Kevin Hayes had a hat trick in today's scrimmage, playing on a line with Lizotte and Acciari.
Lizotte at C? Hayes LW?
Not sure. Sullivan did say that Acciari will be tried at wing, per Taylor Haase.
Also, per Taylor, Dubas apparently has a mandate with goalies that goalie pads must be white for the majority of their pads. I assume this is because of the notion that all white or mostly white pads make it harder for shooters to pick out the 5 hole and portions of the net.
Whether or not I agree with that notion, the GM should not be mandating anything like that with players. That should be a coach action if at all...the GM should stick to doing his job and doing things like getting an actual worthwhile coach.
Whether or not I agree with that notion, the GM should not be mandating anything like that with players. That should be a coach action if at all...the GM should stick to doing his job and doing things like getting an actual worthwhile coach.
I don't think it's that big of a deal, personally. I really like the look of the black pads, and they say that it makes it hard for players to pickup the sight of the puck when it's in the crease. Unfortunately, the goalie is included...meaning it makes it harder for the goalie to track whether he has the puck covered at times.
It's also well known that the white pads are shown to slightly effect shooter sight lines, making it harder to see certain angles. I wouldn't be surprised if Dubas has some analytics behind it, and thinks there is a big enough difference between white pads versus mainly any other solid color pads.
Whether or not I agree with that notion, the GM should not be mandating anything like that with players. That should be a coach action if at all...the GM should stick to doing his job and doing things like getting an actual worthwhile coach.
I don't think it's that big of a deal, personally. I really like the look of the black pads, and they say that it makes it hard for players to pickup the sight of the puck when it's in the crease. Unfortunately, the goalie is included...meaning it makes it harder for the goalie to track whether he has the puck covered at times.
It's also well known that the white pads are shown to slightly effect shooter sight lines, making it harder to see certain angles. I wouldn't be surprised if Dubas has some analytics behind it, and thinks there is a big enough difference between white pads versus mainly any other solid color pads.
From a visual perspective, white pads make it slightly harder in shooters than black ones. Especially five hole, you have a much clearer target to aim for. White and light blue ice, white pads.
For the goaltender I suspect it may be easier to see if the puck is covered, white and light blue ice, white pads, black puck. The downside I suspect in that area being that it's also easier to see when it isn't covered by opposing players.
I'd be shocked if it's a very meaningful difference though. I hope he out out some feelers to the actual goalies, if theyd be okay with it. Goalies in every sport are crazy
Forgive me for being late to the party but is WBS by any chance in Buffalo today? The two coach buses have their logo on them so I'm guessing so?
Anyone I should look out for LOL?
I'm staying at the Embassy in downtown as I'm visiting my wife on work trip from Houston as we are going over to Toronto for weekend and just saw a bus load of them get off.
Forgive me for being late to the party but is WBS by any chance in Buffalo today? The two coach buses have their logo on them so I'm guessing so?
Anyone I should look out for LOL?
I'm staying at the Embassy in downtown as I'm visiting my wife on work trip from Houston as we are going over to Toronto for weekend and just saw a bus load of them get off.
Penguins play their pre-season opener in Buffalo tomorrow night. Seeing that two teams are scrimmaging today in Pittsburgh, not sure who would be left to already be on busses to Buffalo.
Through training camp and pre-season game 1, here's my rankings for the 12 forwards fighting for 6-8 bottom 6 jobs. This assumes DOC on line 1 next to Rakell, and that Broz, Ponomarev, and Koivunen have no shot to make the opening NHL roster.
Right now, Eller and Acciari are incumbents.
Hayes is there based on his vet status and scrimmage showing the other day
Puljujarvi there due to scrimmages and preseason Game 1 performance
McGroarty and Glass there simply because they played a game. McGroarty was more noticeable yesterday than Glass, IMO
The bottom 6...I didn't really notice Puustinen or Bemstrom in yesterday's game.
Lizotte, Beauvillier, Poulin and Gruden have yet to get in a game or doing anything noticeable in camp.
Through training camp and pre-season game 1, here's my rankings for the 12 forwards fighting for 6-8 bottom 6 jobs. This assumes DOC on line 1 next to Rakell, and that Broz, Ponomarev, and Koivunen have no shot to make the opening NHL roster.
Right now, Eller and Acciari are incumbents.
