Ryan Wilson: Penguins getting some healthy bodies back + GM search updates

Gonna take more than these to overtake Boston!!!

Would Weeks accept an asst.GM position???Or are they all filled?

Norm Maciver is an agm with Chicago since 2013, has been with them since 06 in various capacities and was assistant coach to Sully while in Boston.

I think a lot of established GMs have no interest in a job like this. I'd bet some see it as a high risk/low reward job. They will be expected to win with this core despite it being old and having no assets.

This team withot Crosby/Malkin is not a great job IMO. Smaller market, who knows if ownership will sell the team, empty closet of prospects... lots of negatives.

At this point, I'd be good with Mike Futa or the guy from the Avs. You cannot just bring in a guy known for drafting or roster construction, you need a guy who can do both. Ron Hextall was a pretty good drafter with the Flyers. He wouldnt be my first choice, but the team could do a lot worse.

No idea why Kevin Weekes would want the job. He has a great job with NHL Network. He must really want to be in a front office. I think he'd make a better coach than GM.

Kind of interesting watching In the room episode 1 where they are talking about signing jankowski, Rodriguez, and Simon. Looks like a 3 way convo between Sam Ventura, sully, and jr where they are all in agreement on them. Maybe Ventura is more of a pet detective than an analytics genius.

Yea I watched the episode as well. Interesting that they threw Simon out for Jank and Rodrigues. Why not Simon over Rod?

Kind of interesting watching In the room episode 1 where they are talking about signing jankowski, Rodriguez, and Simon. Looks like a 3 way convo between Sam Ventura, sully, and jr where they are all in agreement on them. Maybe Ventura is more of a pet detective than an analytics genius.
- 10inchTerror

I also didn't get that Ventura said Simon is the better player but we should go after the center. Why was it between Jank and Simon? Why not Simon and Rod?

I think they need to flip flop Malkin and Blueger’s wingers. Malkin will have to keep up with the big boys, hence getting his fat Russian ass in shape.

I think they need to flip flop Malkin and Blueger’s wingers. Malkin will have to keep up with the big boys, hence getting his fat Russian ass in shape.
- Grinder47

Keep Kap with him just add Tanev haha. Our two fastest wingers.

Not a surprise with the struggling GM search. Drury is the annointed one with the Rangers, so no way he would leave. It is mid season, not typically the time guys are available.

I am really hopeful Matheson can surprise and be a good player.... he is the wildcard. Even if he plays great that contract isn't very tradeable but with POJs emergence, Petterson could be moved for a forward with some finishing ability.

Yea I watched the episode as well. Interesting that they threw Simon out for Jank and Rodrigues. Why not Simon over Rod?
- 668710

There was a lot of Rodrigues momentum last year during the play in. Funny enough he didn't really draw in during Montreal but by all accounts Rutherford and Sullivan fell in love with him. Could be that they went into that conversation with Rodrigues as a given and the only real decision was between Simon and Jankowski. We unequivocally needed a center, so even though Simon is way better than Jankowski, who's absolutely useless, hands were pretty tied there.

Obvious it was a big mistake to think Rodrigues was better than Simon, but didn't Simon want to try to get more money elsewhere anyways?

I like ERod better than Simon. Vic mentioned having dogs in the last blog and I agreed with everything he said about it but I do think ERod is one of the more doggy guys on the team. I like his battle and energy level pretty much at all times. Seemed to my eyes like he was above .500 on the boards, which I always want to see from every player. Should he be on the first line? No, I dont think so after what I saw in 6 games this year. Should he be in the lineup over O'Conner, Laff or even Sceviour? I believe so.

There was a lot of Rodrigues momentum last year during the play in. Funny enough he didn't really draw in during Montreal but by all accounts Rutherford and Sullivan fell in love with him. Could be that they went into that conversation with Rodrigues as a given and the only real decision was between Simon and Jankowski. We unequivocally needed a center, so even though Simon is way better than Jankowski, who's absolutely useless, hands were pretty tied there.

Obvious it was a big mistake to think Rodrigues was better than Simon, but didn't Simon want to try to get more money elsewhere anyways?
- Victoro311

He did and he picked the wrong time. You have players way better than him taking salaries not much more than his.

There was a lot of Rodrigues momentum last year during the play in. Funny enough he didn't really draw in during Montreal but by all accounts Rutherford and Sullivan fell in love with him. Could be that they went into that conversation with Rodrigues as a given and the only real decision was between Simon and Jankowski. We unequivocally needed a center, so even though Simon is way better than Jankowski, who's absolutely useless, hands were pretty tied there.

Obvious it was a big mistake to think Rodrigues was better than Simon, but didn't Simon want to try to get more money elsewhere anyways?
- Victoro311

I think Simon was a flash in the pan with Sid. I think his underlying numbers (and production), especially away from puck which he was heralded for, got worse and worse but people tend to remember him working with Sid a bit and that gives them warmer feelings of Simon than perhaps warranted...unless you're Grinder, of course hahah.

I could be wrong in saying all of that...except for the his play dropped off.

He's a healthy scratch a lot of nights so far in Calgary.

Here's today's Fantasy news on Dom Simon...so they scratch him 3 games in a row then toss him on the first line, his first game back. Thats pretty crazy....and he came into the lineup taking Bennett out. If Bennett could be had on the cheap I'd take a flyer on him.

