Official GDT: Pens vs Blues 3/13/25

[Zalapski33]

Oh and I can't wait until Graves is traded, waived, bought out whatever keeps him out of this lineup.

Yep.He gets exposed every game.Just can't play competently Defending.

[Zalapski33]

Haven't seen Kolyachonok out here for a while,hope he isn't injured.
Or getting the Sullivan "treatment".

[Zalapski33]

Need to get Sid out here for the ENG.

[Crash66]

How about ENA

[Zalapski33]

Rakell gets it finished off the pass from Sid into the empty net.
Likely gets his 30rh if they give the earlier one to Rust.
2 more Points for Sid.

[FLPensFan]

7th overall pick. Swell.

[Antonio]

At least Sisld got 2 points. Now they start winning meaningless games. This team can't even be terrible properly.

[Zalapski33]

3 Straight Strong Performances from Jarry with no expectations or pressure on him.He was the reason they won.
Sid gets 2 more assists in the 3rd.Keep piling those points up 87.
Timmins and Dewar both get goals and played well,both have looked good.Lizotte with an outstanding game.
Graves,EK and Letang were just terrible Defending in the 3rd.
Have to credit Acciari for his effort in this one.He had a real good game.

[Michael74]

7th overall pick. Swell.

It could get worse, I told you. Wish it weren't the case but this is what happens when teams and players feel no pressure.

[Michael74]

At least Sisld got 2 points. Now they start winning meaningless games. This team can't even be terrible properly.

I bet them tonight because I felt they would further screw up their lottery status. If we have to suffer, might as well get paid for it!

NJ might be a different story.

[BigMcK]

Who are these guys?

Get Sid his points, and then lose. Follow the plan.

GD Jarry. Just stop thinking that you can mend the broken hearts of us fans who believed in you in recent seasons as they wound down. Just, go away...

[Pens4Life]

Amazing goal by Toropchenko in the end.. but his stick seemed extra long, I think even too long by the rules.

And as many already said, Graves, EK and Letang with some horrible D in the game. Just imagine dumping 14.5M in offseason away with EK.and Graves trades, how much freedom we could get for newer D pieces.. We just gotta move them.. use both retentions on them!

EK 3M retention and Graves 1.5M retention, 10M cap relief

[KG]

Some in the media taking the position that winning these meaningless games actually does something to preserving the winning standard here.

Hard stop right there. What about last season when they went on that heater to end the season, then they came out the beginning this season and crapped the bed.

Winning games when there is no pressure playing against teams that are taking us lightly because we stink, isn’t something that should sway KD’s plans or anything.

[FLPensFan]

Some in the media taking the position that winning these meaningless games actually does something to preserving the winning standard here.

Hard stop right there. What about last season when they went on that heater to end the season, then they came out the beginning this season and crapped the bed.

Winning games when there is no pressure playing against teams that are taking us lightly because we stink, isn’t something that should sway KD’s plans or anything.

Agreed. I'm of the mindset that there are quite a few things happening with this team that should have gotten Sullivan fired, beyond the normal ones:

--3 years in a row of extremely slow starts
--2 years in a row of complete collapse at the end of the season with playoffs in sight
--ungodly amount of odd man rushes
--ungodly amount of first shot and first 5 shot goals
--ungodly amount of giving up the first goal
--ungodly amount of games with zero effort

Put yeah, let's all give a nice golf clap because now that the games mean nothing, they can win some games. We dropped to 7th in the lottery with our win and Anaheim's loss. Philly is right on cusp of dropping below us and pushing us to 8th. Schaefer, Misa, Hagens, Martone, Desnoyers, Frondell, Eklund, McQueen. We are in danger of getting the worst of the "best," which most feel is Roger McQueen. Fair or not due to his injury, most feel of the top guys, he has the biggest chance to be a bust or is highly overrated.

Never seen a group of media be such team cheerleaders, where media and the organization is so out of touch with the attitude of the fans. They fear lose the core, but the fans have already started not attending because of the poor play. And most would rather see a bunch of young guys put in effort than lose than a bunch of mid 30s guys with no future here give a poor effort and lose.

[Gunnerfan]

You play to win the game, full stop. Sorry if it interferes with your higher draft choice

[FLPensFan]

You play to win the game, full stop. Sorry if it interferes with your higher draft choice

That is correct. I would never expect the players to purposely tank, and I would never expect management to ask them. It's just poor timing and the worst possible outcome for the season....miss the playoffs, but finish just high enough to get a **** draft pick, too.

About the only thing worse that could happen at this point would be another 3 year extension for Mike Sullivan.

[Antonio]

Thank god smarter people ran this organization in 1984 or else it wouldn't be here today, full stop.

[pfim]

You play to win the game, full stop. Sorry if it interferes with your higher draft choice

Agreed, but assigning any sort of importance to these games is a bit of a stretch.

