Was that his first shot in 3 games?
- Grinder47

3rd point in last 4 games.

Come on box score billy, you can easily see that he’s had shots in all of his last 4. Had 0 shots in 1 game in his last 18. Someone brought their clown shoes to the board tonight.

One of the few entertaining things about ESPN is the intermission reports where Messier completely hates PK Subban.

Really good game between Ovechkin and Crosby on prime time national TV on a Saturday night... how many times did NBC do that?

Side note, Granlund sucks. He half-assed a pass to Malkin that could've been a breakaway had he actually put some zip on it. What a waste of a second pick and $5M.
- SuperHenderson13

Granlund has been absolutely brutal lol

Granlund has been absolutely brutal lol
- j.boyd919

Yet another dumb move given the cost to acquire so many other useful pieces.

As empty a game winner as you’ll see. Malkin needs to score when it counts.

3rd point in last 4 games.

Come on box score billy, you can easily see that he’s had shots in all of his last 4. Had 0 shots in 1 game in his last 18. Someone brought their clown shoes to the board tonight.
- j.boyd919

Yeah. He’s just pretty invisible at times. Unless he’s taking a penalty. Good for him last night though. Vintage Geno.

As empty a game winner as you’ll see. Malkin needs to score when it counts.
- Victoro311

Definitely agree. I could care less about ppg. Get the goal when you need it.

Definitely agree. I could care less about ppg. Get the goal when you need it.
- Grinder47

Lol

Granlund has been absolutely brutal lol
- j.boyd919

The funny, but mostly sad thing is... Granlund has been exactly as advertised. I remember when we got Neal and he was originally useless and so many people were on Shero. But most of us knew he'd turn it around. And he certainly did.

Granlund was useless for Nashville and was a non-factor. For some reason, we thought that was worth a 2nd round pick and $5M. so Im not mad at Granlund. He isnt underachieving. He just isnt a very effective player and definitely not what we needed.

The funny, but mostly sad thing is... Granlund has been exactly as advertised. I remember when we got Neal and he was originally useless and so many people were on Shero. But most of us knew he'd turn it around. And he certainly did.

Granlund was useless for Nashville and was a non-factor. For some reason, we thought that was worth a 2nd round pick and $5M. so Im not mad at Granlund. He isnt underachieving. He just isnt a very effective player and definitely not what we needed.
- SuperHenderson13

In 2007, Dave Littlefield (Pirates) traded for a washed up pitcher with a big contract. His name was Matt Morris and he absolutely sucked. He was eventually released the next season with the Suckos still owing him big money. Most people think it was a goodbye kiss from Littlefield because he knew he was going to get canned at the end of the season....which he was.

I don't think Hextall would do that, but it's almost the exact same scenario. Hexy brought in an aging, smallish player with a big contract who is the exact opposite of the kind of player the Pens need.

The funny, but mostly sad thing is... Granlund has been exactly as advertised. I remember when we got Neal and he was originally useless and so many people were on Shero. But most of us knew he'd turn it around. And he certainly did.

Granlund was useless for Nashville and was a non-factor. For some reason, we thought that was worth a 2nd round pick and $5M. so Im not mad at Granlund. He isnt underachieving. He just isnt a very effective player and definitely not what we needed.
- SuperHenderson13

I agree but he’s still brutal lol

In 2007, Dave Littlefield (Pirates) traded for a washed up pitcher with a big contract. His name was Matt Morris and he absolutely sucked. He was eventually released the next season with the Suckos still owing him big money. Most people think it was a goodbye kiss from Littlefield because he knew he was going to get canned at the end of the season....which he was.

I don't think Hextall would do that, but it's almost the exact same scenario. Hexy brought in an aging, smallish player with a big contract who is the exact opposite of the kind of player the Pens need.
- madmike71

It was a panic move through and through. Hex balked at a completely fair price for Chychrun and Miller got pulled off the table. He knew he had to do something or he was 100% going to be fired. Granlund used to be good so he probably thought that it was a splashy enough acquisition that he could bill it as a good faith effort to make noise, even though in practice Granlund is little more than a replacement level player at this juncture. He doesn’t give a poop about the contract because it’s all house money to him. Getting fired next year is better than getting fired this year.

It was a panic move through and through. Hex balked at a completely fair price for Chychrun and Miller got pulled off the table. He knew he had to do something or he was 100% going to be fired. Granlund used to be good so he probably thought that it was a splashy enough acquisition that he could bill it as a good faith effort to make noise, even though in practice Granlund is little more than a replacement level player at this juncture. He doesn’t give a poop about the contract because it’s all house money to him. Getting fired next year is better than getting fired this year.
- Victoro311

And yet Sullivan is trying to make Granlund a second line player. I would much rather he try to shoehorn Nylander into that role.

We have seven guys who belong in the top nine. As follows IMO:

Geuntzel Crosby Rakell
Zucker Malkin (Nylander/Heinen)
(O'Connor/Heinen) Poehling Rust

Let Nylander, O'Connor, Heinen fight for the remaining two spots. Even Carter, Archibald, Granlund can get in game promotions if they show some life on the fourth line.

Sullivan can do a lot here; he can put Malkin and Crosby together and have Poehling center Zucker and Rakell. He can even move Poehling to a wing in the top six. I don't want to hear "We're in a fight for the playoffs." These are all low risk moves.

The funny, but mostly sad thing is... Granlund has been exactly as advertised. I remember when we got Neal and he was originally useless and so many people were on Shero. But most of us knew he'd turn it around. And he certainly did.

Granlund was useless for Nashville and was a non-factor. For some reason, we thought that was worth a 2nd round pick and $5M. so Im not mad at Granlund. He isnt underachieving. He just isnt a very effective player and definitely not what we needed.
- SuperHenderson13

I still have no idea why Dallas made that trade. Either Neal or Niskanen would be, at the very least, fair price for Goligoski. Goligoski was a purely offensive defenseman who needed to be deployed carefullt, where as Niskanen was an all situations guy. Neal was a young power forward who already had 3 20+ goal seasons under him. Then, I remember being at the draft and hearing the Neal trade, and was surprised they were able to get Horny+ for him as he had seemed to wear out his welcome at his last year. Both great moves.

Granlund could be a decent player, at best. Not a needle mover, but a decent yet overpaid middle-6 guy. There's not a whole lot that makes me think he'll ever get back to 60 point with his recent play.

And yet Sullivan is trying to make Granlund a second line player. I would much rather he try to shoehorn Nylander into that role.

We have seven guys who belong in the top nine. As follows IMO:

Geuntzel Crosby Rakell
Zucker Malkin (Nylander/Heinen)
(O'Connor/Heinen) Poehling Rust

Let Nylander, O'Connor, Heinen fight for the remaining two spots. Even Carter, Archibald, Granlund can get in game promotions if they show some life on the fourth line.

Sullivan can do a lot here; he can put Malkin and Crosby together and have Poehling center Zucker and Rakell. He can even move Poehling to a wing in the top six. I don't want to hear "We're in a fight for the playoffs." These are all low risk moves.
- Thunderbolt

There are so many in explored potentials with this lineup of forwards. But Sullivan wrote the lines down last June and he’s going to stick as close to those as possible.