Not sure how the organization fills the lack of center depth. Even if Gauthier can play center at the NHL, still not enough depth with Coots to be a legit contender.

generous for me to say Torts has given every chance for Staal to work back in the lineup, last game should have been it. Imagine if he gave Frost 1/2 that respect, what an EGOManiac.

That said, Staal "just gets in the way tonight" he should be sat ASAP.

It was. But it is also well documented that he wanted to part ways with Malkin and Letang and start a rebuild. Fenway sports over ruled him and told him to sign both.

No excuse for the Carter deal.
- MBFlyerfan

Why do people keep posting this, they were the only guys on the team that were good. His hand forced moves were literally the only things that worked out.

It’s still Hextall lol he blew their last couple years. I also wouldn’t put a fork in them just yet.
- ClaudeFather

They're going to struggle to make the playoffs. Any kind of run is looking very unlikely. Still lots of season left but they aren't looking good. Will have to find a new scapegoat.

It’s still Hextall lol he blew their last couple years. I also wouldn’t put a fork in them just yet.
- ClaudeFather

amazing a gm who did bad job with 2 organizations still gets defended.

They are not true contenders imo though they can still make the playoffs. That would be a failure if they didnt.

It was. But it is also well documented that he wanted to part ways with Malkin and Letang and start a rebuild. Fenway sports over ruled him and told him to sign both.

No excuse for the Carter deal.
- MBFlyerfan

I had completely forgotten that he was on the team. I saw him with a few seconds left in OT and thought to myself, I don't think I heard the announcers mention him once all night.

They're going to struggle to make the playoffs. Any kind of run is looking very unlikely. Still lots of season left but they aren't looking good. Will have to find a new scapegoat.
- MJL

your dad wasnt a scapegoat. He was the main reason. Big diff cliff. Thought you deal in facts?

so if he was the scapegoat, I am sure other franchises know this as well. Yet he is still out of work, why? By choice right?

here comes big brother.
he did bad job. simple as that. cant be disputed. He is a below average GM.
- hello it's me 2050

Not disputing anything. Just laying out the facts.

Also not disagreeing that he was a below average GM.

I had completely forgotten that he was on the team. I saw him with a few seconds left in OT and thought to myself, I don't think I heard the announcers mention him once all night.

- hockeylover

Carter has had a strong career but he's pretty much done. Will most likely retire after this season.

amazing a gm who did bad job with 2 organizations still gets defended.

They are not true contenders imo though they can still make the playoffs. That would be a failure if they didnt.
- hello it's me 2050

For sure blame to go around if they miss the playoffs. Can’t point a finger at that in game 22. Hextalls failures are very well documented. Easy google search, there is a laundry list

Not disputing anything. Just laying out the facts.

Also not disagreeing that he was a below average GM.
- MBFlyerfan

The facts are the only good moves Hextall made were the ones he was forced to make.

Not disputing anything. Just laying out the facts.

Also not disagreeing that he was a below average GM.
- MBFlyerfan

understood.

facts are the players ownership "made" him keep are still their best players and very productive. Ronald never has a plan and just cant cut it as a GM.

He did absolutely nothing with 3 first ballot HOF players who are still at top lien players. Beyond nothing. He has zero clue on how to run a team at the NHL level.

Yet one poster still think Ronald walks on water. Pure entertainment.

Why do people keep posting this, they were the only guys on the team that were good. His hand forced moves were literally the only things that worked out.
- ClaudeFather

I get that. But as we see right now, their roster is way top heavy and old, and signed for many more years.

They are going to ride it out until the end.

Again, Im not disputing Hexy did a bad job. But facts are facts. Its damned do/dont scenario.

I get that. But as we see right now, their roster is way top heavy and old, and signed for many more years.

They are going to ride it out until the end.

Again, Im not disputing Hexy did a bad job. But facts are facts. Its damned do/dont scenario.
- MBFlyerfan

Money wise that’s just not true though, at all. For the money letang Crosby and Malkin make, they far outperform their cap dollars. You could argue Karlsson is a different story but looking back the last couple years those 3 were far outperforming their cap hits

I get that. But as we see right now, their roster is way top heavy and old, and signed for many more years.

They are going to ride it out until the end.

