James Tanner: Rick Tocchet is So Overrated Its a Joke

Whoa! All I ever hear is how great he was. What's a non-caring non-fan to think?

Another fresh blog , how refreshing

Great new content Tanner. You definitely have never touched on all of these subjects multiple times.

said it since day one he was hired

So you're saying next season is doomed before this season is over? Miss Cleo has gotten dark since she crossed over! They'll turn the corner someday, this franchise used to be the glorious Winnipeg Jets, and look how they're doing now! They crossed over timelines, Avengers style.

James Tanner: Rick Tocchet is So Overrated Its a Joke
- James_Tanner

"Despite getting far and away the most injuries to the most important players in the NHL"
"Shut up Tanner"

I love when you turn hyperbole and opinion into "fact"! Nice work JT! There is Great credibility in your manic blogging style!
You have absolutely no objectivity, you live in a freaking bubble.

I love when you turn hyperbole and opinion into "fact"! Nice work JT! There is Great credibility in your manic blogging style!
You have absolutely no objectivity, you live in a rented bubble.
- MnGump

* fixed for accuracy

Hey Tanner. Tocchet figured out that Galchenyuk can't play center very well. But I guess you know better. Got it.

James Tanner: Rick Tocchet is So Overrated Its a Joke
- James_Tanner

James Troller.

Wasn’t this a top 5 talent wise team at the start of the year ? Good call on your part Tanner.

From all pens fans. Thank you for taking tochett. He’s always welcome back for an alum game or something

This was just like a full blown PMS of a blog, right? I’ve met a number of guys on the squad and bought season tickets for next year. It would be nice to have an online spot to go back and forth and discuss the draft, potential trade targets, potential free agents to pick up, etc etc but it’s clear that won’t happen here. It’s unfortunate because this is supposed to be that platform, isn’t it?

Suggesting Chucky playing center is one thing, backing it up with WHY you think it might be a good idea would be nice.

Trading Kuemper? There are 62 goalie positions in the NHL. There aren’t enough to go around. That is the nature of the new NHL. Pickard hasn’t been good this year. So if you trade Kuemper you’re either betting on Hill (surprise surprise you made no mention of him in the blog) or you need to replace Kuemper. It’s kind of a saturated goalie market this offseason with guys like Bob, Lehner, Mrazek, McElhinney, Varlamov and plenty of bounce back candidates like Elliott, Talbot, Nilsson, Ward (not, jk haha). If SJ doesn’t get results then they might make Jones available - so who is going to pony up for Kuemper? And who do we replace him with?

Tocchet may be a bad coach but you also could’ve provided a lot more context. Goaltending isn’t the only reason why the PK is good. Personnel is part of the problem for the PP, last time I checked it’s the GMs job to put the right pieces in place. I don’t like the PP units but I never really see you talk about how to maximize them.

I don’t agree with Pens blogger Ryan Wilson on everything, but how he supports his opinions is highly appreciated. I’m going to keep reading, Tanner. Hopefully you’ll provide some good insight through the offseason. Something id like to float ideas on is adding a top 6 forward vs letting Hayton seize it, who should be traded from our glut on the backend, how to fix the PP, projections for Schmaltz, if you want to talk about trading Kuemper then it would be cool if you provided what teams might target him and what we might get AND how we’d replace him. Just something to think about I guess

From all pens fans. Thank you for taking tochett. He’s always welcome back for an alum game or something
- ChrisMS

Yeah I agree. I haven’t been a Tocchet fan. It does seem like he’s gotten better as time has gone along but still not NHL quality. The problem too is that nobody else would pick him up so firing him and bringing in someone else would be financially costly

Tanner for coach. His first line would be Galchenyuk, at center, because of reasons. Garland of course as top line winger. Cousins would just sit on the bench opening and closing the door for Chychrun to help him avoid another injury.

Also Tanner for GM. Trade Kuemper for something because Raanta can win the Vezina, when healthy.

I think Zuccarello would be a great fit for this team. There are a lot of good free agents out there and I think he’s one that might fly under the radar. I think he would be a really good leader for some of the small guys on our team such as Keller and Vinnie. You walk away from Archie and Cousins.
Zucc-Schmaltz-Chucky
Panik-Dvorak-Keller
Vinnie-Stepan-Garland
Grabner-Richardson-Crouse/Fischer

The goalies are set. There are too many defenders so one certainly doesn’t need to be added. Not only are these obviously better at 5v5 but I think Zucc and Schmaltz would greatly help the PP. First unit could be Schmaltz on the half wall, Chucky down low (where Crosby plays), OEL up top, Stepan in front, Keller/Zucc on the far side. Second unit of Oesterle, Chychrun (if he’s still here), Zucc/Keller, Dvorak, and Vinnie

Won't raanta be back next year? And personally I think he's better long term than kuemper.

This was just like a full blown PMS of a blog, right? I’ve met a number of guys on the squad and bought season tickets for next year. It would be nice to have an online spot to go back and forth and discuss the draft, potential trade targets, potential free agents to pick up, etc etc but it’s clear that won’t happen here. It’s unfortunate because this is supposed to be that platform, isn’t it?

Suggesting Chucky playing center is one thing, backing it up with WHY you think it might be a good idea would be nice.

Trading Kuemper? There are 62 goalie positions in the NHL. There aren’t enough to go around. That is the nature of the new NHL. Pickard hasn’t been good this year. So if you trade Kuemper you’re either betting on Hill (surprise surprise you made no mention of him in the blog) or you need to replace Kuemper. It’s kind of a saturated goalie market this offseason with guys like Bob, Lehner, Mrazek, McElhinney, Varlamov and plenty of bounce back candidates like Elliott, Talbot, Nilsson, Ward (not, jk haha). If SJ doesn’t get results then they might make Jones available - so who is going to pony up for Kuemper? And who do we replace him with?

Tocchet may be a bad coach but you also could’ve provided a lot more context. Goaltending isn’t the only reason why the PK is good. Personnel is part of the problem for the PP, last time I checked it’s the GMs job to put the right pieces in place. I don’t like the PP units but I never really see you talk about how to maximize them.

I don’t agree with Pens blogger Ryan Wilson on everything, but how he supports his opinions is highly appreciated. I’m going to keep reading, Tanner. Hopefully you’ll provide some good insight through the offseason. Something id like to float ideas on is adding a top 6 forward vs letting Hayton seize it, who should be traded from our glut on the backend, how to fix the PP, projections for Schmaltz, if you want to talk about trading Kuemper then it would be cool if you provided what teams might target him and what we might get AND how we’d replace him. Just something to think about I guess
- WSCTeton17

Raanta

Or what would it take to get a guy like Miller out of Tampa? Maybe they’d feel like they could get more out of Chychrun than we have. They need a RD with term. We would be somewhat selling low but they could use another cost controlled guy up front. Maybe Chychrun, Fischer, and a pick for Miller. Or maybe we do 2 for 2 and we take Callahan for his last season.

The guys are raving about Hayton but I’d rather have a sure thing. Who knows how Tocchet would use Hayton... lol

Maybe Montreal regrets adding Domi and would be willing to trade him for Galchenyuk?

REM is so bad.

REM is so bad.
- Blackstrom2

Thank you.

I know what ya did there...

Now that Yotes season is over we can look forward to more blogs by Tanner covering:

* The BEST songs of the year.

* The BEST band of all time.

* The team that wins the Stanley Cup was lucky

* Renting is better than owning, Part 2
And much much more. 👍