GDT: I Wanna Be The Very Best...Redemption Night vs Columbus @ 1900 EST

[Kristopher Letang]

Great GDT @ImporterExporter I hope they show up like you did, but I won’t bet on it.

 

[ColePens]

I really do not give a flying f*** what the lineup is. Get this team to play hockey the way they can. They are young. They have speed. They have absolutely zero desire and the coach is the one that is responsible at the end of the day, whether right or wrong.

Play f***ing hockey the way you know how. Period.

 

[Andy99]

If they can’t beat CLB who lost half their team, is playing a backup at goal and is coming off a b2b game, it’s really going to put me in a funk about their chances for the rest of the season...

Really want to see Marino out there as well...

 

[Jaded-Fan]

I really do not give a flying **** what the lineup is. Get this team to play hockey the way they can. They are young. They have speed. They have absolutely zero desire and the coach is the one that is responsible at the end of the day, whether right or wrong.

Play ****ing hockey the way you know how. Period.

I don't care how young, speedy or skilled you are. If you get outworked most of the night you will lose most nights. And most got flat out outworked in the first game.

Buffalo's forecheck was unreal, even when they had a lead and could have coasted they never stopped. Except for a couple of players you saw nothing like that from the Pens.

 

[ColePens]

I don't care how young, speedy or skilled you are. If you get outworked most of the night you will lose most nights. And most got flat out outworked in the first game.

Buffalo's forecheck was unreal, even when they had a lead and could have coasted they never stopped. Except for a couple of players you saw nothing like that from the Pens.

The effort level, outside of (IMO) Tanev/Geno was baffling. Home opener Game 1 after being swept last year. Laughable. Awful. And I think that culture of the room is getting it. JJ gets a spot. ZAR gets a spot. Doesn't matter how camp went. It doesn't matter than in 2016 the new blood is what infused the Pens to win. They just get spots.

And i think that is really showing up.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

If the Pens look the more tired of the two teams against a club that played last night, I'll be pissed.

There better not be a repeat of the Sabres game.

 

[Ginormousthumbs]

I’m not sure if this is a good thing or not.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

I don't care how young, speedy or skilled you are. If you get outworked most of the night you will lose most nights. And most got flat out outworked in the first game.

Buffalo's forecheck was unreal, even when they had a lead and could have coasted they never stopped. Except for a couple of players you saw nothing like that from the Pens.

It boggles my mind how much lack of effort this team has put in the past couple of seasons. Systems, roster composition, all those things are one thing, but effort level is something players can control. I just don't get it.

 

[Jaded-Fan]

The effort level, outside of (IMO) Tanev/Geno was baffling. Home opener Game 1 after being swept last year. Laughable. Awful. And I think that culture of the room is getting it. JJ gets a spot. ZAR gets a spot. Doesn't matter how camp went. It doesn't matter than in 2016 the new blood is what infused the Pens to win. They just get spots.

And i think that is really showing up.

I get that it is a balancing act with superstar players and taking a hard line. However in this case the two biggest superstars are for the most part the hardest working players on the ice. Crosby certainly, and although Geno could be accused of coasting at times, he certainly came into this year and that game with fire in his eyes.

So if your superstars are good with the hammer I just do not get why Sully does not use it much more than he does and take a hard line with performances like we saw with too many last game.

 

[vodeni]

One way to remedy inabilty of your d-man to bring the puck is not to have to bring the puck. I think Sully identified that, but somehow he cannot make our forward to succesfully forecheck. The fourth line is awful because it has ZAR who is F2 and is always step slow so the opponent d-man can easily either skate out or pass since our d-man don't know how to hold the blue line...The third line is the same, Hornquist will be a weak link there cause he is also slow to get to the puck. In addition to being slow, the ones with some speed like Blueger or McCann they don't seem to be in position to harass the d-man. The second line has a good chance with Tanev now and Geno dedicated to haunt the puck. Teams will played them fast and try stretch passes, this line needs some good puck handling d-man behind that can stand at the blue line or quickly recover the pucks. Sid and Jake have always been great and with Simon, if they wake up should tilt the ice...

I really think its the matter of playing the right speedy forwards on the fourth line (scratch ZAR and Horny) and somehow make them put their A effort. tonight is a chance against lowly Jackets to show something

 

[BigEezyE22]

I’m not sure if this is a good thing or not.



View attachment 260897

They cry in each other's arms last night or something m. Game of whiffle ball?

