I didn't think I could hate espn anymore than I did before the recent broadcast deal but espn made it possible by giving espn+ exclusive rights to some games like the one tonight, to squeeze more money out of fans. I refuse to pay extra for it and I missed seeing the Pens beat the Caps earlier because of this.

I guess I will have to listen on the radio.

This game probably would have been postponed with all the Flyers players out due to covid but I would not be surprised if it is being played anyway because it is an espn+ game.
- PghPens668771

I despise ESPN, but I submitted and signed up. It's super cheap ($8mo) and you can cancel any time. Which I will do the minute after the final Pens game. Will cut center ice next season too.

I despise ESPN, but I submitted and signed up. It's super cheap ($8mo) and you can cancel any time. Which I will do the minute after the final Pens game. Will cut center ice next season too.
- madmike71

ESPN+ has almost every single game every night. It's definitely worth it just for the hockey.

Crazy thing was, we traded Ryan Parent for his right, and we would have gotten a compensatory 7th round pick if Hamhuis didn't sign. So when the Pens came and offered a 3rd rounder for him, the Flyers had to do it.

Sadly, that 3rd rounder was part of the package to get Bryzgalov, so yeah...this is why Philly can't have nice things.

Edit: That 3rd rounder (Harrison Ruopp) and the other pick (2012 3rd rounder) from the Bryzaster trade both were sent to Pittsburgh for Michalek and became Oskar Sundqvist.
- jmatchett383

Oh poop, that's a wild trade tree.

Last trade we made with the Pens, if I remember correctly, was the rights to Dan Hamhuis after he refused to sign with us.

So yeah, will never happen. But it would be a nice fit. We'll trade him for one slightly used Jake Guentzel...maybe throw in your well-used Sidney Crosby to even it out.
- jmatchett383

Actually the last one was Streit. It was a three team trade just so it didn't seem like a 1-for-1 with the Pens.

I think you are right, because Streit was traded to Tampa then to us.

That Hamhuis trade was so annoying, the guy literally said he was going UFA and we still gave you a pick for his rights.
- burgh4life87

I missed your response lol

ESPN+ has almost every single game every night. It's definitely worth it just for the hockey.
- burgh4life87

I honestly didn't pay attention before the season or I would have never renewed Center Ice.

If only there was another way to watch the games.
- Feds91Stammer

Lol, now the only annoying thing for me is getting my dad to understand how to use streaming to watch the game haha

@Mr. J: Don't ever bet on the Penguins in a back to back.

Actually the last one was Streit. It was a three team trade just so it didn't seem like a 1-for-1 with the Pens.
- Rinosaur

It wasn't; we traded him to TB...technically.

I honestly didn't pay attention before the season or I would have never renewed Center Ice.
- madmike71

I got it for the first time last year and really just couldn't be less worth it with the ridiculous number of games on ESPN+. I forgot to cancel it this year so I'm stuck with it for another year, but after that I'm done with it.

Desmith's body of work isn't looking good, but I still don't see any obvious red flags. The goals are good shots from good locations, often with traffic/screens.
If I had game video, I'd look carefully at his positioning because each went high glove side (though he got a piece of the first).

The problem with body of work for evaluating backups is there is maybe a factor of 10 too small a sample size to distinguish league average from replacement level performance. I'm guessing Sully and Hextall will go to the game film and goalie coach to decide how urgent the need for an upgrade.

There is always the psychological factor. If the room has lost confidence, then something has to be done.

Why is no one talking about Nylander?
Is he that bad?
I admittedly don't know the player well, but his top 10 pick pedigree has me curious.
Why the hell would anyone want Sam Lafferty? This has to be a slam dunk win for us, unless I'm missing something?
Has anyone seen him play?

When Crosby scored that goal with a little bit interference on Billington, that really shook the Blues, Binnington in particular. Especially after them getting called for that interference earlier. You could see Berube screaming, "We want that same call."

Why is no one talking about Nylander?
Is he that bad?
I admittedly don't know the player well, but his top 10 pick pedigree has me curious.
Why the hell would anyone want Sam Lafferty? This has to be a slam dunk win for us, unless I'm missing something?
Has anyone seen him play?
- TheAveryRule

Because he's not quite as good as former top-10 picks like Zach Hamill, Nikita Filatov, or Scott Glennie...actually he's probably better than Glennie.

When Crosby scored that goal with a little bit interference on Billington, that really shook the Blues, Binnington in particular. Especially after them getting called for that interference earlier. You could see Berube screaming, "We want that same call."
- Thunderbolt

As I said last night, interference can be easily explained:

Why is no one talking about Nylander?
Is he that bad?
I admittedly don't know the player well, but his top 10 pick pedigree has me curious.
Why the hell would anyone want Sam Lafferty? This has to be a slam dunk win for us, unless I'm missing something?
Has anyone seen him play?
- TheAveryRule

There just doesn’t seem like a whole lot to talk about. He hasn’t made it out of the AHL since getting a pretty bad injury two seasons ago and he wasn’t awesome before that either. Lafferty is a huge bum so good trade in the sense that maybe Nylander can make it back to the NHL and maybe capitalize on some of his skill on a functional team, but the likeliness he’ll do anything in Pittsburgh is incredibly low.

Desmith's body of work isn't looking good, but I still don't see any obvious red flags. The goals are good shots from good locations, often with traffic/screens.
If I had game video, I'd look carefully at his positioning because each went high glove side (though he got a piece of the first).

The problem with body of work for evaluating backups is there is maybe a factor of 10 too small a sample size to distinguish league average from replacement level performance. I'm guessing Sully and Hextall will go to the game film and goalie coach to decide how urgent the need for an upgrade.

There is always the psychological factor. If the room has lost confidence, then something has to be done.
- TartanBill

No way, only Matt Murray gets lit up high glove. No other goalie in the league gets lit up high glove, or so I've learned on HockeyBuzz.

After 87 got punched in the nose, in Pittsburg no less, the ref's tilted the ice.

After 87 got punched in the nose, in Pittsburg no less, the ref's tilted the ice.
- Hockeyfan39

spell it right, chump

EROD is the modern day Scorin Warren Young. I have liked him since he got here and everyone seemed to hate him and he was the whipping boy for quite some time and he has done nothing but give and honest effort each and every night. Some of these keyboard GM's have no clue. They criticize without evaluation. I am so glad most of them are having a big crow for dinner. Enjoy your meal

After 87 got punched in the nose, in Pittsburg no less, the ref's tilted the ice.
- Hockeyfan39

No way, only Matt Murray gets lit up high glove. No other goalie in the league gets lit up high glove, or so I've learned on HockeyBuzz.
- j.boyd919

You mean the the most scored upon area in the NHL? Nahhh, it's just him.

After 87 got punched in the nose, in Pittsburg no less, the ref's tilted the ice.
- Hockeyfan39

You know you're doing well when the trolls come out of their mom's basements.

ESPN+ has almost every single game every night. It's definitely worth it just for the hockey.
- burgh4life87

Are there blackout restrictions for local games?

The main problem I have with espn+ is the exclusive games. I think fans should be able to see all their teams' games by either subscribing to a local cable package or subscribing to a streaming service. They shouldn't have to do both. Having exclusive games on the streaming service forces fans to get both.

I suppose if the streaming service lacks local blackouts then a fan could just get that, if they do not watch anything else on cable.

After 87 got punched in the nose, in Pittsburg no less, the ref's tilted the ice.
- Hockeyfan39

Lmfao 😂