That and the part about the defense being better than expected. I don't have any hope for JJ, but I do think the other 5 can make a solid core that would look nice with one more puck mover for the bottom pair.

I was doing some comparisons on Rust and Tanev yesterday and noticed a weird trend in Rust's WOWYs. He dragged down all the top guys but boosted all the bottom ones. The year before, his possession stats were great, before that about average, so I'm not sure what I'd expect.

I also what Marshall said points to the need to improve the other wing spot on Malkin's line.
- Tojo.

I know Jesse said he expected it to be worse, but I thought the D lineup was still pretty bad. 1.9 for the 2nd pairing was rough. Maatta/Schultz had a solid 3.6 rating. Pettersson/Guddy have a .9 rating would would be solid for a 3rd pair. I was surprised that Pettersson/Schultz was so low.

basically confirms what a lot of us have said, moving a legit 3rd line center instead of a replaceable winger in Rust would be a mistake. Ideally JJ is the one to go, but realistically it has to be Rust? Right?
- burgh4life87

Yeah, I'm definitely not moving Bjugstad right now. Even if they found another 3C, and he's likely the best they have, I'd just play him with Malkin.

Rust is a good 3rd line player that can slot up when needed, he just gets slotted up too much and after adding Kahun and McCann they have more options. Simon, ZAR, maybe even Tanev could do that too. He's expendable and someone would probably overpay for him right now because he basically had a 20-40 season. But still a good player so I don't hate keeping him either.

I know Jesse said he expected it to be worse, but I thought the D lineup was still pretty bad. 1.9 for the 2nd pairing was rough. Maatta/Schultz had a solid 3.6 rating. Pettersson/Guddy have a .9 rating would would be solid for a 3rd pair. I was surprised that Pettersson/Schultz was so low.
- j.boyd919

I've been meaning to poke around with that tool buy haven't yet, so I'm not sure how it values everything. I don't get that big drop from Maatta to Pettersson. I tend to value relatives over raw numbers, so I wonder if that's a difference. Pettersson did play a lot more with JJ.

I've been meaning to poke around with that tool buy haven't yet, so I'm not sure how it values everything. I don't get that big drop from Maatta to Pettersson. I tend to value relatives over raw numbers, so I wonder if that's a difference. Pettersson did play a lot more with JJ.
- Tojo.

Yeah I’m not sure. The WAR stuff is always a little more convoluted to me. Still fun tools to play with though.

Yeah, I'm definitely not moving Bjugstad right now. Even if they found another 3C, and he's likely the best they have, I'd just play him with Malkin.

Rust is a good 3rd line player that can slot up when needed, he just gets slotted up too much and after adding Kahun and McCann they have more options. Simon, ZAR, maybe even Tanev could do that too. He's expendable and someone would probably overpay for him right now because he basically had a 20-40 season. But still a good player so I don't hate keeping him either.
- Tojo.

Simon was the best winger for Sid and Jake last season. He had fantastic success with Bjugstad too. Kahun appears to be a better offensive player than Simon, but similar in the fact that they are strong support players. Moving on from Rust becomes easier when you realize his production can be replaced by what we have on the roster already.

Simon was the best winger for Sid and Jake last season. He had fantastic success with Bjugstad too. Kahun appears to be a better offensive player than Simon, but similar in the fact that they are strong support players. Moving on from Rust becomes easier when you realize his production can be replaced by what we have on the roster already.
- burgh4life87

I wouldn't call Simon the best winger with Sid and Jake... he couldnt net a goal when given great chances.

Simon was the best winger for Sid and Jake last season. He had fantastic success with Bjugstad too. Kahun appears to be a better offensive player than Simon, but similar in the fact that they are strong support players. Moving on from Rust becomes easier when you realize his production can be replaced by what we have on the roster already.
- burgh4life87

Totally agree. I feel like Rust is completely expendable at this point. Package him w/ JJ + a pick and move on.

I wouldn't call Simon the best winger with Sid and Jake... he couldnt net a goal when given great chances.
- Guile

Simon Jake and Sid out-shot and outscored (using a relative per 60) McCann Jake Sid and Jake Sid Rust. The jake Sid Simon line was also the best defensive line of the three. Just because he wasn't scoring at the pace people wanted, doesn't mean the line wasn't prospering.

