Once again everyone’s smarter than the head coach and Gonchar. All because some Peter piper somewhere “watched games” and counted dump ins.
- Grinder47

Love your work Grinder!

You & Torts would be great company on the cans.

Question of the day........

Where do stats come from?



Some from peoples arse - was that a shot on goal or a pass?

Kuhnhackl signs with the Islanders.

He was a good foot soldier my memory of his two best contributions:

1. mouthing the starting lineups during pre-game
2. hitting a post in OT

I don’t see how. They are all the heart and character of the team. Never saw a team where the most talented players also play with the most grit and heart.
- Grinder47

I agree, I just thought that was an odd thing for JR to say.

Kuhnhackl signs with the Islanders.

He was a good foot soldier my memory of his two best contributions:

1. mouthing the starting lineups during pre-game
2. hitting a post in OT
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Forget Jack Johnson. This deal is going to be sorted through and torn to shreds by the Ryan Wilsonites.

Forget Jack Johnson. This deal is going to be sorted through and torn to shreds by the Ryan Wilsonites.
- Grinder47

[I need to read better]

So with the Leafs getting better, the Pens, Lightning, and Caps staying put, and an up and coming Flyers and Bruins teams having one more year of experience and coming into next season healthy, the East is gonna be a gauntlet. The NHL is almost NBA-level of conference stratification. Feel like the only two teams out West with any real shot are Winnipeg (who got worse after losing Stastny) and the Preds. Vegas was always gonna regress a bit, and they lost Neal and Perron.

Rowney 3 year deal with the Ducks... LOL

So with the Leafs getting better, the Pens, Lightning, and Caps staying put, and an up and coming Flyers and Bruins teams having one more year of experience and coming into next season healthy, the East is gonna be a gauntlet. The NHL is almost NBA-level of conference stratification. Feel like the only two teams out West with any real shot are Winnipeg (who got worse after losing Stastny) and the Preds. Vegas was always gonna regress a bit, and they lost Neal and Perron.
- Victoro311

Our schedule this year is much better not as grueling as last year, and we aren't gonna start out the year with only 2 NHL centers so that's a plus. Not saying it's gonna be easy but we got rest with an early exit and have a much better schedule and starting the season with most of the lineup full not the half ass team we started with last year.

I don’t see how. They are all the heart and character of the team. Never saw a team where the most talented players also play with the most grit and heart.
- Grinder47

Agree with you for the most part but if there's any one player in the league that is close to that it is Crosby.

His jab rate in blogs exceeds most goalies save percentage... roughly 91% of the time. Unfortunately he pays to remain the blogger so you and I are stuck with him.
- hipcheck_goalie

So let me get this straight, because RW isn't a yes man sycophant to the Penguins, you don't like his blogs? I enjoy them.
I have never liked Fleury, too many soft goals at horrible times to count. But no one would ever say anything because you are instantly vilified if you don't like Flower, because we all know how important to winning hockey games a smile is.
I couldnt stand Reaves either. He offered very little to this team. His play and this team's style didnt mesh. AGAIN, how dare anyone bring this up. I got crushed by my friends and RW got crushed on here.
The advanced metrix, like them or not, do fairly reliably predict a player and team's success. They certainly aren't foolproof, but I have seen very little in Jack Johnson's history to suggest that he is the exception. There is a very large sample size for him too--its not like 1 year skewed his numbers.
It is RW job to present the relevant information and since it is a blog, he can editorialize. If you want the straight answers no one else is willing to give, he does well. If you want YES men, who cant see any flaws in any player affiliated with his/her favorite organization. someone who never says anything negative--constructive or otherwise--about his team, go follow the Pirates. We all know how successful they are...

So let me get this straight, because RW isn't a yes man sycophant to the Penguins, you don't like his blogs? I enjoy them.
I have never liked Fleury, too many soft goals at horrible times to count. But no one would ever say anything because you are instantly vilified if you don't like Flower, because we all know how important to winning hockey games a smile is.
I couldnt stand Reaves either. He offered very little to this team. His play and this team's style didnt mesh. AGAIN, how dare anyone bring this up. I got crushed by my friends and RW got crushed on here.
The advanced metrix, like them or not, do fairly reliably predict a player and team's success. They certainly aren't foolproof, but I have seen very little in Jack Johnson's history to suggest that he is the exception. There is a very large sample size for him too--its not like 1 year skewed his numbers.
It is RW job to present the relevant information and since it is a blog, he can editorialize. If you want the straight answers no one else is willing to give, he does well. If you want YES men, who cant see any flaws in any player affiliated with his/her favorite organization. someone who never says anything negative--constructive or otherwise--about his team, go follow the Pirates. We all know how successful they are...
- Amanion

Nah, he just regurgitates other peoples work. Have a real opinion, be a (frank)ing person.

Karlsson was given the ok to negotiate an extension with other clubs. Commence the Karlsson to Penguins terrible trade proposals...

