2024-2025 Season Random Penguins Fodder

[Skatingpen]

That is one ugly lineup…….

[Puck-Lurker]

Looks like the new D man needs to learn our very complicated system and get coached by Sully before he gets into a game.

And I know Sid is out. But no more Glass as 2C. Please.

So who is WBS playing and why is Geno down in the AHL?

[lemieuxReturns]

That is one ugly lineup…….

That lineup should be getting the team a top 3 pick in this years draft.

[KG]

Sid in. Ned gets the start. Rust is out sick. I know it's not an injury but Rust won't ever be in the running to win any iron man consecutive game streaks. Dude can never play a full season.

[Victor]

Sid in. Ned gets the start. Rust is out sick. I know it's not an injury but Rust won't ever be in the running to win any iron man consecutive game streaks. Dude can never play a full season.

Only time Rust played a full season was the 20-21 shortened schedule. He's been money for 20 goals for the past 6 season though.

I wonder if Sully will play Geno in Sid's wing.

[KG]

Geno officially activated. To the surprise of nobody, Bemstrom was sent down…Nieto forever.

[Pens4Life]

So back to Bunting - Malkin - GLASS 2nd line LOL

I expect something like this :

Rakell - Crosby - Tomasino
Bunting - Malkin - Glass
Beauvillier - Hayes - Heinen
Nieto - Lizotte - Acciari

[KG]

As we continue to plummet I was thinking it might be a good idea to send down Blomqvist and recall Jarry. Let Jarry come
Back up and get lit up and let Blom get a playoff run with WBS.

I’m not sure it is going to do much for Blom’s development to have him get lit up the rest of the season.

[thehockeyguru]

As we continue to plummet I was thinking it might be a good idea to send down Blomqvist and recall Jarry. Let Jarry come
Back up and get lit up and let Blom get a playoff run with WBS.

I’m not sure it is going to do much for Blom’s development to have him get lit up the rest of the season.

Totally agree. We don't have one defenseman that is good defensively. A total overhaul of the blue line is needed before we bring up our young goaltenders.

[FLPensFan]

As we continue to plummet I was thinking it might be a good idea to send down Blomqvist and recall Jarry. Let Jarry come
Back up and get lit up and let Blom get a playoff run with WBS.

I’m not sure it is going to do much for Blom’s development to have him get lit up the rest of the season.

Totally agree. We don't have one defenseman that is good defensively. A total overhaul of the blue line is needed before we bring up our young goaltenders.

Yeah, I can get behind this. As I just said in another thread, I'd like to see Larsson (who is still hurt) before the end of the season, but he's not waiver exempt, so for him to come up, he'd have to be exposed to waivers to go back down. I don't think Dubas would risk him.

Hoping we can trade Karlsson over the summer, Pickering a full-time NHLer next year, and hoping Brunicke forces his way onto the team next season. I can't see that defense being much worse, but at least young guys making mistakes can grow from them, versus older guys that are past the point of improving their play.

[thehockeyguru]

As we continue to plummet I was thinking it might be a good idea to send down Blomqvist and recall Jarry. Let Jarry come
Back up and get lit up and let Blom get a playoff run with WBS.

I’m not sure it is going to do much for Blom’s development to have him get lit up the rest of the season.

Totally agree. We don't have one defenseman that is good defensively. A total overhaul of the blue line is needed before we bring up our young goaltenders.

Yeah, I can get behind this. As I just said in another thread, I'd like to see Larsson (who is still hurt) before the end of the season, but he's not waiver exempt, so for him to come up, he'd have to be exposed to waivers to go back down. I don't think Dubas would risk him.

Hoping we can trade Karlsson over the summer, Pickering a full-time NHLer next year, and hoping Brunicke forces his way onto the team next season. I can't see that defense being much worse, but at least young guys making mistakes can grow from them, versus older guys that are past the point of improving their play.

I want Pickering up full time next year but if he's playing with Letang I'm going to be really disappointed. Letang at this stage of his career is a fringe 2nd pairing defenseman.

I really want Clarke from LA and hope Dubas can pull off a move for a young RHD who can grow with Pickering

[FLPensFan]

As we continue to plummet I was thinking it might be a good idea to send down Blomqvist and recall Jarry. Let Jarry come
Back up and get lit up and let Blom get a playoff run with WBS.

