https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFHVOHq2zyY

Auston Matthews gets 2 games for cross check to neck of Rasmus Dahlin.

Evgeni Malkin gets 4 games for basically the same cross check but to the face and not neck of Mark Borowiecki
- tubbytreats

The NHL delivers an inconsistent disciplinary ruling! More news at 11...

The direct quote from Evegni Malkin himself is "I've made a lot of money so I'm not really worried about that." He's taking a team friendly deal. Grinder is just obsessed with poop talking him and is creating this narrative that we need to give him an "ultimatum". No need to give guys that are willing to play ball from the jump any kind of nonsense ultimatum.
- Victoro311

Yea lol, Grinder hates Geno even though he says he doesn't haha

I guess it would depend on the length. Seems kinda high for a guy that’s turning 36 and struggled with injuries. If it’s 2 years I think it’s fine, if u get into that 3-4 year range you run into the problem we had with Hank with the contract being a year or 2 too long.
- nyrangers9479

Not the same IMO. This core has won 3 Cups and IMO have earned the right to sail into the sunset. Don't see a huge difference in giving Geno/Sid/Letang (if Letang even wants to resign) an extra year or two to retire and start the top down rebuild than starting it two or so years sooner. They've won everything here so now we can enjoy the twilight years pretty satisfied.

Hank never gave NYR a Cup, and the Rangers haven't won since the 90s. Lots more incentive for that franchise and your fanbase to turn the page after the window shut.

Regardless, I don't expect the contract to be super long. I wouldn't be shocked with a 3 year deal to line him up with Crosby, then after three years they can decide whether to continue or hang them up together.

Letang is the one that's a different beast. He's looking for and has earned a raise after this past contract of being pretty well underpaid and will likely seek term. His is the one that's could end up being an albatross, but again, I don't really care. Window is going to officially shut soon if it hasn't already and we're going to be in for a super long and brutal rebuild regardless of whether we gave these guys bad contracts or not.

It was Mathews first suspension. This is Genoa second suspension. I thought 3 games
- PittsPens

I thought 3 as well. He has a past of stock infractions. I wasn’t sure if it was intentional or he meant to push him but still had his stick in his hands. It was a long time ago when I watched the boroweiki video so I can’t remember what it looked like to me

Where would u guys be happy at? I’d think around 5.5 at his age and injury history, not sure if that’s to low though
- nyrangers9479

7.1m

4 Games is a joke. Should have been half that.
If his name was Tom Wilson or Marchant, the league would have looked the other way
- Amanion

Get out of here with that garbage lol

Yeah take your point per game play somewhere else.
- j.boyd919

2 even strength primary assists at even strength. That’s pretty dismal for him. He’s basically a pigeon with some flashes of stardom.

Fancy stats be damned I have missed McGinn in the bottom 6. Just seemed to make a lot of smart under the radar plays and always battled hard with speed.
- MattStrat

Let's see how he plays on the left side first. He can play with Boyle for four games.

7.1m
- j.boyd919

So you really want the team to not start improving?

Is there a good guy available? Rangers finally hired gallant. He was the only coach I’d be really interested in that was recently available. Can quenville come back if there are no perverts in the pens coaching staff?
- 10inchTerror

You already have Reardon and Velucci here. No need to revamp the entire coaching staff.

Are his fancies bad? He definitely adds speed to our lineup and I think he improves this team.

I thought I heard when he was signed that he was also one of those guys that plays better in the post season for whatever reason?
- Thorny87

I honestly hadn't looked into his individuals....just going by what people around here have said...but I just had a look and yeah, they're not too hot haha.

What really stood out to me though was DOC at 5 on 5 in 22 NHL games this season is:

1st in CF% rel
1st in xGF rel
1st in HDCF% rel


In actual fact Puustinen is 1st in XGF rel and HDCF% rel ...but he only played one game haha...so not counting that.

Its madness DOC, who is producing at a PPG rate (26 in 26 games)in the AHL, isnt in the bottom 6. He brings a lot of energy and plays north south..goes to net.

Where would u guys be happy at? I’d think around 5.5 at his age and injury history, not sure if that’s to low though
- nyrangers9479

4 tops.

You already have Reardon and Velucci here. No need to revamp the entire coaching staff.
- Thunderbolt

Torts needs a job. Perfect coach for the transition.

Yea lol, Grinder hates Geno even though he says he doesn't haha
- 668710

Geno can play like poop for 59 minutes and win the game in 1 minute. Pointing that out doesn’t mean I hate him.

The direct quote from Evegni Malkin himself is "I've made a lot of money so I'm not really worried about that." He's taking a team friendly deal. Grinder is just obsessed with poop talking him and is creating this narrative that we need to give him an "ultimatum". No need to give guys that are willing to play ball from the jump any kind of nonsense ultimatum.
- Victoro311

a sportswriter on the fan or madden stated there are rumors that malkins agent was not happy with talk of offering under 7 mil per yr. Pens want malkin back at their price. Supposedly, pens mgt are worried about age and injury history...again rumors, it will be an interesting off season. I would probably give the money to rust or rakkell and start the rebuild...

