the entire nonsense doesn't happen if the officials call Debrusk for at a minimum a trip or imagine if they actually had the balls to call it correctly - and throw the book at Debrusk for a cheap knee on knee hit.

this would be more of concern if the circumstances surrounding the suspension and absolute bullpoop that proceeded it weren't so carefully "curated" by the quality of NHL officiating and their abhorrent lack of judgement.

You can pretend you don't know what I'm talking about - but quite frankly with a series this close to have officials make as much of an impact - and everyone simply chosing to ignore than because it benefit their team - is simply dishonest.

I'm sure Vegas feels the same way.

Bruins has experienced similar garbage playing against the Habs in the past.... but selective memory and terrible homer game coverage allow people to believe what they want.. not what actually happened. You know - alternative facts.
- BorjeFan4Ever

What if the refs called the dirty slewfoot on Kadri to start?
Think that would have cooled things off before he got outta hand again?
Stop telling lies.
Hypocrite much?

The more I think about the lose, the more I blame Babcock for a terrible season. I’ll list out my issues..

1) Special Teams: What was Bab’s thinking playing Hymen vs Bergeron on the PK faceoffs? All season long we were asking why our centermen, our depth, was not getting enough ice time. Did Bab’s even once use any of our top three centers on the PK all season? Nope.. instead he decided that our wingers were ‘good enough’. And that bit us in the ass, hard! Our first round pitted wingers against one of the best faceoffs men in the league and against the 2nd best PP all season. It was a disaster.

Our PP was even worse.. not only was our PP one of the worst in the league, but Bab’s chose to waive his stubbornness in game 7. Anyone that understands a PP knows that one timers are the trick. The trick to a good PP is quick puck movement, get goalies moving around the crease, losing good positioning, then finding the open man and getting quick shots on net while the goalie is moving laterally.. Matthews and Marner should have been playing the opposite wing on the PP all year long!

We often complained about Matthews being predictable. Maybe that’s because he was implanted in the exact same spot on the ice every time by poor systems and strategy? Then, in game 7, when none of our guys have practiced the ‘new look’ PP, Bab’s decides to implement his new, untested plan. Nice...

Not to mention, the Leafs were dead last in the league at drawing penalties this year. Sure other teams would have circled discipline before their games at the beginning of the year. But quickly that stopped when they realized that our PP sucked, so instead they started circling ‘aggression’. I don’t know the stats but I’ll bet any money that the Leafs were one of the most hit teams this season. I can’t help blame Bab’s for that as well. Reason being, I’ve watched John Tortorella turn flower picking teams into hard nosed, puck blocking, hard hitting intense teams. I’ve watched Barry Trotz turn the worst defensive, soft team, into a hard hitting, BEST DEFENSIVE team in the league.

We can blame Dubas all we want for how this team is constructed but in actuality, the only players he’s responsible for are JT (excellent signing), Muzzin (the eye test tells you he was our best defenseman in the playoffs), Ennis (turned out to be an excellent signing), Moore (played amazing), Gauthier (played well), Petan and Sparks (who didn’t play). Looking back, almost everything that Dubas did worked. It was not because we were missing Ferland.. Babcock did NOT get the most out of his players. Which brings me to my next point.

2) Player Performances: We can all agree that there are certain guys on this team who are not what we want. Nylander.. my god do I hate players like that.. soft, skilled guys who don’t work and get overpaid.. in my opinion, it’s the worst kind of player! But did we always feel that way about him? No.. actually, there was a time when I LOVED what Nylander was bringing. There was a time where I thought Nylander was better than Marner.. so what changed? He got paid too much and waited till half way through the season to sign it. Then came back and played like crap.

Now we can argue all day about what he got paid and how, but what I’m more concerned with is how he was used when he returned.. remember, at that time, Kap was killing it! He looked fast and offensive and looked like the second coming of Zach Hymen but with a deadly shot. But that all changed somewhere.. and I remember when it happened.. Nylander signs his deal and what do the Leafs do? Do they get him some practices with the team before getting game action? Nope.. do they give him a conditioning stint with the Marlies to get him in shape? Nope.. do they start him on the forth line, moving him up when he’s earned it and looks ready? Nope.. they sub Kap for Nylander in game one when Nylander has arrived that morning from Sweden. Right back to Matthews wing.. we lose that game, and begin what I consider the collapse of the Leafs 2019.

Immediately Kapanen’s game fell apart. He never got it back. And Nylander looked out of shape, slow, just plain bad! Probably doing some damage to his relationship with the rest of the team and hurting his own confidence, which he has yet to regain. Do I blame Nylander? Certainly.. he should have known that wasting half a season was going to set him back and he should have put a bigger emphasis on team and winning. But Bab’s was the one who put a nail in the coffin by not handling it right. I remember feeling at the time like Bab’s did it on purpose to make a fool out of Nylander. Instead, I think it sent a rift through our team. Players started feeling like it didn’t matter if they outworked other guys. It didn’t matter if they deserved it over others. Why try hard if it’s not acknowledge and rewarded right? I also noticed that was right around the time when Matthews went into a major slump... this is why you don’t mess with a good thing. Matthews and Kapanen never really looked the same after that. And before that move? Ppl were talking about Kapanen surpassing Nylander on the depth scale.. not anymore.. now I wouldn’t care if I saw both traded.

