'When healthy' Id be fine with
Dumo - Letang
Pettersson - Schultz
Maatta - Gudbranson

Johnson, Riikola, Ruhwedel

Ive said it quite a few times this season but I still think this is a top 5 roster on paper overall.
- pens4life-66

I'd swap Maatta and Pett there

But really overall, I would go with

Dumo - Letang
Maatta - Schultz
Pett - Rudy

When healthy the team has explosive offensive firepower that is limited by incompetent D.
- Feds91Stammer

At some point finally having Letang, Dumo, Maatta and Schultz in the top four should at least make this defense average.

Three games in for Gudbranson. Thoughts on him thus far with the Penguins?
- Rinosaur

Jesse Marshall did a piece on him at the Athletic. Here's a couple things he identified backed up with video clips....

"The issues begin when reads and transitions force Gudbranson to turn and make fast decisions."

"Which takes me to another point, a lot of these issues in transition decision making seem to be tied to a lack of lateral mobility and agility-based skating. Gudbranson can go from point to point with no issue and is a particularly fast skater given his size, but his pivots and angling get him in trouble all too often."


IMO, last night was the first game where I saw multiple examples of these things. It didn't dominate his performance, but the clips Marshall used looked very similar to a few instances last night. Fast players were able to get around him fairly easily.

Jesse Marshall did a piece on him at the Athletic. Here's a couple things he identified backed up with video clips....

"The issues begin when reads and transitions force Gudbranson to turn and make fast decisions."

"Which takes me to another point, a lot of these issues in transition decision making seem to be tied to a lack of lateral mobility and agility-based skating. Gudbranson can go from point to point with no issue and is a particularly fast skater given his size, but his pivots and angling get him in trouble all too often."


IMO, last night was the first game where I saw multiple examples of these things. It didn't dominate his performance, but the clips Marshall used looked very similar to a few instances last night. Fast players were able to get around him fairly easily.
- madmike71

I could see where that becomes a problem especially if the speedy skaters chip the puck to open out of reach of Guddy and try to beat him to the outside (or open area). That’ll be when they gain that separation from him is in those pivots.

I could see where that becomes a problem especially if the speedy skaters chip the puck to open out of reach of Guddy and try to beat him to the outside (or open area). That’ll be when they gain that separation from him is in those pivots.
- j.boyd919

I pretty much concur. They haven’t played any fast or very aggressive teams with him yet. This week will be telling.

Luongo blocked me during the Sochi Olympics. Was really drunk and tweeted profanity at him after they shelacked us. One of my bigger regrets in life. His tweets were a positive presence in the hellscape that is my feed.

Sounds like you were just pumping his tires.

This is where I think Sullivan fails. He can’t be blind to the lack of mobility in players like JJ and Gudbranson against the rush.

I don’t want to say they need to trap, but they definitely need to hang back a bit more.

Jesse Marshall did a piece on him at the Athletic. Here's a couple things he identified backed up with video clips....

"The issues begin when reads and transitions force Gudbranson to turn and make fast decisions."

"Which takes me to another point, a lot of these issues in transition decision making seem to be tied to a lack of lateral mobility and agility-based skating. Gudbranson can go from point to point with no issue and is a particularly fast skater given his size, but his pivots and angling get him in trouble all too often."


IMO, last night was the first game where I saw multiple examples of these things. It didn't dominate his performance, but the clips Marshall used looked very similar to a few instances last night. Fast players were able to get around him fairly easily.
- madmike71

He reminds me of watching Matta play.. Yes a lot of differences in "style" of play. He seems like he reads plays well, so far hes been able to make a good first pass and has found a couple players through seams, Agility isnt great, Can be beat with on the rush speed. Takes less chances but that could be alright with the penguins forwards being better then the forwards hes ever played with. The pens when playing well do have a much better puck support system then most teams and that helps players when they struggle making plays under pressure.

Jesse Marshall did a piece on him at the Athletic. Here's a couple things he identified backed up with video clips....

"The issues begin when reads and transitions force Gudbranson to turn and make fast decisions."

"Which takes me to another point, a lot of these issues in transition decision making seem to be tied to a lack of lateral mobility and agility-based skating. Gudbranson can go from point to point with no issue and is a particularly fast skater given his size, but his pivots and angling get him in trouble all too often."


IMO, last night was the first game where I saw multiple examples of these things. It didn't dominate his performance, but the clips Marshall used looked very similar to a few instances last night. Fast players were able to get around him fairly easily.
- madmike71

Definitely agree with the pivots. He needs half a zone to complete one

Seems to be a common theme for you?
- Feds91Stammer

I don't have a ton of self control. If I'm drinking, 9/10 times I'm getting poop faced.

I will give Gubrandson more of a chance. Really, I think it comes down to how much ice time he gets - the quality of his minutes is inversely related to the quantity. He had to play a lot more in Vancouver than he hopefully will have to play here and hopefully that means he will look better. He is not a top pairing defensemen and if he ever becomes one this team is in trouble.

