Ryan Wilson: A Jarry disappointing loss A Jarry disappointing loss

No mention of Letang costing us that third goal. Or the awful pk after a delay of game two games in a row.

This team just isn't very good at hockey. I'm definitely a Jarry apologist to a degree, but IMO getting someone a step up like a Kuemper, Hart or Binnington isn't going to be a difference-maker with how this team is playing.

If you played a drinking game where you drank each time an opposing player got in on our goalie you'd be drunk after the first period. This team needs a Gibson or Price to bail them out.

That said, as much faith as I have in Jarry, if the Pens have a chance to upgrade their goalie situation they should probably look into it.

Blueger is a third line center, Tanev is a third line winger. They are carrying fourth line-bottom pair-AHL players at the moment. It wasn't that long ago, when they had Kapanen they were the best line on the ice. I would like to see them score more and they will when McCann gets healthy, along with either Pettersson or Dumo. Although, I don't expect this team to ever be healthy, they are just too soft.

So our two goaltenders are ranked 35 and 36 out of 37. What could be the common denominator? It can't be our team defense.

This is a bad road team. No two ways about it. We are a one dimensional team, we use speed and when teams can counter that, we struggle. We got what what we deserved last, corsi be damned.

I don’t think even Gibson or price make that big of a difference. Maybe one or two more timely saves, yeah. I get of an opposing player is being pressured in front of the net and his stick isn’t tied up and he redirects it in. But when no one is even within 5 feet of the opposing player every time they get in front of the net what is any goalie really gonna do after a while.

A zadorov/guddy/Dillon type that play a pretty nasty game is by no means needed but these wannabe forward defenceman need to at least tie up the guy in front of the net.

Letang especially needs to simplify and only worry about his position. It looked like he was trying to play both D spots constantly chasing pucks and leaving Poj wondering wtf to do. He needs to be told Poj is the best D-man we got and not to worry about his side of the ice.

@sextoymagic you beat me it. GMRW loves Xavier Laflamme and he can do no wrong. He even SAW Clutterbuck over his shoulder and decided to still go to POJO's man. Horrible play. He was also on the ice for a very crucial PK and looked lost. The dude is spent. Spare me any "who's better right now" argument or any fancy stats. 58 is done. POJO can take over. I'm more comfortable taking that chance than continuing to believe that Laflamme has something to offer this team. For better or worse he needs to go. This is absolutely not on Jarry, who made some great saves and was left out to dry. He also loves to poop all over the bottom six, which also had some good chances but once again we'll ignore that. The top six got pass-happy (shocker) once Jake scored and we ended up screwing the pooch. Not on Jarry.

It isnt even the physical aspect of this team, its just poor mental decision after poor mental decision. Letang chasing opposing players when it isnt his man, Blueger hearing footsteps and panicing by launching the puck out of play, and Jarry being too deep in his net and giving up goals a #1 needs to save.

I have no doubt this team can be a playoff team and sneak in, but the entire mindset of the team will need to change.

It's obvious Washington & Boston will finish ahead of us. Need to root for them against each team we play. Penguins are 1 point from last place in the division and only one regulation win.

If we had our first, I'd say who cares if we dont make the playoff, but us missing the playoffs and potentially giving up a good pick would be a disaster.

Pens need a defensive minded coach, stop playing fire wagon hockey.

I like Letang, fun to watch, but he should be traded while he is still a 1D, next year he won’t be.

Amazing how good Ovechkin looks, especially when you think of the style he has played over the years. He still looks great.

Hoping we can get at least one more Ovechkin vs Crosby match up in the playoffs.

Pretty cool that in the 4 times Ovechkin/Crosby met in the playoffs, the winner went on to win the Cup.

Pens need a defensive minded coach, stop playing fire wagon hockey.

I like Letang, fun to watch, but he should be traded while he is still a 1D, next year he won’t be.
- stackthepads

They just need a new coach. There are other aspects other than playing defense that are so wrong with this team.

I wouldn't mind moving out some salary space. There are some solid free agents available this offseason. If the cap stays stagnant it could mean some amazing deals. Maybe with a new GM it could mean Penguins finally being in the mix this free agency period for a top player or two (unlike other years).

I like the idea of saving some draft capital and spending it wisely instead of when the prices are inflated for players at the deadline. The previous few seasons it looks like our team had finally got into their rhythm and win multiple games. The deadline hit and we make a big move which brings in a new player and everyone struggles to find their chemistry again. The energy level falls with the team, and we get knocked out in the first round.
- 123Kid

I wouldn't mind seeing a GM give guys a little longer before turning around and trading them. The constant roster turnover got a little ridiculous. It just felt like too much was being done on GMJR's shifting whims. He decided he wanted a guy, he'd pay top price for them, then drop them at the first sign of trouble.

