GDT: #20 | Stars vs Penguins | Weds Nov 21 at 7PM est | ATTSN-PT, FS-SW+

[Ryder71]

We finally have our top three centers (or so it appears) ready to roll tonight and what does Sully do, instead of scratching a a depth center he scratches Sprong. It's not a big deal on the surface, but it just shows how this coach tries to marginalize players he doesn't like. Sure Sprong will play at times, but only with bottom of the barrel centers. When there's a chance he can get a regular shift with our top three, he's scratched. I want the Pens to succeed, but I also want this coach gone. What he's doing here is so obvious. And whether you like Sprong or not, this is not what a coach should be doing.

 

[Tom Hanks]

The kid is back

 

[DegenX]

95.7 is that a radio station or Riikola’s on ice SV%?

Riikola wasn't the first thing I thought of, it was this:

 

[EightyOne]

Oh boy.

 

[EightyOne]

Also. These gross things tonight:

SO CLOSE to perfect. Oh well.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Sprong a scratch? What forward is going to be playing over him? Do they have a 12th forward on the roster?

Oh wait Grant will play over Sprong, just lol. I can't wait to see ZAR-Crosby-Simon as the top line and Grant-Sheahan-Rust as the 4th line.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

That sounds... ominous.

 

[Ryder71]

Sprong a scratch? What forward is going to be playing over him? Do they have a 12th forward on the roster?

Oh wait Grant will play over Sprong, just lol. I can't wait to see ZAR-Crosby-Simon as the top line and Grant-Sheahan-Rust as the 4th line.

Right, our all world center comes back so lets scratch a winger and play our 6th best center, makes perfect sense!

 

[Empoleon8771]

Right, our all world center comes back to lets scratch a winger and play our 6th best center, makes perfect sense!

To be fair, Sprong has done literally nothing in 90% of the games he has played in this year. Sprong should be healthy scratched, I'm just very concerned about the lines they're going to use with him as a scratch.

If they would have called up a young guy from WBS and sat Sprong, I'd be happy. But Grant? Eh...

 

[Peat]

We finally have our top three centers (or so it appears) ready to roll tonight and what does Sully do, instead of scratching a a depth center he scratches Sprong. It's not a big deal on the surface, but it just shows how this coach tries to marginalize players he doesn't like. Sure Sprong will play at times, but only with bottom of the barrel centers. When there's a chance he can get a regular shift with our top three, he's scratched. I want the Pens to succeed, but I also want this coach gone. What he's doing here is so obvious. And whether you like Sprong or not, this is not what a coach should be doing.

Not using players they don't rate is exactly what a coach should be doing and its exactly what people want the coach to do with players they don't like.

The issue is entirely whether you like Sprong or not. There's no way people would react like this if it had been ZAR scratched with 5 forwards kept in, because people don't like ZAR.

And I'd prefer to see Sprong over Sheahan/Grant/ZAR right now. But that's because I think Sully's making the wrong call on who'll help him here, not because the idea is inherently bad.

To be fair, Sprong has done literally nothing in 90% of the games he has played in this year. Sprong should be healthy scratched, I'm just very concerned about the lines they're going to use with him as a scratch.

If they would have called up a young guy from WBS and sat Sprong, I'd be happy. But Grant? Eh...

What I've seen of the last couple of games, Sprong deserves a shirt. He's been energetic and confident and that's resulted in play going the right way and him creating chances for himself. He still looks flawed, but I'd rather have him on the ice in a sheltered role compared to the alternatives.

 

[Ryder71]

To be fair, Sprong has done literally nothing in 90% of the games he has played in this year. Sprong should be healthy scratched, I'm just very concerned about the lines they're going to use with him as a scratch.

If they would have called up a young guy from WBS and sat Sprong, I'd be happy. But Grant? Eh...

The lines however would line up better if Sprong played. And let me say while Sprong has not produced how can we really expect him to when he's relegated to playing with guys like Grant? Simon gets shifts with Sid and he's deserving of that. But there's a decided difference to playing with Sid than Grant obviously. And again Simon has earned it but he to turned over the puck last game which led to a Sabres goal.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

We finally have our top three centers (or so it appears) ready to roll tonight and what does Sully do, instead of scratching a a depth center he scratches Sprong. It's not a big deal on the surface, but it just shows how this coach tries to marginalize players he doesn't like. Sure Sprong will play at times, but only with bottom of the barrel centers. When there's a chance he can get a regular shift with our top three, he's scratched. I want the Pens to succeed, but I also want this coach gone. What he's doing here is so obvious. And whether you like Sprong or not, this is not what a coach should be doing.

And this is why I am cheering the other teams to beat us and beat us badly because I've had enough with how this coaching staff handles shit. f*** them.

