I knew this blog was coming as soon as I read that article. Kessel was clearly the problem but RW has to jump to his defense.

Sullivan was using Malkin as a go between because it was his last option in dealing with a locker room cancer. Its unfortunate that Malkin got caught in the middle but at the time he may have been the only person that Kessel was listening too (see Bozak in Toronto).
Its become crystal clear that Kessel is indeed uncoachable, this isnt a claim that he isnt a superstar, its just the truth that Kessel is the bad apple that spoils the bunch and it looks like that spoilage takes about 3 years.

I don't know how accurate the article actually is and how much of the story is romanticized, but I thought Geno was really attempting to take blame for not playing up to his standard. Which is the professional thing to do and nice to see if true.

And really the only other thing to take from it, is that Kessel is absolutely the lazy, content, cancer that people thought he was. it's (frank)ing incredible that people on here will still come to his defense "pHiL KeSsEl Is EliTe". and RW just turning it around to Sullivan and Rutherford being the problem is laughable.

It’s like this is the first Rob Rossi article you dummies have ever read. It’s comical.

[quote=dunner84
Locker room drama aside, this team is fairly poorly managed, poorly coached, and Geno has always taken a backseat to Sid despite carrying the team through stretches where Sid was injured....

BINGO! As this forthcoming season shall reveal in spades.

It’s like this is the first Rob Rossi article you dummies have ever read. It’s comical.
- j.boyd919

I'll tell you what's comical: lot's of folks jump in here to offer their take on RW's blogs... right or wrong, and as a blog is pretty much intended to do, and all you and fedsstammer do is poop on the folks for how they see things.

Why don't you guys offer some insight, since it appears the world revolves around you and him and your hockey card collections? Offer some insight, something useful, or are you afraid you yourself might get pooped on?

-one of those dummies

Sounds like Geno's coming back with a vengeance... maybe his baggage from last season went to Arizona. Glad GMJR didn't trade him. GO PENS !!

I'll tell you what's comical: lot's of folks jump in here to offer their take on RW's blogs... right or wrong, and as a blog is pretty much intended to do, and all you and fedsstammer do is poop on the folks for how they see things.

Why don't you guys offer some insight, since it appears the world revolves around you and him and your hockey card collections? Offer some insight, something useful, or are you afraid you yourself might get pooped on?

-one of those dummies
- Cousinskrid

That was actually a funny post lol

Sounds like Geno's coming back with a vengeance... maybe his baggage from last season went to Arizona. Glad GMJR didn't trade him. GO PENS !!
- Cousinskrid

I can see him on a mission. Back to the Machino days!

I'll tell you what's comical: lot's of folks jump in here to offer their take on RW's blogs... right or wrong, and as a blog is pretty much intended to do, and all you and fedsstammer do is poop on the folks for how they see things.

Why don't you guys offer some insight, since it appears the world revolves around you and him and your hockey card collections? Offer some insight, something useful, or are you afraid you yourself might get pooped on?

-one of those dummies
- Cousinskrid

Jboyd and Feds are antonio brown fans

They are too affluent to stoop to that level. They know more than you could possibly know, so they just troll until the other comes to their defense. and at that time they troll together. Never any thoughts beyond driveling sarcastic comments.

Jboyd and Feds are antonio brown fans
- joecool2931

hahah Man I won't lie: Antonio Brown was the man in Pittsburgh to me....than he started to act like a diva. F.

He went to the Patriots for a reason: piss us all off. I wonder how will be a possible game against him.

It’s like this is the first Rob Rossi article you dummies have ever read. It’s comical.
- j.boyd919

Thing is RW didn't bash the article at all. Here's the first paragraph:

Today Rob Rossi of The Athletic published an excellent article about Evgeni Malkin. It is definitely worth the time to read it and covers a lot of interesting topics.

Everyone is largely blasting RW for taking it way out of context to suit his narrative. There are plenty of things to blame Rutherford for, but him challenging Malkin isn't one since it had the desired effect: Malkin is more dedicated and not mad at the team.

