Ryan Wilson: Failing up Failing up

I legitimately question what's going on with this team...I realize Geno is out but why is it no one within the team is acknowledging what everyone else watching these games is saying that JJ is not an NHL defensemen? Sully promotes him? What?

The only positive I see from those lines posted in the blog is that Teddy is on the 4th line so hopefully that means he stays up when Geno is back...

Wow... Is Ralph Wiggum coaching the team?

that is.... I dunno what to say about this one.

I realize it's a stretch but the only forward I would really like to see the team go after (excluding the McDavid's, Matthews etc) is Alex Tuch...I wanted the Pens to draft him initially and have watched him as a Knight and he'd be perfect for this team. What would it take to get him?

I realize it's a stretch but the only forward I would really like to see the team go after (excluding the McDavid's, Matthews etc) is Alex Tuch...I wanted the Pens to draft him initially and have watched him as a Knight and he'd be perfect for this team. What would it take to get him?
- iworkatinitech

I’d don’t know if they’d move him but I think it would take Kessel.

I’d don’t know if they’d move him but I think it would take Kessel.
- NightRider61

Yeah I doubt they'd move him, and in the near-term I don't think a Kessel swap is in the best interest of the team...I figured the team wouldn't have the pieces anyway even if they would move him.

I just threw up in my mouth

This is just crazy talk. Holy sh!t. 2nd pairing. Poor Dumo.

I really knew nothing of JJ when they signed him other than he was once decent in LA and his parents took all his $$$. I read all the hate here and was like well ok but Im sure the staff knows what they're doing.

Then I saw him live in CO earlier this year. I though hey that #73 sure sucks at skating, he's falling everywhere and really looks out of place, thought it was a call up.....Then Oh so that's JJ!

The good news is that there is only 4 years left to Johnson's contract after this one.

Wow... Is Ralph Wiggum coaching the team?
- MaDdMuNk87

go Banana

I was hoping what Mackey reported was just blowing smoke. It seems the staff actually do think highly of him

Yeah I doubt they'd move him, and in the near-term I don't think a Kessel swap is in the best interest of the team...I figured the team wouldn't have the pieces anyway even if they would move him.
- iworkatinitech

I’d love Tuch but we need a guy that can be the driving force on a line. And Kessel can be perfect. He doesn’t want the attention like most guys. And his contract is a good.

I really knew nothing of JJ when they signed him other than he was once decent in LA and his parents took all his $$$. I read all the hate here and was like well ok but Im sure the staff knows what they're doing.

Then I saw him live in CO earlier this year. I though hey that #73 sure sucks at skating, he's falling everywhere and really looks out of place, thought it was a call up.....Then Oh so that's JJ!
- sammy87

I was hoping that he would be just average when he signed. I thought they would be able to hide his weaknesses by playing on the bottom pairing. Now I'm just hoping the Pens don't give up three goals a game when he is on the ice.

Fun Fact: 2nd line center Matt Cullen has the 3rd worst 5v5 Rel CF% among forwards with 300 mins TOI this season.

Ummmm....yeah.....WTF!?!?!?

Fun Fact: 2nd line center Matt Cullen has the 3rd worst 5v5 Rel CF% among forwards with 300 mins TOI this season.
- Feds91Stammer

Not surprising at all.

Live look at HCMS:

Live look at HCMS:


- Victoro311

Lol. I haven't seen that one before.

But, in all honestly, Sully's a good coach. Once again, he's giving young guys a shot. But, yeah, the Johnson stuff is simply mind boggling. I get physicality, and athletic ability. But, he's just thinks the game so poorly.

Lol. I haven't seen that one before.

But, in all honestly, Sully's a good coach. Once again, he's giving young guys a shot. But, yeah, the Johnson stuff is simply mind boggling. I get physicality, and athletic ability. But, he's just thinks the game so poorly.
- cranktheradio

Honestly its such a nonsense move that it may actually be Sullivan trying to find any fit that justifies keeping Johnson in the lineup and that he's close to scratching him. I doubt that's the case but its at least a possibility.

The Penguins best shot came from a post-gaz writer:

"McElhinney, a 35-year-old journeyman whose hairline has started to retreat into its crease, has strapped on the pads for seven NHL teams..."

https://www.post-gazette....anes/stories/201902050163

Honestly its such a nonsense move that it may actually be Sullivan trying to find any fit that justifies keeping Johnson in the lineup and that he's close to scratching him. I doubt that's the case but its at least a possibility.
- Victoro311

I dont watch too many games any more these days, but a month ago he was behind the net, 1 attacker all he had to do was make an easy pass up the boards to the F. Nope, completely muffed it right to the attacker. The worst Dman on my beer league team could have made that pass.

Honestly its such a nonsense move that it may actually be Sullivan trying to find any fit that justifies keeping Johnson in the lineup and that he's close to scratching him. I doubt that's the case but its at least a possibility.
- Victoro311

I actually could see this being the case. Give him the best "stay at home" D and tell him to just go. See if it works.

Also, interesting article over at pensburg in regards to Schultz's return. Basically it says that you Schultz might be able to prop up Johnson or Maata, but there is still an issue with the 3rd pairing. Who knows, maybe Dumo helps Johnson just "play" and stop thinking.

Blehhhhhhh


I get why Cullen is the 2nd line center... idea is to swap him out for Malkin once he is back and let the other lines gel some. It's just (frank)ing ugly to look at.