Ryan Wilson: Sabres trending up, Penguins trending down Sabres trending up, Penguins trending down

Please someone, anyone step up in Cullen's absence and make it impossible to put him back in.

**BREAKING** As per Bob Mackenzie with TSN, the Penguins have signed retired free agent Craig Adams to a 1 year contract to replace the long term loss of forward Matt Cullen.

**BREAKING** As per Bob Mackenzie with TSN, the Penguins have signed retired free agent Craig Adams to a 1 year contract to replace the long term loss of forward Matt Cullen.
- bochangs

First off, it's McKenzie, not Mackenzie.

Secondly, hur dur.

Come on, that was funny, in a Ryan Wilson kind of way.

The "All Wilson" Line

Adams Cullen Khunackle
Scuderi Johnson

Wow, a really well-done synopsis of the Sabres situation. Nice write up

Most of us sabres fans want to see more new Rasmus, less old Rasmus as well. And more Pilut, less Scandella. And we sure could use some more scoring

I literally looked up TSN to see if that breaking news was serious.

I actually had a panic attack at the prospect. Stranger things have happened. This season is proof of that.

Great article! Here is hoping the Sabres can get 6 in a row tonight for the first time in 9 years!

Jekyll and Hyde is a great way to put them.

To my eye and effort test there's been alot of lack luster periods. I truly believe though there are 4 or 5 losses in that column they deserved to win and that makes all the difference in the standings. I think shoddy goaltending and loose careless defense are the main culprits. When Murray let's in stinkers the whole team ends up reeking that game. When he makes a big save or 2 in 1st periods the team can look a championship caliber team.

The 4 games before the Sens game I think they were the better team and should of won and they did actually win one of those.
- MattStrat

Completely agree that they had a few games where they outplayed the opposition and should have won.

Completely agree that if they get better goaltending they usually play better.

But I don’t believe this is a championship caliber team. The loose shody/careless defense isn’t because they’re lazy. It’s because the players are bad. JJ, Cullen, Oleksiak, Sprong, etc. are not drivers of offense and they’re not good defensively either. The roster construction is the main culprit in my opinion.

Since the 2nd cup, the Pens have been a team that Trades chances and banks in finishers out finishing the other team and a lethal Pp. It worked in a small sample size that was the 2nd cup. But over the course of a full season and another playoffs and the first quarter of this season, it’s showing that that style of play doesn’t give the pens a high probability of winning. It’s too risky and I think the results over the last year and a half show that.

I remember saying multiple times during the 2nd cup run and the off season that the way they played is playing with fire and it’s not sustainable and here we are, trying the same ugly hockey and getting the same up and down results with no consistency.

I agree that the 2017 team was more PDO based than the 2016, but don't agree that last year showed that this style was bad for the Pens. We did have a stellar regular season record and got knocked out in the playoffs to Washington, which if memory serves me correct, we outplayed, outchanced and outshot the Caps for the majority of that series, yet they won due to Holtby going on fire and bounces going their way. Kind of like how we beat them the year before with Murray on fire and bounces going our way.

So... I wonder if Cullen is really injured or is this just a ruse to sit Cully for an extended period of time. If we have injuries or need him.....Dad suddenly makes a miraculous recovery. Might as well go full conspiracy theory.

I agree that the 2017 team was more PDO based than the 2016, but don't agree that last year showed that this style was bad for the Pens. We did have a stellar regular season record and got knocked out in the playoffs to Washington, which if memory serves me correct, we outplayed, outchanced and outshot the Caps for the majority of that series, yet they won due to Holtby going on fire and bounces going their way. Kind of like how we beat them the year before with Murray on fire and bounces going our way.
- bochangs

The scoring chance/high danger ratios for and against from this year and last year are nearly identical

Completely agree that they had a few games where they outplayed the opposition and should have won.

Completely agree that if they get better goaltending they usually play better.

But I don’t believe this is a championship caliber team. The loose shody/careless defense isn’t because they’re lazy. It’s because the players are bad. JJ, Cullen, Oleksiak, Sprong, etc. are not drivers of offense and they’re not good defensively either. The roster construction is the main culprit in my opinion.

