Yeah.... He was an awful hire because he's a bad executive, but the previous ownership/Moorehouse told him to tear things down. He didn't get to the blow up phase. He had no plans to bring Malkin or Letang back. New ownership did a 180 and he wasn't prepared for it.
- madmike71

Ah yeah Moorehouse not Burkle. My brain confuses them

Maybe the Pens should petition the league to not have any games before March next year. They're a different team in March-April the past two seasons.
- MickV

I find most basement dwellers tend to come alive around March giving their fans a false sense of hope.

When you review the past 5 or 6 years and can't get that correct it doesn't give a whole lot of cred when you dis what's going on today.

Where's the comments on Ville Kolvunen? His first season on this side of the ocean and is playing at almost a point a game. How about Broz, Murashov, Pickering, St. Ivany, and does anyone know anything about Avery Hayes? I can't recall - possibly someone said something. Nice things are happening in WB/S under the direction of Spezza.
- sufi-judge[thus under Dubas and FSG]

Those kids down there aren't all going to make it, but it looks better now than combining the last 5 years. Add that to the team with the most Stanley CUPS since 1990 and (I guess) some of the comments about it just looks comical.

Success at the AHL level doesn’t guarantee NHL success… but it is looking better than a long time there. Can SILKY handle it? That's still another story.

As fans, who saw MARIO come in and we still waited 5 seasons to get into the playoffs... maybe, maybe I have much more patience. During those days some fans wanted to trade him. They weren't idiots (most of them) they were just inpatient and wrong.

A lot of those guys get mentioned frequently here, particularly Murashov, Koivunen, and Pickering. You must just miss those days.

St. Ivany hasn't earned his way back despite a hole at 3RD (at least before Timmons) so not sure how big the plans are for him. I could see them losing him to waivers if he doesn't have a good camp.

Hayes is a feisty wing who is undersized but goes to the net a lot. Was talked about after he was a standout in camp, has had a breakout year at WBD, and just got upgraded from an AHL only contract to a 2 way deal next year. Still a bit of a longshot because Koivunen and McGroarty are going to get opportunities before him, but he's doing his part to get on their radar.

-Crosby goal
-Penguins get 0 points

Longer term I’d like to see Spezza take over as GM. I think having a guy that’s been a leader in an NHL lockeroom at the helm could make a big difference with the culture.

This is a basic compliant that I have in regard to SILKY Sullivan… a prospect or newbie gets their first ice time and when they make a mistake that TOI disappears, SILKY staples them to the bench. ALL OF THEM. Yet, watch a VET do something worse and he gets away with it… repeats it and still takes a regular shift with no reduction in ice time. At least it sure appears that way.

Add to that is his attempt to make every player (except Crosby, Malkin, Letang, and Karlsson) into a Swiss Army knife.

Right now this is a one-line, plus Malkin group of forwards, along with Letang and Karlsson on defense - with all other forwards playing for the other 8 spots,,, and other defensemen - whereas if *heavens to Betsy* one of them misses an assignment they have to sit in the corner with a dunce cap on their head.

This isn't cool in any business. *Lack of trust in employees* is the biggest sign of a bad leader. Bad leaders play favorites and comminate poorly.

Sometimes bad leadership is hard to spot… as time goes on, however, it looks like Dubas might need a *Come to Jesus* meeting with FSG about SILKY and his role moving forward in the organization. Someone gave him that 3-year extension and it was reported that might have been FSG.

This is a basic compliant that I have in regard to SILKY Sullivan… a prospect or newbie gets their first ice time and when they make a mistake that TOI disappears, SILKY staples them to the bench. ALL OF THEM. Yet, watch a VET do something worse and he gets away with it… repeats it and still takes a regular shift with no reduction in ice time. At least it sure appears that way.

Add to that is his attempt to make every player (except Crosby, Malkin, Letang, and Karlsson) into a Swiss Army knife.

Right now this is a one-line, plus Malkin group of forwards, along with Letang and Karlsson on defense - with all other forwards playing for the other 8 spots,,, and other defensemen - whereas if *heavens to Betsy* one of them misses an assignment they have to sit in the corner with a dunce cap on their head.

