I can't describe how happy I am for not having Hunwick and Sheary on the roster. I'd rather have J.Johnson and Cullen any day to try to win another cup. We are better than last year. Sprong/Aston-Reese/Simon will get roster spots and just get better from now on.

I can't describe how happy I am for not having Hunwick and Sheary on the roster. I'd rather have J.Johnson and Cullen any day to try to win another cup. We are better than last year. Sprong/Aston-Reese/Simon will get roster spots and just get better from now on.
- Barnaby36

Give your balls a tug ya tit f*cker.

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.
- j.boyd919

I was kidding. He clearly doesn't have an original thought.

I can't describe how happy I am for not having Hunwick and Sheary on the roster. I'd rather have J.Johnson and Cullen any day to try to win another cup. We are better than last year. Sprong/Aston-Reese/Simon will get roster spots and just get better from now on.
- Barnaby36

I can't with you sometimes. I just can't.

I was kidding. He clearly doesn't have an original thought.
- Rinosaur

lol I know. I caught the sarcasm, I just figured it should be further pointed out. ahahaha

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

Ryan writes blogs just about everyday which is great. Now not all blogs are read by everyone especially when it appears something has happened to really tick him off. Those blogs can sometimes just wreak havoc on repeatability & the old expression of flogging a dead horse is certainly an acurate description of them. The team could play really well & lose but what is written is that's Reaves shouldn't be in the NHL, or Rowney/Knuckles/Mckegg etc etc. He could write about the game but instead just repeat his relentless attack on certain players which provides no new information & is immature if you were to ask me.

The use of 'certain' stats is also in repeat mode where it provides further 'evidence' on said bad players. Analytics is supposed to be used as a general inference on what a player 'may' be like, & Not be used as the be all & end all. And to use 1 or 2 aspects of the analytical information is either lazy or misleading which does occur as well. For the author of a blog he can be great, but he can also be very ordinary. And yes, I sometimes choose not to read the blog because that's my option.

I can't describe how happy I am for not having Hunwick and Sheary on the roster. I'd rather have J.Johnson and Cullen any day to try to win another cup. We are better than last year. Sprong/Aston-Reese/Simon will get roster spots and just get better from now on.
- Barnaby36

More believable if you could provide some analytical data to go with that opinion.

Can anyone remember a player come to the Burgh play a season or 2 then go & Not get a better contract from what he came with? Just seems like most players come in (no matter how good or bad), & leave & get a better contract.

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

I criticize Sullivan a lot.

I was kidding. He clearly doesn't have an original thought.
- Rinosaur

I’m pretty much thee original. Go track dump ins and red zone scoring chances. Better yet just follow a guy on Twitter that does and pretend it’s your “hard” work. Then you can sound smart to 12 year olds while the adults discuss hockey.

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.
- stevens87

I guarantee you switch goalies for each respective team and the results would be much different.

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.
- Amanion

Amazing how you forget that without Flower we would not have won any at all. Yes he did have his up's and down's but to sit here and say he's trash it just wrong. He was the MAIN REASON the Knights got to the SCF. That's fact and no matter what you say you can't change it. He is the best goalie that ever suited up for Pittsburgh and its not just me saying that.

I can't with you sometimes. I just can't.
- Rinosaur

Lol I know you're one of Jacko's biggest detractors around here. Do like Grinder said: Don't be a Wilsonite and just support the player. Wish he does well. It will only help you and heal your negative daily feelings lol
Jokes aside who gets #7? Cullen or Johnson?

I’m pretty much thee original. Go track dump ins and red zone scoring chances. Better yet just follow a guy on Twitter that does and pretend it’s your “hard” work. Then you can sound smart to 12 year olds while the adults discuss hockey.
- Grinder47

Classic.

Not going to lie, I am really happy with the Johnson signing. He is a really good fit for the Pens system, its possible he ends up being better than both Dumo and Maata.

Not sure why but I get the feeling a really big move is coming for the Pens. They are either going really deep with their roster or there is going to be a move with a few guys going out the door.

Completely unrealistic to think the Pens could make it work, but I'd offer Karlsson for Schultz, Sprong, Simon & a 1st as a deal (with extension of course)? Would be difficult to sustain long term (assuming he takes an $11M per year deal) but imagine having either Letang or Karlsson on the ice for 50 out of 60 minutes every game...

