Pre-Game Talk: The All Purpose Off Day Thread | Simon Recalled

[RizzleMcRib]

I know Rowney is good at faceoffs, but am I the only one that thinks Kuhn is the one that should be in the lineup for PK abilities, if either of them?

If Sullivan is set on playing a PK "specialist" and a center, why not replace Rowney with Jooris? While Jooris isn't exactly Mr. Offense, he does have a better shooting % than both Rowney and Kuhn. IIRC he took a lot of defensive draws in Calgary and was their best PKer in terms of pushing the play into the offensive zone. He can play both wing and center, doesn't shy away from physical play, and has a pretty decent shot. He isn't going to come up and light it up, but if he pushes either Rowney or Kuhn to the 13th forward I'm onboard.

 

[MtlPenFan]

Couldn't agree more. It's funny how some guys simply don't work with others. Rust makes every line he's ever played on better, except if Sidney Crosby is his linemate.

 

[AjaxTelamon]

I know Rowney is good at faceoffs, but am I the only one that thinks Kuhn is the one that should be in the lineup for PK abilities, if either of them?

He's not ideal, but he's better than Rowney. And he has looked serviceable before. Rowney had a few week stint in the playoffs and is living off of that.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

I know Rowney is good at faceoffs, but am I the only one that thinks Kuhn is the one that should be in the lineup for PK abilities, if either of them?

You must have me on ignore, because I've made that very point like a dozen times in all these various "Rowney sucks, send him to the moon already" discussions.

On that note, I don't even think I'd consider Rowney "good" on faceoffs. A guy like Zigomanis was good on faceoffs, and justified being in the lineup even if his only role was to win key draws. Rowney's decent enough at them, but not enough to offset him dressing.

 

[MtlPenFan]

He's not ideal, but he's better than Rowney. And he has looked serviceable before. Rowney had a few week stint in the playoffs and is living off of that.

That's actually another reason why Matt Cullen will forever go down as one of the greatest Penguins ever.

He centered a line of Eric Fehr and Tom Kuhnakl and it was THE best 4th line in the playoffs.
He centered a line of Carter Rowney and some interchangeable parts on the other wing and the line was once again one of the better depth lines in the playoffs.

 

[The Tanevificent]

Hey, put me in the Sprong call up group as well. But since that is not happening, this is what I would do. You need to sleep in the bed you made, we went for center depth and ZAR being hurt and Sheary sucking is not helping. I would go back to our best chemistry lines for now and do what you can with the rest. Give Crosby speed and see if Brassard can wake Sheary up. This is crazy I know but with the current players available to me I would do this:

Simon - Crosby - Rust
Hags - Malkin - Horny
Guentzel - Sheahan - Kessel
Kuhnhackel - Brassard - Sheary

 

[AjaxTelamon]

That's actually another reason why Matt Cullen will forever go down as one of the greatest Penguins ever.

He centered a line of Eric Fehr and Tom Kuhnakl and it was THE best 4th line in the playoffs.
He centered a line of Carter Rowney and some interchangeable parts on the other wing and the line was once again one of the better depth lines in the playoffs.

Well yeah, you won't ever be able to compare any 4C given his role with his performance. And he was willing to do the dirty work. Not a small deal.

But Kuhn even looked good with Sheahan this year. You just can't have Rowney on the other side. Maybe try Sheary on that 4th line and get him back basics with his defensive coverages. Most of the time he makes bad giveaways he's trying to spring the play the other way or otherwise cheating. That happens with Crosby a lot.

 

[Will Hunting]

Hey, put me in the Sprong call up group as well. But since that is not happening, this is what I would do. You need to sleep in the bed you made, we went for center depth and ZAR being hurt and Sheary sucking is not helping. I would go back to our best chemistry lines for now and do what you can with the rest. Give Crosby speed and see if Brassard can wake Sheary up. This is crazy I know but with the current players available to me I would do this:

Simon - Crosby - Rust
Hags - Malkin - Horny
Guentzel - Sheahan - Kessel
Kuhnhackel - Brassard - Sheary

You cant do that to Brassard, wow...

 

[RizzleMcRib]

Hey, put me in the Sprong call up group as well. But since that is not happening, this is what I would do. You need to sleep in the bed you made, we went for center depth and ZAR being hurt and Sheary sucking is not helping. I would go back to our best chemistry lines for now and do what you can with the rest. Give Crosby speed and see if Brassard can wake Sheary up. This is crazy I know but with the current players available to me I would do this:

Simon - Crosby - Rust
Hags - Malkin - Horny
Guentzel - Sheahan - Kessel
Kuhnhackel - Brassard - Sheary

My God. Please no. Rust isn't working with Crosby and Brassard needs to be the 3rd C. Let him gain some chemistry with Kessel and I'd probably throw Simon on the other wing. Switch Horny and Rust. Now that Guentz is heating up put him with Crosby.

 

[Shady Machine]

You must have me on ignore, because I've made that very point like a dozen times in all these various "Rowney sucks, send him to the moon already" discussions.

On that note, I don't even think I'd consider Rowney "good" on faceoffs. A guy like Zigomanis was good on faceoffs, and justified being in the lineup even if his only role was to win key draws. Rowney's decent enough at them, but not enough to offset him dressing.

Ha no I don't have a very big ignore list. Just haven't been as engaged on here the last few weeks.

 

[66-30-33]

Yo Sully can we try out a Brassard-Crosby-Hornqvist line for a few games? then H-M-R, G-S-K. They are keeping Rowney and Kuhn regardless, give them Sherry.

 

[ColePens]

Sully is quite frustrating right now.

