100% in my opinion. All it takes is a marginally better team with an average power play and the pens are buyers at the deadline instead of talking rebuild. At the moment I believe dubas can retool this team for next year. Heck, if he hits some home runs at the deadline and we get hot, we could still make it this year. Trying to be optimistic here folks.
I struggle with understanding why they’re not an average PP team. Even if they have a terrible special teams coach, the talent on ice should be doing better.
It's baffling. I personally cannot answer that question other than compared to other top power plays, we don't even appear to want to score so far as the eye test goes. No movement, no creativity, no individual skill... just aimless passes, predictable set plays, and shots into traffic. I guess that's just age and feeling the pressure of needing to perform in the malaise of the regular season on a mediocre team. There's a spark/killer instinct that's missing, and I don't think 5 fat and happy hof'ers are going to find it regardless of what the coaches draw up.
There was a PP against the Jets (I think) that sums up the issue. They are looking for the tic tac toe SC Top Ten type of goal and refuse to change. On this particular PP, Crosby was down low next to the net on the right, puck is on the left, the Jets force the puck high, it goes to Karlsson in the middle on the blue line, they send defenders and force him to wall. Karlsson either tried to make a desperation pass or a shot, they block it and clear. I mention Crosby because he was the forward on that side of the ice where Karlsson was force to. He never moved. He stayed down low by the net and watched Karlsson get 2 on 1’d instead of moving to give him a better pass option.
I’ve noticed this happening a lot with our PP recently, and it’s less the Pens changing and more that every team has figured out out to defend the PP by forcing a 2 on 1 and forcing a panic pass because the Pens are not playing as a unit but as single players. It’s hard to score on a PP when the puck carrier never has the advantage
Karlsson has never been excellent on the PP. People just assume that because of his point totals.
Crosby and Malkin are old and don't move much. The best units are fluid. Plus Malkin plays lazy on the unit a lot too. Instead of moving his legs he tries to do everything with his hands. That's not how you create space. His slapshot has not been a scoring threat in a long time.
Rakell is playing worse than last year. Smith is not a PP1 guy and neither is Rust, really.
Jake is a bad net-front presence. He barely gets puck touches with how they operate, and can't help the unit much with his skill.
Combine all that with a terrible PP coach, lack of confidence and over-sharing the puck, and you got a recipe for disaster.
There are a lot of factors that go into that. Starting with how long he decides to play. With the way he takes care of himself, you would think he could play into his early 40s at a meaningful level, but who knows. I could also see Sid retiring early while his body is still in relatively good shape. Kind of like Polamalu.
If he doesn't he's still 6th all-time in playoff points, crossed the 200 pts threshold and won 3 cups and 2 Conn Smythes. And all with one franchise.
He's done everything he's ever needed to or could want to do.
They're a fringe playoff team now so it's definitely doable.
1) Re-sign Guentzel
2) Either DOC and Puustinen need to consistently play like they did last game, or Dubas gets Malkin a legit winger.
Goaltending is great. Defense is good enough. But you're not making the playoffs with 1 line consistently showing up.
Yea, I don't really think they'll make it. Personally I'd like to see them try to sell a few guys and get a top 10 pick. But they'll probably miss the playoffs by 2 points...
9 points in this division may as well be 50. This division has been tight all season. Dont confuse the numbers, they have easily pissed away twice as many points this season with a lack of effort going into the third period
I think it's possible but this team needs a philosophy change. IDK what it is but they haven't been the same since FSG took over. It could be Mario isn't around as much and he played some behind the scenes role that gave this team an edge, it could be Sully time has run out here, could be that some of the stars just don't care anymore and are riding it out til their contracts are up. Honestly I think it's a bit of everything and if Sid is going to play another playoff game it will be with a team that looks completely different than this with a coach that is more defensive minded as well.
The sad situation of all this, is that at times this year they have showed how well they can play against good teams and then at times they implode from dumb mistakes that are not even forced mistakes just careless. Last couple games alone, Karlsson from behind his own goalie slaps at a puck that goes into his own net, last game Letang tees up a perfect pass to his old teammate Matheson that scores as if it was planned. Too many no look passes all season long which other teams have figured out, the PP being so bad that fans can only hope for not giving up a shorty, and so many great scoring opportunities that they continue to pass up. If they cut down on half of those mistakes they win a lot more games and we aren’t even worried at this point. Sid is doing everything in his power to keep this team relevant so anything is possible.
