Boy have you guys gotten confident in the year your team has gone from the basement to respectable.
- SuperHenderson13

Don't worry if they even GET to the post season they'll suddenly remember one of their top offensive weapons is 31 year old Jeff Skinner (who is having a career year) and get absolutely spanked.

Sabres will finish at least 10 points ahead of Pens.

Hextall and the Pens Roster = Garbage.
- HappyBirdSeeds

hahaha not that far fetched but either is the Pens making the playoffs, really. They've (Pens) had stretches (best record beginning of November to end of December) of great hockey already this season and with 33 games remaining still, while currently in a playoff spot, a lot can go down...including maybe even the Pens themselves haha. We'll see what happens.

It’s nice to see Sabres fans being humble now that their team is playing decent. Especially after their team was one of the worst teams in the NHL for over a decade.
- Cptmjl

hahaha

Money puck has these 3 team's make-the-playoff-odds currently at:

Sabres: 58.3%
Pens: 57.5%
Caps: 56.3%

So in a way the Pens are already in the playoffs haha. Its exciting. Hopefully they can make a good run of it, even if they fall short. If they can tighten up the 5 on 5 again, and Jarry stay healthy, I like their chances. The slop leading to giving up around 40+ shots against a night the past 3 weeks isnt age related IMO.

Even after this mostly horrible stretch of results in January the Pens are still 10th overall in xGF% at 5 on 5 (Sabres are 19th) and are 13th in HDSC% (Sabres are 23rd).

Teams can play much different (better/worse) in front of different goalies and I do think you see a better 5 man unit in front of Jarry...on top of Jarry being the far superior goalie. The other night 2 of the Sharks 5 goals against DeSmith probably wouldnt of been saved by anyone...but he could of had the other 3. He's just guessing and offering up juicy rebounds. He will give you a quality start here and there ie vs the Caps but if Jarry isnt injured this season the comment about the Sabres creeping up close in standings isnt even being made.

Jarry's 5 on 5 GSAA is 7.06.....CDS's is -6.60..thats negative 6.60. What a crazy f'n difference hahah

Jarry's 5 on 5 GSAA is 7.06.....CDS's is -6.60..thats negative 6.60. What a crazy f'n difference hahah
- MattStrat

Yes...but it's a positive GSBA of 6.60. I'm an optimist.

Ok, if you REALLY think Hextall needs to go all-in this year, what will you give the Ducks for John Gibson? Of course, the Ducks would have to take Jarry, but where would the other $3 mil come from? There are too many years left on Gibson's contract so Verbeek isn't going to eat any of it. The Ducks will need defensemen after they unload Klingberg and Kulikov and possibly Shattenkirk. Gibson is a Pittsburgh native so you will definitely be on his 10-team trade list.

Ok, if you REALLY think Hextall needs to go all-in this year, what will you give the Ducks for John Gibson? Of course, the Ducks would have to take Jarry, but where would the other $3 mil come from? There are too many years left on Gibson's contract so Verbeek isn't going to eat any of it. The Ducks will need defensemen after they unload Klingberg and Kulikov and possibly Shattenkirk. Gibson is a Pittsburgh native so you will definitely be on his 10-team trade list.
- duxcup07

Why would the Pens trade Jarry+ for Gibson? Jarry isn't the problem, they need to upgrade the defense, bottom 6, and backup position.

Ok, if you REALLY think Hextall needs to go all-in this year, what will you give the Ducks for John Gibson? Of course, the Ducks would have to take Jarry, but where would the other $3 mil come from? There are too many years left on Gibson's contract so Verbeek isn't going to eat any of it. The Ducks will need defensemen after they unload Klingberg and Kulikov and possibly Shattenkirk. Gibson is a Pittsburgh native so you will definitely be on his 10-team trade list.
- duxcup07

I dont think Jarry to Gibson is an upgrade, plus Gibson's contract is tough for us to absorb.

Ok, if you REALLY think Hextall needs to go all-in this year, what will you give the Ducks for John Gibson? Of course, the Ducks would have to take Jarry, but where would the other $3 mil come from? There are too many years left on Gibson's contract so Verbeek isn't going to eat any of it. The Ducks will need defensemen after they unload Klingberg and Kulikov and possibly Shattenkirk. Gibson is a Pittsburgh native so you will definitely be on his 10-team trade list.
- duxcup07

No way the Pens trade Jarry for Gibson. If they did it would be straight up, Jarry is looking for a deal close to what Gibson is getting. Anaheim would have to have a deal in place with Jarry before the trade could materialize.

I dont think Jarry to Gibson is an upgrade, plus Gibson's contract is tough for us to absorb.
- SuperHenderson13

Can you go into the playoffs hoping Jarry stays healthy?

Can you go into the playoffs hoping Jarry stays healthy?
- rayc16

No. But that's what Hextall will do. Most people around here wanted another backup, but Hexy kept the same tending together that let them down for two seasons in a row.

