still don't have any issue with the rinaldo hit

Sure, the difference is relevant in regards to how and when the player suits back up, but not in regards to being sat? If your not helping the team, you should be scratched. The reason should be irrelevant.



I agree to an extent. Matt Read's pass has expired then if this were true. If you can play through an injury and not be detrimental to the success of the team, then sure. That player should get a pass if he is willing to gut it out and play.

But where is the line drawn? After so long, do you not sit Matt Read down and say...

"Listen, your clearly still not 100%. You deserve the time off to clear your head and get healthy"

Definitely agree his confidence is shattered at this point. All the more reason to let him sit for a bit. Hopefully this break will be exactly what he needs.
- mochoson

The reasons for scratching a player is different for each player. All of the variables should be considered. In my opinion looking at all the variables doesn't add up to scratching Matt Read.

Matt Read is playing hurt and has been extremely unlucky this season. He'll bounce back and regain his top-6 forward status at some point and all will be right with the world.

Forwards

Giroux A
What more do you want from this guy?

Voracek A+
Has been spectacular from day one this season, awesome!

Raffl B+
Seems to make every line he's on better, love his effort.

B Schenn C
Another guy who is maddeningly inconsistent. He disappears for long stretches and that needs to stop

Simmonds C+
Seems to have taken a small step back from last year, really needs a quality playmaker on his line to be successful. Love his effort though.

Couturier B-
A lot of people are down on Coots, but for crissakes, he's been weighed down by a corpse and the guy who used to be Matt Read all damn season. This kid deserves better!

Umberger D
His play of late gets him out of "F" territory, but man, even though I didn't expect much, he has still been a disappointment.

Read F
Hands down, he's been the biggest disappointment on this team. And I don't care about an ankle sprain. If he's hurt then get the hell out of the lineup, his play has been pitiful on all levels.

VLC C
He's been pretty much what I expected him to be, that's all I can say.

Bellemare B+
The fight last night alone bumped him from a B to a B+, LOL He has exceeded expectations and looks like a guy who can anchor their 4th line for the next couple of years.

VDV B
Another guy who has shown me more than I expected. Looks like a legit NHL 4th liner.

Rinaldo D
The only reason he doesn't get an "F" is that he really hasn't done that much worse than I expected. He needs to play elsewhere, IMO

Laughton C+
For a kid thrust into a top 9 role a little sooner than expected, he's been solid. Look forward to watching his game develop.
- BiggE

VD is only a good fourth liner on a really bad team. So yeah, he fits right in here.

Matt Read is playing hurt and has been extremely unlucky this season. He'll bounce back and regain his top-6 forward status at some point and all will be right with the world.
- bradleyc4

And Rinaldo will see the light and become a more discplined player. Kumbaya my lord........

Not all the time, especially if a less then 100% Matt Read is still better then any of the alternatives. If by playing Read could've made the injury worse or risked further damage, they would've shut him down.
- MJL

Giroux last season. Played through it, caught a lot of crap and calls for trade on here... came back this season and is at the top of the league in scoring.

The fact that keyboard warriors on here need to realize is, they don't know everything that goes on in the locker room and behind the scenes. They don't know what is said, and what is done, and what is really going on. They like to think so, but they don't.

All we know.. KNOW about Read, is what we see on the ice, and what the team reports. That's it. We don't know what the real issue is, or what management and coaching is feeling about him... obviously, he's earned a longer leash with them, and I'm fine with that..

And Rinaldo will see the light and become a more discplined player. Kumbaya my lord........
- Daveflyers36

So you think48 games trumps 3 seasons worth of games.

still don't have any issue with the rinaldo hit
- 2Real

Then you and Zac are operating on the same brain wave.

So you think48 games trumps 3 seasons worth of games.
- MJL

If Read's poor play is because of his injury then he needs to be rested so he can heal. He is not helping the team at all. What part of that are you not getting?

And Rinaldo will see the light and become a more discplined player. Kumbaya my lord........
- Daveflyers36

Straw man, but cool story bro.

Matt Read is playing hurt and has been extremely unlucky this season. He'll bounce back and regain his top-6 forward status at some point and all will be right with the world.
- bradleyc4

I agree. History is on his side; his first 3 years he's been pretty consistent.

Maybe the break helps him.

