Ryan Wilson: We've seen this script before We've seen this script before

Most teams when they score to get a 2-goal lead with 10 mins to go would switch into the mode of get it out, get it deep, conservative D, etc -- but the Pens in that situation always think to themselves "let's press to get another one!"

Most teams when they score to get a 2-goal lead with 10 mins to go would switch into the mode of get it out, get it deep, conservative D, etc -- but the Pens in that situation always think to themselves "let's press to get another one!"
- MickV

That's a coaching problem. Obviously. I'm 100% sure he talks about it all the time. I'm also 100% sure the team ignores him.

"Once again the support has failed them" overall I don't know if that's a fair narrative this season. Sure, the Sid and Geno's line had an ES goal but they also had one against. They've been better on the power play so far this year but so has the "support" mostly used on the PK. 7th overall ranked today, 6th going into last night.

I think what has mostly let them down until recently this season is the defensemen, the overall team D and attention to detail and Jarry at times. That's the let downs so far.

Last night the Isles had the hockey gods majorly on their side for 2 of their 3 goals, especially their first one that went straight up 10 feet in the air over Ned's head.

"Once again the support has failed them" overall I don't know if that's a fair narrative this season. Sure, the Sid and Geno's line had an ES goal but they also had one against. They've been better on the power play so far this year but so has the "support" mostly used on the PK. 7th overall ranked today, 6th going into last night.

I think what has mostly let them down until recently this season is the defensemen, the overall team D and attention to detail and Jarry at times. That's the let downs so far.

Last night the Isles had the hockey gods majorly on their side for 2 of their 3 goals, especially their first one that went straight up 10 feet in the air over Ned's head.
- MattStrat

That whole narrative has never been accurate. Our top six is too old. It has been for awhile. Like I stated years ago just spend all the money on top six wings and find young killers to have a crash and bang bottom six. As great as they have been and still are good Sid and Geno aren’t carrying the team anywhere. You can’t find 6 Lars Ellers to have a “scoring 3rd line”. You’re not going to recreate HBK paying Karlson 10 million dollars.

That's a coaching problem. Obviously. I'm 100% sure he talks about it all the time. I'm also 100% sure the team ignores him.
- madmike71

Yeah, the situation is similar to my older son's AAA peewee team. Their D are great, except for some reason when they're up late in games the D try and press up and score. The coaches are constantly talking to them about it, but they keep doing it -- but they're 11-year-old kids. I would think pros would get it.

The Pens blue line isn't really constructed well to sit on a lead.

Vinnie Hinostroza is currently leading the AHL in scoring while Jansen Harkins is tied for second.

Vinnie Hinostroza is currently leading the AHL in scoring while Jansen Harkins is tied for second.
- Tojo.

hahaha

Some guys are career AHLers. Great in that league and not so great in the big league.

Hinostroza is 30, if he was going to be a NHL constant it probably would have already happened but not totally impossible he ends up with a regular NHL job, yet. Harkens, at 27, could maybe still stick in a NHL lineup but is most likely a great AHLer the rest of his career. I think maybe the only guy in the Pens lineup I'd rather have either of them over is Puus....and that's maybe haha

EDIT: I should have said Hinostroza would have stayed a NHL regular. He does have over 350 NHL games played. Harkens has 200 games as well but they just dont stick with teams or stay up in NHL. Long sample size of this for both.

hahaha

Some guys are career AHLers. Great in that league and not so great in the big league.

Hinostroza is 30, if he was going to be a NHL constant it probably would have already happened but not totally impossible he ends up with a regular NHL job, yet. Harkens, at 27, could maybe still stick in a NHL lineup but is most likely a great AHLer the rest of his career. I think maybe the only guy in the Pens lineup I'd rather have either of them over is Puus....and that's maybe haha
- MattStrat

If you're a contender, you want those kind of guys for call ups. Maybe they get you some unexpected offense from adrenaline. At this stage, the Penguins should be calling up their kids when guys start getting banged up.

Haven't been able to watch the last few games. Sounds like we're playing better, but some of the same problems (defense) is still a problem. Would Aho be better than Gryz?

hahaha

Some guys are career AHLers. Great in that league and not so great in the big league.

