GDT: Pens vs Red Wings

[plaidchuck]

And we end up where we began. Country club.

 

[xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

I dunno fellas, I agree the org is favoring Kunitz because he's a Penguins bro and all...

However, this team can't progress with that kind of attitude.

Kunitz is going to have to play craptacular hockey to get removed from that line now. It's going to be easy to rack up points with those two and that's my fear right now...

Pretty much. He'll get some gimme goals or assists by just existing. People will print out and frame his statsheet and say "LOOK AT HOW MUCH HE'S PRODUCING," and he'll continue doing nothing to help that line be effective and it'll **** us over in the long run.

I don't think he could play himself off of that line, honestly. If his play last season didn't get him outright benched/scratched at least once, let alone for an extended period of time, nothing will.

 

[Speaking Moistly]

The whole angle of "Well, Pouliot's development leaves a lot to be desired, but who knows how poorly we'd have ****ed up (insert name)" is so weird, and depressing. Yeah, it's probably true, but it doesn't absolve the Pouliot pick as being the wrong one.

It's all a mess. The Pouliot pick wouldn't look like this if Bennett had gone better or if they hadn't traded away Morrow and Despres for ****. Mainly Despres and Morrow for nothing.

I dunno fellas, I agree the org is favoring Kunitz because he's a Penguins bro and all...

However, this team can't progress with that kind of attitude.

Kunitz is going to have to play craptacular hockey to get removed from that line now. It's going to be easy to rack up points with those two and that's my fear right now...

If he does manage to get taken off that line he'll go straight to Malkin.

 

[Penguinsyay]

You bros need to learn a thing or two about bro status and elite bro status.

Perron has not been here long enough to achieve bro status. Kunitz can't just be demoted from elite bro to non-bro, he's still one of the bros. You're comparing a bro to a non-bro, bro.

 

[xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

You bros need to learn a thing or two about bro status and elite bro status.

Perron has not been here long enough to achieve bro status. Kunitz can't just be demoted from elite bro to non-bro, he's still one of the bros. You're comparing a bro to a non-bro, bro.

Bruh.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Don't let an unassuming camp mask the fact that Pouliot's already the best PPQB in the organization and a good bet to become a very productive top pairing defenseman over the next few years. He needs to refine his game, but he's still a stellar prospect who only became legal to drink in the continental US this year.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Don't let an unassuming camp mask the fact that Pouliot's already the best PPQB in the organization and a good bet to become a very productive top pairing defenseman over the next few years.

I wouldn't say it's a good bet he becomes a very productive top pair D. Him turning into Goligoski 2.0 is totally possible and probably the most likely situation (middle pair PP specialist).

 

[Speaking Moistly]

Don't let an unassuming camp mask the fact that Pouliot's already the best PPQB in the organization and a good bet to become a very productive top pairing defenseman over the next few years.

Nothing Scuderi can't do something close to and then surpass overall with his defense.

 

[xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Don't let an unassuming camp mask the fact that Pouliot's already the best PPQB in the organization and a good bet to become a very productive top pairing defenseman over the next few years.

Hopefully. It's also extremely likely he sees nothing above 2nd PP unit time with the top PP being Sid, Geno, Hornqvist (or Kunitz ^___^), Kessel and Letang--whom you know is not being taken off despite years of awful decisions on the PP.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

I wouldn't say it's a good bet he becomes a very productive top pair D. Him turning into Goligoski 2.0 is totally possible and probably the most likely situation (middle pair PP specialist).

Except he already QBs a PP better than Gogs ever has. He simply hasn't been given the opportunity to show it this fall.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Nothing Scuderi can't do something close to and then surpass overall with his defense.

Hopefully. It's also extremely likely he sees nothing above 2nd PP unit time with the top PP being Sid, Geno, Hornqvist (or Kunitz ^___^), Kessel and Letang--whom you know is not being taken off despite years of awful decisions on the PP.

Pouliot's not accountable for the org's dumb decisions, even if he may have to suffer the consequences.

 

[xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Pouliot's not accountable for the org's dumb decisions, even if he may have to suffer the consequences.

Hope you're right, RRP. He's a damn-important guy to our defense, and the way he's played throughout the rookie tourney and camp/pre-season has me very worried. He's looked terrible, even against notably weaker competition in the rookie tourney. He is either not nearly as far along as we'd hope, or he just looks disinterested/lost. Either way, not good.

-edit- And aside from an infrequent flash here or there, hinting at some underlying offensive potential, he looked pretty bad last season as well.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Except he already QBs a PP better than Gogs ever has. He simply hasn't been given the opportunity to show it this fall.

I meant Goligoski 2.0 as in a middle pair PP specialist.

 

[mpp9]

Pouliot being held accountable is fine by me. He needs alot of work.

The only reason to keep Kunitz up there is that they want a certain type of player with Sid and Kessel. Perron is a more dangerous player at this point, but may not be better at what is needed on that line.

I think it sends a bad message to not even try others there though. Zero competition.

I've accepted it though. Just gotta hope Perron gets a spot on the Malkin line. Or they better be damn certain Sprong is in the NHL next year b/c Perron won't be here.

