GDT: Pittsburgh Penguins Power Play Discussion 2023/24: Your Feeble Skills Are No Match For The Power Play Of The Darkside.

[Jacob]

Letang should absolutely be on the top unit, I don’t know what you guys are talking about. He should be taking Rakell’s spot and Rakell should slide to the 2nd unit.

I like Rakell more than Letang. I’d rather a guy like Rakell be on the half wall because he’s not apprehensive about shooting, and if things rotate he’s good in front of the net too.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I don't hate the idea of Letang on the first unit. I just like the idea of Smith or Raks more.

Plus saving Letang's legs a little for ES where he is way better isn't a bad thing. Though again when it comes to issues with the poweplay fatigue is far down my list.

 

[Ugene Magic]

I don't hate the idea of Letang on the first unit. I just like the idea of Smith or Raks more.

Plus saving Letang's legs a little for ES where he is way better isn't a bad thing. Though again when it comes to issues with the poweplay fatigue is far down my list.

That's the thing, you stretch them out with both doing the lions share on the PP leaves some form of Graves/Pettersson and Ruh to cover until one is rested. It's the kind of stuff that gets this team in trouble. No different that of Sid/Geno, and then what? That's right, no depth to be found and you are getting scored on after you just scored.

Yeah, put all the eggs in one basket is great when you have depth in the lineup. When you don't, get ready for the circus clowns and the Benny Hill theme.

 

[PensandCaps]

Rakell was elite on the Powerplay. I'd rather lose Jake than Rakell on the Powerplay.

 

[cygnus47]

The personnel isn’t really the issue. Letang/rakell/guentzel could all work. The issue is they don’t have a plan or set plays since kessel. The other is we refuse to shoot wristers from the dots or attack the slot from the half walls with the puck.

The easiest play is the high roll, they should just set that up with Letang/rakell/guentzel or on the other side with Geno. Forwards need to look to get inside the dots with the puck on their stick constantly and take shots with the damn puck and karlsson up top needs to take good hard shots and use the screen to set up the puck so guys can skate onto it. Everyone needs to skate to create momentum when they receive the puck and move to make 2 on 1s. Sid can do high to low stuff and tip ins too.

The stuff they try to do now (stand around hoping for seam passes or do telegraphed one timers) is what they should do when the play breaks down after a shot/on a rush, not as a first port of call.

 

[Gurglesons]

That's the thing, you stretch them out with both doing the lions share on the PP leaves some form of Graves/Pettersson and Ruh to cover until one is rested. It's the kind of stuff that gets this team in trouble. No different that of Sid/Geno, and then what? That's right, no depth to be found and you are getting scored on after you just scored.

Yeah, put all the eggs in one basket is great when you have depth in the lineup. When you don't, get ready for the circus clowns and the Benny Hill theme.

Weird how 31 other teams can run their best players on their Powerplay but we need to save Malkin for reasons.

This take is just bizarre.

 

[ChaosAgent]

The personnel isn’t really the issue. Letang/rakell/guentzel could all work. The issue is they don’t have a plan or set plays since kessel. The other is we refuse to shoot wristers from the dots or attack the slot from the half walls with the puck.

The easiest play is the high roll, they should just set that up with Letang/rakell/guentzel or on the other side with Geno. Forwards need to look to get inside the dots with the puck on their stick constantly and take shots with the damn puck and karlsson up top needs to take good hard shots and use the screen to set up the puck so guys can skate onto it. Everyone needs to skate to create momentum when they receive the puck and move to make 2 on 1s. Sid can do high to low stuff and tip ins too.

The stuff they try to do now (stand around hoping for seam passes or do telegraphed one timers) is what they should do when the play breaks down after a shot/on a rush, not as a first port of call.

The personnel has been an issue.
Sid is just not as good on the powerplay as he is at ES. Ditto Guentzel (who frankly should be on the 2nd unit).
On entries, and sorry I'll keep focusing on entries, we have no willing forecheckers. Maybe that will change if Letang is moving to the Kessel role. I sincerely hope so. We'll see if Karlsson can carry some pucks in.
If you can set up a powerplay, I don't think execution is as big of a deal. But when players are looking for perfect plays because they don't think they can get the puck back in the zone it jams everything up.

 

[Gurglesons]

The personnel has been an issue.
Sid is just not as good on the powerplay as he is at ES. Ditto Guentzel (who frankly should be on the 2nd unit).
On entries, and sorry I'll keep focusing on entries, we have no willing forecheckers. Maybe that will change if Letang is moving to the Kessel role. I sincerely hope so. We'll see if Karlsson can carry some pucks in.
If you can set up a powerplay, I don't think execution is as big of a deal. But when players are looking for perfect plays because they don't think they can get the puck back in the zone it jams everything up.

Sid and Malkin are fine on the PP, but they are too polite.

