Ryan Wilson: Doug Maclean Implies Locker Room issues In Pittsburgh, ESPN Player Rankings Doug Maclean makes assumptions about Penguins locker room, ESPN releases their rankings of NHL players and coaches, Penguins set to take on Blackhawks in preseason

Ryan Wilson: Doug Maclean Implies Locker Room issues In Pittsburgh, ESPN Player Rankings
Doug Maclean makes assumptions about Penguins locker room, ESPN releases their rankings of NHL players and coaches, Penguins set to take on Blackhawks in preseason
- Ryan_Wilson

May be the only time in the past decade that a Flyers' goalie is ranked higher than a Penguins' goalie. However, this WAS ESPN...

May be the only time in the past decade that a Flyers' goalie is ranked higher than a Penguins' goalie. However, this WAS ESPN...
- jmatchett383

Yeah, it's a joke. I don't think there's an NHL fan with a brain for the game that would take it without a 'tourist trap sized' grain of salt.

I can't wait to hear Scott Howson's feelings on the Pens locker room. Probably something to the tune of, "I think they should trade a solid scoring winger, some good draft picks, and a chance to draft the next Ron Francis for hockey superstar Jack Johnson."

Where is that guy who wanted the Penguins to trade Letang straight across for Johnson. I want him to to read that article so badly.

bobby ryan not included in the top 100 forwards HAS to be an oversight.....if not, then ESPN is even more clueless then i thought.

as for coaches, the fact that paul mclean (defending adams winner, and finalist the year before) is not in the top 5 is beyond laughable.

I am sure Kunitz is happy to be playing with Crosby

Maclean might've failed as a GM, but he hasn't exactly made up any stories as an analyst. I don't think what he said means there was a locker room issue as much as players had issues with some coaching/management decisions.

bobby ryan not included in the top 100 forwards HAS to be an oversight.....if not, then ESPN is even more clueless then i thought.

as for coaches, the fact that paul mclean (defending adams winner, and finalist the year before) is not in the top 5 is beyond laughable.
- sensarmy_11

ESPN projected Dwayne Roloson to start something like 36 games. The number really doesn't matter, considering he's a goalie coach. I'm going with clueless.

ESPN projected Dwayne Roloson to start something like 36 games. The number really doesn't matter, considering he's a goalie coach. I'm going with clueless.
- BulliesPhan87

Yeah, and lets not forget the dozen KHL players that they gave projections for when they completely left out a bunch of guys that are legitimate NHLers.

bobby ryan not included in the top 100 forwards HAS to be an oversight.....if not, then ESPN is even more clueless then i thought.

as for coaches, the fact that paul mclean (defending adams winner, and finalist the year before) is not in the top 5 is beyond laughable.
- sensarmy_11

Bobby Ryan is a criminal oversight, he will have a career year this season.

But MacLean is ranked 6th overall in the coaches rankings, lets not act like he was ranked 15th or something.

Yeah, and lets not forget the dozen KHL players that they gave projections for when they completely left out a bunch of guys that are legitimate NHLers.
- Peterg

ESPN Hockey Analysis:

Maclean might've failed as a GM, but he hasn't exactly made up any stories as an analyst. I don't think what he said means there was a locker room issue as much as players had issues with some coaching/management decisions.
- Lahey

The thing is, that Maclean has never really had any connection to the Pens or has any real access that local guys, or even more tuned in national guys have.

It sounds to me that he picked up on a second or third hand story or maybe he has some sort of connection with Iginla and possibly that he was disgruntled on how he was used (understandable). Crosby loves his linemates, so it wasn't him, and Malkin & Neal are set, so I doubt that anything came from them.

It's just funny that the grumblings came out now... I'm sure after the second round when the Pens dominating the Senators, that there was no grumblings.

Bobby Ryan is a criminal oversight, he will have a career year this season.

But MacLean is ranked 6th overall in the coaches rankings, lets not act like he was ranked 15th or something.
- Ryan_Wilson

I didn't actually see the full rankings, just read the blog. but you'd imagine that given his resume, he should be in the top 5.....especially considering that unlike the actual top 5, he had far from a "stacked" team

Lines: Kunitz-Crosby-Kobasew, Bennett-Sutter-D'Agostini, Jeffrey-Vitale-Megna, MacIntyre-Sill-Payerl. -DP

— ROOT SPORTS™ | PIT (@ROOTSPORTSPIT) September 19, 2013

Looks like it isn't Bennett with Crosby, although I'm sure he'll get some shifts and some PP time with 87.

It looks like Kobasew is getting a legit chance at making this team after his 2 goal performance.

