Post-Game Talk: Pens jerk around the Canes

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Rakell and Smith both suck.

 

[Pancakes]

Rakell and Smith both suck.

It's kinda incredible just how bad they've both been. If they were their normal selves we're an easy playoff team.

Instead we've gotten a combined like 20-30 goals less than I thought we would from them.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

It's kinda incredible just how bad they've both been. If they were their normal selves we're an easy playoff team.

Instead we've gotten a combined like 20-30 goals less than I thought we would from them.

I think this is a lot closer to what Rakell is than the 60pt, ~30g guy tbh. He was pretty shit in Anaheim for years before he was dealt.

Smith just obviously doesn't fit, and seemingly doesn't even want to try.

 

[Dennis Reynolds]

I think this is a lot closer to what Rakell is than the 60pt, ~30g guy tbh. He was pretty shit in Anaheim for years before he was dealt.

Smith just obviously doesn't fit, and seemingly doesn't even want to try.

I never liked the Rakell pickup. His value was buoyed by that one 69 point season. The guy has 12 NHL seasons under his belt. Take out the one good year in Anaheim and the good season he had here last year, and in 10 years in the NHL he has produced at a .57 ppg pace. He' just not all that good.

 

[Gurglesons]

I never liked the Rakell pickup. His value was buoyed by that one 69 point season. The guy has 12 NHL seasons under his belt. Take out the one good year in Anaheim and the good season he had here two years ago, and in 10 years in the NHL he has produced at a .57 ppg pace. He' just not all that good.

He's scored 43 goals and 106 points in 163 games here. Hard to hate it especially given Sullivan's weird usage of him.

 

[Dennis Reynolds]

He's scored 43 goals and 106 points in 163 games here. Hard to hate it especially given Sullivan's weird usage of him.

So a .65 ppg pace. Against the backdrop of the rest of his career, that hasn't been the case. He has two good seasons that make him appear better than he is, when in reality he's a ~47 point player.

 

[Gurglesons]

So a .65 ppg pace. Against the backdrop of the rest of his career, that hasn't been the case. He has two good seasons that make him appear better than he is, when in reality he's a ~47 point player.

50 pt guy yeah. For 5 million, I can live with it. Sullivan using him distinctly with Malkin is a big issue.

 

[Dennis Reynolds]

50 pt guy yeah. For 5 million, I can live with it. Sullivan using him distinctly with Malkin is a big issue.

Then this team has four 50 point guys for $5M, and three of them are underperforming this year.

Crosby and Malkin can't carry players like that anymore.

 

[Gurglesons]

Then this team has four 50 point guys for $5M, and three of them are underperforming this year.

Crosby and Malkin can't carry players like that anymore.

I agree with this sentiment.

 

[Rudy Russo]

I think ideally he's a bottom six forward, but I don't mind seeing him up there.

He had a rough one today.

And he is better than 3/4 of the vets who played in the bottom six this season.

 

[Rudy Russo]

This is the clip.

Not sure who he is barking at.

Hope it was Reiden.

forfty percent.

50/50

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Then this team has four 50 point guys for $5M, and three of them are underperforming this year.

Crosby and Malkin can't carry players like that anymore.

Careful. I got lectured for calling those 50 point wingers 50 point wingers because once or twice in their careers they paced for more than that.

 

[Dennis Reynolds]

Careful. I got lectured for calling those 50 point wingers 50 point wingers because once or twice in their careers they paced for more than that.

Four out the last five years, Bryan Rust has been producing at a better rate than that, so you could make that kind of argument about him, I guess. But in his career as a whole, he's a ~50pt guy.

The problem is that Crosby and Malkin aren't 100pt guys anymore, so they can't drag around 50pt guys. Plus, scoring is up, so 50pts doesn't get you what it used to. They each need at least a 70pt wing to go along with a 60+pt wing. Bare minimum.

I just have no idea how Dubas, Sullivan, or anyone at FSG thinks they're going to make a push for the playoffs next year with this team, one year older. Unless it's all just PR speak to placate the average fan.

 

[66-30-33]

This is the clip.

Not sure who he is barking at.

I’m sure that sort of stuff happens daily with all teams but we don’t always pay attention to it.

 

[ChaosAgent]

Rakell and Smith both suck.

That's a lot of the problem, yes. Both flawed 2nd line wingers and no more.
Smith seems to lack heart. Rakell runs hot/cold and isn't useful in the neutral zone or transition at all.

 

[ncm7772]

Wow. Some of you are really high on DOC. I don’t see it. I think he can be a decent 3rd liner at best. Doesn’t belong in the top 6, IMO.

 

[SomeDude]

It just looks like general frustration.

"I'm terrified Sid might want out" Dork.

These geeks would faint if they really heard how guys talk to each other during the heat of a game.

I think people honestly believe players are just like “gosh darn, that was a tough shift but you did your best! I’m glad you’re my teammate!”

 

[orby]

I don't dislike Rakell, but he, Rust, and Smith are all third wheel type players on a team that desperately needs a second wheel on line 1 and a first wheel on line 2. They're just not players that consistently create their own offense. Sid and Geno used to be able to turn guys like that into convincing top 6 scorers - Kunitz, Dupuis, etc - but that time is in the past.

 

[Ragamuffin Gunner]

It's kinda incredible just how bad they've both been. If they were their normal selves we're an easy playoff team.

Instead we've gotten a combined like 20-30 goals less than I thought we would from them.

It kinda makes you wonder about how many guys come to the Pittsburgh Sullivans and suck when they were good before. And then are good again once they leave.

 

[Pancakes]

I just have no idea how Dubas, Sullivan, or anyone at FSG thinks they're going to make a push for the playoffs next year with this team, one year older. Unless it's all just PR speak to placate the average fan.

Well the actions that Dubas takes this summer should tell you more about what their plans are than anything they say.

If they make a lot of "win now" type trades/signings then you know that they're going for it and trying to seriously make the playoffs again.

If they go for more of a youth movement then you know that they're leaning more towards at least something of a soft rebuild. A hard rebuild will never be possible while the stars are here.

So we'll see what direction they go.

 

[Andy99]

Well the actions that Dubas takes this summer should tell you more about what their plans are than anything they say.

If they make a lot of "win now" type trades/signings then you know that they're going for it and trying to seriously make the playoffs again.

If they go for more of a youth movement then you know that they're leaning more towards at least something of a soft rebuild. A hard rebuild will never be possible while the stars are here.

So we'll see what direction they go.

Not a huge distinction imo, depending on what you mean by youth movement..I mean if they try to trade for someone like Pinto, or make an offer sheet, or Necas, that’s getting younger and also trying to win now…the distinction should be between going for young NHL players and jettisoning older top six wingers (win now) and trying to get more prospects or unproven players…

 

[spcastlemagic]

Wow. Some of you are really high on DOC. I don’t see it. I think he can be a decent 3rd liner at best. Doesn’t belong in the top 6, IMO.

Yeah… I think for a good team he’s a force in the bottom six. He has some good attributes but the total package isn’t there to be a top six threat consistently.