Ryan Wilson: Ain't nobody messing with you, but you Ain't nobody messing with you, but you

That said, there might be Help On the Way with Owen Pickering. He had a tremendous debut.

If you're looking for a rookie D-Man to be your Estimated Prophet and turnaround this team, then there's room for you on a Ship of Fools.

If you're looking for a rookie D-Man to be your Estimated Prophet and turnaround this team, then there's room for you on a Ship of Fools.
- Only_A_Ladd

Literally no Penguin fan on this board is expecting a Prophet. We understand the situation we are in. We are just happy to see a young guy get the chance and perform well.

RW said in the blog that "losing is winning" since the draft lottery is our playoffs this year. He's obviously not thinking Pickering or anybody else is going to make this a playoff team. Pickering though could easily be their second-best LD already after one NHL game.

Literally no Penguin fan on this board is expecting a Prophet. We understand the situation we are in. We are just happy to see a young guy get the chance and perform well.
- SuperHenderson13

Yes. All of The Eyes of the World can see this team isn't a playoff team.

I like both of them and I like Beau and Pettersson and Ned. But for the same reason I like them, we should be trading them. They are all really nice complimentary players that would be great to have if you are competing for a cup... we are not in that situation by a long shot.
- MacPatty

I can agree with a lot of this. I do think if they are serious about taking another run with Crosby, futile as it may be, they'd keep guys like Pettersson and DOC. But as we saw with Guentzel, Hayes, and Glass moves, they really aren't. So they should get value for those guys who will both be in demand.

The one I might hold back is Puljujarvi. I don't think he'll get much in a trade right now, but he could be a useful player for us if he stays. He's been much better at LW than I thought and that side has a ton of openings.

Kind of looks like Sullivan has tied his future to playing the younger guys. He sat Graves and Puustinen last night. Graves being somewhat of a shocker. Having said that, Pickering will be sent down when Letang is healthy. As he should, he needs to play and speed up his decision making.

Ponomarov and Poulin have surpassed Puustinen and Nieto. Send Puustinen down and hope he gets claimed. Nieto is fine as the spare part. If anyone wants him, get a cold six pack for him.
- Thunderbolt

I doubt Sully has that mindset. He maybe wanted to shake people up by scratching a big contract. WBS is off until Friday so we probably don't see anyone sent down yet unless it's to accrue cap space

Letang being healthy doesn't have to impact Pickering. They play different positions. And they have the cap space to keep an eighth Dman just like they could a third goalie if they want to give him a shot. They just have to keep benching Graves or maybe Gryz for Pickering. I would at least for a few more games, but I'll believe it when I see it.

It is nice to see what a little youth looks like on the team for a change. Play some guys fighting for a career, not just collecting a paycheck like a few Pens

Ryan Wilson: Ain't nobody messing with you, but you
Ain't nobody messing with you, but you
- Ryan_Wilson

Baby I hope you don’t get burned !

The Omnipotent Grateful Dead

I doubt Sully has that mindset. He maybe wanted to shake people up by scratching a big contract. WBS is off until Friday so we probably don't see anyone sent down yet unless it's to accrue cap space

Letang being healthy doesn't have to impact Pickering. They play different positions. And they have the cap space to keep an eighth Dman just like they could a third goalie if they want to give him a shot. They just have to keep benching Graves or maybe Gryz for Pickering. I would at least for a few more games, but I'll believe it when I see it.

It is nice to see what a little youth looks like on the team for a change. Play some guys fighting for a career, not just collecting a paycheck like a few Pens
- Tojo.

Pickering played well last night; he was hardly the best player on the ice.

If Sullivan/Quinn are going to play him then by all means keep eight defense. I'm all for seeing what Pickering does against a team like Tampa Bay. That'll be a better test to see just where he stands against NHL competition.

Grateful Dead sucks.

Grateful Dead sucks.
- j.boyd919

Lesh died. Is he the last one? Cause I’m not sure how many of them are sucking right now. Most of them lungs ceased awhile ago.

Scratching Graves before Gryz. Sullivan is a dope.

Scratching Graves before Gryz. Sullivan is a dope.
- madmike71

Might just be keeping Gryz active in hopes they can trade him for something. Graves isn't tradeable.

I don't care who they sit as long as Pickering gets playing time when he is up.

Might just be keeping Gryz active in hopes they can trade him for something. Graves isn't tradeable.

I don't care who they sit as long as Pickering gets playing time when he is up.
- MacPatty

Graves sucks, but I'm assuming Sullivan still wants to win. Gryz wouldn't be within a 1000 miles of my roster if I wanted to win.

Count me in for playing any of our prospects over guys like Nieto or Gryz.

