Penguins 23-24

[topseed]

Letang, the guy can be really good but is also a turnover machine.

I blame it on Letang who has been constantly getting beat the last several games leading to goals.

Those two goals he gave up last night in the 3rd were highlight reels for the other team.

Everyone is blaming Letang for that game-losing turnover, but it wasn't his fault. Graves handcuffed him with a ridiculous pass when Letang had a Flame bearing down on him with speed, after Graves had all the time in the world to just send the puck down the length of the ice to kill the penalty. I guarantee you that Letang didn't break his stick over the crossbar because he was upset with himself.

Ryan Graves is one of the worst NHL defenseman I've ever seen signed to his kind of contract. Slow as a donkey, zero puck skills, and no hockey sense whatsoever.

 

[topseed]

If I was the head coach, this is just food for thought from the way the team blows leads. This is on coaching.

Anytime the Pens get a 2 goal lead. I’ve noticed they switch to a defensive mindset. Which is fine but they’re easily pinned back when they become defensive.
1. They look for the fancy outlook pass. Anytime they do have success clearing it results in icing for the other teams favor
2. Lack of physicality. Easy to pin them back when they’re scared to get hit. They never really get possession of the puck because they’re pushed around in their own end which in turn puts pressure on the goalie.

You're partially right, but what about the power play? There's no reason to not have two defenseman out there with thirty seconds left on the man-advantage, with 10 minutes left in a 3-1 game. Pettersson should have been on the point, not Emil Bemstrom. Another hope-and-a-prayer clown picked up out of some sort of desperation.

 

[topseed]

Jarry is just bad. He can not be relied on to put the game away.

So many blown third-period leads this season. Sickening. Jarry has never been clutch. That's why, despite a similar GAA/save percentage and only playing less than half as many games, Ned is five games over .500 while Jarry is 2 games under .500.

 

[MTC]

You're partially right, but what about the power play? There's no reason to not have two defenseman out there with thirty seconds left on the man-advantage, with 10 minutes left in a 3-1 game. Pettersson should have been on the point, not Emil Bemstrom. Another hope-and-a-prayer clown picked up out of some sort of desperation.

It all stems to coaching. Sully is a good coach but I wonder how much Rick Tocchet made a difference with him.

The powerplay has struggled mightily under Riederen. There should be no excuse with the talent on paper.

 

[topseed]

It all stems to coaching. Sully is a good coach but I wonder how much Rick Tocchet made a difference with him.

The powerplay has struggled mightily under Riederen. There should be no excuse with the talent on paper.

Not all of it. Some of the more expensive acquistions the front office made in the offseason just plain suck.

I've liked Sullivan from the start, but there are whispers that he's losing the locker room. Once that happens, it's time for a change.

 

[MTC]

Not all of it. Some of the more expensive acquistions the front office made in the offseason just plain suck.

I've liked Sullivan from the start, but there are whispers that he's losing the locker room. Once that happens, it's time for a change.

Those acquisitions would be better suited for a different system. They’d be better off becoming a puck possession team and stop trying to play speed. So yes that is coaching if the same philosophy has been in play since 2018.


The only thing that has changed is the players. The strategy is the same the past 7 years.

 

[topseed]

Those acquisitions would be better suited for a different system. They’d be better off becoming a puck possession team and stop trying to play speed. So yes that is coaching if the same philosophy has been in play since 2018.


The only thing that has changed is the players. The strategy is the same the past 7 years.

Or here's a thought...they could have brought in players that better fit the system. So you're trying to tell me that Sullivan changed his strategy in 2018 after winning two Stanley Cups?

C'mon, guy. His approach worked just fine with the right players in 2016 and 2017. The problem is that those core players remaining aren't what they used to be, and their new acquisitions aren't helping.

 

[MTC]

Or here's a thought...they could have brought in players that better fit the system. So you're trying to tell me that Sullivan changed his strategy in 2018 after winning two Stanley Cups?

