Ryan Wilson: Regrettably, Mike Sullivan has lost the plot Regrettably, Mike Sullivan has lost the plot

So yeah, goaltending is bad. Check. Defense is bad, check. Bottom six forwards terrible, check. So I guess coaching could help but in all honesty the choices made by Hextall have reduced speed and skill and hamstring the coach? That’s what it looks like from here. I don’t expect them to make the playoffs. And, it would be a quick exit if they did. Not sure what perception of Sullivan needs to change? I mean I guess you could start Casey. Bring up some guys from Wilkes Barre, etc. However in the end I don’t think it can overcome roster problems. Not to mention an aging group of stars.

I was really looking forward to watching the game last night... Sat prime time and all ... and it looked like the Pens just couldn't be bothered. The game was messing with their social calendar... just odd they put out that kind of effort..

Every shift it looked like another odd man break for the Rangers. Yeah losing D men and being down a couple already is hard.. but damn .. at least look like you want to make the playoffs.

Jarry hasn't been good, but every night they're giving up 3,4,5 odd man rushes. I'm not sure Jarry is even healthy. Penguins continue to make poor choices in the wrong areas and it's not just the scrubs doing it.

If they don't make some changes quickly, they'll be watching the 1st round of the playoffs. It really reminds of the end of the Bylsma years. Handcuffed to a certain brand of hockey and married to a couple of proud vets that can't play.

I was really looking forward to watching the game last night... Sat prime time and all ... and it looked like the Pens just couldn't be bothered. The game was messing with their social calendar... just odd they put out that kind of effort..

Every shift it looked like another odd man break for the Rangers. Yeah losing D men and being down a couple already is hard.. but damn .. at least look like you want to make the playoffs.
- dozerD10

Exactly right. You'd think they'd be extra conscious defensively if their tender is struggling. Nope.

When they suck which is a lot it is like watching the movie Ground Hog day Yikes
When they look bad they are bad no excuses They beat teams that they should beat and that is what is keeping them in the race. But they have no future as constructed
Burn it down should be the theme Everyone should be available who does not have a no trade clause Get what you can while you can is my theme

When they suck which is a lot it is like watching the movie Ground Hog day Yikes
When they look bad they are bad no excuses They beat teams that they should beat and that is what is keeping them in the race. But they have no future as constructed
Burn it down should be the theme Everyone should be available who does not have a no trade clause Get what you can while you can is my theme
- broncohorvath

Where will they be on TSN's power rankings tomorrow, I wonder...

Where will they be on TSN's power rankings tomorrow, I wonder...
- MattStrat

still above the flyers

As I said a few weeks ago, either Sullivan has decided to work to get Hextall canned by showing everyone how offer the players are or he has completely lost his mind. I dont know which one i want to believe.

If the Penguins getting embarrassed on national TV on Saturday night isnt enough of a wake up call for our useless owners, i dont know what will be.

However, when Dumoulin signs his multi-year extension, i fully expect Pittsburgh to burn down.

Anyone think we have any chance to make the playoffs anymore?

still above the flyers
- DeflatedPucks

Quote the high bar you set.

It's pretty obvious that Carter has slowed down. So has Dumoulin, but probably accumulated injury rather than age.

Jarry looks bad, and that's probably the hip injury. I can only guess, but any of the likely issues are not good (at least short term) and management should have seen this coming. There may not have been any good options at the trade deadline, but going into this pre-season Hextall bet the farm on two goalies with a checkered injury past.

still above the flyers
- DeflatedPucks

Yeah, but Hex has them on the path to be just as irrelevant....

Leave Jeff Carter alone!!! Quit piling on him!!!! Stupid mob mentality!!!!

Leave Jeff Carter alone!!! Quit piling on him!!!! Stupid mob mentality!!!!
- acdc1206

Really JC sucks and everyone knows it. I saw him on the PP with 40 seconds left Was he out there to kill the penalty ????? I guess so because he did just that

I think Ryan Wilson might be the Jeff Carter of the hockey buzz writing team. Pretty sure ek keeps him on cause he’s good at face offs

I know it's very early to be talking about this. After this game why not look into the future? If we fire Hex this offseason there is potential to revamp this team and make it pretty solid. I would hope a new GM does quite the opposite of Hex and stops trading/signing older veterans. I want some youth to this team.

I know it's very early to be talking about this. After this game why not look into the future? If we fire Hex this offseason there is potential to revamp this team and make it pretty solid. I would hope a new GM does quite the opposite of Hex and stops trading/signing older veterans. I want some youth to this team.
- 123Kid

We've been talking about this for months. Everyone here thinks we're too old and would like to add youth, think that Hex has gets vetboners easily and follows through too much.

Its crazy...we had a strong older vet leadership core here. They should of been surrounded mostly by younger guys. I get years ago getting older guys to kind of set example and be vets for Sid and Geno, both of which had hotter heads back then...Geno still kinda does haha....but to be adding old on top of an old core is madness. Not only that, but old pieces that have shown signs of slowing down.

I have a feeling Jarry is allowed to walk at season's end and we trade for John Gibson.

Amazingly a few years ago, we had some crazy goalie depth of MAF, Murray, and Jarry. If Jarry leaves, then we would have netted nothing for those 3 in assets. Pretty crazy asset management (or lack thereof).

I know it's very early to be talking about this. After this game why not look into the future? If we fire Hex this offseason there is potential to revamp this team and make it pretty solid. I would hope a new GM does quite the opposite of Hex and stops trading/signing older veterans. I want some youth to this team.
- 123Kid

Even with that change in focus, you still have problems of having older players no one would want that are signed for next year as well.

We talk about how old this team is and its a problem often....but just look at the top 5 oldest teams in the league....3 cup contenders in it and the Bruins are 7th oldest haha. Its not age, its roster construct plus stubborn coaching.

We talk about how old this team is and its a problem often....but just look at the top 5 oldest teams in the league....3 cup contenders in it and the Bruins are 7th oldest haha. Its not age, its roster construct plus stubborn coaching.


- MattStrat

The oldest guys on the Canes (with the exception of Brent Burns) are all depth guys is the thing. Their oldest top 6 forward is 27 year old Teuvo Teravainen.

The oldest guys on the Canes (with the exception of Brent Burns) are all depth guys is the thing. Their oldest top 6 forward is 27 year old Teuvo Teravainen.
- BINGO!

With regards to the Canes, yeah. Tampa's main guys are getting up there in age, besides Point. Boston's core are old, besides Pasta. Pens core are old but then you have a top 5 goal scorer the past 4 years at 28 years old in top 6. Rakell is under 30 too.

EDIT: Avs similar to Canes in that their stars are younger.

With regards to the Canes, yeah. Tampa's main guys are getting up there in age, besides Point. Boston's core are old, besides Pasta. Pens core are old but then you have a top 5 goal scorer the past 4 years at 28 years old in top 6. Rakell is under 30 too.

EDIT: Avs similar to Canes in that their stars are younger.
- MattStrat

Yeah. Tampa's running out of gas.

Hoping and praying that it finally happens to Boston this year too.

Yeah. Tampa's running out of gas.

Hoping and praying that it finally happens to Boston this year too.
- BINGO!

They have played so much hockey the past 4 seasons haha really meaningful hard fought hockey too. Still though, even if they've hit some stumbles the last month, they are Kings of the East is my mind until someone else represents the east in the finals. Making it there 3 years in a row is bonkers. I dont think they get there again this year but Ive been wrong before haha.