Ryan Wilson: Answering your questions Answering your questions

Robo penguin?

It’s the pidgin

What's Sidney's favorite salad?

Big Update: Never liked the Robo-Penguin, looks like a child won a draw our logo contest.

What's Sidney's favorite salad?
- Glak18

Out of the cup obviously, whereof he could enjoy his salad now for three years already... btw., the Flyerz seem to be on a longer diet in that regard?!

Robo penguin?

It’s the pidgin
- ChrisMS

Of course RW would like the pajama uniforms.

Out of the cup obviously, whereof he could enjoy his salad now for three years already... btw., the Flyerz seem to be on a longer diet in that regard?!
- VeryModernMan

It’s so annoying to me when people want to discuss lineups and then add in that one guy after the\. Ryan you know JJ is going to be playing second pairing. Your little \ doesn’t change that.

Guentzel-Crosby-Hornqvist
Hagelin-Malkin-Rust
ZAR-Brassard-Kessel
Simon-Sheahan-Sprong

Dumoulin-Letang
Maatta-Schultz
Oleksiak-Johnson/Ruhwedel

Sprong is traded before they play him for 5 minutes a night on the 4th line again.

Honestly you lose more credibility as a blogger when you put the / for the bottom pair & JJ.

Unfortunately that's how you roll.

Honestly you lose more credibility as a blogger when you put the / for the bottom pair & JJ.

Unfortunately that's how you roll.
- Aussiepenguin

I mean I think we all know Johnson is playing, but I don't see what's so wrong. He was asked to name his best line up and I do think Maatta, Schultz, Letang, and Dumo are all better than Johnson. Johnson is still a question mark so I think start of the season RW got the best line up, except for Sprong as a 4th liner.

Today @ 6:14 PM ET
It’s so annoying to me when people want to discuss lineups and then add in that one guy after the\. Ryan you know JJ is going to be playing second pairing. Your little \ doesn’t change that.

Hahah JJ won't go without receiving a shot from RW.

Btw, I like the Pigeon black jerseys too. Love them!

Jackass Johnson isn’t playing second pairing, that’s above his pay grade.
Why does everyone insist on putting Hornqvist with Crosby in their lineups? He plays better with Malkin and Haglen. The only line I agree with is your third line. I’d put Sprong with Sid and Jake(he played with them last year). And Rust, Sheahan, Simon on the fourth or Cullen instead of Simon if Brass can’t kill penalties. Grant and his 24% shooting pct can only play if there are injuries to the 4th line.

Hahah JJ won't go without receiving a shot from RW.

Btw, I like the Pigeon black jerseys too. Love them!
- Barnaby36

I think it's pretty ridiculous to not even give JJ a chance. Different teams, systems, coaches, etc can make a huge difference in a players effectiveness.

I like those black 3rd Jersey's from the 90's, but never liked the corporate pigeon. After they adopted the pigeon nothing good happened for the 90's teams. Only bad things. Primary lesson is you never mess with the logo!

Jackass Johnson isn’t playing second pairing, that’s above his pay grade.
Why does everyone insist on putting Hornqvist with Crosby in their lineups? He plays better with Malkin and Haglen. The only line I agree with is your third line. I’d put Sprong with Sid and Jake(he played with them last year). And Rust, Sheahan, Simon on the fourth or Cullen instead of Simon if Brass can’t kill penalties. Grant and his 24% shooting pct can only play if there are injuries to the 4th line.
- dcoms77

Last playoffs, Crosby, Guentz and Hornie killed it. Absolutely killed it. As soon as Sully (strangely) broke them up they went stone cold. I never understood why he did that.

I'm sure there will be plenty of experimenting with the lines and I'm sure Sprong will get some looks in the top 6, however it could become an issue if Sid is required to be the defensive conscious of his line. Guentzal isn't a backcheck monster and the biggest knock on Sprong is his defensive awareness. I don't want Sid abandoning a play because he's the only guy on his line that is defensively aware.

I mean I think we all know Johnson is playing, but I don't see what's so wrong. He was asked to name his best line up and I do think Maatta, Schultz, Letang, and Dumo are all better than Johnson. Johnson is still a question mark so I think start of the season RW got the best line up, except for Sprong as a 4th liner.
- Thrill81

So he honestly believes JJ isn't better than Ruhwedel without seeing how he plays in a Pens uniform? That's pretty poor assessment from someone that is supposed to have a more educated opinion on the team than us. Or at least is getting paid for his opinion.

