Official GDT: Pens @ Panthers 3/23/25

[Puck-Lurker]

Agreed, while there's a certain logic.. to your logic.. it's just not how any of this works. No one is going to tell Crosby he'll be playing with Koppanen and Acciari.

There are ways to tank, get an improved draft pick and really damage the way this franchise is seen by players in the league, present and future.

[Pens4Life]

I don't in any way ever expect the players themselves to tank it on purpose. Certainly not a player like Crosby who just isn't wired like that and I don't blame him or fault him at all. The fault is the organization.

Then bench him or take away his linemates. Play him with IMMA and Heinen or Acciari. Reduce his ice time, give him a game off.

thats just crazy talk indeed.. NOT gonna happen and I dont know how can you even come up with idea like that

There is just chance he himself wont play anymore once playoff chances are gone and he gets that 1 PPG avg done. But even that seems a bit unlikely..

You seem more concerned about an individual player than the overall team.

I didn't say it was gonna happen, I know it won't because this core and this coach love mediocrity. Someone asked what could be done, I gave suggestions that would have worked.

Not trading Rakell was a mistake. That would have taken away our best scoring winger, got assets in the process and made it harder to score. Nope the only other thing that COULD happen is injury. And the core has been remarkably healthy as they're aging. Not that I wish injury on anyone I don't. But injuries can happen.

If we were talking about Letang, EK, maybe.. but you DONT bench Sid, ever never! Or f... him over with 4th liners! You dont do that to club legend and not only that, but also great person. Damage would be greater than benefits for one lousy pick..

[Michael74]

LOL what? Great way to reward your franchise icon's loyalty...

His loyalty? Tell me, when was the last time he captained our team to a playoff series win? I can tell you, he was 30, NOTHING since. When do we worry about the long term viability of the team as opposed to catering to an aging icon who hasn't won anything here for seven years? He's also a big reason Sullivan is STILL here.

I can throw some stats out there too.

The Pens most recent playoff series in 2022, #87 had 10 points in 6 games. And the team was well on their way to a 1st round upset with a dominating performance up front from 59-87-17-71 until Jacob Trouba happened (knocking both Sid and Rakell out for 2 games).

And "loyalty" is not a term I loosely throw around. If there is any player in the game today that deserves whatever he wants, it's Sid. The crazy thing is 99.9% of Pens fans would be fully supportive of him asking for a trade to a playoff team. But instead, he's made a conscious decision to stay here for one more run and to bring in the next core of players. If that honestly means we draft #9 instead of #6, sign me the hell up.

The end result was a loss though, they failed. They also lost to the Isles twice and the Habs where Sid was sub par. You're cherry picking one playoff run and I'm looking at a body of work over the most recent seven year period.

And here's the thing, I don't expect them with their core at their ages to make the playoffs. I'm resigned to their fate. But at least get a quality draft pick or prospect to start turning the page here for the future. If they don't this same pattern will repeat itself for the next couple of years and then your precious Crosby will never see the post season again! How does that help anyone?

I don't disagree. But there are ways to do that without relegating your franchise icon to play with 4th line ham n eggers. The fact that is even a suggested path is ludicrous to me (let alone benching him - arguably the most competitive hockey player this world has ever seen).

For example, not trading Rakell was a mistake. But I trust that if fair market value wasn't there, you don't just dump a 30G70P player. They still have a chance to do what you're suggesting in the offseason where perceived value may be higher and the salary cap even higher, while maybe even getting a quality player back that you can try on 87's wing.

Your suggestion of punishing a guy who is trying to win hockey games is asinine. No matter what type of athlete you are in whatever sport, you are hardwired to win.

Regarding Rakell the market was ripe for a fantastic return. We don't know conclusively what happened there but we do know Kyle wanted a kings ransom. And I'm not clued in as I once was but the rumor was a '26 1st, Brandt Clarke and Trevor Moore from LA. My understanding was PIT didn't like Clarke all that much. Thought he might be a one dimensional PP guy. Dubas wanted a different prospect in addition to a '26 1st AND a young NHLer like Turcotte or Laferriere instead of Moore. That's a ridiculous bar to set. We might have added a small piece like a '25 3rd but if Clarke, Moore and a '26 1st was turned down it was a mistake. I feel confident in saying we would have extracted very VERY good value. Just not EYE popping value.

[Michael74]

I don't in any way ever expect the players themselves to tank it on purpose. Certainly not a player like Crosby who just isn't wired like that and I don't blame him or fault him at all. The fault is the organization.

Then bench him or take away his linemates. Play him with IMMA and Heinen or Acciari. Reduce his ice time, give him a game off.

thats just crazy talk indeed.. NOT gonna happen and I dont know how can you even come up with idea like that

There is just chance he himself wont play anymore once playoff chances are gone and he gets that 1 PPG avg done. But even that seems a bit unlikely..

You seem more concerned about an individual player than the overall team.

I didn't say it was gonna happen, I know it won't because this core and this coach love mediocrity. Someone asked what could be done, I gave suggestions that would have worked.

Not trading Rakell was a mistake. That would have taken away our best scoring winger, got assets in the process and made it harder to score. Nope the only other thing that COULD happen is injury. And the core has been remarkably healthy as they're aging. Not that I wish injury on anyone I don't. But injuries can happen.

If we were talking about Letang, EK, maybe.. but you DONT bench Sid, ever never! Or f... him over with 4th liners! You dont do that to club legend and not only that, but also great person. Damage would be greater than benefits for one lousy pick..

That pick might not be so lousy if they stop winning meaningless games!

[Gunnerfan]

They can sit veterans, Give Sid and Geno some days/games off, Reduce their ice time, double shift curtain jerkers, Play Ned instead of Jarry, have long grueling practices, jumble up the lines. IF only they had a few key injuries.

Oh wow, what a brilliant strategy. So, your grand plan is to force players to suppress their competitive instincts, run them into the ground mid-game, and physically destroy them—all of which inevitably increases injury risk. And you're actually standing by this? You're literally advocating for human beings to get hurt just so you can feel better about a few higher draft picks? Unreal. Maybe take a step back and rethink what you're actually saying.

Where were there competitive instincts when the games mattered?

Where was your humanity when you wrote this garbage?

I suppose I have none from where you sit.

I'm just curious as to why their competitiveness kicks in in garbage time, but doesn't in meaningful games.

Where was that competitive spirit against the Islanders those two playoff series, or the Habs? That's a very convenient opinion you have.

They aren't held accountable when they fall short against inferior opponents when the games actually matter, but winning games now do. I love it!

Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish.

[Michael74]

Oh wow, what a brilliant strategy. So, your grand plan is to force players to suppress their competitive instincts, run them into the ground mid-game, and physically destroy them—all of which inevitably increases injury risk. And you're actually standing by this? You're literally advocating for human beings to get hurt just so you can feel better about a few higher draft picks? Unreal. Maybe take a step back and rethink what you're actually saying.

Where were there competitive instincts when the games mattered?

Where was your humanity when you wrote this garbage?

I suppose I have none from where you sit.

I'm just curious as to why their competitiveness kicks in in garbage time, but doesn't in meaningful games.

Where was that competitive spirit against the Islanders those two playoff series, or the Habs? That's a very convenient opinion you have.

They aren't held accountable when they fall short against inferior opponents when the games actually matter, but winning games now do. I love it!

Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish.

Your hypocrisy knows no bounds apparently. Questioning someone's ''humanity'' because they prefer we tank and get a good piece for the future? Come now.