Ryan Wilson: First skate back and Jake Guentzel speaks First skate back and Jake Guentzel speaks

First!

First!
- Dr Blob

Congrats, Doc.

I'm playing an outdoor game of 7 players per team 4 on 4 hockey ball hockey tonight and I'm (frank)ing stoked. Got a hair cut for first time in almost 4 months yesterday too. Now Jake and Co are back on ice. Things are looking up.

fresh sid, geno, letang, and guentzel. Wouldnt surprise me at all to see Sid and company go insane in the playoffs and make another run.

Any idea who gets the start? Jarry was having a big year but Murray has the experience.

Ugh! A healthy Penns roster is NOT what I wish to see in the play-offs!

fresh sid, geno, letang, and guentzel. Wouldnt surprise me at all to see Sid and company go insane in the playoffs and make another run.

Any idea who gets the start? Jarry was having a big year but Murray has the experience.
- lonnyBohonos

I think it's gonna be Murray. Jarry had higher highs this season, and Murray had lower lows, but they were both playing at the same fine, not great level when the season went on hiatus. I fully expect the coaching staff to differ to experience.

That being said, I think Jarry is going to be our guy moving forward. I think these playoffs will be Murr's last hurrah in Pittsburgh.

fresh sid, geno, letang, and guentzel. Wouldnt surprise me at all to see Sid and company go insane in the playoffs and make another run.

Any idea who gets the start? Jarry was having a big year but Murray has the experience.
- lonnyBohonos

Seems like it was going to be Murray. The coach has seen him win the Cup twice and handle that pressure.

Honestly, I'd just go with whoever looks better in practice

If you have an Athletic sub, there was a nice article with lots of video breaking down Poulin and how his combination of strength and finesse game makes him an intriguing prospect.

coronavirus was just a conspiracy between the Pens and Dr. Fauci so that the Pens wouldn't have to play in the playoffs without Guentzel. Fauci is a yuge Pens fan, and Soros is the secret Pens majority owner.

I wonder how this whole situation will impact player injuries and fatigue. While they've had roughly the equivalent of a full off-season to rest, jumping in to this tournament then playoffs and then basically starting the new season? I have to think this impacts their general physical condition and makes them more susceptible to nagging muscle injuries and strains, no?

I wonder how this whole situation will impact player injuries and fatigue. While they've had roughly the equivalent of a full off-season to rest, jumping in to this tournament then playoffs and then basically starting the new season? I have to think this impacts their general physical condition and makes them more susceptible to nagging muscle injuries and strains, no?
- Rinosaur

They're going to have almost two months of training, camp and a few exhibition games before the games that matter start. I dont see it as a quick hop into game action, more so a slow build up.

I think it's gonna be Murray. Jarry had higher highs this season, and Murray had lower lows, but they were both playing at the same fine, not great level when the season went on hiatus. I fully expect the coaching staff to differ to experience.

That being said, I think Jarry is going to be our guy moving forward. I think these playoffs will be Murr's last hurrah in Pittsburgh.
- Victoro311

Tatar gonna light Murray up.

They're going to have almost two months of training, camp and a few exhibition games before the games that matter start. I dont see it as a quick hop into game action, more so a slow build up.
- MattStrat

Most of these guys have been skating the whole time.

They're going to have almost two months of training, camp and a few exhibition games before the games that matter start. I dont see it as a quick hop into game action, more so a slow build up.
- MattStrat

I'm talking more-so once they finish the playoffs they will be jumping right into the 20/21 season. My guess is they will start the season a little bit later, maybe November instead of October, but that would still be only about a month off in-between seasons. I don't know, maybe I'm overthinking it, but it just seems to me that would be more taxing on their bodies which could lead to more nagging injuries.

Tatar gonna light Murray up.
- Feds91Stammer

Whatever.

They're going to have almost two months of training, camp and a few exhibition games before the games that matter start. I dont see it as a quick hop into game action, more so a slow build up.
- MattStrat

You don't really get into game shape through practice. It certainly helps, but you need to have been playing real game action for an extended period of time to get to peak game shape.

You don't really get into game shape through practice. It certainly helps, but you need to have been playing real game action for an extended period of time to get to peak game shape.
- Victoro311

Nah. These guys are going to treat this way differently than a normal training camp.

Nah. These guys are going to treat this way differently than a normal training camp.
- Feds91Stammer

Probably, but nothing is going to substitute conditioning through extended game action.

You don't really get into game shape through practice. It certainly helps, but you need to have been playing real game action for an extended period of time to get to peak game shape.
- Victoro311

I think they can be in shape enough to play very competive hockey but it's the being out of sync and shaking off rust that takes game action to get back. Also I mean, the Pens looked to lose a step/gas in the New Year this season, especially in February... So I wouldn't say their game shape was peak then, even though they'd been playing for months straight.

It seems I misunderstood Rino from the get go anyway haha.

I'm talking more-so once they finish the playoffs they will be jumping right into the 20/21 season. My guess is they will start the season a little bit later, maybe November instead of October, but that would still be only about a month off in-between seasons. I don't know, maybe I'm overthinking it, but it just seems to me that would be more taxing on their bodies which could lead to more nagging injuries.
- Rinosaur

I agree with this. The real test is going to be how teams that go deep and face a shortened off-season and condensed schedule next year handle it.

I saw a couple beat writers mention Sid, Jake, and Sheary are in the same group and practice Jersey and that may be a clue they plan to play together (which has also long been reported).

I saw a couple beat writers mention Sid, Jake, and Sheary are in the same group and practice Jersey and that may be a clue they plan to play together (which has also long been reported).
- Tojo.

I think breaking up Sid and Zucker is questionable since Zucker hasn't played with Malkin at all. Given the amount of rust people are gonna have, I'd be really going all in on familiarity and minimizing any extra adjustments guys have to make, especially in the top 6 and top 4. Guentzel-Malkin-Rust being a proven commodity awesome line and the Zucker-Sid duo being a proven dynamo makes me feel that the obvious way to construct the top 6 is Zucker-Crosby-Sheary/Hornqvist and Guentzel-Malkin-Rust.

So Poulin is gonna be a Black Ace. What are the chances he makes the team out of camp? Having a left wing depth chart of G, Zucker, and Poulin next season would be pretty, pretty damn deep.

So Poulin is gonna be a Black Ace. What are the chances he makes the team out of camp? Having a left wing depth chart of G, Zucker, and Poulin next season would be pretty, pretty damn deep.
- Victoro311

Hadn't seen that. Seems to be mostly on French sites right now. Wondered if maybe he'd get a spot even though they're limited though.

Yeah, I'd say that's a good statement he'll have a chance next year. He's probably developed all he can in juniors and should at least be in AHL if not for the transfer agreement. The fact he's physically ready to play against men is why I think he can arrive quickly (that and the skill obviously).