So Grinder, you think that 4th line was successful? There is a lot of credence to the "fancy staters". It is true this line took some of the defensive zone starts away from Crosby--which is a good thing. But RW is also correct, these guys dont do ANYTHING offensively. You cant have 2 wasted lines, and it may be easier to fix the 4th line than the 3rd...

Maybe trying a trap like the Canadiens of the 70's--and sending all attackers forward after the turnover-would be an answer. Unfortunately I dont see Sullivan going for this
- Amanion

Seriously? The Pens scored eight goals, five even strength. The fourth line had one of those goals. Just how many do you want them to score?

You’re limiting ticket sales to two markets. Playoff tickets are expensive enough, now you’re banking on fans paying for airfare and lodging on top of the tickets? Cmon man lol
- kfinl170

Not to mentions 4-8 teams fans/families all competing for lodging as well as all other complementary activities while you're there...this is really a terrible idea, except in the case of a bubble.

Not to mentions 4-8 teams fans/families all competing for lodging as well as all other complementary activities while you're there...this is really a terrible idea, except in the case of a bubble.
- joecool2931

Yea I didn't even think of that either. I thought I had come up with about everything wrong with that, but then there's more.

Don't think this was mentioned, but the Pens signed Steven's son and Marino's frequent teammate Luke.

He was a 5th round pick by the Canes who didn't sign, so it's not just nepotism. 6'4" 215. Not really big scoring totals so not sure what to expect

Don't think this was mentioned, but the Pens signed Steven's son and Marino's frequent teammate Luke.

He was a 5th round pick by the Canes who didn't sign, so it's not just nepotism. 6'4" 215. Not really big scoring totals so not sure what to expect
- Tojo.

Scott Stevens?

Scott Stevens?
- Hockey66

I think Kevin Stevens

He should get fired for JJ's usage alone, not to mention all the other stupid crap. Keeping him around just because they gave him a stupid contract (if that's the case) is compounding stupidity. I don't know how Mario has any patience for him or JR at this point. All these new assistants is just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

My prediction is that despite what JR said, no big changes will happen. He will be too afraid to deal #15 so he keeps it and drafts someone who won't be able to help for 3 years minimum, if at all. He'll make one FA signing for someone that nobody is thinking about or talking about. And he'll give him too much money and too much term. There will be some minor trade for a bottom six guy (maybe for Murray) who JR thinks is going to play in they top 6 (and Sully will put him there).

They will start the season with obvious holes to fill but JR says there were no good deals so he is going to stand pat until mid-season and see how things go. The Pens are in 2nd to 4th place in the division on talent alone for the first couple of months so Sully is safe. Then injuries happen so Sully has an excuse for a drop-off in play and he keeps his job for the entire season. JR says he will evaluate everything after the season.

JR trades a 3rd for wily vet Joe Thornton at the trade deadline. Then trades a second for some shrimpy fast guy who scores a fair amount in the regular season but has never shown an ability to score in the playoffs, but things will be different this time because he hasn't played with this level of talent before and a 2x Stanley Cup-winning coach.

Pens get swept in the first round, but this time by a good team, because they can't muster enough points during the regular season for a good seed.

Welcome to purgatory / no-man's land.

Pens fans: Admit that you can see at least half of these things happening.
- Hockey66

This 💯 just like last year when big changes were coming. I don’t care if ovi and tarasenko came over. The D will screw everything up outside of Letang, Dumo, Marino. Bank on it. And just cause I’m feeling pessimistic today sheary takes a cheap deal to stay.

I think Kevin Stevens
- chimpira

Oh, right.

Not to mentions 4-8 teams fans/families all competing for lodging as well as all other complementary activities while you're there...this is really a terrible idea, except in the case of a bubble.
- joecool2931

I think this would be a cool atmosphere for sure but just not realistic with fifteen 7 game series. Teams would lose way too much revenue from missed home games.

