I was thinking about this the other day. I don’t think overall they are that important, but that’s not to say it’s completely unimportant.

I honestly think the only time they can really be critical is in 3-3 overtime.
- Rinosaur

They are completely useless. They should just randomly give possession to a team based on meaningless stats like "goals" or luck-based stats like "saves."

They are completely useless. They should just randomly give possession to a team based on meaningless stats like "goals" or luck-based stats like "saves."
- jmatchett383

I just think their importance is more situational than as a whole.

For instance, a defensive zone draw with 30 seconds to go with the opposing team’s goalie pulled.

I just think their importance is more situational than as a whole.
- Rinosaur

Useless, because you can't display them on a 5v5 shot-attempt graph.

Useless, because you can't display them on a 5v5 shot-attempt graph.
- jmatchett383

LOL I see what you’re doing.

I was thinking about this the other day. I don’t think overall they are that important, but that’s not to say it’s completely unimportant.

I honestly think the only time they can really be critical is in 3-3 overtime.
- Rinosaur

I understand where the anti-faceoffists are coming from but there are times they are very are important IMO...

D-zone in the dying moments of a game protecting a one goal lead/O-zone in the dying moments of a game trying to tie it.

PP faceoff in O-zone/PK faceoff in D-zone.

Anywhere during a 3 on 3.

I understand where the anti-faceoffists are coming from but there are times they are very are important IMO...

D-zone in the dying moments of a game protecting a one goal lead/O-zone in the dying moments of a game trying to tie it.

PP faceoff in O-zone/PK faceoff in D-zone.

Anywhere during a 3 on 3.
- MattStrat

I’m not really an anti faceoff guy. I believe that faceoffs can have an impact but I think they so often they don’t that using them as a heavy weight in evaluating a player is incorrect.

I understand where the anti-faceoffists are coming from but there are times they are very are important IMO...

D-zone in the dying moments of a game protecting a one goal lead/O-zone in the dying moments of a game trying to tie it.

PP faceoff in O-zone/PK faceoff in D-zone.

Anywhere during a 3 on 3.
- MattStrat

It’s all situational

I was thinking about this the other day. I don’t think overall they are that important, but that’s not to say it’s completely unimportant.

I honestly think the only time they can really be critical is in 3-3 overtime.
- Rinosaur

Yeah I just look at them as additional 50-50 pucks in the grand scheme of all the puck possession changes in a game. Obviously winning more is preferred but just like winning a board battle, having the puck is only useful if you can do something productive with it.

What I gather from this blog is that RW is afraid the Pens might Hornqvist their chances of going deep in the playoffs.
- Rinosaur

If this becomes a running joke I wont Hornqvist it.

If this becomes a running joke I wont Hornqvist it.
- eNDSo

Just don't be an Aussie about it.

🙄 Nice arbitrary starting point RW. Throw out the beginning of the year when he was strong and choose to start at the beginning of his 14 game pointless streak. His last 13 he has 7 points so I'd say he has room for improvement, but is fine for his deployment. I too would like to see more goals from the 3rd line and think they'd benefit upgrading Simon, but this is the best that line has been all year.

Definitely don't think replacing him with Jake is the same and the numbers show the PP is much more effective with Hornqvist. He's never the biggest point producer there, but his screen and the chaise he creates in front gives his more skilled teammates more room and helps shots go in that wouldn't unscreened.

Also, if you're going to complain about ES production, you let Phil off way too easily. Neither one has an ES goal in 20+ games and despite regularly playing with Malkin, Phil isn't getting ES assists lately either.

Because my poop smells like poop.

Random minor thought. With the Adam Johnson era upon us, and the relatively solid play of Ruhwedel and Trotman as depth RD, should the Pens have just kept Dea instead of getting Wideman? We seem much deeper on defense than at forward right now.

Random minor thought. With the Adam Johnson era upon us, and the relatively solid play of Ruhwedel and Trotman as depth RD, should the Pens have just kept Dea instead of getting Wideman? We seem much deeper on defense than at forward right now.
- Tojo.

There were 900 injuries on D at the time and Guddy had to get work visa stuff handled. Wideman was temporary insurance.

I’m not really an anti faceoff guy. I believe that faceoffs can have an impact but I think they so often they don’t that using them as a heavy weight in evaluating a player is incorrect.
- j.boyd919

Oh I agree, they shouldn't be used heavy in player evaluation... Also... You're being called an idiot over on the Jackets blog haha...

There were 900 injuries on D at the time and Guddy had to get work visa stuff handled. Wideman was temporary insurance.
- Feds91Stammer

They still had Riikola sitting and Gudbranson only missed one game so not sure it was that necessary to get a 11th defenseman over a 14th forward who would probably be in the lineup now. We got no forward depth.

SOB had to take a stab at Jacko hahah
Geez...

Oh I agree, they shouldn't be used heavy in player evaluation... Also... You're being called an idiot over on the Jackets blog haha...
- MattStrat

That was the whole reason I went over there. Hahaha just to stir the pot.

They still had Riikola sitting and Gudbranson only missed one game so not sure it was that necessary to get a 11th defenseman over a 14th forward who would probably be in the lineup now. We got no forward depth.
- Tojo.

Riikola is dog shït

Should’ve shipped him to Buffalo for Kane and a pick. I’d rather have Kane at $6.5 than Horny at 5.3. That’s me being hopeful that he would’ve taken a modest discount to play with Sid or Geno. Kane is a bigger hitter and he PKs. He’s not great on the PP but we have Guentzel to replace 72 in that spot. I wouldn’t mind seeing big 27 tried there either if 72 wasn’t around

Should’ve shipped him to Buffalo for Kane and a pick. I’d rather have Kane at $6.5 than Horny at 5.3. That’s me being hopeful that he would’ve taken a modest discount to play with Sid or Geno. Kane is a bigger hitter and he PKs. He’s not great on the PP but we have Guentzel to replace 72 in that spot. I wouldn’t mind seeing big 27 tried there either if 72 wasn’t around
- WSCTeton17

Only if doing this jumped back a year to negate the Reeves trade.

Looks like the refs are still doing make up calls on Nashvilles behalf for that disallowed goal back in the SCF.

Boyle's dive: 9.4. Ellis gets a 9.7.

I'm back in time to see if a category 4 happens

Errey just said "you have to protect the back door"