The reason I think there was clearly a problem somewhere is they were set on moving him. Obviously not for the stats reasons either. Pretty much everyone thats ever been on some kind of competitive team has seen how much 1 bad attitude can disrupt a team. There was multiple reports Crosby DID NOT want malkin moved but nothing about Kessel solely. Look how often you seen Malkin frustrated on the bench last season and this season its like totally gone. Just a lot of points seem to point to Kessel may have been a problem. Kessel even trained with gary roberts whos well well known to be a great trainer and he said Kessel wouldnt train hard ever there no matter what he did.
Agree with all your points though that the other things helped make them better as well. - pens4life-66
Sid on Sportsnet basically saying Phil was fun to be around and the media basically came up with poop.
"He was great, great to be around, they're gonna love him in Arizona."
"I don't feel like we would look at it that way (in regards to being a distraction)..."
Sid on Sportsnet basically saying Phil was fun to be around and the media basically came up with poop.
"He was great, great to be around, they're gonna love him in Arizona."
"I don't feel like we would look at it that way (in regards to being a distraction)..."
If you buy into this kinda stuff. - j.boyd919
Ill have to circle back but I think it was you that said last blog... Whats a captain gonna do bash him to the media? There is multiple reports that came out that said crosby did not want malkin moved but they didnt mention kessel in those is what im saying as well.
Ill have to circle back but I think it was you that said last blog... Whats a captain gonna do bash him to the media? There is multiple reports that came out that said crosby did not want malkin moved but they didnt mention kessel in those is what im saying as well. - pens4life-66
That’s why I said “if you buy into that stuff.”
Same thing with the Kessel thing. When the Rossi article on Geno and Kessel came out, it basically came out that he made a lot of that poop up (which he’s been known to do in the past).
This is why I don’t buy into any of those interviews or locker room talk. I was just showing that it’s out there if you look (and believe that sort of stuff).
Given cap hit and age, probably not. If Kessel is going on a serious decline it would be harder to stomach that cap hit for 3 more years as opposed to Tanev possibly regressing back to a 25-30 point player.
If Kessel were to decline to a 40-50 point player with half on the PP, I think his ES game (and line) would probably struggle whereas Tanev as a 25-30 point guy can still provide solid play at ES and be a contributor in other facets on his line. - j.boyd919
I thought about this for a while because I don't want to claim Tanev is better, but I do like his overall fit better and you stated it well.
Phil is better at the PP. 7 goals and 14 points there so he'd be helping. But Rust is off-setting at least sone of that and has been much better in the opened RW spot next to Malkin.
But at ES, Tanev has been the better scorer with 8 goals and 18 points to Kessel's 4 goals 16 points. And Tanev is doing it as the key member on one of the league's best shutdown lines and a key penalty killer. And at half the cap hit.
Location: "Give him a chance" -Barnaby36, PA Joined: 06.25.2011
Jan 15 @ 5:18 PM ET
Not to change the subject but last night at the game was Pittsburgh Theme night and they were doing a lot of throwback stuff. And by far the coolest thing they did was used a recording of the great and late PA announcer John Barbero's voice during a commercial break for an announcement. Caught a lot of people off guard and gave me chills. If anyone ever went to the igloo for games back in the day you know what I'm talking about, he was the best.
Don't forget there was another piece to that trade. P-O Joseph was the main piece coming to Pittsburgh. - Thunderbolt
Oh I don't forget, but to call him the "main peice", I respectfully disagree.
If memory serves... the interview with GMJR he was compliment Galch, and made very little mention about POJ...
I was countering the request about trading Tanev for Kessel....
I feel that Tanev completes that 3rd/4th line and makes it, It was well documented that Phil only wanted to play with Crosby or Malkin. When he was cool with the HBK line we were unstoppable.... Imagion lines HBK, BART, and then Malkin and Crosby with thier own lines....
WOW!!! JUST WOW!!!
And as far as the catalyst for this success!
I find it strange that I haven't seen anyone mention Jarry...
