Only 17 players at practice today. Lots of "maintenance day"? My question right now really is why even practice? The coach isnt making the needed changes to fix the issues.
Edit: players not at practice are Horny, bonino, Cullen, sprong, and scuds.
Only 17 players at practice today. Lots of "maintenance day"? My question right now really is why even practice? The coach is making the needed changes to fix the issues.
Edit: players not at practice are Horny, bonino, Cullen, sprong, and scuds. - Zac_O
I'm shocked the team even does practice. They sure don't look like they do in the games.
I'm shocked the team even does practice. They sure don't look like they do in the games. - jfkst1
I agree there does not seem to be any cohesive thought amongst the players on the ice, and I've been wondering what the hell they've been doing at practice if they keep holding them most days? Certainly not the PP, probably not the PK!
I get tired of the "we need a puck moving defenseman" argument.
The problem is that the team does not...and has not...matched the compete level of many of their opponents over the last two years.
It's not as noticeable during the regular season on a night in and out basis but it clearly is in the playoffs.
Malkin said everything you need to know..."We are mad at eachother and not working hard"
It shows.
The main offensive objective is to score goals. But you'd have a tough time convincing just about anybody that watches this team that the Penguin's are truly trying to do that.
I see a team trying to get good shots.
I know...you need to shoot to score...but there is a difference in mentality between a team trying to get good shots and a team trying to score goals.
Why move Malkin? He's the best core members of the team in recent years. It makes way more sense to trade Sid. But it doesn't matter because either of them would need to choose to leave and I doubt they'd want to go to a struggling team. - Zac_O
I was just thinking out loud there. The Pens have a good paper team but it seems there is a complete lack of direction and chemistry. Their inability to create on the PP is a prime example.
Just thinking that if you were able to save $3.5M cap hit at the 2C position, with a bit of a downgrade, and adding a very good top 2-4 right handed D man it would be a great deal for the team moving forward.
I agree there does not seem to be any cohesive thought amongst the players on the ice, and I've been wondering what the hell they've been doing at practice if they keep holding them most days? Certainly not the PP, probably not the PK! - iworkatinitech
This is what I imagine:
The team is randomly split into two groups. One group takes shots from the blue line and the other half collapse down and block shots. Once they recover the puck they throw it off the boards. No direct passes between players are allowed. Halfway through the practice Johnston blows the whistle and they switch spots.
I figured out the problem. Its the horrible ass ice at CEC. When they go to play other places that have real ice, they dont know how to handle the puck!
I know it's not worth talking about, hence the reason why I don't see this team going anywhere for quite some time. How do you suggest the Penguins fix their play with the physically weak by current NHL standards roster? - chimpira
I am of the belief that you can be tough without having unskilled players on your team. Being able to hit hard and hit effectively are two different things. Unfortunately right now the Pens are unable to do either of those things.
It's not the amount of checks, it's the quality of checks. My 5-year old son can lay out a check too, but he won't move me off the puck. That's what I mean. - chimpira
But that's not what is losing them games. Yes have move checks the free the puck would help but that's something you fix after you fix the bad passes, lack of effort, and not playing the system the coach wants and somehow getting away with it. - Zac_O
Passive defense. Said it before and Ill say it again... my dog could skate in and get shots on our D. They backup into the zone so far people can skate right in. They also look like they play a zone while people just skate around them like they are pylons.
Passive defense. Said it before and Ill say it again... my dog could skate in and get shots on our D. They backup into the zone so far people can skate right in. They also look like they play a zone while people just skate around them like they are pylons. - thickman1178
I agree. That's a bad system and bad effort. Both something the coach needs to fix but just simply doesn't.
Who is at fault for playing Scuderi in back-to-backs while you have Clendenning? Is it on the coach, GM, FO? I am guessing in the NHL, it's the coach that makes the roster decisions. That said, there must be something else going on here - I mean, we are freaking amateurs and can see Scuderi's show every freaking game. What is going on here? Something ain't right? - chimpira
Why are we ripping on Scuds? He had our only goal in the game against the Devils the other night. Guy is a stud.
Passive defense. Said it before and Ill say it again... my dog could skate in and get shots on our D. They backup into the zone so far people can skate right in. They also look like they play a zone while people just skate around them like they are pylons. - thickman1178
Passive defense. Said it before and Ill say it again... my dog could skate in and get shots on our D. They backup into the zone so far people can skate right in. They also look like they play a zone while people just skate around them like they are pylons. - thickman1178
The team hasn't been good at challenging the opposition all year. No one had a problem when the goalies were saving them.
Location: I'll always remember the last words my grandfather ever told me. He said, "A Truck!", SK Joined: 09.21.2009
Nov 16 @ 12:54 PM ET
I agree. That's a bad system and bad effort. Both something the coach needs to fix but just simply doesn't. - Zac_O
Yep.
Bill Peters dehamds that the D put pressure on guys as they come through the neutral zone.
Don't have to throw a big hit, but make it frustrating to enter the zone and force turnovers.
Canes actually do a decent job of limiting shots against under his system and get a decent amount of transitional offense. Canes just can't finish worth a poop and seem to insist on playing Cam Ward for some reason.
The team hasn't been good at challenging the opposition all year. No one had a problem when the goalies were saving them. - jfkst1
No one? Come on, people with hockey knowledge know when our goalie turns away 51 out of 52 shots, it's not because the skaters have been challenging the opposition. I want to see the stats for the O/N/D zone %s the Pens have - but to the best of my recollection, most if not all the games are played in our end. And our pylons can't skate and handle the puck worth a damn. Because they are ... well ... pylons.
The team hasn't been good at challenging the opposition all year. No one had a problem when the goalies were saving them. - jfkst1
Its just so damn frustrating. I watched the Devils..and ill say it again but louder... THE DEVILS cycle the puck around us all night the other night while we watched them. Almost no pressure, and when we did, we didnt win any board battles because there was no supports. Then the few times we got the puck we couldnt make a breakout pass to get in their zone. And then the extremely few times we managed that miraculous feat, it was a one and done. Very few occasions where we got follow up shots. Probably because we kept missing the damn net and putting the puck around the boards and out of the zone.