Also, McCann only had 3 goals at even. the rest came from empty net and shorties so he wasn't exactly lighting it up with that line. (I do really like him as a player though.)

Sully extended. There goes all the rumors about the WBS coach taking over

Sully re-signed.

Sully extended. There goes all the rumors about the WBS coach taking over
- burgh4life87

It's still happening.

JR probably gave him the extension to make him feel better, but Vellucci is a better coach by far.

It's still happening.

JR probably gave him the extension to make him feel better, but Vellucci is a better coach by far.
- BINGO!

Sully extended. There goes all the rumors about the WBS coach taking over
- burgh4life87

I can see the next blog now....

I wonder if the AHL coach might end up replacing someone like Recchi or if he retires Lemaire at some point?

I can see the next blog now....

I wonder if the AHL coach might end up replacing someone like Recchi or I he retires Lemaire at some point?
- Tojo.

Jason Botteril responsible for every good thing JR did too.

I dont get it...why not leave Sullivan on the hot seat after only clinching playoffs on last day of season, being swept in first round, reports of player/coach conflicts and hiring a great coach for the farm?

I can see the next blog now....

I wonder if the AHL coach might end up replacing someone like Recchi or I he retires Lemaire at some point?
- Tojo.

Next blog he will quote MBM stating that Sully is the top coach in the nhl at impact net shots, say it is the easy move to make and not give GMJR credit, rehash the Tanev signing to point that not everything is good.

But I think that AHL coach will stay there until an NHL head coach gig opens up. I don't think he will be an assistant, but you never know.

...the guy hired for the baby Pens would of had to of known this was part of the plans, wouldnt he?

I dont get it...why not leave Sullivan on the hot seat after only clinching playoffs on last day of season, being swept in first round, reports of player/coach conflicts and hiring a great coach for the farm?
- MattStrat

because all that other stuff is BS. We had a tough division and it was close, doesn't mean you let a top 5 coach walk or sit in limbo.
Plus, anytime you can have great organizational depth whether that be coaches or players, you don't pass it up.

It's still happening.

JR probably gave him the extension to make him feel better, but Vellucci is a better coach by far.
- BINGO!

Is that because Vellucci has been so successful coaching in the NHL like Sullivan?

because all that other stuff is BS. We had a tough division and it was close, doesn't mean you let a top 5 coach walk or sit in limbo.
Plus, anytime you can have great organizational depth whether that be coaches or players, you don't pass it up.
- burgh4life87

Very good response.

But why is he a Top 5 coach?

Very good response.

But why is he a Top 5 coach?
- MattStrat

Strategically he created a system of forechecking and neutral zone pressure that was able to render the transition games of the best offenses in the league into average attacks. He is smart at making adjustments and has a good sense of which players fit in a certain role.

He obviously has his faults but clearly the success speaks for itself.

Next blog he will quote MBM stating that Sully is the top coach in the nhl at impact net shots, say it is the easy move to make and not give GMJR credit, rehash the Tanev signing to point that not everything is good.

But I think that AHL coach will stay there until an NHL head coach gig opens up. I don't think he will be an assistant, but you never know.
- burgh4life87

I'm expecting a continuation of GMJR makes only bad moves and to prove it he'll once again dunk on all his favorite whipping boys and not mention any good moves.

I dont get it...why not leave Sullivan on the hot seat after only clinching playoffs on last day of season, being swept in first round, reports of player/coach conflicts and hiring a great coach for the farm?
- MattStrat

I think an honest question that I don't have an answer to is did he lose the whole team or just a few guys like Kessel, whom every coach loses, and Brassard/ Sheahan who were unhappy with their roles.

And I'll echo that despite clinching late, it was still a 100 point team, division and East/West lack of parity was brutal this year. You normally don't have a 96 point team miss like Montreal did, who would have been 6th in the West.

EDIT- they had the same points as last year.

I'm expecting a continuation of GMJR makes only bad moves and to prove it he'll once again dunk on all his favorite whipping boys and not mention any good moves.
- Tojo.

If Rutherford decides to move on from Bjugstad this summer I will absolutely be on the "bad move" train.

Also, I believe Sully is about to go visit Malkin. Bet that talk goes a little better now that Sully looks less vulnerable.