Entirely possible Rossi made up the part about Malkin requesting a trade, but this was hardly the first article saying Malkin didn't want Kessel on his line or was frustrated with him.

Thing is RW didn't bash the article at all. Here's the first paragraph:

Today Rob Rossi of The Athletic published an excellent article about Evgeni Malkin. It is definitely worth the time to read it and covers a lot of interesting topics.

Everyone is largely blasting RW for taking it way out of context to suit his narrative. There are plenty of things to blame Rutherford for, but him challenging Malkin isn't one since it had the desired effect: Malkin is more dedicated and not mad at the team.

Entirely possible Rossi made up the part about Malkin requesting a trade, but this was hardly the first article saying Malkin didn't want Kessel on his line or was frustrated with him.
- Tojo.

To me it's pretty simple: Kessel wanted to be in the spots to maximize his chances of scoring. Didn't want to work on the boards most of the time so waited more than a guy like Rust, Simon, Hörnqvist or McCann would.

Lmao

Rob Rossi is senior writer for The Athletic Pittsburgh. He was previously lead columnist at the Tribune-Review, for which he also served as lead beat reporter on the Penguins (NHL) and Pirates (MLB). He has won awards for his columns and investigative stories on concussion protocol and athletes’ charities, and is working on Evgeni Malkin’s authorized biography. Follow Rob on Twitter @Real_RobRossi.

They should really put that at the beginning of the article

I'll tell you what's comical: lot's of folks jump in here to offer their take on RW's blogs... right or wrong, and as a blog is pretty much intended to do, and all you and fedsstammer do is poop on the folks for how they see things.

Why don't you guys offer some insight, since it appears the world revolves around you and him and your hockey card collections? Offer some insight, something useful, or are you afraid you yourself might get pooped on?

-one of those dummies
- Cousinskrid

Ok dummy.

Rob Rossi has been known for years to sensationalize and create drama out of nothing.

Evgeni Malkin said nothing about playing with Kessel and the only thing that he said is that they are friends. So anything else regarding Kessel and Malkin’s relationship is pure speculation, which makes all the “Its obvious Malkin doesn’t like Phil” comments a bunch of garbage.

Geno has been in Pittsburgh for what... 12-13 years? When have you ever heard Geno place the blame on anyone but himself? To all of a sudden expect him to throw Sully, Rutherford, or even Kessel under the bus, means you must be new to hockey.

It’s been reported he doesn’t want to play with Kessel and he’s vocally said how they need to improve in interviews when in dry stretches. But I’ve always seen interviews where he said he enjoys playing with Phil so that’s whatever.

Anything outside of quotations from Geno I don’t really give a poop about. Rossi makes poop up all the time for the sake of the story. When reading it as a story it was actually very well written but I don’t really believe much of it given that he sensationalizes all of his articles to fit his narrative.

I agree with RW that, if true, it’s embarrassing that Sid has to come to Geno’s aid to make sure he doesn’t get traded and I definitely agree with RW in ripping Rutherford for always letting Genos name linger in the trade rumors. It was (frank)ing retarded then and it’s retarded now.

I think that in the last two years, Rutherford has moved away from what made his teams successful by chasing average to below average hockey players and it has shown on the score sheet/roster.

When you have Sid, Geno, Phil, Letang all scoring stars the same paces that they have been for the last few years... the problem ain’t your stars. It’s your supporting cast, and Rutherford has screwed the pooch on that one the last two years.

Geno was a -2 at 5v5 last year. Let’s be honest. He almost always hovers around even to ~+10. He was actually a +3 at 5v5
Playing with Kessel. Although he was a -6 while playing with Jake. -4 with Rust (who he’s seen success with in the past).

Personally I believe the Pens biggest problems were on their defense. Had the Pens reconfigure their D without JJ and Schultz not getting injured propelling JJ into a top 4 role. I think they would have been fine.

