Didn't catch last nights game. There is obviously flaws with the roster but as others have stated no one or 2 trades can really fix it. What could be fixed is how the team plays. It is a combination of bad players and poor coaching. One can be fixed without cap implications.

Even though Sully is signed for 100 more years, if you want to see a change on the ice, he has to go.

If you don't have the players to play a certain system, then change the systems.
- Thorny87

Not sure you have the players to play any kind of system at this point. It's all a mishmash with not real consistency.

Didn't catch last nights game. There is obviously flaws with the roster but as others have stated no one or 2 trades can really fix it. What could be fixed is how the team plays. It is a combination of bad players and poor coaching. One can be fixed without cap implications.

Even though Sully is signed for 100 more years, if you want to see a change on the ice, he has to go.

If you don't have the players to play a certain system, then change the systems.
- Thorny87

I don't think that the errors are due to the system, I think they are due to poor judgment from the players on the ice. There's only so much a coach can do, at some point it comes down to execution, but when Letang is trying to sauce a pass from the half wall back to Dumolin who has a guy stapled to his leg, instead of sending it low into the corner, or DOC tries to bat a puck out of mid air instead of grabbing it with his hand or changing his body position or Jarry not against his post, or giving away the puck to Horvat behind the net.. that ain't on the coach.

I don't think that the errors are due to the system, I think they are due to poor judgment from the players on the ice. There's only so much a coach can do, at some point it comes down to execution, but when Letang is trying to sauce a pass from the half wall back to Dumolin who has a guy stapled to his leg, instead of sending it low into the corner, or DOC tries to bat a puck out of mid air instead of grabbing it with his hand or changing his body position or Jarry not against his post, or giving away the puck to Horvat behind the net.. that ain't on the coach.
- j.boyd919

This all plays into my tightening up narrative and I will not let it die until they are mathematically eliminated hahaha...which may never come....its mental lapses and brain farts, which I do think can be mostly corrected. Our goalie that can cover for these lapses time to time is back as well. He had a few of his own last night but for him its not an age thing, its not a he's cooked thing... its a getting some more game reps in and back to game speed thing.

I don't think that the errors are due to the system, I think they are due to poor judgment from the players on the ice. There's only so much a coach can do, at some point it comes down to execution, but when Letang is trying to sauce a pass from the half wall back to Dumolin who has a guy stapled to his leg, instead of sending it low into the corner, or DOC tries to bat a puck out of mid air instead of grabbing it with his hand or changing his body position or Jarry not against his post, or giving away the puck to Horvat behind the net.. that ain't on the coach.
- j.boyd919

I pretty much agree with this. These players know the right plays, they're choosing risky plays. Half way through that game last night, they had already given up 5 odd man breaks. Sullivan isn't coaching that. They're all guilty of it. It's been a problem all year.

I pretty much agree with this. These players know the right plays, they're choosing risky plays. Half way through that game last night, they had already given up 5 odd man breaks. Sullivan isn't coaching that. They're all guilty of it. It's been a problem all year.
- madmike71

Its crazy that despite these careless decisions, mental lapses and sloppy play sometimes that in a majority of the games they've lost they were overall statistically the better team at 5 on 5. Included in this are games vs the B's and Canes, two vs the Canes in fact.

I don't think that the errors are due to the system, I think they are due to poor judgment from the players on the ice. There's only so much a coach can do, at some point it comes down to execution, but when Letang is trying to sauce a pass from the half wall back to Dumolin who has a guy stapled to his leg, instead of sending it low into the corner, or DOC tries to bat a puck out of mid air instead of grabbing it with his hand or changing his body position or Jarry not against his post, or giving away the puck to Horvat behind the net.. that ain't on the coach.
- j.boyd919

But why is the reverse or ring up the boards the first option for our D? Why is the PP so bad?

I agree it's up to the players to play smarter but some of the systems Sully employs are broken or way to easy to smother.

Hell, teams we play often don't even try to cover our wingers leaving the zone, they just cut off the board pass instead.

This isn't a fast team. But they could be a good counter punch team.

I don't know how many games you've been watching, but I think his hands are gone. When the puck isn't rolling off his stick, he gets shots off late and they get blocked. I feel bad for the guy. The look on his face is disbelief most of the time. He's done and he knows it.
- madmike71

Nah. When you’re constantly chasing the puck around scoring is much harder. He would have 20 again in Rusts role.

But why is the reverse or ring up the boards the first option for our D? Why is the PP so bad?

