Ryan Wilson: Division rivals improving as Penguins continue to sit idle Division rivals improving as Penguins continue to sit idle

I agree with the conversation going on at the end of the last comment blog.... this team's issue is largely the supporting cast, and even worse, the lowest positions in the supporting cast.

I put the Pens into the following groups:

Pens Core: Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Jake
Talented Support Group: Rakell, Zucker, Rust, Jarry, Pettersson
Established Support Group: Dumo, Petry, Blueger, McGinn
Developing Support Group: POJ, Poehling, DOC
Spare Parts Support Group: Carter, Heinen, Ruhwedel, Kapanen, DeSmith

Basically, i put guys where I think the Penguins value guys, not just for this season, but for the organization as a whole.

-The core and talented support group are both pulling their weight as a whole. -Penguins top 6 hasnt been the problem.
-The established support group is a lot of highs and lows. Each player has had good and bad moments this season. I'd put them at slightly disappointing.
-The Developing group is kinda of meh. I think all 3 guys are useful and have played better than expected, but none of them are the reason we are winning or losing games.
-The spare parts group has been terrible. I've been very disappointed with Heinen. And I disliked Carter from the moment he signed a multi year extension.

Basically, we are not performing well because of the guys Hextall easily should've been able to add with even a decent talent evaluation ability. There are some good deals around the NHL and we have none of them. That to me is the most damning thing about Hextall. His inability to surround the core and talented group with the necessary tools.

IF we can find some way for GMJR to get KK, DeSmith, Carter, and/or Dumo off our hands to free up some salary cap, I think we can make a move. Not sure how easy it'll be without someone's contract coming off soon.

I'm not as anti-Carter as some but that's who I'm hoping GMJR would help us with. I can dream he'd take KK with us eating part of his salary but that's a dream. Dumo's contract is up next season so unless we find someone willing to give up something (a 3rd?), what's the point.

Losing Zucker next season won't be great but he's been injured enough I wouldn't chase him.

I agree with the conversation going on at the end of the last comment blog.... this team's issue is largely the supporting cast, and even worse, the lowest positions in the supporting cast.

I put the Pens into the following groups:

Pens Core: Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Jake
Talented Support Group: Rakell, Zucker, Rust, Jarry, Pettersson
Established Support Group: Dumo, Petry, Blueger, McGinn
Developing Support Group: POJ, Poehling, DOC
Spare Parts Support Group: Carter, Heinen, Ruhwedel, Kapanen, DeSmith

Basically, i put guys where I think the Penguins value guys, not just for this season, but for the organization as a whole.

-The core and talented support group are both pulling their weight as a whole. -Penguins top 6 hasnt been the problem.
-The established support group is a lot of highs and lows. Each player has had good and bad moments this season. I'd put them at slightly disappointing.
-The Developing group is kinda of meh. I think all 3 guys are useful and have played better than expected, but none of them are the reason we are winning or losing games.
-The spare parts group has been terrible. I've been very disappointed with Heinen. And I disliked Carter from the moment he signed a multi year extension.

Basically, we are not performing well because of the guys Hextall easily should've been able to add with even a decent talent evaluation ability. There are some good deals around the NHL and we have none of them. That to me is the most damning thing about Hextall. His inability to surround the core and talented group with the necessary tools.
- SuperHenderson13

No clue why they reupped with CDS and didn't make a play at a Samsonov or Lindgren. Jarry's inability to stay healthy will continue to hold this team back from any potential playoff success.

No clue why they reupped with CDS and didn't make a play at a Samsonov or Lindgren. Jarry's inability to stay healthy will continue to hold this team back from any potential playoff success.
- Feds91Stammer

Exactly. We can argue whether DeSmith's play is good enough, but his problem is he cant stay healthy either. Penguins have exited the playoffs for two straight years solely because of bad goaltending.

Why on earth Hextall prioritized signing Rutta or resigning Kapanen over adding a serious backup is beyond me.

Exactly. We can argue whether DeSmith's play is good enough, but his problem is he cant stay healthy either. Penguins have exited the playoffs for two straight years solely because of bad goaltending.

Why on earth Hextall prioritized signing Rutta or resigning Kapanen over adding a serious backup is beyond me.
- SuperHenderson13

Those 2 alone are 6m in Kap hits, and Rutta is meh, and Kap is consistently benched. Even if you resign CDS (mistake), that 6m could have gone a long way on the bottom of the forward group. Could have gotten 2 really solid forwards.

