Pre-Game Talk: All Purpose Off Day Thread | Blue! My Boy!

[Cellee]

I'm a Pens and Jets fan, so I'm going to need us to go ahead and win this in regulation tonight.

 

[Cellee]

I think Sid could be the exception to that rule, especially if he stays with his team, knowing so much and having all these local contacts down the wire.

I mean, it could help him use his higher intellect do the job. Who wouldn't want to play for him to start with?

GM seems a better fit.

 

[Empoleon8771]

So if he’s playing, who’s sitting between JJ and Petts? ...better be JJ...

There is about a 0.0% chance they bench Johnson, especially after how well he has played on his natural side.

My guess is that they experiment with Pettersson or Maatta on RD and run with those two as the bottom pair. Keep the top-4 together and let Maatta, Pettersson and Gudbranson battle it out for the bottom pair. Considering how well Gudbranson has played, it's a good thing to have those 3 guys competing for a roster spot. I could also see the Penguins running with 11 forwards and 7 D, I wouldn't mind that decision.

 

[Ginormousthumbs]

Try Pettersson on L4...

 

[Icarium]

What does Kessel have to do to be removed from PP1, score an own goal? Not that I expect them to do much even if he is removed, since Geno is out, but still.

 

[BladeRunner66]

GM seems a better fit.

Well, if you think he'd be too close for the team yeah, but his hockey I.Q. + contacts would be befitting GM though and what player wouldn't want to gel with him as a coach if being close to players would actually be a strong positive incentive in this case? I see him as coach for a couple then GM hands down.

 

[PredsFanFromla]

Since I didn't see these posted

Anybody notice that the scoreboard has Nashville winning 1-0 at 20:00

 

[Peat]

There is about a 0.0% chance they bench Johnson, especially after how well he has played on his natural side.

My guess is that they experiment with Pettersson or Maatta on RD and run with those two as the bottom pair. Keep the top-4 together and let Maatta, Pettersson and Gudbranson battle it out for the bottom pair. Considering how well Gudbranson has played, it's a good thing to have those 3 guys competing for a roster spot. I could also see the Penguins running with 11 forwards and 7 D, I wouldn't mind that decision.

I have to disagree pretty strongly about Johnson playing well. He had a big rally initially but he's making more and more mistakes, his line is getting hemmed in more often, and his lack of attacking prowess is becoming more and more stark.

 

[UnrealMachine]

I have to disagree pretty strongly about Johnson playing well. He had a big rally initially but he's making more and more mistakes, his line is getting hemmed in more often, and his lack of attacking prowess is becoming more and more stark.

There is also a major gap between being one of the worst defensemen in the league (stats + eye test) and "playing well". He did a good job of almost playing at an average level (net neutral) for a period of time, but at no time was he a net positive for the team. His offensive contribution is still somewhere between boat anchor and abandoned vehicle.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I have to disagree pretty strongly about Johnson playing well. He had a big rally initially but he's making more and more mistakes, his line is getting hemmed in more often, and his lack of attacking prowess is becoming more and more stark.

I'm guessing you're basing this on his corsi? He was getting caved in terms of possession when he was playing excellent about a week or 2 ago. Hell, even his possession stats over the last 3 games have been fine and he has only been on the ice for 1 goal against.

Johnson was playing really well as recently as the Buffalo game, which was the last game I watched closely. I'm willing to bet the "Johnson isn't playing well" argument is mostly coming from the fact that the Penguins have lost 3 games in a row and Johnson was bad in their last game (even with that shot block in OT). If you want to be pointing fingers at any defenseman who isn't playing well right now, it should be Schultz.

 

[Cellee]

Anybody notice that the scoreboard has Nashville winning 1-0 at 20:00

Pretty sure that is mandatory from the league.

 

[KIRK]

MP is likely to come out. TBH I haven't been all that impressed with him lately. Not that he's been bad, but I thought he was a bit more sound the first month or so after we acquired him.

Yes, MP most likely comes out.

That said, I'm not sure how impressed you'll be with Maatta-Gunbranson either.

 

[Peat]

I'm guessing you're basing this on his corsi? He was getting caved in terms of possession when he was playing excellent about a week or 2 ago. Hell, even his possession stats over the last 3 games have been fine and he has only been on the ice for 1 goal against.

Johnson was playing really well as recently as the Buffalo game, which was the last game I watched closely. I'm willing to bet the "Johnson isn't playing well" argument is mostly coming from the fact that the Penguins have lost 3 games in a row and Johnson was bad in their last game (even with that shot block in OT). If you want to be pointing fingers at any defenseman who isn't playing well right now, it should be Schultz.

Started looking based on other people's comments and the stats, fully believe in it based on eyetest. Haven't even looked at the last few games' stats on him specifically.

I think the simplest answer here is you seem to like what he's doing more than 99% of the forum at pretty much all times

 

[Andy99]

Anybody notice that the scoreboard has Nashville winning 1-0 at 20:00

They get a goal to start the game because the refs hate the Pens ....

 

[Andy99]

Yes, MP most likely comes out.

That said, I'm not sure how impressed you'll be with Maatta-Gunbranson either.

Should be JJ...he’s been trending down the last couple weeks and is dragging Schultz with him...that second pair has to be better

 

[Ryder71]

Yes, MP most likely comes out.

That said, I'm not sure how impressed you'll be with Maatta-Gunbranson either.

I'm not overly impressed with OM either. I just don't know if there will be an appreciable difference one way or another.

 

[ChaosAgent]

I'm not overly impressed with OM either. I just don't know if there will be an appreciable difference one way or another.

There certainly is a noticeable difference in their present and future cap hits, though.

 

[Gurglesons]

Dumo - Letang
Maatta - Schultz
Pettersson - Gudbranson

Is the logical roster..

 

[Andy99]

Dumo - Letang
Maatta - Schultz
Pettersson - Gudbranson

Is the logical roster..

Logical and what will happen are unfortunately two different things...

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Dumo - Letang
Maatta - Schultz
Pettersson - Gudbranson

Is the logical roster..

Dumo - Letang
Pettersson - Schultz
Riikola - Gudbranson

Would be even better.

 

[Clatartar]

Why isn’t Riikola playing.

 

[ChaosAgent]

Dumo - Letang
Pettersson - Schultz
Riikola - Gudbranson

Would be even better.

IDK if Riikola is better than Maatta or JJ, honestly. But he is cheaper and so I'd prefer him for next year.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Should be JJ...he’s been trending down the last couple weeks and is dragging Schultz with him...that second pair has to be better

Or maybe Schultz has just been ass and needs to be better? There's a thought.

I don't get the unwillingness some people here have with criticizing Schultz. You almost never see any negatives said about him.

 

[Ogrezilla]

Why isn’t Riikola playing.

is he one of our 6 best D?

 

[ChaosAgent]

Or maybe Schultz has just been ass and needs to be better? There's a thought.

I don't get the unwillingness some people here have with criticizing Schultz. You almost never see any negatives said about him.

Schultz's stature benefits from 2 things:

2017 playoffs where he became the co-#1D by default.
Earlier this year where him being out correlated with us sucking.

Nonetheless, I agree with you that he has not been quite as good recently. Dumo had a couple of rough games too although he was great Tuesday night.