I’m not sure it is going to do much for Blom’s development to have him get lit up the rest of the season.

Totally agree. We don't have one defenseman that is good defensively. A total overhaul of the blue line is needed before we bring up our young goaltenders.

Yeah, I can get behind this. As I just said in another thread, I'd like to see Larsson (who is still hurt) before the end of the season, but he's not waiver exempt, so for him to come up, he'd have to be exposed to waivers to go back down. I don't think Dubas would risk him.

Hoping we can trade Karlsson over the summer, Pickering a full-time NHLer next year, and hoping Brunicke forces his way onto the team next season. I can't see that defense being much worse, but at least young guys making mistakes can grow from them, versus older guys that are past the point of improving their play.

I want Pickering up full time next year but if he's playing with Letang I'm going to be really disappointed. Letang at this stage of his career is a fringe 2nd pairing defenseman.

I really want Clarke from LA and hope Dubas can pull off a move for a young RHD who can grow with Pickering

Yeah, I'm on the Brandt Clarke train, too. What I'd love to see next year is something like this:

POJ/Graves-Letang
UFA-Clarke
Pickering-Brunicke
x-Desharnais

I know that first pairing LD isn't ideal, but I don't think we're going to totally rework our defense in one offense. We've tried three times in the last 5 years (Marino and Matheson then to Petry and Ruutta, now to Karlsson and Graves). Maybe we bring in a better LD and he plays with Letang, and one of POJ or Graves plays with Clarke. Let Pickering and Brunicke get a full season on the 3rd pairing and grow into the 2nd pairing role. Clarke eventually takes over for Letang or we draft or trade for a high quality #1 RHD in the future.

But I'd rather see that defense above fail then Karlsson, Grzelcyk and company fail with no real potential for improvement.

[FLPensFan]

Are we going to claim a 2nd defenseman from Utah? I would give it a shot.

[thehockeyguru]

As we continue to plummet I was thinking it might be a good idea to send down Blomqvist and recall Jarry. Let Jarry come
Back up and get lit up and let Blom get a playoff run with WBS.

I’m not sure it is going to do much for Blom’s development to have him get lit up the rest of the season.

Totally agree. We don't have one defenseman that is good defensively. A total overhaul of the blue line is needed before we bring up our young goaltenders.

Yeah, I can get behind this. As I just said in another thread, I'd like to see Larsson (who is still hurt) before the end of the season, but he's not waiver exempt, so for him to come up, he'd have to be exposed to waivers to go back down. I don't think Dubas would risk him.

Hoping we can trade Karlsson over the summer, Pickering a full-time NHLer next year, and hoping Brunicke forces his way onto the team next season. I can't see that defense being much worse, but at least young guys making mistakes can grow from them, versus older guys that are past the point of improving their play.

I want Pickering up full time next year but if he's playing with Letang I'm going to be really disappointed. Letang at this stage of his career is a fringe 2nd pairing defenseman.

I really want Clarke from LA and hope Dubas can pull off a move for a young RHD who can grow with Pickering

Yeah, I'm on the Brandt Clarke train, too. What I'd love to see next year is something like this:

POJ/Graves-Letang
UFA-Clarke
Pickering-Brunicke
x-Desharnais

I know that first pairing LD isn't ideal, but I don't think we're going to totally rework our defense in one offense. We've tried three times in the last 5 years (Marino and Matheson then to Petry and Ruutta, now to Karlsson and Graves). Maybe we bring in a better LD and he plays with Letang, and one of POJ or Graves plays with Clarke. Let Pickering and Brunicke get a full season on the 3rd pairing and grow into the 2nd pairing role. Clarke eventually takes over for Letang or we draft or trade for a high quality #1 RHD in the future.

But I'd rather see that defense above fail then Karlsson, Grzelcyk and company fail with no real potential for improvement.

Graves Letang are the two defensemen that we are stuck with so I'd pair them together

If you play Pickering with Brunicke and you get Clarke I would pay Ryan Lindgren in free agency.

Graves Letang
Lindgren Clarke
Pickering Brunicke

That would at least give us an intriguing bottom 2 pairings

[Victor]

As we continue to plummet I was thinking it might be a good idea to send down Blomqvist and recall Jarry. Let Jarry come
Back up and get lit up and let Blom get a playoff run with WBS.