Thank goodness POJ wasn't one of the prospects GMJR traded.

Pittsburgh reminds me of a drowning swimmer. Still has the energy and strength to keep their head above water, but wearing down quickly and slowly submerging for longer and longer each time.

They need some fresh limbs in there. Team needs to be totally reset and stars dealt for futures and upcoming players. They have the Star assets right now to totally revamp their team.

I am not Jarry's biggest supporter, but it was absolutely the right call to lock him in at basically back-up money to be the starter. Maybe he crashes, but if he succeeds you're paying him a big raise next year.

So far, Blueger is giving them decent 3rd line center producution (tied with Malkin at 2 goals and 6 points in 11 games) and positive possession. It might slip, probably will without a better scoring wing, but so far he's getting the job done. Unfortunately, with McCann down, he is likely the most offensively gifted guy on his line.

It's the same story as McCann last year, you need to put another offensive talent with then. Unfortunately this team has other problems so I don't think getting that wing makes enough difference to sink a major asset into it, but maybe they can find a good fit.

Might be time to consider that Sid (and especially Geno) aren't star players anymore

Happens to the best of them. Yzerman towards the end wasn't carrying those RedWings teams to those cups. It was Fedorov, Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Lidstrom, paired with a defense first system

We're 11 games in and Sid doesn't have a 5v5 goal? Sure, he's had a revolving door at wing, but isn't he out there exclusively with Guentzel and Letang at the least?

Not saying he's not good, not saying he still can't be great, and we can b1tch about the 3rd and 4th lines all we want, but Sid still plays with the best players on the team, which is as good as the best players on other teams (theoretically) and his point production is on pace with guys who I do not consider "generational talents"

bUt gMjR mAdE bAd mOvEs!

You can't tie up 25 Million in players (Sid, Geno, Letang) and have those guys not be able to carry your team. You can also not complain about having not enough ELC talent to balance the roster while also saying we need to "go all in" and use our picks to load the roster every trade deadline while the "window" was still open

The time to rebuild (or mini rebuild) was right after the second cup, meaning no attempt at 3peat. This of course is hindsight

Kessel would have had tremendous trade value in that moment, So did Murray, Hagelin probably did. Schultz probably did, and a few others. Keep MAF, Bones, a couple of others, maybe sign some free agents and stay respectable. Be sellers at the deadlines for a few years and retain our own picks. It would have looked a lot like "The Patriot Way" We'd have a lot of fresh youth in the pipeline right now for the Sid/Geno golden years, and with those guys on ELC's, we'd have money for some FA's

There is no combo of single trades of moves that could be undone to take us from where we are to being an elite team. This team is not a Hornqvist, or a "Don't sign JJ" or "Shoulda kept Oleksiak" a keep the 2020/2021 1sts and don't trade for Zucker/Kapanen from being a real contender, not now and not in the next few years

/rant

They just need a new coach. There are other aspects other than playing defense that are so wrong with this team.
- Rinosaur

I agree. The biggest need is coaching and identity. They have the skill and tenacity. A league average pp and pk and Pitt is right around Boston, wash, philly in points and has some breathing room.

Defensive structure also needs an overhaul and some accountability for certain players screwing everything up.

The bottom 6 did their part while the top lines slept. It looks like Sid and geno are now clicking so that hopefully takes care of that.

Sully is done, idk wtf rierden is doing with the pp and defence but he seems like a mistake of a hiring. Alvin and the chipmunks better pull sully’s plug sooner than later.

I wouldn't mind seeing a GM give guys a little longer before turning around and trading them. The constant roster turnover got a little ridiculous. It just felt like too much was being done on GMJR's shifting whims. He decided he wanted a guy, he'd pay top price for them, then drop them at the first sign of trouble.

Thank goodness POJ wasn't one of the prospects GMJR traded.
- Tojo.

I think that was true before. The issue now is the Pens don’t really have the time wait things out. I personally think the window is closed as-is.

Might be time to consider that Sid (and especially Geno) aren't star players anymore

Happens to the best of them. Yzerman towards the end wasn't carrying those RedWings teams to those cups. It was Fedorov, Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Lidstrom, paired with a defense first system

We're 11 games in and Sid doesn't have a 5v5 goal? Sure, he's had a revolving door at wing, but isn't he out there exclusively with Guentzel and Letang at the least?