I didn't actually see the full rankings, just read the blog. but you'd imagine that given his resume, he should be in the top 5.....especially considering that unlike the actual top 5, he had far from a "stacked" team
- sensarmy_11

At the end of the day the only thing that matters is if Paul MacLean is the best man for the job in Ottawa. I believe we can both say with 100% confidence that yes he is.

Lines: Kunitz-Crosby-Kobasew, Bennett-Sutter-D'Agostini, Jeffrey-Vitale-Megna, MacIntyre-Sill-Payerl. -DP

— ROOT SPORTS™ | PIT (@ROOTSPORTSPIT) September 19, 2013

Looks like it isn't Bennett with Crosby, although I'm sure he'll get some shifts and some PP time with 87.

It looks like Kobasew is getting a legit chance at making this team after his 2 goal performance.
- rival22

I have updated the blog with some information about tonight's matchup.

Lines: Kunitz-Crosby-Kobasew, Bennett-Sutter-D'Agostini, Jeffrey-Vitale-Megna, MacIntyre-Sill-Payerl. -DP

— ROOT SPORTS™ | PIT (@ROOTSPORTSPIT) September 19, 2013

Looks like it isn't Bennett with Crosby, although I'm sure he'll get some shifts and some PP time with 87.

It looks like Kobasew is getting a legit chance at making this team after his 2 goal performance.
- rival22

He deserves a shot. He is not a bad player, just injury prone. If he can stay healthy, he is an upgrade on the 3rd line for the Pens. A Kobasew-Sutter-Jokinen line would be a really good 3rd line. Plus, he kills penalties.

He deserves a shot. He is not a bad player, just injury prone. If he can stay healthy, he is an upgrade on the 3rd line for the Pens. A Kobasew-Sutter-Jokinen line would be a really good 3rd line. Plus, he kills penalties.
- cap1681

And it's good to see how he plays with higher skilled players. One of the thing that third line players have to be able to do, is to slide up the lineup in case of injuries or whatever, and not be an anchor.

My other thought, is that they are going to cut him loose because they have no cap room to sign him, and maybe as a favor they are showcasing him a bit so he has a better shot to catch on elsewhere.

Interesting to see what happens...

And it's good to see how he plays with higher skilled players. One of the thing that third line players have to be able to do, is to slide up the lineup in case of injuries or whatever, and not be an anchor.

My other thought, is that they are going to cut him loose because they have no cap room to sign him, and maybe as a favor they are showcasing him a bit so he has a better shot to catch on elsewhere.Interesting to see what happens...
- rival22

Could be a possibility. But, you never know what could happen. Obviously because he isn't already signed in addition to the cap situation it's hard to belive he would make it and someone signed would be waived.

Although...I think if they dealt Niskanen(seems unlikely but necessary right now) and waived Glass we would be quite happy.

Not sure how it would all fit financially but that's my take.

bobby ryan not included in the top 100 forwards HAS to be an oversight.....if not, then ESPN is even more clueless then i thought.

as for coaches, the fact that paul mclean (defending adams winner, and finalist the year before) is not in the top 5 is beyond laughable.
- sensarmy_11

I was just about to add the same thing about Ryan. ESPN trying to talk hockey again.

I was just about to add the same thing about Ryan. ESPN trying to talk hockey again.
- cryptical77

Fox Sports 1 already has them beat in that category and it's not even close. They are probably kicking themselves still over losing rights to NBC Sports.

I was just about to add the same thing about Ryan. ESPN trying to talk hockey again.
- cryptical77

To be fair ESPN's online hockey content should not be confused with the TV side of things.

ESPN has some really good intelligent people who provide digital content about hockey.

That said, when you make a list like this there are going to be errors.

Could be a possibility. But, you never know what could happen. Obviously because he isn't already signed in addition to the cap situation it's hard to belive he would make it and someone signed would be waived.

Although...I think if they dealt Niskanen(seems unlikely but necessary right now) and waived Glass we would be quite happy.

Not sure how it would all fit financially but that's my take.
- HopintheCordoba

There are rumors I am looking into that suggest the Penguins are closer to being cap compliant than what the current information out there suggests.

Could be a possibility. But, you never know what could happen. Obviously because he isn't already signed in addition to the cap situation it's hard to belive he would make it and someone signed would be waived.

Although...I think if they dealt Niskanen(seems unlikely but necessary right now) and waived Glass we would be quite happy.

Not sure how it would all fit financially but that's my take.
- HopintheCordoba

I thought I remember reading when Kobasew was given a PTO, that he was part of the group that Sid skated with in the offseason. Maybe this was the plan all along, as a favor to Sid, if no one signed him before camps opened, they'd bring him in just to give him a chance to show other teams he can play?

Who knows... I'm just interested to see what the roster looks like on opening day.