Ryan Wilson: Malkin shows more accountability and means more than Rutherford or Sullivan Malkin shows more accountability and means more than Rutherford or Sullivan

Send Malkin to the Pittsburgh farm team in Buffalo. He can play 2nd fiddle to Eichel and HOPEFULLY teach him the right way to play the game. When looking from the outside in you hit the nail on the head. Nothing short of GETTING to the finals is good enough. Well give us a player of Malkin so we can enjoy his twilight years in the league.

I do think Sully and JR hold most of the blame for this season. But they will never see it that way. Word is Sully pushed for Brassard. The Reeves/Brassard trades were a mess. If I had to bet, either Kessel or Malkin do get moved but most likely Kessel.

I do think Sully and JR hold most of the blame for this season. But they will never see it that way. Word is Sully pushed for Brassard. The Reeves/Brassard trades were a mess. If I had to bet, either Kessel or Malkin do get moved but most likely Kessel.
- sammy87

Most likely not.

"Evgeni Malkin helps and has helped the Penguins way more than Jim Rutherford and Mike Sullivan ever have or will. He also appears to have more accountability than Rutherford and Sullivan as evidence from the quotes above.

The one nice thing about Malkin criticism is that it makes it easy to identify the people who are ignorant and have agendas. There is no hard evidence pointing towards Malkin being part of the problem."

If your first paragraph wasn't personal, I don't know what is, and this is the biggest issue I have with your blogs. It's just all too personal many times. Yeah, I come here most days to read them, but they deserve response (which are good for you) and I enjoy the comments.

As for the second paragraph, above, if anyone here ever had an agenda, it's you RW, and it seems born of some past life regret that you just can't seem to shake or move on from.

Before the rumors started, I suggested seeing what value 71 and 58 could return, for the Pens now and for the long haul. For now, the BEST hockey the Pens played ALL season long was the stretch in March when both were out injured, and this team played like a team... like they actually knew what they were doing, and were good at it. And for the long haul, maybe if you dug into this core NOW, you can definitely get younger, and maybe when HCMS and GMJR get on the same page about this team's future identity, you can pursue those needs too, whether it be faster or clog up the neutral zone, like what appears to be winning in these playoffs. Your core would STILL be 87, 59, 81, 4, 8 & 30. Pretty impressive.
You blame JJ (every day) and other fringe players. Not NEAR enough IMHO. I just don't feel like 71 and 58's style of play is fitting in with this team after watching this season and the playoff meltdown. It WAS a complete meltdown. And right or wrong, HCMS and GMJR appear to be staying here, at least for now.

I don't necessarily blame 71 or 58. It's just 3 cups, time to move on. It's a cruel business, and the players know it. Time for a big shake up is all, nothing personal.

As bad as the 2014 and 2015 offseason's were I think this one takes the cake and it's only been 2 weeks. If grandpa and blockhead Sully decide to move anyone of the 87/71/58/81/59 group they are complete morons...I sincerely hope if any momentum in that direction starts Mario saves the franchise for the billionth time and fires both on the spot.

You don’t trade Malkin. No way. You trade guys like Hörnqvist, Johnson, Gudbranson or even Määttä and Rust.

I could definitely see us looking the value of Letang and Kessel in the market. It’s not dumb to take a look at it.

"Evgeni Malkin helps and has helped the Penguins way more than Jim Rutherford and Mike Sullivan ever have or will. He also appears to have more accountability than Rutherford and Sullivan as evidence from the quotes above.

The one nice thing about Malkin criticism is that it makes it easy to identify the people who are ignorant and have agendas. There is no hard evidence pointing towards Malkin being part of the problem."

If your first paragraph wasn't personal, I don't know what is, and this is the biggest issue I have with your blogs. It's just all too personal many times. Yeah, I come here most days to read them, but they deserve response (which are good for you) and I enjoy the comments.

As for the second paragraph, above, if anyone here ever had an agenda, it's you RW, and it seems born of some past life regret that you just can't seem to shake or move on from.