 

[EightyOne]

Let's be real REAL...Sullivan likely destroyed a clicking line from last game...when we need Brass clicking. And is now playing Grant and Sheahan..likely on the same line.

I hope non of what I wrote is true.

I hope he puts Guentzel-Brassard-Hornqvist together...

But..what..he gonna do Simon-Crosby-Rust then????

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Oh boy.

You know how I know Sullivan has no f***ing idea how to motivate players right now? He's doing what worked 3yrs ago in hopes it works now. That's how moronic his rationale is. Murray is supposed to sit and watch Casey to get fired up. That's what he thinks will work (it hasn't all year) when instead, Murray should be playing through his struggles.

Dude gives Rust a bunch of chances in the top 6 and yet won't play Murray through his struggles.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Let's be real REAL...Sullivan likely destroyed a clicking line from last game...when we need Brass clicking. And is now playing Grant and Sheahan..likely on the same line.

I hope non of what I wrote is true.

Sully hopes a double negative equals a positive.

*facepalm*

 

[Ryder71]

Not using players they don't rate is exactly what a coach should be doing and its exactly what people want the coach to do with players they don't like.

The issue is entirely whether you like Sprong or not. There's no way people would react like this if it had been ZAR scratched with 5 forwards kept in, because people don't like ZAR.

And I'd prefer to see Sprong over Sheahan/Grant/ZAR right now. But that's because I think Sully's making the wrong call on who'll help him here, not because the idea is inherently bad.

The idea is inherently bad because of the reasoning behind it. Simply put he doesn't like Sprong and he will do everything he can to not place him in a position to succeed. This is a personal issue and he's letting it cloud his judgement.

I don't care who the player is, truthfully. I'm not a huge fan of Sprong in particular. He's fine and I hope he does well for the teams sake. But he's getting railroaded because his personality clashes with the coach. Just like Cole did.

 

[Andy99]

So L4 is going to be Sheahan-Grant-ZAR/Rust ?
Blah....

 

[Peat]

The idea is inherently bad because of the reasoning behind it. Simply put he doesn't like Sprong and he will do everything he can to not place him in a position to succeed. This is a personal issue and he's letting it cloud his judgement.

I don't care who the player is, truthfully. I'm not a huge fan of Sprong in particular. He's fine and I hope he does well for the teams sake. But he's getting railroaded because his personality clashes with the coach. Just like Cole did.

Pretty much all the recent talk I've read about this is about Sully disliking Sprong as a player, not as a person.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

So L4 is going to be Sheahan-Grant-ZAR/Rust ?
Blah....

Start the game short handed. We need more challenges brah.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Pretty much all the recent talk I've read about this is about Sully disliking Sprong as a player, not as a person.

I'd hate people too if I didn't give them proper chances and then blamed them for being crap with crappy players.

Come on man, jeez.

 

[EightyOne]

Pretty much all the recent talk I've read about this is about Sully disliking Sprong as a player, not as a person.

I know you're one of the optimists, lol, but right now, I think Sullivan personally hates every one of us fans.

 

[Tom Hanks]

You know how I know Sullivan has no ****ing idea how to motivate players right now? He's doing what worked 3yrs ago in hopes it works now. That's how moronic his rationale is. Murray is supposed to sit and watch Casey to get fired up. That's what he thinks will work (it hasn't all year) when instead, Murray should be playing through his struggles.

Dude gives Rust a bunch of chances in the top 6 and yet won't play Murray through his struggles.

It’s different letting a player play through their struggles than a goalie.

We also have 5 games in the next week so they are going to split games and probably looked into who would match best against what teams.

 

[Peat]

I know you're one of the optimists, lol, but right now, I think Sullivan personally hates every one of us fans.

If I was Sully and I was reading this board I'd hate everyone too.

edit: And my view on Sully is less about optimism, and more about the fact that a lot of the complaints don't make sense. Which still leaves a lot of room for fair criticism tbh.

 

[vodeni]

Simon Sid Horny
Pearson G Phil
Jake Brass Rust
ZAR - Sheahan Grant

Sid and Brass could be changing wings..I wish they would gamble just one night and get the fourth line:
Johnson -TB -Sprong

 

[Fordy]

To be fair, Sprong has done literally nothing in 90% of the games he has played in this year. Sprong should be healthy scratched, I'm just very concerned about the lines they're going to use with him as a scratch.

If they would have called up a young guy from WBS and sat Sprong, I'd be happy. But Grant? Eh...

there are 5 players in the lineup that are also doing nothing. i can quibble over just how much more nothing they do than sprong, but i don’t even have to. if we’re going to have 5 do nothings in the lineup a night, one of them should at least have some upside and be in their natur position