Ryan Wilson: Holland, Hurricanes, and push back Holland, Hurricanes, and push back

The one major advantage the Islanders had was that Trotz had faced the Pens the three previous consecutive years in the playoffs. Aside from Sullivan he is probably the coach in the NHL most familiar with the team. More to the point, he knew the Pens' biggest weakness - their defense's tendency to pinch too much/over-commit without good support from the forwards (that and the forwards' tendency to make careless passes and pass too much). He exploited this mercilessly in the playoffs, leading to the sweep.

Once the Islanders faced a higher energy team without any glaring weaknesses they got stopped. They are still a good team though, thanks primarily to Chiarelli. I expect them to be a contender for a long time.

Hindsight is always easiest but I actually think the Pens' best matchup was the Capitals. Without Trotz the Capitals have gotten away from a more strategic approach and are back to trying to win on pure talent alone. Regardless, the Pens of this season really had no chance at the Cup. They need some "retooling".

The one major advantage the Islanders had was that Trotz had faced the Pens the three previous consecutive years in the playoffs. Aside from Sullivan he is probably the coach in the NHL most familiar with the team. More to the point, he knew the Pens' biggest weakness - their defense's tendency to pinch too much/over-commit without good support from the forwards (that and the forwards' tendency to make careless passes and pass too much). He exploited this mercilessly in the playoffs, leading to the sweep.

Once the Islanders faced a higher energy team without any glaring weaknesses they got stopped. They are still a good team though, thanks primarily to Chiarelli. I expect them to be a contender for a long time.

Hindsight is always easiest but I actually think the Pens' best matchup was the Capitals. Without Trotz the Capitals have gotten away from a more strategic approach and are back to trying to win on pure talent alone. Regardless, the Pens of this season really had no chance at the Cup. They need some "retooling".
- PghPens668771

The Islanders suck, dude.

They're roster is atrocious. They just had a really good coach that squeezed everything systemically out of them that he could and they counterpunched their way to a lot of victories.

Once they ran into an opponent that could retrieve pucks from their own end quickly and turn it back up the ice they were done.

The one major advantage the Islanders had was that Trotz had faced the Pens the three previous consecutive years in the playoffs. Aside from Sullivan he is probably the coach in the NHL most familiar with the team. More to the point, he knew the Pens' biggest weakness - their defense's tendency to pinch too much/over-commit without good support from the forwards (that and the forwards' tendency to make careless passes and pass too much). He exploited this mercilessly in the playoffs, leading to the sweep.

Once the Islanders faced a higher energy team without any glaring weaknesses they got stopped. They are still a good team though, thanks primarily to Chiarelli. I expect them to be a contender for a long time.

Hindsight is always easiest but I actually think the Pens' best matchup was the Capitals. Without Trotz the Capitals have gotten away from a more strategic approach and are back to trying to win on pure talent alone. Regardless, the Pens of this season really had no chance at the Cup. They need some "retooling".
- PghPens668771

Curious how Carolina dumping a rested Isles team in 4 vs Carolina beating the Caps in OT in Game 7 would lead one to conclude that the Caps were the best potential matchup for the Pens, but I suppose if you get swept you might be looking for a "matchup" rationalization. We'll see how this plays out, but it might be the 4th consecutive season in which the winner of the Caps vs someone (the Pens the previous 3) ultimately leads to the winner of the Cup.

The one major advantage the Islanders had was that Trotz had faced the Pens the three previous consecutive years in the playoffs. Aside from Sullivan he is probably the coach in the NHL most familiar with the team. More to the point, he knew the Pens' biggest weakness - their defense's tendency to pinch too much/over-commit without good support from the forwards (that and the forwards' tendency to make careless passes and pass too much). He exploited this mercilessly in the playoffs, leading to the sweep.

Once the Islanders faced a higher energy team without any glaring weaknesses they got stopped. They are still a good team though, thanks primarily to Chiarelli. I expect them to be a contender for a long time.

Hindsight is always easiest but I actually think the Pens' best matchup was the Capitals. Without Trotz the Capitals have gotten away from a more strategic approach and are back to trying to win on pure talent alone. Regardless, the Pens of this season really had no chance at the Cup. They need some "retooling".
- PghPens668771

- Feds91Stammer

Lightning fan who chirped every other fanbase all year?

Curious how Carolina dumping a rested Isles team in 4 vs Carolina beating the Caps in OT in Game 7 would lead one to conclude that the Caps were the best potential matchup for the Pens, but I suppose if you get swept you might be looking for a "matchup" rationalization. We'll see how this plays out, but it might be the 4th consecutive season in which the winner of the Caps vs someone (the Pens the previous 3) ultimately leads to the winner of the Cup.
- LoudounCapsFan

Style of play might lead into it a little, but yeah... I don't see it. Penguins problems were all of their own making.

Lightning fan who chirped every other fanbase all year?
- ClaudeFather

What about him?

CAR's only player above 30 is Williams. Next oldest is Staal at 30. They also dont have "generational" talent that nobody wants to part away with.

Soooooo....Go canes? 😄

Soooooo....Go canes? 😄
- FinnGod

Indeed.

Style of play might lead into it a little, but yeah... I don't see it. Penguins problems were all of their own making.
- BINGO!

Indeed. Mostly, anyway.


Also, a major factor that I bring up but no one else seems to acknowledge except maybe MadMike, is just how out of sync they were due to all the injuries and returning from major injuries in proximity to the playoffs. Geno, Tanger, Dumo, Rust, Maatta, McCann and probably even others I'm not thinking of were either returning to game action a game or 2 before playoffs started, most likely not 100% physically ready but definitely not game action sharp, especially playoffs pace sharp, or were seriously banged up and still in the lineup.