 

[AjaxTelamon]

Hey, put me in the Sprong call up group as well. But since that is not happening, this is what I would do. You need to sleep in the bed you made, we went for center depth and ZAR being hurt and Sheary sucking is not helping. I would go back to our best chemistry lines for now and do what you can with the rest. Give Crosby speed and see if Brassard can wake Sheary up. This is crazy I know but with the current players available to me I would do this:

Simon - Crosby - Rust
Hags - Malkin - Horny
Guentzel - Sheahan - Kessel
Kuhnhackel - Brassard - Sheary

Since Sid doesn't want to play with PH, and Rust is no good there, then Sprong is the short term and long term future on Sid's wing. And the sooner the coaches and Sid can get behind that, the better for the team.

Edit, solves your L4 problem too, Rust with Sheahan and whoever, Kuhn I guess.

 

[66-30-33]

Sully is quite frustrating right now.

That's putting it nicely.

 

[FunkySeeFunkyDo]

Jake-Sid-Horny
Hags-Geno-Rust
Simon-Brass-Phil
Sheary-Sheahan-Rowney

I still think its more important to get Sid going than keeping Jake with Phil. Rust does better as a RW. I have no stats on that, just eye test.

 

[MtlPenFan]

Well yeah, you won't ever be able to compare any 4C given his role with his performance. And he was willing to do the dirty work. Not a small deal.

But Kuhn even looked good with Sheahan this year. You just can't have Rowney on the other side. Maybe try Sheary on that 4th line and get him back basics with his defensive coverages. Most of the time he makes bad giveaways he's trying to spring the play the other way or otherwise cheating. That happens with Crosby a lot.

Don't underestimate Sid's wishes here and what HE thinks is good for HIM.

I never, ever bought the idea that he chooses who he wants to play with, even when the whole Iginla to left wing debacle happened. But then you see the same pattern with two different coaches since and you know that he has a lot more input into matters than some people are willing to admit.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Don't underestimate Sid's wishes here and what HE thinks is good for HIM.

I never, ever bought the idea that he chooses who he wants to play with, even when the whole Iginla to left wing debacle happened. But then you see the same pattern with two different coaches since and you know that he has a lot more input into matters than some people are willing to admit.

The problem with this theory, though, is Sid never looks good with Rust. He looks frustrated playing with Rust. If Sid had his pick and choose, why would he insist on someone he himself should realize he doesn't mesh with?

 

[RizzleMcRib]

Since Sid doesn't want to play with PH, and Rust is no good there, then Sprong is the short term and long term future on Sid's wing. And the sooner the coaches and Sid can get behind that, the better for the team.

Edit, solves your L4 problem too, Rust with Sheahan and whoever, Kuhn I guess.

I still don't get this "Crosby doesn't want to play with Hornqvist." I've heard it repeated over and over again but never anything to back it up.

 

[RizzleMcRib]

Jake-Sid-Horny
Hags-Geno-Rust
Simon-Brass-Phil
Sheary-Sheahan-Rowney

I still think its more important to get Sid going than keeping Jake with Phil. Rust does better as a RW. I have no stats on that, just eye test.

That's exactly what I'd like to see. Once ZAR gets healthy Rowney moves to the 13th forward.

Guentz - Sid - Horny / ZAR
Hags - Malkin - Rust / Horny
Simon - Brassard - Kessel
Sheary - Sheahan - ZAR / Rust

 

[The Tanevificent]

My God. Please no. Rust isn't working with Crosby and Brassard needs to be the 3rd C. Let him gain some chemistry with Kessel and I'd probably throw Simon on the other wing. Switch Horny and Rust. Now that Guentz is heating up put him with Crosby.

I am not in total disagreement with you. I think the Guentz move might not be a bad idea. I am just looking at the players and trying to balance them out, I would want Brassard with Kessel too. They change lines all game anyway. I dont think this team can have a typical 4th line, we dont have 4th line types of players. We need another winger to get hot and maybe since Brassard is new he may be the guy to spark a struggling winger, really good centers make crappy wingers better sometimes. That is all I am really suggesting.

 

[The Tanevificent]

That's exactly what I'd like to see. Once ZAR gets healthy Rowney moves to the 13th forward.

Guentz - Sid - Horny / ZAR
Hags - Malkin - Rust / Horny
Simon - Brassard - Kessel
Sheary - Sheahan - ZAR / Rust

I'm good this idea too.

 

[RizzleMcRib]

I am not in total disagreement with you. I think the Guentz move might not be a bad idea. I am just looking at the players and trying to balance them out, I would want Brassard with Kessel too. They change lines all game anyway. I dont think this team can have a typical 4th line, we dont have 4th line types of players. We need another winger to get hot and maybe since Brassard is new he may be the guy to spark a struggling winger, really good centers make crappy wingers better sometimes. That is all I am really suggesting.

I mean I get what you are saying, something needs to be done to get Sheary going but I wouldn't want to do do it at the expense of Brassard. If that happened the meltdown on this board would be out of this world. Our last 2 1st round picks used on the 4th line. Heads would explode.

 

[ncm7772]

wrong

Good to know he thinks that. Offensive firepower coming into town tomorrow. Should be another 5+ GA.

 

[ncm7772]

Yeah. I'm totally ok with Sullivan being replaced in the off-season. His ego, which has lead to a Dan Bylsma-esque inability, actually, refusal is a better term, to make adjustments. His lineup decisions are putting his team in a position to lose.

Unless somehow he leads his team deep into the playoffs (they have the horses to do this, still), totally okay with him being axed.

 

[ncm7772]

I know Rowney is good at faceoffs, but am I the only one that thinks Kuhn is the one that should be in the lineup for PK abilities, if either of them?

He's not good at faceoffs. And yes, kuhnhackl should play over Rowney.