The Penguins don't return to action until tomorrow night so today I took the time to answer some of your questions
@GunnerStaal do the kings still want the flower????
— Alec Battaglia (@alec_batts) October 30, 2016
I don't have any idea how that kind of trade would work for Los Angeles. The way long term injured reserve works is that you get to use the injured player's cap hit while they are out. When that player returns the cap hit returns. Jonathan Quick hasn't been ruled out for the season so how does Fleury's 5.75M cap hit fit when Quick returns. Furthermore, what does Los Angeles do with Fleury's cap hit the next two years? Paying upwards of 12M for goaltending is absurd. I don't think a Fleury to Los Angeles trade works on any level.
@GunnerStaal How would you rate Schultz as Letang's stand-in on the PP?
— Claire Humphrey (@clairebmused) October 30, 2016
I think he has done OK. He isn't as good at Letang on the zone entry front and that is where the Penguins power play has really been missing Letang. Once inside the zone Schultz has been fine. I think Sidney Crosby consistently being down low on the power play has been the change that has impacted the power play the most and in a good way. The power play has gone five for 16 since Letang has been out which is 31.3%. Justin Schultz certainly hasn't gotten in the way of the success of the power play.
@GunnerStaal what is your assessment of Scott Wilson so far?
— Zachory Kemp (@ZachoryKemp) October 30, 2016
I think the biggest thing when evaluating a player like Wilson when they are thrown into an elevated role is to give things a little bit of time to see how things go. We know that literally every player in the league can have a good or bad game on any given night regardless of their skill set. So far I don't think Wilson has been a liability. His possession numbers are good (CF% 60.7) even if they are influenced heavily by playing with Crosby. His CF% is second best on the team. He has four points in nine games which doesn't look great on the surface considering he is playing on Crosby's line, but those four points have come in the last five games so perhaps we are seeing him get more comfortable in that role. His 5v5 points per 60 is 1.79 on the season which is not too bad and good for third best on the team.
And this leads into the next question
@GunnerStaal what happens to connor shear with the way Scott wilson has been playing
— robin cross (@clamps10) October 30, 2016
It doesn't look like Conor Sheary will get his job back right away when he returns if this keeps up and that is OK. Sheary did a good job when in that role but Scott Wilson is also doing a good job. Sheary can be eased back into the lineup in a bottom six role when he returns. I wouldn't mind seeing him take some of Fehr's ice time when he returns.
@GunnerStaal Thoughts on Beau's play so far in NJ? I think pens should have gave him another cheap contract
— chance (@Chayunce) October 30, 2016
He's been playing on a nightly basis and providing NHL caliber play on the cheap. He's a skill player and has zero points through his first seven games so I can't say he is playing great, but he is second best on the Devils for possession which is valuable. His shot-attempt percentage is 55.8% so the puck is in the offensive zone a lot more than it is in the defensive zone. I reckon the points will come as he continues to get zone time in the opposition's end.
@GunnerStaal Would Maatta benefit from playing elsewhere / is he a bad fit in Pittsburgh now
— Meesh (@HockeyMeesh) October 31, 2016
I think the answer to the first part of the question can be yes while the second part still being no. Pittsburgh has clearly shifted towards being a speed team. They play fast and they try to move fast. Olli Maatta does not move fast. He does have the ability to think the game at high level and certainly has the puck skills to facilitate transition so he can still fit with what Pittsburgh is trying to do. I do think there are teams around the NHL that move more methodically up the ice that could be a better fit, but in no way do I think he is a fish out of water in Pittsburgh. The issue right now is that he plays much better away from Trevor Daley and that happens to be his current partner. That pairing started off rough this year but has rebounded to be a 50.0% duo, but Maatta away from Daley is 60.1%.
All that said I would be pestering Winnipeg about Jacob Trouba everyday using Maatta as my centerpiece for a deal (young comparable left defensemen). Every time Letang misses time there isn't anybody who is close to replacing what he brings. Trouba could attempt to do that better than anybody who is currently on the Penguins roster.
@GunnerStaal Does Trouba have the speed and transition game to fit the Sully system?... Pending a Maatta potential swap of course
— Bekamp (@mbekpgh) October 31, 2016
To piggyback off the last question I think he would fit perfectly with what the Penguins want to do. It isn't often that this type of player is made available. I've made it no secret that I think the Penguins should aggressively pursue a deal for Trouba.
@GunnerStaal on average, how much time every week do spend on covering/coaching hockey?
— Derek James Callow (@xoDeadpoolox) October 31, 2016
Starting next week my high school hockey season starts back up so there is about 9.5 hours on average per week if we are just counting the ice time. If the Penguins play three times in a week there is another nine hours on average. Writing the blogs doesn't take too long if I am responsible enough to make some shorthand notes so that can be about 3-5 hours on any given week. The podcast is about a two hour endeavor each time after it gets recorded and spliced up to be posted. I suppose during peak season I am looking at about 25 hours per week which is fine by me considering I enjoy it.
@GunnerStaal are the oilers and wild for real?
— Darrell Schats (@schatz82rd) October 31, 2016
I would like to see where things stand at about the 20 game mark before I feel comfortable with the sample. The Oilers are 7-2-0 and the Wild are 6-2-1 which is a great start for both teams. Believe it or not it is the Oilers who sit 13th overall with a Score-Adjusted Fenwick of 50.8% and Bruce Boudreau's Minnesota Wild are 23rd at 47.9%. So the Oilers are driving play better through the first nine games this year. The biggest difference is that the Oilers are getting 93.8% goaltending at even-strength with the Wild getting 92.1%. Maintaining 93.8% is going to be difficult. Philadelphia led the league last year at 93.5% for reference. The Oilers underlying numbers are encouraging so they might be for real this year. Minnesota will have to improve their numbers if they want to keep winning at this clip.
@GunnerStaal is there anything in my thoughts that Ian Cole has been a dumpster fire this season dyou reckon?
— Matt (@Idlematt) October 30, 2016
I think it is important to remember that the Penguins are asking him to play above his appropriate role. There have been games where Ian Cole has led all Penguins defensemen in even-strength ice time. Those instances have occurred during Letang's absence, but that is asking a lot out of Ian Cole. His Score-Adjusted Fenwick is 46.6% which isn't great, but again it isn't fair to ask Ian Cole to play top four minutes and expect pristine results. The Penguins only have three points from their defensemen at even-strength this year which is super low and Ian Cole has the only goal among them. All in all I don't think Cole has played great, but when I look at things contextually I can't really fault him too much. If he continues to play poorly after Letang gets back that would be problematic.
I appreciate the questions. I'll try to do this weekly. If you want to ask a question find me on twitter (@gunnerstaal) because that format works best.
Thanks for reading!