Yea I'm not sure about Graves playing the right side, don't think Petterson does and I can't recall if POJ does.
- 668710

Not sure that’s a huge deal when your main goal on the PK is to clear the puck. It’s moving the puck up the ice with purpose that gets tough on the off side

Yea haha, we finally have a cheap (frank)ing 3rd pair, Dubas will keep it that way.
- 668710

Literally has no option but to. We can’t add anyone above a vet min.

Literally has no option but to. We can’t add anyone above a vet min.
- Victoro311

Well yea but probably for the next few seasons as well.

Literally has no option but to. We can’t add anyone above a vet min.
- Victoro311

That's what I'm talking about. Another minimum guy. I thought Ruhwedel kind of sucked last season.

That's what I'm talking about. Another minimum guy. I thought Ruhwedel kind of sucked last season.
- madmike71

Yeah he did. The whole team was disfuncionally but he performed poorly in a role he has performed well in the past. He’s 33, he might just be past it. Pretty sad waste of a career here in Pitt if he’s just washed. Always played well in the bottom pairing but two different GMs constantly tripped over themselves sprinting to try and upgrade him with worse defenders on bloated contracts. We really could have used the financial flexibility of just trusting him as a roster regular.

Yeah he did. The whole team was disfuncionally but he performed poorly in a role he has performed well in the past. He’s 33, he might just be past it. Pretty sad waste of a career here in Pitt if he’s just washed. Always played well in the bottom pairing but two different GMs constantly tripped over themselves sprinting to try and upgrade him with worse defenders on bloated contracts. We really could have used the financial flexibility of just trusting him as a roster regular.
- Victoro311

Yea now at 33 I agree he's probably about done considering his skill level. And yea we should have just been using him all those years Pryor.

That's what I'm talking about. Another minimum guy. I thought Ruhwedel kind of sucked last season.
- madmike71

POJ - Ruhwedel had an xGF of 56% last season. Not sure how a 3rd pair with a total cap hit of 1.625m that can do that isn’t good enough.

POJ - Ruhwedel had an xGF of 56% last season. Not sure how a 3rd pair with a total cap hit of 1.625m that can do that isn’t good enough.
- Feds91Stammer

We can definitely try it out, but like Vic said, he's 33 and not a skilled guy so we have to see how it goes. Not a big deal by any means but certainly not looking to trade or sign any third pair dman whatsoever.

We can definitely try it out, but like Vic said, he's 33 and not a skilled guy so we have to see how it goes. Not a big deal by any means but certainly not looking to trade or sign any third pair dman whatsoever.
- 668710

Yeah like I said even if Ruhwedel is cooked, we still have Smith and Friedman. POJ is a solid bottom 4 player. One of those three guys is bound to play well enough with him to eat 12 minutes a night on the bottom pair.

The only issue I see coming up is a fixation on PK personnel.

If Sullivan let’s him play his game I believe he’s and asset.
- Grinder47

That's not going to happen with sullivan. I am NOT a sullivan fan at all..He will keep putting ruh in even though he's horrible and was the worse liability last season with his game.

I still can't believe dubas brought in graves? He fights when called out and protects his teammates. Hopefully dubas is making a statement to sullivan: Either play the guys i believe can help this team or your fired. I've been waiting for sullivan to get canned since reaves played 3 min a game and cole was in the press box (for some odd reason). I will say this again, ruh is done and was horrible last season and friedman needs a better look at than what sullivan is giving him.

He just can't control himself. Whether it's risky plays or getting out of position or taking a penalty his pros are always outweighed by the cons. Serviceable is spots, but not a regular.
- burgh4life87

Nah he’s a guy you want to tell to go (frank) with Jack Hugh’s or Austin Mathews. Stick a leg out on them, catch them up high with your stick, cross check them after the whistle, slash them on the wrist. Celebrate and support that part of his game instead of being a giant (frank)ing vagina about it.

Honestly Friedman taking an actual penalty that puts a player on the other team in some sort of discomfort or danger probably just negates the Refs need to manufacture one later in the game to meet his quota.

Honestly Friedman taking an actual penalty that puts a player on the other team in some sort of discomfort or danger probably just negates the Refs need to manufacture one later in the game to meet his quota.
- Grinder47

I dont mind Friedman but he takes a lot of dumb penalties...and before you go bringing up the other(s) who take(s) dumb penalties, Friedman doesn't also average a point per game in production. Honestly though, if the choice is between Friedman and Rudy, I'd probably go Friedman.