C'mon, guy. His approach worked just fine with the right players in 2016 and 2017. The problem is that those core players remaining aren't what they used to be, and their new acquisitions aren't helping.

He sure hasn’t adjusted has he?
He has an offseason and an 82 game schedule to adjust. This roster has aged and he continues to try to do a dump & chase or have the defense attempt outlet passes.

This team’s strength is puck possession. They need to switch to a cycle strategy and stop trying to go with their same ole’ blueprint.

 

[MTC]

@topseed
Of course contradicting. I do agree the players can adjust their game on ice.

My issue with the players is they prefer passing over simple play.

They try too hard to mimic the russian 5 of Detroit imo.

This current roster isn’t necessarily a grinding type of roster. But the guys seem to excel at puck possession when they do have the puck. They tend to do everything ok except score when they are in the opponent’s zone.

 

[Steelr4evr]

They're doing good this evening only down 3-0 nearing the end of the 2nd here...lol.


oops edit 4-0

double ooops 5-0

 

[str8liner]

They're doing good this evening only down 3-0 nearing the end of the 2nd here...lol.


oops edit 4-0

double ooops 5-0

Didn't watch tonight because I pretty much figured this would be a loss. I DVR the games now and FF through much of it. Sorry, I get no joy in wasting all evening watching only to see them choke a game away like they did last night.

Take a mediocre team and pull Rust and Guentzel out and your not going to win many games.

This is what you get when you hang on too long and don't pull the plug and rebuild at some point.

And I got bad news for you all, it's only going to get worse.

 

[MTC]

Didn't watch tonight because I pretty much figured this would be a loss. I DVR the games now and FF through much of it. Sorry, I get no joy in wasting all evening watching only to see them choke a game away like they did last night.

Take a mediocre team and pull Rust and Guentzel out and your not going to win many games.

This is what you get when you hang on too long and don't pull the plug and rebuild at some point.

And I got bad news for you all, it's only going to get worse.

They’re not a playoff team this year.
It may or may not get worse. We cannot tell the future. In today’s day and age it’s not hard to turn around a franchise unless you’re the coyotes.

 

[Steelr4evr]

Welp the Pens suck,the Pirates suck and the Steelers have been mediocre for over a decade.

 

[Steelr4evr]

Didn't watch tonight because I pretty much figured this would be a loss. I DVR the games now and FF through much of it. Sorry, I get no joy in wasting all evening watching only to see them choke a game away like they did last night.

Take a mediocre team and pull Rust and Guentzel out and your not going to win many games.

This is what you get when you hang on too long and don't pull the plug and rebuild at some point.

And I got bad news for you all, it's only going to get worse.

They're checking out on the season.

 

[JMM]

Welp the Pens suck,the Pirates suck and the Steelers have been mediocre for over a decade.

 

[Djfan]

I made it through the first period last night. TV off. You could just see it coming. We held on too long, and are the Redwings 2.0.

Bring on the rebuild.

 

[Steelr4evr]

For some reason this came to mind this morning.

 

[topseed]

He sure hasn’t adjusted has he?
He has an offseason and an 82 game schedule to adjust. This roster has aged and he continues to try to do a dump & chase or have the defense attempt outlet passes.

This team’s strength is puck possession. They need to switch to a cycle strategy and stop trying to go with their same ole’ blueprint.

The team has aged, yes. Yet they keep bringin' 'em back, don't they? The Penguins had by far the oldest roster in the NHL at 30.8 average years of age to start the season. No one else was even at 30. Puck possession? Outside of Crosby, sorry, not what I'm seeing. I'm watching a bunch of has-been turnover machines (or their never-was counterparts) constantly getting their shots/passes blocked and not being able to recover in transition, or getting stripped of the puck, and/or making bad decisions.

You can't blame it all on Sullivan's system. If they let him go, he'll have success elswhere, without a doubt. He's a good coach.

