2024-2025 Season Random Penguins Fodder

[Puck-Lurker]

Free Puljujarvi....literally....

I WILL throw a tantrum if he gets claimed.

[Antonio]

Oh brother. Absolutely insane. SOMEONE please explain to me the justification. No one is saying JP is a top line winger or anything but I genuinely want to know the argument for him being discarded for nothing and other players not only not being waived but playing over him in the lineup. Putting the best possible lineup out every night indeed.

[DeHaven162]

I think Malkin has been horrible, people just don't want to admit it because of who he is, and it's lovable Geno. He started hot for like 2-weeks, and has been abysmal since. The guy just doesn't have it anymore. He's slow, and it causes turnovers constantly. People will say he's been strapped with subpar wingers. I don't buy it. Geno is shot and it's a problem no one is willing to recognize.

Literally every single word of this is true in my opinion.

Sully, the wonder coach took the wings from Geno when he was getting points in those two first weeks and gave them to Sid. It is the same story every year and it is the same idiots on these boards spouting BS every year. You could replace Geno with Mario and he would not be able to do a damn thing Bunting and DOC on his wings.

So give Malkin the better wingers to prop him up? Again, this has nothing to do with who he's playing with. If you're not able to see Malkin is cooked, you just have Russian Borscht colored glasses on.

It is almost as if you just started watching Penguins hockey.

Guess who was struggling before he got Geno's wings?

SID CROSBY! For weeks by the way.



I swear I say the same thing every month, every year for the past 10 years.

The Penguins problem is always the same damn thing.
THEY SPEND TOO MUCH MONEY ON DEFENSE at the expense of the offense and specifically at the expense of Geno.
Why? Because there is only so much money to go around and what is spent on legit wings is always given to Sid.

You mean when Sid was playing with Pascal Dupuis and Chris Kunitz and Patric Hornqvist and Conor Sheary? Real world beating wingers. That's a lazy argument. And what team wouldn't put their best wingers on the top line with their best center?? Crosby is head and shoulders above the player Malkin is and was. We have just been spoiled and don't want to admit it. And this talk of this season when Geno started so hot, then Sully took his top wingers and gave them to Sid, who was it?

Sid started the year with a combo of DOC, Beauvillier, and Rust. Malkin had Bunting, Rakell, Rust. Then it got so bad, they put Malkin on Sid's wing. Then into November, when Malkin got his own line back, his wingers were Bunting and Rust, the top winger.

The idea that Sid is handed better wingers is a joke. One, we don't really have many, and two; its just a false statement.

[KG]

26 year old Puljujarvi on waivers. 32 year old broken down Nieto on the roster playing every freaking game.

Nobody should ever question who really runs this organization. KD talks about getting younger and this happens. Total joke.

[pronovost19]

26 year old Puljujarvi on waivers. 32 year old broken down Nieto on the roster playing every freaking game.

Nobody should ever question who really runs this organization. KD talks about getting younger and this happens. Total joke.

Good luck to Pool Party! He deserves a chance.

[maopens]

I CANNOT stand Mike Sullivan any longer. These roster decisions are a mess to everyone except MS.

There is no sensible reason to put JP in the press box in favor of Nieto or Acciari.

What is it with the city of Pittsburgh and its absolute commitment to ineffective head coaches who fail to produce year after year after year?

[Crash66]

Guess he just wasn't "responsible enough away from the puck". Isn't that the line? I have no idea why WonderKid with all his Stanley Cup rings was even hired. Mike Sullivan controls this team the same way the other Mike in town controls and has destroyed a once proud franchise. I won't even mention the Buccos.

[KG]

Wonder if Jesse requested to be waived since he wasn't getting a chance here. Pens don't have any pending roster moves to make.

I find it hard to believe that KD couldn't get some type of mid to late round pick for him.

Why go through the effort of singing him, rehabbing him and then when he had a great camp and earned 3rd line minutes never play him again.

Sullivan has way too much pull in this organization. KD is the boss. He needs to start acting like it. Nieto has zero future here, neither does Hayes. Waive one of them if you have to make a roster move.

[Skatingpen]

I am genuinely tired of this team. This is the first time ever that I don’t even watch them any more.

[stonewizard51]

Free Puljujarvi....literally....

Hopefully some team will pick him up . Best of luck to him.

[Daniel]

Free Puljujarvi....literally....

Hopefully some team will pick him up . Best of luck to him.

What lousy asset management. Same thing every year, get older, get slower, and get people who can PK but are worthless otherwise. This place will go nuts when Dubas starts trading prospects and picks for that one last run only to get an extra 5 games. Then just blame Jarry or a defensemen or anything but Sullivan.

