Yohe was on Madden today. Basically said the most alarming thing he saw last night was the lack of effort after the Habs got the go-ahead goal. I completely agree. I kept expecting a push and never saw it. Really, really unusual to not see any push from an experienced team.
- madmike71

It's very alarming. We saw this in the Isles' series last year. Instead of playing harder and focusing, they just seem to get deflated and stay that way. No sense of urgency.

I think if we make it forward to the next round and lose. They make excuses and only a few minor moves. I think if we lose this series. I expect bigger changes

It’s hard to have a push when you start jj and Shultz on the offensive side neutering you’re top lines. I’m still astounded at the lack of playing Sid and geno together at any point in a game, whether it’s late and down by a goal or not. There are lots of tv timeouts they know happen and after pks when they are both fresh. I can’t wait for a new coach/gm.

And if we got the 1st overall and Ruth still trader away to minni, I would imagine ownership would do away with him.
- 10inchTerror

A decision like that would be made by ownership. I imagine even if we drop to 15th ownership would still be involved. No way in hell should we give up the 1st rounder if they get eliminated. We didn't make the playoffs. We're playing to get into the playoffs.

A decision like that would be made by ownership. I imagine even if we drop to 15th ownership would still be involved. No way in hell should we give up the 1st rounder if they get eliminated. We didn't make the playoffs. We're playing to get into the playoffs.
- madmike71

I agree. I think if we get eliminated they would either keep the pick, or if JR was to trade the pick. It would have to be for someone significant not just a Sheary type.

I think if we drop this series and end up shopping some players this off season.

I think Bjudstad gets traded, I would hope JJ gets dropped via trade or buyout. I'm 50-50 on Hornqvist. I think for him being a 3rd line player we can spend that money elsewhere. Let Sheary walk. Let Schultz walk.

I would try and sign or trade for an all-star talent. I would take our shot in the Hall market (even though we are stacked on LWs). My dream would be to add Hoffman I feel like he would be a solid RW option and would dominate with Sid and Guetzel.

Honestly I think Jarry in net. The addition of Hoffman on the top line. A new 3rd line and 3rd pairing D, and I think we would be pretty solid. We have a lot of solid pieces

It’s hard to have a push when you start jj and Shultz on the offensive side neutering you’re top lines. I’m still astounded at the lack of playing Sid and geno together at any point in a game, whether it’s late and down by a goal or not. There are lots of tv timeouts they know happen and after pks when they are both fresh. I can’t wait for a new coach/gm.

And if we got the 1st overall and Ruth still trader away to minni, I would imagine ownership would do away with him.
- 10inchTerror

Why the (frank) would he trade the first overall? Lol

Some of us have been banging the Jack Johnson gong since the day he signed here. I've been roundly criticized by many people for roasting him. I guess people want to hold onto their pipe dreams and dont like to be told they are fantasies.

Speaking of pipe dreams....Matt Murray getting $8 million? Even if Covid-19 had NOT disrupted our lives he wouldnt be getting that!
I LIKE Murray....I am so sick and tired of hearing most of you bash the hell out of Murray. Sad thing is, I'd say at least 85% of Penguins fans carry some level of vitriol towards him for supplanting Fleury (BTW MAF isnt exactly holding onto his job in Vegas). For those who this applies to, Murray could backstop this team to a 3 peat starting Friday at 4, and it still wouldnt be enough to satisfy you.

Many of you are calling for Jarry. You keep saying he outplays Murray or is better than Murray...Jarry earned an all star invite. But since then, he has been an average goaltender at best. We dont know how this kid will perform in a Stanley Cup Playoff game and Many of you want to throw him in with our season on the line? Maybe he will be fine--I hope he is--but to say he was decidedly better than Murray just is not true. He was better than Murray for stretches and Murray was better later in the season--after the All Star Game. I'd stick with Murray and fix the other areas of the game. And then trade Murray's rights after the season, hopefully to help acquire more futures.

Last thing: JR made trades--including the Kessel deal to Arizona--to erase his mistakes. He constantly gives up assets to undo his errors. Kessel and Geno were not "down" last year....Look at their deployment---constantly with Jack Johnson! Funny how both of them had power play numbers right where you would expect (JJ never plays PP minutes), but 5 on 5 they were almost always out with JJ. Ditto this for Schultz. Schultz plays better AWAY from JJ. Imagine that! Hopefully Sully realizes this; if not, his shelf life in Pittsburgh will be rapidly expiring!

