Your comment got me to take a quick look at his metrics.

5v5 he's awful. Out of 15 forwards with 100 minutes he's last in almost every metric (Hinostroza edged him out a couple times.) About a 40% player. Even just looking at defensive metric he's a bottom 3 player.

On the PK he's pretty average. Not bad, but not irreplaceable.

I'd imagine we'll see White. Gruden would be my guy for fourth line work.

Poulin would probably be the best call, but he'd make a bad impression on a weak fourth line most likely, so I'd rather let him get AHL time before he's waiver eligible next year after missing most of last season. He'll probably get stuck trying to break in on the fourth line next year and waiting for injuries. Still that's the move that helps the most so wouldn't complain too much about it.
- Tojo.

hahahah I love this response. Made me laugh out loud.

Intangibles man, intangibles!

I had already looked at his metrics before saying that.

I would like to see Poulin get an extended look regular shift in bottom 6, for sure, but see what you're saying about play time. I thought he played a hard nosed game though and could pop in a goal here in there. Seems like a bottom 6 guy.

The Pens would need to make another move to bring in a LD, but below is a Smith trade that might make some sense. I still like Zucker, especially as a rental and we get a re-do on Graves and Smith who have not worked out. Zona has no defencemen under contract next season so they'd probably be happy to have Graves.

PIT - Zucker,
ARI - Graves, LVK 2nd rounder
LVK - Smith (ARI eats half the salary)

hahahah I love this response. Made me laugh out loud.

Intangibles man, intangibles!

I had already looked at his metrics before saying that.

I would like to see Poulin get an extended look regular shift in bottom 6, for sure, but see what you're saying about play time. I thought he played a hard nosed game though and could pop in a goal here in there. Seems like a bottom 6 guy.
- MattStrat

Accairi is beloved everywhere he plays for a reason. NHL players don’t look up metrics, that’s for people that don’t really understand hockey. So they can feel right about their opinion that is just someone else’s opinion. Copy and paste fandom if you will.

Accairi is beloved everywhere he plays for a reason. NHL players don’t look up metrics, that’s for people that don’t really understand hockey. So they can feel right about their opinion that is just someone else’s opinion. Copy and paste fandom if you will.
- Grinder47

Nah, he sucks at hockey at the NHL level, Likely only kept around because he's funny in the locker room.

Nah, he sucks at hockey at the NHL level, Likely only kept around because he's funny in the locker room.
- j.boyd919

DOC must be (frank)ing hilarious then.

I have read several times that Reilly Smith may not want to be in Pittsburgh. Is this just speculation or is there any solid evidence?

I have read several times that Reilly Smith may not want to be in Pittsburgh. Is this just speculation or is there any solid evidence?
- Sams_Dog

Probably just speculation but he was one of the guys in Vegas. That was a pretty tight knit group given they were a bunch of castaways that turned into an awesome team. Probably misses being a leader like that when he is just another guy in the room for the Pens. I doubt it is a Pittsburgh specific thing.

Probably just speculation but he was one of the guys in Vegas. That was a pretty tight knit group given they were a bunch of castaways that turned into an awesome team. Probably misses being a leader like that when he is just another guy in the room for the Pens. I doubt it is a Pittsburgh specific thing.
- MacPatty

He needs to get away from Malkin. Those had adrenaline chemistry to start the year but I think they see the ice in 2 different ways.

Easy enough fix just move Rust there and Rak up.

Sully is so afraid to break up Sid and Jake even it means a more balanced lineup. If it's not working after a couple games revert back. Don't delay until games become too important to try anything.

I'm not sure what happened to the early season chemistry but Smith and Geno aren't working and the frustration isn't going to help things.
- Thorny87

Flipping Rack and Rust makes sense.

I wouldn't break up Sid and Jake either. Malkin isn't close to Sid anymore. No reason to take the best wing away in the name of balance when they are killing it

Frankly neither Malkin not Smith seems like they are trying as hard. Geno maybe couldn't keep up his early level of play for a whole season at his age. Smith, IDK, just usually don't even notice him.

I have read several times that Reilly Smith may not want to be in Pittsburgh. Is this just speculation or is there any solid evidence?
- Sams_Dog

Some media who are around the team like Madden are saying. But it's also the type of people who stir the pot. Not sure if it's true. Smith certainly looks uninspired.

Some media who are around the team like Madden are saying. But it's also the type of people who stir the pot. Not sure if it's true. Smith certainly looks uninspired.
- Tojo.

Smith also doesn’t strike me as a sulker. It’s not like he’s getting buried in the bottom six. Just needs to step it up plain and simple but so do a lot of guys.

Accairi is beloved everywhere he plays for a reason. NHL players don’t look up metrics, that’s for people that don’t really understand hockey. So they can feel right about their opinion that is just someone else’s opinion. Copy and paste fandom if you will.
- Grinder47

This is a rare occurrence where my eyes and gut feeling make me not care what the stats, both old fashioned and new age fancy alike, say at all. On a pretty smooth team he is a bit of sandpaper. Sandpaper is needed in a lineup.

I'm now gone off to see if I can find the Pens' PK efficiency with him in/out of lineup.

EDIT: So, from the start of the season until December 1st the Pens had the 8th ranked PK (5th ranked from Nov 1st to Dec 1st). Accairi went down on December 2nd and didnt come back until the December 18th. In that time frame the Pens had the 24th ranked PK.

From December 18th, after his return, up to today the Pens have the 11th ranked PK.

Also worth noting that Accairi leads all Pens players in hits, even with missing a few weeks.

Smith also doesn’t strike me as a sulker. It’s not like he’s getting buried in the bottom six. Just needs to step it up plain and simple but so do a lot of guys.
- Victoro311

Yeah, from anything I've read about him over the years he's heralded by his peers as the consummate teammate. Not only that, but major contributor of own time and resources to the communities around the cities he plays for.