This isn't cool in any business. *Lack of trust in employees* is the biggest sign of a bad leader. Bad leaders play favorites and comminate poorly.

Sometimes bad leadership is hard to spot… as time goes on, however, it looks like Dubas might need a *Come to Jesus* meeting with FSG about SILKY and his role moving forward in the organization. Someone gave him that 3-year extension and it was reported that might have been FSG.
- sufi-judge

That's why they should fire Sullivan after the season and bring in the WB coach. Just like Sully in 16, he'll know those players and give them some rope when they screw up. It's ironic that Sully won those cups giving young guys big roles. Now he has no use for youth.

John Henry himself gave Sully that contract when he still had 2 full years on his existing deal. Sully was spotted yucking it up with FSG bigwigs in Boston while Hexy was left twisting in the wind back in the Burgh. Sully has had most of the power ever since.

Dubas won't have the stones to fire the USA Olympic coach. Book it. He was the right coach at the right time in 16. Obviously the wrong coach for these times.

That's why they should fire Sullivan after the season and bring in the WB coach. Just like Sully in 16, he'll know those players and give them some rope when they screw up. It's ironic that Sully won those cups giving young guys big roles. Now he has no use for youth.

John Henry himself gave Sully that contract when he still had 2 full years on his existing deal. Sully was spotted yucking it up with FSG bigwigs in Boston while Hexy was left twisting in the wind back in the Burgh. Sully has had most of the power ever since.

Dubas won't have the stones to fire the USA Olympic coach. Book it. He was the right coach at the right time in 16. Obviously the wrong coach for these times.
- madmike71

The paradox of Mike Sullivan is that his system thrives with tenacious, wreckless energy on the fore and back check but flounders when players start to “just play their game” and go through the motions focusing on minimizing mistakes. Yet for the past X amount of years, the latter is what Sullivan seemingly wants out of his team, hence why the product has been near unwatchable for the past three years as the talent level of the team has steadily declined. He’s clearly no longer a fit on this squad. I’m sure he’d do well on younger team with less old vets he can use as a safe space

This is a basic compliant that I have in regard to SILKY Sullivan… a prospect or newbie gets their first ice time and when they make a mistake that TOI disappears, SILKY staples them to the bench. ALL OF THEM. Yet, watch a VET do something worse and he gets away with it… repeats it and still takes a regular shift with no reduction in ice time. At least it sure appears that way.

Add to that is his attempt to make every player (except Crosby, Malkin, Letang, and Karlsson) into a Swiss Army knife.

Right now this is a one-line, plus Malkin group of forwards, along with Letang and Karlsson on defense - with all other forwards playing for the other 8 spots,,, and other defensemen - whereas if *heavens to Betsy* one of them misses an assignment they have to sit in the corner with a dunce cap on their head.

This isn't cool in any business. *Lack of trust in employees* is the biggest sign of a bad leader. Bad leaders play favorites and comminate poorly.

Sometimes bad leadership is hard to spot… as time goes on, however, it looks like Dubas might need a *Come to Jesus* meeting with FSG about SILKY and his role moving forward in the organization. Someone gave him that 3-year extension and it was reported that might have been FSG.
- sufi-judge

They even have Karlsson trying to play a certain way. They still get the mistakes from him, might as well turn him loose.

WBS has such nice balance. They had one of the top lines in the league, their third line scores like a second line, and their fourth line is the classic rough and tumble identity line. Looks nothing like Pittsburgh.

SILKY was a major improvement over Mike Johnson and had 3 elite HOF players when he took the helm… 2 Stanley Cups is nothing to be ignored. Neither is not winning a round in the playoffs for 7 of the last 7 years.

A trade of SILKY Sullivan to Boston during the off season would really be the *cat's meow*.