How much would Ruhwedel get if he was ufa right now? $1m if he's lucky? JJ had options at a lot more, so professional hockey people value him over Ruhwedel by a distance. As I said, Wilson loses credibility saying things like that.

Last playoffs, Crosby, Guentz and Hornie killed it. Absolutely killed it. As soon as Sully (strangely) broke them up they went stone cold. I never understood why he did that.

I'm sure there will be plenty of experimenting with the lines and I'm sure Sprong will get some looks in the top 6, however it could become an issue if Sid is required to be the defensive conscious of his line. Guentzal isn't a backcheck monster and the biggest knock on Sprong is his defensive awareness. I don't want Sid abandoning a play because he's the only guy on his line that is defensively aware.
- madmike71

Sounds like Brassard with Rust would be a good option for Sprong. Although what do you think Sully wants more, an offensive minded sniper or a 2way player?

Well, it was communicated over the summer that both Brassard wanted more ice-time (contract-year...), as well as GMJR suggesting he will be tried at wing. Hagelin, while himself being in a contract-year, showed last year (and already in the '17 playoffs) that he is way too unproductive for 2nd-line duties.

To me, just the centers and defense-pairs are "more static" anyways, as the wingers jump up and down the lineup... even within one and the first game.

Guentzel-Crosby-Hornqvist
Brassard-Malkin-Sprong
Rust-Sheahan-Kessel
Hagelin-Cullen-ZAR
(Simon,Grant)

Dumoulin-Letang
Maatta-Schultz
Oleksiak-Johnson
(Ruhwedel)

So he honestly believes JJ isn't better than Ruhwedel without seeing how he plays in a Pens uniform? That's pretty poor assessment from someone that is supposed to have a more educated opinion on the team than us. Or at least is getting paid for his opinion.

How much would Ruhwedel get if he was ufa right now? $1m if he's lucky? JJ had options at a lot more, so professional hockey people value him over Ruhwedel by a distance. As I said, Wilson loses credibility saying things like that.
- Aussiepenguin

This is the same league that consistently gives albatross contracts to players like Troy Brouwer because of character and reputation. Your insistence that TOI and salary are some indication of good play remains baffling.

Johnson could very well be better than Ruhwedel in our system. The change of scenery could work so well that he could even have a legitimate positive impact. But with how bad he’s been in recent years there is absolutely no tangibale reason to assume that. Everything actually points to the complete opposite. The argument that Johnson will be better here is based 100% on anicdotal evidence about how he didn’t gel with Torts and about his financial crisis, not on any trend of recent good or even decent play.

So he honestly believes JJ isn't better than Ruhwedel without seeing how he plays in a Pens uniform? That's pretty poor assessment from someone that is supposed to have a more educated opinion on the team than us. Or at least is getting paid for his opinion.

How much would Ruhwedel get if he was ufa right now? $1m if he's lucky? JJ had options at a lot more, so professional hockey people value him over Ruhwedel by a distance. As I said, Wilson loses credibility saying things like that.
- Aussiepenguin

Well that bets on JJ being decent. We know Ruhwedel at the least he's serviceable. In fact sometimes I think he looked good. If JJ ends up being terrible, Ruhwedel would play in his place.

Well that bets on JJ being decent. We know Ruhwedel at the least he's serviceable. In fact sometimes I think he looked good. If JJ ends up being terrible, Ruhwedel would play in his place.
- Thrill81

I don’t think that’s true, unfortunately. It took them a really long time to bench Hunwick and everyone involved seems way more invested in Johnson than they ever did with Hunwick. If Johnson doesn’t make a big leap with the change of scenery this is likely to be a Scuderi-type situation.

This is the same league that consistently gives albatross contracts to players like Troy Brouwer because of character and reputation. Your insistence that TOI and salary are some indication of good play remains baffling.

Johnson could very well be better than Ruhwedel in our system. The change of scenery could work so well that he could even have a legitimate positive impact. But with how bad he’s been in recent years there is absolutely no tangibale reason to assume that. Everything actually points to the complete opposite. The argument that Johnson will be better here is based 100% on anicdotal evidence about how he didn’t gel with Torts and about his financial crisis, not on any trend of recent good or even decent play.
- Victoro311

Wtf man? My insistence that toi & salary indicate a good player?? Where did I insist on that?