This 💯 just like last year when big changes were coming. I don’t care if ovi and tarasenko came over. The D will screw everything up outside of Letang, Dumo, Marino. Bank on it. And just cause I’m feeling pessimistic today sheary takes a cheap deal to stay.
- 10inchTerror

I said after game 1 vs Habs the the Pens are only as good as their weakest link and that link, the 3rd pair, was disastrous.

This 💯 just like last year when big changes were coming. I don’t care if ovi and tarasenko came over. The D will screw everything up outside of Letang, Dumo, Marino. Bank on it. And just cause I’m feeling pessimistic today sheary takes a cheap deal to stay.
- 10inchTerror

I also think they will re-sign Sheary. But they'll find another Sheary clone at the trade deadline. You know, for Sully's "system."

I said after game 1 vs Habs the the Pens are only as good as their weakest link and that link, the 3rd pair, was disastrous.
- MattStrat

Yep, and they played the entire series, right up to the bitter end, getting important deployments all along.

Yep, and they played the entire series, right up to the bitter end, getting important deployments all along.
- Hockey66

They had more ice time than Petts-Marino or Sid/Geno in game 4! hahaha madness!!

Yep, and they played the entire series, right up to the bitter end, getting important deployments all along.
- Hockey66

I just don’t get with all these expert coaches, analytic departments, video review coaches, and so forth how this can continue. It’s easy to be an nhl20 gm but it’s also pretty easy to see some obvious bad players.

JJ must literally have his own damn tutor to help with all his video review.

They had more ice time than Petts-Marino or Sid/Geno in game 4! hahaha madness!!
- MattStrat

If they were going to do that, they might as well have jumbled the pairs and had Marino babysit JJ since that worked.

I've been saying for a couple years, Sully doesn't shelter his 3rd pair. This year with Riikola-Ruhwedel was the first time I can remember.

If they were going to do that, they might as well have jumbled the pairs and had Marino babysit JJ since that worked.

I've been saying for a couple years, Sully doesn't shelter his 3rd pair. This year with Riikola-Ruhwedel was the first time I can remember.
- Tojo.

And they were far superior in every way to JJ-Schultz....more madness!

So Grinder, you think that 4th line was successful? There is a lot of credence to the "fancy staters". It is true this line took some of the defensive zone starts away from Crosby--which is a good thing. But RW is also correct, these guys dont do ANYTHING offensively. You cant have 2 wasted lines, and it may be easier to fix the 4th line than the 3rd...

Maybe trying a trap like the Canadiens of the 70's--and sending all attackers forward after the turnover-would be an answer. Unfortunately I dont see Sullivan going for this
- Amanion

I was referring to the Islanders “overrated” fourth line that shutdown SIDS line last year. But in the same note it’s likely Blueger would have finish 10 goals plus. Tanev already had 11 ZAR like I said kind of sucks. How many goals is it reasonable to expect out of s fourth line? If Simon played on the 4th line all year and had 2 goals you goat heads would dream about a breakout pass he made in November all year.

I was referring to the Islanders “overrated” fourth line that shutdown SIDS line last year. But in the same note it’s likely Blueger would have finish 10 goals plus. Tanev already had 11 ZAR like I said kind of sucks. How many goals is it reasonable to expect out of s fourth line? If Simon played on the 4th line all year and had 2 goals you goat heads would dream about a breakout pass he made in November all year.
- Grinder47

This team needs some guys who play with an edge. The Penguins won 2 Cups playing fast with small guys, but sooner or later the league was going to figure it. Watching these other playoff games, they are filled with forwards who dump the puck, punish the defender with a hit, forecheck, and then generate an offensive chance. In the Montreal series, we dumped it in, skated with bricks in our skates, and the puck was out of our zone before we could do anything. It is quite clear the Penguins either refused to take Montreal seriously or had no desire to play.
- SuperHenderson13

I agree with this. One of the reasons I'm always hoping for guys like Miles Wood, Josh Anderson, Virtanen, etc.