Not the same IMO. This core has won 3 Cups and IMO have earned the right to sail into the sunset. Don't see a huge difference in giving Geno/Sid/Letang (if Letang even wants to resign) an extra year or two to retire and start the top down rebuild than starting it two or so years sooner. They've won everything here so now we can enjoy the twilight years pretty satisfied.

Hank never gave NYR a Cup, and the Rangers haven't won since the 90s. Lots more incentive for that franchise and your fanbase to turn the page after the window shut.

Regardless, I don't expect the contract to be super long. I wouldn't be shocked with a 3 year deal to line him up with Crosby, then after three years they can decide whether to continue or hang them up together.

Letang is the one that's a different beast. He's looking for and has earned a raise after this past contract of being pretty well underpaid and will likely seek term. His is the one that's could end up being an albatross, but again, I don't really care. Window is going to officially shut soon if it hasn't already and we're going to be in for a super long and brutal rebuild regardless of whether we gave these guys bad contracts or not.
- Victoro311

While I get where you are coming from, I have to kind of disagree here. The problem is we have already been in purgatory for 3 years and while I'm still keeping my hopes high they get it together, we still have a mediocre roster. Does anyone want to spend another 3-5 years of this same thing? Remember, that will be 3 plus years before an actual rebuild starts (where we will then suck for another 3-5 years. You interested in another decade of frustration? I'm not.

Go all in or tear it down. Geno and Letang are great, but they are owed nothing. In no way shape or form has Letang been underpaid. Only a few seasons back many in the media thought his contract was untradeable because of his injury history. How many of the D contracts larger than Letangs ended up not being a disaster? Subban, Karlsson, Burns, even Doughty... All got contracts they could never provide value on.

While everyone is worried about the big 3 legacy when they leave, if the status quo continues and the team is dragged through a lengthy period of mediocracy, they might end up tarnishing that legacy in the eyes of fans.

My preference is to go all in but that requires Letang and Geno leaving money on the table and Hextall trading draft picks. Not sure either happens.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFHVOHq2zyY

Auston Matthews gets 2 games for cross check to neck of Rasmus Dahlin.

Evgeni Malkin gets 4 games for basically the same cross check but to the face and not neck of Mark Borowiecki
- tubbytreats

Igor has been gettin away with dirty shyte his whole career. Just took the league this long to figure it out. Should have thrown the book at him!

a sportswriter on the fan or madden stated there are rumors that malkins agent was not happy with talk of offering under 7 mil per yr. Pens want malkin back at their price. Supposedly, pens mgt are worried about age and injury history...again rumors, it will be an interesting off season. I would probably give the money to rust or rakkell and start the rebuild...
- PENS1989

Interesting. I think I’m terms of competition you resign rust and rakell but imo malkin and Letang have earned there choice to retire here. Uncle Lebron and the Fenway boys may not agree.

While I get where you are coming from, I have to kind of disagree here. The problem is we have already been in purgatory for 3 years and while I'm still keeping my hopes high they get it together, we still have a mediocre roster. Does anyone want to spend another 3-5 years of this same thing? Remember, that will be 3 plus years before an actual rebuild starts (where we will then suck for another 3-5 years. You interested in another decade of frustration? I'm not.

Go all in or tear it down. Geno and Letang are great, but they are owed nothing. In no way shape or form has Letang been underpaid. Only a few seasons back many in the media thought his contract was untradeable because of his injury history. How many of the D contracts larger than Letangs ended up not being a disaster? Subban, Karlsson, Burns, even Doughty... All got contracts they could never provide value on.

While everyone is worried about the big 3 legacy when they leave, if the status quo continues and the team is dragged through a lengthy period of mediocracy, they might end up tarnishing that legacy in the eyes of fans.

My preference is to go all in but that requires Letang and Geno leaving money on the table and Hextall trading draft picks. Not sure either happens.
- MacPatty

Is there much frustration when there's major lack of expectation? That's a question everyone has their own answer for but for me personally I wont be frustrated if its like this for another 3 years. Hell, they were challenging for 1st in division just 2 or 3 weeks ago haha. Everyone so quick to hop on the doom and gloom when there's a little funk in the schedule. This team can do damage, I believe that, but whether they do or not we shall see. I dont feel that overly confident in them but that, or what anyone else thinks, doesn't mean jack sh!t to their locker room full of seasoned champion vets and professional athletes. Their resolve is much stronger than the common fan. They know they have talent and they know playoffs are a clean slate fresh start.

Also, furthermore with speaking personally, they will never tarnish their legacy in my eyes or mind. Even if they both bolt this summer, it will be their choice they've earned and they've more than paid their dues to the Pens.

