Ryan Wilson: Tom Sestito's PTO Is Meaningless But Still Highlights Very Dated Philosophy Tom Sestito's PTO Is Meaningless But Still Highlights Very Dated Philosophy

i forget if Rutherford or Johnston said this, but it was more or less "we will protect the stars by having a really good powerplay."

so i definitely don't think this means the old guard is taking back over or anything, so that's good.

Maybe he'll teach the actual good players how to add some sandpaper to their game or something, whatever that even means.

On the Deterrents don't stop things... has there ever been a good "deterrent" player on the same line as the stars they are meant to protect?

I am well aware this guy isn't good enough for even our 4th line... but last year, Downie was supposed to be a deterrent. He also is/was a damn good player, and could have been up slotting in with Crosby/Malkin, but never got the chance. Could that have maybe stopped if he was at least on the ice at the same time?

Only the knuckledraggers wearing stripped shirts can protect star players. They need to be instructed to do so by the League. But the League won't compel game officials to protect its stars from the predator element. It neither fines nor disciplines the predator element to a degree needed to deter predation. It consistently fails to impose a good sense regime in its knuckledraggers. Players with brain injury issues need to sue the league. That might get its attention.

So Sutter is gone so we must now change our daily whining focus on PTO's. I miss the good ol days.

F Sutter
F PTO's

I wouldn't be surprised to see Sestito signed to take over the Steve MacIntyre/Pierre Luc Latorno Lablonde (spelling?) type role.

He'll sign and play in WB/S, and get called up for like two rematch games where there seems to be something brewing. He'll play 4 minutes and maybe fight some other cement head and get sent back down.

Pointless waste of one of the 50 NHL contracts.

On the Deterrents don't stop things... has there ever been a good "deterrent" player on the same line as the stars they are meant to protect?

I am well aware this guy isn't good enough for even our 4th line... but last year, Downie was supposed to be a deterrent. He also is/was a damn good player, and could have been up slotting in with Crosby/Malkin, but never got the chance. Could that have maybe stopped if he was at least on the ice at the same time?
- Guile

Yes. Dave Semenko. Any time any player laid a "hard" hit on Gretzky, Semekno went over and pounded their skulls in. After a few times, most (not all) players decided that it wasn't worth it, and stopped trying to put him through the glass.

Only the knuckledraggers wearing stripped shirts can protect star players. They need to be instructed to do so by the League. But the League won't compel game officials to protect its stars from the predator element. It neither fines nor disciplines the predator element to a degree needed to deter predation. It consistently fails to impose a good sense regime in its knuckledraggers. Players with brain injury issues need to sue the league. That might get its attention.

This 100 percent

Yes. Dave Semenko. Any time any player laid a "hard" hit on Gretzky, Semekno went over and pounded their skulls in. After a few times, most (not all) players decided that it wasn't worth it, and stopped trying to put him through the glass.
- jmatchett383

Ah okay, thank you.... I was not around at those times, but from what I was told by my father... "If you touched Gretzky, it was usually a penalty, people gave up". Not sure if that overlaps or not, but I'm sure people would have tired of Downie taking runs at them if he was slotted up with Malkin/Crosby more often.

JMatch wrote:
Yes. Dave Semenko. Any time any player laid a "hard" hit on Gretzky, Semekno went over and pounded their skulls in. After a few times, most (not all) players decided that it wasn't worth it, and stopped trying to put him through the glass.

The difference was this was in the days before the instigator rule.

Teams have been very effective using goons against the Penguins. Look at the Pens record against the Isles, Flyers and Caps last year... 2-9-2. Martin, Rinaldo and Wilson run around like dummies and the Pens could do nothing about it. In those rivalry games the refs always put away the whistles and let things get dumb.

Not sure Sesito is the guy to fill that role for the Pens but I would rather see him in the lineup vs the Flyers, Isles and Caps than Bennett. Ideally you would have a guy like Prout from Columbus who is a solid bottom pairing D who can also scrap. Engelland did a good job for the Pens in that role previously.

JMatch wrote:
Yes. Dave Semenko. Any time any player laid a "hard" hit on Gretzky, Semekno went over and pounded their skulls in. After a few times, most (not all) players decided that it wasn't worth it, and stopped trying to put him through the glass.