Hayes is there based on his vet status and scrimmage showing the other day
Puljujarvi there due to scrimmages and preseason Game 1 performance
McGroarty and Glass there simply because they played a game. McGroarty was more noticeable yesterday than Glass, IMO
The bottom 6...I didn't really notice Puustinen or Bemstrom in yesterday's game.
Lizotte, Beauvillier, Poulin and Gruden have yet to get in a game or doing anything noticeable in camp.
Based on playing against men and not prospects, McGroarty was not great last night and based on actually looking good in the NHL Puustinen should be #4 on your rankings.
Through training camp and pre-season game 1, here's my rankings for the 12 forwards fighting for 6-8 bottom 6 jobs. This assumes DOC on line 1 next to Rakell, and that Broz, Ponomarev, and Koivunen have no shot to make the opening NHL roster.
Right now, Eller and Acciari are incumbents.
Hayes is there based on his vet status and scrimmage showing the other day
Puljujarvi there due to scrimmages and preseason Game 1 performance
McGroarty and Glass there simply because they played a game. McGroarty was more noticeable yesterday than Glass, IMO
The bottom 6...I didn't really notice Puustinen or Bemstrom in yesterday's game.
Lizotte, Beauvillier, Poulin and Gruden have yet to get in a game or doing anything noticeable in camp.
Based on playing against men and not prospects, McGroarty was not great last night and based on actually looking good in the NHL Puustinen should be #4 on your rankings.
Seriously though, these are pretty subjective. I thought McGroarty had an ok game last night. I didn't really notice Puustinen, but full disclosure, I stopped giving full attention somewhere after Blomqvist was pulled. You should know from last year I'm a fan of Puustinen, but, seeing him against the other guys battling, I think he's going to have a hard time because he's fairly one dimensional. He has a great shot that Sullivan has yet to really capitalize on putting him in the right positions. McGroarty's biggest barrier right now is his acceleration from a stop. His first few steps are slow and ugly. It's anybody's guess right now, especially with Sullivan making head scratching decisions at times.
As much as you can play line blender with the bottom six.. you can play roster blender with who even gets to play there and/or gets to be an extra. The Buffalo game was basically spare parts... against an NHL team. There were positives to be had. Anyway, my opinions:
= Eller: no way he's not 4C or 3C next season. Too good a player and too useful.
^ Hayes: he will not be as bad as people have complained and has looked alright.
^ Puljujärvi: this is the first time in a while he gets to ramp up normally towards the season. He's looked good.
= Acciari: only here because of the contract and PK and frankly, Sullivan is going to staple him to the fourth line. Very unimpressed with him last season.
= Puustinen: was decent on last year's roster, but didn't score and shot too little for my taste. Hasn't impressed yet.
= Lizotte: not played yet, seen a bit of energy during practice, will have to see.
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v Glass: kind of invisible, the talent's there, needs to pick it up if he wants to be lineup, instead of bubble.
v Beauvilier: needs to find a place in the lineup and I don't think it'll be with Sid. If he bounces around, I suspect he'll eventually be bouncing on the bus to Hershey and Springfield.
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= McGroarty: thinking skating will keep him out of the NHL for now, definitely promising player.
= Poulin: not really noticed yet.
= Bemström: apparently he exists.
= Gruden: not much to look at before, not seen anything since
Broz, Koivunen and Ponomarev will be NHL players, but not yet. They could stand to play in the AHL for at least half a season.
Don't be surprised if we see a bunch of cuts already tomorrow. Taylor Haase mentioned today was an off day, and it sounds like they expected to be down to just 2 remaining practice groups heading into practice tomorrow. May come before or after practice.
What I do notice on the Penguins site, which is either interesting or just oversite...Sam Poulin and Corey Andonovski are missing from the team roster page. I'm thinking it is just oversite.
Don't be surprised if we see a bunch of cuts already tomorrow. Taylor Haase mentioned today was an off day, and it sounds like they expected to be down to just 2 remaining practice groups heading into practice tomorrow. May come before or after practice.
What I do notice on the Penguins site, which is either interesting or just oversite...Sam Poulin and Corey Andonovski are missing from the team roster page. I'm thinking it is just oversite.
Gruden too…and Avery Hayes
Actually here’s an updated roster and they’re all on it, so clesrly an oversight…
Don't be surprised if we see a bunch of cuts already tomorrow. Taylor Haase mentioned today was an off day, and it sounds like they expected to be down to just 2 remaining practice groups heading into practice tomorrow. May come before or after practice.
