Today's lineup at #Pens practice...
Guentzel-Malkin-Rust
Kahun-McCann-Tanev
ZAR-Blueger-Simon
Galchenyuk-Blandisi/Lafferty-Hornqvist

Dumoulin-Marino
Pettersson-Ruhwedel
Johnson-Riikola
Schultz has left practice for some reason

Thought that's how they'd shuffle the bottom 2 lines.

Simon, like any player, is entitled to a rutt. It happens to the best players. Going a few games with mediocre play doesn’t mean he’s the player all his detractors think he is. It just means he’s going through a patch.

Today's lineup at #Pens practice...
Guentzel-Malkin-Rust
Kahun-McCann-Tanev
ZAR-Blueger-Simon
Galchenyuk-Blandisi/Lafferty-Hornqvist

Dumoulin-Marino
Pettersson-Ruhwedel
Johnson-Riikola
Schultz has left practice for some reason

Thought that's how they'd shuffle the bottom 2 lines.
- Tojo.

Interesting.

Also, I don’t think Blueger gets enough credit for how good he’s been. Yeah, he’s not lighting the world on fire, but playing the third line like he has is as good as you can ask for in a player who’s no more than a very good 4C.

Simon, like any player, is entitled to a rutt. It happens to the best players. Going a few games with mediocre play doesn’t mean he’s the player all his detractors think he is. It just means he’s going through a patch.
- Rinosaur

I hope people remember this when Rust goes from Thanksgiving until after the All Star break between goals.

Today's lineup at #Pens practice...
Guentzel-Malkin-Rust
Kahun-McCann-Tanev
ZAR-Blueger-Simon
Galchenyuk-Blandisi/Lafferty-Hornqvist

Dumoulin-Marino
Pettersson-Ruhwedel
Johnson-Riikola
Schultz has left practice for some reason

Thought that's how they'd shuffle the bottom 2 lines.
- Tojo.

Also Schultz left practice early

Also Schultz left practice early
- burgh4life87

He was traded

I hope people remember this when Rust goes from Thanksgiving until after the All Star break between goals.
- burgh4life87

very true. I really hope this year is different for him though.

very true. I really hope this year is different for him though.
- Thorny87

That’s expected of every 40 point guy lol

Interesting.

Also, I don’t think Blueger gets enough credit for how good he’s been. Yeah, he’s not lighting the world on fire, but playing the third line like he has is as good as you can ask for in a player who’s no more than a very good 4C.
- Rinosaur

Blue has definitely been a good player for us. His offence has dried up but he's taking on some tough assignments and is a big part of that PK unit.

That’s expected of every 40 point guy lol
- j.boyd919

I'm hoping he's more than a 40pt guy and this is the year he shows it.

Had to share this with you guys: what it’s like to be a Leafs fan 👇🏻

https://www.facebook.com/...95881984?vh=e&d=n&sfns=mo

The only guys on the team with a worse points per 60 at ES are Bjugstad and Riikola, so Schultz isn't even providing offense at ES. His strengths are essentially a PP guy that's good at moving the puck in transition.
- Tojo.

So that's a no? Seriously, I know the correct answer depends upon his next contract. For now what do you do? We know Schultz struggles as the number one guy. With Marino surprising people does he get more playing time? He kind of already surpassed Schultz by being paired with Dumo, not to mention he had more 5v5 TOI.

When Letang returns:
Dumo...Letang
Petterson...Marino
JJ...Shultz

Had to share this with you guys: what it’s like to be a Leafs fan 👇🏻

https://www.facebook.com/...95881984?vh=e&d=n&sfns=mo
- WSCTeton17

I saw that already hahaha...a huge chunk of my friends and family are Leafs fans. An extremely unwavering loyal fan base...but can be quite annoying haha

I still think theyre going to be much better this season than they are right now.

So that's a no? Seriously, I know the correct answer depends upon his next contract. For now what do you do? We know Schultz struggles as the number one guy. With Marino surprising people does he get more playing time? He kind of already surpassed Schultz by being paired with Dumo, not to mention he had more 5v5 TOI.

When Letang returns:
Dumo...Letang
Petterson...Marino
JJ...Shultz
- Thunderbolt

That pairing should be avoided like the plague.

Time to start the Schultz has been traded rumors? Lol

Time to start the Schultz has been traded rumors? Lol
- Rinosaur

Didnt leave because of injury?!

That’s expected of every 40 point guy lol
- j.boyd919

Exactly, I was saying that is why we shouldn't react to poor stretches by bottom 6 guys. Especially when they are rotating onto lines with a bunch of AHL call ups.

Didnt leave because of injury?!
- MattStrat

They didn't give any reason

I saw that already hahaha...a huge chunk of my friends and family are Leafs fans. An extremely unwavering loyal fan base...but can be quite annoying haha

I still think theyre going to be much better this season than they are right now.
- MattStrat

Absolutely unreal that they caught this on camera 😂

They didn't give any reason
- burgh4life87

I think he's been playing hurt... maybe even for a few games now... he just seems to be struggling a bit lately.

So that's a no? Seriously, I know the correct answer depends upon his next contract. For now what do you do? We know Schultz struggles as the number one guy. With Marino surprising people does he get more playing time? He kind of already surpassed Schultz by being paired with Dumo, not to mention he had more 5v5 TOI.

When Letang returns:
Dumo...Letang
Petterson...Marino
JJ...Shultz
- Thunderbolt

I’ve always liked Schultz from his time leaving Anaheim. Didn’t like that he left but also understood he wanted a legit shot. It didn’t work out for him but he tore up the AHL and was a solid player for us at times

I don’t see any reason why Marino would fall off a Cliff this season. Can’t speculate any time thereafter but the little things he does well he’s been repeating. When Letang gets back I’m perfectly fine with a top 4 of Dumo, Letang, Petts, Marino

There is always demand for a guy like Schultz but maybe now less so than in the past. Could be a way to get Bjugstad off the roster since he has basically no trade value right now BUT that’s a lot of money going out, we would need to bring a good chunk of money in. I also don’t really know who would give up much for Schultz, anyone have any ideas?

I think he's been playing hurt... maybe even for a few games now... he just seems to be struggling a bit lately.
- Cousinskrid

We will see. Likely won't get an update today if it's an injury.

Simon, like any player, is entitled to a rutt. It happens to the best players. Going a few games with mediocre play doesn’t mean he’s the player all his detractors think he is. It just means he’s going through a patch.
- Rinosaur

Nick Bjugstad says hi.

That pairing should be avoided like the plague.
- MattStrat

Where does Riikola fit? Putting Schultz with JJ on the third pair is even higher dollar signs than Guds and JJ.

So that's a no? Seriously, I know the correct answer depends upon his next contract. For now what do you do? We know Schultz struggles as the number one guy. With Marino surprising people does he get more playing time? He kind of already surpassed Schultz by being paired with Dumo, not to mention he had more 5v5 TOI.

When Letang returns:
Dumo...Letang
Petterson...Marino
JJ...Shultz
- Thunderbolt

I don't think the team does anything this year. I'm mostly pointing thing out for the people who believe letting Schultz go would open up a big hole in the second pair. They would need another RD, but they don't really need his offense.

Personally, I'd be calling Botterhill to see what he wants for Collin Miller and flipping Schultz somewhere like Winnipeg.