Would Weeks accept an asst.GM position???Or are they all filled?
- HenryHockey

I don't know, but that would be a more ideal step. I'd rather get someone who has worked in different front office areas.

We don't have alot of assistant GMs. Used to have 4, now just Allvin who is new to that role (so I wouldn't want him as GM yet either as all his experience is on the scouting side I believe). Ventura maybe acts as one.

I've been looking at youtube tv recently and remember some of ya'll (yinz)complaining about something about it...is it no good to watch hockey games? blacked out for non-locals?

I think Simon was a flash in the pan with Sid. I think his underlying numbers (and production), especially away from puck which he was heralded for, got worse and worse but people tend to remember him working with Sid a bit and that gives them warmer feelings of Simon than perhaps warranted...unless you're Grinder, of course hahah.

I could be wrong in saying all of that...except for the his play dropped off.

He's a healthy scratch a lot of nights so far in Calgary.
- MattStrat

I didn't think Simon was the same player last year as he was the year prior. He still helped create offense, but he wad just as good defensively and he became a liability instead.

Danger of even a year's sample size is we can sometimes form to strong an opinion on guys one way or the other based on just one season. Trader Jim rarely let guys work through rough patches. A guy has a bad couple months and he was usually gone.

Yohe observations from yesterday’s practice on the Athletic:

By the end of the practice Rierden managed to get through to Malkin to have a shoot first mentality on the PP. No guarantee it’ll translate to in game.

P.O. Joseph looked good running the second unit and has a strong wrister.

Letang will definitely be back for Saturday and there’s optimism about Matheson and ZAR. Letang stayed on the ice for extra time after practice.

Sullivan’s demeanor this year has been a lot more positive with the players and has yet to snap or chew anyone out during practice. I am unsure if that’s good or bad.

I've been looking at youtube tv recently and remember some of ya'll (yinz)complaining about something about it...is it no good to watch hockey games? blacked out for non-locals?
- Blackstrom2

I’ve had YouTube TV, Sling, and Fubo before completely dropping off of TV streaming services. I switched from Sling to YouTube TV because Sling raised their prices to be equal to YouTube’s and YouTube TV was the better product minus lack of RedZone, NBA TV, and the NHL channel at the time (I think they have Redzone now), so during the summer when there were no sports, YouTube was better. But then YouTube TV raised their prices too and just wasn’t worth it so I switched to Fubo for about a week before they too raised their prices. I think Sling is back to being the best value service after the recent tranche of price hikes, and they allow for more customization of channel package, but generally speaking, they’re basically as expensive as a normal low-tier cable subscription now.

As far as local blackouts go, your subscription comes with your zip code’s local networks, so you won’t be blacked out. For example, if you live in the DC area, you’ll get the Washington DC specific ABC/Fox/CBS/NBC, and I think all these services will give you NBCSN DC too. At least I remember getting it on Sling and YouTube TV

Here's today's Fantasy news on Dom Simon...so they scratch him 3 games in a row then toss him on the first line, his first game back. Thats pretty crazy....and he came into the lineup taking Bennett out. If Bennett could be had on the cheap I'd take a flyer on him.


- MattStrat

2nd line* Tkachuk and Lindholm 1st line But after watching the Flames game last night that might be the last game Simon plays for them... not sure about the charts on it but he was really bad.

1 player that has really stood out watching the flames games is Andrew Maniapane. Not sure if he plays RW but the flames need to get him into the top 6 somehow or send him to the pens with Bennett and Kylington! haha

For what its worth I put that trade I posted yesterday past my buddy thats a scout and he said he would bet any money Flames would say no that to on there end. He called Laff useless and Robinson next to useless unless you need a big 4th line RW to crash around. His main reason for flames saying no is he said Pettersson would be there 4th LD leaving him as a healthy scratch. He seems to think they "love" Juuso Valimaki and no chance he would sit. Gio and Hanifin are above him still.

I didn't think Simon was the same player last year as he was the year prior. He still helped create offense, but he wad just as good defensively and he became a liability instead.

Danger of even a year's sample size is we can sometimes form to strong an opinion on guys one way or the other based on just one season. Trader Jim rarely let guys work through rough patches. A guy has a bad couple months and he was usually gone.
- Tojo.

Yeah, I was never a Simon hater and I would of been fine with him on the roster this season over Laff, O'Connor or even Sceviour but I think he's not that good overall and wouldn't make much difference.

2nd line* Tkachuk and Lindholm 1st line But after watching the Flames game last night that might be the last game Simon plays for them... not sure about the charts on it but he was really bad.

1 player that has really stood out watching the flames games is Andrew Maniapane. Not sure if he plays RW but the flames need to get him into the top 6 somehow or send him to the pens with Bennett and Kylington! haha

For what its worth I put that trade I posted yesterday past my buddy thats a scout and he said he would bet any money Flames would say no that to on there end. He called Laff useless and Robinson next to useless unless you need a big 4th line RW to crash around. His main reason for flames saying no is he said Pettersson would be there 4th LD leaving him as a healthy scratch. He seems to think they "love" Juuso Valimaki and no chance he would sit. Gio and Hanifin are above him still.
- pens4life-66

I forgot that they have Hanafin. Yeah there’s no need to bring in more money on the left side when you have the top 2 locked in.