What I do notice on the Penguins site, which is either interesting or just oversite...Sam Poulin and Corey Andonovski are missing from the team roster page. I'm thinking it is just oversite.
Gruden too…and Avery Hayes
Actually here’s an updated roster and they’re all on it, so clesrly an oversight…
Kris Letang - Matt Grzelcyk
Ryan Shea - John Ludvig
Owen Pickering - Scooter Brickey
Harrison Brunicke - Dan Renouf
Sergei Murashov
Joel Blomqvist
Team 2 lines and pairings:
Michael Bunting - Evgeni Malkin - Rickard Rakell
Kevin Hayes - Lars Eller - Cody Glass
Avery Hayes - Joona Koppanen - Valtteri Puustinen
Corey Andonovski/Ville Koivunen - Jimmy Huntington - Sam Poulin
(Marc Johnstone)
Marcus Pettersson - Sebastian Aho
Ryan Graves - Jack St. Ivany
Filip Kral - Mac Hollowell
Isaac Belliveau - Nathan Clurman
While Sullivan says don't pay much attention to the lines, a few notes:
--Taylor says Letang and Grzelcyk have been paired together all camp. (Hard not to see that as a pairing)
--Pettersson has been paired with multiple people while EK65 is out, but I expect that to be another pairing
--Graves and St. Ivany paired together now, which I do expect to be the 3rd pairing.
--Not reading too much into Beauvillier on the top line for now. I expect to see a few people rotated in there over the next week.
--Hayes-Eller-Glass makes me think maybe Hayes and Eller play together on a 3rd line, and the RW spot is open for audition from guys like Glass, Puustinen, Puljujarvi, and McGroarty
--X-Lizotte-Acciari kind of makes me think the same thing, where Beauvillier, Poulin, Bemstrom
Per Matt Vensel, Penguins working on PP for first time at camp
PP1: Crosby, Malkin, Rust, Rakell, Letang (need to note EK65 is still out)
PP2: Bunting, Eller, Hayes, Beauvillier, Grzelcyk
Here's some video, which, first thing I notice is CONSTANT puck movement...something I've been yelling at the screen for 3 years. Not sure I could find one instance in that clip where someone held onto the puck for more than 3 seconds:
Per Matt Vensel, Penguins working on PP for first time at camp
PP1: Crosby, Malkin, Rust, Rakell, Letang (need to note EK65 is still out)
PP2: Bunting, Eller, Hayes, Beauvillier, Grzelcyk
Here's some video, which, first thing I notice is CONSTANT puck movement...something I've been yelling at the screen for 3 years. Not sure I could find one instance in that clip where someone held onto the puck for more than 3 seconds:
It looks better, but they're still the Globetrotters. They had what 2 shots? Get the puck th Karlsson or Letang, shoot, get to the net, get goes from close to the net. IDK, looks like more of the same. Pass it around the perimeter, chase it down the ice, wash/rince/repeat.
This is just rotating and moving the puck and looking for a PK weakness. Sid from behind the net, Malkin on the half wall, Letang at the point, Rust in the slot, someone in front of the net. Sid to whoever isn't covered, to the net, Letang to the net, net front gets the rebound. The best PPs are the simplest ones, not the Harlem Globetrotter shoot once in 2 minutes method.
While Sullivan says don't pay much attention to the lines, a few notes:
--Taylor says Letang and Grzelcyk have been paired together all camp. (Hard not to see that as a pairing)
--Pettersson has been paired with multiple people while EK65 is out, but I expect that to be another pairing
--Graves and St. Ivany paired together now, which I do expect to be the 3rd pairing.
--Not reading too much into Beauvillier on the top line for now. I expect to see a few people rotated in there over the next week.
--Hayes-Eller-Glass makes me think maybe Hayes and Eller play together on a 3rd line, and the RW spot is open for audition from guys like Glass, Puustinen, Puljujarvi, and McGroarty
--X-Lizotte-Acciari kind of makes me think the same thing, where Beauvillier, Poulin, Bemstrom
I'm happy to see that Puljujarvi is back in the mix. Often, especially during the offseason, people tended to write him off. He could be a real bottom six horse that's hard to play against, goes to the net and is tough along the boards.
