I’d like to see DOC bury one. He’s played well tonight

So I was listening to Madden today... He said the Pens are playing to nearly 98% capacity at PPG. Honestly, I thought it would be less. That surprised me.

He had Yohe on... Yohe said (as far as he knows) there hasn't been any real discussions between Dubas and Guentz.
- madmike71

I've been to a fair bit of games this year... I would never claim it to have been at 90% capacity. Unless that is just referring to ticket sold and not the people who show up...

I've been to a fair bit of games this year... I would never claim it to have been at 90% capacity. Unless that is just referring to ticket sold and not the people who show up...
- Guile

The number they report is tickets sold.

Morehouse cared about getting people in the building. Usually it meant giving away tickets at the last minute. FSG didnt care as much about that.

The number they report is tickets sold.

Morehouse cared about getting people in the building. Usually it meant giving away tickets at the last minute. FSG didnt care as much about that.
- SuperHenderson13

He made reference to that... Said he didn't think they were giving tix or doing student rush. I figured the numbers are manipulated because I see a good bit of empty seats. Who knows... Just thought it was interesting.

Didn't the Canucks only beat you guys 2-0 a few weeks ago? Oilers 3-0? Without Bedard?

None of that is to say they shouldn't clean house, though haha just sayin..
- MattStrat

True, but look whet the oilers and nucks have to look forward to and then what the pens have. Always liked the pens after my hawks but sooner or later you will have to do what the hawks did, clean house and use disinfectant.

I hate point collecting forwards. Thankfully Harkins isn't one those types.
- acdc1206

You got guys like Jake who are good but mostly ride Sid’s jock. Then you got guys like Carter who may score score 7 goals in 7 games in the playoffs after scoring 5 in 75 games. Just personality types, leadership, awesomeness. poop I know a lot about.

Woo hoo, back in the playoff hunt. O'Connor gets promoted back to second line duty and immediately responds with a helper. He's now riding on a two game point streak.

Rakell had two helpers with Sid.

Jake who?

Woo hoo, back in the playoff hunt. O'Connor gets promoted back to second line duty and immediately responds with a helper. He's now riding on a two game point streak.

Rakell had two helpers with Sid.

Jake who?
- Thunderbolt

hahaha

They're actually not even that far out of it with 62 more standings points up for grabs, really....but....no Jake now....and showing no signs of being able to keep a streak going at all, all season, even with their 2nd best forward healthy...probably not gonna get it done.

It must be a hard spot for a GM. I mean Dubas, before signing with the Pens, went to Pittsburgh and had that late night meeting at the rink with just Sid. They really think they can win and so does Dubas. But what people think doesn't always make it true...so does he sell off pieces, super important pieces like Jake, even though the old core is still competitive and believes they can win or does he try and get them some gifts before, or on, the TDL to try and push them through into postseason?

Its too bad they weren't comfortably in a playoff spot now and Jake was going on IR for 6 to 8 weeks instead of 4 hahah...pull some Tampa Kuch sh!t

True, but look whet the oilers and nucks have to look forward to and then what the pens have. Always liked the pens after my hawks but sooner or later you will have to do what the hawks did, clean house and use disinfectant.
- LFS

Yes, we know. Everyone around here is fairly grounded in the realities of the team and where they are in the cycle of things.

I do feel for Sid a bit though. He's still a force and deserves to be in the postseason. Its what he really, really wants. He's still hungry AF after all these years.

You got guys like Jake who are good but mostly ride Sid’s jock. Then you got guys like Carter who may score score 7 goals in 7 games in the playoffs after scoring 5 in 75 games. Just personality types, leadership, awesomeness. poop I know a lot about.
- Grinder47

Jake is 6th all time in goals per game in the playoffs (min 50 games played), and first among active players.

Jake is 6th all time in goals per game in the playoffs (min 50 games played), and first among active players.
- MickV

Yeah. He collects points. We’ve established that.

Yeah. He collects points. We’ve established that.
- Grinder47

He also blocks shots. Carter dodging them these days. Leadership!

If Rakell keeps collecting points on the 1st line. I wonder if he will gain any trade value?

If Rakell keeps collecting points on the 1st line. I wonder if he will gain any trade value?
- 123Kid

Seems like the consensus in Pittsburgh is they'll likely trade a couple of players, but try to retool for next year. I'd like to keep Rak. I think he can turn it around.

