Regardless of my position on the illegals, it doesn't change the fact that Texas has been a third world poophole from day one, still is, and always will be. Immigrants or not. 😂
- GalacticStone

You are a big part of the problem Sorry arse

Good post. The math is starting to get ugly and this team has shown no ability to play .700 hockey. Considering contracts and lack of "futures", not sure they can do much on the player side of things. Making coaching changes is overdue, but either Dubas is afraid to do that or he's not allowed to do it.
- madmike71

Thx. I would've also pulled the trigger on a coaching change earlier in the season. I guess on Dubas' part it seems as if there's been indecision over underlying numbers and results. At what point do you switch gears if the team/ "analytics" aren't translating into results? Even if Dubas makes a change, I'm not that confidant this group could hit & sustain .60 to .65 win%. We're gonna find out though!

It's just so strange because it feels like there's value in most of the teams contracts

Sid is earning his 8.7, Letang is good at 6.1, Malkin is ok at 6.1, Rust, Rackell, Smith, you could do a lot worse than 5 million each. Petts at 4, Jarry has played great for 5.5

Karlsson at 10 is expensive but I feel it is cancelled out by the fact we moved the bad contracts (The Petry and Granlund deals) for him. He's maybe overpaid by 3 million but 16 for Letang AND Karlsson is what most good teams have invested in 2 Top D men

The Ryan Graves for 5 Million can't be the reason for the teams imbalance. It all comes down to the lack of a pipeline from WBS. I remember when it felt this way before Sully was hired then he brought Rust, Sheary, Murray and a bunch of others with his and it created a 3rd and 4th line spark out of nowhere

Maybe just load up the roster with youth and roll with it
- RoloTahmasee

Salaries aside, the biggest thing to me is that no one has outplayed their role with the team the last few years. No Kunitz, no Dupuis, no Cullen, no young guy like Guentzel, no Dumo, no young Staal, no teenage Maata, Rust? No one that has been a real surprise.

Pettersson has grown into a good player. Other than that, we have had way more players underperforming that outperforming their roles.

Question: is there any player who has come through the minors, come in through free agency or trade that has exceeded expectations since Sullivan took over? Guentzel right at the start is the only one I can think of.

I think it’s very possible to catch up on most of the metro teams above us. I think the problem is going to be catching up to the 5th place Atlantic team.

Sid with a couple uncharacteristic misses lately

It’s good that they’re shooting, but so many shots are off target … 12 SOG and nothing to show for it.

Salaries aside, the biggest thing to me is that no one has outplayed their role with the team the last few years. No Kunitz, no Dupuis, no Cullen, no young guy like Guentzel, no Dumo, no young Staal, no teenage Maata, Rust? No one that has been a real surprise.

Pettersson has grown into a good player. Other than that, we have had way more players underperforming that outperforming their roles.

Question: is there any player who has come through the minors, come in through free agency or trade that has exceeded expectations since Sullivan took over? Guentzel right at the start is the only one I can think of.
- MacPatty

Excluding Sully’s terrible bromance w/ Dom Simon, only names that come to mind are Marino (rookie), Sheary had bit of a run riding shotgun, Erod (value), maybe Heinen (yr he netted close to 20). We all know Sully has no tolerance for Yutes, which is ironic because in ‘15-16 they were part of team’s success.

Where are you going Petts?

And just like that, they’re down. Too slow to keep up with fast Habs guys. Ugh.

And just like that, they’re down. Too slow to keep up with fast Habs guys. Ugh.
- chimpira

I didn't think that had to do with speed... Pens have outplayed the Habs for the most part. It's just the last 5 mins, or so, the Pens have been a positional mess while also serving up the slop...

I didn't think that had to do with speed... Pens have outplayed the Habs for the most part. It's just the last 5 mins, or so, the Pens have been a positional mess while also serving up the slop...
- MattStrat

The Habs guy was wide open. The D man (was it MP?) left him completely uncovered.

1st line can’t bury one. The other 3 lines can’t generate much at all. I don’t see how having white on line 2 and Rak on the 3rd helps scoring

I just noticed today I think only 2 teams in the nhl have less goals against. Winnipeg has 21 less and Vancouver has 1 less. Edmonton is also tied.

This team needs a sniper. Someone who can actually bury chances outside of Jake. Sid and Geno can but often want to be the playmaker. Letang and Karlsson also want to pass the puck. We need a kessel. Someone who does nothing but snipe it all game long.

The Habs guy was wide open. The D man (was it MP?) left him completely uncovered.
- chimpira

Petts gotta trust Letang to recover there.

I just noticed today I think only 2 teams in the nhl have less goals against. Winnipeg has 21 less and Vancouver has 1 less. Edmonton is also tied.

This team needs a sniper. Someone who can actually bury chances outside of Jake. Sid and Geno can but often want to be the playmaker. Letang and Karlsson also want to pass the puck. We need a kessel. Someone who does nothing but snipe it all game long.
- 10inchTerror

Yeah it's crazy. In almost every stat the Pens are a good team... Except the PP... They're the worst at it. It's insane haha.

Too bad Harkens has no hands. He is all effort

Atta boy, Lars! Speed kills!

Yeah it's crazy. In almsot very stat the Pens are a good team... Except the PP... They're the worst at it. It's insane haha.
- MattStrat

Right. The team is flawed. All teams have flaws. The sole thing that's keeping them out of the playoffs is something that should be a team strength. I don't know the historical data of the Penguins, but this must be near an all time low for them. It makes no sense.

Nice Eller!

Alright fully recovered from Vegas. How we been looking?

Alright fully recovered from Vegas. How we been looking?
- Victoro311

Like we never fully recovered from Vegas

Matheson is really noticeable for them.

Like we never fully recovered from Vegas
- Thorny87

Hahaha

Matheson is really noticeable for them.
- Thorny87

Really didn't like losing him when it went down.

Back-to-back games Letang gets a penalty for the other player just falling down for no reason.

Welp