This is a rare occurrence where my eyes and gut feeling make me not care what the stats, both old fashioned and new age fancy alike, say at all. On a pretty smooth team he is a bit of sandpaper. Sandpaper is needed in a lineup.

I'm now gone off to see if I can find the Pens' PK efficiency with him in/out of lineup.

EDIT: So, from the start of the season until December 1st the Pens had the 8th ranked PK (5th ranked from Nov 1st to Dec 1st). Accairi went down on December 2nd and didnt come back until the December 18th. In that time frame the Pens had the 24th ranked PK.

From December 18th, after his return, up to today the Pens have the 11th ranked PK.

Also worth noting that Accairi leads all Pens players in hits, even with missing a few weeks.
- MattStrat

Yeah, didn't need the numbers, it was obvious when he was out before how much the PK tanked during that time.

Yeah, didn't need the numbers, it was obvious when he was out before how much the PK tanked during that time.
- MickV

Yeah, I just wanted to make sure I wasnt losing my mind, that my eyes and feelings were right haha.

He's also 4th on the team in blocks, despite missing a few weeks, which is a bit crazy for a forward.

This is a rare occurrence where my eyes and gut feeling make me not care what the stats, both old fashioned and new age fancy alike, say at all. On a pretty smooth team he is a bit of sandpaper. Sandpaper is needed in a lineup.

I'm now gone off to see if I can find the Pens' PK efficiency with him in/out of lineup.

EDIT: So, from the start of the season until December 1st the Pens had the 8th ranked PK (5th ranked from Nov 1st to Dec 1st). Accairi went down on December 2nd and didnt come back until the December 18th. In that time frame the Pens had the 24th ranked PK.

From December 18th, after his return, up to today the Pens have the 11th ranked PK.

Also worth noting that Accairi leads all Pens players in hits, even with missing a few weeks.
- MattStrat

Comparing a 6 game sample size to an 18 game sample size is a bit disingenious

Comparing a 6 game sample size to an 18 game sample size is a bit disingenious
- j.boyd919

Get outta here with that sh!t, Boyd. You narrative killer, you hahaha

Really though, there's a 39 game sample of him in lineup with them having around a top 10 PK. 6 games he's not in the lineup its 24th. Thats a pretty drastic drop/change, even if it is a small sample. I really hope that I am wrong about his importance to the PK but if I'm not wrong I hope that he's not out of the lineup for long.

Comparing a 6 game sample size to an 18 game sample size is a bit disingenious
- j.boyd919

It was a small sample, but they gave up 5 goals in the 6 games he missed, and I recall the PK just looking lost during those games. In the 39 games he's played they've given up only 16.

I think Rust was also hurt when Acciari was out, and I don't remember who they were using instead of those guys, but it didn't work.

It was a small sample, but they gave up 5 goals in the 6 games he missed, and I recall the PK just looking lost during those games. In the 39 games he's played they've given up only 16.

I think Rust was also hurt when Acciari was out, and I don't remember who they were using instead of those guys, but it didn't work.
- MickV

2 to the Lightning, 2 to the Leafs and 2 to the Yotes.

Top PP, Top 5 PP, and No. 14 PP

Not sure Acciari would really make a difference there.

They kept the Panthers (10), Flyers (awful), Wild (17) and Habs (18) off the board int hat time.

Coulda just been luck of the draw on the schedule playing absolute monster PPs.

Flipping Rack and Rust makes sense.

I wouldn't break up Sid and Jake either. Malkin isn't close to Sid anymore. No reason to take the best wing away in the name of balance when they are killing it

Frankly neither Malkin not Smith seems like they are trying as hard. Geno maybe couldn't keep up his early level of play for a whole season at his age. Smith, IDK, just usually don't even notice him.
- Tojo.

Part of me really wants to see what Jake can do without Sid.

I agree right now Geno is a big step down from Sid but is a Rak-Sid-Smith line way worse than Jake and Rusty?

Part of me really wants to see what Jake can do without Sid.

I agree right now Geno is a big step down from Sid but is a Rak-Sid-Smith line way worse than Jake and Rusty?
- Thorny87

Yes lol

2 to the Lightning, 2 to the Leafs and 2 to the Yotes.

Top PP, Top 5 PP, and No. 14 PP

Not sure Acciari would really make a difference there.

They kept the Panthers (10), Flyers (awful), Wild (17) and Habs (18) off the board int hat time.

Coulda just been luck of the draw on the schedule playing absolute monster PPs.
- j.boyd919

Shots not going to the net and into his shin pads wouldn’t make a difference?

2 to the Lightning, 2 to the Leafs and 2 to the Yotes.

Top PP, Top 5 PP, and No. 14 PP

Not sure Acciari would really make a difference there.

They kept the Panthers (10), Flyers (awful), Wild (17) and Habs (18) off the board int hat time.

Coulda just been luck of the draw on the schedule playing absolute monster PPs.
- j.boyd919

With Acciari in the lineup the Leafs went 0/3 in the Pens win on November 23rd. The Bolts went 1/2 with him in the lineup for the Pens win on November 20th.

Without looking I would imagine there were other top 10 PP's mostly shut down in the games he played, as well. Three of the teams you just mentioned, that they kept off the board in his absence, were bottom half of the league for PP

Yes lol
- j.boyd919

Do you think that Rust and Jake could elevate Geno enough where a drop off in 1st line production is acceptable/mitigated?

I think Rak and Rust are about the same. It all comes down to Smith being able to step up I guess. I can see why there is little faith in him to do that.

Shots not going to the net and into his shin pads wouldn’t make a difference?
- Grinder47

Dude averages 1 block every 4.5 minutes of PK time, not exactly a shot blocking machine.