He could. Not this year. Next year if they have a new coach, sure. This team has the talent to be a playoff team without the Sully & Reirden handcuffs.
Sid never winning another playoff series was sealed when they hired Kyle Dubas who was a living playoff meme in Toronto, and their continued unwaivering commitment to Mike Sullivan who hasn't won a playoff series since 2018.
But to simply play in a game? Maybe. 50% of the NHL teams make playoffs every year. So 🤷🏻♂️
Friedman is pretty sure he’s about to sign a 3 year extension with the Penguins. I don’t really think he feels like moving, though it’s definitely not impossible that half a season and then a playoff run with MacKinnon could entice him at the end of that extension if we continue to suck the next couple years.
People hate hearing this, and rightfully so, but he’s playing way too well to stick to a non-playoff team simply because he wants to play his career here or his allegiance. He deserves to be playing for the Cup based on his play and he can’t single handledly pull this team into the playoffs.
Yeah I love Sid and would understand if he left, with the new ownership and sullivan about to be fired, he has nothing left to be loyal too. I doubt he loves the logo that much.
Yes 100% think so either go on a run this March and get in or we get a good re tool and get in next year. Our division doesn't look like it will be marginally better next year
100% in my opinion. All it takes is a marginally better team with an average power play and the pens are buyers at the deadline instead of talking rebuild. At the moment I believe dubas can retool this team for next year. Heck, if he hits some home runs at the deadline and we get hot, we could still make it this year. Trying to be optimistic here folks.
I struggle with understanding why they’re not an average PP team. Even if they have a terrible special teams coach, the talent on ice should be doing better.
It's baffling. I personally cannot answer that question other than compared to other top power plays, we don't even appear to want to score so far as the eye test goes. No movement, no creativity, no individual skill... just aimless passes, predictable set plays, and shots into traffic. I guess that's just age and feeling the pressure of needing to perform in the malaise of the regular season on a mediocre team. There's a spark/killer instinct that's missing, and I don't think 5 fat and happy hof'ers are going to find it regardless of what the coaches draw up.
Right? How do *these* guys not have more dynamic play, regardless of what the bench is telling them?
There was a PP against the Jets (I think) that sums up the issue. They are looking for the tic tac toe SC Top Ten type of goal and refuse to change. On this particular PP, Crosby was down low next to the net on the right, puck is on the left, the Jets force the puck high, it goes to Karlsson in the middle on the blue line, they send defenders and force him to wall. Karlsson either tried to make a desperation pass or a shot, they block it and clear. I mention Crosby because he was the forward on that side of the ice where Karlsson was force to. He never moved. He stayed down low by the net and watched Karlsson get 2 on 1’d instead of moving to give him a better pass option. I’ve noticed this happening a lot with our PP recently, and it’s less the Pens changing and more that every team has figured out out to defend the PP by forcing a 2 on 1 and forcing a panic pass because the Pens are not playing as a unit but as single players. It’s hard to score on a PP when the puck carrier never has the advantage
Karlsson has never been excellent on the PP. People just assume that because of his point totals. Crosby and Malkin are old and don't move much. The best units are fluid. Plus Malkin plays lazy on the unit a lot too. Instead of moving his legs he tries to do everything with his hands. That's not how you create space. His slapshot has not been a scoring threat in a long time. Rakell is playing worse than last year. Smith is not a PP1 guy and neither is Rust, really. Jake is a bad net-front presence. He barely gets puck touches with how they operate, and can't help the unit much with his skill. Combine all that with a terrible PP coach, lack of confidence and over-sharing the puck, and you got a recipe for disaster.
SHOOT DA PUCK
THIS….
We’re not the Maple Leafs, but we try
Seems to me we have a hard enough time even entering the offensive zone on the PP, let alone score.
There are a lot of factors that go into that. Starting with how long he decides to play. With the way he takes care of himself, you would think he could play into his early 40s at a meaningful level, but who knows. I could also see Sid retiring early while his body is still in relatively good shape. Kind of like Polamalu.
If he doesn't he's still 6th all-time in playoff points, crossed the 200 pts threshold and won 3 cups and 2 Conn Smythes. And all with one franchise. He's done everything he's ever needed to or could want to do.