There were some other issues in the team but I personally don’t believe Rutherford built the best roster. I believe he went down another wrong path looking for certain “intangibles.”

Thing is RW didn't bash the article at all. Here's the first paragraph:

Today Rob Rossi of The Athletic published an excellent article about Evgeni Malkin. It is definitely worth the time to read it and covers a lot of interesting topics.

Everyone is largely blasting RW for taking it way out of context to suit his narrative. There are plenty of things to blame Rutherford for, but him challenging Malkin isn't one since it had the desired effect: Malkin is more dedicated and not mad at the team.

Entirely possible Rossi made up the part about Malkin requesting a trade, but this was hardly the first article saying Malkin didn't want Kessel on his line or was frustrated with him.
- Tojo.

No but what I mean is people taking Rossi’s words as gospel. People using it confirm biases on things that are still purely speculation.

I actually enjoyed Rossi’s article as pure entertainment. It was really well written and really took you to the setting of the story. But I also know Rossi is a sensationalist and take 99% of his words with a grain of salt.

So I tried this new fake meat brand’s bratwurst last night... wasn’t bad. Didn’t really taste like brats, but pretty good.

Trying a beyond meat burger tonight.

So I tried this new fake meat brand’s bratwurst last night... wasn’t bad. Didn’t really taste like brats, but pretty good.

Trying a beyond meat burger tonight.
- Rinosaur

Ew. Cut your cock off.

So I tried this new fake meat brand’s bratwurst last night... wasn’t bad. Didn’t really taste like brats, but pretty good.

Trying a beyond meat burger tonight.
- Rinosaur

Why?

No but what I mean is people taking Rossi’s words as gospel. People using it confirm biases on things that are still purely speculation.

I actually enjoyed Rossi’s article as pure entertainment. It was really well written and really took you to the setting of the story. But I also know Rossi is a sensationalist and take 99% of his words with a grain of salt.
- j.boyd919

Gotcha, I mostly felt people were bagging on RW's article.

Rossi is trash, but the one guy I trust him not to take out of context is the guy whose book he's writing. So I believe the direct quotes from Malkin. The speculation stuff from random sources, not as much because I definitely agree he sensationalizes stories to get his name out there. Guy's a diva.

I liked what I heard from Malkin because I do think he was stubborn about adjusting to aging and wasn't as dominant as the year before (IMO at least), which is the most important part of the article.

Gotcha, I mostly felt people were bagging on RW's article.

Rossi is trash, but the one guy I trust him not to take out of context is the guy whose book he's writing. So I believe the direct quotes from Malkin. The speculation stuff from random sources, not as much because I definitely agree he sensationalizes stories to get his name out there. Guy's a diva.

I liked what I heard from Malkin because I do think he was stubborn about adjusting to aging and wasn't as dominant as the year before (IMO at least), which is the most important part of the article.
- Tojo.

Oh for sure. The quotes I believe and I enjoyed as well. The stuff in between was great writing but I always question its accuracy when it comes to Rossi. Dude told Fleury he was lying and that he should practice after he was conked up.

RWs article had some valid points (GMJRs recent moves, Sid coming to Genos aid, etc.) I don’t think that it was all wrong but it was definitely RWs version of sensationalism.

Ew. Cut your cock off.
- j.boyd919

It's really just curiosity. Everyone keeps raving about these new products.

It's really just curiosity. Everyone keeps raving about these new products.
- Rinosaur

Nobody worth knowing is raving about fake meat imo.

Why?
- Feds91Stammer

I'll never be a vegan, I've tried. I love meat, but I'm also a huge animal lover and I don't like that I love meat. I'll never be a full-on vegetarian, but if I could make actual meat a lot less frequent I'd like that.

Nobody worth knowing is raving about fake meat imo.
- Feds91Stammer

Well, I'm not raving about it so far. I tried it and it was meh. It was good by meat alternative standards.

It's really just curiosity. Everyone keeps raving about these new products.
- Rinosaur

Hahaha I just like meat so I legit see no reason to ever try any of the fake poop.