The over/under for goals by Carter tonight against his former team is 2.
- Doc_Sarcasm

I tried to place a bet on Carter scoring tonight and the stupid DC site wouldn’t let me

The problem with a player like Sam Bennett is not realizing what he is. He's not a top-nine forward in any capacity and is paid like one. He's a fourth line player. No more. No less. I feared him being brought in here with the idea he could slot next to Geno and find success.
- Rinosaur

NHL caliber players fall into four fluid categories that somewhat overlap. Top 6, Middle 6, Bottom 6, and Fourth Line.

Top 6: Players capable of handling any type of deployment and produce at a reliable, high end clip. The bread and butter of a scoring line

Middle 6: Limited players that can produce respectably in a supporting role on a top 6 line or in sheltered deployment on a third line. Ideal third liners that can play up the lineup.

Bottom 6: Offensively challenged players that have some qualities that allow them to be specialists playing up the lineup when needed but can’t be relied upon to produce even when playing up. Guys who can do fine on a third line but ideally you keep to the fourth.

Fourth liner: Defensive specialists with no offensive pulse. Cannot play up the lineup at all.

I think Bennett is a bottom 6 guy. 4th line is a bit harsh given that he typically produces around average to mediocre 3rd line offense per 60 minutes.

The problem with a player like Sam Bennett is not realizing what he is. He's not a top-nine forward in any capacity and is paid like one. He's a fourth line player. No more. No less. I feared him being brought in here with the idea he could slot next to Geno and find success.
- Rinosaur

This is my opinion of him as well. His production over the the last 3 seasons at 5v5 is in the area of a bad 3rd liner and good 4th liner. There is no singular aspect to his game that really stands out. He was just such a bland player to get a 2nd and a prospect for.

Full story will come out one day. I think it has a lot to do with Rutherford not being offered an extention and ownership liminting his ability to make moves (since perhaps they had no intention of extending him)

Question is, If this team makes the cup final, or wins, as constructed, with Hextall's only move being the trade for Carter - How does that reflect on Rutherfords tenure and exit. Given it would clearly still be HIS team?
- TheGame316

The one thing I did recall was Mario said they had every intention of re-signing him.

sam bustnett sucks ass

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/video/jim-rutherford-made-sudden-move-leave-penguins-organization/

Rutherford admits to leaving because of a disagreement, but won't say with whom or what it is. Also says that no one tried to offer anything for Sid...
- Beatnic57

He actually doesn’t say anything. He’s saying yes to the fact that it came all of a sudden and wasn’t something he was thinking about until he did it and reiterated the point that the pens organization treated him first class the whole way. The odd thing I picked up on was the even when JR was still Gm he had spoken to the org about hextall being the next gm of Pitt.

Any success this year, especially, and even next year for this team will still be greatly owed to JR but I think with Hexy in place the players are a bit more relaxed to play, to play through rough games, and not be traded away. Possibly Sully too. The ceci signing has proved us all wrong, except for maybe barnaby, getting Poj looks like he could be legit. McCann is really starting to round into form. Marino was a great pickup basically for nothing. He has done a lot of good and it makes you wonder how good this team could of been if he avoided a few blunders like JJ or Reaves.

11 games is a super small sample size....

How about in the last 4 years of actual playoffs, last year (August) wasn't playoffs, they're 36-23
- MattStrat

Captain Excuses lol

Full story will come out one day. I think it has a lot to do with Rutherford not being offered an extention and ownership liminting his ability to make moves (since perhaps they had no intention of extending him)

Question is, If this team makes the cup final, or wins, as constructed, with Hextall's only move being the trade for Carter - How does that reflect on Rutherfords tenure and exit. Given it would clearly still be HIS team?
- TheGame316

Rutherford gets as much credit as anyone else at this juncture, even into next year.

Make no mistake this is Sullivan's team, no one else. Sully butted heads with JR and came out the winner. I seriously doubt he is going to have the same success with Burke and Hextall.