 

[Andy99]

One way to remedy inabilty of your d-man to bring the puck is not to have to bring the puck. I think Sully identified that, but somehow he cannot make our forward to succesfully forecheck. The fourth line is awful because it has ZAR who is F2 and is always step slow so the opponent d-man can easily either skate out or pass since our d-man don't know how to hold the blue line...The third line is the same, Hornquist will be a weak link there cause he is also slow to get to the puck. In addition to being slow, the ones with some speed like Blueger or McCann they don't seem to be in position to harass the d-man. The second line has a good chance with Tanev now and Geno dedicated to haunt the puck. Teams will played them fast and try stretch passes, this line needs some good puck handling d-man behind that can stand at the blue line or quickly recover the pucks. Sid and Jake have always been great and with Simon, if they wake up should tilt the ice...

I really think its the matter of playing the right speedy forwards on the fourth line (scratch ZAR and Horny) and somehow make them put their A effort. tonight is a chance against lowly Jackets to show something

We need Rust back but I certainly would try AJ or Lafferty in place of ZAR...in fact, I prefer it

 

[HandshakeLine]

If they can’t beat CLB who lost half their team, is playing a backup at goal and is coming off a b2b game, it’s really going to put me in a funk about their chances for the rest of the season...

Really want to see Marino out there as well...

The silver lining to a bad start is that things will have to change. No way ownership would stand for it.

IMO the worst thing that could happen is a mediocre start that allows the front office to pretend that everything’s okay.

 

[Bingo71]

I’m not sure if this is a good thing or not.



View attachment 260897

We “tried” to get input from all the guys???

 

[Bingo71]

The silver lining to a bad start is that things will have to change. No way ownership would stand for it.

IMO the worst thing that could happen is a mediocre start that allows the front office to pretend that everything’s okay.

Well then, the problem becomes that if they rearrange the deck chairs in the Titanic and they pull out a few wins here and there and muddle through the rest of the month, nothing will likely change and they’ll just claim that they “need to put it all together” and “stack wins”.

I guess there’s two lines of thinking. Either you think that this lineup CAN succeed and pile wins, or you think that this lineup lacks chemistry and finishers and game breakers and that no amount of shuffling or film watching will make them successful.

 

[Night Shift]

Jack Johnson = Muk

Feel like that is an appropriate nickname for JJ. Muk, I like it

 

[EightyOne]

Bring back the West Point boot camp trips??

Petts words are concerning. Maybe he's just not good at interviews?

 

[EVGENIMERLIN]

We need Rust back but I certainly would try AJ or Lafferty in place of ZAR...in fact, I prefer it

I think AJ is still hurt, but agreed would like to see he or Lafferty over ZAR on L4. I miss Rusty especially since he looked ready to rock in pre-season. I'm ready to move on from Bjugs. If McCann can 3C (Simon is NOT a center here) trade him with JJ and try to get back a decent young forward.

 

[TKalltheTime]

Pens are going to get clowned again so bad today! HAHA

 

[Coastal Kev]

I’m not sure if this is a good thing or not.



View attachment 260897

Team meeting after one game.......? Never heard of that before.

Meathead is a coach

 

[Gurglesons]

I get that it is a balancing act with superstar players and taking a hard line. However in this case the two biggest superstars are for the most part the hardest working players on the ice. Crosby certainly, and although Geno could be accused of coasting at times, he certainly came into this year and that game with fire in his eyes.

So if your superstars are good with the hammer I just do not get why Sully does not use it much more than he does and take a hard line with performances like we saw with too many last game.

What does this mean?

 

[BigEezyE22]

We “tried” to get input from all the guys???

They went to IUP with Juju

 

[Turin]

Been preaching patience but if JJ is still playing by November I’m on the fire everybody train barring a miraculous October.

LGP

 

[Jaded-Fan]

What does this mean?

Simply that if anyone is superstar enough to need to be treated with kid gloves it would be Crosby, Malkin and maybe Letang.

And yet for the most part they buy in and put in the sweat equity.

Which is why I don't get why Sullivan doesn't go berserker on those who deserve it way more often.

 

[JimmyTwoTimes]

It boggles my mind how much lack of effort this team has put in the past couple of seasons. Systems, roster composition, all those things are one thing, but effort level is something players can control. I just don't get it.

When is it not on the players anymore and on coaching? Really think guys like Crosby and others will just settle for this? After winning b2b then losing to the Caps...losing the way they did last year. We got rid of Phil..."one of the problems". Starting to think Sully is running out of excuses. He did a great job getting our group over the top...no doubt about it. But IF he is the prob...dont waste more years just because he did win those. Pens of all teams should know how short of a shelf life coaches have.

If we don't turn things around with this group...we should see another midseason change and go on another run. We already changed so many players since those b2b cups. It can't be all them.