Since the 2nd cup, the Pens have been a team that Trades chances and banks in finishers out finishing the other team and a lethal Pp. It worked in a small sample size that was the 2nd cup. But over the course of a full season and another playoffs and the first quarter of this season, it’s showing that that style of play doesn’t give the pens a high probability of winning. It’s too risky and I think the results over the last year and a half show that.

I remember saying multiple times during the 2nd cup run and the off season that the way they played is playing with fire and it’s not sustainable and here we are, trying the same ugly hockey and getting the same up and down results with no consistency.
- j.boyd919

I don't really disagree with anything you said.

I do believe there's 2 teams here though: Jekyll and Hide. In my post that you're responding to I said there's been a lot of lackluster periods. There's been some absolute brilliant ones too but more lackluster overall though. That last loss to the Caps, what 8 posts hit?! I'm referring to effort and battle levels. I think when they give 100% they are still hard to beat and can go toe to toe with anyone in the league, remember the 3-0 vs the Leafs? much deserved. They should of beat Tampa the other night, they were cruising in that...then shot themselves in the foot with penalties. When I hear that Sully is saying he's not being hard on them it drives me a little bonkers but I also think of the last 5 or 6 games the Pens were the better team 4 or 5 of them.

Its one thing for goalies to let in sh!t goals but the timing of them is a whole different entity. Murray seems to let in crap at the absolute worst time this year ie: right before a period ends, short handed, right after gaining a lead, etc.

I really think the Schultz injury f's the whole D up and leads to the shoddy. That's not to say I think the personnel are top notch. DumoTang should be an item and JJ should always be on the 3rd pair...or upstairs looking down.


Come on Pens, its time to unleash the Jekyll!

So... I wonder if Cullen is really injured or is this just a ruse to sit Cully for an extended period of time. If we have injuries or need him.....Dad suddenly makes a miraculous recovery. Might as well go full conspiracy theory.
- madmike71

Man I'm thinking this leads to retirement....as someone else stated in a recent blog...he's "cooked".

I agree that the 2017 team was more PDO based than the 2016, but don't agree that last year showed that this style was bad for the Pens. We did have a stellar regular season record and got knocked out in the playoffs to Washington, which if memory serves me correct, we outplayed, outchanced and outshot the Caps for the majority of that series, yet they won due to Holtby going on fire and bounces going their way. Kind of like how we beat them the year before with Murray on fire and bounces going our way.
- bochangs

To my eyes, the last Pens Caps series had Holtby standing on his head for the first 3 or 4 games then the Pens looked completely gassed in game 5 and 6. Holtby was still solid as F in game 5 and 6 but didnt need to stand on his head as much. Seemed to me like the Caps changed up their system banking on the fact that the Pens forwards weren't fast enough/too tired to get behind the D anymore. Caps stayed patient and capitalized mistakes.

Right jboyd, but you need to take personel into consideration as well. Playing that style of game can work for some teams if they have enough firepower to make it work. The Pens were able to be successful in 2017 and 2018 by playing a high danger game, because they were so stacked with offensive talent and actually had decent goaltending.

The 2019 Pens aren't as deep and aren't going to be able to live by that style.

Now if we are talking about the 2018 Arizona Coyotes, yes I agree, playing high danger hockey give you zero chance to win.

Right jboyd, but you need to take personel into consideration as well. Playing that style of game can work for some teams if they have enough firepower to make it work. The Pens were able to be successful in 2017 and 2018 by playing a high danger game, because they were so stacked with offensive talent and actually had decent goaltending.

The 2019 Pens aren't as deep and aren't going to be able to live by that style.

Now if we are talking about the 2018 Arizona Coyotes, yes I agree, playing high danger hockey give you zero chance to win.
- bochangs

I dont know about that. Brassard is there, Sheary isnt.

Who else is missing that made them much more "stacked with talent"?

That's how she goes. Hockey has so much variance and puck luck involved.

Remember back in 2010 we got bounced by Montreal when Halak played like 1993 Patrick Roy?

I think the puck was in the Habs zone for about 90% of that series, yet we lost.

It's great to look at all these advanced stats, and for the average team, they probably tell the story of the season, but in a 7 game series anything can happen. VERY rarely do we see the presidents cup winner also take down the Stanley Cup. You just gotta make it to the dance and if you play hard, things can work out.

I don't really disagree with anything you said.

