2024-2025 Season Random Penguins Fodder

[Pitts]

Holy crap aprils fools hahaha..

Dalton Bancroft would be good pickup, low risk, high reward..

His profile picture on Cornell's website is cringy as hell looks like next potential (dont even wanna say it) homeland security job...

https://rg.org/news/hockey/bruins-among ... n-bancroft

He attended the 2024 Boston Bruins Development Camp - I think he'd be a long shot for the Pens.

[Pitts]

[KG]

With Bemstrom being waived maybe we will see another WBS kid come up. It doesn't sound like Geno or Novak are coming back any time soon.

Would be good to see Ponomarev get a nice run here as well. He is no longer waiver exempt next season.

[Puck-Lurker]

With Bemstrom being waived maybe we will see another WBS kid come up. It doesn't sound like Geno or Novak are coming back any time soon.

Would be good to see Ponomarev get a nice run here as well. He is no longer waiver exempt next season.

RMG-Sid-Rust
Dewar-Rakell-Koivunen
Tomasino-Hayes-Ponomarev
Heinen-Lizotte-Whocares

[KBone]

Did I miss the April Fools Hello Kitty layout?

[Michael74]

Did I miss the April Fools Hello Kitty layout?

Winnie the pooh.

[BigMcK]

I don't read the results of what Sullivan has done as head coach, I read the results of what he hasn't done as head coach.

2 X Stanley Cup results.
3rd year of **missing** the playoffs.

3 years removed from the playoffs, and an additional 4 years of failure to make it to the 2nd round of the playoffs.

Time servered, go away.

I know, another post of fire the phony. Remember: failure is easy; defeating failure is full of rewards.

[FLPensFan]

I don't read the results of what Sullivan has done as head coach, I read the results of what he hasn't done as head coach.

2 X Stanley Cup results.
3rd year of **missing** the playoffs.

3 years removed from the playoffs, and an additional 4 years of failure to make it to the 2nd round of the playoffs.

Time servered, go away.

I know, another post of fire the phony. Remember: failure is easy; defeating failure is full of rewards.

Those results speak for themselves, and other coaches have been fired for less. What really gets my blood boiling is the in game stuff:

--What are we up to, 13-15 first shot goals. I know it is blamed on the goalie, but, I think this also plays into this team notoriously starting games like they think game time is 30 minutes later.
--Add into the first shot goals, I believe they have given up the first goal of the game a high number of times, too. Which means they are often playing from behind early in the game.
--Continued odd man rushes in astronomical numbers.
--Zero lineup continuity. Mike's "best chance to win" lineup has often been a farce this year. Used to be he would be reluctant to change a winning lineup. Seems more like he's reluctant to change a losing lineup, because "he knows in his heart" that the lineup can succeed and dammit, he's gonna wait until they succeed before making a meaningful change.

People put a lot of blame on Dubas for the players he has brought in. He deserves some blame, as the Jarry and Graves contracts specifically are going to be a problem for several years...but Sullivan is part of those discussions. He has input on players or at least player archetypes that Dubas should be getting. So, even take away the playoff misses and the 1st round failures...to me, Sullivan is failing to get his players to execute at a basic level most nights.

That, to me, is where the grounds for firing really kicks in. I just don't see consistent execution, which means either the players don't want to do or are not capable of doing it on a nightly basis.

[Daniel]

I don't read the results of what Sullivan has done as head coach, I read the results of what he hasn't done as head coach.

2 X Stanley Cup results.
3rd year of **missing** the playoffs.

3 years removed from the playoffs, and an additional 4 years of failure to make it to the 2nd round of the playoffs.

Time servered, go away.

I know, another post of fire the phony. Remember: failure is easy; defeating failure is full of rewards.

Those results speak for themselves, and other coaches have been fired for less. What really gets my blood boiling is the in game stuff:

--What are we up to, 13-15 first shot goals. I know it is blamed on the goalie, but, I think this also plays into this team notoriously starting games like they think game time is 30 minutes later.
--Add into the first shot goals, I believe they have given up the first goal of the game a high number of times, too. Which means they are often playing from behind early in the game.
--Continued odd man rushes in astronomical numbers.
--Zero lineup continuity. Mike's "best chance to win" lineup has often been a farce this year. Used to be he would be reluctant to change a winning lineup. Seems more like he's reluctant to change a losing lineup, because "he knows in his heart" that the lineup can succeed and dammit, he's gonna wait until they succeed before making a meaningful change.

People put a lot of blame on Dubas for the players he has brought in. He deserves some blame, as the Jarry and Graves contracts specifically are going to be a problem for several years...but Sullivan is part of those discussions. He has input on players or at least player archetypes that Dubas should be getting. So, even take away the playoff misses and the 1st round failures...to me, Sullivan is failing to get his players to execute at a basic level most nights.

That, to me, is where the grounds for firing really kicks in. I just don't see consistent execution, which means either the players don't want to do or are not capable of doing it on a nightly basis.

