Pens are on pace for less points this yr than last. He has not made them better
- hfc355

I just counter argued you saying EK is basically washed up now and that's all you have? Is the season over or is there still 64 standings points on the line?

You are speaking from a place of pure ignorance, void of any critical thinking, for you do not watch this team nor follow them. Move along Gramps.

Before the recent break, I posted something about the immediate 5gms after returning to action being pivotable in Pens fate this season. So far, they've pooped the bed at 1-3. With 32gms remaining now, Pens pretty much need 2pts in at least 22gms for an additional 44pts. 97pts would likely have them in the PO conversation. To get there, they need .688 pts% conversion rate. IMO, there's not much evidence this season that this group could bump their current .530 by ~.16 basis pts. Could they go on streak if their PP heats up? Surely! If so, how long can this aging group push for? They probably left too much uphill for the very end. Thinking the highlight of the season will be pre-game on Monday 2/18.

The PP more and more is guilty of not moving their feet. They stay so stationary and allow themselves to be covered. When a shot does get through they're just standing and staring and don't have body position or momentum to get to lose pucks or rebounds
- Thorny87

We have a saying on my league team..."pass and move". You should almost always be in motion with or after just passing the puck. If you stand around you're done for haha the non stop movement makes defenders have to stay on their heels and guessing, which leads to more breakdowns and space in O-zone. Its much easier for an opposing team to defend stationary players aka pylons haha

We have a saying on my league team..."pass and move". You should almost always be in motion with or after just passing the puck. If you stand around you're done for haha the non stop movement makes defenders have to stay on their heels and guessing, which leads to more breakdowns and space in O-zone. Its much easier for an opposing team to defend stationary players aka pylons haha
- MattStrat

Oilers are an example of constant motion. My hawks have the same problem as you guys.

We have a saying on my league team..."pass and move". You should almost always be in motion with or after just passing the puck. If you stand around you're done for haha the non stop movement makes defenders have to stay on their heels and guessing, which leads to more breakdowns and space in O-zone. Its much easier for an opposing team to defend stationary players aka pylons haha
- MattStrat

Yes sir. It was drilled into us at a young age. If you're standing still, your not playing hockey. You actually have to try to be stationary on skates lol.

Everyone was giving Geno grief for him passing back and forth with EK the other night but NONE of the other 4 players moved to open anything up!

It's really frustrating to watch them fail at basic concepts.

It’s more of a top 6 issue than a bottom 6 issue. It literally always has been.

I think this team has quit on Sullivan. Most of the guys are playing for themselves at this point. Crosby might be the only guy who wears the Pittsburgh Penguin crest with pride.

I just counter argued you saying EK is basically washed up now and that's all you have? Is the season over or is there still 64 standings points on the line?

You are speaking from a place of pure ignorance, void of any critical thinking, for you do not watch this team nor follow them. Move along Gramps.
- MattStrat

See misquoting me to fit your rhetoric. Where did I ever say EK was washed up? Show me where. I said his best days are in the rear view mirror not that he is washed up . No one would take on that salary hit though for what he can now do and will do next 3 yrs. Reading comprehension not your strong suit I guess.

See misquoting me to fit your rhetoric. Where did I ever say EK was washed up? Show me where. I said his best days are in the rear view mirror not that he is washed up . No one would take on that salary hit though for what he can now do and will do next 3 yrs. Reading comprehension not your strong suit I guess.
- hfc355

Talk about reading comprehension problems Hahaha I never once quoted you at all and I said "you are basically saying EK is washed up", which isn't straight up saying that's exactly what you said at all! and that comment was based on things you've been saying in this blog and the last, such as no teams would want EK...and you didn't just mean because of cap hit. Or his best days and accomplishments are behind him... When he won the f'n Norris trophy and finished up a 100+ point season as a dman in the past 9 months haha. I would agree that's hard to top, and may never happen again, for sure. Then there's the he doesn't make them a better team solely based on the team's current standings points pace compared to last season. Incredibley short sighted dumb stuff, Grandma.

Sully is the move you make because you cannot make any other moves

Fire Sully

See misquoting me to fit your rhetoric. Where did I ever say EK was washed up? Show me where. I said his best days are in the rear view mirror not that he is washed up . No one would take on that salary hit though for what he can now do and will do next 3 yrs. Reading comprehension not your strong suit I guess.
- hfc355

Talk about reading comprehension problems Hahaha I never once quoted you at all and I said "you are basically saying EK is washed up", which isn't straight up saying that's exactly what you said at all! and that comment was based on things you've been saying in this blog and the last, such as no teams would want EK...and you didn't just mean because of cap hit. Or his best days and accomplishments are behind him... When he won the f'n Norris trophy and finished up a 100+ point season as a dman in the past 9 months haha. I would agree that's hard to top, and may never happen again, for sure. Then there's the he doesn't make them a better team solely based on the team's current standings points pace compared to last season. Incredibley short sighted dumb stuff, Grandma.
- MattStrat

Oh yeah? Well I can piss further than both of you...combined!!!