Is there much frustration when there's major lack of expectation? That's a question everyone has their own answer for but for me personally I wont be frustrated if its like this for another 3 years. Hell, they were challenging for 1st in division just 2 or 3 weeks ago haha. Everyone so quick to hop on the doom and gloom when there's a little funk in the schedule. This team can do damage, I believe that, but whether they do or not we shall see. I dont feel that overly confident in them but that, or what anyone else thinks, doesn't mean jack sh!t to their locker room full of seasoned champion vets and professional athletes. Their resolve is much stronger than the common fan. They know they have talent and they know playoffs are a clean slate fresh start.

Also, furthermore with speaking personally, they will never tarnish their legacy in my eyes or mind. Even if they both bolt this summer, it will be their choice they've earned and they've more than paid their dues to the Pens.
- MattStrat

Hey man, I am staying optimistic too and I really like this team but there is just a pretty big gap between the Pens and the top teams in terms of overall talent. A lot of people complain about Sullivan and say he might be out the door if they bomb out again but I think he has done an outstanding job just to keep this team competitive and get them in the playoffs.

Just remember, its not just 3 more years of pain to watch them retire into the sunset... it is 3 years of frustration followed by about 5 years of pain during a rebuild. Diehard fans won't ever let the shine wear off of what the team has done but the media and fairweather fans (probably 80% of Pens fans) will resent Malkin and Letang if they get signed to huge contracts and the team goes into a spiral.

As I said, I would love for them to go all in, resign Malkin and Letang and make a big splash in the FA/Trade market for one or two final runs. But short of that I would be fine with stripping things down a bit and getting a different mix of players.

Hey man, I am staying optimistic too and I really like this team but there is just a pretty big gap between the Pens and the top teams in terms of overall talent. A lot of people complain about Sullivan and say he might be out the door if they bomb out again but I think he has done an outstanding job just to keep this team competitive and get them in the playoffs.

Just remember, its not just 3 more years of pain to watch them retire into the sunset... it is 3 years of frustration followed by about 5 years of pain during a rebuild. Diehard fans won't ever let the shine wear off of what the team has done but the media and fairweather fans (probably 80% of Pens fans) will resent Malkin and Letang if they get signed to huge contracts and the team goes into a spiral.

As I said, I would love for them to go all in, resign Malkin and Letang and make a big splash in the FA/Trade market for one or two final runs. But short of that I would be fine with stripping things down a bit and getting a different mix of players.
- MacPatty

I'm not that optimistic haha just think its possible for them to do damage...they aren't scoring much, the older guys are looking a bit spent and Jarry is starting to show signs of coming back down to earth again...like he did the end of last season.

If they drew the Cats first round they'd have to change up their system a bit. They cant run and gun with those guys but if they played a more reserved game and took more calculated chances they could upset them. They went 1-1-1 vs them this season. OT loss, SO win and one goal loss in regulation. Very, very close battles.

Is there much frustration when there's major lack of expectation? That's a question everyone has their own answer for but for me personally I wont be frustrated if its like this for another 3 years. Hell, they were challenging for 1st in division just 2 or 3 weeks ago haha. Everyone so quick to hop on the doom and gloom when there's a little funk in the schedule. This team can do damage, I believe that, but whether they do or not we shall see. I dont feel that overly confident in them but that, or what anyone else thinks, doesn't mean jack sh!t to their locker room full of seasoned champion vets and professional athletes. Their resolve is much stronger than the common fan. They know they have talent and they know playoffs are a clean slate fresh start.

Also, furthermore with speaking personally, they will never tarnish their legacy in my eyes or mind. Even if they both bolt this summer, it will be their choice they've earned and they've more than paid their dues to the Pens.
- MattStrat

Regular season doesn't really matter to the average fan when you're accustomed to competing for cups. It's a "what have you done in the playoffs lately" mentality and the Pens are not up there. That being said, I don't really give a poop what happens with the Pens in the playoffs. They won 3 cups and I think it'd be way cooler to see the big 3 stick with the Pens until retirement and see those jerseys in the rafters.

2 even strength primary assists at even strength. That’s pretty dismal for him. He’s basically a pigeon with some flashes of stardom.
- Grinder47

That's what happens when your linemates are guys with no scoring pulse or in Jeff Carter's case, no pulse at all.

Regular season doesn't really matter to the average fan when you're accustomed to competing for cups. It's a "what have you done in the playoffs lately" mentality and the Pens are not up there. That being said, I don't really give a poop what happens with the Pens in the playoffs. They won 3 cups and I think it'd be way cooler to see the big 3 stick with the Pens until retirement and see those jerseys in the rafters.
- j.boyd919

Yeah there's definitely some spoiled sense of entitlement at play with some fans.

I'm cool with the big 3 riding it out with the Pens....and the 4th rejoining them in the offseason to share duties with Jarry

Pens are still 1 Tatar away from being relevant again.