[Question: If Trump/Putin do work-out a series between USA and Russia and Canada becomes our 51st state... ... ... oh, never mind]

The paradox of Mike Sullivan is that his system thrives with tenacious, wreckless energy on the fore and back check but flounders when players start to “just play their game” and go through the motions focusing on minimizing mistakes. Yet for the past X amount of years, the latter is what Sullivan seemingly wants out of his team, hence why the product has been near unwatchable for the past three years as the talent level of the team has steadily declined. He’s clearly no longer a fit on this squad. I’m sure he’d do well on younger team with less old vets he can use as a safe space
- Victoro311

You can’t play a wreck less style of hockey and also have zero toughness to your game. Not in the NHL.

Long time STH. Its the little things that drive me crazy. For example, for all the give aways, they changed it to only the 1st 7,500 fans for an arena that fits over 18,000. So people line up 2+ hours before the games start. Causes added traffic, problems with the already limited parking and limited restaurant options. In addition, they are still "developing" the property across the street. 10+ years of it being a dirt pile. At least now FNB put a building there (still no parking though). 5th ave went from 3 lanes for cars to 1 lane for buses, 1 lane for cars and eventually 1 lane for bikes. They took $30M and put up a bigger scoreboard and displaced a ton of long time season tix holders for a seating area for bettors (but you cant bet on other sports there). Then they added the cassamigos lounge. I tried to upgrade my 2 tix once and they said it would only cost me another $600. I cant believe FSG scored this high. None of the STH near me are happy. I have had 3 different tix agents in the last 12 months. Turn over seems to be an issue.

Long time STH. Its the little things that drive me crazy. For example, for all the give aways, they changed it to only the 1st 7,500 fans for an arena that fits over 18,000. So people line up 2+ hours before the games start. Causes added traffic, problems with the already limited parking and limited restaurant options. In addition, they are still "developing" the property across the street. 10+ years of it being a dirt pile. At least now FNB put a building there (still no parking though). 5th ave went from 3 lanes for cars to 1 lane for buses, 1 lane for cars and eventually 1 lane for bikes. They took $30M and put up a bigger scoreboard and displaced a ton of long time season tix holders for a seating area for bettors (but you cant bet on other sports there). Then they added the cassamigos lounge. I tried to upgrade my 2 tix once and they said it would only cost me another $600. I cant believe FSG scored this high. None of the STH near me are happy. I have had 3 different tix agents in the last 12 months. Turn over seems to be an issue.
- i'mjustafan

Being a STH for the Pens is like a wet dream for this Canadian boy. Respect your input, thoughts and opinions on this. Sounds like they're not doing themselves, the team or fans any favours.

SILKY was a major improvement over Mike Johnson and had 3 elite HOF players when he took the helm… 2 Stanley Cups is nothing to be ignored. Neither is not winning a round in the playoffs for 7 of the last 7 years.

A trade of SILKY Sullivan to Boston during the off season would really be the *cat's meow*.


- sufi-judge[Question: If Trump/Putin do work-out a series between USA and Russia and Canada becomes our 51st state... ... ... oh, never mind]

We'd be an awesome 51st state for you guys. We're absolutely smothered in natural resources and clean water. Only 41 million people in a country that's a bigger land mass than yours. Wonder how that would all work with all of our 13 provinces/territories(aka states), though....

We'd be an awesome 51st state for you guys. We're absolutely smothered in natural resources and clean water. Only 41 million people in a country that's a bigger land mass than yours. Wonder how that would all work with all of our 13 provinces/territories(aka states), though....
- MattStrat

All the fish would rely on private stocking programs in 3 years if Canada became the 51st state.

All the fish would rely on private stocking programs in 3 years if Canada became the 51st state.
- Grinder47

I dont know, man. We have over 2 million lakes...which account for 14% of the whole earth's fresh water...not sure how many ponds. We have so many f'n fish. So many ponds and lakes without roads, or trails, to them.

So we've reached the "discussing fishing" part of the season already it seems.

