Ryan Wilson: Don't fall for it Don't fall for it

Mostly agree that GMJR has his fingerprints all over this season. However, not sure the players did him or HCMS any favors with attitude/work ethic. Not one player, including Sid, had a good year. Can’t think of one player that had a career year. Mostly below expectations for many.

Mostly agree that GMJR has his fingerprints all over this season. However, not sure the players did him or HCMS any favors with attitude/work ethic. Not one player, including Sid, had a good year. Can’t think of one player that had a career year. Mostly below expectations for many.
- Dr Blob

Yeah well the players must be tired of Jim Rutherford fixing Jim Rutherford (frank) ups with more Jim Rutherford (frank) ups.

Guentzel had the very definition of a career year.

Kessel scored the 2nd most points in his career after putting up 90+ last year. While it’s not a “career year,” he is producing more points and more consistently in Pittsburgh than he has ever in Toronto.

One day, Ryan will be happy about something the Penguins management/coaching staff does.

I mean, the law of averages guarantees this...right?

Mostly agree that GMJR has his fingerprints all over this season. However, not sure the players did him or HCMS any favors with attitude/work ethic. Not one player, including Sid, had a good year. Can’t think of one player that had a career year. Mostly below expectations for many.
- Dr Blob

He was tied for 5th in the league in scoring and was one of only 6 players to break 100 points. Do you consider any year that he doesn't win the Art Ross to be a "bad" year? If so, I don't think he'll ever have a good year again.

As a 20 year Canes fan, with lots of experience watching JR general manage, this looks and sounds familiar.

Kessel scored the 2nd most points in his career after putting up 90+ last year. While it’s not a “career year,” he is producing more points and more consistently in Pittsburgh than he has ever in Toronto.
- j.boyd919

Yeah, but but but he doesn't score when it really helps the Pens. He's like the Matt Murray of forwards.

Anyone know how the rest the of NHL draft order is decided at this point?

Anyone who thinks that Guentzel didn’t have a great season clearly is in the wrong place.

I can attest that I’m sure Malkin is frustrated that he isn’t getting paired with the elite defenders but I would think that he’s more upset about his wingers and I do believe he’s voiced that to some extent in the past, right?

It’s not like Malkin is the first elite player to have to constantly elevate his teammates. He’s also getting paid handsomely to do so. IMO Malkin is becoming inconsistent offensively, he was never all that good defensively but at least he tried. Is it possible that he’s starting to trend toward that line where he could become a cancer to the team? I certainly think it’s possible. I think we CAN be successful with or without Malkin but with him, we need him to be more committed

If we dealt him to Florida I would expect.. HOPE it to look like this: Malkin, Schultz, JJ for Yandle, Trocheck, Vatrano and obviously some picks/prospects

What would I rather get? A package that includes RNH (would have to be a 3-way), Kopitar, Johansen+, O’Reilly+.. I don’t think we would keep him in the east unless he flat out refused to go west. I would actually rather get a coach who is able to adapt AND has the respect of all of his players

One day, Ryan will be happy about something the Penguins management/coaching staff does.

I mean, the law of averages guarantees this...right?
- jmatchett383

He never will because JR isn’t a Dubas clone.

RW has his opinion of how the NHL should look (see Swedish Elite League) and anyone who thinks that Tyler Ennis isn’t a great 4th line player is a dinosaur who needs to go extinct

As a 20 year Canes fan, with lots of experience watching JR general manage, this looks and sounds familiar.
- Surgalt1

JR is a man of action, he isn’t afraid to try to make his teams better.
In his tenor with the Pens he brought us back to back cups, how many GMs in history have that on their resume?

Ignoring the salary dump that would make most fans drool (JJ), I think if anyone else moves “substantially” I would hope Mario would step in and fire JR and MS first...these guys are lost and are not on the same page at all. I hope we don’t have to go through watching a Superstar being run out for the sake of grandpa and Torts 2.0

Anyone who thinks that Guentzel didn’t have a great season clearly is in the wrong place.

I can attest that I’m sure Malkin is frustrated that he isn’t getting paired with the elite defenders but I would think that he’s more upset about his wingers and I do believe he’s voiced that to some extent in the past, right?

It’s not like Malkin is the first elite player to have to constantly elevate his teammates. He’s also getting paid handsomely to do so. IMO Malkin is becoming inconsistent offensively, he was never all that good defensively but at least he tried. Is it possible that he’s starting to trend toward that line where he could become a cancer to the team? I certainly think it’s possible. I think we CAN be successful with or without Malkin but with him, we need him to be more committed

If we dealt him to Florida I would expect.. HOPE it to look like this: Malkin, Schultz, JJ for Yandle, Trocheck, Vatrano and obviously some picks/prospects

What would I rather get? A package that includes RNH (would have to be a 3-way), Kopitar, Johansen+, O’Reilly+.. I don’t think we would keep him in the east unless he flat out refused to go west. I would actually rather get a coach who is able to adapt AND has the respect of all of his players
- WSCTeton17

Across the NHL the teams best defenders are paired with the top line, why should RW or Malkin expect that to be different in Pittsburgh?
Crosby is the best player on the team not Malkin.

I want to see Malkin retire as a Penguin and watch his number get raised. I’ve seen this group win 3 cups, I have no problem waiting for the changing of the guard before we are serious contenders again.
But if I’m JR I’m thinking this team is stale and if I want another serious crack at the cup I’m listening to offers on anyone not named Crosby.

Even if Malkin is whining about not getting the Letang/Dumo treatment, he has consistently had the better wingers on the team throughout his career

The only exception would be now that Sid has Jake. Malkin has never been left to skate with a pair of 3rd liners and expected to produce

Yeah, but but but he doesn't score when it really helps the Pens. He's like the Matt Murray of forwards.
- Rinosaur

Wasn’t Kessel one of the leaders in GWGs this year? Lol

Wasn’t Kessel one of the leaders in GWGs this year? Lol
- WSCTeton17

Probably, but those weren't the games the needed to win! He should have done it in the games they lost!