Before the rumors started, I suggested seeing what value 71 and 58 could return, for the Pens now and for the long haul. For now, the BEST hockey the Pens played ALL season long was the stretch in March when both were out injured, and this team played like a team... like they actually knew what they were doing, and were good at it. And for the long haul, maybe if you dug into this core NOW, you can definitely get younger, and maybe when HCMS and GMJR get on the same page about this team's future identity, you can pursue those needs too, whether it be faster or clog up the neutral zone, like what appears to be winning in these playoffs. Your core would STILL be 87, 59, 81, 4, 8 & 30. Pretty impressive.
You blame JJ (every day) and other fringe players. Not NEAR enough IMHO. I just don't feel like 71 and 58's style of play is fitting in with this team after watching this season and the playoff meltdown. It WAS a complete meltdown. And right or wrong, HCMS and GMJR appear to be staying here, at least for now.

I don't necessarily blame 71 or 58. It's just 3 cups, time to move on. It's a cruel business, and the players know it. Time for a big shake up is all, nothing personal.
- Cousinskrid

There is a reason JJ is mentioned, it's because he completely (frank)s up the Penguins.

Malkin deserves the opportunity to retire a Penguin if he wants it just as much as Crosby. They’ve brought us 3 Cups. You don’t kick these guys to the curb for a hypothetical opportunity at a fourth. And any Malkin trade will likely knee cap us pretty hard, so it wouldn’t even accomplish that.

"Evgeni Malkin helps and has helped the Penguins way more than Jim Rutherford and Mike Sullivan ever have or will. He also appears to have more accountability than Rutherford and Sullivan as evidence from the quotes above.

The one nice thing about Malkin criticism is that it makes it easy to identify the people who are ignorant and have agendas. There is no hard evidence pointing towards Malkin being part of the problem."

If your first paragraph wasn't personal, I don't know what is, and this is the biggest issue I have with your blogs. It's just all too personal many times. Yeah, I come here most days to read them, but they deserve response (which are good for you) and I enjoy the comments.

As for the second paragraph, above, if anyone here ever had an agenda, it's you RW, and it seems born of some past life regret that you just can't seem to shake or move on from.

Before the rumors started, I suggested seeing what value 71 and 58 could return, for the Pens now and for the long haul. For now, the BEST hockey the Pens played ALL season long was the stretch in March when both were out injured, and this team played like a team... like they actually knew what they were doing, and were good at it. And for the long haul, maybe if you dug into this core NOW, you can definitely get younger, and maybe when HCMS and GMJR get on the same page about this team's future identity, you can pursue those needs too, whether it be faster or clog up the neutral zone, like what appears to be winning in these playoffs. Your core would STILL be 87, 59, 81, 4, 8 & 30. Pretty impressive.
You blame JJ (every day) and other fringe players. Not NEAR enough IMHO. I just don't feel like 71 and 58's style of play is fitting in with this team after watching this season and the playoff meltdown. It WAS a complete meltdown. And right or wrong, HCMS and GMJR appear to be staying here, at least for now.

I don't necessarily blame 71 or 58. It's just 3 cups, time to move on. It's a cruel business, and the players know it. Time for a big shake up is all, nothing personal.
- Cousinskrid

No thanks. JJ deserves every bit of bashing he gets. No to trading Malkin or Letang, the grass isn't always greener. Just dumb stuff all around.

There is a reason JJ is mentioned, it's because he completely (frank)s up the Penguins.
- j.boyd919

Just post this article any time someone female doges about Johnson being called out:

https://danhopper.substac...p/on-jack-johnson-fatigue

There is a reason JJ is mentioned, it's because he completely (frank)s up the Penguins.
- j.boyd919

Its beyond crazy now how anyone who follows this team, let alone people who follow hockey in general, don't know or won't accept this. Insane.

The team is fine. Retool the 2nd + 3rd pairs and the 4th line. Maybe add a top-6 winger or two. Maybe replace Sully. Sheesh..

Just post this article any time someone female doges about Johnson being called out:

https://danhopper.substac...p/on-jack-johnson-fatigue
- Victoro311

We don't need players who wet their beds in first grade.

The team is fine. Retool the 2nd + 3rd pairs and the 4th line. Maybe add a top-6 winger or two. Maybe replace Sully. Sheesh..
- MikeyKay

I agree with your assessment here...but its the how they achieve this with the contracts they have and what not thats the dilly of the pickle.

I agree that RW bashes JJ every other blog. But at least he has facts backing him out. Just look at them and you'll see.

