Got to listen to the Brian Burke interview on the way home today. 1. Madden is the only guy that should interview anyone about hockey in Pittsburgh. No beating around the bush, came straight through with the tough questions. 2. I don’t think any honest player or coach should have any problem playing under a team Burke is involved with. He fired right back supporting his coaches and players and “penguins hockey”, while also somewhat sticking to his guns about size and toughness.
- Grinder47

Love him or hate him Madden is the only sports media person in Pittsburgh who actually has a good understanding of hockey, aside from those involved in the Pens' radio and TV broadcasts (particularly and obviously former players like Errey and Bourque).

Of the Penguins wingers:
Rust - He'd be my #2 guy to trade. Not sure he gives us a discount to resign and we cannot afford to lose him for nothing.

Jake - Only a good hockey trade would make sense here. The problem is lots of teams arent looking for a Jake let alone pay a premium for. If the right 1 for 1 or 2 for 1 trade came, I'd pull the trigger. Id also have no problem with him here next year.

Zucker - He isnt a bad player, but if he doesnt get taken by Seattle, trade him.

Kapanen - Really like Kapanen. I think he can be used better next season.

McCann - a guy you love when he is scoring, a guy you dont notice much when he isnt scoring/setting up Carter. I have no problem with him here next season.

Gaudreau - Earned a new contract, maybe multiple years... but I hope it isnt Pittsburgh that gives it to him. We need this spot filled by one of Legare or Poulin.

Tanev/ZAR - they played well and add something to the team. wouldnt be shocked if Seattle takes one of them.
- SuperHenderson13

Tanev will be protected so they may take ZAR

He was not snake bitten he was taking poopty shots while being knocked to the ice by bigger men. It’s crazy how no one will give the Islanders any credit for anything. Haha.
- Grinder47

No poop

He was not snake bitten he was taking poopty shots while being knocked to the ice by bigger men. It’s crazy how no one will give the Islanders any credit for anything. Haha.
- Grinder47

Riiiiight

Riiiiight
- j.boyd919

Your logic is that an elite goal scoring nhl winger just couldn’t produce because the puck just wouldn’t go in the net. All I’m saying is there was another team out there doing things to prevent that. But you know, graphs.

Your logic is that an elite goal scoring nhl winger just couldn’t produce because the puck just wouldn’t go in the net. All I’m saying is there was another team out there doing things to prevent that. But you know, graphs.
- Grinder47

Agreed. Get Kassian and Simmonds.

Agreed. Get Kassian and Simmonds.
- Feds91Stammer

I honestly wouldn't be shocked if they deal for Kassian.

Your logic is that an elite goal scoring nhl winger just couldn’t produce because the puck just wouldn’t go in the net. All I’m saying is there was another team out there doing things to prevent that. But you know, graphs.
- Grinder47

I think it had more to do with the guy between the pipes then the other Isles players “preventing” things given he was getting shots from dangerous areas.

Those numbers are what we expect of our fourth line players.

Seriously though, 50 points would be Zucker's second best season of his career. If we don't expect 26 and 27 year olds to improve, why would we expect a 29 year old to have a career year.
- Thunderbolt

1) Adjust your expectations of 4th line players.

2) He's had 47 in 79 and 41 in 60. Both are right in that range so not a stretch.

3) 25 and 50 is not a career year for a guy who had 33 and 64. It's just roughly what he did 3 of the past 5 years. Not a stretch.

Isles doing it again. 1 goal on 1 chance after a pretty dominant 1st by the Bs.

I think it had more to do with the guy between the pipes then the other Isles players “preventing” things given he was getting shots from dangerous areas.
- j.boyd919

I think quality of shot and time and space given has something to do with it. I don’t think good players just score or don’t score based on luck.

Marchand is playing great

I think quality of shot and time and space given has something to do with it. I don’t think good players just score or don’t score based on luck.
- Grinder47

Yeah me neither. I don’t think Sorokin playing well was luck by any means. Don’t worry I watched every game. My opinion isn’t based on charts and charts alone.

He was not snake bitten he was taking poopty shots while being knocked to the ice by bigger men. It’s crazy how no one will give the Islanders any credit for anything. Haha.
- Grinder47

That's not true. Yesterday I gave them credit for looking like the Islanders they didn't look like vs the Pens in game 4 vs Bs, more like the ones I gave credit to in 2019, and said if they keep that up (last game vs B's) combined with their goalie tandem they have, they will dispatch the Bruins. They weren't playing like that most of the Pens series. Over in the Islanders blog the comments were about how bad they looked after most games vs Pens, even after some of the ones they still ended up winning. It's crazy to me you keep this narrative going because you said they were a bad matchup for the Pens again, when really it was a great matchup this year with the Pens goalie sh!tting the bed and theirs becoming a demigod at times being by far the biggest factors in the series loss.

Isles played 2 good games in the Pens series and lost one of them.

Yeah me neither. I don’t think Sorokin playing well was luck by any means. Don’t worry I watched every game. My opinion isn’t based on charts and charts alone.
- j.boyd919

I just watched the bruins have the puck in the Islanders zone for like 3 minutes and the Bruins took maybe 4 “high danger” shots with none of them actually Being in danger of going in.

Pens would have beat the Bruins I think. (frank)ing loose in the d zone.

Love him or hate him Madden is the only sports media person in Pittsburgh who actually has a good understanding of hockey, aside from those involved in the Pens' radio and TV broadcasts (particularly and obviously former players like Errey and Bourque).
- PghPens668771

It was good to see Burkie call out the officiating for being dog poop in the playoffs.

It was good to see Burkie call out the officiating for being dog poop in the playoffs.
- j.boyd919

Yeah the officiating is fine. Stop making excuses.

Yeah the officiating is fine. Stop making excuses.
- Grinder47

You on the beers this eve, Grindy?

Yeah the officiating is fine. Stop making excuses.
- Grinder47

Oh it’s not excuse. It’s league wide. It’s embarrassing.

Was there any mention of why Geno didn’t get his elbow fixed at the same time?

You on the beers this eve, Grindy?
- MattStrat

The short answer. Yes. Rooting on the Islanders.

I just watched the bruins have the puck in the Islanders zone for like 3 minutes and the Bruins took maybe 4 “high danger” shots with none of them actually Being in danger of going in.
- Grinder47

They have 3 high dangers after 2 periods so yeah they definitely had 4 in 3 minutes.

The short answer. Yes. Rooting on the Islanders.
- Grinder47

Hahah I had a hunch. I don't care much about this series, dislike both teams almost equally, perhaps Isles a tad more. They can both fvck right off.

Was there any mention of why Geno didn’t get his elbow fixed at the same time?
- Thorny87

His elbow isn’t fixable.