@topseed
Of course contradicting. I do agree the players can adjust their game on ice.

My issue with the players is they prefer passing over simple play.

They try too hard to mimic the russian 5 of Detroit imo.

This current roster isn’t necessarily a grinding type of roster. But the guys seem to excel at puck possession when they do have the puck. They tend to do everything ok except score when they are in the opponent’s zone.

You just told me that Sullivan forces them to dump and chase. Isn't that the simple play?

 

[Djfan]

The team has aged, yes. Yet they keep bringin' 'em back, don't they? The Penguins had by far the oldest roster in the NHL at 30.8 average years of age to start the season. No one else was even at 30. Puck possession? Outside of Crosby, sorry, not what I'm seeing. I'm watching a bunch of has-been turnover machines (or their never-was counterparts) constantly getting their shots/passes blocked and not being able to recover in transition, or getting stripped of the puck, and/or making bad decisions.

You can't blame it all on Sullivan's system. If they let him go, he'll have success elswhere, without a doubt. He's a good coach.

You just told me that Sullivan forces them to dump and chase. Isn't that the simple play?

Our dump and chase forecheck sucks beyond suck.

 

[MTC]

The team has aged, yes. Yet they keep bringin' 'em back, don't they? The Penguins had by far the oldest roster in the NHL at 30.8 average years of age to start the season. No one else was even at 30. Puck possession? Outside of Crosby, sorry, not what I'm seeing. I'm watching a bunch of has-been turnover machines (or their never-was counterparts) constantly getting their shots/passes blocked and not being able to recover in transition, or getting stripped of the puck, and/or making bad decisions.

You can't blame it all on Sullivan's system. If they let him go, he'll have success elswhere, without a doubt. He's a good coach.

You just told me that Sullivan forces them to dump and chase. Isn't that the simple play?

Cycling is simple play too. They lack speed for Sullivan’s system. Plain and simple as that. If fans can see it, a hockey ops scout/gm/coach should see it.

I don’t think Sullivan is a bad coach but 7 years. He has to expect to take the heat along with the players.

That said We can sit here and throw out opinions all day. It’s not going to fix anything. No use in stressing over it. We’ll see what happens with the franchise now that the team is looking to on the downslide

 

[MTC]

Our dump and chase forecheck sucks beyond suck.

Old and slow.

 

[topseed]

Cycling is simple play too. They lack speed for Sullivan’s system. Plain and simple as that. If fans can see it, a hockey ops scout/gm/coach should see it.

I don’t think Sullivan is a bad coach but 7 years. He has to expect to take the heat along with the players.

That said We can sit here and throw out opinions all day. It’s not going to fix anything. No use in stressing over it. We’ll see what happens with the franchise now that the team is looking to on the downslide

Sullivan is currently just one of five NHL coaches with more than three years of tenure. Only Jon Cooper has been around longer. He's already an anomaly. But I never said that Sullivan shouldn't be taking heat; it's going on 6 years now without the Penguins advancing past the first round. His seat should deservedly be hot -- his name isn't Mike Tomlin.

 

[steel dino]

Sullivan is currently just one of five NHL coaches with more than three years of tenure. Only Jon Cooper has been around longer. He's already an anomaly. But I never said that Sullivan shouldn't be taking heat; it's going on 6 years now without the Penguins advancing past the first round. His seat should deservedly be hot -- his name isn't Mike Tomlin.

He is probably is ready to cut bait himself...

 

[topseed]

He is probably is ready to cut bait himself...

Good point. By Friday, we'll have a better idea of where this organization is headed.

 

[MTC]

Sullivan is currently just one of five NHL coaches with more than three years of tenure. Only Jon Cooper has been around longer. He's already an anomaly. But I never said that Sullivan shouldn't be taking heat; it's going on 6 years now without the Penguins advancing past the first round. His seat should deservedly be hot -- his name isn't Mike Tomlin.

It seems like he is on a long leash with Dubas.
All we can do is wait and see