Ryan Wilson: Penguins Hold Their Own Against LA + Sprong Thoughts

Nolan should be fined/suspended.

Waiting for trolls to say McNabb didn't board Beau and Penguins fans are whiney...

Anyways, you shut your goddamn mouth with this #IronBeau nonsense, Ryan Wilson! I have never heard a bigger jinx in my life!!!

he should have collapsed like malkin did

I can't believe the Pens have actually strung together two good games where the puck movement looked solid.
Johnston doesn't care about developing young players. His only concern is winning to keep him job so the players that make the least perceived mistakes are the ones that will get more TOI. Sprong has some high end skill but he is the worst puck battler on this team so I'm fine with him playing 4th line minutes. I just wish Scuderi would get benched for his mistakes. Cole might deserve it too at this point.

I'm not calling for sprong to be in top 6 permanently I just want to see him with sid and Bennett for one or 2 good shifts... but I do agree he should be getting 10-11 mins and 2nd pp time. I hope he goes crazy and him and plot score 2 each tomorrow


Also, I'm surprised there was nothing about scuds over cleds.. I know it's beating a dead horse but it would generate hits

Nolan should be fined/suspended.
- Blackstrom2

He will be.

The Malkin/Kopitar match-up was a pleasure to watch when they were on the ice together. Malkin is about the only player in the NHL that Kopitar can't get under control regularly. What a beast.

I'm surprised the ref just let it happen. Seems like most refs are bad asses by diving in the middle of fights, ripping players off each other, telling James Neal to (frank) himself, getting hit with pucks, etc... I think if it happened to any other ref, he would have done something on the spot

He will be.
- Only_A_Ladd

No he won't bc the refs talked to Brown during the game. That's all he got. Usually the nhl or players safety usually tweets right after the game if someone will have a meeting or be fined... it's been 12 hrs and nothing... same with the no call boarding... these refs suck.. and its every nhl game. The refs need to call stuff and if they don't the players safety need to step in and give bigger and longer fines/suspensions to players... when guys are getting 20 games for stupid poop it will eventually go away. The system is flawed and broken...

Look how long it took for goons to stop getting work.. now we have a more skilled and high paced games. We don't see no talent ass clowns drop gloves bc that's all they can do. And don't think I'm against fighting bc I'm not

If people didn't catch Thorny's comment from last blog, sounds like even though we've strung together two good games, the Old Man upstairs is still not pleased with Coach Farce and a shake up could be coming soon. I love that the players are playing better, but truthfully the system hasn't changed and its clear that MJ is set in his ways (see Sprong benching and Scuderi playing). He's only begrudgingly playing Sprong because Dupuis retired and still refuses to to obey Old Man Ruth's orders to play Clendening.

I am beyond fine with Johnston's firing. Even though the players are playing better, it doesn't seem like much has changed when it comes to coaching leadership. I was wondering if they finally decided to start playing for their coach, but that doesn't make sense given the context of Rutherford's displeasure and the fact that Johnston has been leading an ineffective squad for about one calendar year. I think the boys are just tired of losing and would benefit further from a new regime.

Victoro's steps to recovery:

1) Fire Johnston ASAP and bring up Sullivan or install Martin.

2) Bump Hornqvist back up to the top line, move Bennett to 1LW, and move Kunitz to the Malkin unit. This way, Bennett, who I think has earned top 6 duty for now, can stay in his expanded role, we can evaluate Hornqvist's effectiveness with an OK version of Sidney Crosby and without the Dupuis anchor, and Kunitz can continue to up his trade value with solid play in the top 6.

3) Trade either Kunitz or Hornqvist for top 4 help. If Hornqvist can't click on the top line, then sadly we cannot keep him. His contract is too big to play a bottom six role for us and he's too valuable of a trade asset to not take advantage of. Luckily, I think he can be effective on a line with Crosby and Bennett, so we don't have to worry about that. Kunitz has bounced back and is having tangible results. Out of he, Bennett, Hornqvist & Perron, he and Bennett have been substantially more productive according to P/60 and both have a SH% around league average, meaning the production is sustainable. Due to his age, he won't fetch top 4 help on his own, but if he keeps playing like this we may not have to add too, too much to the pot.