Oh I don't forget, but to call him the "main peice", I respectfully disagree.
If memory serves... the interview with GMJR he was compliment Galch, and made very little mention about POJ...
I was countering the request about trading Tanev for Kessel....
I feel that Tanev completes that 3rd/4th line and makes it, It was well documented that Phil only wanted to play with Crosby or Malkin. When he was cool with the HBK line we were unstoppable.... Imagion lines HBK, BART, and then Malkin and Crosby with thier own lines....
WOW!!! JUST WOW!!!
And as far as the catalyst for this success!
I find it strange that I haven't seen anyone mention Jarry... - Beatnic57
Be that as it may, it won't be the first time the 'throw in' turns out to be the piece that works out for the best. McCann and Dupius come to mind. No, I don't think Dupuis was better than Hossa.
Oh I don't forget, but to call him the "main peice", I respectfully disagree.
If memory serves... the interview with GMJR he was compliment Galch, and made very little mention about POJ...
I was countering the request about trading Tanev for Kessel....
I feel that Tanev completes that 3rd/4th line and makes it, It was well documented that Phil only wanted to play with Crosby or Malkin. When he was cool with the HBK line we were unstoppable.... Imagion lines HBK, BART, and then Malkin and Crosby with thier own lines....
WOW!!! JUST WOW!!!
And as far as the catalyst for this success!
I find it strange that I haven't seen anyone mention Jarry... - Beatnic57
The "main piece" was dumping a player they didn't want on their team who had an extremely restrictive NTC. As outsiders we have no idea what was going on behind closed doors, but it's undeniable they wanted him out. We can all talk about rumors, but nobody dumps PPG players for table scraps unless they feel something about that player is negatively affecting the on ice product or the locker room.
The second piece was a guy with an expiring contract. Rutherford specifically mention his contract status as well as saying (paraphrasing) "cap space is a big asset these days". I'm sure they knew Galchenyuk was no sure thing with this team, but his contract will go away after the season if he fails.
The third piece was a pretty decent prospect in POJ.
Oh I don't forget, but to call him the "main peice", I respectfully disagree.
If memory serves... the interview with GMJR he was compliment Galch, and made very little mention about POJ...
I was countering the request about trading Tanev for Kessel....
I feel that Tanev completes that 3rd/4th line and makes it, It was well documented that Phil only wanted to play with Crosby or Malkin. When he was cool with the HBK line we were unstoppable.... Imagion lines HBK, BART, and then Malkin and Crosby with thier own lines....
WOW!!! JUST WOW!!!
And as far as the catalyst for this success!
I find it strange that I haven't seen anyone mention Jarry... - Beatnic57
Got this from Michael Russo (Minny's beat writer at The Athletic).
The Penguins, sources say, are again showing significant interest in the Wild’s Jason Zucker, whom they pursued in the offseason. Maybe related or not, it was interesting that Chris Kelleher, the Wild’s director of pro scouting, suddenly showed up Tuesday night to sit at the right hand of Guerin.
Were they together scouting Penguins players, many of whom Guerin is intimately familiar with from his days sitting next to Penguins GM Jim Rutherford and running the AHL team in Wilkes-Barre?
Also, DK said Billy G and JR had a meeting after the game. More than likely they were just catching up, but you never know.
Program at the Athletic did a midseason prospect list:
52. Addison- Addison has been a very productive defenseman since entering the WHL. This season his point totals look similar, but the way he’s looked has been more impactful. I’ve seen Addison consistently use his great speed to rush pucks up effectively. He also has made a ton of great plays to create chances, which is why he was asked to QB Canada’s top power play unit at the world juniors. Addison has a lot of talent, but he gets picked apart by scouts because of his size and defensive play. He’s not a great defender, and it’s something you have to live with because of how much good he does with the puck.
68. Poulin- Poulin has been a driver for the top team in the QMJHL this season. He’s made the highlight reel but also shown his great vision, making a lot of plays whenever he’s on the ice, both as a playmaker from the flank and creating around the net. He’s been a fine two-way forward too, killing penalties for Sherbrooke. His main weakness remains his skating, which is not bad, but not quite NHL quality.
