To paraphrase Branch Rickey, 'We missed the playoffs with them last year, we can miss the playoffs this year without them.'

'Them' being older veterans. Branch Rickey, of course was talking about Ralph Kiner.

I get you have to earn your stripes. What I don't get is when you say we need to get faster and then play guys who have proven they can't play fast. I don't know if any of these youngsters are good enough to get the Pens in the playoffs. I do know the guys they were using aren't.
- Thunderbolt

The actual quote was Kiner asked for a $5000 raise and Branch Rickey told him
With or without you Ralph we can still finish in last place. Case closed Kiner hit 54 home runs the year before he asked for that raise How times have changed Ralph was born too early

Part of me wants to build a young team. The other part of me wants to trade a bunch of players away this deadline. Load up on picks and prospects sign Reinhart this offseason then channel my inner Grinder and trade for Evander Kane and Tom Wilson for a line so we can get some real excitement back. We need some Kasparaitis types

Tanev to the Stars

Random thought: Since POJ has played with Letang, I haven’t noticed him nearly as much. If we could get rid of graves, it would be a legit addition by subtraction.

Random thought: Since POJ has played with Letang, I haven’t noticed him nearly as much. If we could get rid of graves, it would be a legit addition by subtraction.
- Brownsoldier

If POJ can cut down on his mistakes, as many defensemen do around game 250-300, still think the Pens have a solid defenseman similar to Petterson.

Case in point. After Letang-EK the best defensive pairing by metrics is easily EK-POJ. However, the goalies have an 88% save percentage when they are on the ice together because either can make the mistake that ends up in your net. EK is who he is, but no reason POJ can't clean that up with experience

Thoughts to consider as the Pens start to play youth more. They rarely jump into the league as finished products. Petterson and Matheson were both recent examples of that here.

If Petterson can cut down on his mistakes, as many defensemen do around game 250-300, still think the Pens have a solid defenseman similar to Petterson.

Case in point. After Letang-EK the best defensive pairing by metrics is easily EK-POJ. However, the goalies have an 88% save percentage when they are on the ice together because either can make the mistake that ends up in your net. EK is who he is, but no reason Petterson can't clean that up with experience

Thoughts to consider as the Pens start to play youth more. They rarely jump into the league as finished products. Petterson and Matheson were both recent examples of that here.
- Tojo.

When you’re saying Petterson you’re referring to black Petterson right?

When you’re saying Petterson you’re referring to black Petterson right?
- 10inchTerror

Lol yeah, think I got it corrected now thanks

He is what the Flyers needed to get back to being competitive again. His childish tactics can wear thin though.
- jmatchett383

Holding players accountable is childish?

Holding players accountable is childish?
- Grinder47

Matchett a bit more privy to him with the Flyers than me, obviously, but I've never thought it was childness, more so being a big F'n A-hole that wears thin. He comes to a new team, whips them into shape with his tough hard a-hole ways the first few seasons and then it wears off. The players get sick of it, and him, and he loses the room. Many instances of this in his coaching career.

Holding players accountable is childish?
- Grinder47

Like I said, they needed to be tough to play against and needed more structure and accountability and, for the most part, he's instilled that in him. For that, I think he was what the team needed. Some of his tactics, however..

- Scratching players for one game, and making sure that games is the one in their home town where their friends and family come to see them, is childish. He did this with both Sanheim and Frost last year.

- Making Morgan Frost, the team's leading 5v5 scorer from last season, sit 11 of the first 13 games, is childish when no one on the team (Frost included) played well to start besides Konecny. Frost did deserve to sit, but so did about 10 other players, but he wanted to puff out his chest to show Frost that he could piss further.

- Healthy scratching Anthony Angelo (there is no "D" in him) for the final 5 games last year to play with only 12F/5D to make it a point you don't like him is childish.

No practice yesterday for the Pens, lines will probably remain as they were last game. Which is fine, they worked out better than expected.

My wish is Phillips in for Carter. My pipe dream is Carter and Smith get traded today and Brayden Yeager gets an emergency call up.

It's half-hearted humor people. I was going to say it was tounge-in-cheek, but I know how you guys think.

No practice yesterday for the Pens, lines will probably remain as they were last game. Which is fine, they worked out better than expected.

My wish is Phillips in for Carter. My pipe dream is Carter and Smith get traded today and Brayden Yeager gets an emergency call up.

It's half-hearted humor people. I was going to say it was tounge-in-cheek, but I know how you guys think.
- Thunderbolt

Is there a limit for emergency call-up games? Just curious.