Exactly. We can argue whether DeSmith's play is good enough, but his problem is he cant stay healthy either. Penguins have exited the playoffs for two straight years solely because of bad goaltending.

Why on earth Hextall prioritized signing Rutta or resigning Kapanen over adding a serious backup is beyond me.
- SuperHenderson13

I mean...would you guys entertain signing Holtby?

Ryan Wilson: Division rivals improving as Penguins continue to sit idle
Division rivals improving as Penguins continue to sit idle
- Ryan_Wilson

So what you’re saying is Lameriello is an idiot for making this trade but you would like Hextall to do something similar so you can call him an idiot as well.

So what you’re saying is Lameriello is an idiot for making this trade but you would like Hextall to do something similar so you can call him an idiot as well.
- Cptmjl

He's saying Lou is a idiot because the Islanders are stuck in no man's land, but the Penguins are in win-now mode and should be taking the homerun swing.

So what you’re saying is Lameriello is an idiot for making this trade but you would like Hextall to do something similar so you can call him an idiot as well.
- Cptmjl

Take it easy now, Captain haha. Ive seen your comments around this site...seems you arent too hot for this trade either....but yes, I think what you're saying there seems to be the case hahaha but are the Pens and Islanders really in the same place? thats an honest question I dont know the answer to...perhaps they are in similar places

No clue why they reupped with CDS and didn't make a play at a Samsonov or Lindgren. Jarry's inability to stay healthy will continue to hold this team back from any potential playoff success.
- Feds91Stammer

Not only reupped...gave him a 550k raise hahah

He's saying Lou is a idiot because the Islanders are stuck in no man's land, but the Penguins are in win-now mode and should be taking the homerun swing.
- jmatchett383

I agree on the Islanders. I’m one of the few not happy with this trade. With that said the team has been destroyed by injuries for the better part of the year. They will be as close to healthy after the break they’ve been the entire season so who knows. My connection between the two teams is I believe the penguins are pretty much in the same spot. Not good enough to do much if they even make the playoffs not bad enough to get a game changer in the draft.

Take it easy now, Captain haha. Ive seen your comments around this site...seems you arent too hot for this trade either....but yes, I think what you're saying there seems to be the case hahaha but are the Pens and Islanders really in the same place? thats an honest question I dont know the answer to...perhaps they are in similar places
- MattStrat

Yeah didn’t like the trade. Not what we should be doing right now imo. I think the Pens and isles are pretty much in the same spot. Middling teams that should be more focused on the draft then squeaking into the playoffs imo.

I agree on the Islanders. I’m one of the few not happy with this trade. With that said the team has been destroyed by injuries for the better part of the year. They will be as close to healthy after the break they’ve been the entire season so who knows. My connection between the two teams is I believe the penguins are pretty much in the same spot. Not good enough to do much if they even make the playoffs not bad enough to get a game changer in the draft.
- Cptmjl

Seems the two teams are similar in this regard too. While the Pens haven't had as many man games lost as in other season, up to this point anyway, they've had very significant ones such as Jarry...or their 3 best D-men out at once...or their two top RD gone for big chunk of time the same time. Hell, even all 3 of their starting RD for periods of time haha

I wish the Pens had traded for Horvat haha.

Yeah didn’t like the trade. Not what we should be doing right now imo. I think the Pens and isles are pretty much in the same spot. Middling teams that should be more focused on the draft then squeaking into the playoffs imo.
- Cptmjl

Once the team resigned all 3 of Crosby, Malkin, and Letang, they made it clear they had no intention of building for the future. Their only chance of doing anything in the next handful of years is to go all-in every year and the future be damned.

I don't agree with it, as I think the window is closed...but I'm not the GM.

I just had a look at team 5 on 5 stats and oddly enough the Islanders are 23rd in all three of xGF%, HDSC% and CF%...perhaps its just me that finds that a team can be in the exact same place for all three of those a bit fascinating.

EDIT: Also very interesting is that they are 6th overall in PDO! Horvat and his 21% shooting this season will certainly boost that...while Sorokin continuing his studdly goaltending ways will as well.