None of us minded the Graves contract and I think it's deployment AND playing with a forward pretending to play defense makes it worse. As for Jarry, what were other options? I think if he's a UFA this year, Dubas could roll with any number of combinations, but that wasn't the case a few years ago.

[pens_CT]

Holy crap aprils fools hahaha..

Dalton Bancroft would be good pickup, low risk, high reward..

His profile picture on Cornell's website is cringy as hell looks like next potential (dont even wanna say it) homeland security job...

https://rg.org/news/hockey/bruins-among ... n-bancroft

He attended the 2024 Boston Bruins Development Camp - I think he'd be a long shot for the Pens.

Once Penn State's season is over I could see them going after Matt DiMarsico. Kid can really skate, and has a good shot. Only 21, not like some of these college guys who are 24 already. Plus he's a local guy from Wexford. I only add that because he would probably be interested in an offer from the Pens and wouldn't need much in the way of a sales pitch. Supposedly Trevor Daley who's a scout for the Pens these days was at their last game in Allentown.

[ahawk9]

"That, to me, is where the grounds for firing really kicks in. I just don't see consistent execution, which means either the players don't want to do or are not capable of doing it on a nightly basis."


That really is where I am. I've said several times this season that I felt this iteration of the team was (on paper, mind you) better than last year's. That said, I didn't include the likes of Matt Nieto in my thinking. They seem to systematically fail on so many levels so consistently that I can't fault the players (all the time). Sure, they have responsibility for this season's failures - Jarry, for one, could have been much better early on and they probably would have pull out a few more wins. The defensive breakdowns, too, are continually bad but how much is it the system? I'm not astute enough to know that.

Also, Sully's player usage is insane sometimes (see Nieto, et al, being trotted out down a goal late in a game). Puljujarvi was our totem for misusing players. No, he wasn't going to be a 30-goal guy, and no, he wasn't claimed on waivers, but he had some skill and much more offensive upside that most of the forwards who were penalty kill "specialists". I feel he could have killed penalties and provided a bit more of a chance for a shorty. I mean, he was playing 7 minutes a game, so he could've handled the extra load.

Finally, someone else mentioned it recently but sometimes a team just needs a new voice, regardless of how good the coach is. Things get stale in the NHL, for whatever reason, so I feel like the Pens have missed out on 1 or 2 more playoff seasons under Sully's tutelage.

[Pitts]

With Bemstrom being waived maybe we will see another WBS kid come up. It doesn't sound like Geno or Novak are coming back any time soon.

Would be good to see Ponomarev get a nice run here as well. He is no longer waiver exempt next season.

It's Koppanen.

https://pittsburghhockeynow.com/pittsbu ... ncy-basis/

[Puck-Lurker]

With Bemstrom being waived maybe we will see another WBS kid come up. It doesn't sound like Geno or Novak are coming back any time soon.

Would be good to see Ponomarev get a nice run here as well. He is no longer waiver exempt next season.

It's Koppanen.

https://pittsburghhockeynow.com/pittsbu ... ncy-basis/

Koppanen is a nice player to have on a depth chart, but moves zero needles for my taste. His strength being, he's just kinda there and doesn't stink it up

[Pens4Life]

Koppanen brings nothing.. for a big guy, he isnt even physical much, falls over plenty.. big meeeh

[Cow_Master66]

Koppanen brings nothing.. for a big guy, he isnt even physical much, falls over plenty.. big meeeh

Perfect!

[KG]

KD was on a John Shannon podcast. He was asked what positions need the most upgrades on the NHL roster.

KD said centers and left hand d men. Wonder if they plan on moving Geno to wing next season? I like the idea of Novak as 3C because that will allow them to hopefully get back to 3 scoring lines.

I know that we need top 6 centers in the near future but I wouldn’t have put center as a big need for next season.

[DeHaven162]

KD was on a John Shannon podcast. He was asked what positions need the most upgrades on the NHL roster.

KD said centers and left hand d men. Wonder if they plan on moving Geno to wing next season? I like the idea of Novak as 3C because that will allow them to hopefully get back to 3 scoring lines.

I know that we need top 6 centers in the near future but I wouldn’t have put center as a big need for next season.

I would agree with KD on the center position. Don't really know what we have with Novak, unfortunate injury timing. And Malkin at 2C is one of the main issues on this team, and no one is willing to admit that. I've said before, he'll still get some points due to natural talent, and he shows some legs for random three game stretches, but other than that, he's a black hole at such an important spot on the depth chart.

[Puck-Lurker]

I think Malkin is just fine as a 2C. His numbers are a bit down due to missing a bunch and he's been on the second PP. Still puts up goals and assists at 2C pace with a revolving door for wingers. He's not quite as explosive, but he's also been a far away vastly more responsible forward. The change this season was pretty big in his game.