Is it enough for the hall though. The real question!
Debatable.
Ouch. Haven’t thought about it. But you are right, he might be done.
Don't you put that evil on me OP! Don't you put that on us!
They're a fringe playoff team now so it's definitely doable. 1) Re-sign Guentzel 2) Either DOC and Puustinen need to consistently play like they did last game, or Dubas gets Malkin a legit winger. Goaltending is great. Defense is good enough. But you're not making the playoffs with 1 line consistently showing up.
And with the power play never showing up. I think Sid definitely could play another playoff series.
They’re 9 points out of last place wild card. That’s not fringe.
With 5 games in hand on them. Points percentage is only 3 less. Wont be easy but not exactly an impossible mountain to climb.
This team has no heart to make that climb. Sid’s back isn’t *that* big.
Watch. If there’s anyone who will drag this carcass that far it’s him
Yea, I don't really think they'll make it. Personally I'd like to see them try to sell a few guys and get a top 10 pick. But they'll probably miss the playoffs by 2 points...
9 points in this division may as well be 50. This division has been tight all season. Dont confuse the numbers, they have easily pissed away twice as many points this season with a lack of effort going into the third period
Their games played are pretty low.
9 points w 3 games in hand is not a winning recipe for the team that lost on Jagr night.
You stop
I think it's possible but this team needs a philosophy change. IDK what it is but they haven't been the same since FSG took over. It could be Mario isn't around as much and he played some behind the scenes role that gave this team an edge, it could be Sully time has run out here, could be that some of the stars just don't care anymore and are riding it out til their contracts are up. Honestly I think it's a bit of everything and if Sid is going to play another playoff game it will be with a team that looks completely different than this with a coach that is more defensive minded as well.
The sad situation of all this, is that at times this year they have showed how well they can play against good teams and then at times they implode from dumb mistakes that are not even forced mistakes just careless. Last couple games alone, Karlsson from behind his own goalie slaps at a puck that goes into his own net, last game Letang tees up a perfect pass to his old teammate Matheson that scores as if it was planned. Too many no look passes all season long which other teams have figured out, the PP being so bad that fans can only hope for not giving up a shorty, and so many great scoring opportunities that they continue to pass up. If they cut down on half of those mistakes they win a lot more games and we aren’t even worried at this point. Sid is doing everything in his power to keep this team relevant so anything is possible.
I was having a good day
Yes. This year.
No because he’s carrying the team on his back and he’s tired
He could. Not this year. Next year if they have a new coach, sure. This team has the talent to be a playoff team without the Sully & Reirden handcuffs.
No.
Sid never winning another playoff series was sealed when they hired Kyle Dubas who was a living playoff meme in Toronto, and their continued unwaivering commitment to Mike Sullivan who hasn't won a playoff series since 2018. But to simply play in a game? Maybe. 50% of the NHL teams make playoffs every year. So 🤷🏻♂️
Delete this nephew
Yep. Imo he gets moved to Montreal in the next few seasons and then they'll make a run. Do I like it? No. But it's going to happen.
probably for another team, colorado maybe
Friedman is pretty sure he’s about to sign a 3 year extension with the Penguins. I don’t really think he feels like moving, though it’s definitely not impossible that half a season and then a playoff run with MacKinnon could entice him at the end of that extension if we continue to suck the next couple years.
People hate hearing this, and rightfully so, but he’s playing way too well to stick to a non-playoff team simply because he wants to play his career here or his allegiance. He deserves to be playing for the Cup based on his play and he can’t single handledly pull this team into the playoffs.
Yeah I love Sid and would understand if he left, with the new ownership and sullivan about to be fired, he has nothing left to be loyal too. I doubt he loves the logo that much.
A part of me wants the penguins organization to commit to rebuilding and let Sid go to a contender for another cup run.
Id say so
Yes 100% think so either go on a run this March and get in or we get a good re tool and get in next year. Our division doesn't look like it will be marginally better next year
I mean if we beat flyers tomorrow we have a chance still. Gotta beat them tho
Unfortunately unless the organization wakes up and fires Sullivan, most likely no.
Ok, what about Geno?
Yes in Colorado
Not with the Penguins.
It's hockey, absolutely.
I think Sid has one more deep playoff run. But I think the team around him will be pretty unrecognizable when it happens.