Post-Game Talk: Pens win vs Yotes: Carter - the hero we need

[KareemTrustfund]

One of Puustinen’s biggest strengths is his transition offense. This team needs more of it. His first two NHL points were secondary assists from the neutral zone if my memory serves me right. Guy makes so many great reads in the neutral zone.

I don’t buy the top six or bust stuff. He can be useful on any line

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Prior his amazing Penguins tenure; last month or so of 21-22 season
and 22-23 season; 43, 42, 28, 28 point seasons with Ducks.

Rakell is a injury prone player, who had a one "lucky" season for you guys,
17 games this season for him before injury, just 4 assists.

Why an earth you'd put him to line up (to top 6) and drop Puustinen?
Rikard is almost 31, injuries might have done number for him, his career
might be close to done, trade him before his value goes to zero.

Rakell could be a trade option, but he has a partial no-trade clause and he's going to have to play for at least a little bit to show that he is healthy and to start producing again.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Maybe you guys should trade Rakell?, keep Puustinen exactly where he is.
Puustinen clearly is NHL level player and good of that, top 6 player even.

Rakell turns 31 early next year, Puustinen is 24, also for Pulju signing to work out
rather keep Puustinen.

Puustinen needs more games and I still think Rakell can turn it around, maybe quicker if Sullif*** wasn't here.

 

[CascadiaPenguin]

We need a vomit emoji option........thank you

Try to do better.

 

[OtherThingsILike]

It's nice to see Puustinen getting a shot in the Top 6. I hope he gets a few more games.

What if we can only win when Jeff Carter scores a goal? That's two (team win) GWGs in a row for him.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

Prior his amazing Penguins tenure; last month or so of 21-22 season
and 22-23 season; 43, 42, 28, 28 point seasons with Ducks.

Rakell is a injury prone player, who had a one "lucky" season for you guys,
17 games this season for him before injury, just 4 assists.

Why an earth you'd put him to line up (to top 6) and drop Puustinen?
Rikard is almost 31, injuries might have done number for him, his career
might be close to done, trade him before his value goes to zero.

I found Puusy’s father’s burner account guys.

 

[SomeDude]

When we done with the Harkins experiment? 0 points in 12 games...rather claim Vrana and give him a shot.

As bad as Harkins is, he’s had more of a pulse than DOC the last few games. DOC is so bad.

 

[Icarium]

I don't know what's more miraculous - the two power play goals or Carter scoring two very nice goals and looking rejuvenated. But I sure I enjoyed these early Christmas miracles.

Geno had a weird game where his speed looked great for a guy his age, he had quite a lot of shots and was very unlucky not to score, had some nice takeaways but his passing was often atrocious for someone with his skill set. Puustinen's presence was felt despite the lack of goals for that line.

The power play still seems to have issues with the concept of advancing up the ice in order to push the penalty killers ever closer to their goal and opening up better shooting positions, the 4 on 3 was almost as painful to watch as the many power plays in the previous month or so. Their obsession with deflections from the side of the goal is also odd since this leads to goals like once a month. But they finally utilised Crosby's passes from behind the goal (amazing new tactic, ain't it) and deflections right in front of the goalie. Maybe they will learn the lesson that doing the obvious is actually a good idea on the power play.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

So let's talk about the 2 PP goals

#1 - Jake scores because he's moving into a vacated space and not sitting still, which allows him to be an easy mark

#2 - Screen and a tip.

I mean it's not like we've been screaming about these very things for the past 3 months or anything. Shows you how dumb this coaching staff is

Also, DOC does not have any hockey sense to be on the PK. Get him off of it. He very much had a hand in the 2 PP goals against

 

[Grouch]

As bad as Harkins is, he’s had more of a pulse than DOC the last few games. DOC is so bad.

Stop it. DOC is bad. Not THAT bad.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

Stop it. DOC is bad. Not THAT bad.

Agreed. DOC has been mediocre, but he's not in Harkins territory.

 

[Fordy]

One of Puustinen’s biggest strengths is his transition offense. This team needs more of it. His first two NHL points were secondary assists from the neutral zone if my memory serves me right. Guy makes so many great reads in the neutral zone.

I don’t buy the top six or bust stuff. He can be useful on any line

still waiting for him to look like some sort of idiot on defense like people keep saying. is hinostroza some sort of 3rd line defensive guru? we’ve seen enough of him and puustinen should be taking his spot even if rakell is back tomorrow

Puustinen is playing a role currently that helps him succeed. The play is predominantly in the offensive zone, and when his line does need to track back and play defense, he's fine.

The issue is in a bottom six role, you're getting more defensive zone starts. You need to find a way to escape with the puck, not track back occasionally.

His issues historically have been coverage and responsibility in the defensive zone.

If you can keep him in an offensive, sheltered role going forward, he can help you. But he will struggle if he's on the third or fourth line.

id rather find out by trying it

 

[SomeDude]

Stop it. DOC is bad. Not THAT bad.

Harkins sucks but at least hits. DOC falls down and fans on shots. Both should not be playing.