So what you’re saying is Lameriello is an idiot for making this trade but you would like Hextall to do something similar so you can call him an idiot as well.
- Cptmjl

Make no mistake about it Uncle Lou is an idiot and should just go away It is a shame fossils like him are still around screwing up teams beyond reason

Once the team resigned all 3 of Crosby, Malkin, and Letang, they made it clear they had no intention of building for the future. Their only chance of doing anything in the next handful of years is to go all-in every year and the future be damned.

I don't agree with it, as I think the window is closed...but I'm not the GM.
- jmatchett383

Either that or the three of them want to finish their careers with the Pens and Hextall is smart enough to see the writing on the wall.

Make no mistake about it Uncle Lou is an idiot and should just go away It is a shame fossils like him are still around screwing up teams beyond reason
- broncohorvath

I think I’m the only person that responds to you on this site and I have nothing nice to ever say to you. I mean why bother?

Either that or the three of them want to finish their careers with the Pens and Hextall is smart enough to see the writing on the wall.
- Cptmjl

Talbot was on a broadcast one night earlier this season and said he spent a fair bit of time with Malkin lately. Said he felt the only reason Malkin came back was because of how much his teammates wanted him back. They were messaging and calling him all summer, Talbot said. That kind of lines up with what you said but make no mistake Geno, Tanger and Sid still believe in themselves and think they can do damage. I also think that its indicative of him being offered more elsewhere.

I just had a look at team 5 on 5 stats and oddly enough the Islanders are 23rd in all three of xGF%, HDSC% and CF%...perhaps its just me that finds that a team can be in the exact same place for all three of those a bit fascinating.

EDIT: Also very interesting is that they are 6th overall in PDO! Horvat and his 21% shooting this season will certainly boost that...while Sorkin continuing and his studdly goaltending ways will as well.
- MattStrat

The Islanders very well may go on a run. Horvat may still be playing for a contract and like I said the team is finally healthy. I still think they fall short of the playoffs with our division and if they do make it they don’t match up well against the Canes or Bruins. I would’ve much rather Lou 86 this season, dump what we could at the TDL, and reset in the off-season. We have some great pieces in place albeit with holes on the wing in our top 6. It really wouldn’t have been a reach to have a real competitive team next season between our blue line and Sorokin. I think Sorokin in his prime is the factor that pushed Lameriello to make this trade. I can understand that but we could’ve still captured that focusing on next season imo.

Talbot was on a broadcast one night earlier this season and said he spent a fair bit of time with Malkin lately. Said he felt the only reason Malkin came back was because of how much his teammates wanted him back. They were messaging and calling him all summer, Talbot said. That kind of lines up with what you said but make no mistake Geno, Tanger and Sid still believe in themselves and think they can do damage.
- MattStrat

They’re not wrong but it’s not as easy to add that supporting cast as it once was.

They’re not wrong but it’s not as easy to add that supporting cast as it once was.
- Cptmjl

Oh definitely not...bad signings/extensions aside, quality ELC's are also very important ....Pens traded away all those picks and prospects the past 10 to 15 years, so having quality NHL ready ELC's is difficult.

The Islanders very well may go on a run. Horvat may still be playing for a contract and like I said the team is finally healthy. I still think they fall short of the playoffs with our division and if they do make it they don’t match up well against the Canes or Bruins. I would’ve much rather Lou 86 this season, dump what we could at the TDL, and reset in the off-season. We have some great pieces in place albeit with holes on the wing in our top 6. It really wouldn’t have been a reach to have a real competitive team next season between our blue line and Sorokin. I think Sorokin in his prime is the factor that pushed Lameriello to make this trade. I can understand that but we could’ve still captured that focusing on next season imo.
- Cptmjl

Yeah Money Puck has the Isles playoff odds at 12%...BUT...all that has to happen is they win 3 or 4 in a row and the Pens or Caps lose 3 or 4 in a row and that % is much, much higher

Oh definitely not...bad signings/extensions aside, quality ELC's are also very important ....Pens traded away all those picks and prospects the past 10 to 15 years, so having quality NHL ready ELC's is difficult.
- MattStrat

Exactly what Lameriello is doing to us minus the cups to show for it. Guy is napalming whatever we have left to try and squeak into the last wildcard spot while 90% of our fanbase is applauding. It’s something to watch