I’m not sure it is going to do much for Blom’s development to have him get lit up the rest of the season.

Totally agree. We don't have one defenseman that is good defensively. A total overhaul of the blue line is needed before we bring up our young goaltenders.

Yeah, I can get behind this. As I just said in another thread, I'd like to see Larsson (who is still hurt) before the end of the season, but he's not waiver exempt, so for him to come up, he'd have to be exposed to waivers to go back down. I don't think Dubas would risk him.

Hoping we can trade Karlsson over the summer, Pickering a full-time NHLer next year, and hoping Brunicke forces his way onto the team next season. I can't see that defense being much worse, but at least young guys making mistakes can grow from them, versus older guys that are past the point of improving their play.

Larsson played on Friday and is playing today again.

[FLPensFan]

As we continue to plummet I was thinking it might be a good idea to send down Blomqvist and recall Jarry. Let Jarry come
Back up and get lit up and let Blom get a playoff run with WBS.

I’m not sure it is going to do much for Blom’s development to have him get lit up the rest of the season.

Totally agree. We don't have one defenseman that is good defensively. A total overhaul of the blue line is needed before we bring up our young goaltenders.

Yeah, I can get behind this. As I just said in another thread, I'd like to see Larsson (who is still hurt) before the end of the season, but he's not waiver exempt, so for him to come up, he'd have to be exposed to waivers to go back down. I don't think Dubas would risk him.

Hoping we can trade Karlsson over the summer, Pickering a full-time NHLer next year, and hoping Brunicke forces his way onto the team next season. I can't see that defense being much worse, but at least young guys making mistakes can grow from them, versus older guys that are past the point of improving their play.

Larsson played on Friday and is playing today again.

McGroarty with the first goal of the game today. He's now at 8 goals, 28 points in 46 games. He's got 25 points in his last 34 games.
Bemstrom with another goal today. He's at 21. Koivunen with a goal the other night, he's at 16

I'd much rather see Boris Katchouk called up to play 4th line LW at this point. He's got 18 goals on the season. He's not going to put up those type of numbers in the NHL, but I'd rather see him than Nieto on the ice.

[DeHaven162]

As we continue to plummet I was thinking it might be a good idea to send down Blomqvist and recall Jarry. Let Jarry come
Back up and get lit up and let Blom get a playoff run with WBS.

I’m not sure it is going to do much for Blom’s development to have him get lit up the rest of the season.

Totally agree. We don't have one defenseman that is good defensively. A total overhaul of the blue line is needed before we bring up our young goaltenders.

Yeah, I can get behind this. As I just said in another thread, I'd like to see Larsson (who is still hurt) before the end of the season, but he's not waiver exempt, so for him to come up, he'd have to be exposed to waivers to go back down. I don't think Dubas would risk him.

Hoping we can trade Karlsson over the summer, Pickering a full-time NHLer next year, and hoping Brunicke forces his way onto the team next season. I can't see that defense being much worse, but at least young guys making mistakes can grow from them, versus older guys that are past the point of improving their play.

Larsson played on Friday and is playing today again.

McGroarty with the first goal of the game today. He's now at 8 goals, 28 points in 46 games. He's got 25 points in his last 34 games.
Bemstrom with another goal today. He's at 21. Koivunen with a goal the other night, he's at 16

I'd much rather see Boris Katchouk called up to play 4th line LW at this point. He's got 18 goals on the season. He's not going to put up those type of numbers in the NHL, but I'd rather see him than Nieto on the ice.

Agreed. This Nieto thing is just laughable. He's literally useless, but is ALWAYS on the ice after a goal is scored. Nothing like following up a goal for and some momentum, with Nieto and Acciari.

[ahawk9]

Nieto is baffling to me, too, especially at this juncture of the season. They could bring up a series of guys and give them a few games of experience in that lineup spot but for some reason, the 32-year-old "PK specialist" (or whatever they label him) is out there every game. I just don't see how they can say they want to evaluate their prospect pool and basically X out that spot on the roster. Acciari has some value, IMO, as far as maybe being able to trade him at next year's deadline. He at least gives the illusion of occasional offense. It's like Nieto is out there without a stick.

