Thought Shero stole Warforsky or something...
- Guile

just last year, we resigned him during free agency

Olesky is still up with the Pens... does he fill the spot or do they call up someone else?

Thought Shero stole Warforsky or something...
- Guile

Did he? My bad. I was just looking at the stats (not fancy ones).

Still, based on merit, DP should not be called up.

I know he hasn't earned it... but with Letang out.. I wonder if they bring DP up or go with Olesky.
- j.boyd919

If its a few weeks, I do think it should be Pouliot.
But yeah, probably Olesky is the logical choice.
I'd like to see Ethan Prow get a few games

No - or they shouldn't be. It's pretty much the norm with penguins defensmen that they have to be brought along slowly. Other than Maatta, I don't recall a pens defensemen in recent memory that developed right away. Niskanen, Duomolin, Despres and (even schultz I guess) took their time
- DeflatedPucks

Niskanen was 25 when he was traded. Not sure there was much "bringing him along slowly" that the Penguins had to do. Goligoski also pretty much jumped into the NHL, I think (though another year may have helped).

Again, not saying he's a bust, but I also think that he's underperformed, to date, in an environment tailored to his skillset.

Did he? My bad. I was just looking at the stats (not fancy ones).

Still, based on merit, DP should not be called up.
- jmatchett383

Nah Wars is back on the Pens this year

No - or they shouldn't be. It's pretty much the norm with penguins defensmen that they have to be brought along slowly. Other than Maatta, I don't recall a pens defensemen in recent memory that developed right away. Niskanen, Duomolin, Despres and (even schultz I guess) took their time
- DeflatedPucks

Very common with defenseman. Not a pens issue. But Pouliot is still way behind schedule. He should be a solid 3rd pairing guy by now.

Niskanen was 25 when he was traded. Not sure there was much "bringing him along slowly" that the Penguins had to do. Goligoski also pretty much jumped into the NHL, I think (though another year may have helped).

Again, not saying he's a bust, but I also think that he's underperformed, to date, in an environment tailored to his skillset.
- jmatchett383

I think Gogo is the perfect example to what you should expect in DP. Gogo was very inconsistent early on, which is why they were ready to trade him. Then Nisky was a throw in the trade with Neal. Dallas must have thought very little Nisky, hence why everyone was blown away by Shero pulling off a trade like that.

Both young offensive'ish Dmen who were inconsistent early. Just need to give him more time.

Very common with defenseman. Not a pens issue. But Pouliot is still way behind schedule. He should be a solid 3rd pairing guy by now.
- sditulli

This is what I was trying to say. I mean, the guy was the CHL (not just WHL) defenseman of the year 3 seasons ago. He put up record-breaking numbers in the playoffs that year as well. The fact that he isn't an elite NHL defender is understood, but the fact that he's having trouble getting regular playing time as a 3rd pairing defenseman should at least raise a flag or two.

I think Gogo is the perfect example to what you should expect in DP. Gogo was very inconsistent early on, which is why they were ready to trade him. Then Nisky was a throw in the trade with Neal. Dallas must have thought very little Nisky, hence why everyone was blown away by Shero pulling off a trade like that.

Both young offensive'ish Dmen who were inconsistent early. Just need to give him more time.
- WVPensFan22

Have to give him playing time as well

Have to give him playing time as well
- Guile

Playing time should also be earned on merit, not given by draft position.

Playing time should also be earned on merit, not given by draft position.
- jmatchett383

If we go by this mantra, the dude should have been playing as an NHL regular last year

Playing time should also be earned on merit, not given by draft position.
- jmatchett383

Quite true, but can't let a top draft pick sit his entire year in the AHL, after being up the prior two years and not being terrible in those showings overall.

I do recall them noting a lack of interest or something to that nature in the prior years when hes been in the AHL. I hope that is not the reason for his lack of performance, cause that prima dona poop don't fly.

Playing time should also be earned on merit, not given by draft position.
- jmatchett383

If that was true, Dumo and Maatta should have had some time in the press box this year.

If we go by this mantra, the dude should have been playing as an NHL regular last year
- DeflatedPucks

I don't disagree, but I think the defense pairings last year produced a pretty good result at year's end.

If that was true, Dumo and Maatta should have had some time in the press box this year.
- j.boyd919

Again, I don't disagree. However, both of them have shown they can play top-4 minutes over the better part of a season. DP has yet to do that. But yes, sitting a game or 2 at a time isn't always the worst thing.