 

[Speaking Moistly]

Kunitz hasn't been that player in years, though. Unless they want a guy with so-so skill floating around waiting to be set up on the other side of Kessel. Perron is more of that player than Kunitz at this point.

Remember the promises of competition and "making a spot" for a young player? Good times these last two seasons.

 

[mpp9]

I think Perron's every bit as nasty and capable along the boards. I'm saying defensively and getting the puck to Sid and Kessel quickly on breakouts.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Hope you're right, RRP. He's a damn-important guy to our defense, and the way he's played throughout the rookie tourney and camp/pre-season has me very worried. He's looked terrible, even against notably weaker competition in the rookie tourney. He is either not nearly as far along as we'd hope, or he just looks disinterested/lost. Either way, not good.

-edit- And aside from an infrequent flash here or there, hinting at some underlying offensive potential, he looked pretty bad last season as well.

I don't know if it's as bad as all that. I don't have a single issue with his offense, last year or this year - right now he's a gifted player who's going through the motions with rookie and B teams, and not getting the opportunity to play his role with skilled NHL players who can take advantage of how processes the game.

Defensively he's a work in progress, but he has all the tools, they simply need to be sharpened up. As an offensive defenseman with 34 NHL games to his credit, I think that's to be expected - anyone who thought he'd be ready for a seamless transition to the middle pair this year were probably getting a little ahead of themselves. The fully-formed Maattas of the world are few and far between.

I meant Goligoski 2.0 as in a middle pair PP specialist.

Your mileage may vary, but that seems to me to be the low end of Pouliot's potential.

 

[Speaking Moistly]

I think Perron's every bit as nasty and capable along the boards. I'm saying defensively and getting the puck to Sid and Kessel quickly on breakouts.

And I would be surprised if we had Kunitz doing that around the 40 game mark, which might be moving the goal posts a bit, but still.

 

[xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Pouliot being held accountable is fine by me. He needs alot of work.

The only reason to keep Kunitz up there is that they want a certain type of player with Sid and Kessel. Perron is a more dangerous player at this point, but may not be better at what is needed on that line.

I think it sends a bad message to not even try others there though. Zero competition.

I've accepted it though. Just gotta hope Perron gets a spot on the Malkin line. Or they better be damn certain Sprong is in the NHL next year b/c Perron won't be here.

While I agree that Sid and Kessel could use a banger (they don't need anything, other than to not have someone **** their line up), a guy who is gonna do all the grunt work and get them the puck; Kunitz isn't that guy, and hasn't been for literally years. I don't get where everyone who proclaims Kunitz is the "certain type of player" the Pens want for that line.

I know I trash Kunitz A LOT, but god damn, the guy literally hasn't been that Kunitz for aaaaaaaaaaaaages. I don't care what some arbitrary, stupidly erroneous stat-line for hits says on NHL.com. Kunitz hasn't hit with any sort of force, knocked guys off of pucks, hounded and worn down defensemen on the forecheck, etc. in years. To say he's the guy Sid and Kessel need is absolutely crazy.

We're gonna lose Perron (a highly skilled 27 year old LWer [hint: the one position we're barren at], who busts his ass and hustles) for nothing, because of the same idiotic coaching and the family first attitude that's plagued us for years.

 

[plaidchuck]

If Pouliot ends up just as good as a 61st overall guy, then that will indeed be Sheros worst pick.

 

[drpepper]

I don't know if it's as bad as all that. I don't have a single issue with his offense, last year or this year - right now he's a gifted player who's going through the motions with rookie and B teams, and not getting the opportunity to play his role with skilled NHL players who can take advantage of how processes the game.

Defensively he's a work in progress, but he has all the tools, they simply need to be sharpened up. As an offensive defenseman with 34 NHL games to his credit, I think that's to be expected - anyone who thought he'd be ready for a seamless transition to the middle pair this year were probably getting a little ahead of themselves. The fully-formed Maattas of the world are few and far between.

Your mileage may vary, but that seems to me to be the low end of Pouliot's potential.

I don't think that fans accurately assess players' efforts most of the time.

However, I don't think a young player trying to make it in the NHL should ever be going through the motions. I don't care if its a rookie tournament or an AHL caliber team.

I am ever hopeful it is Pouliot working on a specific thing issue or some other reason.

 

[Beauner]

JR needs to pull a Billy Beane in Moneyball and trade Kunitz just so MJ can't play him on the top line

 

[EVGENIMERLIN]

Jumping off topic, but did Bonino skate with the B team today?

 

[Deutschland Dangler]

Jumping off topic, but did Bonino skate with the B team today?

Shhh, this thread is about Kunitz (I think).

For real though, I haven't seen anything about groups today but I would guess that since it's a gameday, they probably divided them by "play's tonight" and "doesn't play tonight".

 

[xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Poking around to see if there were indeed any updates about Bonino, came across this gem...

http://blog.triblive.com/chipped-ice/2015/09/26/forward-derby/

Oskar Sundqvist
Plus: He’s every bit of 6-3, 210 and plays a physical game. He can also, as I asked him Friday, play wing, if necessary. Long range, good stick. Almost made the team last year.

Minus: He can say his hamstring is “perfect” all he wants. There’s a reason we’re asking. Has also won only 10 of 30 faceoffs in the preseason.

What's the connection between his hamstring and his faceoffs?