The same can be said for our years of bench rosters. Guys like Lievo and Holl.. sitting there wasting their carriers while guys like Gardiner get every ounce of praise from Babcock. Disgusting!

Not to mention the countless other players who I considered to be underperforming. Kadri, Matthews, Zaitsev, Brown, Johnson, Kapanen, Nylander.. it was a bad year for all of them.

3) Out Coached: This doesn’t take a lot of explanation. Cassidy mixed up his lines several times and got the win in the next game. Bab’s didn’t.. we were predictable as any team I’ve ever witnessed. We were chasing the Bruins even when we had a series lead. Bergeron goes out.. JT goes out..

We didn’t pick on any of their players. We didn’t wear down therir D with hits. We didn’t get anyone of JT, Marner or Matthews on the ice against their third or fourth lines. We started with a plan to follow the Bruins lines and we didn’t deviate once. Even when it was clear that the Bergeron line was still able to score on us. And not once did Bab’s double shift a player or load up a line to score. Matthews only played 18:48 of ice time in game 7.. our leading goal scorer in the series. Instead Babcock decided to give Nylander over 17 TOI and Gardiner over 16 TOI. In game 7...

Now Boston has a very easy route to the cup.. this should have been our year. Babcock is not the best coach in hockey.. I used the eye test! Babcock should be fired!!!!
- JKSoule

There's a lot to unwrap here.
Aren't they in the midst of a rebuild?

Ryan Wilson: Mike Babcock is a fraud
Mike Babcock is a fraud
- Ryan_Wilson

Overrated.

Yeah I thought a big part of why the Pens lost to the Isles was because they don't really play with any sort of identity. It really seems like every line plays a different way.
- BINGO!

Congrats on beating the Caps.

Yohe saying that Mario is super against the idea of trying to trade Malkin due to regret over the organization trading Jagr back in the day. Wants Geno to finish his career in the Burg. Glad to see that there's some kind of check on JR and he can't just trade Malkin on a whim without going through Mario.

Just met with a vendor who's a Bruins fan.

I shook his hand.

Gonna take a lot of bleach to get that off.

Just met with a vendor who's a Bruins fan.

I shook his hand.

Gonna take a lot of bleach to get that off.
- jmatchett383

Larry Vendor Guy
@LarryVendorGuy

I just shook hands with a flyers fan during a job and now I'm gonna try and wash the AIDS off me
3:03 PM · Apr 25, 2019 · Twitter for iPhone

Yohe saying that Mario is super against the idea of trying to trade Malkin due to regret over the organization trading Jagr back in the day. Wants Geno to finish his career in the Burg. Glad to see that there's some kind of check on JR and he can't just trade Malkin on a whim without going through Mario.
- Victoro311

Thank god.

Thank god.
- j.boyd919

Yeah especially since the rest of the article, Rutherford was very non-comital as to whether or not Malkin was untouchable. Stupid old man. If Mario tells you you can't move him, he's not going anywhere. May as well just say it.

Yeah especially since the rest of the article, Rutherford was very non-comital as to whether or not Malkin was untouchable. Stupid old man. If Mario tells you you can't move him, he's not going anywhere. May as well just say it.
- Victoro311

Very good news.

If only Mario had a strong dislike for JJ.

Very good news.

If only Mario had a strong dislike for JJ.
- Rinosaur

If Mario is super anti-trading Malkin, I hope the Old Man gets it in his head that Malkin needs to go yesterday and starts pestering 66 about it on a daily basis so that Mario has no choice but to fire his ass.

If Mario is super anti-trading Malkin, I hope the Old Man gets it in his head that Malkin needs to go yesterday and starts pestering 66 about it on a daily basis so that Mario has no choice but to fire his ass.
- Victoro311

Sadly I think he’s too smart for that.

Yohe saying that Mario is super against the idea of trying to trade Malkin due to regret over the organization trading Jagr back in the day. Wants Geno to finish his career in the Burg. Glad to see that there's some kind of check on JR and he can't just trade Malkin on a whim without going through Mario.
- Victoro311

That's awesome. But, do you think Malkin wants out? I dont. Why would he. Here he doesnt have nowhere near the pressure. Its obviously that he could but I doubt it.

If Mario is super anti-trading Malkin, I hope the Old Man gets it in his head that Malkin needs to go yesterday and starts pestering 66 about it on a daily basis so that Mario has no choice but to fire his ass.
- Victoro311

Meh...if theres a deal to be made that makes the Pens better why not?

That's awesome. But, do you think Malkin wants out? I dont. Why would he. Here he doesnt have nowhere near the pressure. Its obviously that he could but I doubt it.
- nateca44

It's impossible to know what he wants. He has accomplished just about all there is in the NHL....Lead his own team? Who knows.

