GDT: Preseason Game 1: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Buffalo Sabres from PSU!

[SEALBound]

Oh well, that was still a fun game to watch given the rosters.

 

[Ugene Magic]

4 1 down against a legit NHL team and now ot. I call that a wi .

We got the loser point.

 

[heysmilinstrange]

So the Sabres put up 3 times as many shots as the Penguins and still took until OT to win.

 

[ColePens]

That's a win all day long. 4-1 down against a legit NHL team. They fought and showed hunger. I love it.

 

[EVGENIMERLIN]

They battled and made a heck of a game out of it against most of the Sabres NHL team. Poulin/Legare/Marino are guys I am really excited about. Thought Jarry played well.

JJ/Ruh are disasters. Wasn't a huge fan of Riko

 

[WayneSid9987]

Rust'y looked tired there or you now, doesn't have that burst he used to have. Heh.

 

[66-30-33]

Hope POJ plays Thursday vs Jackets.

 

[SHOOTANDSCORE]

Have to give credit to the Pens. A bunch of bottom 6ers, #6 or worse D, and kids against an NHL team.

I give plusses to
Teddy
Simon
Marino
AJ
Lafferty

There would be more but the 1st was too bad to get them above even.

 

[Ryder71]

Nice comeback and then Eichel wins it. I was impressed with Marino and both our goalies. Under the circumstances and looking at the respective rosters this should have been a 7-2 or some such Sabres victory.

 

[ColePens]

I seriously thought Blueger was SO good in the 2nd/3rd. I thought he was tremendous.

 

[EVGENIMERLIN]

AJ was a lot more noticeable to me than ZAR. Even the Ole 29'er said he didn't like ZAR's attitude and thought he should treat it like he is fighting for a roster spot.

 

[Empoleon8771]

From what I saw, here's who I'd say was good and bad:

Good: Simon, DeSmith, Blueger, Legare, Rust in period 2, AJ
Bad: Riikola, Ruhwedel, JJ, Addison, Rust outside of period 2, ZAR

They don't have their bottom pair LD in the organization right now. They're super deep in NHL caliber RD, but they only have Dumoulin and Pettersson on LD. Too bad Gudbranson can't play LD and they can't run with Guds and Marino.

 

[steelcityassault]

AJ was a lot more noticeable to me than ZAR. Even the Ole 29'er said he didn't like ZAR's attitude and thought he should treat it like he is fighting for a roster spot.

He looked awful. Slow, soft and missed a wide open chance in OT

 

[WayneSid9987]

It were me, i'd honestly try Guds on LD.
Or maybe Marino can do it all and play LD.
Either way this teams 6 best(this is with JS, Guds looking decent to good when they get in) is:

Dumo-Tang
MP-JS/Guds
JS/Guds-Marino

Since that is not very likely, i take the best out of:
Trotman vs Riiko
and send the loser + JJ + Ruh thru waivers.

 

[Speaking Moistly]

AJ was a lot more noticeable to me than ZAR. Even the Ole 29'er said he didn't like ZAR's attitude and thought he should treat it like he is fighting for a roster spot.

In all fairness, that could be ZAR fighting. He is what he is, not reliably healthy, usually invisible and sometimes noticeably good. I thought he had a few good shifts which is better than his invisible for multiple games shtick. He’s not always invisible and he’s not like Johnson with the laughers but he rarely stands out for long. If he does he’s liable to get hurt anyway.

 

[Gurglesons]

I seriously thought Blueger was SO good in the 2nd/3rd. I thought he was tremendous.

Didn’t realize how fast he could get in the 3v3. I assume that the PSU rink is smaller though.

 

[SHOOTANDSCORE]

That's a win all day long. 4-1 down against a legit NHL team. They fought and showed hunger. I love it.

Yep. I think in this type of situation, that is something the coaches are going to focus on. Who wilted and who refused to submit.

 

[66-30-33]

It were me, i'd honestly try Guds on LD.
Or maybe Marino can do it all and play LD.
Either way this teams 6 best(this is with JS, Guds looking decent to good when they get in) is:

Maybe try them both at LD? whoever seems to be a better fit gets the other as the partner.

Guds-Marino
Marino-Guds

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

AJ was a lot more noticeable to me than ZAR. Even the Ole 29'er said he didn't like ZAR's attitude and thought he should treat it like he is fighting for a roster spot.

If he keeps playing like this I don't see why he should be on the roster at all. I'd say each of Simon, AJ, Blueger, and Lafferty were outperforming him.

But there's lots of preseason left.

 

[66-30-33]

If he keeps playing like this I don't see why he should be on the roster at all. I'd say each of Simon, AJ, Blueger, and Lafferty were outperforming him.

But there's lots of preseason left.

Hope AJ gets a spot. Could use his speed and the way he plays. Been wanting him to stay up since he was first tried last season, will keep wishing.

 

[Empoleon8771]

The issue with the Penguins D right now is that you can't just hide guys in WBS, because WBS is already crowded with veteran defenseman that will be taking ice time away from guys like POJ, Almari and Marino. They already have Czuczman, Warsofsky and Trotman as veteran D, stashing 2 of Riikola, Johnson and Ruhwedel there blocks the young guys even more.

I think you trade Ruhwedel for whatever you can get, waive Johnson with the plans of buying him out after the year and go shopping for an actual everyday puck moving LD for the bottom pair. Or maybe you use Rust, McCann or Kahun to sink Johnson for another short term cap dump, something like Rust and JJ to Detroit for Daley.

 

[ColePens]

AJ was a lot more noticeable to me than ZAR. Even the Ole 29'er said he didn't like ZAR's attitude and thought he should treat it like he is fighting for a roster spot.

Man PB lit him up in the 2nd period asking ZAR to pick what type of player he wants to be and be it, basically stating ZAR has no identity.

 

[BHD]

I remember thinking JJ was good when the Pens played the Jackets that year. Now, not so much...

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

JJ was actually pretty good in his first preseason showing last year, then garbage from there on out.

Maybe the opposite this year?

 

[JimmyTwoTimes]

So Blueger was good in WBS. Then when called up to Pitt and even had to play #2 C. Then in Worlds. Now again so far in preseason.

Hes a smart player with speed and skill. And can not only kill penalties but a knack for SH goals. Our 4th C for years to come. Should put Rust with him and Simon/ZAR on other side. If neither step up in their 3rd year....whoever steps up in WBS should get that spot. Adam Johnson/Lafferty/Angello. Assuming it takes another year for guys like Bellerive/Bkorkvist/etc.

With the talent we have in WBS they should be trading guys they plan on replacing. Simon/ZAR first. Then Rust/Bjugstad following season depending on if someone is ready to take over roles. Eventually Hornqvist if between Bjorkvist, Hallander, Legare, Poulin we get a few who pan out.

Thats also assuming we keep Kahun, McCann, and Tanev. Even Tanev can be replaced eventually by a prospect. Having as many on their ELCs who play just as well as those on long term deals is the goal. Allows us to fill roster with ELCs using extra money for a top player for the D for example.

Thats how you get a Doughty type to go with Letang . its a must we hit on 4 or 5 of these top prospects.

As Sid/Geno age....we surround them with top tier talent.