Adding EK65 should help a ton. He’s got the ego Kessel had with the poise of Gonch.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

The personnel has been an issue.
Sid is just not as good on the powerplay as he is at ES. Ditto Guentzel (who frankly should be on the 2nd unit).
On entries, and sorry I'll keep focusing on entries, we have no willing forecheckers. Maybe that will change if Letang is moving to the Kessel role. I sincerely hope so. We'll see if Karlsson can carry some pucks in.
If you can set up a powerplay, I don't think execution is as big of a deal. But when players are looking for perfect plays because they don't think they can get the puck back in the zone it jams everything up.

Sid fell off last year.

2019-20: 23rd best PP producer (100 min min. req.) - shortened season
2020-21: 7th best (100 minutes) - shortened season
2021-22: 11th best (150 minutes)
2022-23: 89th best (150 minutes)

Malkin and Letang's production didn't regress. His did.
Largely same personnel, PP coach, deployment, level of health...different Sid.
When you score 3 PPGs through the first 46 games with optimal usage, that's a problem on any team, with any main unit. He gets a billion puck touches and is not a pure passer either. He turned it up after that, but some standings points were lost because he sucked on the unit until then.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

I like the idea of Andreas Johnsson with Malkin for the style he plays. I think it's a better compliment to his game than what Sullivan thinks Bryan Rust does for Malkin.

Considering Reilly is a RW/LW - I like the idea of Johnsson, Malkin, Smith - Smith on his off wing is fine considering he has played there and been productive.

Then you can go O'Connor, Eller, Rust.
That leaves the fourth line as a mix of...
Nieto/Pitlick, Carter, Acciari/Nieto/Pitlick/Nylander


Rust I think would actually be a big benefit for Eller and Doc in a role where he leads the offense. AJ is a player I actually really liked in Toronto and found it odd he didn't workout as well in NJ but he plays a strong game and goes to the net and plays around it and isn't afraid to dig for pucks. Small but strong.

With that said him with Eller and Acciari is tough, that's an entire line that has zero offense drivers, they're all complimentary types that will not last as a line. God forbid we see Nylander as the rw there or better yet, Puustinen who deserves that spot as well.

Wait, why the f*** am I even bothering, Sully will make sure his inner circle mates get the minutes even if it doesn't work, then it's all vets all the time.

It's funny, Vegas had Smith on the third line vs Florida and Sullivan can't be bothered to ever put Rust there and Smith out produced Rust last season yet Rust kept getting preferential treatment while struggling.

 

[Rakell67]

An argument could be made that Letang needs to play PK more now, thus taking away his PP time which Karlsson can make up...
With the EK trade, Pens lost a lot of PK time, Graves will obviously replace Dumo's time and Pettersson and Joseph have to play a bit more but so will Letang.
PK last season:
Dumoulin 2:57
Rutta 2:33
Petry 2:22
Ruhwedel 1:47
Pettersson 1:40
Friedman 0:58
Letang 0:56
POJ 0:11
(Karlsson 0:22 with Sharks)
(Graves 2:24 with Devils)

 

[Ugene Magic]

Weird how 31 other teams can run their best players on their Powerplay but we need to save Malkin for reasons.

This take is just bizarre.

Most of those other 31 teams don't have cores pushing the opposite side of 35. They also don't have enough depth to push 2 #1 PP units. Being that old isn't about saving them than making a clear advantage over the other 31 teams a advantage. The premise was running both Karlsson and Letang on the #1 PP unit which after puts the Pens at a disadvantage when they got to run Ruh and one of Petts, Graves or POJ. Which then I extended that also is happening with Sid and Geno leaving the terrible depth to cover after. I purposed running two #1 PP's so that there will always be someone to come after the PP is over. All of your best players are now sitting on the bench. All of them.

Now consider they play 5/6 minutes of PP time per game. They can/could maximize the full 2 minutes instead of just 1.5 minutes and a very low percentage #2PP unit. So everything runs through the top two lines and that could cause issues considering the depth really isn't there below the top two lines, though, some will say it is without any proof to the fact it is except a paper lineup of names. If you are not gonna create real depth you need to manage what you do with the top six. Same on defense. It all 100% rides on them until proven otherwise.

Malkin is 37 not 27. You have 2 #1 D-men and enough parts to always have conceived top players out there.

This isn't bizarre, it's called managing your assets to your strengths and weaknesses. 82 games

Pens strength is their top 6 and top 2 pairs.
Pens weakness is no real depth in the bottom six, and if they run everyone on PP1 they have to count on the bottom six and bottom pairing that includes Ruhwedel and who knows? His partner is POJ.

The Pens fell due to depth and Karlsson doesn't change the depth isn't there.

 

[Gurglesons]

Most of those other 31 teams don't have cores pushing the opposite side of 35. They also don't have enough depth to push 2 #1 PP units. Being that old isn't about saving them than making a clear advantage over the other 31 teams a advantage. The premise was running both Karlsson and Letang on the #1 PP unit which after puts the Pens at a disadvantage when they got to run Ruh and one of Petts, Graves or POJ. Which then I extended that also is happening with Sid and Geno leaving the terrible depth to cover after. I purposed running two #1 PP's so that there will always be someone to come after the PP is over. All of your best players are now sitting on the bench. All of them.

