The idea that Sully had a problem with Cole comes from the fact Cole was being healthy scratched a lot that last season.
- MattStrat

And when sully first came to town before injuries forced Cole back into the lineup. And the fact that Yohe reported several times that Sullivan wasn’t a fan of Cole’s goofy, light hearted locker room presence.

Sullivan not being Cole’s biggest fan is pretty well documented. Think his dislike of Cole the person lead to him giving Cole the hockey player a short leash, which, you know, we’ve seen him do before both ways. It’s not like Cole was some world beater or that using his salary at the deadline wouldn’t have made sense even if Sullivan liked him and played him, but he was definitely sent packing due to not getting along with the coach. The irony being that Cole is a good hockey player that checks a lot of the boxes the org has decided they want checked now.

And when sully first came to town before injuries forced Cole back into the lineup. And the fact that Yohe reported several times that Sullivan wasn’t a fan of Cole’s goofy, light hearted locker room presence.

Sullivan not being Cole’s biggest fan is pretty well documented. Think his dislike of Cole the person lead to him giving Cole the hockey player a short leash, which, you know, we’ve seen him do before both ways. It’s not like Cole was some world beater or that using his salary at the deadline wouldn’t have made sense even if Sullivan liked him and played him, but he was definitely sent packing due to not getting along with the coach. The irony being that Cole is a good hockey player that checks a lot of the boxes the org has decided they want checked now.
- Victoro311

hahah yeah its actually insane that GMJR signed JJ after all of this for the left side. Cole and Schultz, when Tanger was down, were playing and producing like a 1st pairing should.

I could totally live with this:

Dumo-Tang
Cole- Schultz
Petts-Guds

Sigh.

hahah yeah its actually insane that GMJR signed JJ after all of this for the left side. Cole and Schultz, when Tanger was down, were playing and producing like a 1st pairing should.

I could totally live with this:

Dumo-Tang
Cole- Schultz
Petts-Guds

Sigh.
- MattStrat

Ha ha. It's amazing how much better that looks.

Yea I know that, but he was so clearly on the trade block, i thought it was because they were close to a deal.
- joecool2931

To me it was something personal. Things we don't see other than the coaches and players do. I would've opted for Määttä as well IF it was the case of choosing one anyway.

What makes our defense downgrade since our last cup even worse is that "protecting" Cole (and Rusty...) makes us still owing VGK our 2nd this year for taking Fleury (whom they would have taken anyway).

Ha ha. It's amazing how much better that looks.
- madmike71

Ya, any combination missing "JJ" does... when i read a few days before July 1st about that 5y contract, i thought it was a joke... now we all know, it is!

The training camp teams are sure interesting this morning. Team 1 is the full Pens starting lineup. Team's 2 and 3 is everyone else.

I was looking at the numbers for the BEST RUSSIAN PLAYERS throughout the years:

Most Points Per Game:

1)Malkin - 1.17
2)Ovechkin - 1.11
3)Bure - 1.10
4)Mogilny - 1.04
5)Kovalchuk - 0.965
6)Datsyuk - 0.963
7)Fedorov - 0.944
8)Kovalev - 0.781


Most Goals Per Game:

1)Bure - .622
2)Ovechkin - .607
3)Kovalchuk - .492
4)Mogilny - .477
5)Malkin - .458
6)Fedorov - .387
7)Datsyuk - .329
8)Kovalev - .326


Most Assists Per Game:

1)Malkin - .717
2)Datsyuk - .633
3)Mogilny - .564
4)Fedorov - .557
5)Ovechkin - .510
6)Bure - .487
7)Kovalchuk - .473
8)Kovalev - .455

The training camp teams are sure interesting this morning. Team 1 is the full Pens starting lineup. Team's 2 and 3 is everyone else.
- Rinosaur

That is interesting indeed. Are tomorrow night's rosters released yet?

That is interesting indeed. Are tomorrow night's rosters released yet?
- MattStrat

Not that I've seen, but these were the lines at practice

Guentzel-Crosby-Kahun
Galchenyuk-Malkin-Tanev
McCann-Bjugstad-Hornqvist
Simon or ZAR-Blueger-Rust

Dumoulin-Letang
Pettersson-Schultz
Johnson-Gudbranson
Riikola-Ruhwedel

That is interesting indeed. Are tomorrow night's rosters released yet?
- MattStrat

Be sure tomorrow will be the same "one line plus some mixed ones" - as always.