VD is only a good fourth liner on a really bad team. So yeah, he fits right in here.
- mayorofangrytown

Yeah, scoring some goals but he still probably shouldn't be in the NHL. Anybody here really expect him to sustain 17-18% shooting for long?

Giroux last season. Played through it, caught a lot of crap and calls for trade on here... came back this season and is at the top of the league in scoring.

The fact that keyboard warriors on here need to realize is, they don't know everything that goes on in the locker room and behind the scenes. They don't know what is said, and what is done, and what is really going on. They like to think so, but they don't.
- WarriorHockey21

Giroux snapped out of it in about 6 weeks. Been 3 months or longer for Read. And Read is no Giroux. Apples and Oranges.

If Read's poor play is because of his injury then he needs to be rested so he can heal. He is not helping the team at all. What part of that are you not getting?
- Daveflyers36

The part where the Medical staff has said he can play, and just has to play through it. And the part that isn't an adequate replacement for him.

Yeah, scoring some goals but he still probably shouldn't be in the NHL. Anybody here really expect him to sustain 17-18% shooting for long?
- Tomahawk

Much like I expect Matt Read to continue shooting at a 3% clip for the rest of his career.

But CVV is ripe for a Hexy 2-year special.

Then you and Zac are operating on the same brain wave.
- Daveflyers36

did he not give the team energy?

Much like I expect Matt Read to continue shooting at a 3% clip for the rest of his career.

But CVV is ripe for a Hexy 2-year special.
- bradleyc4

Haha, probably.

I agree. History is on his side; his first 3 years he's been pretty consistent.

Maybe the break helps him.
- johndewar

I hope the break does help him because the coach has seen fit to give him one. I am a fan of Matt Read, I don't want him traded. He has been a good player as long as he has been here up till this year. At some point something has to change. Why waste an entire year? Does anyone think that he comes back next year confident again if continues to play like this for the rest of the season? Giving him a rest is not going to hurt his confidence or his play.

did he not give the team energy?
- 2Real

Yes. He jumped up for that Super Mario Bros. magic mushroom and landed on Kris Letang's back.

did he not give the team energy?
- 2Real

According to Zac he did. The Pens going 0-6 on the pp was more a detriment to the Pens losing than Zac's hit and the Flyers winning.

Giroux snapped out of it in about 6 weeks. Been 3 months or longer for Read. And Read is no Giroux. Apples and Oranges.
- Daveflyers36

Why is it apples and oranges? On basis of skill on the ice? Sure... but injury isn't biased in who it affects in regards to skill. Again... NONE OF US KNOW all the details behind Read. Maybe he's hurt worse than Giroux...( and I disagree.. I don't think Giroux was himself at all last season, regardless of how his production showed on the scoresheet).. Maybe he's saying different things to the management and coaching staff about his injury? Maybe there's deeper issues going on that we don't know about? Maybe Giroux has less slack because he's the captain supposed to be leading and looked like a turd on the ice?

Fact is.. again.. we don't know. We can judge and speculate, but we don't know.

The part where the Medical staff has said he can play, and just has to play through it. And the part that isn't an adequate replacement for him.
- MJL

The same way Downie was cleared to play last year, even though he was a complete anchor on that line because he never fully recovered from his injuries?

I'm fully healthy, and will replace what Matt Read's doing for 1/10th of the salary. Or maybe that Akeson guy who needs to play a top-9 role could step in and be an adequate replacement for him (at least on the offensive side). Read's foot speed isn't there, and his defensive game is suffering. Not sure what he can offer that Akeson can't in his current state.

Just because you're "cleared" does not mean you're healthy and/or effective.

did he not give the team energy?
- 2Real

The 5-minute PK kill gave the team energy.

Had the Penguins PP been adequate at all and scored (which, playing the odds, was likely) it would have given the Penguins energy.

So, in hindsight, I guess it sorta did.

The 5-minute PK kill gave the team energy.

Had the Penguins PP been adequate at all and scored (which, playing the odds, was likely) it would have given the Penguins energy.

So, in hindsight, I guess it sorta did.
- jmatchett383

There was alot more energy in the building after the Voracek fight than there was after the Rinaldo hit.

Yes. He jumped up for that Super Mario Bros. magic mushroom and landed on Kris Letang's back.
- bradleyc4

I missed you in here