I agree it's up to the players to play smarter but some of the systems Sully employs are broken or way to easy to smother.

Hell, teams we play often don't even try to cover our wingers leaving the zone, they just cut off the board pass instead.

This isn't a fast team. But they could be a good counter punch team.
- Thorny87

PP is a different beast all together, that's Reirdon, and that poop is awful. He should have been taken off the PP a LONG time ago. They are so bad at executing zone entries and it's mind boggling because the other 98% of the league does the same exact entry with regularity. Then when they do get in the zone, they don't know what to do. There's no real option A, B, C. It's pass until an option appears, which is frustrating. So many cross seam passes that get picked off, or forced passes. Pick your 2v1 and take advantage of that.

I don't know if I'd say their breakouts when they regain the puck in the D are that bad, sure that one from POJ stands out last night because it led to a goal, but dude made a good play jumping up and stopping the puck. I'd have to go review some prior goals against and see if that's a constant thing.

The more glaring mishaps for me are the ones that happen at the blue line in the O-zone that lead so many odd man breaks and that's because they either shoot the puck into shin pads, try to dance/pass across the line and it gets picked off, or just flat out fumbling the puck instead of cycling it down low.

I have never been more disappointed in all my years following this team I attended game one in 1967 so I have been there since day one. The pattern was set for last night to be the night they broke out of this funk but turned out to be in more of a funk when the game ended. They used to be so solid when scoring first....leading after one period and then leading after two. Now that is reversed. I knew it was coming last night, I saw it and predicted it. Why in such a crucial game do you not come out with passion in the 3rd period and just use your talent to overwhelm an inferior team Why do you start playlng like your hair is on fire after you trail going into the last few minutes of the game. Where was the urgency to crush the Isles before the last few minutes. I just do not get it. I am done caring until some drastic measures are taken and with this leadership in the front office (It is like Joe B steering the Titanic) we are doomed

I have never been more disappointed in all my years following this team I attended game one in 1967 so I have been there since day one. The pattern was set for last night to be the night they broke out of this funk but turned out to be in more of a funk when the game ended. They used to be so solid when scoring first....leading after one period and then leading after two. Now that is reversed. I knew it was coming last night, I saw it and predicted it. Why in such a crucial game do you not come out with passion in the 3rd period and just use your talent to overwhelm an inferior team Why do you start playlng like your hair is on fire after you trail going into the last few minutes of the game. Where was the urgency to crush the Isles before the last few minutes. I just do not get it. I am done caring until some drastic measures are taken and with this leadership in the front office (It is like Joe B steering the Titanic) we are doomed
- broncohorvath

lol wut.

They just need to admit where they are at and put everything into the next 2 years. There is a good chance we miss the playoffs and even if we get it, we aren't doing anything but washing out in the first round.

Trade Zucker & Dumo first. Both arent coming back and both could bring back some quality assets.

Trade Blueger, might be able to get a prospect or mid round pick for him.

TRADE JARRY - I think they could get some decent value for him and I don't want us to be the team that signs him to a monster contract.

Get rid of Kapanen, maybe you can flip him for someone else's underperforming asset with a slightly lower cap hit. Maybe he is a piece in a bigger trade.

Carter I don't think you can trade but probably a good candidate for a buyout at the end of the season.

MOST IMPORTANTLY... suck bad enough over the next 6 weeks to have the 11th worst record in the league and have a lottery pick at Bedard. I'd take a 3% chance at getting the best player since Crosby over our chance of winning a cup this year.

Stock the cupboard and have a pick at a few of the top notch UFA's this offseason.

1st in 2023, 1st in 2024, Scott Morrow, Jack Drury

I have never been more disappointed in all my years following this team I attended game one in 1967 so I have been there since day one. The pattern was set for last night to be the night they broke out of this funk but turned out to be in more of a funk when the game ended. They used to be so solid when scoring first....leading after one period and then leading after two. Now that is reversed. I knew it was coming last night, I saw it and predicted it. Why in such a crucial game do you not come out with passion in the 3rd period and just use your talent to overwhelm an inferior team Why do you start playlng like your hair is on fire after you trail going into the last few minutes of the game. Where was the urgency to crush the Isles before the last few minutes. I just do not get it. I am done caring until some drastic measures are taken and with this leadership in the front office (It is like Joe B steering the Titanic) we are doomed
- broncohorvath

IDK....comparing rosters I dont think hte Pens have overwhelming talent. Crosby and Malkin are still really good but they aren't able to take over a game the way they use to. They are upper 30s' at this point.

