The Pittsburgh Penguins

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue Dec 15, 2015 11:51 am

He broke his finger during a game and was crying on the bench then denied he was crying. Let me find it ...

That was easier than I thought.

bapo! · Post by **bapo!** » Tue Dec 15, 2015 11:57 am

Broken bones hurt, yo. I'm not going to judge him for that.

bapo! · Post by **bapo!** » Tue Dec 15, 2015 2:32 pm

Fleury has a concussion, will miss at least a week. He and Malkin are co-MVPs now, so this is really going to hurt.

As expected, Bennett is going to miss at least a month.

Letang is said to have the dreaded 'upper-body injury,' but the Pens said that it's not a concussion. So there's that.

Kessel was dropped to the third line at practice this morning.

So much going on, and they have games Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. This is a huge week for this team.

travzilla · Post by **travzilla** » Tue Dec 15, 2015 3:58 pm

Is Sullivan expected to coach the rest of the season, or do they plan to hire someone soon? The tidbit that came out about Carlyle being considered was awesome. I like that someone thought that was even a good enough idea to mention it to Dreger, let alone actually consider having him and Kessel together again.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue Dec 15, 2015 4:17 pm

I'd like to see him suggest to Letang that he shave his head to help ward off future concussions.

rass · Post by **rass** » Tue Dec 15, 2015 4:35 pm

I exclaimed "dammit!" louder than I probably should have when I saw the MAF alert while standing in the schoolyard waiting to pick up my kids.

Dammit!

At least he'll get some rest.

bapo! · Post by **bapo!** » Wed Dec 16, 2015 1:24 pm

travzilla wrote:Is Sullivan expected to coach the rest of the season, or do they plan to hire someone soon?

He's the guy. He doesn't have 'interim' attached to his title. So, he'll be here at least thru the end of this season. (This is the way that Dan Bylsma got the job in 2009, and he had a nice run.) He seems to be pretty well-respected, is supposed to have a forceful personality, etc. So, we'll see.

The Penguins called up goaltender Matt Murray. He had an insane shutout streak in the AHL last season. Looking forward to seeing him. Not sure if he'll be starting tonight, but with three games in four nights, he'll play at least a little bit.

They also called up two forwards from Wilkes-Barre, and they'll be in the line-up tonight.

rass · Post by **rass** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 8:36 am

GQ interview with everyone's favorite Russian Penguin

SportsDoc · Post by **SportsDoc** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 1:12 pm

Waiting for Sullivan to put Kessel in the "healthy scratch" category.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 1:41 pm

First in shots, second in goals, solid relative possession numbers ... but he does still have that dopey face of his. Probably should go watch from up in the press box for a game or two.

SportsDoc · Post by **SportsDoc** » Sat Dec 19, 2015 10:47 am

Phil with a solid 0-0-0 and -2 with 3 SOG last night with 17:14 TOI in a 6-2 loss to his former Bruins. Pens host Carolina tonight.

bapo! · Post by **bapo!** » Sat Dec 19, 2015 5:20 pm

The Pens sent Daniel Sprong back to the Quebec league this morning. This is the right decision and best for his development, but man, did they ever screw this up. Burned a year off his entry-level contract, had the coach and GM fighting over his playing time in the media. Coach gets fired, new coach doesn't play him much either. GM shrugs and sends him back to Canada. This organization is a disaster.

They got pole-axed by Boston last night. (I thought that Boston was supposed to be bad this year.) Back at it tonight vs. Carolina.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Sun Dec 20, 2015 12:39 am

After the loss tonight to Carolina, I've got this red hot take: Mike Johnston may not have been the problem.

rass · Post by **rass** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 9:17 pm

It's obvious now who the problem was...

Trade Crosby!!!1!1!1!!!!

rass · Post by **rass** » Wed Dec 30, 2015 8:08 pm

Is he doing something wrong (fucking opposing players' moms) to find himself in position for these types of hits over and over again, or is he just unlucky, or what?

bapo! · Post by **bapo!** » Thu Dec 31, 2015 1:47 pm

rass wrote:Is he doing something wrong (fucking opposing players' moms) to find himself in position for these types of hits over and over again, or is he just unlucky, or what?

I was watching the game with a friend, and he said the same thing. Well, he didn't mention the mom-banging, but he said, Letang is not a dirty player, and he's supposedly not an unlikable person, so why does that keep happening to him? Every game, it seems.

Didn't pay attention too closely, but it was an entertaining game. Entertaining because it seemed that both defenses took the night off. A lot of wide open chances for both teams, but the goalies were great. And, of course, there was all of the Dion Phaneuf stuff, which was to be expected. Crosby had a lot of jump.

If Fleury comes back soon and that turns out to be Matt Murray's last game with the Pens this year, that's not a bad way to go out. He was spectacular. (He stopped three breakaways, but then let in both shoot-out goals. Go figure.)

bapo! · Post by **bapo!** » Fri Jan 01, 2016 1:02 pm

GM Jim Rutherford to a reporter after last night's game: 'It’s time for Kris to change his game. It’s time to see that adjustment. Sometimes Kris just puts himself in positions where he doesn’t need to. Especially with his history of injuries, if he could just made some changes, make some smarter decisions out there, he wouldn’t be as vulnerable. And he’d still be just as effective.'

