https://twitter.com/wavei.../1366478580008558595?s=21

Pk rankings^

Blueger and Tanev have been struggling lately. They may be trying to go on the offense too much. I say that because that was my first thought when Letang's stick broke and neither gave up their twig.

PK is running the same guys as last season for the most part and was largely thought around here to be top 5 (or maybe top 10) again but the PK is such a crap shoot. I'd be curious to see how often a team is consistently good on the PK over the course of a few seasons.
- j.boyd919

Dumo was always really solid on the PK and not available obvs. Feds prob right, mostly goalies. Better personnel decisions with who they have could be a positive factor going forward though, such as Kap being used. The PK did really look like it was starting turn the corner until the last two games.

https://twitter.com/waveintel/status/1366478580008558595?s=21

Pk rankings^
- j.boyd919

Cool stuff, thanks for sharing.

Yeah, I've always wanted Pens in top 10 for both. I think that's when you're really giving the team best chance to win.

Bottom 10 for both is putrid.

One of Kaps known strengths coming over was the PK. I think I read somewhere he lead, or was near top, of PK breakaways the last few season...didn't always burry a goal obviously but if the puck is in the other end and a chance created while on PK thats good stuff for a few reasons.....and Sully is not playing him there.
- MattStrat

Bourque said on the radio last night that he believes it’s that sully doesn’t trust him, w/ getting benched a few times and all.

Dumo was always really solid on the PK and not available obvs. Feds prob right, mostly goalies. Better personal decisions with who they have could be a positive factor going forward though, such as Kap being used. The PK did really look like it was starting turn the corner until the last two games.
- MattStrat

That was my first thought too. Dumoulin has handled that role for years and they miss him on that 1st unit.

If we get someone like let's say Rackell for a decent price Im definitely ok with it because it will help next year as well. I think the one thing me and you agree on is we'd stay away from rentals. They may do jack poop this year but as long as we acquire someone with term I'm ok with it. I feel better about next year than this season though, but it's like you can't completely throw in the towel so may as well try and make a move for now and the next season at minimum.
- 668710

https://www.google.com/am...tsburgh-marcus-pettersson

According to this article Bruins, Leafs and Oilers are all in on Rackell... if that's true Pens are last in assets to trade of those 3...

Shockingly the two PP’s they scored on were terrible calls, could/should have been called the other way. But hey...that’s the way the league calls the games.

Too lazy to look it up to verify, but I just read that Sid and Geno both only have one even strength goal a piece. No amount of shuffling the deck chairs with depth players will fix this team if this remains to be the case.

Too lazy to look it up to verify, but I just read that Sid and Geno both only have one even strength goal a piece. No amount of shuffling the deck chairs with depth players will fix this team if this remains to be the case.
- madmike71

It’s because they aren’t elite anymore. It happens.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.pensburgh.com/platform/amp/2021/3/1/22307299/nhl-trade-rumors-penguins-richard-rakell-anaheim-ducks-trades-pittsburgh-marcus-pettersson

According to this article Bruins, Leafs and Oilers are all in on Rackell... if that's true Pens are last in assets to trade of those 3...
- Beatnic57

But will those teams give up more assets for him? He ain't worth that much with the way he has played.

It’s because they aren’t elite anymore. It happens.
- Feds91Stammer

Isn't it crazy how Jagr was elite at 33 and 34 years old. (frank)ing legend.

Too lazy to look it up to verify, but I just read that Sid and Geno both only have one even strength goal a piece. No amount of shuffling the deck chairs with depth players will fix this team if this remains to be the case.
- madmike71

Probably 5v5. Sid has a couple OT goals, even strength.

Malkin is at .6 PPG while Kap is at .58 PPG. One doesn't play on the PP.

Either way, without top production from either 87 or 71 this team isn't going to produce a whole lot.

Most teams goal for special teams is having a combined % of over 100%. It’s the mark where teams think special teams isn’t helping or hurting your team. Pens combined % is 87... which is horrible. Detroit is the worst in the league at 78.5% which is VERY bad. The top special teams in the league usually sit around 115% and the worst around 82%.

Too lazy to look it up to verify, but I just read that Sid and Geno both only have one even strength goal a piece. No amount of shuffling the deck chairs with depth players will fix this team if this remains to be the case.
- madmike71

Exactly. Improved depth scoring can't overcome this.

Cool stuff, thanks for sharing.

Yeah, I've always wanted Pens in top 10 for both. I think that's when you're really giving the team best chance to win.

Bottom 10 for both is putrid.
- MattStrat

Bottom 10 would be an massive improvement right now

I'm 102nd overall n HBSL... And this is the first week I forgot to set lineup... Already losing bad to one of the bottom dwelling teams in division... Dirt

Exactly. Improved depth scoring can't overcome this.
- Tojo.

I don't know. When you have two ppg centers and an almost ppg dman, you've got some very important pieces still. I know they're slowing down, I know Geno isn't currently a ppg player in stats right now but I still think when the season is done that's where he Sid will be, or very close to it.

