Ryan Wilson: Penguins inching closer to the playoffs Penguins inching closer to the playoffs

Ryan Wilson: Penguins inching closer to the playoffs
Penguins inching closer to the playoffs
- Ryan_Wilson

Their season is fake at this point so who cares?

Only caught the first but the young D men, namely Ivany and POJ made some really good plays.

Even the Caps play by play guy called out some plays by POJ stepping up at the blueline and negating entries.

POJ just needs to hit the weights and I could see him fitting in with Letang permanently on the 2nd pair.

Their season is fake at this point so who cares?
- jmatchett383

I must have missed a blog, or comment in blog, or some sh!t. You've been saying this "fake" thing all over this website hahaha....to a point it is now a dead horse, whatever it is you're talking about.

I must have missed a blog, or comment in blog, or some sh!t. You've been saying this "fake" thing all over this website hahaha....to a point it is now a dead horse, whatever it is you're talking about.
- MattStrat

Only a faint fake pulse right now They still need a new heart This one if failing badly

I feel a repeat of last year but the opposite. The pens need to get a point in one of their last 2 games to pass another team but manage to blow it.

I must have missed a blog, or comment in blog, or some sh!t. You've been saying this "fake" thing all over this website hahaha....to a point it is now a dead horse, whatever it is you're talking about.
- MattStrat

https://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=124752

For the record, I believe I've only said it 4 times counting this. Two other times here and once in Ek's. Once here the day he said it, once two days after when he celebrated a win, the time in Ek's blog the other day, and this. Hardly "all over this website."

I'm just asking RW to stick to his guns is all.

Only caught the first but the young D men, namely Ivany and POJ made some really good plays.

Even the Caps play by play guy called out some plays by POJ stepping up at the blueline and negating entries.

POJ just needs to hit the weights and I could see him fitting in with Letang permanently on the 2nd pair.
- Thorny87

Every time I watch POJ play, not just this season, I wonder why he doesn't get more of a leash. I don't expect him to be Nick Lidstrom out there, but he's always looked like a legit top-6 D.

Every time I watch POJ play, not just this season, I wonder why he doesn't get more of a leash. I don't expect him to be Nick Lidstrom out there, but he's always looked like a legit top-6 D.
- jmatchett383

Sully can stomach a lot of mistakes if you're part of the core but he has to take it out on someone.

Not a great recipe for growth as a young player. One mistake and your riding pine.

https://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=124752

For the record, I believe I've only said it 4 times counting this. Two other times here and once in Ek's. Once here the day he said it, once two days after when he celebrated a win, the time in Ek's blog the other day, and this. Hardly "all over this website."

I'm just asking RW to stick to his guns is all.
- jmatchett383

What did he mean by it though? and why are you so stuck on it?

Sully can stomach a lot of mistakes if you're part of the core but he has to take it out on someone.

Not a great recipe for growth as a young player. One mistake and your riding pine.
- Thorny87

I don't think that's a Mike Sullivan-exclusive thing, I think that's most head coaches with a lot of young non-star players. I don't agree with it, as you give the job to the best player based or their play, not on age/experience. But yeah, this is definitely not exclusive to Sullivan.

What did he mean by it though? and why are you so stuck on it?
- MattStrat

He was saying that this season was "fake" because they had thrown in the towel and traded Jake so it was clear they weren't actually trying to win, and that the only thing that mattered was Sid tying (or passing) Gretzky in the P/GP seasons.

If that's how he feels (which I didn't really agree with), that's fine. But stick to it and don't talk about their playoff chances since you already said it's a "fake" season.

I don't think that's a Mike Sullivan-exclusive thing, I think that's most head coaches with a lot of young non-star players. I don't agree with it, as you give the job to the best player based or their play, not on age/experience. But yeah, this is definitely not exclusive to Sullivan.
- jmatchett383

Oh I agree 100%. It's a trait all coaches have.

He was saying that this season was "fake" because they had thrown in the towel and traded Jake so it was clear they weren't actually trying to win, and that the only thing that mattered was Sid tying (or passing) Gretzky in the P/GP seasons.

If that's how he feels (which I didn't really agree with), that's fine. But stick to it and don't talk about their playoff chances since you already said it's a "fake" season.
- jmatchett383

Yeah its a weird thing to say. Ive watched pretty much every single game this season and yes, while I've seen some defeated looking attitudes and body language late in some games they lost the lead or were losing most of the game, the only two games it looked like they weren't trying the whole game, but maybe just lost on the ice is better way of putting it, were the Leafs blowout (7-0 I think) and the Caps blowout game the night Jake was traded.

The puck support has been much much better. Defense and forwards working together. It wasn't the case a few games ago.