Now consider they play 5/6 minutes of PP time per game. They can/could maximize the full 2 minutes instead of just 1.5 minutes and a very low percentage #2PP unit. So everything runs through the top two lines and that could cause issues considering the depth really isn't there below the top two lines, though, some will say it is without any proof to the fact it is except a paper lineup of names. If you are not gonna create real depth you need to manage what you do with the top six. Same on defense. It all 100% rides on them until proven otherwise.

Malkin is 37 not 27. You have 2 #1 D-men and enough parts to always have conceived top players out there.

This isn't bizarre, it's called managing your assets to your strengths and weaknesses. 82 games

Pens strength is their top 6 and top 2 pairs.
Pens weakness is no real depth in the bottom six, and if they run everyone on PP1 they have to count on the bottom six and bottom pairing that includes Ruhwedel and who knows? His partner is POJ.

The Pens fell due to depth and Karlsson doesn't change the depth isn't there.

I don't care about our 2nd powerplay.

 

[SomeDude]

They had a guy who was a proven net front PP specialist for years in Zucker and never once used him there.

The same morons that decided to not play him there are still in charge here, so what am I expecting for the PP? Continued mind numbingly dumb personnel choices and disappointment.

 

[Gurglesons]

They had a guy who was a proven net front PP specialist for years in Zucker and never once used him there.

The same morons that decided to not play him there are still in charge here, so what am I expecting for the PP? Continued mind numbingly dumb personnel choices and disappointment.

To be fair Zucker wasn’t a net front presence on Minnesota’s Powerplay.

 

[SomeDude]

To be fair Zucker wasn’t a net front presence on Minnesota’s Powerplay.

He may have moved around more than your typical net front PP guys, but he definitely played or ended up there. All of his goals from minnesota are on YouTube on a compilation. A whole lot of them were from right in front of the net ala Hornqvist.

 

[Gurglesons]

He may have moved around more than your typical net front PP guys, but he definitely played or ended up there. All of his goals from minnesota are on YouTube on a compilation. A whole lot of them were from right in front of the net ala Hornqvist.

I’d suggest rewatching those comps.

 

[SomeDude]

I’d suggest rewatching those comps.

How can I fit that in between the film work on the AHL seasons of all the guys that are expected to fill in our depth forward positions this year?

 

[Zirakzigil]

Poll added

 

[Zirakzigil]

I think they should run Jake (Smith), Sid, Geno, Karlsson, Letang personally. Have Letang be a shooter on the half wall. Smith covers for Jake while he is out. I like Rakell on the top unit for Jake or Smith personally, but that will never happen and we need a playmaker on the 2nd unit.

Rakell, Carter, Smith, Rust, T. Smith on the 2nd unit, which will probably get about 20seconds of time and look more deadly than the 1st unit.

 

[Jacob]

Our 2nd unit forwards are kinda.. up in the air. Especially with Jake out.

Whichever top 6 forward isn’t on the 1st unit then.. Pitlick? Carter? Eller? I guess there will certainly be plenty of room for competition.

2nd unit only gets like 25 seconds anyway. If they can get a puck on net once and not get scored on that’s a win.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Our 2nd unit forwards are kinda.. up in the air. Especially with Jake out.

Whichever top 6 forward isn’t on the 1st unit then.. Pitlick? Carter? Eller? I guess there will certainly be plenty of room for competition.

2nd unit only gets like 25 seconds anyway. If they can get a puck on net once and not get scored on that’s a win.

PP2 depth chart as I see it, when the player is dressed and not on PP1:

LW: Rakell, Rust, Nylander, [Carter], Puustinen, Hinostroza, [Acciari]
C: Guentzel, Carter, Pitlick, [Zohorna], Acciari, [DOC]
RW: [Guentzel], R. Smith, Johnsson, [Pitlick], DOC, Zohorna
LD: Letang, [Rakell], [Rust]
RD: T.Smith, Joseph, [R. Smith], Pettersson

Brackets = Moved from natural PP position for fit or due to injury

So, depending on the situation, you just go from left to right until you find what's best for your needs.
This is all assuming that someone doesn't play the wrong handedness at his position. That may happen on LD at some point, due to lack of righties.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

Letang. If it doesn't work with Letang then Rakell or Smith.

They might even try Rakell swap with Guentzel first though. Will be interesting.

 

[TheGuiminator]

I feel like Letang & Karlsson wouldn’t be a good fit at the points on the PP..

And since Karlsson is arguably the best QB in the league, I’m definitely putting him ahead of Letang on the first unit. And because of his lethal one-timer, I wanna keep Malkin on the right point.

So I’d bump Letang out of the first unit :

Rakell- Crosby- Guentzel
Karlsson- Malkin

 

[Deport Ogie]

It's fun to think about what it could or should be but we all know what it will be. It will be Karlsson, Letang, Sid, Geno, and Jake. Karlsson high, Letang and Geno on the half, Jake will be slot and Sid will be low strong side.

I honestly think it could work but the biggest failure for the Pens powerplay has not been the personnel it's been the lack of any sustained movement or flexibility. Karlsson should be able to help in that regard.