[KG]

Here's the gross stat of the day. Beauvillier leads the team in +/- with an even rating lol. That's ridiculous that not one of our regulars has a + rating. Heinen is a +2 in 6 games as a Pen. But that won't last much longer. Lizotte is actually only a -1 but for some reason the coach doesn't love him.

Acciari is -19. They have to find a way to trade him.

Rust with a team worst -21.

[FLPensFan]

Here's the gross stat of the day. Beauvillier leads the team in +/- with an even rating lol. That's ridiculous that not one of our regulars has a + rating. Heinen is a +2 in 6 games as a Pen. But that won't last much longer. Lizotte is actually only a -1 but for some reason the coach doesn't love him.

Acciari is -19. They have to find a way to trade him.

Rust with a team worst -21.

Because just like Puljujarvi, the coach has destroyed his confidence. Guy was playing 3rd line minutes and on a career year pace in terms of production, and gets rewarded by getting shoved to the 4th line.

But that's what the top 2-3 coaches in the league do.

[DeHaven162]

Here's the gross stat of the day. Beauvillier leads the team in +/- with an even rating lol. That's ridiculous that not one of our regulars has a + rating. Heinen is a +2 in 6 games as a Pen. But that won't last much longer. Lizotte is actually only a -1 but for some reason the coach doesn't love him.

Acciari is -19. They have to find a way to trade him.

Rust with a team worst -21.

Because just like Puljujarvi, the coach has destroyed his confidence. Guy was playing 3rd line minutes and on a career year pace in terms of production, and gets rewarded by getting shoved to the 4th line.

But that's what the top 2-3 coaches in the league do.

Am I out of my mind, or would Lizotte be a decent candidate to fill in on Sids wing when Rakell or Rust is out, instead of Beauvillier? Lizotte works hard along the boards, has great wheels, and like you mentioned had some great production when he first entered the lineup. It's not like he's strictly a center either, because when Acciari gets the nod to center for a few games, Lizotte bumps over to 4th line wing. I just don't get it. Maybe I'm just seeing things?

[KG]

Here's the gross stat of the day. Beauvillier leads the team in +/- with an even rating lol. That's ridiculous that not one of our regulars has a + rating. Heinen is a +2 in 6 games as a Pen. But that won't last much longer. Lizotte is actually only a -1 but for some reason the coach doesn't love him.

Acciari is -19. They have to find a way to trade him.

Rust with a team worst -21.

Because just like Puljujarvi, the coach has destroyed his confidence. Guy was playing 3rd line minutes and on a career year pace in terms of production, and gets rewarded by getting shoved to the 4th line.

But that's what the top 2-3 coaches in the league do.

Am I out of my mind, or would Lizotte be a decent candidate to fill in on Sids wing when Rakell or Rust is out, instead of Beauvillier? Lizotte works hard along the boards, has great wheels, and like you mentioned had some great production when he first entered the lineup. It's not like he's strictly a center either, because when Acciari gets the nod to center for a few games, Lizotte bumps over to 4th line wing. I just don't get it. Maybe I'm just seeing things?

Lizotte could definitely play in a more offensive role. You can tell he's frustrated with his role. He mentioned he was frustrated in LA too because he had more to give offensively but wasn't given the chance. No reason for him to be playing with Nieto and Acciari. No reason to have Nieto and Acciari even on the team at this point.

[EndO FanEra]

Here's the gross stat of the day. Beauvillier leads the team in +/- with an even rating lol. That's ridiculous that not one of our regulars has a + rating. Heinen is a +2 in 6 games as a Pen. But that won't last much longer. Lizotte is actually only a -1 but for some reason the coach doesn't love him.

Acciari is -19. They have to find a way to trade him.

Rust with a team worst -21.

Because just like Puljujarvi, the coach has destroyed his confidence. Guy was playing 3rd line minutes and on a career year pace in terms of production, and gets rewarded by getting shoved to the 4th line.

But that's what the top 2-3 coaches in the league do.

Am I out of my mind, or would Lizotte be a decent candidate to fill in on Sids wing when Rakell or Rust is out, instead of Beauvillier? Lizotte works hard along the boards, has great wheels, and like you mentioned had some great production when he first entered the lineup. It's not like he's strictly a center either, because when Acciari gets the nod to center for a few games, Lizotte bumps over to 4th line wing. I just don't get it. Maybe I'm just seeing things?