Also, I'm not so sure Mark Friedman puts fear in many opposing player's hearts. He's more of a snarly pest, than a bruiser....snarly pests have their place though, no doubt.

I still can't believe dubas brought in graves? He fights when called out and protects his teammates. Hopefully dubas is making a statement to sullivan: Either play the guys i believe can help this team or your fired. I've been waiting for sullivan to get canned since reaves played 3 min a game and cole was in the press box (for some odd reason). I will say this again, ruh is done and was horrible last season and friedman needs a better look at than what sullivan is giving him.
- jb55

I dont get the impression Sully is on a short leash at all.

I dont get the impression Sully is on a short leash at all.
- MattStrat

Really? I guess he gets a free pass like Tomlin then. Entitled to coach for their history rather than what have they done lately.. If sully wants to ride 2 1/2 lines all season (like he does every season) and plays veterans 24 min a game and wonders why his top players can't perform at the end of the season/playoffs? He plays veterans to save his job also. I'm not bashing you, just being honest.

Nah he’s a guy you want to tell to go (frank) with Jack Hugh’s or Austin Mathews. Stick a leg out on them, catch them up high with your stick, cross check them after the whistle, slash them on the wrist. Celebrate and support that part of his game instead of being a giant (frank)ing vagina about it.
- Grinder47

And when they send out a guy to pay you back by doing the same to Crosby and ending his season/career, I suppose you'd be okay with that? If not, you're a giant (frank)ing hypocritical vagina.

Really? I guess he gets a free pass like Tomlin then. Entitled to coach for their history rather than what have they done lately.. If sully wants to ride 2 1/2 lines all season (like he does every season) and plays veterans 24 min a game and wonders why his top players can't perform at the end of the season/playoffs? He plays veterans to save his job also. I'm not bashing you, just being honest.
- jb55

First off, I don't mind being bashed. I have thick skin and can take it hahaha. Secondly, I didn't think you were bashing me, anyway. Thirdly, the hope with this upcoming season's version of the Penguins is that the bottom 6 is of higher quality and can be played more. My issue with that is: where is the scoring going to come from down there? There is a real possibility here though of course, that the D corps produces a lot more this season, than last. So maybe we get a really defensive hard to score against bottom 6 along with a D corps scoring a lot more and of course the top 6 scoring as well.....maybe....

I agree with what you said. The reason I said I don't think he's on a short least is there seems to be a lot of smoke to that. From Sully having lunches with the owners, to his 3 year extension only starting this season, to comments made by Dubas himself.

And when they send out a guy to pay you back by doing the same to Crosby and ending his season/career, I suppose you'd be okay with that? If not, you're a giant (frank)ing hypocritical vagina.
- jmatchett383

hahaha

Really? I guess he gets a free pass like Tomlin then. Entitled to coach for their history rather than what have they done lately.. If sully wants to ride 2 1/2 lines all season (like he does every season) and plays veterans 24 min a game and wonders why his top players can't perform at the end of the season/playoffs? He plays veterans to save his job also. I'm not bashing you, just being honest.
- jb55

Not bashing you. Just being honest. This board doesn’t need more horrible takes.

Nah he’s a guy you want to tell to go (frank) with Jack Hugh’s or Austin Mathews. Stick a leg out on them, catch them up high with your stick, cross check them after the whistle, slash them on the wrist. Celebrate and support that part of his game instead of being a giant (frank)ing vagina about it.
- Grinder47

What you're describing there is dirt/trash. I love good hard physical play but "stick a leg out on them" "slash them on the wrist"? celebrate that? Thats garbage stuff, Grinder.

This is the kind of stuff you want to celebrate? I remember watching this live when it happened.

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

What you're describing there is dirt/trash. I love good hard physical play but "stick a leg out on them" "slash them on the wrist"? celebrate that? Thats garbage stuff, Grinder.

This is the kind of stuff you want to celebrate? I remember watching this live when it happened.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfmOTBkIdMo
- MattStrat

That was a good hockey play unless you’re a wussy.

That was a good hockey play unless you’re a wussy.
- Feds91Stammer

Two handed slash on the wrist? Broke a bone in Mario's hand....

Take it easy, Feds...

Two handed slash on the wrist? Broke a bone in Mario's hand....

Take it easy, Feds...
- MattStrat

What next you’re gonna tell me Claude boarding Draper, breaking his nose, jaw, orbital, and cheek bone was dirty.

Two handed slash on the wrist? Broke a bone in Mario's hand....

Take it easy, Feds...
- MattStrat

Check your sarcasm detector, it may need new batteries.