Amazing how you forget that without Flower we would not have won any at all. Yes he did have his up's and down's but to sit here and say he's trash it just wrong. He was the MAIN REASON the Knights got to the SCF. That's fact and no matter what you say you can't change it. He is the best goalie that ever suited up for Pittsburgh and its not just me saying that.
- Mino42

Thank you.

Ryan writes blogs just about everyday which is great.
- Aussiepenguin

Well, except in the playoffs. In the playoffs we got blogs about the Sabres getting the first pick in the draft and about Mike Babcock in lieu of any kind of actual content about the upcoming game, and went days without new blogs.

Pretty sure that once Crosby and Malkin hang them up, RW's Penguins fandom is done.

Lol I know you're one of Jacko's biggest detractors around here. Do like Grinder said: Don't be a Wilsonite and just support the player. Wish he does well. It will only help you and heal your negative daily feelings lol
Jokes aside who gets #7? Cullen or Johnson?
- Barnaby36

I believe Jacko is gonna wear 73

Well, except in the playoffs. In the playoffs we got blogs about the Sabres getting the first pick in the draft and about Mike Babcock in lieu of any kind of actual content about the upcoming game, and went days without new blogs.

Pretty sure that once Crosby and Malkin hang them up, RW's Penguins fandom is done.
- hardnosed

Game blogs aren't really his specialty In my opinion. After game blogs however are either fun & good, or dull & bad.

Lol I know you're one of Jacko's biggest detractors around here. Do like Grinder said: Don't be a Wilsonite and just support the player. Wish he does well. It will only help you and heal your negative daily feelings lol
Jokes aside who gets #7? Cullen or Johnson?
- Barnaby36

Is it just possible that I’ve watched a lot of hockey and have seen how bad JJ is?

Also, I like Cullen, but not at the expense of Sheary.

Not going to lie, I am really happy with the Johnson signing. He is a really good fit for the Pens system, its possible he ends up being better than both Dumo and Maata.

Not sure why but I get the feeling a really big move is coming for the Pens. They are either going really deep with their roster or there is going to be a move with a few guys going out the door.

Completely unrealistic to think the Pens could make it work, but I'd offer Karlsson for Schultz, Sprong, Simon & a 1st as a deal (with extension of course)? Would be difficult to sustain long term (assuming he takes an $11M per year deal) but imagine having either Letang or Karlsson on the ice for 50 out of 60 minutes every game...
- MacPatty

Karlsson is an impossibility. I'm sure he's going to clock in around $10/$11M. The Pens would have to move out significant salary for future signings. Hagelin may be coming off the books, but that doesn't mean the Pens won't need to replace him in the lineup and Guentzel is sure to in the $5M range, maybe more depending on what this season brings.

I don't think OTT would want Schultz. Likely they'd want Maatta as the starter and yeah, probably Sprong, a 1st and someone else. Now the Pens need to replace a top-9 forward with what money?

About the only thing that would financially work, and this won't happen, is a Letang deal. I don't know what the feeling is on Letang around the league at this point. If the Sens took Letang and a 1st? Sure, but it's pretty darn unlikely.

I do agree though that I think another move is coming. Just not sure it will be a big move.

Karlsson is an impossibility. I'm sure he's going to clock in around $10/$11M. The Pens would have to move out significant salary for future signings. Hagelin may be coming off the books, but that doesn't mean the Pens won't need to replace him in the lineup and Guentzel is sure to in the $5M range, maybe more depending on what this season brings.

I don't think OTT would want Schultz. Likely they'd want Maatta as the starter and yeah, probably Sprong, a 1st and someone else. Now the Pens need to replace a top-9 forward with what money?

About the only thing that would financially work, and this won't happen, is a Letang deal. I don't know what the feeling is on Letang around the league at this point. If the Sens took Letang and a 1st? Sure, but it's pretty darn unlikely.

I do agree though that I think another move is coming. Just not sure it will be a big move.
- Rinosaur

Sprong for Athanasiou

Hagelin for Athanasiou
- Feds91Stammer

Wow! Done!

I really want to see AA in a Pens jersey. I want to see Sprong in full-time action more though. I know you were half-kidding though.

Wow! Done!

I really want to see AA in a Pens jersey. I want to see Sprong in full-time action more though. I know you were half-kidding though.
- Rinosaur

AA and Nyquist for Sprong and Hagelin

Still finding it odd that Oleksiak has not been re-signed.