I've said in this case, to put JJ with Ruhwedel loses credibility as a person who writes on a hockey blog. Are you saying right now Ruhwedel is better than JJ?

My reference for salary in the above is an example of what other people that are employed to know hockey think of JJ - & there were multiple not just 1 simpleton. Those same people I doubt would offer Ruhwedel more than $1m - 1 of those guys offered $650k & Ruhwedel accepted.

Again I ask you if you think right now Ruhwedel is better than Johnson?


Edit: I'm calling a/the GM that gives out big bucks a simpleton, Not you.

Well that bets on JJ being decent. We know Ruhwedel at the least he's serviceable. In fact sometimes I think he looked good. If JJ ends up being terrible, Ruhwedel would play in his place.
- Thrill81

Does that change what I said? If Shultz poops the bed again, Ruhwedel will take his place or at least jump into the 6. But right now, splitting Johnson & Ruhwedel as equals loses credibility in my book. Pretty sure JR will give his multi year, multi million dollar man a 'fair go' to find his feet. I would be surprised if they didn't protect him to find his feet. I think JR is hoping he plays with an edge that makes a difference - or even makes up for some defensive shortfalls!

Wtf man? My insistence that toi & salary indicate a good player?? Where did I insist on that?

I've said in this case, to put JJ with Ruhwedel loses credibility as a person who writes on a hockey blog. Are you saying right now Ruhwedel is better than JJ?

My reference for salary in the above is an example of what other people that are employed to know hockey think of JJ - & there were multiple not just 1 simpleton. Those same people I doubt would offer Ruhwedel more than $1m - 1 of those guys offered $650k & Ruhwedel accepted.

Again I ask you if you think right now Ruhwedel is better than Johnson?
- Aussiepenguin

So you deny that you take salary as an indication of ability and then proceed to admit that you do think it is? I know that you don’t think more $$$ = more skill in a vacuum, no one is that stupid, but you and Grinder are the kings of deferring to FO Infallibility Doctrine. Every debate begins and ends with NHL GMs know better than us, so you’re wrong because this guy’s getting paid. I think that train of thought is not nuanced and that there’s plenty of evidence to show that many FOs across the league are incompetent, and even those that aren’t are plenty susceptible to making massive mistakes seeing as how pretty much every team in the league has at least one bad contract.

As far as your question, which I actually answered, I think the evidence is in favor of there not being a huge gap between Ruhwedel and Johnson and Ruhwedel actually being a slightly better player. The one thing that you’re right about is that we don’t know if a change in scenery will help Johnson or not, so there’s a chance he could be better here. But when you make that argument you need to understand that argument doesn’t have any on-ice play to back it up and you’re making assumptions based external forces that are impossible to quantify. The people who aren’t optimistic about Johnson have legitimate cause to not be.

This is the same league that consistently gives albatross contracts to players like Troy Brouwer because of character and reputation. Your insistence that TOI and salary are some indication of good play remains baffling.

Johnson could very well be better than Ruhwedel in our system. The change of scenery could work so well that he could even have a legitimate positive impact. But with how bad he’s been in recent years there is absolutely no tangibale reason to assume that. Everything actually points to the complete opposite. The argument that Johnson will be better here is based 100% on anicdotal evidence about how he didn’t gel with Torts and about his financial crisis, not on any trend of recent good or even decent play.
- Victoro311

What was so bad about his 2016/2017 (2 seasons ago) season?

I don’t think that’s true, unfortunately. It took them a really long time to bench Hunwick and everyone involved seems way more invested in Johnson than they ever did with Hunwick. If Johnson doesn’t make a big leap with the change of scenery this is likely to be a Scuderi-type situation.
- Victoro311

A couple of things... I don't think it's quite like a Scuderi situation. Scuderi couldn't skate when he got here the 2nd time around. Johnson isn't dynamic or anything, but he still has pretty good wheels. It seems like his biggest problem is decision making while Scuds literally couldn't play at the modern pace of the game. Hopefully his decision making can be fixed.

Secondly, people need to remember that a new CBA will be signed in two years. I guarantee you there will be at least one "get out of jail free" cards. They can buy him out after two years if he struggles. I keep wondering if some of these crazy long term deals are being signed with this in mind. It made no sense for Rutherford to give JJ that absurd term.