Ryan Wilson: Penguins ready to lean into Erik Karlsson like they should Penguins ready to lean into Erik Karlsson like they should

A new blog and still no Nylander? What are we even paying Dubas for?

A new blog and still no Nylander? What are we even paying Dubas for?
- Victoro311

What a f'n slacker...

"Now, the challenge will be making sure that there’s at least some structure in his game and that he’s predictable enough so that his teammates can read off him. But I don’t want him to feel like he can’t use his instincts out there."

Love this quote from Sully, and now that its on record, ya better stick with it!

"Now, the challenge will be making sure that there’s at least some structure in his game and that he’s predictable enough so that his teammates can read off him. But I don’t want him to feel like he can’t use his instincts out there."

Love this quote from Sully, and now that it’s on record, ya better stick with it!
- Reverend Killtaker

I think generally he’s been pretty good at coaching/utilizing Letang. I’m not super worried about EK’s fit into his system/philosophy.

I think generally he’s been pretty good at coaching/utilizing Letang. I’m not super worried about EK’s fit into his system/philosophy.
- Victoro311

I agree with your statement, im more concerned of how this plays out with having both EK and KL on the same team. Im honestly just nitpicking here, but I do wonder what happens when the team struggles and how the response is.

I think this team will look unbeatable during hot streaks where everything is firing on all cylinders, and we will hear a lot of I told you so’s during the cold streaks that will inevitably happen.

One thing i do like though is not solely relying on Letang when we are down in the 3rd. As both players will have good and bad games it will be nice that we can allocate those extra few minutes to the hot hand.

"Now, the challenge will be making sure that there’s at least some structure in his game and that he’s predictable enough so that his teammates can read off him. But I don’t want him to feel like he can’t use his instincts out there."

Love this quote from Sully, and now that its on record, ya better stick with it!
- Reverend Killtaker

Per Taylor's article: https://www.dkpittsburghs...alytics-tlh?r=TH_855a706e

•Karlsson had 81 takeaways last season in all situations, the most among Sharks defensemen by nearly double. That was the third-most takeaways of any defenseman in the league last season, trailing Adam Fox and Jaccob Slavin, each with 88. For additional context, Letang's 47 takeaways led Penguins defensemen last season.

Let's (frank)ing go!!!

Per Taylor's article: https://www.dkpittsburghs...alytics-tlh?r=TH_855a706e
- j.boyd919

Thanks jboyd. That was a good article. Obviously a rose colored article but I’m glad they did address his give aways as well.

Ownership feels like it owes it's ageing vanguard a final window to shoot for glory, and this move helps achieve that. This team owes this core a lot - elderly statesmen they may be, over the years Pittsburgh's core has cemented the brand and brought a metric ton of revenue to a team once destined for insolvency. Sure, the Pens will be a dumpster fire in several years but all teams have to go through boom bust cycles in the cap era - the window is now. Fans don't like poor product though - it will be interesting if Dubas keeps his job through the fall from grace phase. He's proven quite apt at tinkering around edges and cap to keep a competitive team afloat, but it remains to be seen how solid he'd be as a drafting/rebuild GM. I hope we get to see it.
- Bartacus

This was a comment from the main 3way trade post on the site by Eklund. I’m def curious now about the drafting strategy and success Dubas had in Toronto.

Thanks jboyd. That was a good article. Obviously a rose colored article but I’m glad they did address his give aways as well.
- 10inchTerror

EK definitely has some warts, as does almost every player, but I've always thought his defensive shortcomings were overblown. He's not going to be Chris Pronger or Rob Blake out there, he'll probably be a slightly-below average defender. But if you have the puck 60% of the time, you don't have to defend as often.

He also probably won't be attempting as many shots per 60 as he did last season simply because he has much better teammates that he can defer to; which is fine, it doesn't matter who's scoring as long as someone does.

To sum up: he's not perfect, great player, great trade, Bruce Campbell 2024.

Thanks jboyd. That was a good article. Obviously a rose colored article but I’m glad they did address his give aways as well.
- 10inchTerror

He's probably about the same as Geno haha.