4) Pray...

If people didn't catch Thorny's comment from last blog, sounds like even though we've strung together two good games, the Old Man upstairs is still not pleased with Coach Farce and a shake up could be coming soon. I love that the players are playing better, but truthfully the system hasn't changed and its clear that MJ is set in his ways (see Sprong benching and Scuderi playing). He's only begrudgingly playing Sprong because Dupuis retired and still refuses to to obey Old Man Ruth's orders to play Clendening.

I am beyond fine with Johnston's firing. Even though the players are playing better, it doesn't seem like much has changed when it comes to coaching leadership. I was wondering if they finally decided to start playing for their coach, but that doesn't make sense given the context of Rutherford's displeasure and the fact that Johnston has been leading an ineffective squad for about one calendar year. I think the boys are just tired of losing and would benefit further from a new regime.

Victoro's steps to recovery:

1) Fire Johnston ASAP and bring up Sullivan or install Martin.

2) Bump Hornqvist back up to the top line, move Bennett to 1LW, and move Kunitz to the Malkin unit. This way, Bennett, who I think has earned top 6 duty for now, can stay in his expanded role, we can evaluate Hornqvist's effectiveness with an OK version of Sidney Crosby and without the Dupuis anchor, and Kunitz can continue to up his trade value with solid play in the top 6.

3) Trade either Kunitz or Hornqvist for top 4 help. If Hornqvist can't click on the top line, then sadly we cannot keep him. His contract is too big to play a bottom six role for us and he's too valuable of a trade asset to not take advantage of. Luckily, I think he can be effective on a line with Crosby and Bennett, so we don't have to worry about that. Kunitz has bounced back and is having tangible results. Out of he, Bennett, Hornqvist & Perron, he and Bennett have been substantially more productive according to P/60 and both have a SH% around league average, meaning the production is sustainable. Due to his age, he won't fetch top 4 help on his own, but if he keeps playing like this we may not have to add too, too much to the pot.

4) Pray...
- Victoro311

Kunitz is worth a 2nd round pick. His play sometimes might not warrant that, but the fact is mediocre players go for a lot at the deadline. Look at vermette, fleischman, Bergenheim, Winnik, etc... If the deadline is anything like it has been, Kunitz alone would be good trade bait

Kunitz is worth a 2nd round pick. His play sometimes might not warrant that, but the fact is mediocre players go for a lot at the deadline. Look at vermette, fleischman, Bergenheim, Winnik, etc... If the deadline is anything like it has been, Kunitz alone would be good trade bait
- drummer829

I don't disagree with you. I'm also of the mind that we need to move on from Kunitz by this coming offseason so I'm not totally against simply turning him into assets just to get him off the books. But we're a team with cup aspersions so we won't just turn him into assets. If he's shipped out its going to be in a hockey trade, and it's tougher to get over value on a player in a hockey trade than in a purchase via assets. We'll have to add to Kunitz to get a top 4 defenseman almost for sure.

Johnston and Agnew are canned!!! Sullivan taking the HC job

I don't disagree with you. I'm also of the mind that we need to move on from Kunitz by this coming offseason so I'm not totally against simply turning him into assets just to get him off the books. But we're a team with cup aspersions so we won't just turn him into assets. If he's shipped out its going to be in a hockey trade, and it's tougher to get over value on a player in a hockey trade than in a purchase via assets. We'll have to add to Kunitz to get a top 4 defenseman almost for sure.
- Victoro311

I agree we have to add to Kunitz. But shedding as much salary as possible would be nice with a good looking UFA class coming

MJ fired

WOW....GMJR wasn't joking around.

Waiting for trolls to say McNabb didn't board Beau and Penguins fans are whiney...