The coaching decisions were brutal, and a major factor, but they dont have anything to do with how the Pens couldn't make tape to tape passes or bury pucks into wide open cages.

Good thing Pens played the Isles otherwise they may have lost in 3.

Soooooo....Go canes? 😄
- FinnGod

Yes. I honestly think they can to the cup.

The one major advantage the Islanders had was that Trotz had faced the Pens the three previous consecutive years in the playoffs. Aside from Sullivan he is probably the coach in the NHL most familiar with the team. More to the point, he knew the Pens' biggest weakness - their defense's tendency to pinch too much/over-commit without good support from the forwards (that and the forwards' tendency to make careless passes and pass too much). He exploited this mercilessly in the playoffs, leading to the sweep.

Once the Islanders faced a higher energy team without any glaring weaknesses they got stopped. They are still a good team though, thanks primarily to Chiarelli. I expect them to be a contender for a long time.

Hindsight is always easiest but I actually think the Pens' best matchup was the Capitals. Without Trotz the Capitals have gotten away from a more strategic approach and are back to trying to win on pure talent alone. Regardless, the Pens of this season really had no chance at the Cup. They need some "retooling".
- PghPens668771

In watching every single other remaining team play, and often now, I have come to the conclusion they all have a higher level or gear the Pens simply did not have this year plus they all have crazy good cohesiveness.

I think the Caps would of beat the Pens this year.

It was well known that the wings ownership wanted to keep their playoff record going even though holland was ready ship out vets. Datsyuk perfect example. That happens with alot of teams. Do some research rather than just retreading what everyone else already said from toronto media. Most gm and coaches have been fired at least once before so dont really your point there. His farm team is pretty solid but u wont give him credit there i guess either.

It was well known that the wings ownership wanted to keep their playoff record going even though holland was ready ship out vets. Datsyuk perfect example. That happens with alot of teams. Do some research rather than just retreading what everyone else already said from toronto media. Most gm and coaches have been fired at least once before so dont really your point there. His farm team is pretty solid but u wont give him credit there i guess either.
- oil90

Buddy. Just stop. Holland is a bad GM.

So... was this actually an article about the Oilers and Hurricanes... or just a gypsy trick double bluff effort to take another backhanded shot at Sully and JR (and Johnson, of course)?

Curious how Carolina dumping a rested Isles team in 4 vs Carolina beating the Caps in OT in Game 7 would lead one to conclude that the Caps were the best potential matchup for the Pens, but I suppose if you get swept you might be looking for a "matchup" rationalization. We'll see how this plays out, but it might be the 4th consecutive season in which the winner of the Caps vs someone (the Pens the previous 3) ultimately leads to the winner of the Cup.

I can tell you for sure the Pens usually get up to play against tougher opponents, at least on paper. This team just had no effort and will throughout the Islanders series.

In watching every single other remaining team play, and often now, I have come to the conclusion they all have a higher level or gear the Pens simply did not have this year plus they all have crazy good cohesiveness.

I think the Caps would of beat the Pens this year.
- MattStrat

No poop. Pens roster construction was poop. It’s tough to reach a higher gear with flat tires on your vehicle.

Offer sheet compensation has been set for 2019/20

$1,395,053 or below: None

$1,395,054-$2,113,716: 3rd

$2,113,717-$4,227,437: 2nd

$4,227,438-$6,341,152: 1st, 3rd

$6,341,153-$8,454,871: 1st, 2nd, 3rd

$8,454,872-$10,568,589:
2 1sts , 2nd, 3rd

Over
$10,568,590+: 4 1sts

F I don't know if it's worth for any team to sign Marner to an offer sheet considering he'd probably command ovr $10,568,590 millions.

4 1sts is rough stuff.

Buddy. Just stop. Holland is a bad GM.
- Feds91Stammer

You probably know that team better than anyone else on this thread. Are you saying Holland has done a poor job at all aspects of his job? Seems to me like you guys have a good AHL team and you’ve done relatively well drafting haven’t you? Especially compared to say Edmonton who beyond 1st rounders is pretty barren.

Sometimes ownership steps in and says throw more money at xxxxxx, do you think the Wings do this at all or are these overpaid depth guys 100% a result of Holland overpaying? Just asking what you think if you don’t know for sure

No poop. Pens roster construction was poop. It’s tough to reach a higher gear with flat tires on your vehicle.
- j.boyd919

Sorry but the Pens have a massively better roster than the Islanders. It's sad to say but they lost because the Isles worked harder. Simple as that.

No poop. Pens roster construction was poop. It’s tough to reach a higher gear with flat tires on your vehicle.
- j.boyd919

hahaha

They were looking good up to the last week of the reg season when players started returning. They were like top 3 in pretty much all the fancy stats from 1st of March to that week. I felt way better about this team than the 2017 one headed into the playoffs.

Offer sheet compensation has been set for 2019/20

$1,395,053 or below: None

$1,395,054-$2,113,716: 3rd

$2,113,717-$4,227,437: 2nd

$4,227,438-$6,341,152: 1st, 3rd

$6,341,153-$8,454,871: 1st, 2nd, 3rd

$8,454,872-$10,568,589:
2 1sts , 2nd, 3rd

Over
$10,568,590+: 4 1sts

F I don't know if it's worth for any team to sign Marner to an offer sheet considering he'd probably command ovr $10,568,590 millions.

4 1sts is rough stuff.
- Barnaby36

Just to add context, there are term limits on the calculation. So if you offer sheet someone for 7 years I believe they average the same total salary over 5 years instead of 7. I believe there are two such nuances. Capfriendly tweeted it