Unfortunately JJ has looked bad regardless.
- PghPens668771

Didn't someone say that he only had the fifth most icetime in Van? Pretty tough to get less than bottom pairing minutes unless you're in the press box.

Regardless, I haven't really had an issue with him so far.

He reminds me of watching Matta play.. Yes a lot of differences in "style" of play. He seems like he reads plays well, so far hes been able to make a good first pass and has found a couple players through seams, Agility isnt great, Can be beat with on the rush speed. Takes less chances but that could be alright with the penguins forwards being better then the forwards hes ever played with. The pens when playing well do have a much better puck support system then most teams and that helps players when they struggle making plays under pressure.
- pens4life-66

If by this you mean one is good and one is awful, I agree.

Didn't someone say that he only had the fifth most icetime in Van? Pretty tough to get less than bottom pairing minutes unless you're in the press box.

Regardless, I haven't really had an issue with him so far.
- Victoro311

Yes. I did. And he is correct in saying that is too much ice time for him.

I could see where that becomes a problem especially if the speedy skaters chip the puck to open out of reach of Guddy and try to beat him to the outside (or open area). That’ll be when they gain that separation from him is in those pivots.
- j.boyd919

this pretty much summarized matheson's game last night. i felt bad for the Cats having him but then i realized he's still a pile of poop better than someone on our team. i won't name names.

I’m not going to blame this season on injuries because they’re not the reason for the Penguins struggle, but I will say I don’t think we’ve really had a chance to see what this team truly looks like while healthy and a chance to gel.
- Rinosaur

i think the frustrating part is we know how much better this team could have been if a certain someone wasn't signed and JR didn't throw the kitchen sink at JO. Mind you I was perfectly fine with the latter. Just wished we didn't pay him a grade above his payscale.

Injuries + stupidity + Sid putting us on his back +gritboner = a playoff team.

If only we could remove the stupidity part from the equation.

this pretty much summarized matheson's game last night. i felt bad for the Cats having him but then i realized he's still a pile of poop better than someone on our team. i won't name names.
- DeflatedPucks

The low hanging grit balls.

The low hanging grit balls.
- Guile

i think the frustrating part is we know how much better this team could have been if a certain someone wasn't signed and JR didn't throw the kitchen sink at JO. Mind you I was perfectly fine with the latter. Just wished we didn't pay him a grade above his payscale.

Injuries + stupidity + Sid putting us on his back +gritboner = a playoff team.

If only we could remove the stupidity part from the equation.
- DeflatedPucks

What if the injuries canceled out the stupidity?

What if the injuries canceled out the stupidity?
- Feds91Stammer

Then, depending on when they occurred... a number of us would be a lot more educated on LTIR math.

What if the injuries canceled out the stupidity?
- Feds91Stammer

I tried calling Tonya and her ex. no luck. tom wilson will have to suffice

Then, depending on when they occurred... a number of us would be a lot more educated on LTIR math.
- Guile

I am too familiar with this.

Yes. I did. And he is correct in saying that is too much ice time for him.
- Feds91Stammer

He's been pretty effective since he’s been acquired. His numbers since the deadline are all positive and he hasn't had any major gaffes by the eye test. Obviously I don't expect this to continue as his sample size grows and we play better teams, but there's at least a shot that this trade doesn't suck now.

He's been pretty effective since he’s been acquired. His numbers since the deadline are all positive and he hasn't had any major gaffes by the eye test. Obviously I don't expect this to continue as his sample size grows and we play better teams, but there's at least a shot that this trade doesn't suck now.
- Victoro311

Recency bias is a helluva drug

Recency bias is a helluva drug
- Feds91Stammer

Haha I mean we’ve likely lost Maatta moving forward to make room for him, so it’d be friggen awesome if he’d continue to play sound hockey for us.

He reminds me of watching Matta play.. Yes a lot of differences in "style" of play. He seems like he reads plays well, so far hes been able to make a good first pass and has found a couple players through seams, Agility isnt great, Can be beat with on the rush speed. Takes less chances but that could be alright with the penguins forwards being better then the forwards hes ever played with. The pens when playing well do have a much better puck support system then most teams and that helps players when they struggle making plays under pressure.
- pens4life-66

Maatta's foot speed is slow, but he has great overall awareness. He's pretty damn good anticipating the play and doesn't get beaten clean too often. Gudbranson doesn't have that quick recognition and lets faster guys get right on top of him before he pivots. I saw this 3 times last night where somebody got around him with virtually no resistance. Gonna be interesting to see how Sullivan uses him for 2 more effing years.

His debut hasn't been all that bad, but I can't imagine how he doesn't become a total liability in a 7 game series against a fast team. There's going to be some cringeworthy moments ahead if we make the playoffs.