No practice yesterday for the Pens, lines will probably remain as they were last game. Which is fine, they worked out better than expected.

My wish is Phillips in for Carter. My pipe dream is Carter and Smith get traded today and Brayden Yeager gets an emergency call up.

It's half-hearted humor people. I was going to say it was tounge-in-cheek, but I know how you guys think.
- Thunderbolt

Phillips in for Carter? Sure why not. Maybe Sully holds Carter accountable for dodging shots, scrums and making blind drop passes to the other team that end up in the Pens net. Bring in Torts!

Phillips in for Carter? Sure why not. Maybe Sully holds Carter accountable for dodging shots, scrums and making blind drop passes to the other team that end up in the Pens net. Bring in Torts!
- madmike71

Carter looks a lot slower as the season goes on. Like why not give him 2nd nights of back to backs off? Like this Sunday vs the Oilers, scratch him and put in some fresh legs. This is a hard grueling road trip in a messed up timezone for 25 year olds let alone guys pushing 40 haha

No practice yesterday for the Pens, lines will probably remain as they were last game. Which is fine, they worked out better than expected.

My wish is Phillips in for Carter. My pipe dream is Carter and Smith get traded today and Brayden Yeager gets an emergency call up.

It's half-hearted humor people. I was going to say it was tounge-in-cheek, but I know how you guys think.
- Thunderbolt

I dont think you can have an emergency call up from juniors, can you?

I dont think you can have an emergency call up from juniors, can you?
- MattStrat

Yes. Flyers did it with Giroux.

Carter looks a lot slower as the season goes on. Like why not give him 2nd nights of back to backs off? Like this Sunday vs the Oilers, scratch him and put in some fresh legs. This is a hard grueling road trip in a messed up timezone for 25 year olds let alone guys pushing 40 haha
- MattStrat

Yeah... That would have been the right approach with Carter. Keep him fresh. Maybe sit him against speedy teams. Every time the 4th line hit the ice in the last game, it looked like a 5v4. There was a shift late in the game where Sully had the 4th line out there with the 3rd pairing. They were hanging on for dear life lol. F Sully.

I dont think you can have an emergency call up from juniors, can you?
- MattStrat

The Penguins did it years ago with a goaltender. In this situation the Pens would be forced to go with 11F and 7D, before they could utilize the emergency call up.

As far as how many emergency callups are permitted. I don't know off-hand and I have no desire to look it up.

I really don’t want another undersized winger in hoglander. I see them dumping garland for cap reasons and that they’ve tried to get rid of him before but I don’t want him either.

Aman and raty would be ok prospects. Nils aman. I honestly don’t like what van has all that much. I like how cbus drafts. Big and physical. Watch us get the crappy Elias Petterson from Van. Everyone will be stoked when they get the notification till they read the article and find out it’s the other one haha.

I remember getting a notification a decade ago saying Pitt traded for boychuk. I was stoked till I read the article and found out it was Zack not Johnny haha
- 10inchTerror

I think you are right that Vancouver wants to move Garland. But I'm with 123 on Hoglander. I had my eye on Kuzemenko but Hoglander has put up 18 ES goals playing like 11 minutes per night. Thats pretty damn good. Not a complete player could be a nice 3rd liner who can add some offence.

If you can get Hoglander, a 1st and a mid prospect, that would be a great return. Garland is much less ideal because of his contract but as a player he is solid. A Garland trade for me needs to be:

Guentzel (1/2 retained) & Graves for Garland, Zadorov, 2025 1st & Lekkeramaki. I'd do that all day as I think we could still compete for a playoff spot this year along with getting two great futures. Would be a big risk for JR but he loves taking risks.

I think you are right that Vancouver wants to move Garland. But I'm with 123 on Hoglander. I had my eye on Kuzemenko but Hoglander has put up 18 ES goals playing like 11 minutes per night. Thats pretty damn good. Not a complete player could be a nice 3rd liner who can add some offence.

If you can get Hoglander, a 1st and a mid prospect, that would be a great return. Garland is much less ideal because of his contract but as a player he is solid. A Garland trade for me needs to be:

Guentzel (1/2 retained) & Graves for Garland, Zadorov, 2025 1st & Lekkeramaki. I'd do that all day as I think we could still compete for a playoff spot this year along with getting two great futures. Would be a big risk for JR but he loves taking risks.
- MacPatty

Watch Hogs shooting% this season of 21.4% plummet after becoming a Penguin hahaha....to be fair his career average, if you remove this season, is 9.63%. That's still pretty good. Would he produce as much with tougher matchups in top 6, though? Maybe.