You know. The training montage from Rocky IV when they're training in Russias is easily the best training montage in movie history.

You know. The training montage from Rocky IV when they're training in Russias is easily the best training montage in movie history.
- Rinosaur

This!! ^^^

You win the interwebs today!

You know. The training montage from Rocky IV when they're training in Russias is easily the best training montage in movie history.
- Rinosaur

Let’s be real. How many movies have training montages?

I thought foxes were pretty cunning.
- 10inchTerror

It's a new phrase I just came up with to describe someone who thinks he's clever but really he's just stupid. Sully is stupid like a fox.

To be honest... it’s probably not “way more” than just JJ. He’s probably like.. 75% of the problem. Other problems are Murray, Schultz, and Sheary to a lesser degree.

Get rid of JJ and start Jarry from the get go and this would be a different looking series.

Everyone who said a third pairing can’t sink a team... well... 5 outta 8 goals had him on the ice. Sinkkkkkkkkin’ ship.
- j.boyd919

You're probably right, I was still pretty hot.

You are absolutely right about a third pairing can sink a team, especially in they playoffs when the home team has last change and it's a known area to exploit. I remember NSH and SJ having crappy 3rd pairings and we exploited the hell out of them.

Shake it up:
McCann-Sid-Zucker
Guentzel-Geno-Hornqvist
ZAR-Blueg-Tanev
Sheary-Lafferty/Erod-Rust

Marleau sucks Richard. Bench him.
Bench JJ. Start Rikky.
Start Jarry.
- j.boyd919

Rust on the 4th line?? Unless McCann shows something different, gotta put Rust up there.

IMO Malkin has provided less than Sheary who's gotten crucified. He has less points at least. Maybe he's not hurting us like others, but Malkin v Suzuki was supposed to be our biggest edge and it's not really worked out that way. He had a brilliant year, but should not escape criticism for where we are. The bar is higher for him.
- Tojo.

Yes, the bar is higher, but Malkin is also a center which comes with more responsibilities. As for Sheary, what does he do off the puck? He's good at filling passing lanes on defense and finding soft spots on offense, but he simply can't win a puck or board battle to save his life. So what happens is that Crosby's line is one-and-done. Crosby's game is made for the cycle. Why Sully gives Crosby the two weakest puck and board battlers on the entire team I'll never know.

Sheary has been ok for what he is, but he's just not a top 6 player. To saddle Crosby with him is an abomination. 2 goals in 37 playoff games and you put him next to one of the best grinders and passers in the game? Ridiculous. That's my beef with Sheary.

Why the (frank) would he trade the first overall? Lol
- j.boyd919

Was in regards to the original commenter on how Ruth said he was going to trade the 1st rounder this year regardless of where we ended up. That was obvi a pre Covid - 1st overall possibility comment.

Some of us have been banging the Jack Johnson gong since the day he signed here. I've been roundly criticized by many people for roasting him. I guess people want to hold onto their pipe dreams and dont like to be told they are fantasies.

Speaking of pipe dreams....Matt Murray getting $8 million? Even if Covid-19 had NOT disrupted our lives he wouldnt be getting that!
I LIKE Murray....I am so sick and tired of hearing most of you bash the hell out of Murray. Sad thing is, I'd say at least 85% of Penguins fans carry some level of vitriol towards him for supplanting Fleury (BTW MAF isnt exactly holding onto his job in Vegas). For those who this applies to, Murray could backstop this team to a 3 peat starting Friday at 4, and it still wouldnt be enough to satisfy you.

Many of you are calling for Jarry. You keep saying he outplays Murray or is better than Murray...Jarry earned an all star invite. But since then, he has been an average goaltender at best. We dont know how this kid will perform in a Stanley Cup Playoff game and Many of you want to throw him in with our season on the line? Maybe he will be fine--I hope he is--but to say he was decidedly better than Murray just is not true. He was better than Murray for stretches and Murray was better later in the season--after the All Star Game. I'd stick with Murray and fix the other areas of the game. And then trade Murray's rights after the season, hopefully to help acquire more futures.

