yes we should be afraid of a team that havn't gotten past the 2nd round since 93 and didn't even qualify the last 2 years. While pittsburgh in the last 3 years have won 2 stanley cups and lost the 3rd year to the eventual winners.
- martox

What does their teams from the 90s or 2000s have to do with this year?

I don't believe they are that strong a team this year, so I do not think they will win the series against us. I dont factor in the prior 25 years, because that's silly.

yes we should be afraid of a team that havn't gotten past the 2nd round since 93 and didn't even qualify the last 2 years. While pittsburgh in the last 3 years have won 2 stanley cups and lost the 3rd year to the eventual winners.
- martox

Man...you're supposed to be bashing Crosby and the Penguins for being sucky and saying they have no chance.

Man...you're supposed to be bashing Crosby and the Penguins for being sucky and saying they have no chance.
- MattStrat

Supposed to be upset over the lack of GritBoners... dont make me bust out the chart again.

Supposed to be upset over the lack of GritBoners... dont make me bust out the chart again.
- Guile

hahahah

That was a whole bunch of research for nothing. It’s the playoffs. The Islanders will be phsyched to be there and have a chip on their shoulder and it will show. The Pens are going to probably come out flat because it’s the Islanders. They are going to expect to win. I’d much rather have came out against a team like Washington or Tampa but oh well. Hopefully pens knock the dust off quick.

Also until his later years in Nashville and short stay with Washington Trotz had done very well with some lame rosters. Why does every stat fanatic have to make a point that they are better than coaches?

Also Trotzteams are going to clog the “high danger” area like crazy with sticks and bodies. It’s just not a good matchup, rather go into a track meet against Tampa.

That was a whole bunch of research for nothing. It’s the playoffs. The Islanders will be phsyched to be there and have a chip on their shoulder and it will show. The Pens are going to probably come out flat because it’s the Islanders. They are going to expect to win. I’d much rather have came out against a team like Washington or Tampa but oh well. Hopefully pens knock the dust off quick.
- Grinder47

Mmmaybe...I dont know...probably not. I will say though I'm kind of glad that they're starting on the road vs the Isles but probably wouldnt have if it was Caps or Bolts. Pens play a great tight attention to detail road game. No distractions of home the night before or day of either. All together in a hotel.

how so??? mongoloid = retarded
- cmimbri

Soooo.you're either mocking an East Asian race, or equating Down's Syndrome with "retarded."

Stellar human being you are.

https://twitter.com/ineffectivemath/status/1115293310745288705?s=21

Simon the defensive stud.
- j.boyd919

What is "Excess shots per hour" and what is the x-axis? And what is being referred to with the "per 100 sqft?"

People need to understand the difference between counting the islanders out and saying they’re the easiest matchup out of the possible first round opponents. If you think that saying they’re not as good as the defending Stanley Cup Champs or the team that just had a historic season is disrespect, you have an inferiority complex.

They're scared of short handies...aka pussies
- MattStrat

Non-ironically this is wussy mentality.

Funny that no one acknowledges this....I fn acknowledge this.

But he doesnt score enough...
- MattStrat

Both these statements are true. Simon is a flawed but useful player. A top 9 guy needs to score, but even though he doesn't do that, at least he's tilting the ice in his team's favor and not costing them goals.

Both these statements are true. Simon is a flawed but useful player. A top 9 guy needs to score, but even though he doesn't do that, at least he's tilting the ice in his team's favor and not costing them goals.
- Tojo.

True, but I think people have unrealistic expectations for how much a top 9 guy needs to score to be top 9. If you’re at ~30 points, you’re top 9, especially when damn near all of them are at even strength.

What is "Excess shots per hour" and what is the x-axis? And what is being referred to with the "per 100 sqft?"
- jmatchett383

https://hockeyviz.com/howto/shotMap

Here ya go.

Mmmaybe...I dont know...probably not. I will say though I'm kind of glad that they're starting on the road vs the Isles but probably wouldnt have if it was Caps or Bolts. Pens play a great tight attention to detail road game. No distractions of home the night before or day of either. All together in a hotel.
- MattStrat

Yeah, I sort of think the Pens will come out and try to establish dominance early. In the playoffs, this group can lay a stinker when they have a lead in a series, but usually don't have as many flat games in the playoffs. Just a team that has certain guys (Phil) who play harder this time of year.

Both these statements are true. Simon is a flawed but useful player. A top 9 guy needs to score, but even though he doesn't do that, at least he's tilting the ice in his team's favor and not costing them goals.
- Tojo.