[TexasPenguins]

Free Puljujarvi....literally....

Hopefully some team will pick him up . Best of luck to him.

Agree 100%. It sucks as a Penguin’s fan to root for a player to go to another team, but he has gotten royally screwed by Sullivan, and will never get a fair shake from him.

[Puck-Lurker]

DK tried to make a case for why JP wasn't playing over Acciari and Nieto. While I'm sure these are accurate reasons that Sullivan would (if somehow forced to answer the question) give, I don't find them convincing. DK didn't either. But at this point I want Jesse to play.

For his sake I hope it's far far far away from Sullivan. He could be a sneaky add for a team to make a cup run needing a hardworking bottom six guy with some talent and size. Hate to lose him.

Now we'll see what other GMs think of it.

[Maestro]

Sullivan sees all. Sullivan knows all. Sullivan is The Way.
Sullivan is the Penguins. The Penguins are Sullivan now and forever.

Adieu Puljujärvi!

[FLPensFan]

DK tried to make a case for why JP wasn't playing over Acciari and Nieto. While I'm sure these are accurate reasons that Sullivan would (if somehow forced to answer the question) give, I don't find them convincing. DK didn't either. But at this point I want Jesse to play.

For his sake I hope it's far far far away from Sullivan. He could be a sneaky add for a team to make a cup run needing a hardworking bottom six guy with some talent and size. Hate to lose him.

Now we'll see what other GMs think of it.

You have a link to where DK talked about this? Everything I've seen on their site is from Taylor, and she seems to be kind of arrogant on this topic. I pointed out some of the numbers for Acciari that I've posted here on her post about JP getting waived and she snapped back with faceoff numbers and defensive zone deployment of Acciari. To other posters, she mocking claimed they just waived prime Ron Francis and said 4th team will definitely be the charm.

I'm still wondering who the young players are on this roster that the core is supposed to be teaching and guiding as they transition out and retire. Pickering was here until injured. St. Ivany banished instead of letting guys like Letang and EK65 "mentor" him back into strong play. Up front??? JP eats nachos, Puustinen to the AHL....Cody Glass? They ain't teaching him how to produce points. Tomasino is the youngest forward on the roster right now, and we just acquired him a month ago. What else are we doing right? Oh, let's put Lizotte as our 4C when he was on pace for a career year production wise even with his injuries. Definitely need to continue

This organization has become a joke. They can't even stick to what they laid out as a plan 2-3 months ago. Instead, we're going to finish just outside the playoffs, or sneak in to lose again in one round, just so we can miss out on the higher end talent that would help turn things around.

[Pens4Life]

Puljujarvi not claimed yet?? Man I hope he gets claimed.. he needs to get away from Mr. Coach Moron!

[Puck-Lurker]

DK tried to make a case for why JP wasn't playing over Acciari and Nieto. While I'm sure these are accurate reasons that Sullivan would (if somehow forced to answer the question) give, I don't find them convincing. DK didn't either. But at this point I want Jesse to play.

For his sake I hope it's far far far away from Sullivan. He could be a sneaky add for a team to make a cup run needing a hardworking bottom six guy with some talent and size. Hate to lose him.

Now we'll see what other GMs think of it.

You have a link to where DK talked about this? Everything I've seen on their site is from Taylor, and she seems to be kind of arrogant on this topic. I pointed out some of the numbers for Acciari that I've posted here on her post about JP getting waived and she snapped back with faceoff numbers and defensive zone deployment of Acciari. To other posters, she mocking claimed they just waived prime Ron Francis and said 4th team will definitely be the charm.

I'm still wondering who the young players are on this roster that the core is supposed to be teaching and guiding as they transition out and retire. Pickering was here until injured. St. Ivany banished instead of letting guys like Letang and EK65 "mentor" him back into strong play. Up front??? JP eats nachos, Puustinen to the AHL....Cody Glass? They ain't teaching him how to produce points. Tomasino is the youngest forward on the roster right now, and we just acquired him a month ago. What else are we doing right? Oh, let's put Lizotte as our 4C when he was on pace for a career year production wise even with his injuries. Definitely need to continue

This organization has become a joke. They can't even stick to what they laid out as a plan 2-3 months ago. Instead, we're going to finish just outside the playoffs, or sneak in to lose again in one round, just so we can miss out on the higher end talent that would help turn things around.

I think yesterday's pod? Unless I've dreamt the thing up...

[Luckybreak]

I'm so beyond the point of no return, I actually think Sully has been more detrimental to this teams current and future state than even Hextall.