Victim-blaming your own player? I like when people in sports are honest and forthright with the media, but what's the benefit of Rutherford saying this? I keep getting annoyed by this man.

rass · Post by **rass** » Fri Jan 01, 2016 1:04 pm

Oooooooooooo?

rass · Post by **rass** » Sat Jan 16, 2016 5:57 pm

Wasn't really online at all today until after the NE/KC game started, so Twitter was full of that, and I must have scrolled past a FB post from the Pens linking to an article where Hornqvist discussed his countryman and NEW TEAMMATE Carl Hagelin 5 or 6 times before it clicked with me.

Perron has been disappointing, so...

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Sat Jan 16, 2016 6:05 pm

Shut. The. Fuck. Up.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Sat Jan 16, 2016 6:08 pm

The reason we had to give him away is because he's a luxury $4MM player on a team with a well managed cap. Sooo ... not Pittsburgh?

rass · Post by **rass** » Sat Jan 16, 2016 6:11 pm

Well, as long as you're pissed...

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Sat Jan 16, 2016 9:25 pm

Sad, not pissed. My attachment to Hagelin is more emotional. If you or an east team acquired Duclair, that would be unbearable.

bapo! · Post by **bapo!** » Sun Jan 17, 2016 10:06 am

I was pretty surprised to see the on-line response to this trade. It seemed to be about 80/20 against the Penguins. Like, vociferously against. I've always liked Hagelin, and I'm looking forward to seeing him playing here. Maybe I'll be on the wrong side of history.

I like Perron, too, and fans seemed high on Clendening, but they were gone after this season anyway.

Most of the on-line blowback backs up what D was saying, that he'll cost a lot of money if he ends up a third-liner on this team. And yeah, Rutherford isn't a salary-cap master. Of course, Rutherford will be gone after this season, too, but Hagelin and his contract will still be here.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Sun Jan 17, 2016 10:13 am

In a matter of 3 seconds, he'll astound you with his skating and speed and infuriate you with his hands and instincts on offense. If penalties were a lot more common and teams deployed specialists, he'd be an ideal PK1 forward.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Sun Jan 17, 2016 10:15 am

Also, this ...

bapo! · Post by **bapo!** » Sun Jan 17, 2016 10:22 am

mister d wrote:In a matter of 3 seconds, he'll astound you with his skating and speed and infuriate you with his hands and instincts on offense. If penalties were a lot more common and teams deployed specialists, he'd be an ideal PK1 forward.

Sounds like a poor man's Dupuis.

This team needs speed, so I'm all for it. And Sullivan coached him on the Rangers, so I'm assuming that he's on-board with the trade. That's a good thing.

(Early days, but everybody seems to really like Sullivan as the coach so far. This is still not a very good team, but they're playing better than they were.)

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Mon Jan 18, 2016 12:25 pm

Referee takes out David Warsofsky

bapo! · Post by **bapo!** » Mon Jan 18, 2016 2:17 pm

First Yakupov, now Warsofsky. The referees/linesmen are finally fighting back.

If there's a bright spot in the Warsofsky and Letang injuries (yes, The Tang is injured again, and I'm sure that Rutherford is muttering profanities), it's that Derrick Pouliot has finally been called up. A couple of years ago, Pouliot was considered the Pens' best defensive prospect. I was surprised when Olli Maatta cut in line and made the team before he did. Highly skilled offensively, but it seems that the organization has soured on him for whatever reason. Hoping that he gets a lot of minutes and proves his worth.

Easy 5-0 win over Carolina yesterday. St. Louis tonight.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Mon Jan 18, 2016 3:40 pm

He got arrested for being too drunk in Wilkes Barre which, if you've ever been in Wilkes Barre, is super tough to do.

rass · Post by **rass** » Sat Jan 23, 2016 3:50 pm

Some Swamper is getting some drunk phone calls tonight!

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Sat Jan 23, 2016 4:05 pm

Linden Vey?

rass · Post by **rass** » Sat Jan 23, 2016 4:06 pm

sancarlos wrote:Linden Vey?

I thought all of our Vancouver Swampers left us?

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Sat Jan 23, 2016 4:53 pm

Hotcakes, Max and Scottie. yup, yup an yup.

rass · Post by **rass** » Mon Feb 08, 2016 9:32 pm

87...

bapo! · Post by **bapo!** » Thu Mar 03, 2016 3:45 pm

A couple of weeks ago, I told somebody that I was more optimistic than I should be for a team that was (at the time) 1 point clear of 9th place. But optimistic how? Optimistic that they could advance deep into the playoffs? Well, no, not really. Does anybody think that they could beat the Capitals or Rangers? Or any of the other teams ahead of them?

They're playing a lot better now. Trevor Daley has been a hyooge upgrade over Rob Scuderi. Carl Hagelin has added everything but goals to the team. Crosby has been playing very well. But there's still just something missing.

Rangers tonight. Feels like a big test.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Mar 03, 2016 3:48 pm

bapo! wrote: But there's still just something missing.

http://www.hockey-reference.com/leaders ... ive_p.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

bapo! · Post by **bapo!** » Thu Mar 03, 2016 3:52 pm

I'll let rass respond to that one.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Thu Mar 03, 2016 4:30 pm

I tell you what, that kid they had in goal against the Caps the other night was pretty damn good.

rass · Post by **rass** » Thu Mar 03, 2016 4:35 pm

So you're saying we can call tonight best active to never vs worst active to?