So let me get this straight, because RW isn't a yes man sycophant to the Penguins, you don't like his blogs? I enjoy them.
I have never liked Fleury, too many soft goals at horrible times to count. But no one would ever say anything because you are instantly vilified if you don't like Flower, because we all know how important to winning hockey games a smile is.
I couldnt stand Reaves either. He offered very little to this team. His play and this team's style didnt mesh. AGAIN, how dare anyone bring this up. I got crushed by my friends and RW got crushed on here.
The advanced metrix, like them or not, do fairly reliably predict a player and team's success. They certainly aren't foolproof, but I have seen very little in Jack Johnson's history to suggest that he is the exception. There is a very large sample size for him too--its not like 1 year skewed his numbers.
It is RW job to present the relevant information and since it is a blog, he can editorialize. If you want the straight answers no one else is willing to give, he does well. If you want YES men, who cant see any flaws in any player affiliated with his/her favorite organization. someone who never says anything negative--constructive or otherwise--about his team, go follow the Pirates. We all know how successful they are...
- Amanion

Fleurys "soft" goals? Lol...you're one of those guys huh? That's cute. Guess you wont comment on the season he just had huh? Dont mention Murrays outstanding glove 😂

Karlsson was given the ok to negotiate an extension with other clubs. Commence the Karlsson to Penguins terrible trade proposals...
- 123Kid

It could have been possible if JJ wasn’t signed. Maatta, sprong, hagelin (cap dump), 1st would probably be the beginning of negotiations. Then in order to be cap compliant for the 19-20 season, I’d guess letang would be moved for a pick/prospect and an average dman to fill in on the 2nd pairing.

It could have been possible if JJ wasn’t signed. Maatta, sprong, hagelin (cap dump), 1st would probably be the beginning of negotiations. Then in order to be cap compliant for the 19-20 season, I’d guess letang would be moved for a pick/prospect and an average dman to fill in on the 2nd pairing.
- drummer829

The Pens could never hold on to Karlsson. He's gonna get Doughty money. After the upcoming season the Pens would have to either move Kessel, Horn or Guentzel(who's sure to price in the $5M range).

Fleurys "soft" goals? Lol...you're one of those guys huh? That's cute. Guess you wont comment on the season he just had huh? Dont mention Murrays outstanding glove 😂
- nateca44

Both Murray and MAF played the Capitals this year but only one had a GAA of over 4.00 and a save % of .853% in the series. Hmmm...must have been the guy with the GREAT glove hand.

Nah, he just regurgitates other peoples work. Have a real opinion, be a (frank)ing person.
- Grinder47

The fact that you're accusing Ryan Wilson of not having a real opinion is god damn hysterical, when you just blindly follow GMs and coaches decisions. Talk about having a real opinion.

The fact that you're accusing Ryan Wilson of not having a real opinion is god damn hysterical, when you just blindly follow GMs and coaches decisions. Talk about having a real opinion.
- j.boyd919

But why can't RW at least give Johnson a month or so of real games and not just his charts? He is already determined he is not going to be good for the Pens w/o him playing a shift.

The fact that you're accusing Ryan Wilson of not having a real opinion is god damn hysterical, when you just blindly follow GMs and coaches decisions. Talk about having a real opinion.
- j.boyd919

Dude. He has lots of opinions.... Maatta and Sheary suck. Where have you been?

Fleurys "soft" goals? Lol...you're one of those guys huh? That's cute. Guess you wont comment on the season he just had huh? Dont mention Murrays outstanding glove 😂
- nateca44

Yeah Im one of those guys. If Fleury was half as good as you think he was, the Pens would have 2 maybe 3 more Stanley Cups.
Last year was case and point on 2 levels:
1) If Flower had played that way during playoffs in Pittsburgh 2008, 2010-2014 the Pens would have won at least 1, likely 2, maybe even 3 additional Cups. He didnt, and the Pens didnt.
2) As I always said, Fleury struggles when the lights shine the brightest. And once again, his save % in the SCF was awful this year. I know, you will immediately blame everyone from the LV valet parking guy to the penalty kill to the peanut vendors--because thats what Fleury defenders do...they NEVER blame Fleury for anything--but he was awful against Washington. And when that argument fails, you will then attack Murray's glovehand, which somehow--despite your critique because you Flower lovers just don't like the guy who won Fleury's job from him--won not 1 but TWO Stanley Cups.
I get that you have a man crush on him, but dude, get over it. Good person? Yes Tremendous. Elite goaltender? no, above average.

But why can't RW at least give Johnson a month or so of real games and not just his charts? He is already determined he is not going to be good for the Pens w/o him playing a shift.
- stevens87

Because Johnson isn’t a rookie. He’s been in the league for over 9 years and has not really been that great in any of them. Everyone here is hoping he can turn it around but the dude has not been good his entire career and at age 31, it is unlikely he is going to “find his game.” Could he? Yes. But I think it’s unlikely and I think there were better options in free agency.

I think the point is, looking at history, the pens dumped a fair salary of a decent hockey player in Sheary and a dumpster fire of a signing in Hunwick and then signed someone who has pretty much been the equivalent of Hunwick for his career to an even bigger dumpster fire 5 year deal.

Dude. He has lots of opinions.... Maatta and Sheary suck. Where have you been?
- Rinosaur

But his opinions are based on other people’s decisions. Coach scratched that guy so he must suck. Coach played Reaves so he must know something more about hockey than anyone else. Talk about an original opinion.

Nah, he just regurgitates other peoples work. Have a real opinion, be a (frank)ing person.
- Grinder47

"Don't be a Wilsonite"