Hextall is handcuffed by some of his bad contracts. He joined the team with eye towards rebuilding. He was explicit about not trading futures and picks. I bet he does very little to try to bolster the team.

No. But that's what Hextall will do. Most people around here wanted another backup, but Hexy kept the same tending together that let them down for two seasons in a row.

Hextall is handcuffed by some of his bad contracts. He joined the team with eye towards rebuilding. He was explicit about not trading futures and picks. I bet he does very little to try to bolster the team.
- madmike71

It'd be foolish to chance the same thing happening again. That's a reason to be fired. Crazy keeping the aging core together take another shot or two only to blow it because you didn't have a good plan in net.

It'd be foolish to chance the same thing happening again. That's a reason to be fired. Crazy keeping the aging core together take another shot or two only to blow it because you didn't have a good plan in net.
- rayc16

If they can win with Ron Hainsey playing Kris Letang's minutes, they can win with sub-standard goaltending.

If they can win with Ron Hainsey playing Kris Letang's minutes, they can win with sub-standard goaltending.
- jmatchett383

If they can win with Ron Hainsey playing Kris Letang's minutes, they can win with sub-standard goaltending.
- jmatchett383

That's right. Highly improbable but still possible haha.

the desmith, kappy, carter, mcginn contracts are bad. not dealing dumo in the off season was bad. in listening to pagnotta, madden, etc there is absolutely zero chatter, not any rumors that hextall is working the phones.

That coupled with Sullivans refusal to sit players who are not playing well is a terrible combination.

the desmith, kappy, carter, mcginn contracts are bad. not dealing dumo in the off season was bad. in listening to pagnotta, madden, etc there is absolutely zero chatter, not any rumors that hextall is working the phones.

That coupled with Sullivans refusal to sit players who are not playing well is a terrible combination.
- i'mjustafan

Hextall likes to keep things quiet. Every GM is working the phones, nothing may get done but he's seeing what's potentially out there.

the desmith, kappy, carter, mcginn contracts are bad. not dealing dumo in the off season was bad. in listening to pagnotta, madden, etc there is absolutely zero chatter, not any rumors that hextall is working the phones.

That coupled with Sullivans refusal to sit players who are not playing well is a terrible combination.
- i'mjustafan

Bluegar isn't playing up to 100% either following his injury. I agree on that list of people who have bad contracts/contracts we should move.

Never figured the Isles would be making moves like that this season... Maybe Hex surprises us too haha...

Never figured the Isles would be making moves like that this season... Maybe Hex surprises us too haha...
- MattStrat

No... Hexy won't be doing that lol.

He's getting raked over the coals in Pittsburgh these days.

No... Hexy won't be doing that lol.

He's getting raked over the coals in Pittsburgh these days.
- madmike71

You mean by the sports media there? If so, great! People in his position should never be comfortable when their product isn't doing well.

Bluegar isn't playing up to 100% either following his injury. I agree on that list of people who have bad contracts/contracts we should move.
- 123Kid

Blu gets a free pass for some reason although he is the most offensively inept player on the team. Poehling has made him expendable and if teams are willing to give up any bottom six player with good nhl speed to acquire Blueger it is definitely a route worth looking at.

Blu gets a free pass for some reason although he is the most offensively inept player on the team. Poehling has made him expendable and if teams are willing to give up any bottom six player with good nhl speed to acquire Blueger it is definitely a route worth looking at.
- Grinder47

I forget the numbers, but someone posted the Penguins PK numbers with and without him in the lineup and it was pretty night and day. That said, yes his offense has been next to nothing this year and teams can no longer afford "PK specialist" type players
When he was signed, and even last year, his contract seemed like fair value given his offensive output (9/19/28).

But with a dramatic reduction in his output this year,
I don't think he's getting a "free pass" from anyone. That said, last year people wanted Zucker gone after he was in and out with injuries and didn't contribute much; this year, he's become a top contributor and looking more like the player the Penguins hoped to get when they signed him. We're seeing the exact opposite with Blu this year after he came back from injuries. I'm not making any excuses, just stating facts.

So, since he's a UFA with a relatively high cap hit and minimal offensive output this year, I doubt there would be any takers for him. But if there is a chance to improve their bottom 6, I wouldn't say he's untouchable or be afraid to healthy scratch him.

You mean by the sports media there? If so, great! People in his position should never be comfortable when their product isn't doing well.
- MattStrat

Media and fans. Everybody loved JR making 10 trades a year and giving grumpy old man interviews. He was like a fan steering the ship. Hextall on the other hand is MIA. Never gives interviews and doesn't make trades. He's the anti-JR.

It's funny because I knew this would happen. Fans/media got used to that "mad scientist" rush from JR. They always knew he had something cooking. With Hextall, you need to hold a mirror under his nose to see if he's breathing.....if you can find him.