This weekend Pittsburgh played host to the NWHL All Star Game and it was a success. Some of the world's best women hockey players converged to the Steel City to take part in a skills competition and all star game. The events were well attended (completely sold out) and also had a Penguins tie. Amanda Kessel was the big star of the weekend and her brother was in attendance to take it all in.
Before we get back to regularly scheduled Penguins hockey, here were my thoughts from a great experience at the @NWHL All-Star Weekend. https://t.co/FLFDV9sZnU
— Angie (@acarducci) February 13, 2017
What a great weekend of women's hockey! Thanks for joining us at #UPMC66, NWHL!
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 13, 2017
Read more from @NWHL All-Star: https://t.co/kUhfMR50j8 pic.twitter.com/RwwHjmPBZ9
For those looking to watch the game here it is in its entirety
With goaltenders like Jaro Halak and Andrew Hammond hitting the waiver wire it really puts a damper on Fleury's trade value. Why would a team invest assets into Fleury when they can get the same goaltending off the waiver wire?
Jaroslav Halak has 10 straight wins while positing a .929 save percentage for AHL Bridgeport. Could be an option on the goalie trade market.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) February 13, 2017
The only thing the Penguins have going for them on that front is that many organizations are infatuated with having a "brand name" in net.
Pittsburgh isn't as good at suppressing shots in 2016-17 as they were in 2015-16, but they are still great at making the most of their offensive possessions
Adjusted GF Efficiency (Goals Per 100 Possessions)
— tempofreehockey (@TempoFreeHockey) February 12, 2017
1 PIT 5.46
2 CBJ 4.92
3 NYR 4.88
4 MIN 4.82
5 BOS 4.78
6 WPG 4.75
7 WSH 4.69
8 TOR 4.61
When healthy the Penguins have the best forward grouping in the league.
Today at practice the Penguins were still missing some forwards
#Pens practice underway at #UPMC66. Lone player absent is Bryan Rust. Carl Hagelin & Conor Sheary skated prior to practice.
— Josh Getzoff (@PensJG) February 13, 2017
Here is what the lines look like
#Pens lines...
— Josh Getzoff (@PensJG) February 13, 2017
Kunitz-Crosby-Guentzel
Cullen-Bonino-Kessel
Wilson-Malkin-Hornqvist
Kuhnhackl-Fehr/Rowney-Archibald
I really like the combination of Kunitz-Crosby-Guentzel. Their ability to create offense with skillful passing in the offensive zone will eventually pay dividends. Each player has the ability to keep plays alive by making controlled possession plays.
You have a poor man's HBK line with Cullen filling in for the missing Hagelin
Scott Wilson has been producing in a limited role and now he will have the opportunity to do so with Malkin. Hornqvist returns to playing with one of the big two centers.
Malkin also practiced with the top power play. The first unit returns to a familiar look which included Geno, Sid, Phil, Letang, and Hornqvist. I imagine that zone entries will come a lot easier with Letang utilizing the neutral zone drop pass to Kessel which leads to a board side pass to Sid or Geno. It's a really tough setup to guard against.
Yesterday Gustav Nyqvist stabbed another player in the face.
Only because I haven't seen a GIF, here's video. pic.twitter.com/KX0LzNuQOB
— Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) February 12, 2017
He has an in-person hearing which means the league has the ability to suspend Nyqvist longer than six games. He should be suspended at least 50 games. The actual suspension will likely come in way lower. I'm not really sure how anybody could come to the conclusion that this type of play shouldn't be severely punished and not be a candidate for the league's longest ever suspension. Spurgeon could have easily lost his eye and just because it didn't turn out that way doesn't mean the act shouldn't be punished any differently. This was a gross play.
Thanks for reading!