I also would add to that.. though I dont agree with the premise of this blog... we could stand to add creative, pure skill guys too. For a "skill" based team, were not that skilled outside 87 71 and 58. As much as I like Zucker, Guentzel is our only skilled, capable of creating his own offense, play-driving type of player.

I agree with this. One of the reasons I'm always hoping for guys like Miles Wood, Josh Anderson, Virtanen, etc.

I also would add to that.. though I dont agree with the premise of this blog... we could stand to add creative, pure skill guys too. For a "skill" based team, were not that skilled outside 87 71 and 58. As much as I like Zucker, Guentzel is our only skilled, capable of creating his own offense, play-driving type of player.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Good analysis. One thing I've noticed is that Sully tends to blunt any "edge" players with his "just play" mantra. Even goons come here and look disinterested.

Agree about needing skill guys creating on their own - too many passengers but also not enough net-drivers and low slot guys. Like 1.5 with Horny and Rust. We're a perimeter team. I was thinking we should play Toronto in an exhibition series and call it the Breakout Perimeter Classic or something.

Yea I didn't even think of that either. I thought I had come up with about everything wrong with that, but then there's more.
- 668710

Yea, in the case of the superbowl, its only one game, so its not that big of a deal, but they still have to strategically locate them in places that can hold probably 200k extra people for a short period of time.

In the case of the Olympics, they literally build those stadiums and facilities(hotels/restaurants), knowing years in advance that they will be held there. Just to be abandoned afterwards (may just be the case in Rio, Brazil). I think, london still uses their facilities, but like said they have like 12 years to plan for that event.

I think this would be a cool atmosphere for sure but just not realistic with fifteen 7 game series. Teams would lose way too much revenue from missed home games.
- 10inchTerror

Possibly, but tuukka rask just left his team in the dust specifically because the atmosphere was dogpoop and it didn't feel like playoffs. Maybe with "general" fans mixed with a few home fans willing to pay an exorbitant amount of money to see, it would be slightly different, but i still think it would be hard to generate home game like atmosphere with even 1/10 the same feeling.

Possibly, but tuukka rask just left his team in the dust specifically because the atmosphere was dogpoop and it didn't feel like playoffs. Maybe with "general" fans mixed with a few home fans willing to pay an exorbitant amount of money to see, it would be slightly different, but i still think it would be hard to generate home game like atmosphere with even 1/10 the same feeling.
- joecool2931

Yeah I mean this would be great specifically for out of market fans that LOVE to watch hockey games regardless of who's playing and can take a week's vacation to watch playoff hockey for 12 hours a day. Sucks in about every other aspect. The franchises themselves lose revenue from everything that goes along with having home games. Local economies lose money from the atmosphere home games create. Home field advantage for the actual teams playing is nullified since everyone's at a neutral site and the arena are saturated with neutral fans of other teams killing time until their team plays. Games are also put in poop time slots in the middle of the day because there's only one arena for like eight teams, which will cause ratings to go down because people work. This is really a terrible idea all around.

Possibly, but tuukka rask just left his team in the dust specifically because the atmosphere was dogpoop and it didn't feel like playoffs. Maybe with "general" fans mixed with a few home fans willing to pay an exorbitant amount of money to see, it would be slightly different, but i still think it would be hard to generate home game like atmosphere with even 1/10 the same feeling.
- joecool2931

Rask is a weird dude who didn't want to play in the first place. I doubt it had anything to do with "atmosphere."

Of course, Halak is mowing down the competition in his stead.

Seriously? The Pens scored eight goals, five even strength. The fourth line had one of those goals. Just how many do you want them to score?
- Thunderbolt

Clearly they didnt score enough....
Honestly you can contribute offensively without having to turn up on the scoresheet. Drive play, create zone time, wear down the other team. This line wasnt doing that either