 

[Andy99]

Of course nothing comes easy for the Pens and the PP turning around comes with a total abomination of the PK lol

 

[Grouch]

Harkins sucks but at least hits. DOC falls down and fans on shots. Both should not be playing.

Harkins skates around in circles, fumbles pucks, and makes it appear he is hitting guys, but rather slightly bumps into people. He is BARELY AHL capable and this experiment needs to end and he needs to go back down and never be seen again.

I think DOC stinks too. He needs to be off L1 forever, and I think he is L4 at best. No clue why he gets these undeserved opportunities to be L1 or PK. IF Rust is gone long term and Rakell comes back, I'd like to see either Puu or Hino on L1, and the other on L2, with Rakell on L3 withOUT DOC on it. Maybe Acciari - Eller - Rakell.

 

[SomeDude]

Harkins skates around in circles, fumbles pucks, and makes it appear he is hitting guys, but rather slightly bumps into people. He is BARELY AHL capable and this experiment needs to end and he needs to go back down and never be seen again.

I think DOC stinks too. He needs to be off L1 forever, and I think he is L4 at best. No clue why he gets these undeserved opportunities to be L1 or PK. IF Rust is gone long term and Rakell comes back, I'd like to see either Puu or Hino on L1, and the other on L2, with Rakell on L3 withOUT DOC on it. Maybe Acciari - Eller - Rakell.

I think we’re in agreement. DOC should be a throw in or just traded for whatever pick you can get. He’s becoming Sully’s Michel Ouellet, only much worse. At least Ouellet scored some goals.

 

[The Old Master]

I mean it's not like we've been screaming about these very things for the past 3 months or anything. Shows you how dumb this coaching staff is

last 3 months?

 

[Darren McCord]

I'm really happy to see Puustinen finding a role on the powerplay, it may be a niche role but it's a role that needs to be filled regardless. Seattle showed last year how you could work with that kind of guy in Sprong, I think Puustinen fills that same role. I'm skeptical of Puustinen at 5v5 but you can't deny how dangerous he is on the powerplay. A good coach should be able to figure out a bottom-6 role for him that allows him to play every game despite his flaws.

When healthy, I don't see why the Penguins can't play Puustinen on the 4th line but just double-shift guys like Rust and O'Connor every so often at 5v5 if they're concerned with Puustinen's defense. This team can run with a pure PP specialist in the bottom-6, I was initially thinking more of a net front guy but a guy like Puustinen can also work there.

I think Puustinen is fine 5v5. Put him with Sid, they go all offense anyways. Rakell can play line 3.

Jake - Sid - Puustinen
Smith - Geno - Rust
Doc - Eller - Rakell
Neio - Accari - Zohorna

 

[Darren McCord]

At best, he ends up like Conor Sheary, where he can fill in the top six but you don't want him playing outside of it.

Conor Sheary was great in depth scoring even on line three. I disagree with this.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Conor Sheary was great in depth scoring even on line three. I disagree with this.

Incorrect. The vast majority of his production in his first stint in Pittsburgh came when he was with Crosby, Hornqvist, Rust or Guentzel.

Even in Washington, his most common teammates were Ovechkin, Kuznetsov, Eller, Backstrom, Strome, Wilson and Oshie.

 

[Icarium]

So let's talk about the 2 PP goals

#1 - Jake scores because he's moving into a vacated space and not sitting still, which allows him to be an easy mark

It's astonishing how rarely they try this kind of pass from behind the net on the PP. It's like they think it's too obvious to work, even though most of their other moves tend to be just as obvious but far less likely to lead to a goal.

 

[Ugene Magic]

Harkins sucks but at least hits. DOC falls down and fans on shots. Both should not be playing.

Zoho comes into the discussion.

 

[Ragamuffin Gunner]

Sully must be the happiest he's been since the 2017 Cup with his bestie finally having a good game.

 

[The Old Master]

I think Puustinen is fine 5v5. Put him with Sid, they go all offense anyways. Rakell can play line 3.

Jake - Sid - Puustinen
Smith - Geno - Rust
Doc - Eller - Rakell
Neio - Accari - Zohorna

i like it but I'm not sure he makes the cut with picky Sid.

 

[Ugene Magic]

It's nice to see Puustinen getting a shot in the Top 6. I hope he gets a few more games.

What if we can only win when Jeff Carter scores a goal? That's two (team win) GWGs in a row for him.

Jeff Carter is more prone to score a goal than anyone in the bottom six. It's about putting him in position to succeed. He's like the Billy Guerin of this decade. Guys have shown they can still score without having that blazing speed by setting up others and by just knowing where to go from muscle memory.

I mean, the top two stars can be thrown out there at will without hesitation to their mistakes (which is a lot) so why not do the same for a guy who has the rep to do the same for them in a better role. RW obviously. He has the better stick out of any bottom sixer. You can have him be the rover up and down to keep his legs fresh, and for a team with depth issues, you need his stick to be more prominent. He should be able to play anywhere and in any situation. You just need to live with the mistakes like any other. And there will be.