On the other hand theres now a group of people that runs to every RW blog to see if the words Jack or Johnson are there and if they are, oh boy here comes the textwall telling everyone how RW is blind by hate, letting his personal feelings get in the way of the truth and the only way we can be contenders again is by trading Malkin. Jesus just stop.

I agree with your assessment here...but its the how they achieve this with the contracts they have and what not thats the dilly of the pickle.
- MattStrat

For sure. I think Mario needs to come top-down on JR and make an exec decision on JJ. Get him out anyway possible. We can move Horny's contract, along with Ollie's. I think a sucker would bite on Horny while Maatta still has some decent value being young and somewhat experienced. That opens up some space. I actually think Guddy is a completely capable 3rd pairing guy who helps our team. Could be in the minority there, but whatever.

The criticism Malkin has taken was because he looked like he didnt give a damn about hockey this year. Is he still massively talented? Yes, that's why he can still put up a ppg.

I don't hear anyone saying the Pens should give him away. But if someone makes a great offer for him you listen. Its naive not to consider the fact that in the last decade Malkin has played more than 70 games TWICE. Don't expect his health to get better as he gets to his mid 30's.

For sure. I think Mario needs to come top-down on JR and make an exec decision on JJ. Get him out anyway possible. We can move Horny's contract, along with Ollie's. I think a sucker would bite on Horny while Maatta still has some decent value being young and somewhat experienced. That opens up some space. I actually think Guddy is a completely capable 3rd pairing guy who helps our team. Could be in the minority there, but whatever.
- MikeyKay

I don't think Guddy has been bad, and he did how he was capable but stylistically I don't think he's want the Pens should aim for, also he's an expensive 3rd pairing guy.

I agree that RW bashes JJ every other blog. But at least he has facts backing him out. Just look at them and you'll see.

On the other hand theres now a group of people that runs to every RW blog to see if the words Jack or Johnson are there and if they are, oh boy here comes the textwall telling everyone how RW is blind by hate, letting his personal feelings get in the way of the truth and the only way we can be contenders again is by trading Malkin. Jesus just stop.
- Conse

*thumbs up emoji*

The criticism Malkin has taken was because he looked like he didnt give a damn about hockey this year. Is he still massively talented? Yes, that's why he can still put up a ppg.

I don't hear anyone saying the Pens should give him away. But if someone makes a great offer for him you listen. Its naive not to consider the fact that in the last decade Malkin has played more than 70 games TWICE. Don't expect his health to get better as he gets to his mid 30's.
- MacPatty

"looked like" does not actually mean he didn't give a damn. That's the problem with dummies like you.

I agree that RW bashes JJ every other blog. But at least he has facts backing him out. Just look at them and you'll see.

On the other hand theres now a group of people that runs to every RW blog to see if the words Jack or Johnson are there and if they are, oh boy here comes the textwall telling everyone how RW is blind by hate, letting his personal feelings get in the way of the truth and the only way we can be contenders again is by trading Malkin. Jesus just stop.
- Conse

hahaha I was thinking the sames things, my man.

"looked like" does not actually mean he didn't give a damn. That's the problem with dummies like you.
- j.boyd919

Damn,bitter today ?

I don't think Guddy has been bad, and he did how he was capable but stylistically I don't think he's want the Pens should aim for, also he's an expensive 3rd pairing guy.
- j.boyd919

Yea for sure, I get it. But we're stuck with him. If I have the choice of moving either him or JJ, I'm shipping JJ all day. Zero percent chance that JR moves both IMO. He's really killing the vibe man.

For sure. I think Mario needs to come top-down on JR and make an exec decision on JJ. Get him out anyway possible. We can move Horny's contract, along with Ollie's. I think a sucker would bite on Horny while Maatta still has some decent value being young and somewhat experienced. That opens up some space. I actually think Guddy is a completely capable 3rd pairing guy who helps our team. Could be in the minority there, but whatever.
- MikeyKay

I agree with all of that as well. I like the Pens forwards for the most part but just wan't a retooling of the 4th line. They have great cheap in house options IMO in Teddy and A. Johnson. So I dont see them needing to spend much there.

The D needs to be retooled. Its gonna be tricky. The first step here though, is GMJR seeing it, that it needs to be changed, and then the 2nd step is GMJR accepting it, taking responsibility for it and doing something about it....almost sounds like a rehab program...but after his comments about it being the best defense they've had since he came there, I cant help but think he's in heavy denial.