I dont really follow the league much anymore but watching the game other than Letang none of the Pens D look great. The isles D, none seemed terrible. I really dont know who they alll are but ID say they are equal or better than the Pens D at this point.

Klingerski (so take with a grain of salt) saying Petry was made available for trade by the Penguins. Doesnt mean it will result in a trade, but its a pretty embarrassing move for the Penguins considering they moved a solid LHD for him plus ran out of town a young RHD under contract in order to make a spot available for him.

Also - anyone have thoughts on Erik Karlsson? Word is SJ wants a ton which i dont understand. If they can get rid of his contract, that's a gift. If he can play at a high level for the next few years of Crosby, his contract will be fine for the future given we will be rebuilding.

The outside chatter after that Isles loss was that you're lacking toughness and got pushed around.

Tom Wilson might be just what the doctor ordered. If you can convince the Caps to part with him.

People in Ottawa seem to think you've been calling about Auston Watson. Not sure you want him. He can't skate, he's a lousy fighter.

1st in 2023, 1st in 2024, Scott Morrow, Jack Drury


- BINGO!

Hahaha oh F off, Bingo. "The mighty Penguins" aren't as done as you think... I think..... Or maybe its hope...

Having said that, If Sid ended up going somewhere else I'd want to see him win another one... Unless it was vs the Pens of course... Which is highly unfvcking likely

The outside chatter after that Isles loss was that you're lacking toughness and got pushed around.

Tom Wilson might be just what the doctor ordered. If you can convince the Caps to part with him.

People in Ottawa seem to think you've been calling about Auston Watson. Not sure you want him. He can't skate, he's a lousy fighter.
- Octavarium

Hahahah

Hahaha oh F off, Bingo. "The mighty Penguins" aren't as done as you think... I think..... Or maybe its hope...

Having said that, If Sid ended up going somewhere else I'd want to see him win another one... Unless it was vs the Pens of course... Which is highly unfvcking likely
- MattStrat

I think you guys have mayyyyybe one more run left if Hextall can get his poop together this summer.

But I also don't think there's any chance of Crosby being traded unless he asks for it.

I think you guys have mayyyyybe one more run left if Hextall can get his poop together this summer.

But I also don't think there's any chance of Crosby being traded unless he asks for it.
- BINGO!

Yeah I agree but I really don't think Hextall is the man for that job. Also agree that Sid won't ask for a trade but he only has two years left on contract. Part of me thinks he could sign elsewhere when contract is up..Maybe the Habs, maybe the Avs.

Back in my catholic high school days, a brother once proclaimed you can’t make chicken salad out of chicken poop. This team is stale, boring and unimaginative.

Yeah I agree but I really don't think Hextall is the man for that job. Also agree that Sid won't ask for a trade but he only has two years left on contract. Part of me thinks he could sign elsewhere when contract is up..Maybe the Habs, maybe the Avs.
- MattStrat

I could see Sakic and Mackinnon talking him into a one year deal to chase a cup in Denver.

The outside chatter after that Isles loss was that you're lacking toughness and got pushed around.

Tom Wilson might be just what the doctor ordered. If you can convince the Caps to part with him.

People in Ottawa seem to think you've been calling about Auston Watson. Not sure you want him. He can't skate, he's a lousy fighter.
- Octavarium

Who is this outside chatter you speak of? No names or specifics, is it media, players, rumours, front office, team employees, who?

We've lacked toughness for a long time. Even when we get a decent tough guy, Sullivan benches him or gives him five minutes of ice time.

We don't have anywhere near the cap space to acquire Tom Wilson.

You really don't need to be a good fighter anymore. You do need to slow the other team down a bit. Watson can do that. The problem is he'll be alone on an island and therefore won't be effective.

Truthfully the fanbase and media around here don't want physical hockey teams. This is basically the team we want. Guys who have good fancy stats. Doesn't really matter if we outscore teams, just get more shots.

FSG's Liverpool giving up 5 straight goals to Real Madrid after leading 2-0.

FSG's got a lot of problems unfortunately. Not sure how focused they will be this offseason. If they dont fire Hextall, its clear they dont care.

We're quickly approaching "throw poop at a wall and see if it sticks" territoy.
- jmatchett383

I don’t think putting a guy with 450 career goals and 20 last year in a better position to score is exactly throwing poop at the wall.

Carter doesn’t have the legs to play bottom 6 minutes let alone top 6. Even for a few shifts
- jchst22

I don’t know if you would know this but playing with better players is often times much easier.