Not at all. I thought the same thing when he first came on board and was flying around. I was wondering if he could work as Kunitz/Dupuis type on Sid's wing. He has the wheels, some decent hockey sense, and maybe just enough skill to keep up with Sid a little bit.

At the time though, I thought he was more valuable adding depth scoring to the bottom 6. Now..., he's either been Sullied into a 4th line plug, or we're seeing the true player that Lizotte is. Given the history of players that have been Sullied, my guess is the former. Perhaps a few games with Sid will wake him up to his former self, but I have a lot less confidence that would work out well in the current environment.

Of course, maybe it is a horrible idea and we're both out of our minds.

[DeHaven162]

Here's the gross stat of the day. Beauvillier leads the team in +/- with an even rating lol. That's ridiculous that not one of our regulars has a + rating. Heinen is a +2 in 6 games as a Pen. But that won't last much longer. Lizotte is actually only a -1 but for some reason the coach doesn't love him.

Acciari is -19. They have to find a way to trade him.

Rust with a team worst -21.

Because just like Puljujarvi, the coach has destroyed his confidence. Guy was playing 3rd line minutes and on a career year pace in terms of production, and gets rewarded by getting shoved to the 4th line.

But that's what the top 2-3 coaches in the league do.

Am I out of my mind, or would Lizotte be a decent candidate to fill in on Sids wing when Rakell or Rust is out, instead of Beauvillier? Lizotte works hard along the boards, has great wheels, and like you mentioned had some great production when he first entered the lineup. It's not like he's strictly a center either, because when Acciari gets the nod to center for a few games, Lizotte bumps over to 4th line wing. I just don't get it. Maybe I'm just seeing things?

Not at all. I thought the same thing when he first came on board and was flying around. I was wondering if he could work as Kunitz/Dupuis type on Sid's wing. He has the wheels, some decent hockey sense, and maybe just enough skill to keep up with Sid a little bit.

At the time though, I thought he was more valuable adding depth scoring to the bottom 6. Now..., he's either been Sullied into a 4th line plug, or we're seeing the true player that Lizotte is. Given the history of players that have been Sullied, my guess is the former. Perhaps a few games with Sid will wake him up to his former self, but I have a lot less confidence that would work out well in the current environment.

Of course, maybe it is a horrible idea and we're both out of our minds.

I could see the Dupuis comp for sure. But I'm not even talking about a full time role, just like these last two games with no Rust. Be a spark plug up there. And then full time role, between Heinen and Bunting or Heinen and Tomasino. Just being wasted with Acciari and Nieto. But then again, you can't have Hayes between them, because that would be the slowest line in NHL history.

[maopens]

Read DK's article calling for the trade of Erik Karlsson. Can't disagree - he has been terrible in Pittsburgh. But ...

What recent Free Agent signing or Trade has resulted in a player coming to Pittsburgh and playing equal to (or better) than their career prior to Pittsburgh?

Erik Karlsson - supersatar prior to Pittsburgh - terrible in Pittsburgh
Reilly Smith - good player prior to Pittsburgh - bad in Pittsburgh
Mikael Granlund - good player prior to Pittsburgh - did nothing in Pittsburgh in a short stint - this season has 49 pts in 58 games, back to a good player
Mike Matheson - shipped out and has played well for 3 seasons on a bad Montreal team
Jeff Petry - brought in for Matheson - played badly in Pittsburgh - shipped out
Jared McCann - I just can't even talk about this one
Even Freddie Gaudreau who is pretty good in Minnesota

Do the Pens have a problem with talent evaluation?
Are the Pens asking players to do what they historically have not been good at? If so, why are the Pens bringing those players to Pittsburgh?
Are the coaches incapable of utilizing the skills of the players brought in?

I haven't seen results from players brought to Pittsburgh so how/why is that going to change going forward?
Why bring in young players with a staff that won't play the young players?

I'm trying to find some hope going into the trade deadline but if I'm honest, I don't believe the Pens have made any positive moves since winning the Cup in 2017. Nothing has worked. Nothing.