Anyways, you shut your goddamn mouth with this #IronBeau nonsense, Ryan Wilson! I have never heard a bigger jinx in my life!!!
- Victoro311

This kind of hit and pealties in general are being allowed to go on WAY too much. The game is tight enough with all the defensive systems and cracking down on creativity by overcoaching without allowing would be penalties to go without being called.

About time.

Mike Sullivan?????? He's Tortorella's prodigee.

Kessel takes down 2 more coaches!

I just want to remind everyone that I did ask Sully when was he headed to Pitt at Wed. Game in WBS and he responded to me with a grin

I'm really psyched with this move now get ready to see some WBS guys get a call up.

If people didn't catch Thorny's comment from last blog, sounds like even though we've strung together two good games, the Old Man upstairs is still not pleased with Coach Farce and a shake up could be coming soon. I love that the players are playing better, but truthfully the system hasn't changed and its clear that MJ is set in his ways (see Sprong benching and Scuderi playing). He's only begrudgingly playing Sprong because Dupuis retired and still refuses to to obey Old Man Ruth's orders to play Clendening.

I am beyond fine with Johnston's firing. Even though the players are playing better, it doesn't seem like much has changed when it comes to coaching leadership. I was wondering if they finally decided to start playing for their coach, but that doesn't make sense given the context of Rutherford's displeasure and the fact that Johnston has been leading an ineffective squad for about one calendar year. I think the boys are just tired of losing and would benefit further from a new regime.

Victoro's steps to recovery:

1) Fire Johnston ASAP and bring up Sullivan or install Martin.

2) Bump Hornqvist back up to the top line, move Bennett to 1LW, and move Kunitz to the Malkin unit. This way, Bennett, who I think has earned top 6 duty for now, can stay in his expanded role, we can evaluate Hornqvist's effectiveness with an OK version of Sidney Crosby and without the Dupuis anchor, and Kunitz can continue to up his trade value with solid play in the top 6.

3) Trade either Kunitz or Hornqvist for top 4 help. If Hornqvist can't click on the top line, then sadly we cannot keep him. His contract is too big to play a bottom six role for us and he's too valuable of a trade asset to not take advantage of. Luckily, I think he can be effective on a line with Crosby and Bennett, so we don't have to worry about that. Kunitz has bounced back and is having tangible results. Out of he, Bennett, Hornqvist & Perron, he and Bennett have been substantially more productive according to P/60 and both have a SH% around league average, meaning the production is sustainable. Due to his age, he won't fetch top 4 help on his own, but if he keeps playing like this we may not have to add too, too much to the pot.

4) Pray...
- Victoro311

The system isn't going to change because coaches(none of them) don't change their systems, the make tweaks to different aspects of the system to alter how it is run but the system itself never changes and if you haven't noticed the tweaks and changes made over the last 2 games then you haven't been watching. MJ has made major tweaks from the frequency that the D joins the rush to their aggressiveness to which their pinching down and holding the blueline as opposed to playing passive and falling back into defensive position. Those 2 changes in themselves have done huge things for the extended zone times we're seeing from the offense and the zone entries having the extra option of a Dman joining the play.

I don't personally care if they fire MJ or not because I don't expect the grass to be much greener on the other side but saying he is too set in his ways because he doesn't make 2 minor roster moves you don't agree with while ignoring the fact that he's made major changes to how the system is run and those changes have shown positive effects just isn't a correct statement.

I'm not sure how I feel about this, and I certainly wasn't ready to fire him yet myself. I think what I disliked the most about getting rid of him was that not one of the names being mentioned inspired confidence only disgust. Can't say I care much for Sullivan but I'm open for someone to try to convince me of why they believe he's a good choice either for the interim or the language haul.

Mike Sullivan?????? He's Tortorella's prodigee.
- rangerdanger94

Honestly, probably what the Pens need. They had a country club coach in Disco Dan, and a guy that should have never been coach in the first place. Torts had some really high praise for Sullivan.