If I had to bet Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Murray, Gutz, are the only ones here for the long haul.....Anyone else is expendable for the team.

Meh...if theres a deal to be made that makes the Pens better why not?
- sammy87

There isn’t.

Meh...if theres a deal to be made that makes the Pens better why not?
- sammy87

Because A) that deal doesn't exist unless another GM makes a really bad trade (Malkin for Matthews, Eichel, or even somehow (frank)ing McDavid straight up), and B) Malkin has earned the right to retire a Penguin. Don't get this twisted. This isn't the Crosby Era. This is the Crosby/Malkin Era. There are no multiple Cups without Geno Malkin. The only way I disrespect Malkin by forcing him to wave his NTC is if there's an aforementioned fleecing in which we're getting a new young face of the franchise back.

That's awesome. But, do you think Malkin wants out? I dont. Why would he. Here he doesnt have nowhere near the pressure. Its obviously that he could but I doubt it.
- nateca44

Yohe has said on a year to year basis (including this last article) that there has been no indication by Malkin or his agent that he ever wants to leave Pittsburgh. He seems onboard with retiring a Penguin.

Yohe has said on a year to year basis (including this last article) that there has been no indication by Malkin or his agent that he ever wants to leave Pittsburgh. He seems onboard with retiring a Penguin.
- Victoro311

This is why I could never choose Crosby over Malkin. The dude isnt about himself. Neither of the two are. Great role models/athletes. Imagine if all professional sports players were like them.

This is why I could never choose Crosby over Malkin. The dude isnt about himself. Neither of the two are. Great role models/athletes. I imagine if all professional sports players are like him?
- nateca44

It's crazy to me that Malkin got that reputation. He took a discount to get a full NTC to ensure that he would never leave Pittsburgh against his own will and was the deciding voice that made sure Crosby didn't get stripped of the C when he want through that injury spell. He's also always the first to blame himself at pressers and say he hasn't been good enough when he's struggling through (frank)ing injuries and everyone knows it. But he's a Russian and prone to bad penalties, so obviously he's gotta be a primadonna.

It's crazy to me that Malkin got that reputation. He took a discount to get a full NTC to ensure that he would never leave Pittsburgh against his own will and was the deciding voice that made sure Crosby didn't get stripped of the C when he want through that injury spell. He's also always the first to blame himself at pressers and say he hasn't been good enough when he's struggling through (frank)ing injuries and everyone knows it. But he's a Russian and prone to bad penalties, so obviously he's gotta be a primadonna.
- Victoro311

I just read that column... IMO Rutherford is using the media to communicate with Geno. I don't think he sincerely believes moving Malkin and Letang will get him closer to a cup. Malkin is still great but he was pretty messy this season. Some bad penalties. Some bad defensive efforts. He's not like Sid who minds the details in nearly every game. I remember Bylsma making some comments about coaching Geno... I can't remember his exact words, but I think he said Geno yells a lot when challenged. He can be very stubborn...doesn't like a coach pointing out his mistakes.

Honestly, I'm not remotely concerned Geno and Letang will be moved. Phil is the player they'll move.....bank on it.

I just read that column... IMO Rutherford is using the media to communicate with Geno. I don't think he sincerely believes moving Malkin and Letang will get him closer to a cup. Malkin is still great but he was pretty messy this season. Some bad penalties. Some bad defensive efforts. He's not like Sid who minds the details in nearly every game. I remember Bylsma making some comments about coaching Geno... I can't remember his exact words, but I think he said Geno yells a lot when challenged. He can be very stubborn...doesn't like a coach pointing out his mistakes.

Honestly, I'm not remotely concerned Geno and Letang will be moved. Phil is the player they'll move.....bank on it.
- madmike71

Man that Kessel trade is gonna sting. I don't see how we come out of this offseason any better if the plan is to trade Phil, Maatta, and Rust. Just all the wrong lessons were learned after this year.

Man that Kessel trade is gonna sting. I don't see how we come out of this offseason any better if the plan is to trade Phil, Maatta, and Rust. Just all the wrong lessons were learned after this year.
- Victoro311

Then who do you trade to get better? Cant trade trash for gold.

You just dont want a new avatar.

Honestly, this is why a hardass coach like Sully will never last with this team. They eventually lose some of the star players. At first they get great results but it wears thin quickly. I think they're not that far from going the "players coach" route. If they're out of the playoffs by next February, Sully will be doing analysis on the NHL network in March.

Then who do you trade to get better? Cant trade trash for gold.

You just dont want a new avatar.
- sammy87

We can get a lot better by just subtracting people, IMO, and signing bargain players. I don't think the Pens need to make a splash, I think they just need to fix up their supporting cast by adding speed to the bottom six and not having guys are that incapable of moving the puck up in the top 4.

And by the way, trading Phil won't make us better. You literally never get better when trading away a PPG guy.