Last thing: JR made trades--including the Kessel deal to Arizona--to erase his mistakes. He constantly gives up assets to undo his errors. Kessel and Geno were not "down" last year....Look at their deployment---constantly with Jack Johnson! Funny how both of them had power play numbers right where you would expect (JJ never plays PP minutes), but 5 on 5 they were almost always out with JJ. Ditto this for Schultz. Schultz plays better AWAY from JJ. Imagine that! Hopefully Sully realizes this; if not, his shelf life in Pittsburgh will be rapidly expiring!
- Amanion

Pretty sure even post all star game that crappy jarry has better numbers than crappy Murray

I have to say, really great comments in this thread - a pleasure to read. I was going to thumbs up a bunch but I've probably already clogged up the thread enough. Amazing how many of us are in agreement on just about everything.

It will be interesting to what changes are made in the short and long term. 3 Cups in the Sid/Geno era is great (even just 1 Cup is great), but I just want to see a good attempt at the best roster possible and a good coach to lead them during the rest of the window. If the better team beats them, so be it. But I don't want to go out like these last two playoffs. It could have been and should have been better. Going forward, it needs to be better, primarily from the GM and coach, whoever they may be.

I have to say, really great comments in this thread - a pleasure to read. I was going to thumbs up a bunch but I've probably already clogged up the thread enough. Amazing how many of us are in agreement on just about everything.

It will be interesting to what changes are made in the short and long term. 3 Cups in the Sid/Geno era is great (even just 1 Cup is great), but I just want to see a good attempt at the best roster possible and a good coach to lead them during the rest of the window. If the better team beats them, so be it. But I don't want to go out like these last two playoffs. It could have been and should have been better. Going forward, it needs to be better, primarily from the GM and coach, whoever they may be.
- Hockey66

I agree. Especially the GM and coach comment. I think JR up until the deadline this year had a great plan for this team. His deadline acquisitions were very questionable at the time. I guess he made moves based upon the need at the time, but it seems him and Sullivan haven't been on the same page. I think both should be on the hot seat with a loss

It's very alarming. We saw this in the Isles' series last year. Instead of playing harder and focusing, they just seem to get deflated and stay that way. No sense of urgency.
- Rinosaur

That has a lot to do with the cast of, for the lack of better term, wussy ass hockey players they’ve assembled. Not really like they have even one guy to go have a statement shift.

I agree. Especially the GM and coach comment. I think JR up until the deadline this year had a great plan for this team. His deadline acquisitions were very questionable at the time. I guess he made moves based upon the need at the time, but it seems him and Sullivan haven't been on the same page. I think both should be on the hot seat with a loss
- 123Kid

I think Sully should be shown the door regardless. Too many inexplicably poor decisions and I think he's lost the players. JR is more difficult to assess, but I think he's also trending the wrong direction. I think having a fresh perspective with some new ideas on how to improve the roster would be a good thing. I also wouldn't mind if the new GM was really aggressive to squeeze the most out of the quickly closing window.

That has a lot to do with the cast of, for the lack of better term, wussy ass hockey players they’ve assembled. Not really like they have even one guy to go have a statement shift.
- Grinder47

Hard to argue with that. Horny and Tanev come the closest, but I think Sully tries to neuter any emotion or aggressiveness with his "just play" mantra. Not to beat a dead horse, but this is yet another reason why I don't like Sheary on the top line. Imagine what a difference a guy like Kunitz would make when the going gets tough.

Let’s be real. How many movies have training montages?
- Victoro311

More than you think. I mean, they were definitely more of an 80’s/90’s thing, but there were plenty. I’m pretty sure even today many sports movies have some kind of training montage, albeit less dramatic.

You know. The training montage from Rocky IV when they're training in Russias is easily the best training montage in movie history.
- Rinosaur

Yeah man! 100%

I loved Kickboxer's when I was a kid too.

Well I said numerous times I had a bad feeling about this series heading into it...

...but....one of the other things I said was I wouldnt mind it going 5 so the Pens get as much real game action in as possible...

This aint over yet.

We'll see what happens...

If Sam Ventura could give Sullivan a call about JJ or the 3rd pair, that'd be great.