[Puck-Lurker]

You play to win the game, full stop. Sorry if it interferes with your higher draft choice

Agreed, but assigning any sort of importance to these games is a bit of a stretch.

There are some things that matter. Morale, avoiding some kind of culture where losing is normal, expected, another day at the office. Putting butts in seats, it's easier when you do win some games. We need to avoid becoming the Pittsburgh Sharks. If we become that unfavourable of a destination for talent and higher end veterans, we'll be rebuilding forever.

Schenn was one thing. An old dude requesting he be flipped because he won't have many chances at a cup left. Don't want 27 year old UFAs in the market feeling that way about Pittsburgh. Right now, a draw is Crosby being stil amazing and here... That will inevitably change. Need to have SOMETHING left.

Don't need to become a loser franchise.


In any direct measurable way... These games don't matter AT ALL though. I agree. Team should have some goals for them. It won't be test driving prospects. They want to keep em as a group in WBS for a Calder run. Not what I'd prefer but it's a plan.

So... Maybe a plan is to try and get some traction with whats there now. Win some games, improve our current team for next season. Maybe up some trade value... Jarry, Karlsson, Graves, Acciari.. if at all possible.

[penscup]

You play to win the game, full stop. Sorry if it interferes with your higher draft choice

Agreed, but assigning any sort of importance to these games is a bit of a stretch.

So when do the games start being important again?

When they are 4 pts. back of a playoff spot?
2 pts. back?
Where is the line?

Cuz they are 6 back currently after this win streak. I know it’s crazy to even consider, but there is a lot of hockey left to play and a lot of mediocre teams in front of them.

Saying there is no pressure on them now is a bit disingenuous. There are a lot of factors that go into deciding games at this point of the season. Teams like St. Louis, Minnesota, and Philly are fighting for their playoff lives right now. They know how important every game is left on the schedule. And if they think they can take it easy against one of the fiercest competitors and still one of the best player in the league in any of these games they will often be looking pretty silly by the end of the night.

[FLPensFan]

You play to win the game, full stop. Sorry if it interferes with your higher draft choice

Agreed, but assigning any sort of importance to these games is a bit of a stretch.

So when do the games start being important again?

When they are 4 pts. back of a playoff spot?
2 pts. back?
Where is the line?

Cuz they are 6 back currently after this win streak. I know it’s crazy to even consider, but there is a lot of hockey left to play and a lot of mediocre teams in front of them.

Saying there is no pressure on them now is a bit disingenuous. There are a lot of factors that go into deciding games at this point of the season. Teams like St. Louis, Minnesota, and Philly are fighting for their playoff lives right now. They know how important every game is left on the schedule. And if they think they can take it easy against one of the fiercest competitors and still one of the best player in the league in any of these games they will often be looking pretty silly by the end of the night.

Yes, they are 6 points out of a playoff spot...with 6 teams between them and the last WC spot, not counting the two teams in the WC spot. And all 6 of those teams, plus both current WC teams, all have games in hand.

So, is it mathematically possible that they could make the playoffs? Sure. Is it statistically possible that they can make the playoffs? No, it is not, because statistically, 8 teams aren't all going to suddenly fall flat on their face and have the Penguins pass them in points.

The Penguins points percentage right now is .471. They have 14 games remaining, 28 points available. Even if they won at the best points percentage rate in the league (WSH and WPG have been around .700 all season), that only gives them 19-20 points, putting them at 84 at best.

Columbus has 70 points, with 17 games remaining, 34 total points. If Columbus dropped to the worst points percentage in the league, .336, Pittsburgh would pass Columbus. Every other team would also need to drop down to this level as well for Pittsburgh to really have a shot. It isn't happening. If Pittsburgh gets to 84 points and all 6 other teams win at .500 level clip, Philly would tie Pittsburgh. Every other team would be ahead of Pittsburgh.

Important games start next year.

[penscup]

They finished the season 12-2 back in 2015-16.

That would give them 88 pts. this year.

Granted, that was a Stanley Cup Championship team, but proves it can be done.

[Antonio]

Oh brother. This team isn't making the playoffs. That was pretty much certain months ago.

[Maestro]

https://moneypuck.com/predictions.htm

It’s the hope that kills you.

[penscup]

https://moneypuck.com/predictions.htm

It’s the hope that kills you.

Charts like that always drive me crazy so I never know how much to really believe anything they claim.

They give Boston and Detroit only 9% and 5% chance of making the playoffs even though they are only 2 pts. behind the last wildcard.
And Montreal is at 12% only 1 point back.

IMO with 14-16 games to play their odds are all far higher. It’s a very tight race that is gonna go right down to the wire.

Doesn’t make much sense really.

I understand the chances of the Pens making the playoffs are very low, but I enjoy how this team refuses to quit for now.