Again, Im not disputing Hexy did a bad job. But facts are facts. Its damned do/dont scenario.
- MBFlyerfan

The Pens are the very definition of a franchise that is screwed. Guentzel is a due a new deal. Crosby has one more year. 2 more years of Malkin. 4 more years of Letang. Karlsson with 3 more years at 10M. Signed Graves to a 6 year deal. All to win now! Does it look like they can win now? Anything can happen and I guess they could make a run, IF they make the playoffs but how likely is that? Hextall correctly was trying to make some stopgap moves without burying the franchise further. Which is what Dubas did and he was labeled a genius before the season started. Not looking too smart. Now what if they don't make the playoffs?

understood.

facts are the players ownership "made" him keep are still their best players and very productive. Ronald never has a plan and just cant cut it as a GM.

He did absolutely nothing with 3 first ballot HOF players who are still at top lien players. Beyond nothing. He has zero clue on how to run a team at the NHL level.

Yet one poster still think Ronald walks on water. Pure entertainment.
- hello it's me 2050

They are. I just look and see Letang signed on an over 35 deal for 5 more years at 6.1 aav, and Malkin signed on an over 35 for 2 more at 6.1 aav. Not that I am complaining because I hope both deals age very badly. I hope it gets worse when they resign Crosby.

Is Zamula injured?

Staal was bad against the Pens, which the coach seemingly recognized by playing him only 11 minutes at 5v5.

Money wise that’s just not true though, at all. For the money letang Crosby and Malkin make, they far outperform their cap dollars. You could argue Karlsson is a different story but looking back the last couple years those 3 were far outperforming their cap hits
- ClaudeFather

They are. I just wonder of that will last for the life of their deals. And they have to resign Crosby in two years if he doesnt retire.

Not that I am complaining or anything. I hope they are in for a long road of mediocrity.

Hi Bill, Quick follow up question on Gendron. I thought I read somewhere that he wasn't eligible for the AHL this year. Was there an exception made for him by any chance?
- AndreLacroix

One of the loopholes in the AHL/CHL Age Rule is that a player who turns 20 by the end of the calendar year (Gendron was born Dec 30, 2003) can play in the AHL. It's weird because NHL Draft has a Sept. 15 birthday cutoff, which is why Gendron wasn't Draft-eligible until 2022. But that's why Gendron is in the AHL despite being draft-plus-two and not 20 yet.

The Pens are the very definition of a franchise that is screwed. Guentzel is a due a new deal. Crosby has one more year. 2 more years of Malkin. 4 more years of Letang. Karlsson with 3 more years at 10M. Signed Graves to a 6 year deal. All to win now! Does it look like they can win now? Anything can happen and I guess they could make a run, IF they make the playoffs but how likely is that? Hextall correctly was trying to make some stopgap moves without burying the franchise further. Which is what Dubas did and he was labeled a genius before the season started. Not looking too smart. Now what if they don't make the playoffs?
- MJL

Ronald sucked cliff, why so hard for you to admit it?

Any thoughts why Ronald is still unemployed? Would you like him to come back tot he flyers in a scouting/player development role?

It’s impossible to back fill a top heavy aging roster into a legit cup contender with little cap space and no draft capital.

But hey, the fans get to see their guys ride into the sunset Last Crusade style. I wouldn’t.

Is Zamula injured?

Staal was bad against the Pens, which the coach seemingly recognized by playing him only 11 minutes at 5v5.
- Feanor

No, Zamula is not injured.

They are. I just wonder of that will last for the life of their deals. And they have to resign Crosby in two years if he doesnt retire.

Not that I am complaining or anything. I hope they are in for a long road of mediocrity.
- MBFlyerfan

Right but this was the job, the organization will fall with these guys but the criticism for Hextall goes with he got the last of their most productive years and did a horrendous job filling out the roster. No one is arguing next year or the year after it might be really bad.

It’s impossible to back fill a top heavy aging roster into a legit cup contender with little cap space and no draft capital.

But hey, the fans get to see their guys ride into the sunset Last Crusade style. I wouldn’t.
- StepfordSam

Just because a job is hard doesn’t mean you can be the loser on every move you made and just shrug your shoulders.

Right but this was the job, the organization will fall with these guys but the criticism for Hextall goes with he got the last of their most productive years and did a horrendous job filling out the roster. No one is arguing next year or the year after it might be really bad.
- ClaudeFather

It's bad now. It was bad last year. Management's approach was the wrong approach and Hextall correctly knew that.