a first hand account or something. Meltzer is good at that. Paul McCann should have lots, I don’t understand why it’s never brought up though.

Blogs are subjective for both the styling and enjoyment. They can be fun to read or just pure poop or anywhere in between.

While I don’t agree with your sample sizes, Runblad/Gardiner love, or analytics only approach (you’ve gotten better on this one), I still read your blogs because they are entertaining.

While I do like Tanner for his entertainment value, I think the general issue Pens fans are having is that they aren't equating luck to the PDO statistic.

PDO = save % against + shooting percentage

A rolling average that typically reverts back to 100..... so saying the Pens are unlucky vs lucky is an actual chart-able statistic.

For the majority of the year, the Pens have had a lower than average shooting percentage given average goaltending. Regression to the mean states that as the season goes on the more of the Pens shots should end up in the net.

Tanner has stated for months that the Pens have been bottom of the league in that statistic and still in the playoff race.... therefore they are an incredible team not getting the bounces.

5 on 5 the Pens are stellar in controlling shot attempts along with having the number 1 PP in the league when healthy.

This series will come down to goaltending and health.... but the Caps just struggled to generate 5 on 5 shot attempts against a team the Pens swept this year..... all signs point to a Pens win unless Murray plays terrible or Holtby channels Timmy T from 2011.

I can't believe I just defended Tanner... LOL

I was probably going to do a defense vs defense blog tomorrow if there's time, but I think it's probably pretty even. Without looking up their stats, I'll guess now and we'll see what I think tomorrow after some research. Call this my eye test. But I'm not going to pretend I know the Pens 5/6 guys much if at all.

Letang > Orlov
Doumalin = or slightly < Niskanen
Matta < Carlson for the points, but I'm guessing Matta is better at D
Shultz > Kempny
Oleksiac > Orpik everyone is better than Orpik
Rundwell = Djoos couldn't even tell you.

Being generous to Washington and giving the edge to Niskanen, the Penguins win the matchup 3-2 with one tie. Assuming Djoos is better than Rundwell would make it even, except that he has to play with Orpik so the best third pairing probably is going to be more effective. ON paper I can see how Washington would look to have the by far best top four, except I think the three non-Letang Penguins are probably pretty underrated.
- james_tanner1

Don't underestimate Chad Rundwell.

How so?
Letang is far and away your best dman, despite the sour-grapes of your fellow fanners.

Schultz was dropped from Edmonton for a reason. He is super leaky.
Ya he has a bomb. Lots of guys can shoot the puck...doesn't mean he is a good defenseman.
Basically he is NFL kicker for hockey.

Did you not watch any of your own games? When he was forced to defend, he is brutal.
BUT he has two Cups...so must be Norris quality I guess.
- ghostibator

Letang is a fantastic 2-way defenseman, he just has a lot of dumb and dirty in him. Takes careless, selfish penalties.

Always been his MO. He only replies to keep the hits-counter going. I realized long ago, if he wasn't rude, ignorant, inflammatory, belittling, and abrasive, no one would entertain his nonsense.

Lives to infuriate readers, plays dumb when called out, and wages a war with anyone in his path. He is the ultimate troll.

So pathetic.
- IRON.MAIDEN

If I didnt know better I would say that James Tanner = Mark Madden. What you explained is Madden to a T. And Madden still holds grudge against pens for letting Bylsma go, so it explains a lot really.

I also think our D is significantly better than the Pens.
Maybe you'd even say "sneaky good" Tanner?

I was just reading (after Philly won game 5) all the Pens-fanboys comments about how overrated Letang is, and how brutal he is/ waste of money/ should have traded him, yet he is their 'best' defenseman.

Schultz is the NHL's best conman. If the Pens hadn't won 2 years ago, I'm pretty confident Justin Schultz would be in the AHL or Europe. Instead he is making 5 million a year. #NHL

Maata is fieldable, but he looks a shadow of what his potential was. I suppose health-scares and injuries will eventually do you in (I know, I've had 3 ACL surgeries).

And then who? Dumoulin?....

Carlson and Orlov are a tier above all of them (unless Letang produces some magic).

Niskanen has got a bit of his MarcusJohansson going, and KEMPNY has been amazingly effective /visible /and has speed? Who knew. (his stick might have saved a few goals yesterday).