Captain Excuses lol
- Feds91Stammer

Factors man, factors as there's usually a few or if you will a sum of parts, and context always matters. We shouldn't just look at small amounts of games for players or teams alike in a vacuum void of context. I mean, you always push the small sample narrative/counter argument and I agree with that.

11 games is a super small sample size....

How about in the last 4 years of actual playoffs, last year (August) wasn't playoffs, they're 36-23
- MattStrat

Small sample size because they couldn't win more than 1 game.

5-3 penguins tonight, carter with assist, guentzel with 2 goals
book it

Factors man, factors as there's usually a few or if you will a sum of parts, and context always matters. We shouldn't just look at small amounts of games for players or teams alike in a vacuum void of context. I mean, you always push the small sample narrative/counter argument and I agree with that.
- MattStrat

Anything justifying 1-7 against NYI and MTL is just excuses.

Anything justifying 1-7 against NYI and MTL is just excuses.
- Feds91Stammer

There's zero justification. In both series the Pens brought a zero on a scale of one to ten. No life. No energy. No desire. No desperation. They played like pure dogpoop.

Rutherford gets as much credit as anyone else at this juncture, even into next year.

Make no mistake this is Sullivan's team, no one else. Sully butted heads with JR and came out the winner. I seriously doubt he is going to have the same success with Burke and Hextall.
- Thunderbolt

I agree with you, it's Sullys team and he and JR didn't get along. I dont think he is going to have the same issues with Hextall. JR had a massive ego, to him those cups were all his doing... he didn't partner with Sully on personnel whatsoever.

Anything justifying 1-7 against NYI and MTL is just excuses.
- Feds91Stammer

ok..but only one of those were playoffs.

There's zero justification. In both series the Pens brought a zero on a scale of one to ten. No life. No energy. No desire. No desperation. They played like pure dogpoop.
- Rinosaur

Yeah they didnt have 5 important guys come back just for the playoffs after weeks and months of no game action against a fully healthy, fully cohesive Isles squad.

There's zero justification. In both series the Pens brought a zero on a scale of one to ten. No life. No energy. No desire. No desperation. They played like pure dogpoop.
- Rinosaur

Honestly, I put it right at JRs feet, that's why if the Pens do well he doesn't deserve any credit. He couldn't help himself but to completely flip the roster every year. It is a hockey TEAM and CHEMISTRY is important.

ok..but only one of those were playoffs.
- MattStrat

Even worse if you want to split hairs. Pens missed the playoffs because they lost a 5 game series to the 24th ranked team in the league.

Yeah they didnt have 5 important guys come back just for the playoffs after weeks and months of no game action against a fully healthy, fully cohesive Isles squad.
- MattStrat

Islanders were so cohesive they got swept by a wild card team after that.

Even worse if you want to split hairs. Pens missed the playoffs because they lost a 5 game series to the 24th ranked team in the league.
- Feds91Stammer

Yeah the Leafs and Oilers weren't playoff teams either in that very normal scenario....

Also there's some good context for that Habs team too....like the guys they got back that werent there when the Covid lock down started....but hey, vacuum eyes, you do you.

Why do we relitigate the Isles and Habs serieses constantly?

Why do we relitigate the Isles and Habs serieses constantly?
- Victoro311

I think its because people who constantly preach small sample sizes like to grill the Pens with small sample sizes.

I think its because people who constantly preach small sample sizes like to grill the Pens with small sample sizes.
- MattStrat

I think sample sizes are important to recognize when you are looking at things on a micro/macro level of trends (shots, shot attempts, high danger, saves, goals, etc.) but I think when you are looking at the last 3 years of playoffs from the Penguins, it's safe to say they just weren't good enough. If they were, they would have created a larger sample size by winning.. but they didn't lol so here we are.

I think its because people who constantly preach small sample sizes like to grill the Pens with small sample sizes.
- MattStrat

I would love to grill some penguin but unfortunately I cannot due to the Antarctic Treaty System.

I would love to grill some penguin but unfortunately I cannot due to the Antarctic Treaty System.
- Feds91Stammer

hahaha