Hinostroza is 30, if he was going to be a NHL constant it probably would have already happened but not totally impossible he ends up with a regular NHL job, yet. Harkens, at 27, could maybe still stick in a NHL lineup but is most likely a great AHLer the rest of his career. I think maybe the only guy in the Pens lineup I'd rather have either of them over is Puus....and that's maybe haha

EDIT: I should have said Hinostroza would have stayed a NHL regular. He does have over 350 NHL games played. Harkens has 200 games as well but they just dont stick with teams or stay up in NHL. Long sample size of this for both.
- MattStrat

Agree. Those are the type of guys you try to improve on. I would take Puustinen over either and I don't even like him, though of course I'd rather have Poulin.

Koivunen is off to a really nice start so it will be interesting to see what happens with him if he continues to play well.

hahaha

Some guys are career AHLers. Great in that league and not so great in the big league.

Hinostroza is 30, if he was going to be a NHL constant it probably would have already happened but not totally impossible he ends up with a regular NHL job, yet. Harkens, at 27, could maybe still stick in a NHL lineup but is most likely a great AHLer the rest of his career. I think maybe the only guy in the Pens lineup I'd rather have either of them over is Puus....and that's maybe haha

EDIT: I should have said Hinostroza would have stayed a NHL regular. He does have over 350 NHL games played. Harkens has 200 games as well but they just dont stick with teams or stay up in NHL. Long sample size of this for both.
- MattStrat

Damn seeing Hinostroza is 30 really makes me feel old

Agree. Those are the type of guys you try to improve on. I would take Puustinen over either and I don't even like him, though of course I'd rather have Poulin.

Koivunen is off to a really nice start so it will be interesting to see what happens with him if he continues to play well.
- Tojo.

Go figure, everyone pretty much gives up on Poulin and he starts playing some good hockey, and we anoint McGroaty the next one and he completely falls apart. They need to find a way to get him going because he is looking like Poulin did to start his AHL career.

I think if Koivunen can keep it up, he is going to get some time in the NHL this year. Realistically Eller is going to be traded and Im guessing Dubas will try to move some others (Accari, Hayes, Bunting?). Some spots will open up in the roster, would love to see one of the younger guys get some consistent playing time this year.

Go figure, everyone pretty much gives up on Poulin and he starts playing some good hockey, and we anoint McGroaty the next one and he completely falls apart. They need to find a way to get him going because he is looking like Poulin did to start his AHL career.

I think if Koivunen can keep it up, he is going to get some time in the NHL this year. Realistically Eller is going to be traded and Im guessing Dubas will try to move some others (Accari, Hayes, Bunting?). Some spots will open up in the roster, would love to see one of the younger guys get some consistent playing time this year.
- MacPatty

You've been really running with some crazy narratives regarding McG... two crazy ones in that one sentence alone hahaha

Agree. Those are the type of guys you try to improve on. I would take Puustinen over either and I don't even like him, though of course I'd rather have Poulin.

Koivunen is off to a really nice start so it will be interesting to see what happens with him if he continues to play well.
- Tojo.

Well, he should be the first called up.. He was probably the highest regarded prospect of the 3 in the Jake trade, wasnt he? I think he can go either LW or C, no? Probably see him in NHL, at least for a few games, in the near future.


I'd love for Poulin to stay up with the big club. It would mean the Pens made a successful 1st round pick.

hahaha

Some guys are career AHLers. Great in that league and not so great in the big league.

Hinostroza is 30, if he was going to be a NHL constant it probably would have already happened but not totally impossible he ends up with a regular NHL job, yet. Harkens, at 27, could maybe still stick in a NHL lineup but is most likely a great AHLer the rest of his career. I think maybe the only guy in the Pens lineup I'd rather have either of them over is Puus....and that's maybe haha

EDIT: I should have said Hinostroza would have stayed a NHL regular. He does have over 350 NHL games played. Harkens has 200 games as well but they just dont stick with teams or stay up in NHL. Long sample size of this for both.
- MattStrat

That’s because those guys play an offensive role their entire lives and then get asked to be energy guys on the 4th line. Some guys can make the transition to stick other guys can’t. Slide Harkins in on that first line he’s putting up 25 easily. You can see the hockey sense and puck skills in his limited role last year(at least I can).