There really is still a lot of time for them to get some game back... Not talking mid twenties game here but just a bit more production... And a bit more production wins some of the games they lost. We're already seeing it with Tanger, he's picking it up a bit. There's still 36 games left and they're very much in the thick of it for playoffs. If it wasn't for the busted up D and shoddy goaltending a lot of nights, they'd be higher in standings.

It's possible they could get worse as well, but I don't see it unless there's some major injuries... Which I guess is always possible, especially with this group. I still think Sully gets canned and it boosts them.. Or perhaps that's wishful thinking...

Malkin is at .6 PPG while Kap is at .58 PPG. One doesn't play on the PP.

Either way, without top production from either 87 or 71 this team isn't going to produce a whole lot.
- sammy87

Kapanen is on the second unit. Yes, there is a big difference, the first unit gets twice as much ice time. Kap gets his chances.

Overall team play is improving with the return of the d-corps. The goaltending is the first to show this. Special teams is where this team is losing games. Improvement on special teams will lead to Malkin and Crosby getting more goals. It will lead to getting leads and playing with leads which in turn lead to more goals.

The Pens have been playing from behind all season and special teams is the biggest reason. Unless this improves we are in for a long season.

I don't know. When you have two ppg centers and an almost ppg dman, you've got some very important pieces still. I know they're slowing down, I know Geno isn't currently a ppg player in stats right now but I still think when the season is done that's where he Sid will be, or very close to it.

There really is still a lot of time for them to get some game back... Not talking mid twenties game here but just a bit more production... And a bit more production wins some of the games they lost. We're already seeing it with Tanger, he's picking it up a bit. There's still 36 games left and they're very much in the thick of it for playoffs. If it wasn't for the busted up D and shoddy goaltending a lot of nights, they'd be higher in standings.

It's possible they could get worse as well, but I don't see it unless there's some major injuries... Which I guess is always possible, especially with this group. I still think Sully gets canned and it boosts them.. Or perhaps that's wishful thinking...
- MattStrat

We have no idea what it would be like to have another line right now. If you form another line, say a scoring line or a line to take on other teams top lines it puts less pressure and reduces some minutes on Sid and Geno. They can go either way with construction of the other line because I believe Blueger can be apart of either a shutdown line or a scoring line.

Kapanen is on the second unit. Yes, there is a big difference, the first unit gets twice as much ice time. Kap gets his chances.

Overall team play is improving with the return of the d-corps. The goaltending is the first to show this. Special teams is where this team is losing games. Improvement on special teams will lead to Malkin and Crosby getting more goals. It will lead to getting leads and playing with leads which in turn lead to more goals.

The Pens have been playing from behind all season and special teams is the biggest reason. Unless this improves we are in for a long season.
- Thunderbolt

We clearly need a LW right handed guy for the PP. Which would move Rust back to PK which would improve that as well. We really need a Forsberg/Palmeri/Rackell guy for the PP. Rackell seems like a risk but his contract isn't terrible, maybe just changing it up will help. Palmeri would be my last choice just because he's a rental, and Forsberg would cost the most to acquire. On top of that they will need to acquire another bottom 6 forward as well.

We clearly need a LW right handed guy for the PP. Which would move Rust back to PK which would improve that as well. We really need a Forsberg/Palmeri/Rackell guy for the PP. Rackell seems like a risk but his contract isn't terrible, maybe just changing it up will help. Palmeri would be my last choice just because he's a rental, and Forsberg would cost the most to acquire. On top of that they will need to acquire another bottom 6 forward as well.
- 668710

I said a couple of years ago when the anti-Hornqvist crowd first wanted him out of here. You only trade him when you have a net front replacement. Only one thing has changed on the power play and that is the subtraction of Horny. We don't have a replacement and it shows. Good PP's have puck movement, guys who get the puck to the net, screens, and garbage goals. That leads me to another thing, just how many rebound goals have we scored this year? I can't remember any.

I don't know. When you have two ppg centers and an almost ppg dman, you've got some very important pieces still. I know they're slowing down, I know Geno isn't currently a ppg player in stats right now but I still think when the season is done that's where he Sid will be, or very close to it.

There really is still a lot of time for them to get some game back... Not talking mid twenties game here but just a bit more production... And a bit more production wins some of the games they lost. We're already seeing it with Tanger, he's picking it up a bit. There's still 36 games left and they're very much in the thick of it for playoffs. If it wasn't for the busted up D and shoddy goaltending a lot of nights, they'd be higher in standings.

It's possible they could get worse as well, but I don't see it unless there's some major injuries... Which I guess is always possible, especially with this group. I still think Sully gets canned and it boosts them.. Or perhaps that's wishful thinking...
- MattStrat

Feds Fact Check: False

The penguins have ZERO ppg centers.

I said a couple of years ago when the anti-Hornqvist crowd first wanted him out of here. You only trade him when you have a net front replacement. Only one thing has changed on the power play and that is the subtraction of Horny. We don't have a replacement and it shows. Good PP's have puck movement, guys who get the puck to the net, screens, and garbage goals. That leads me to another thing, just how many rebound goals have we scored this year? I can't remember any.
- Thunderbolt

Rust can’t do what Kessel did

Guentzel can’t do what Horny did

And the other 3 pieces to the PP are in a state of decline