I wouldn’t say he “needs to score” at all. He’s got 25 5v5 points which puts him at 2nd line production per https://www.habseyesonthe...e-nhl-production-analysis

Given thet he is capable of floating up and down the lineup while still producing at a 2nd line rate at 5v5, I believe he is scoring just fine and I do believe he is underappreciated and I wouldn’t call him flawed at all.

True, but I think people have unrealistic expectations for how much a top 9 guy needs to score to be top 9. If you’re at ~30 points, you’re top 9, especially when damn near all of them are at even strength.
- Victoro311

He’s at 2nd line production with 25 5v5 points. People expect everyone to score like Geno and Kessel to be “2nd liners” when in reality those two are elite.

True, but I think people have unrealistic expectations for how much a top 9 guy needs to score to be top 9. If you’re at ~30 points, you’re top 9, especially when damn near all of them are at even strength.
- Victoro311

Agree, the problem is more how he's been lately. He banked a lot of points and most of his goals in the first half of the season. Since February: 1g, 7pt in 29 games.

He gets 10g and 30 pts playing like he does and I'm happy for a third liner. Teams like Tampa are screwing up the scale.

I wouldn’t say he “needs to score” at all. He’s got 25 5v5 points which puts him at 2nd line production per https://www.habseyesonthe...e-nhl-production-analysis

Given thet he is capable of floating up and down the lineup while still producing at a 2nd line rate at 5v5, I believe he is scoring just fine and I do believe he is underappreciated and I wouldn’t call him flawed at all.
- j.boyd919

I mean he is definitely flawed. He's rocking a 6.6 s% and the eye test definitely bares out that he's not a good finisher, but he's no more flawed than guys like Hornqvist and Hagelin who are good players that have gaps in their games, its just that people single out guys like Simon and Sheary because they're small and not overwhelmingly physical, and hockey fans definitely have a bias towards grit and size.

I wouldn’t say he “needs to score” at all. He’s got 25 5v5 points which puts him at 2nd line production per https://www.habseyesonthe...e-nhl-production-analysis

Given thet he is capable of floating up and down the lineup while still producing at a 2nd line rate at 5v5, I believe he is scoring just fine and I do believe he is underappreciated and I wouldn’t call him flawed at all.
- j.boyd919

On a Cup contender, I'd probably disagree and want 40 points from a second line guy. 25 I could take from a third liner if he was doing other things well which Simon is. Production hasn't been there for a while, though that's most of the middle 6 really so can't even blame one guy.

I mean he is definitely flawed. He's rocking a 6.6 s% and the eye test definitely bares out that he's not a good finisher, but he's no more flawed than guys like Hornqvist and Hagelin who are good players that have gaps in their games, its just that people single out guys like Simon and Sheary because they're small and not overwhelmingly physical, and hockey fans definitely have a bias towards grit and size.
- Victoro311

I think he’s more of a dish guy to be honest. That dude makes really good passes into soft spots all the time. He would have a few more primary apples if Horny and Bjug could bury a couple.

I think he’s more of a dish guy to be honest. That dude makes really good passes into soft spots all the time. He would have a few more primary apples if Horny and Bjug could bury a couple.
- j.boyd919

And that's totally fine. Doesn't change the fact that he's got a gap in his game when it comes to putting the puck in the net. My point is that people are right to say Simon has flaws, but they're totally misguided when it comes to how important those flaws are. Like you said, not everyone is Crosby or Malkin.

I don't know if its still the case, but Simon was leading all non-Crosby/Malkin/Kessel forwards in primary assists at even strength at the midpoint of the season. The dude is definitely a good passer and has a knack for hitting the open guy.

On a Cup contender, I'd probably disagree and want 40 points from a second line guy. 25 I could take from a third liner if he was doing other things well which Simon is. Production hasn't been there for a while, though that's most of the middle 6 really so can't even blame one guy.
- Tojo.

I would guess that those 40 point 2nd line guys are getting significantly more PP time than a guy like Simon which is why I use 5v5 scoring as a barometer. 2nd line wingers usually top out at 30-32 points at 5v5.

And that's totally fine. Doesn't change the fact that he's got a gap in his game when it comes to putting the puck in the net. My point is that people are right to say Simon has flaws, but they're totally misguided when it comes to how important those flaws are. Like you said, not everyone is Crosby or Malkin.

I don't know if its still the case, but Simon was leading all non-Crosby/Malkin/Kessel forwards in primary assists at even strength at the midpoint of the season. The dude is definitely a good passer and has a knack for hitting the open guy.
- Victoro311

Yeah that’s understandable. I’ll agree with that.