This was a comment from the main 3way trade post on the site by Eklund. I’m def curious now about the drafting strategy and success Dubas had in Toronto.
- 10inchTerror

His first Leafs draft he took Sandin at 15th overall and it's looking like he might me a NHL regular, whcih I believe a successful draft pick no matter where they end up as a regular in the lineup. ..Knies, who he took in 2nd round of 2021, was really starting to breakout last season and playoffs before Bennett MMA'd him behind the net hahah... Obviously a lot more picks than that made, that I have no idea about, but he also used a lot of picks trying to improve the current roster the past 4 or 5 years.

Can’t wait for Carter to go on LTIR and Kane and Tatar so sign for a combined $3 mil

This was a comment from the main 3way trade post on the site by Eklund. I’m def curious now about the drafting strategy and success Dubas had in Toronto.
- 10inchTerror

He’s done extremely well drafting wise. Tends to find great value in the 2nd when he trades his 1st away. His 3 1st round picks in Toronto were Marner, Sandin, and Amirov. Amirov would likely have become an impact forward this season if not for a brain tumor he’s been battling.

EK definitely has some warts, as does almost every player, but I've always thought his defensive shortcomings were overblown. He's not going to be Chris Pronger or Rob Blake out there, he'll probably be a slightly-below average defender. But if you have the puck 60% of the time, you don't have to defend as often.

He also probably won't be attempting as many shots per 60 as he did last season simply because he has much better teammates that he can defer to; which is fine, it doesn't matter who's scoring as long as someone does.

To sum up: he's not perfect, great player, great trade, Bruce Campbell 2024.
- jmatchett383

This. 100%.

Wouldn't let me quote, but I agree with Feds, Dubas has done very well with drafting. It's pretty well known that the Pens have been awful at drafting in the past decade. For example, since 2015 their drafted players have played 248 games in the NHL. In comparison, the Leafs since 2015 with Dubas as Interim GM, AGM, GM have 2,083 games from their drafted players.

He’s done extremely well drafting wise. Tends to find great value in the 2nd when he trades his 1st away. His 3 1st round picks in Toronto were Marner, Sandin, and Amirov. Amirov would likely have become an impact forward this season if not for a brain tumor he’s been battling.
- Feds91Stammer

I thought 2018 was his first draft for the Leafs...

Wouldn't let me quote, but I agree with Feds, Dubas has done very well with drafting. It's pretty well known that the Pens have been awful at drafting in the past decade. For example, since 2015 their drafted players have played 248 games in the NHL. In comparison, the Leafs since 2015 with Dubas as Interim GM, AGM, GM have 2,083 games from their drafted players.
- 5on1Powerplay

That's crazy. Now in saying that the Pens traded away probably more pics than anyone else in that time period but the Leafs were no slouches in that department either, especially after 2018.

Wouldn't let me quote, but I agree with Feds, Dubas has done very well with drafting. It's pretty well known that the Pens have been awful at drafting in the past decade. For example, since 2015 their drafted players have played 248 games in the NHL. In comparison, the Leafs since 2015 with Dubas as Interim GM, AGM, GM have 2,083 games from their drafted players.
- 5on1Powerplay

I would think that’s a bit misleading with matthews Marner and nylander being roughly 1500 of those games. But it is still double what we have drafted play in. But I suppose people still blow top 10 picks. That Derek Pouliot pick haha

I would think that’s a bit misleading with matthews Marner and nylander being roughly 1500 of those games. But it is still double what we have drafted play in. But I suppose people still blow top 10 picks. That Derek Pouliot pick haha
- 10inchTerror

hahaha great point

I thought 2018 was his first draft for the Leafs...
- MattStrat

Was the interim GM at the time of the 2015 draft

Wouldn't let me quote, but I agree with Feds, Dubas has done very well with drafting. It's pretty well known that the Pens have been awful at drafting in the past decade. For example, since 2015 their drafted players have played 248 games in the NHL. In comparison, the Leafs since 2015 with Dubas as Interim GM, AGM, GM have 2,083 games from their drafted players.
- 5on1Powerplay

I would more so say Minten, Knies, and Robertson would all be top 5 prospects for the Pens and none were 1st rounders.

I would more so say Minten, Knies, and Robertson would all be top 5 prospects for the Pens and none were 1st rounders.
- Feds91Stammer

I feel like a lot of orgs have a handful of players not drafted in the 1st round that would be our best prospects. Our organization is completely bottomed out in terms of young talent.