Long time STH. Its the little things that drive me crazy. For example, for all the give aways, they changed it to only the 1st 7,500 fans for an arena that fits over 18,000. So people line up 2+ hours before the games start. Causes added traffic, problems with the already limited parking and limited restaurant options. In addition, they are still "developing" the property across the street. 10+ years of it being a dirt pile. At least now FNB put a building there (still no parking though). 5th ave went from 3 lanes for cars to 1 lane for buses, 1 lane for cars and eventually 1 lane for bikes. They took $30M and put up a bigger scoreboard and displaced a ton of long time season tix holders for a seating area for bettors (but you cant bet on other sports there). Then they added the cassamigos lounge. I tried to upgrade my 2 tix once and they said it would only cost me another $600. I cant believe FSG scored this high. None of the STH near me are happy. I have had 3 different tix agents in the last 12 months. Turn over seems to be an issue.
- i'mjustafan

Didn't realize all of that. I think most owners are doing things like this, but if I have to give the Rooney's credit for something... They never gouged the STH for the tickets. The food and beer are outrageous, but the ticket prices have always been pretty steady.

The construction, traffic and parking is why I no longer go to Pens games. It's insane. Those issues on 5th ave are purely a City of Pittsburgh creation. The lunatics who run the city have some pipe dream that everybody wants to use buses and bikes. Nobody wants to ride on a sh!tty bus and you can count on 1 hand how many people use those bike lanes. Who wants to be on a bike at night with all the lunatic homeless and criminals running free. My wife still works in town, and practically every night she has a new story on the insane sh!t she see's on the streets.

MacPatty clearly doesn't remember the moves Hex made.
- MickV

I hated Hextall, dont get me wrong. But he just did nothing. Dubas tried to win by acquiring Karlsson and trading away depth/prospects and when he failed at that, he decided that we need to trade away our players for picks but we are still going to end up without a true top prospect yet again this year.

The question for me is, would you throw away these last two seasons again to get our prospect and draft pick pool...? Not a chance in hell.

Longer term I’d like to see Spezza take over as GM. I think having a guy that’s been a leader in an NHL lockeroom at the helm could make a big difference with the culture.
- Grinder47

I think this is probably Dubas plan and the reason why he hasnt hired a GM yet. Could happen as soon as this offseason. WBS is looking really good, but at the expense of the NHL club likely.

I think this is probably Dubas plan and the reason why he hasnt hired a GM yet. Could happen as soon as this offseason. WBS is looking really good, but at the expense of the NHL club likely.
- MacPatty

Hopefully Dubas is referring to Spezza about team construct. I know Spezza has spoken very highly of just having Boko around the younger guys in Wilks.

Spezza would not be my choice for GM. He's a bit of doofas. When he was playing with the Sens and Leafs I watched countless interviews with him. I'm sure there other guys with playing experience and management experience that could be available.

I hated Hextall, dont get me wrong. But he just did nothing. Dubas tried to win by acquiring Karlsson and trading away depth/prospects and when he failed at that, he decided that we need to trade away our players for picks but we are still going to end up without a true top prospect yet again this year.

The question for me is, would you throw away these last two seasons again to get our prospect and draft pick pool...? Not a chance in hell.
- MacPatty

I'm not going to defend Dubas. He tried to win and failed. We'll see how he does with the retool, jury is still out.

Hex though traded Matheson for Petry, Marino for Ty Smith, McCann for nothing (7th rounder), etc ... he took over a team mid season that won their division that year, and two years later they missed the playoffs. He made a lot of terrible moves. (He also made a few good moves like trading for Rak, but the balance of moves was very negative.)

With the Sabres winning 3 out of their last 4, it isnt impossible for the Penguins to end the season as the worst team in the East. It's unlikely we could finish lower than 4th worst. The Preds, Blackhawks, and Sharks arent catching us.

A worst case would see us finish around 9th/10th worst. We are about even with teams like the Kraken, Flyers, etc.

Rutherford came in and built 2 Stanley Cup teams. He then got reckless and threw away a lot of our remaining assets. Hextall came in and tried to double down on that plan and wasted even more assets. Dubas came in and originally tried to triple down, but soon realized the path was lost and he reset the organization.

This was a gradual decline that due to mismanagement probably was accelerated.