@Barnaby: (the russian rocket) Bure, Mogilny, Kovalev, Fedorov...

I would really like to see Marino's name on team 1 instead of JJ Rikki or Ruhw

Not that I've seen, but these were the lines at practice

Guentzel-Crosby-Kahun
Galchenyuk-Malkin-Tanev
McCann-Bjugstad-Hornqvist
Simon or ZAR-Blueger-Rust

Dumoulin-Letang
Pettersson-Schultz
Johnson-Gudbranson
Riikola-Ruhwedel
- Rinosaur

- MattStrat

The worst possible outcome.

The worst possible outcome.
- Thorny87

Is it bad to hope for that outcome?

Id bet my house on those being the top 6 come game 1, barring injury. Any other combo puts JJ or Guds in top 4...

The worst possible outcome.
- Thorny87

I’d rather have those two bums on the same line than have them split up dragging down two pairings.

I would really like to see Marino's name on team 1 instead of JJ Rikki or Ruhw
- Thorny87

Same

I’d rather have those two bums on the same line than have them split up dragging down two pairings.
- j.boyd919

Agreed. They can shelter much easier that way. I’m at least gaining confidence that the coaching staff is aware of the problems.

Be sure tomorrow will be the same "one line plus some mixed ones" - as always.

@Barnaby: (the russian rocket) Bure, Mogilny, Kovalev, Fedorov...
- VeryModernMan

Malkin was the best case scenario for the Penguins. Such an awesome player....and clowns put him outside of the Top 100 players.

The worst possible outcome.
- Thorny87

It’s not. The worst possible outcome is not icing your two strongest pairings and spreading the suck so that a bad pairing is on the ice for a half a game. If you contain the suck to one pair and limit them to ten minutes it’s a vastly better outcome.

It’s not. The worst possible outcome is not icing your two strongest pairings and spreading the suck so that a bad pairing is on the ice for a half a game. If you contain the suck to one pair and limit them to ten minutes it’s a vastly better outcome.
- Victoro311

Yup. If this sticks, it actually shows the coaching staff isn’t putting blinders on.

I’d rather have those two bums on the same line than have them split up dragging down two pairings.
- j.boyd919

Opposing teams players will be salivating at that pairing. If Sully doesn't play them 15 a game he may be able to limit the damage.

I would really like to see Marino's name on team 1 instead of JJ Rikki or Ruhw
- Thorny87

Since he's a RD, he'd have to push Gudbranson out to play, which probably wouldn't happen yet. Let him start in WBS and not repeat the mistake with Riikola, but I also could see Marino pushing for a spot soon.

Kind of wish he was a LD because that's an easier path. Maybe he can play his off-side, but RHD rarely are asked to.

It’s not. The worst possible outcome is not icing your two strongest pairings and spreading the suck so that a bad pairing is on the ice for a half a game. If you contain the suck to one pair and limit them to ten minutes it’s a vastly better outcome.
- Victoro311

That's the big issue. Someone had a stat that showed Sully spreads out the ice time a little more than most coaches. Those 2 were playing over 15 a night last year IIRC.

Not having last change will be interesting if we're pairing that d with a fourth line.

Opposing teams players will be salivating at that pairing. If Sully doesn't play them 15 a game he may be able to limit the damage.
- Thorny87

This is where good coaching comes in. Sully can be very calculated how and when he deploys them to mitigate issues.

We should also be clear that Pettersson’s ability to play the 2nd pair full time effectively is still something to prove.

It’s not. The worst possible outcome is not icing your two strongest pairings and spreading the suck so that a bad pairing is on the ice for a half a game. If you contain the suck to one pair and limit them to ten minutes it’s a vastly better outcome.
- Victoro311

If the top 4 is solid, they can address the bottom pair at the deadline. It shouldn't be hard to find a bottom pair LHD better than JJ. So long as there aren't bigger holes we'll survive.