Graves sucks, but I'm assuming Sullivan still wants to win. Gryz wouldn't be within a 1000 miles of my roster if I wanted to win.

Count me in for playing any of our prospects over guys like Nieto or Gryz.
- madmike71

I’m honestly not even sure I’d play Gryz in the top 4 in the AHL hahaha

Scratching Graves before Gryz. Sullivan is a dope.
- madmike71

Moving on from POJ to Gryz for more money is one of the biggest head scratchs in Dubas's tenure.

Sullivan has never gotten the most out of his players. Like I said before his name should be angle grinders off the Stanley cup and add a picture of Rutherford.

I’m honestly not even sure I’d play Gryz in the top 4 in the AHL hahaha
- pens4life-66

I posted a few blogs back asking if they'd even bothered scouting him or watching tape? He was a healthy scratch in BOS last year. Why did they think he could handle a top-4 role?

Or, is this really just a sneaky dedicated tank job to get a high pick? Sid's still too good, let's bring in Grz for the top-4. That'll get us into the lottery.

I posted a few blogs back asking if they'd even bothered scouting him or watching tape? He was a healthy scratch in BOS last year. Why did they think he could handle a top-4 role?

Or, is this really just a sneaky dedicated tank job to get a high pick? Sid's still too good, let's bring in Grz for the top-4. That'll get us into the lottery.
- MickV

I think he was brought in with the hopes he could turn his play around then be flipped at the TDL. He was pretty solid for the B's until last season.

I posted a few blogs back asking if they'd even bothered scouting him or watching tape? He was a healthy scratch in BOS last year. Why did they think he could handle a top-4 role?

Or, is this really just a sneaky dedicated tank job to get a high pick? Sid's still too good, let's bring in Grz for the top-4. That'll get us into the lottery.
- MickV

It's very much a team dynamic rather than a single player. Rackell is now the lone skater w/ a positive goal differential at 5v5 (+7). The top six D usual suspects are a combined (-38). Grz is -9, Letang -8, Petts -7, Graves -6, EK/St.Ivany -4 each..And Glass, Hayes, Acciari, Rust, & DO are a combined -47 differential. DO, Acciari & Rust bottom of the list.

Designed to lose? IDK. Style of play/ coaches system/ lack of situational awareness/ extended shifts. Getting slaughtered 5v5 is fast way to the bottom of the standings. Poor netminding as well. lol

I think he was brought in with the hopes he could turn his play around then be flipped at the TDL. He was pretty solid for the B's until last season.
- MattStrat

That Gryz or Graves would bounce back and become a top four is one of many gambles that did not pay off.

It is no secret that Graves and Grzelcyk have been bad. But I think part of their problem is that the forwards have not been great at puck possession, which puts them in a tougher position - not to mention that the forwards do not help out enough sometimes. Add to this the fact that Letang and EK sometimes seem to forget that they are defensemen and you have a situation where it is tough for mediocre defensemen like Graves and Grzelcyk to even look mediocre.

It is no secret that Graves and Grzelcyk have been bad. But I think part of their problem is that the forwards have not been great at puck possession, which puts them in a tougher position - not to mention that the forwards do not help out enough sometimes. Add to this the fact that Letang and EK sometimes seem to forget that they are defensemen and you have a situation where it is tough for mediocre defensemen like Graves and Grzelcyk to even look mediocre.
- PghPens668771

This is very true. Graves seemed to relax a bit too much after getting his big contract, I knew he wasnt a total game changer, but I did think he would be a better player.

Grzelcyk was bad and has been bad. That was just a bad move.

I think he was brought in with the hopes he could turn his play around then be flipped at the TDL. He was pretty solid for the B's until last season.
- MattStrat

Yeah, that is obvious, but why did they think that would work? That's my question.

It's very much a team dynamic rather than a single player. Rackell is now the lone skater w/ a positive goal differential at 5v5 (+7). The top six D usual suspects are a combined (-38). Grz is -9, Letang -8, Petts -7, Graves -6, EK/St.Ivany -4 each..And Glass, Hayes, Acciari, Rust, & DO are a combined -47 differential. DO, Acciari & Rust bottom of the list.

Designed to lose? IDK. Style of play/ coaches system/ lack of situational awareness/ extended shifts. Getting slaughtered 5v5 is fast way to the bottom of the standings. Poor netminding as well. lol
- out_of_market

Yeah, I was joking. I don't think they intentionally tanked by signing Grz knowing he would suck, but since it's not clear to me why they thought he could shake off sucking last year and play top-4 mins with us, then I was joking that maybe it's part of a master plan to get the next generational players. I think they just totally misjudged the player, similar to Graves.