I don't think that's a Mike Sullivan-exclusive thing, I think that's most head coaches with a lot of young non-star players. I don't agree with it, as you give the job to the best player based or their play, not on age/experience. But yeah, this is definitely not exclusive to Sullivan.
- jmatchett383

Agree this is how it should be but then when the coach does it regularly he starts getting the Torts label. (I think there was a serious case to be had to sit Malkin during his stretch in or around mid January I think it was)
Its also usually a mix of GM and coach mistakes, relationship and how much power each has. How would Dubas feel if Sullivan healthy scratched his prized free agent signing (Graves) for 40+ games this year? Or if Sullivan benched Acciari, Graves, and Jarry regularly after Dubas signed them.
And Im a full believer that Sullivan should have been fired last offseason so Im not protecting him.

He was saying that this season was "fake" because they had thrown in the towel and traded Jake so it was clear they weren't actually trying to win, and that the only thing that mattered was Sid tying (or passing) Gretzky in the P/GP seasons.

If that's how he feels (which I didn't really agree with), that's fine. But stick to it and don't talk about their playoff chances since you already said it's a "fake" season.
- jmatchett383

What’s funny is the Jake trade actually could have saved this season. Crosby and Rust haven’t missed a beat and Bunting improved Malkins line greatly.

Agree this is how it should be but then when the coach does it regularly he starts getting the Torts label. (I think there was a serious case to be had to sit Malkin during his stretch in or around mid January I think it was)
Its also usually a mix of GM and coach mistakes, relationship and how much power each has. How would Dubas feel if Sullivan healthy scratched his prized free agent signing (Graves) for 40+ games this year? Or if Sullivan benched Acciari, Graves, and Jarry regularly after Dubas signed them.
And Im a full believer that Sullivan should have been fired last offseason so Im not protecting him.
- pens4life-66

I know dubas has said he’s realized some of his plans for his build have failed so I guess we will see how much he tries to rectify. I imagine next year will still feature graves but you have to be blind to not see what type of impact he has on the team.

How crazy is it that right now there's a chance the Pens and CAR could meet in round 1? Has that ever happened before that the highest-profile rental player has played his former team in the playoffs? That would be wild -- but for now, just need to focus on TB.

What’s funny is the Jake trade actually could have saved this season. Crosby and Rust haven’t missed a beat and Bunting improved Malkins line greatly.
- Grinder47

maybe JG was also (quitely) dying alive here. lol

I know dubas has said he’s realized some of his plans for his build have failed so I guess we will see how much he tries to rectify. I imagine next year will still feature graves but you have to be blind to not see what type of impact he has on the team.
- 10inchTerror

That’s kind of what I’m saying. Does Sullivan sit him for 82 games next year and does Dubas accept that when he does?
If Ned gets them to the playoffs and they re sign him does Sullivan make him the starter? And is Dubas fine with his long term goalie he signed playing 35 games?

That’s kind of what I’m saying. Does Sullivan sit him for 82 games next year and does Dubas accept that when he does?
If Ned gets them to the playoffs and they re sign him does Sullivan make him the starter? And is Dubas fine with his long term goalie he signed playing 35 games?
- pens4life-66

One thing I'll say about Sully is that he doesn't seem to care about goalie politics or how much they're paid. He had no problem sitting MAF for Murray in playoffs when Murray was the hotter hand. So, if Ned and Jarry are back next season I'm sure it will be more of the same, whoever is playing the best will get more starts.

One thing I'll say about Sully is that he doesn't seem to care about goalie politics or how much they're paid. He had no problem sitting MAF for Murray in playoffs when Murray was the hotter hand. So, if Ned and Jarry are back next season I'm sure it will be more of the same, whoever is playing the best will get more starts.
- MattStrat

He did stick by Murray for too long though.

That’s kind of what I’m saying. Does Sullivan sit him for 82 games next year and does Dubas accept that when he does?
If Ned gets them to the playoffs and they re sign him does Sullivan make him the starter? And is Dubas fine with his long term goalie he signed playing 35 games?
- pens4life-66

I suppose there needs to be teamwork between on ice management and FO management. If sully says we are way better without graves and he wants Ned as the starter (let’s say blomquist was nhl ready as well) then dubas should be trying to trade them for what the team does need. Even if Ned won straight out to finish the year and a whole round in the playoffs I think he would either price himself out of a backup role, or management would want both for a 1A/B tandem. I think there is zero chance of Jarry moving, and a decent chance we lose Ned. Graves should be traded at all costs.

That’s kind of what I’m saying. Does Sullivan sit him for 82 games next year and does Dubas accept that when he does?
If Ned gets them to the playoffs and they re sign him does Sullivan make him the starter? And is Dubas fine with his long term goalie he signed playing 35 games?
- pens4life-66

Dubas though didn't bring in Jarry. He was stuck with him so signed him. I wouldn't be surprised to see them trade Jarry in the offseason.