I do believe there's 2 teams here though: Jekyll and Hide. In my post that you're responding to I said there's been a lot of lackluster periods. There's been some absolute brilliant ones too but more lackluster overall though. That last loss to the Caps, what 8 posts hit?! I'm referring to effort and battle levels. I think when they give 100% they are still hard to beat and can go toe to toe with anyone in the league, remember the 3-0 vs the Leafs? much deserved. They should of beat Tampa the other night, they were cruising in that...then shot themselves in the foot with penalties. When I hear that Sully is saying he's not being hard on them it drives me a little bonkers but I also think of the last 5 or 6 games the Pens were the better team 4 or 5 of them.

Its one thing for goalies to let in sh!t goals but the timing of them is a whole different entity. Murray seems to let in crap at the absolute worst time this year ie: right before a period ends, short handed, right after gaining a lead, etc.

I really think the Schultz injury f's the whole D up and leads to the shoddy. That's not to say I think the personnel are top notch. DumoTang should be an item and JJ should always be on the 3rd pair...or upstairs looking down.


Come on Pens, its time to unleash the Jekyll!
- MattStrat

Oh definitely I think Schultz’s injury really (frank)ed us up hahah but I do think that injury could have been better absorbed withbetter roster construction.

That's how she goes. Hockey has so much variance and puck luck involved.

Remember back in 2010 we got bounced by Montreal when Halak played like 1993 Patrick Roy?

I think the puck was in the Habs zone for about 90% of that series, yet we lost.

It's great to look at all these advanced stats, and for the average team, they probably tell the story of the season, but in a 7 game series anything can happen. VERY rarely do we see the presidents cup winner also take down the Stanley Cup. You just gotta make it to the dance and if you play hard, things can work out.
- bochangs

Yes you’re right. Anything can happen in a 7 game series but I’d rather construct my roster to play better and give my team a better chance to win. If you’re trading chances 50/50, you have Less of a chance to win than say trading chances 60/40. That’s my issue.

Right jboyd, but you need to take personel into consideration as well. Playing that style of game can work for some teams if they have enough firepower to make it work. The Pens were able to be successful in 2017 and 2018 by playing a high danger game, because they were so stacked with offensive talent and actually had decent goaltending.

The 2019 Pens aren't as deep and aren't going to be able to live by that style.

Now if we are talking about the 2018 Arizona Coyotes, yes I agree, playing high danger hockey give you zero chance to win.
- bochangs

You are 100% correct. They don’t have the personnel to play that kind of game and that is the GM and coaches fault. Again, the roster construction has been poor in the last 2 seasons. Let’s be real here, the only thing similar about the first cup and second cup of the back to backs is that the cup was raised. Those teams did not play anything alike.

Matt - Not a ton of turnover I suppose but drop off in play. Rust was so good the last few years and now he looks like a borderline ahl callup. Schultz is gone, so we have no one to move the puck other than Letang. Brassard can't stay healthy. Hornqvist is being misused with way too much bottom 6 minutes, Hagelin has always been streaky, but I've never seen him as low as this year.

But again, like you say, there are times (periods, even games) where we look elite.

Regardless, I think that the major issue is that we have won a couple of cups and played a lot of hockey with the majority of this team over the past few years, and the drive isn't there like it needs to be on a consistent basis. Too many stupid little errors. We seem to be able to play an awesome game for 58 minutes and 30 seconds, but then for a total of 1 minute and 30 seconds, we give up 2 on 1s and breakaways and 3 on 2's and Murray is unable to EVER bail us out anymore like he used to.

"Yes you’re right. Anything can happen in a 7 game series but I’d rather construct my roster to play better and give my team a better chance to win. If you’re trading chances 50/50, you have Less of a chance to win than say trading chances 60/40. That’s my issue. " - jboyd

True, but again, if you are trading chances 50/50 and you have Malkin, Kessel, Crosby, Letang, etc, etc you probably have a better chance to win than if you are trading chances 60/40 but your roster consists of Shane Doan, Alex Goligoski, Tobias Reider, Anthony Dulcair, etc etc.

But I know what you mean.

Man I'm thinking this leads to retirement....as someone else stated in a recent blog...he's "cooked".
- MattStrat

I hope so. Being 40 myself I have no idea how he's doing it.