As a 2C he's still probably top 10. Now if anyone wants to compare to 1C-on-the-2nd-line Malkin, fair enough. That's not Geno anymore and that's fine. But a black hole? I don't see that. I see him as underrated his whole career, because Sid is Sid. I'd still love to see him pair with a budget to decent 2C and slide over to wing, though. Was hoping we'd get it, but Novak got hurt right away

[KG]

Sounds like Hallander is coming back next season. Good. He had a great year in Sweden. He should definitely be a legit option to make the team next season.

[Wyopen]

KD was on a John Shannon podcast. He was asked what positions need the most upgrades on the NHL roster.

KD said centers and left hand d men. Wonder if they plan on moving Geno to wing next season? I like the idea of Novak as 3C because that will allow them to hopefully get back to 3 scoring lines.

I know that we need top 6 centers in the near future but I wouldn’t have put center as a big need for next season.

LHD? Does that mean EK65 will be on the roster next year?

[FLPensFan]

KD was on a John Shannon podcast. He was asked what positions need the most upgrades on the NHL roster.

KD said centers and left hand d men. Wonder if they plan on moving Geno to wing next season? I like the idea of Novak as 3C because that will allow them to hopefully get back to 3 scoring lines.

I know that we need top 6 centers in the near future but I wouldn’t have put center as a big need for next season.

I would agree with KD on the center position. Don't really know what we have with Novak, unfortunate injury timing. And Malkin at 2C is one of the main issues on this team, and no one is willing to admit that. I've said before, he'll still get some points due to natural talent, and he shows some legs for random three game stretches, but other than that, he's a black hole at such an important spot on the depth chart.

So, maybe we've been looking at the draft all wrong. I've mentioned before I would have loved to have been aggressive in offer sheeting Wyatt Johnston...then the cap went up dramatically....then he signed a long term deal. I'd go back and see what it would take to get Mason MacTavish out of Anaheim. Would they take the Rangers 1st (this year), a 3rd, and maybe someone like Ponomarev?

MacTavish just turned 22 years old. He has three 40+ point seasons, including 20 goals, 28 assists this year in 68 NHL games. A little low for 2nd line center, but he's quite young and still has some potential upside. There was some potential friction with the coach when Cronin described him as “Mac is a third-line guy that has offensive ability,” to reporters. He'd step in and play NEXT SEASON, whereas a Desnoyers, Frondell, etc, may be 2-4 years away from sniffing NHL ice.

If we use some draft capital on MacTavish, then with our earlier pick, we take an Eklund, Martone, Mrtka, Smith, etc.

The part about needing LD is true, but also a bit scary. Someone asked Taylor Haase which defensemen likely won't be on the team next year. Her response...Grzelcyk and Kolyachonok. That's shocking on a couple different levels to me (Taylor is anti-Kolyachonok....did a great job of point out how his analytics sunk, but of course, never showed how they were team best for his first 4-5 games). The thing is, no mention of Letang or Karlsson being gone this summer. She also said in another reply that she expects Dubas to be very aggressive this summer.

Imagine:

Malkin-Crosby-Rust
Rakell-MacTavish-Koivunen
McGroarty-Novak-Tomasino
Hayes-Lizotte-Acciari

Not thrilled about that 4th line because as a unit, they haven't been incredibly great together. But getting to that type of top 9 would be a big step forward in the path to return to the playoffs. Maybe MacTavish doesn't end up being the guy, but hopefully, there is a younger, under 24 aged center out there that a team is willing to move away from for whatever reason. We missed one opportunity with Dylan Cozens, though I doubt we had the assets to even be in on it. But, this is they type of big move Dubas needs to be looking at.

[Pens4Life]

Sounds like Hallander is coming back next season. Good. He had a great year in Sweden. He should definitely be a legit option to make the team next season.

Any new article about it? He would be probably pretty solid 3rd line C.. I assume Novak will still be Geno's LW next season.

Rakell - Crosby - Rust
Novak - Malkin - Koivunen
McGroarty - Hallander - Tomasino
Ponomarev - Lizotte - Hayes
x - Heinen
Acciari traded in offseason..

[KG]

Sounds like Hallander is coming back next season. Good. He had a great year in Sweden. He should definitely be a legit option to make the team next season.

Any new article about it? He would be probably pretty solid 3rd line C.. I assume Novak will still be Geno's LW next season.

Rakell - Crosby - Rust
Novak - Malkin - Koivunen
McGroarty - Hallander - Tomasino
Ponomarev - Lizotte - Hayes
x - Heinen
Acciari traded in offseason..

https://www.expressen.se/sport/hockey/s ... -avskedet/

Nothing in English

[Pens Fans Sweden]

https://www.st.nu/2025-04-03/hallanders ... -timra-ik/

Hållander himself confirms that he is joining the Penguins next season. This is great news! He had a tremendous season in the SHL this year and should be able to come in and contribute. Love it!

I'm guessing that his new contract is signed very soon.

[KG]

https://www.st.nu/2025-04-03/hallanders ... -timra-ik/

Hållander himself confirms that he is joining the Penguins next season. This is great news! He had a tremendous season in the SHL this year and should be able to come in and contribute. Love it!

I'm guessing that his new contract is signed very soon.

Thanks!