Anyone see the first two goals... It was like 2 goals on 3 shots I checked the NHL app at a red light otw home. I got home it was 20-9 shots for the Pens and the Canes scored their 3rd on 10th shot haha.. That's not good enough Ned.

That’s because those guys play an offensive role their entire lives and then get asked to be energy guys on the 4th line. Some guys can make the transition to stick other guys can’t. Slide Harkins in on that first line he’s putting up 25 easily. You can see the hockey sense and puck skills in his limited role last year(at least I can).
- Grinder47

If he was capable of scoring that much vs top 4 pairings and harder forward match ups he would and would be in the Pens or Jets top 6.

Anyone see the first two goals... It was like 2 goals on 3 shots I checked the NHL app at a red light otw home. I got home it was 20-9 shots for the Pens and the Canes scored their 3rd on 10th shot haha.. That's not good enough Ned.
- MattStrat

EK and Petts have been awful. Actually, worse than awful. I wasn't watching too close, but EK might have defended the first two goals better if he were on the bench. Didn't see the other two. Carolina makes the Pens look like an AHL squad.

EK and Petts have been awful. Actually, worse than awful. I wasn't watching too close, but EK might have defended the first two goals better if he were on the bench. Didn't see the other two. Carolina makes the Pens look like an AHL squad.
- madmike71

EK was terrible on those first 2. Why doesn’t he ever see the press box? He plays no D. He’s not bringing much offense. He’s off PP1… what’s he bringing to the lineup?

EK was terrible on those first 2. Why doesn’t he ever see the press box? He plays no D. He’s not bringing much offense. He’s off PP1… what’s he bringing to the lineup?
- buckster2342

He was much better last year than this year. I can't tell if he's checked out or washed up. I'm guessing he's checked out, but Sullivan won't put salary in the press box. He won't embarrass star veteran players. Do they even have a better option?

I'm going to say it again, Jarry hasn't been great, but it's impossible to backstop this team consistently. Before I turned it off, Jay Caufield said we lead the NHL in odd-man breaks against.

He was much better last year than this year. I can't tell if he's checked out or washed up. I'm guessing he's checked out, but Sullivan won't put salary in the press box. He won't embarrass star veteran players. Do they even have a better option?

I'm going to say it again, Jarry hasn't been great, but it's impossible to backstop this team consistently. Before I turned it off, Jay Caufield said we lead the NHL in odd-man breaks against.
- madmike71

Our dmen and entire zone strategy and structure is a joke. They don’t know when to pinch and not pinch. They constantly throw blind passes up the middle. They make mistakes that rookie dmen should make, not 10+ year vets.

Well, he should be the first called up.. He was probably the highest regarded prospect of the 3 in the Jake trade, wasnt he? I think he can go either LW or C, no? Probably see him in NHL, at least for a few games, in the near future.


I'd love for Poulin to stay up with the big club. It would mean the Pens made a successful 1st round pick.
- MattStrat

I don't believe Koivunen plays C but I think he can play either wing. I'd like to see him get at least half a year in the AHL, but if he continues to produce then agree want to see him get a shot.

Even as someone who believes in Poulin, he won't help this team. They need potential top six talents like McGroarty and Koivunen to develop fast.

We have solid fourth liners this year. Poulin is younger and cheaper and can step in when they sell some guys off. But he won't improve them much from the guys they have. Last year he would have.

You've been really running with some crazy narratives regarding McG... two crazy ones in that one sentence alone hahaha
- MattStrat

The next one as in the top prospect of ours in the system. Many on here mused about him being on the top line this year. Dubas hyped him up about being close to ready for prime time.

He showed some promise but has had an awful start in WBS... Saying he is struggling isn't a crazy narrative when he has 1 assist and a -5 in 7 games. It's just a fact.

He was much better last year than this year. I can't tell if he's checked out or washed up. I'm guessing he's checked out, but Sullivan won't put salary in the press box. He won't embarrass star veteran players. Do they even have a better option?

I'm going to say it again, Jarry hasn't been great, but it's impossible to backstop this team consistently. Before I turned it off, Jay Caufield said we lead the NHL in odd-man breaks against.
- madmike71

I don't know why but it's really felt like Karlsson hasn't enjoyed being in that locker room. He just seems discontent, but then again I think he came here to chase a cup and instead the Pens have started a rebuild.

They really need to get him and Petts going so they can at least salvage some trade value.