GDT: Game #4 Pens vs Sabres: "Gee, I wish we had one of them powerplay machines."

[Big Friggin Dummy]

They should just run with Poulin and DOC in elevated roles for the rest of the pre-season to see what happens. Games don't matter, just let 'em show whether or not they're ready for top-9 duty.

Eller's been surprisingly decent. I thought that dude was gonna suck, and he still may as the season wears on, but he's not Carter out there for sure.

 

[Gurglesons]

Which is what exactly?

Physicality, grit, board play, etc. Everything this team is missing.

It's also why I'd target DeMelo.

 

[Ryder71]

Physicality, grit, board play, etc. Everything this team is missing.

It's also why I'd target DeMelo.

Poulin doesn't strike me as an overly physical player, decent along the boards I guess.

 

[jmelm]

Very easily could have had four 14 tonight.

Fixed.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Good on DOC to bag a few.
Karlsson with 0 points. Have to start looking at off-loading him.

 

[Gurglesons]

Poulin doesn't strike me as an overly physical player, decent along the boards I guess.

I'm not surprised your eyes are going at your age, Ryder.

 

[Empoleon8771]

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Sid always says that his line generated a lot of good chances, no matter how it went
I missed half this game so I won't speak on this one.

 

[chethejet]

Dubas knows what he wants and I think the organization has settled on what they want after last year. Cap space aside, Pens improved bottom 6 and that was horrendous last year. Graves massive improvement over Dumo and Karlsson will be a big time addition as well. All in all, probably best off season in years.

 

[The GM]

Good on DOC to bag a few.
Karlsson with 0 points. Have to start looking at off-loading him.

A lot of people called it, that contract
won’t age well

 

[PensandCaps]

Fantasy lineup that will never happen

Guentzel - Crosby - Rakell
DOC - Malkin - Smith
Poulin - Eller - Rust
Wagner/Nieto - Acciari - Zo

Nieto/Carter

 

[EVGENIMERLIN]

Missed the game, anyone wanna give me cliff notes? How were the D pairs? I feel like Graves will be a solid signing

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Dubas knows what he wants and I think the organization has settled on what they want after last year. Cap space aside, Pens improved bottom 6 and that was horrendous last year. Graves massive improvement over Dumo and Karlsson will be a big time addition as well. All in all, probably best off season in years.

Best off-season in years, under the most difficult conditions to bring improvement too, I'd say. Dubas had a lot of damage control here to address, in all areas.

 

[cygnus47]

They should just run with Poulin and DOC in elevated roles for the rest of the pre-season to see what happens. Games don't matter, just let 'em show whether or not they're ready for top-9 duty.

Eller's been surprisingly decent. I thought that dude was gonna suck, and he still may as the season wears on, but he's not Carter out there for sure.

Eller has always looked good against us imo. As far as the eye test goes, I've always thought he was better than his stats would suggest. Hopefully his effort stays high all season.

 

[KareemTrustfund]

Did Karlsson see more ES time with Sid or Geno’s line ?

 

[Big Poppa Pump]

Eller is impressing me. He doesn't look washed and has legit hands

Hopefully you can say the same thing when it really matters, like in March/April....

 

[vodeni]

Did Karlsson see more ES time with Sid or Geno’s line ?

pretty much the same about 5:30 each

 

[Gurglesons]

CHAD.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

At least we if Ty gets claimed we won't have to specify which Smith we're talking about anymore.

 

[Malkinstheman]

CHAD.

Man, Pettersson-EK could be a beast of a pairing this year

 

[Zirakzigil]

Poulin doesn't strike me as an overly physical player, decent along the boards I guess.

Hes a good energy player, hound on the puck. Hes not going to destroy someone with a hit regularly though.

 

[WickedWrister]

Missed the game, anyone wanna give me cliff notes? How were the D pairs? I feel like Graves will be a solid signing

Wrote some stuff post #317.

Sully on DOC: "What are your thoughts on Drew O’Connor this camp, and that third line here tonight? I think OC’s played really well. I thought that their line had a strong game. They create a lot of momentum for us, obviously they scored. Drew got a nice goal, Lars Eller makes a great play on it. But I thought the extended zone time, the whole shift was a real good shift. I thought they did a great job just possessing the puck and wearing them down. Then ultimately, they were able to score. I thought their line was really strong tonight. They’re a conscientious group. Matt Nieto brings some speed. OC can really skate, and I think you can see Lars Eller is a really smart two-way center man. He's just a cerebral player, and he's good on both sides of the park. I thought he made a lot of subtle offensive plays to create opportunities for his linemates. We're looking forward to watching them moving forward.

 

[Ryder71]

Hes a good energy player, hound on the puck. Hes not going to destroy someone with a hit regularly though.

Agreed, He's not the best skater either, he kinda slogs his way around the rink.

Eller has always looked good against us imo. As far as the eye test goes, I've always thought he was better than his stats would suggest. Hopefully his effort stays high all season.

I like his positioning, that's a noticeable and important aspect to his game. Seems like his on the right side of the puck more than not.

 

[spcastlemagic]

This wasn’t a regular pre-season game and in fact represented something seismic, massive, a Herculean shift in our franchise’s fortunes as we gained the most important thing possible. It seems like we gained another lifer of a fan:

This is what it’s all about - teaching new ones to love the best sport in the world, and helping them recognize the bliss that so often comes with being a Pittsburgh Penguins fan. Your mother and I made you - God made you a yinzer. He did this because he wants you to be happy and see the most sublime talents athletic competition has ever produced. Let’s get that sixth cup so little man can experience what being a Pens fan is truly all about.