BUT BEYOND ALL THIS, Holtby looks to poised and on point. Murray does not.

Can Pens win while having terrible D? Sure, they did it two years in a row. But at some point you'd hope (fingers crossed) that such a weakness is their downfall.
- ghostibator

This is hysterically bad.

And according to him, this blog is what is going to send his kids to college. God help them, I think they are destined for culinary or trade school.

- Katana777

Probably smarter than sending them to these cupcake universities that give everyone a trophy and teach 483947483 genders.

I was probably going to do a defense vs defense blog tomorrow if there's time, but I think it's probably pretty even. Without looking up their stats, I'll guess now and we'll see what I think tomorrow after some research. Call this my eye test. But I'm not going to pretend I know the Pens 5/6 guys much if at all.

Letang > Orlov
Doumalin = or slightly < Niskanen
Matta < Carlson for the points, but I'm guessing Matta is better at D
Shultz > Kempny
Oleksiac > Orpik everyone is better than Orpik
Rundwell = Djoos couldn't even tell you.

Being generous to Washington and giving the edge to Niskanen, the Penguins win the matchup 3-2 with one tie. Assuming Djoos is better than Rundwell would make it even, except that he has to play with Orpik so the best third pairing probably is going to be more effective. ON paper I can see how Washington would look to have the by far best top four, except I think the three non-Letang Penguins are probably pretty underrated.
- james_tanner1

Do you read the Athletic, Tanner? Pens writer Jesse Marshall over there had an awesome write up on Dumoulin.

Schultz has been awesome for the Pens. What you're saying about him could be said about soooo many players. If they were a bust they'd be playing elsewhere.

Dumoulin has been outstanding and Letang has been far better than fans have been giving him credit for.

Maatta? You gotta be kidding. Fieldable? He's be as solid as you could hope any top-four dman to be.

Now, you want to simply argue who has the better d-core that's a different story, but your assessments of the Pens' dmen is just off.
- Rinosaur

Lol I love how you berate Tanner about 'never responding to [your] points' and yet you haven't really said anything other than hyperbolic nothingness.

I think 'awesome' for Schultz means he 'scores', but if you can be side-stepped like a pylon, it kind of negates any offense you produce (for me atleast).
And sure it does apply to soooo many players, which makes me think he is just like soooo many players, ie: average / worse.

Maatta seems inconsistent these days. Like I mentioned, the talent is there to be great, but now I doubt he'll get there, given the injuries/illness.

He is definitely the 2nd best behind Letang though.

I forgot about Oleksiak. He was lights out when he first came over, but I felt he was letting the physicality drive his game a bit too much against Philly.

HOWEVER, as Tanner has said, that 5-6 is miles ahead of ___+Orpik.

Overall I still think Caps have it, but we'll see what the stats say in the next blog.

Lol I love how you berate Tanner about 'never responding to
- ghostibator[your] points' and yet you haven't really said anything other than hyperbolic nothingness.

I think 'awesome' for Schultz means he 'scores', but if you can be side-stepped like a pylon, it kind of negates any offense you produce (for me atleast).
And sure it does apply to soooo many players, which makes me think he is just like soooo many players, ie: average / worse.

Maatta seems inconsistent these days. Like I mentioned, the talent is there to be great, but now I doubt he'll get there, given the injuries/illness.

He is definitely the 2nd best behind Letang though.

I forgot about Oleksiak. He was lights out when he first came over, but I felt he was letting the physicality drive his game a bit too much against Philly.

HOWEVER, as Tanner has said, that 5-6 is miles ahead of ___+Orpik.

Overall I still think Caps have it, but we'll see what the stats say in the next blog.

What do you want me to do? I've given very detailed explanations about the whole "luck" theory. You want me to sit and write out detailed descriptions about what each of those dmen brings?

You clearly don't watch a lot of Pens game and that's fine, I don't expect you to. You have a very poor grasp on every single dmen we have and I'm sure I wouldn't be much better at evaluating every dman you have.

Schultz is not a defensive stalwart and will never be, but he's positionally better than he gets credit for and he's excellent on zone exits and entries. He's also pretty decent at keeping things to the perimeter and retrieving pucks.

Maatta has been very consistent. You would know that if you actually watched more than a couple of Pens' games.