Not saying he's not good, not saying he still can't be great, and we can b1tch about the 3rd and 4th lines all we want, but Sid still plays with the best players on the team, which is as good as the best players on other teams (theoretically) and his point production is on pace with guys who I do not consider "generational talents"

bUt gMjR mAdE bAd mOvEs!

You can't tie up 25 Million in players (Sid, Geno, Letang) and have those guys not be able to carry your team. You can also not complain about having not enough ELC talent to balance the roster while also saying we need to "go all in" and use our picks to load the roster every trade deadline while the "window" was still open

The time to rebuild (or mini rebuild) was right after the second cup, meaning no attempt at 3peat. This of course is hindsight

Kessel would have had tremendous trade value in that moment, So did Murray, Hagelin probably did. Schultz probably did, and a few others. Keep MAF, Bones, a couple of others, maybe sign some free agents and stay respectable. Be sellers at the deadlines for a few years and retain our own picks. It would have looked a lot like "The Patriot Way" We'd have a lot of fresh youth in the pipeline right now for the Sid/Geno golden years, and with those guys on ELC's, we'd have money for some FA's

There is no combo of single trades of moves that could be undone to take us from where we are to being an elite team. This team is not a Hornqvist, or a "Don't sign JJ" or "Shoulda kept Oleksiak" a keep the 2020/2021 1sts and don't trade for Zucker/Kapanen from being a real contender, not now and not in the next few years

/rant
- TheGame316

I agree with that strategy. Without steady quality elc’s helping out you’re shouting yourself in the foot down the road. That is literally how we got the back to backs. It would be ballsy to have traded everyone then and hindsight is obviously 20/20 but that’s the only way to maintain being a contender long term.

I am not Jarry's biggest supporter, but it was absolutely the right call to lock him in at basically back-up money to be the starter. Maybe he crashes, but if he succeeds you're paying him a big raise next year.

So far, Blueger is giving them decent 3rd line center producution (tied with Malkin at 2 goals and 6 points in 11 games) and positive possession. It might slip, probably will without a better scoring wing, but so far he's getting the job done. Unfortunately, with McCann down, he is likely the most offensively gifted guy on his line.

It's the same story as McCann last year, you need to put another offensive talent with then. Unfortunately this team has other problems so I don't think getting that wing makes enough difference to sink a major asset into it, but maybe they can find a good fit.
- Tojo.

Back up money? What team pays their backup 3.5m? That definitely isn't a common cap hit for back up goalies.

Back up money? What team pays their backup 3.5m? That definitely isn't a common cap hit for back up goalies.
- j.boyd919

Vegas pays their backup $7M lol

Back up money? What team pays their backup 3.5m? That definitely isn't a common cap hit for back up goalies.
- j.boyd919

Maybe not "Backup Money" but at least "2nd goalie in a 2 goalie system" money. When the other guy in the "system" is making 1.25 Million, we have definitely gambled on our goaltending "on the cheap"

Just thinking out loud, but I can’t even imagine the Pens can find a way to have Seattle select Matheson.

Vegas pays their backup $7M lol
- Rinosaur

There's only a few teams who have backups over 3m. Pretty sure it's only like 4-5 teams off the top of my head. Now I don't think it was necessarily a bad deal or idea with Jarry but as RW pointed out, he was an RFA with no leverage. Goalie is a volatile position which makes it one of the more difficult positions to fill. I just feel like this team has no identity, no direction and it's been that way since the 2nd cup that they lucked their way to.

There's only a few teams who have backups over 3m. Pretty sure it's only like 4-5 teams off the top of my head. Now I don't think it was necessarily a bad deal or idea with Jarry but as RW pointed out, he was an RFA with no leverage. Goalie is a volatile position which makes it one of the more difficult positions to fill. I just feel like this team has no identity, no direction and it's been that way since the 2nd cup that they lucked their way to.
- j.boyd919

I was just being a smartass and I agree.

Maybe not "Backup Money" but at least "2nd goalie in a 2 goalie system" money. When the other guy in the "system" is making 1.25 Million, we have definitely gambled on our goaltending "on the cheap"
- TheGame316

Oh yeah, I agree that we went cheap on goaltending, and I actually don't mind that at all, but when you look at the rest of the way the roster is filled, GMJR just barfed all over himself multiple times.

Back up money? What team pays their backup 3.5m? That definitely isn't a common cap hit for back up goalies.
- j.boyd919

More like tandem money goalie than backup. Basically we would all be way more pissed if Jarry was making 5-7mil haha.