Official GDT: Pens @ Stars 4/5/25

[stonewizard51]

Hatty for Sid !!

[Puck-Lurker]

Crosby Hatty

[largegarlic]

These past two games have been pretty good performances on the road against two of the hottest teams in the league. The forward group really looks a lot better overall with the additions of McGroarty and Koivunen. With some minor tweaks over the summer, I could see that group of forwards being playoff-worthy next season.

However, the team defense continues to be well below the level of a playoff team. I think it's part personnel and part coaching, and I don't see how that can be completely fixed over the summer, especially if they're wedded to Sullivan.

[Zalapski33]

Sid with the HT on the ENG.
His game today has been extraordinary.4 Points

[Zalapski33]

These past two games have been pretty good performances on the road against two of the hottest teams in the league. The forward group really looks a lot better overall with the additions of McGroarty and Koivunen. With some minor tweaks over the summer, I could see that group of forwards being playoff-worthy next season.

However, the team defense continues to be well below the level of a playoff team. I think it's part personnel and part coaching, and I don't see how that can be completely fixed over the summer, especially if they're wedded to Sullivan.

Real good Analysis.On Point in every description.

[BurghThing]

Don't understand them putting Casey back in. These are the Pens after all

[Zalapski33]

McGroarty and Koivunen continue to give this Team a dynamic they have needed all Year.McGroarty was outstanding Forechecking.
4th Line were terrific.They deserved the winning Goal.Gritty work from them.
Karlsson was awful,Gryz nearly as bad.Letang had a good game especially late,he was effective and controlled.
Sid put a show on.4 Points including the HT.He has been one of the top 3-4 Players in this League since they returned from the 4 Nations Break.Amazing.
Might have been the best game this Team played all Season.They were determined,competitive and focused.

[Michael74]

Sullivan I'm sure is smiling ear to ear. Pens played yet another strong game.

[Steve]

Watched the game with my 19 year old son - who was born on the same day as Sid's NHL debut. That really puts it into perspective for me, how long 87 has been great.

[BlackNGold4Life]

Letang minutes need to be cut down or just rest him early. Total bipolar game. He was decent at times but Ryan Gravws level bad other items. Firing gernades and bad outlet passes. I thought he was our best damn last year for 70% of the season. Playing a more simple sumbuded game. He fell off a cliff this year.

Our defense is a mess. Not mentioning their skating and puck movement. Just purple defense.

Gryz- small and plays small. Terrible stick and below defensive awareness. D-

Letang - Bad hockey IQ and has lost a step getting beat off the rush and does nothing but cross check forwards in the corner.
Since he’s up and down, gonna give him a D+/C-

Graves - maybe the worse defenseman in the league. Even JMFJ wasn’t this bad- F

Karlsson - Not really a defensemen.


That’s 4 guys in our 6 and when others have rotated in or out they are usually our best. Pickering, Timmons, Etc.

Id love to see Letang next year play 15-17 mins on the 3rd or 2nd Pairing pair and 2nd PP.

If we can’t trade Karlsson, then Gryz has to go and Graves gone and find the right minutes and parings that can help offset some of this mess.

[Puck-Lurker]

Letang minutes need to be cut down or just rest him early. Total bipolar game. He was decent at times but Ryan Gravws level bad other items. Firing gernades and bad outlet passes. I thought he was our best damn last year for 70% of the season. Playing a more simple sumbuded game. He fell off a cliff this year.

Our defense is a mess. Not mentioning their skating and puck movement. Just purple defense.

Gryz- small and plays small. Terrible stick and below defensive awareness. D-

Letang - Bad hockey IQ and has lost a step getting beat off the rush and does nothing but cross check forwards in the corner.
Since he’s up and down, gonna give him a D+/C-

Graves - maybe the worse defenseman in the league. Even JMFJ wasn’t this bad- F

Karlsson - Not really a defensemen.


That’s 4 guys in our 6 and when others have rotated in or out they are usually our best. Pickering, Timmons, Etc.

Id love to see Letang next year play 15-17 mins on the 3rd or 2nd Pairing pair and 2nd PP.

If we can’t trade Karlsson, then Gryz has to go and Graves gone and find the right minutes and parings that can help offset some of this mess.

If there is one small thing that has to change, it's the D corps. This team can have Letang or Karlsson and do well. But not both. Graves is a problem, he'll either play reasonably okay, but forgettable, or like a trainwreck. Grzelcyk would be an okayish 2nd pair LD on a team that has an otherwise functional defense. That's not us, 3rd pair material defensively.

Timmins could be decent as a budget 2nd pair guy, small sample size. Kolyachonok doesn't really impress me much, but his credentials include 'is not Graves', 7-8 type, but more is required of him on this team. POJ likely gone next season. Shea is Shea, spare defenseman asked to play every night.

Pickering is pretty good in his end, needs a little seasoning still. Probably our best defensive defenceman. Some folks still in the pipeline.

We're not a playoffs team with this ensemble. Probably need to make 3 adjustments to fix it, and that's not reasonable to expect