I'm thinking Smith, Ned and Eller. Trading Guentzal doesn't support that theory, but Dubas doesn't seem to be prioritizing him.

Seems like the consensus in Pittsburgh is they'll likely trade a couple of players, but try to retool for next year. I'd like to keep Rak. I think he can turn it around.

I'm thinking Smith, Ned and Eller. Trading Guentzal doesn't support that theory, but Dubas doesn't seem to be prioritizing him.
- madmike71

I personally like Rak. I feel he always does better with Sid. They just keep trying to fit him a square peg into a round hole with Malkin or Eller. I do agree though. I think Smith, Ned, and Eller are shopped and traded. I think Jake gets traded as well. I think they try to go aggressive once again in FA.

Seems like the consensus in Pittsburgh is they'll likely trade a couple of players, but try to retool for next year. I'd like to keep Rak. I think he can turn it around.

I'm thinking Smith, Ned and Eller. Trading Guentzal doesn't support that theory, but Dubas doesn't seem to be prioritizing him.
- madmike71

I agree. problem with Rak is he only seems to work well with Sid. Sully putting him on the 3rd line was idiotic, he has a working line and almost always moves away from it.

No one seems to be working well with Geno which is a problem. The 2nd line looked OK last night but it was mostly because DOC was everywhere.

That was easily Jesse's worst game I've seen him play as a Pen.

Thorny you are 100% correct no one seems to be able to play well with Malkin. I think it may be time to move him to wing and see if that works better. I know we really don't have a center to put in that 2nd spot currently so maybe something they should do next season.

Thorny you are 100% correct no one seems to be able to play well with Malkin. I think it may be time to move him to wing and see if that works better. I know we really don't have a center to put in that 2nd spot currently so maybe something they should do next season.
- 123Kid

Don' get me wrong I do think Geno still has something to give. I think he needs to be with a player like Phil who will bark at him when he does something dumb/selfish.

He and Smith don't seem to be on the same page and you can see the frustration from both of them

Don' get me wrong I do think Geno still has something to give. I think he needs to be with a player like Phil who will bark at him when he does something dumb/selfish.

He and Smith don't seem to be on the same page and you can see the frustration from both of them
- Thorny87

Anyone you could think of who could be that Phil type player?

Jake is 6th all time in goals per game in the playoffs (min 50 games played), and first among active players.
- MickV

My source has him 9th and 3rd, respectively.

https://www.hockey-refere...ls_per_game_career_p.html

Seems like the consensus in Pittsburgh is they'll likely trade a couple of players, but try to retool for next year. I'd like to keep Rak. I think he can turn it around.

I'm thinking Smith, Ned and Eller. Trading Guentzal doesn't support that theory, but Dubas doesn't seem to be prioritizing him.
- madmike71

Rak is fine, I don't mind him but I think I'd like to see what the trade market looks like for him.

Definitely on board with trading Smith. I like Ned but also makes sense to trade him. On Eller though, surprisingly I feel like he is a keeper. His contract is fine and he has done ok so far.

Crazy here, but could you somehow put together a trade centered on Jake and Ovechkin? Down year and all, having a line with Crosby centering OV would be amazing.

Don' get me wrong I do think Geno still has something to give. I think he needs to be with a player like Phil who will bark at him when he does something dumb/selfish.

He and Smith don't seem to be on the same page and you can see the frustration from both of them
- Thorny87

Well Phil barked at him and they ended up moving him to the 3rd line. I think Geno needs a coach that will bark at him and not just coddle him.

I also think its time to bring in a good 2 way 2C and move Malkin to the wing. I would absolutely gauge his interest in a trade though.

Crazy here, but could you somehow put together a trade centered on Jake and Ovechkin? Down year and all, having a line with Crosby centering OV would be amazing.
- jmatchett383

The Caps wouldnt trade Ovechkin for Jake, Malkin and a 1st. If they are going rebuild mode, Ovie chasing Gretzky's record would still put asses in the seats.

Don' get me wrong I do think Geno still has something to give. I think he needs to be with a player like Phil who will bark at him when he does something dumb/selfish.

He and Smith don't seem to be on the same page and you can see the frustration from both of them
- Thorny87

Geno ain't the problem lol