A total refresh is needed. Same old stale roster.
Come up with a 3-5 year plan and ask 87 if he wants to be a part of that. If not, maybe the 3-5 year program goes quicker. With the injury, re-sign 59.
58/71, sorry but thanks for your years of service. It's time to move on. Get what you can. Strike in the summer where teams like Buffalo and Ottawa believe they can win--grab their draft picks and enjoy while they fade off to oblivion. Trading to stronger contenders only gets back very late picks in any round, and doesnt help as much.
65 and Ned need to go to grab whatever you can in terms of prospects. 65 will be hard to move as aging with a huge cap hit. Graves can go for a bucket of warmup pucks or a backup Iceburgh costume. Petterson might be able to fetch you a decent 2nd rounder.
Mandate significant changes on the coaching staff. I think Sid and FSG are married to Sully--Sully is a good coach whose voice has gone stale--so I dont think they will move on from him.
Sorry but after years of watching this group... Last night did it for me.
They looked Lost, dejected, defeated...No confidence... I hadnt seen that, but last night as soon as FLA scored the first goal, they gave up.
- Amanion

That was old man GMJR's plan 4 years ago but look where that got him...

Talk about reading comprehension problems Hahaha I never once quoted you at all and I said "you are basically saying EK is washed up", which isn't straight up saying that's exactly what you said at all! and that comment was based on things you've been saying in this blog and the last, such as no teams would want EK...and you didn't just mean because of cap hit. Or his best days and accomplishments are behind him... When he won the f'n Norris trophy and finished up a 100+ point season as a dman in the past 9 months haha. I would agree that's hard to top, and may never happen again, for sure. Then there's the he doesn't make them a better team solely based on the team's current standings points pace compared to last season. Incredibley short sighted dumb stuff, Grandma.
- MattStrat

No team would want him because he is no longer a 10.5M player . It would be foolish for any team to make the same mistake the Pens did by taking on EK. The original post said he would bring to the Pens some big assets. My response was not at 10.5M @3 yrs. He is untraceable without Pens eating half the contract. And no he hasn't made the Pens better. Proof is in results even you can comprehend that just look at the standings

A good 30 for 30 will be made one day about how quickly the Penguins were built from a playoff failure to a back-to-back Cup champion to a team that cant win a playoff series. Especially when the stars, who everyone thought would fall off a cliff, wouldnt be the problem.

I kid, but seriously amazing how far this team fell. Some of it was to be expected, but if you told me Crosby would still be putting up these numbers, I'd figure we'd still be right there as we have been in past years.

A good 30 for 30 will be made one day about how quickly the Penguins were built from a playoff failure to a back-to-back Cup champion to a team that cant win a playoff series. Especially when the stars, who everyone thought would fall off a cliff, wouldnt be the problem.

I kid, but seriously amazing how far this team fell. Some of it was to be expected, but if you told me Crosby would still be putting up these numbers, I'd figure we'd still be right there as we have been in past years.
- SuperHenderson13

It went downhill after Hörnqvist and Kessel cursed this team following their trades.

Yes sir. It was drilled into us at a young age. If you're standing still, your not playing hockey. You actually have to try to be stationary on skates lol.

Everyone was giving Geno grief for him passing back and forth with EK the other night but NONE of the other 4 players moved to open anything up!

It's really frustrating to watch them fail at basic concepts.
- Thorny87

I'm glad I wasn't the only one that noticed that - when everyone was stationary and Malkin had nowhere to go with the puck. So frustrating to watch as a player and coach myself. If we notice these things as "uninformed fans" I would hope they can see it - which makes me believe the mental energy/desire from this group is toast.

They made a massive mistake extending Sullivan so early and he is the biggest problem in eyes. Dubas changed 10 opening night players and they still have the same results. At some point them playing well and having good underlying numbers doesn’t mean sh1t if none of the players have the killer instinct to close out games.

A good 30 for 30 will be made one day about how quickly the Penguins were built from a playoff failure to a back-to-back Cup champion to a team that cant win a playoff series. Especially when the stars, who everyone thought would fall off a cliff, wouldnt be the problem.

I kid, but seriously amazing how far this team fell. Some of it was to be expected, but if you told me Crosby would still be putting up these numbers, I'd figure we'd still be right there as we have been in past years.
- SuperHenderson13

Is it? They followed the same path the Red Wings did at the end of the Dats/Z era.

4 weeks on IR for Jake... can't even trade him for anything decent now

4 weeks on IR for Jake... can't even trade him for anything decent now
- Guile

He’s a puss anyway. Points collector.

4 weeks on IR for Jake... can't even trade him for anything decent now
- Guile

I think he should have stopped kicking the can down the road and just gave him the final offer at the all-star break. Then if he didn't wanna sign trade him while the prices are high.

He’s a puss anyway. Points collector.
- Grinder47

I'll be honest Grinder I don't agree with you on many things, but I do agree that they needed a change up. Some new players. Some big hitters. Some net front and dirty area players. Heck a few players who add some life and excitement and dishes out some punishment.

I think this team has quit on Sullivan. Most of the guys are playing for themselves at this point. Crosby might be the only guy who wears the Pittsburgh Penguin crest with pride.
- Thunderbolt

They all suffer from FWS Fat Wallet Syndrome They all got their long term contracts and they are set for retirement They do not have the hunger that comes with youth
They have their guaranteed money Only one who plays for the love of the game all the time is SID
That is why increasing the Salary Cap is bad More money makes more lazy players and money does not produce production If you have 45 points in a year and your salary doubles your production will still be 45 points I call that a bad investment

He’s a puss anyway. Points collector.
- Grinder47

I hate point collecting forwards. Thankfully Harkins isn't one those types.

4 weeks on IR for Jake... can't even trade him for anything decent now
- Guile

They can still get a 1st and a mid prospect. But likely no more 1st, top prospect and another mid pick. Take the best deal, trade him and hope he blows in the playoffs. Would likely lower his asking price in free agency if we want to re-sign him.