Ryan Wilson: Helping out Malkin and managing goaltenders Helping out Malkin and managing goaltenders

I just said in the previous blogs comments that its not very often the Pens blog is the last row of blogs on the HB home page...then wham...new blog.

@Tojo from last blog:

I'd go Jarry B2B...he hasn't played much, is young and can handle it. It would allow MM to do some more soul searching...now if Jarry sh!ts the bed tonight...well MM tomorrow.

Rikky over Rudy.

Would have much rather watched a hard fought 2-1 game featuring great goalies, blocked shots, an altercation between a power forward and stay at home d man that was bread simply from the intensity of the game. But we got points so I’ll take it. Nothing about that game would make me think I’m coming back for more though if I wasn’t already a die hard hockey fan.

Would have much rather watched a hard fought 2-1 game featuring great goalies, blocked shots, an altercation between a power forward and stay at home d man that was bread simply from the intensity of the game. But we got points so I’ll take it. Nothing about that game would make me think I’m coming back for more though if I wasn’t already a die hard hockey fan.
- Grinder47

hahaha

It was a highly entertaining, high event game.

Malkin had Kessel and Neal. Arguably the two best wingers of the Crosby/Malkin era. Guentz is now part of that discussion, but Geno has never been shorted IMO.

How about Hossa? I'd rather have Kunitz on my line than Neal tbh.

How about Hossa? I'd rather have Kunitz on my line than Neal tbh.
- Barnaby36

Forgot about Hossa, but he was barely here. I'd take Hossa over any of them, but he deserted at the earliest opportunity.

Guentzel > Kessel right now.

Gusev is the worst forward on possibly the worst team in the East. He rates dead last in NJ for every conceivable advanced metric.

Gusev is the worst forward on possibly the worst team in the East. He rates dead last in NJ for every conceivable advanced metric.
- Murphy_Dump

Honest question: would anyone here trade Galchenyuk for Gusev straight up?

Forgot about Hossa, but he was barely here. I'd take Hossa over any of them, but he deserted at the earliest opportunity.
- madmike71

Fitting how we beat him at the finals the year right after he left afterall he had a "better opportunity to win a Cup" in Detroit.

I would like the Pens to grab Kreider.

Did RW mean "the pressure is palpable," instead of "palatable"? lmfao I can't even

If Shero would have swallowed his pride and still pursued him, and obtained him, I think we wouldn't have had to wait another 7 years for a Cup. Then we got the back-to-back, so it all kind of worked out. Dude won three Cups in CHI. I was made at him for a bit, but then he played every game of the season for three seasons, and I was actually happy for him when he finally won one.

If Shero would have swallowed his pride and still pursued him, and obtained him, I think we wouldn't have had to wait another 7 years for a Cup. Then we got the back-to-back, so it all kind of worked out. Dude won three Cups in CHI. I was made at him for a bit, but then he played every game of the season for three seasons, and I was actually happy for him when he finally won one.
- pens_4ever

Swallowed his pride? Didn’t offer him like a long-term contract for like $7M per?

I think malkin playing majority of every game with the best defensive pairing makes the most difference.

I was talking about after the '09 Cup. The multiyear $7.3 mil per was offered to keep him after the loss to the Wings. He took the one year $7.1 mil per to sign with DET (hence the big, "He took less term and money?!?!" ordeal). They lost, and he when to CHI for $5.3 mil and some change, for like 10 years or something. I wanted him back, even after he scorned us and went to DET to lose. I just think it seemed like too much of a circus for the people involved, and I don't think Shero wanted to offer him more than CHI after he scorned the team.

@MadMike:

I don’t think either has been necessarily shortened overall but it seems rare that both have a stud winger at the same time. Post-HBK Phil Kessel seems to be the only time both centers had major fire power at the same time. Cus remember, before Guentzel the story of the deadline every year was getting Sid his winger.

How about Hossa? I'd rather have Kunitz on my line than Neal tbh.
- Barnaby36

Neal is a bum. He’s doing exactly as I said he would, as he always does.

I guess the big question today is if they start Jarry or not.

In my mind the choice is pretty clear. MM needs a break, I would sit him tonight. I honestly think he is a great goalie but I find myself actually surprised when he makes a good save or a breakaway save. So feeling that way makes me realize that I must not have a ton of confidence in him.

Jarry first off the ice per Pens Inside Scoop.

Jarry first off the ice per Pens Inside Scoop.
- Thunderbolt

So take that, Tojo.

Honest question: would anyone here trade Galchenyuk for Gusev straight up?
- Barnaby36

Less cap hit, more points... both probably just as bad on defense.

Yep, absolutely yes. I see a fair bit more upside in Gusev's game, but I also admit to heavy bias against Chunky... just HATE the trade that got him and his painfully slow start here.