If you want a work-up on all our dmen, do some research instead of just making stuff up.

EDIT: Letang has a very rough start to the season and that was expected. The biggest issue with him this year is he's been playing a very high-risk/high-reward stye of hockey. Other than that he's been very good.

Now our bottom pair? Very inconsistent, but when they're on, they've been super solid.

Haha.

I got sick of his Ferris wheel of nonsense when he was a Yotes blogger. Now it seems he's taken his silliness to an entirely different team.

Ya know, if people stopped commenting on anything related to him in his posts, he'd have like 4 comments a blog. He is well aware of this, and it's in fact, why he plays this stupid game with readers.

Im sure he could pump out good content, be a respected blogger, but he'd rather be reactionary..
- IRON.MAIDEN

Google "Histrionic Personality Disorder" and see if it reminds you of anybody.

Dumo is a beast. Letang, for all the crap he gets, is also a beast.
- Blackstrom2

conor sheary is also a beast

Google "Histrionic Personality Disorder" and see if it reminds you of anybody.
- leonkennedy

Oh god, now you’re a psychiatrist.

I also think our D is significantly better than the Pens.
Maybe you'd even say "sneaky good" Tanner?

I was just reading (after Philly won game 5) all the Pens-fanboys comments about how overrated Letang is, and how brutal he is/ waste of money/ should have traded him, yet he is their 'best' defenseman.

Schultz is the NHL's best conman. If the Pens hadn't won 2 years ago, I'm pretty confident Justin Schultz would be in the AHL or Europe. Instead he is making 5 million a year. #NHL

Maata is fieldable, but he looks a shadow of what his potential was. I suppose health-scares and injuries will eventually do you in (I know, I've had 3 ACL surgeries).

And then who? Dumoulin?....

Carlson and Orlov are a tier above all of them (unless Letang produces some magic).

Niskanen has got a bit of his MarcusJohansson going, and KEMPNY has been amazingly effective /visible /and has speed? Who knew. (his stick might have saved a few goals yesterday).

BUT BEYOND ALL THIS, Holtby looks to poised and on point. Murray does not.

Can Pens win while having terrible D? Sure, they did it two years in a row. But at some point you'd hope (fingers crossed) that such a weakness is their downfall.
- ghostibator

Letang >Carlson. Shultz>Orlov. I’ll give you Nisky>Matta or Dumo. Oleksiak>Orpik.

Has Trump banned tampons in the USA? I'd be happy to smuggle some in to help quell the angry rag mobs.

You know what's more predictable than a broken clock telling the correct time at least twice a day? The rag mob behaving all hormonal on Tanner blogs.

The rag mob complains, "He's just saying that to get more hits!" yet simultaneously play right into the hands of Tanner's alleged manipulations.

Let me know where to drop off the blood soakers and Pamprin.

Lol I love how you berate Tanner about 'never responding to
- ghostibator[your] points' and yet you haven't really said anything other than hyperbolic nothingness.

I think 'awesome' for Schultz means he 'scores', but if you can be side-stepped like a pylon, it kind of negates any offense you produce (for me atleast).
And sure it does apply to soooo many players, which makes me think he is just like soooo many players, ie: average / worse.

Maatta seems inconsistent these days. Like I mentioned, the talent is there to be great, but now I doubt he'll get there, given the injuries/illness.

He is definitely the 2nd best behind Letang though.

I forgot about Oleksiak. He was lights out when he first came over, but I felt he was letting the physicality drive his game a bit too much against Philly.

HOWEVER, as Tanner has said, that 5-6 is miles ahead of ___+Orpik.

Overall I still think Caps have it, but we'll see what the stats say in the next blog.

This is how anyone who watches the Pens at all knows that you don't. If you're going to try to make a stupid point, at least get the basics right. Dumo is without a doubt the second best D on this team, and it's not really close. Letang - Dumo - Maatta/Schultz - Oleksiak - CR.

Letang >Carlson. Shultz>Orlov. I’ll give you Nisky>Matta or Dumo. Oleksiak>Orpik.
- Grinder47

Letang slight > Carlson
Dumo < Niskanen
Schultz = Orlov
Maatta/Oleksiak/Ruhwedel > Djoos/Kempny/Orpik