Very common with defenseman. Not a pens issue. But Pouliot is still way behind schedule. He should be a solid 3rd pairing guy by now.
- sditulli

It's really hard for him to be a 3rd pairing regular when Schultz-Cole have been doing so well this year to give him that role. Before this, I think the only real opportunity for him this season would have been if they had benched Maatta.

Now Letang is out, there's an opportunity

Quite true, but can't let a top draft pick sit his entire year in the AHL, after being up the prior two years and not being terrible in those showings overall.

I do recall them noting a lack of interest or something to that nature in the prior years when hes been in the AHL. I hope that is not the reason for his lack of performance, cause that prima dona poop don't fly.
- Guile

Yeah, and that's why it was a bummer this preseason when he played poorly, after he allegedly had his best off season and was in the best shape ever.

All I'm saying is I don't believe he's a bust at this point. Prob safe to say he won't be a number 1 dman, but he could still pan out to be a 3/4.

If that was true, Dumo and Maatta should have had some time in the press box this year.
- j.boyd919

Realistically, Maatta's should not even have been playing a single game for the adult pens this season. He's been Tom Brady running the 40

Realistically, Maatta's should not even have been playing a single game for the adult pens this season. He's been Tom Brady running the 40
- DeflatedPucks

No one can be that handsome.

Maybe the results don't make sense because the stat is stupid and completely useless?

Maybe the results don't make sense because the stat is stupid and completely useless?
- Dcoms

I agree. Most #fancystats are used as predictors of future performance based on past performance assuming that there are no significant changes. Sadly, the real world is not so ideal. This particular stat takes that to the extreme and seems incredibly arbitrary. I can take lumps of raw data, throw them into some equation that I made up and call it a stat, but it doesn't mean jack poop, because the only thing that matters is what the player is doing at present.

I have to be honest I was on the edge of my seat after Pastrnak scored to tie. FOr whatever reason as of late Pittsburgh hasn't fared well in these Wednesday night rivalry games, but this time Rusty put the nail in the Bruins' coffin in OT.

Regarding Maata, I know he's had some major health difficulties during his tenure in the NHL, but at the end of the day a team needs to have their best players on the ice and with today's game speed kills period! I wish management would consider giving Derick Pouliot a fair shake and have Maata sit for a few games. Please, Pittsburgh I implore do not make the same mistake with Derick as you did with Simon Despres.
- MaDdMuNk87

Letang is out so Pouliot will get his chance as long as Sullivan isn't a Richard and gives the minutes to Oleksy or Warsofsky or some other plug. It's Pouliots opportunity Mike, just because you don't like him doesn't mean he doesn't deserve it.

Pouloit isn't even lighting up wbs. I'm as big of fan as pouliot as his analytics have always intrigued me and he definitely has some puck skills. That being said he is not one of our best 6 defenseman.
- sditulli

Pouliot is being used as a shut down only dman in WBS, he's not even on either power play. Of course he's not getting a ton of points.

Letang is out so Pouliot will get his chance as long as Sullivan isn't a Richard and gives the minutes to Oleksy or Warsofsky or some other plug. It's Pouliots opportunity Mike, just because you don't like him doesn't mean he doesn't deserve it.
- Dcoms

To be brutally frank, Sullivan was essentially doing a "Job Cooper" when he didn't play Pouliot last season. Maybe its the lack of trust akin to Byslma and Despres.

I don't think anyone would be confident in having Warsofsky (and by extension Maatta if he has to take on a larger role) playing these minutes for what is going to be a few weeks

Letang is out so Pouliot will get his chance as long as Sullivan isn't a Richard and gives the minutes to Oleksy or Warsofsky or some other plug. It's Pouliots opportunity Mike, just because you don't like him doesn't mean he doesn't deserve it.
- Dcoms

In your honest opinion, what has he done this year to show that he deserves the #1 call-up over Warofsky or over unscratching Oleksy? Again, his skillset dictates that he should be able to fill-in, but so far this season (given, it's been abbreviated), he hasn't produced jack in the AHL that would warrant an NHL call-up.

Also, I haven't seen 1 WBS game this year so I can't speak to his deployment. But a young stud offensive defenseman should be able to produce points in the AHL at a marginal clip no matter how he's used if he's expected to make the jump to the NHL.