The Penguins did it years ago with a goaltender. In this situation the Pens would be forced to go with 11F and 7D, before they could utilize the emergency call up.

As far as how many emergency callups are permitted. I don't know off-hand and I have no desire to look it up.
- Thunderbolt

hahaha gotchya and no worries, I have zero desire for such things today, as well.

Watch Hogs shooting% this season of 21.4% plummet after becoming a Penguin hahaha....to be fair his career average, if you remove this season, is 9.63%. That's still pretty good. Would he produce as much with tougher matchups in top 6, though? Maybe.
- MattStrat

Good point. I never thought much of Hoglander and was surprised to see how many goals he was potting. I have no illusions of him being a top line player but would be nice to have someone with some finishing ability on the 3rd line.

Like I said, they needed to be tough to play against and needed more structure and accountability and, for the most part, he's instilled that in him. For that, I think he was what the team needed. Some of his tactics, however..

- Scratching players for one game, and making sure that games is the one in their home town where their friends and family come to see them, is childish. He did this with both Sanheim and Frost last year.

- Making Morgan Frost, the team's leading 5v5 scorer from last season, sit 11 of the first 13 games, is childish when no one on the team (Frost included) played well to start besides Konecny. Frost did deserve to sit, but so did about 10 other players, but he wanted to puff out his chest to show Frost that he could piss further.

- Healthy scratching Anthony Angelo (there is no "D" in him) for the final 5 games last year to play with only 12F/5D to make it a point you don't like him is childish.
- jmatchett383

Sounds like he’s just doing his job to me. He’s the coach, guess if you don’t listen you get benched. Refreshing really.

I think you are right that Vancouver wants to move Garland. But I'm with 123 on Hoglander. I had my eye on Kuzemenko but Hoglander has put up 18 ES goals playing like 11 minutes per night. Thats pretty damn good. Not a complete player could be a nice 3rd liner who can add some offence.

If you can get Hoglander, a 1st and a mid prospect, that would be a great return. Garland is much less ideal because of his contract but as a player he is solid. A Garland trade for me needs to be:

Guentzel (1/2 retained) & Graves for Garland, Zadorov, 2025 1st & Lekkeramaki. I'd do that all day as I think we could still compete for a playoff spot this year along with getting two great futures. Would be a big risk for JR but he loves taking risks.
- MacPatty

If that was the deal I’d send the paperwork now actually haha. When I used to watch a lot of juniors and followed prospects I remember hoglander really sticking out whenever he was on the ice in Sweden. I remember the first time I saw him I had to google his number to see who he was but every time he touched the ice he was creating good chances for himself. I would really just like to have less of an undersized soft team.

I wish cbus was a contender and wanted Jake because I like how they draft. Not necessarily Tom Wilson types by any means but players like Boone Jenner, marchenko, voronkov. Add in a zadarov for the real sandpaper. Players with some size and grit. You get those guys in the playoffs and willing to go all in to win. That won’t be fun. Even a guy like Ekholm. He’s not a big hitter or particularly heavy player throughout the season but I remember preds vs pens in the finals and he was playing like a monster. Throwing his weight around, laying elbows and lumber into people. Pretty nasty dude some games. Pens need some of that. Not a pint sized hoglander. I’ll probably just call him Crappy Jake when he’s laid out in the corner whining to a ref.

If that was the deal I’d send the paperwork now actually haha. When I used to watch a lot of juniors and followed prospects I remember hoglander really sticking out whenever he was on the ice in Sweden. I remember the first time I saw him I had to google his number to see who he was but every time he touched the ice he was creating good chances for himself. I would really just like to have less of an undersized soft team.

I wish cbus was a contender and wanted Jake because I like how they draft. Not necessarily Tom Wilson types by any means but players like Boone Jenner, marchenko, voronkov. Add in a zadarov for the real sandpaper. Players with some size and grit. You get those guys in the playoffs and willing to go all in to win. That won’t be fun. Even a guy like Ekholm. He’s not a big hitter or particularly heavy player throughout the season but I remember preds vs pens in the finals and he was playing like a monster. Throwing his weight around, laying elbows and lumber into people. Pretty nasty dude some games. Pens need some of that. Not a pint sized hoglander. I’ll probably just call him Crappy Jake when he’s laid out in the corner whining to a ref.
- 10inchTerror

Definitely this.