The difference was this was in the days before the instigator rule.
- Emperor Filonius

Though I agree with you, in the regular season I would gladly take an instigator penalty over having Crosby fighting Dubinsky.

#BringBackDownie ?

I don't care if people weren't afraid of him... no one wants to "have" to fight in response for hitting a star player, even Downie if given some time slotting up would get the job done to an extent. NOT on the 4th line getting 8 minutes a game.

I'd tend to agree that the days of an "enforcer" stars are gone and that a goon type player does not serve as a deterrent. At the same time, its rather myopic to ignore the fact that certain teams take liberties with the Pens skilled players. It can and does have an impact. Since the league and refs never put a stop to these shenanigans, the only response is to respond in kind. You don't go after the Rinaldos of the world, you go after the Girouxs. Reminds me of this great line from the Untouchables:

Sure it might be a wasted roster spot to have a goon. But when the opponents game plan is basically take down 58, 71, and 87 because the rest of the team blows, something has to be done. Fancy stat all stars like Martin sure weren't going to do anything.

Having a player like Cooke/Downie keeps the team in check. They'll make a more conservative play vs a risky flashy play. You can't have your best players get abused and drop the gloves too. Pens have been a pretty weak team for a long time.

If you want a sport with no contact watch the NBA.

I have a feeling he'll make it. All the brainless Facebook etc. fans already love this guy because of his "protect 9000 stars on this team" quote or whatever he said.

Having a player like Cooke/Downie keeps the team in check.
- sammy87

It absolutely does not.

#BringBackDownie ?

I don't care if people weren't afraid of him... no one wants to "have" to fight in response for hitting a star player, even Downie if given some time slotting up would get the job done to an extent. NOT on the 4th line getting 8 minutes a game.
- Guile

One thing about Downie I (frank)ing loved was how much he stood up for the boys since he signed. Dude could play some hockey too. Those penalties though...

Sure it might be a wasted roster spot to have a goon. But when the opponents game plan is basically take down 58, 71, and 87 because the rest of the team blows, something has to be done. Fancy stat all stars like Martin sure weren't going to do anything.

Having a player like Cooke/Downie keeps the team in check. They'll make a more conservative play vs a risky flashy play. You can't have your best players get abused and drop the gloves too. Pens have been a pretty weak team for a long time.

If you want a sport with no contact watch the NBA - sammy87

Funny, because thats not what I saw at all last year. Here is what I would see.

Player A Hits Crosby with a borderline shady hit. Downie takes a run at said player. Downie gets a penalty. Player A's team is now on the power play.

The fact is it comes down to officiating. They cant just call the retaliatory penalties. They have to call the initial one so that there is no need for retaliation in the first place.

JMatch wrote:
Yes. Dave Semenko. Any time any player laid a "hard" hit on Gretzky, Semekno went over and pounded their skulls in. After a few times, most (not all) players decided that it wasn't worth it, and stopped trying to put him through the glass.

The difference was this was in the days before the instigator rule.
- Emperor Filonius

Absolutely. Was just answering a question.

Funny, because thats not what I saw at all last year. Here is what I would see.

Player A Hits Crosby with a borderline shady hit. Downie takes a run at said player. Downie gets a penalty. Player A's team is now on the power play.

The fact is it comes down to officiating. They cant just call the retaliatory penalties. They have to call the initial one so that there is no need for retaliation in the first place.
- thickman1178

Not all shady/dirty hits are illegal.

It absolutely does not.
- cory7321

Agreed. No one is afraid of fighting Cooke/Downie.

Agreed. No one is afraid of fighting Cooke/Downie.
- jmatchett383

No, they shouldn't be... but do they want to bother with getting into a fight with them anytime they took a shot at a star? Deterrent can be from annoyance or not wanting to bother just as much as fear.

No, they shouldn't be... but do they want to bother with getting into a fight with them anytime they took a shot at a star? Deterrent can be from annoyance or not wanting to bother just as much as fear.
- Guile

If either one of them wanted to fight me, I'd keep my gloves on and take the 5 minute PP and smile as they skated to the box.

On the other hand, were I a player who wanted to take out a star, and my only punishment was to wrestle with a guy like Cooke/Downie, I'd be okay with it. And smile at him as we went to the box.

Now, if I knew that a Brashear/Laraque type was going to get me in a corner alone and pummel me...maybe not.

It does make boring preseason games a little bit more fun though.