DOC-Lizotte-JP could, IMO, have been a really dynamic 3rd line and they are young so could have really helped with the rebuild transition. But no, Sully knows better.

Drew and Jesse had good chemistry and pushed play in a positive way, but when they were split they both had dips in production. Sully knows best.

I wish they hadn't gone on this win streak and Sully had been canned but even if they had lost the last 15 games I think he'd still be safe.

If it turns out JP was universally hated in the locker room or had a substance issue, only then will I understand what I currently deem to be a spiteful stupid short sighted case of horrendous asset management.

Good luck Jesse.

FU Sully and FU Dubas for being a spineless puppet.

[Puck-Lurker]

DK tried to make a case for why JP wasn't playing over Acciari and Nieto. While I'm sure these are accurate reasons that Sullivan would (if somehow forced to answer the question) give, I don't find them convincing. DK didn't either. But at this point I want Jesse to play.

For his sake I hope it's far far far away from Sullivan. He could be a sneaky add for a team to make a cup run needing a hardworking bottom six guy with some talent and size. Hate to lose him.

Now we'll see what other GMs think of it.

You have a link to where DK talked about this? Everything I've seen on their site is from Taylor, and she seems to be kind of arrogant on this topic. I pointed out some of the numbers for Acciari that I've posted here on her post about JP getting waived and she snapped back with faceoff numbers and defensive zone deployment of Acciari. To other posters, she mocking claimed they just waived prime Ron Francis and said 4th team will definitely be the charm.

I'm still wondering who the young players are on this roster that the core is supposed to be teaching and guiding as they transition out and retire. Pickering was here until injured. St. Ivany banished instead of letting guys like Letang and EK65 "mentor" him back into strong play. Up front??? JP eats nachos, Puustinen to the AHL....Cody Glass? They ain't teaching him how to produce points. Tomasino is the youngest forward on the roster right now, and we just acquired him a month ago. What else are we doing right? Oh, let's put Lizotte as our 4C when he was on pace for a career year production wise even with his injuries. Definitely need to continue

This organization has become a joke. They can't even stick to what they laid out as a plan 2-3 months ago. Instead, we're going to finish just outside the playoffs, or sneak in to lose again in one round, just so we can miss out on the higher end talent that would help turn things around.

I think yesterday's pod? Unless I've dreamt the thing up...

Yeah it was his podcast. Repeated the cliff notes today, my summary:

- Pens have a good PK, don't know where it's at but it's in the top quarter I believe? Sully doesn't want to mess with it, even if Acciari and Nieto aren't actually a big part of that.
- At the same time Pens have had a good run of results. Sully doesn't want to mess with that either. Even if there are players not performing offensively individually.
- JP offers a solid bit of plus offensively. Contributes with hard work, fore checking, puts up some points. When everyone was crap, he and Eller were not.
- JP is not a shot blocker on defense. You could argue that forwards don't necessarily need to be, but that would fall on deaf ears with Sully.
- JP is not on the PK. The above kinda rules him out. There would be plenty of other forwards that can PK left. Glass, Rust, Lizotte, DOC, Acciari. Not that Sully sees it that way, this is why those players will get a pass and play even if they don't score.

That leaves JP pigeon holes as a top 9 winger. He won't displace Rakell, Rust or Bunting. For reasons above, DOC will be safe too. Long story short, Sully thinks Beauvillier and Tomasino are better fits than Puljujärvi.

But Tomasino was acquired by GMKD during the season. You'd have to think 'Dubivan' decided Tomasino was an upgrade over JP.

[KG]

DK tried to make a case for why JP wasn't playing over Acciari and Nieto. While I'm sure these are accurate reasons that Sullivan would (if somehow forced to answer the question) give, I don't find them convincing. DK didn't either. But at this point I want Jesse to play.

For his sake I hope it's far far far away from Sullivan. He could be a sneaky add for a team to make a cup run needing a hardworking bottom six guy with some talent and size. Hate to lose him.

Now we'll see what other GMs think of it.

You have a link to where DK talked about this? Everything I've seen on their site is from Taylor, and she seems to be kind of arrogant on this topic. I pointed out some of the numbers for Acciari that I've posted here on her post about JP getting waived and she snapped back with faceoff numbers and defensive zone deployment of Acciari. To other posters, she mocking claimed they just waived prime Ron Francis and said 4th team will definitely be the charm.