Location: "Give him a chance" -Barnaby36, PA Joined: 06.25.2011
Jan 15 @ 7:37 PM ET
Got this from Michael Russo (Minny's beat writer at The Athletic).
The Penguins, sources say, are again showing significant interest in the Wild’s Jason Zucker, whom they pursued in the offseason. Maybe related or not, it was interesting that Chris Kelleher, the Wild’s director of pro scouting, suddenly showed up Tuesday night to sit at the right hand of Guerin.
Were they together scouting Penguins players, many of whom Guerin is intimately familiar with from his days sitting next to Penguins GM Jim Rutherford and running the AHL team in Wilkes-Barre?
Also, DK said Billy G and JR had a meeting after the game. More than likely they were just catching up, but you never know. - madmike71
Here's the thing... I don't see anything other than Galch we would be willing to trade. Let's face it, a team like the Wild isn't interested him....unless they have delusions of getting back in the playoff race. I think they're just about cooked. They would be interested in picks or a couple of our prospects. So I don't know what to make of it. I kind of feel this way when we see these other teams scouting us. Teams that are missing the playoffs aren't getting anything of value from our big club.
Here's the thing... I don't see anything other than Galch we would be willing to trade. Let's face it, a team like the Wild isn't interested him....unless they have delusions of getting back in the playoff race. I think they're just about cooked. They would be interested in picks or a couple of our prospects. So I don't know what to make of it. I kind of feel this way when we see these other teams scouting us. Teams that are missing the playoffs aren't getting anything of value from our big club. - madmike71
Galchenyuk, Bjugstad, Schultz, Simon, 1st round picks, Addison, etc.
Galchenyuk, Bjugstad, Schultz, Simon, 1st round picks, Addison, etc.
They have pieces to move for sure. - j.boyd919
I was basically referring to scouts watching players on this team that Rutherford would be willing to move. Bjug and Schultz aren't playing. Maybe Simon, but I think the coach loves him. He's not going to move ZAR or Blueger and break up that line. Galchenyuk shouldn't move the needle for a rebuilding team. I agree we have a few prospects but they're not in Pittsburgh.
I was basically referring to scouts watching players on this team that Rutherford would be willing to move. Bjug and Schultz aren't playing. Maybe Simon, but I think the coach loves him. He's not going to move ZAR or Blueger and break up that line. Galchenyuk shouldn't move the needle for a rebuilding team. I agree we have a few prospects but they're not in Pittsburgh. - madmike71
While I agree, I also think I’ve been quite surprised by how little it takes to get a lot of trades done. Sometimes a gm gets fleeced or someone pays a premium but a lot of times I see a big trade that I thought pitt would have no shot at then it happens and I’m look damn, we could have matched that.
Take it for what it is worth:
NHL Hockey Trade Rumors on twitter claiming that the Pens are looking at a
Zucker
For
Galchenyuk and a young roster player (they named Rikkola or Blueger)
Good Lord I hope they are full of $hit on that!!! - Doogs
While it's good value, I'd try not to trade Blueger. And unless they trade Brodin, I don't see why they'd want Blueger because they have a good rookie on the 3rd pair. Galch doesn't even make sense because the problem they need to solve is too many LWs, not enough C or RW. And they need a goalie.
While it's good value, I'd try not to trade Blueger. And unless they trade Brodin, I don't see why they'd want Blueger because they have a good rookie on the 3rd pair. Galch doesn't even make sense because the problem they need to solve is too many LWs, not enough C or RW. And they need a goalie. - Tojo.
I'd be a little concerned at trading roster players. There's definitely some good chemistry going on with this club. That Blueger line has been instrumental defensively and they can cycle and score a little bit too. I'd like to add Zucker of course, but I'd be offering a pick and a prospect. Wild will be going into sell mode, they're not taking a player like Galch unless we sweeten the deal. We don't even need to do that. We can take Zuckers salary once Guentz is on LTIR.