Across the NHL the teams best defenders are paired with the top line, why should RW or Malkin expect that to be different in Pittsburgh?
Crosby is the best player on the team not Malkin.

I want to see Malkin retire as a Penguin and watch his number get raised. I’ve seen this group win 3 cups, I have no problem waiting for the changing of the guard before we are serious contenders again.
But if I’m JR I’m thinking this team is stale and if I want another serious crack at the cup I’m listening to offers on anyone not named Crosby.
- stackthepads

I get what you’re saying and I’m fine with it. What if Malkin takes ANOTHER step back in the first 30 games of next year? What if he’s lazy again both at ES and on the PP? If we don’t find him a complimentary LW then it’s a possibility, right? I don’t think we NEED to trade Geno, I just think we need to ignite the flame with some new blood both behind the bench and on it

Probably, but those weren't the games the needed to win! He should have done it in the games they lost!
- Rinosaur

All kidding aside, to me Kessel and Malkin at ES are a no go. I think Rust-Bjugstad-Kessel can be effective and Kessel can still produce on the PP. Hornqvist needs to watch video and adjust his style a little bit to be slightly less vanilla. Orpik did it so I have faith that it’s possible lol. You snag Zuccarello in free agency and run Sid with Jake and Horny with Malkin and let McCann and Zucc fill in the gaps. With Blueger centering the 4th line it should improve next season.

One of my biggest concerns is the way we break the puck out. We’re not getting the puck up to our forwards quick enough. We have such a low breakout that usually requires the weak side D to join the rush like SJ does but the problem is... we never do it! If you’re not going to do it, then you need to make an adjustment to become more effective. The other part: we need to work on our forecheck. Our angles are AWFUL. Teams cruise through the neutral zone against us and it leads to a speedy forecheck. We need our forwards to take better angles which in turn makes it easier on our D.

IMO we are indeed broken and need to be fixed

Even if Malkin is whining about not getting the Letang/Dumo treatment, he has consistently had the better wingers on the team throughout his career

The only exception would be now that Sid has Jake. Malkin has never been left to skate with a pair of 3rd liners and expected to produce
- RoloTahmasee

Depends on what your opinion of Rust, Fedetenko, Talbot, Ponikarovsky, Cooke,
Rupp, Comeau, and Spaling are... because they are all common line mates of Geno throughout the years.

All kidding aside, to me Kessel and Malkin at ES are a no go. I think Rust-Bjugstad-Kessel can be effective and Kessel can still produce on the PP. Hornqvist needs to watch video and adjust his style a little bit to be slightly less vanilla. Orpik did it so I have faith that it’s possible lol. You snag Zuccarello in free agency and run Sid with Jake and Horny with Malkin and let McCann and Zucc fill in the gaps. With Blueger centering the 4th line it should improve next season.

One of my biggest concerns is the way we break the puck out. We’re not getting the puck up to our forwards quick enough. We have such a low breakout that usually requires the weak side D to join the rush like SJ does but the problem is... we never do it! If you’re not going to do it, then you need to make an adjustment to become more effective. The other part: we need to work on our forecheck. Our angles are AWFUL. Teams cruise through the neutral zone against us and it leads to a speedy forecheck. We need our forwards to take better angles which in turn makes it easier on our D.

IMO we are indeed broken and need to be fixed
- WSCTeton17

Kessel was a +8 at 5v5 this season.
Malkin was a -2 at 5v5 this season.

People act like they were horrible at even strength when that’s simply not the case.

I get what you’re saying and I’m fine with it. What if Malkin takes ANOTHER step back in the first 30 games of next year? What if he’s lazy again both at ES and on the PP? If we don’t find him a complimentary LW then it’s a possibility, right? I don’t think we NEED to trade Geno, I just think we need to ignite the flame with some new blood both behind the bench and on it
- WSCTeton17

What if Crosby gets hit by a bus tomorrow and never plays another game? Wouldn't it have been a better idea to trade him now and get some value?

"Has it occurred to people that Malkin is not a moron and can see Sidney Crosby gets the Dumoulin-Letang treatment every single game and with that comes distinct advantages? Not getting the prime deployment has drastic consequences with how this roster is constructed."

What, is this a situation unique to the Pens? Is this something new? And how much of this is Geno, or RW? I mean, how many teams have TWO all-star D pairs in order to feed their $9.5M 2C perfect passes? Not many I think.

I've lobbied for the Pens to offer 71 and 58 to try and get younger and faster. Ok, so we keep Geno and Kris to start anew with 58, 8 and 4 as three of your top four D.

How and where do you acquire that 2nd pair LD? I don't see Guddy, Horny, JJ and their contracts bringing it back. Maybe Ollie has a career comeback season in 19-20 !!

"Has it occurred to people that Malkin is not a moron and can see Sidney Crosby gets the Dumoulin-Letang treatment every single game and with that comes distinct advantages? Not getting the prime deployment has drastic consequences with how this roster is constructed."

What, is this a situation unique to the Pens? Is this something new? And how much of this is Geno, or RW? I mean, how many teams have TWO all-star D pairs in order to feed their $9.5M 2C perfect passes? Not many I think.

I've lobbied for the Pens to offer 71 and 58 to try and get younger and faster. Ok, so we keep Geno and Kris to start anew with 58, 8 and 4 as three of your top four D.

How and where do you acquire that 2nd pair LD? I don't see Guddy, Horny, JJ and their contracts bringing it back. Maybe Ollie has a career comeback season in 19-20 !!
- Cousinskrid