I'm still wondering who the young players are on this roster that the core is supposed to be teaching and guiding as they transition out and retire. Pickering was here until injured. St. Ivany banished instead of letting guys like Letang and EK65 "mentor" him back into strong play. Up front??? JP eats nachos, Puustinen to the AHL....Cody Glass? They ain't teaching him how to produce points. Tomasino is the youngest forward on the roster right now, and we just acquired him a month ago. What else are we doing right? Oh, let's put Lizotte as our 4C when he was on pace for a career year production wise even with his injuries. Definitely need to continue

This organization has become a joke. They can't even stick to what they laid out as a plan 2-3 months ago. Instead, we're going to finish just outside the playoffs, or sneak in to lose again in one round, just so we can miss out on the higher end talent that would help turn things around.

Yeah most of the PIT media just kisses Sullivan's ring and he can do no wrong. Kingerski is the most guilty of it. He'll spin that the 4th line is good or something. Taylor has an attitude problem it seems from her reactions.

[100565]

Seems like Puljujarvi will not get claimed. Perhaps my evaluation of him was wrong. No other team wanted him?? I thought he played really well on 3rd line at beginning of season. Unexpectedly (to me) he was demoted with reduced ice time and was moved all around the the roster. He did not play too well in that role, but I thought he was adequate.

Or perhaps his injury is still an issue. Or his locker room personality is bad. Or some other issue.

It’s kinda interesting to me. I was not high on Puustinen and some of the other guys disregarded by Sully, but I really liked Pool Party.

[Skatingpen]

Pickering and Pettersson both on ice in full contact jerseys.

[FLPensFan]

Seems like Puljujarvi will not get claimed. Perhaps my evaluation of him was wrong. No other team wanted him?? I thought he played really well on 3rd line at beginning of season. Unexpectedly (to me) he was demoted with reduced ice time and was moved all around the the roster. He did not play too well in that role, but I thought he was adequate.

Or perhaps his injury is still an issue. Or his locker room personality is bad. Or some other issue.

It’s kinda interesting to me. I was not high on Puustinen and some of the other guys disregarded by Sully, but I really liked Pool Party.

I'm curious to see if he will. Unlike Puustinen or Zohorna types, Puljujarvi has almost 400 games at the NHL level. He's almost at league minimum and then a UFA. To me, if a player like Oliver Wahlstrom is getting claimed, someone out there should be claiming Puljujarvi.

I still don't get it. Look, I don't think he's the perfect player, or playing mistake free hockey. But the guy was on fire in the preseason, and, in typical Sully fashion....in mid November Puljujarvi scored goals in back to back games, vs SJ & TB. He played 2 more games, then has been benched for 14 of the last 15 games. I have not heard of any injury issues or complications. He's a year removed from surgery and seems to be back to normal. He's been our fastest skater and I think also most 20+ mph speed bursts on the team according to NHL Edge stats. He has size and will use it. He's not going to be all Brooks Orpik or Darius Karparitis out there, but he's also not going to be a 6'6" Anthony Angelo out there either.

I thought Puustinen deserved more of a chance last year. This year, I thought when he did play he was never noticeable. I'm fine how he was handled this year. But it seems like EVERY year, fans are questioning Sullivan's usage of young players.

Not saying Puljujarvi needs to be in the lineup every day. But also don't see a need for Acciari or Nieto to be playing every game either.

[Antonio]

I think the bottom line has been this. If we are supposed to be putting the "best" lineup out every night, there are 2-4 players every night that should sit before JP based on stats and performance, which is the thing no one comprehends. Nobody says he's the 2nd 3rd 4th best player on the roster but he definitely hasn't been the 20th 21st 23rd.

[FLPensFan]

I think the bottom line has been this. If we are supposed to be putting the "best" lineup out every night, there are 2-4 players every night that should sit before JP based on stats and performance, which is the thing no one comprehends. Nobody says he's the 2nd 3rd 4th best player on the roster but he definitely hasn't been the 20th 21st 23rd.

Kingerski posts this article as Sullivan "explaining" the reasoning for Puljujarvi getting waived. I found it a complete dance around the issue. There was nothing about what JP needed to do to get back in the lineup. More, it seems to support the "I'm the coach, these are my guys, who cares about you" persona from Sullivan. Sullivan flat out said "He’s been in our lineup and he’s had some success. You know, we’ve chosen to go with the group that we’ve had here for a little while. We feel like the group that we put in the lineup every night has played extremely well and is deserving of being in the lineup, and the results have followed."

So we won, and, even though the 5v5 stats of guys like Nieto and Acciari are abysmal...we won, so tough luck to JP. It does sound like Sullivan expects him to get claimed and that they did this more as a favor to Puljujarvi.

https://pittsburghhockeynow.com/pittsbu ... vers-news/