Pittsburgh Penguins
Story Highlights
*Personnel Decisions from LA Win
*On the Sheahan/Kessel fit
*Penguins in deep trade talks for Center
*Sharks Tierney one trade scenario that got away?
*Insight on why staff favors Hunwick over Cole
The Pittsburgh Penguins in a back-to-back situation turned to Casey DeSmith in goal and Pittsburgh came away with a 3-1 win over the Kings on Thursday.
Mike Sullivan has been lukewarm about playing DeSmith at any point and what do you know, DeSmith backstopped the Penguins to victory in making 28 saves and flashed very good side-to-side quickness. He was peppered in the first period as Pittsburgh was out-shot 11-3 in period one but unlike Jonathan Quick, DeSmith avoided letting soft goals win and the Penguins got a really nice win.
Some developments from this game connected to the trade deadline was [hide] Mike Sullivan moving Jake Guentzel to wing.
No one in the organization likes Guentzel at center long-term but the management group led by Jim Rutherford have believed that Guentzel at center is the Penguins best lineup in how it spreads the forward group out much more effectively.
In getting more 4th line matchups, Riley Sheahan has been a more impactful player with Guentzel at center because of the trickle-down effect.
Thursday’s game vs the Kings showed where Sheahan can struggle badly in certain matchups when placed as the third line center.
Against LA Sheahan was at 31 percent in possession, on the ice for 1 Scoring Chance For and 7 Against.
Moving Phil Kessel to the third line has worked with Guentzel at center because of the high-end skill set Guentzel has but Kessel and Sheahan are just not a good match as evident again vs the Kings.
Kessel was the Penguins worst possession player at 23% (5/16) in the win. Kessel and Sheahan played together for over nine minutes at even strength. They were minus-6 (1/7) in scoring chances.
Kessel had one shot on goal during 5 vs 5 play.
While the Penguins have given up much hope of landing a true impact center, the team has made multiple attempts to acquire [hide] Oilers center Mark Letestu in recent weeks, league sources confirm.
Few will regard the former Penguin as an impact center, but the Penguins believe he has the hockey IQ and skill set to upgrade the position.
A team source says the Penguins see Tyler Bozak similarities in Letestu when it comes to potentially pairing him with Kessel in how the Penguins feel Letestu would be able to get the puck to Kessel in the right spots.
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Interest is significant enough in Letestu that the Penguins coaching staff have watched tape on Letestu as the Penguins have tried to swing a deal for the 32 year old center.
Offers from the Penguins have been made for Letestu but as of early this week, Edmonton was still contemplating what to do with Letestu and what to set his market at.
— Industry chatter is the Oilers are likely to seek a second round pick for Letestu but trade talks in recent weeks with the Penguins had Edmonton still in the mode that they haven’t punted on the season yet and have been looking at NHL type deals than future deals.
With the Oilers 10 points out of a playoff spot, though, it remains to be seen how much interest Ian Cole is to Edmonton now. The Oilers tried to acquire Cole in early December but the Penguins overplayed their hand and sought a high return. Now Cole’s trade value is plummeting as he continues to sit.
Cole is on the cusp of moving to 8th on the depth chart when Chad Ruhwedel returns.
Many have been wondering why Matt Hunwick over Cole?
Among the reasons is the coaching the staff likes Hunwick’s better skating ability to retrieve pucks and join the play.
— The Penguins play in San Jose Saturday night and on the topic of center targets, the Penguins earlier in the season made a hard push to acquire Sharks center Chris Tierney during the period before the Penguins settled on acquiring Riley Sheahan.
This is a player the Penguins really like but just like months ago when the Penguins tried to swing a deal, San Jose doesn’t have much interest in moving Tierney. Nonetheless, there’s disappointment the Penguins couldn’t find a trade match there.
Emerging as the Sharks third line centerman, Tierney, 23, has 11 goals and 8 assists on the season.[/hide]
So coaches like Hunwick ability to retrieve pucks and join the play. When the hell are they seeing that? Seriously if they sit Cole longer they wont be able to get any return for him.
Cole good for 2 things blocking shots and taking dumb penalties. And by him not playing gives the power play specialists win the game for the pens since they can’t play 5v5 anymore
That’s two more than you.
What’s it like to be wrong about everything all the time?
It’s incredible that the only people that seem to think playing Hunwick over Cole are a coach or two… it’s clearly a personal issue. I wish they’d fucken move him already for the reason you’ve named. He’s worth something now, the more he sits the more he could drop in value
Sam sucks really bad.
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/f5/ce/98/f5ce981f33cb706249903df55df54a2e–al-pacino-academy-awards.jpg
This is what Al Pacino looked like in 1993
http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Al+Pacino+39th+Annual+Kennedy+Center+Honors+r3L2sd-tL9kl.jpg
This is what he looks like today
Why does everyone in Hollywood wear gay suspenders.
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTk5NDQ5MDMxNF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMDI4NjgwMw@SID9701@._V1_SY1000_CR0,0,724,1000_AL_.jpg
This is what Tom Hanks looked like in 1993
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Tom_Hanks_2014.jpg/220px-Tom_Hanks_2014.jpg
This is what he looks like today.
Those suspenders are gay
I believe its a ribbon, Sam.
That ribbon is gay
Totally gay
No one wears a ribbon outside a tux coat. Definitely gay suspenders
Still a ribbon, Sam.
Men dont wear ribbons
https://moapress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Rib-bk-Oct-9781884452635_int20141001-3_Page_03.jpg
Good call.
#imwithher
Letang is no bueno right now. The French in him is rearing its ugly head.
Low scoring game Must be a very boring game for npl since he likes high scoring games in order to be entertained. That fat pig
And you love low scoring games – hence your endorsement of Mike Johnston.
we need more power play
On this date in 1993, Bill Clinton became the 42nd president of the US. A few months later, Montreal won their most recent Stanley Cup.
On this date your mom had her first gangbang
Late bloomer
That was funny
Montreal smoked by an American team tonigh.
No surprise..
You call that smoked geez I wonder what you call 10-1 loss hawks pens this year then
Pens need more power play
On a night when Montreal lost 2-1, Phil Kessel leads the Pens in goals, assists, and points.
Letang showing he sucks again
Sheary showing he sucks again…
Thanks to Crosby again
I wonder how many of sheary points in his career has Crosby involved
Probably a decent amount. Sully seems to put Sheary with Sid to help Sid when hes not producing.
More like the other way around chubby
Of Sheary 18 points this season Crosby has been in on 6… great call fuckhead
Of Shearys 12 goals this season Crosby has assisted on 4… and of those only two was the superior primary assist
Great call you fuckhead lol
I said career dummy
lol It’s not like he’s played 500 games… dummy!
Did you guys hear the breaking news from chubster and dusty? If you took the team’s top 3 players off it, they wouldn’t do as good. Who woulda thunk it?
Dusty isn’t bright and Sam is retarded.
Pretty sure that was a guest column by Same.
In case you guys wondering why npl is not here today it’s because he is gone for woman’s protest today.
1950’s burn. Ouch.
Yes, we know NPL protests women but that’s his right
Swing and a miss.
I think Sullivan is a stubborn coach. If he didn’t have players like Malkin, Kessel and Crosby to bail him out, how good would he be? I personally think he’s too much of a dictator and plays favorites too much. Almost seems like it’s impossible to get out of his doghouse, unless you’re Kessell and just put up big numbers. I fully expect Sheary and Cole to be moved for that reason.
Lol
I hope this is a satirical take on sam…
I’m not happy about Cole but he’s won two cups in two years… how the fuck are you gonna argue with that? Maybe he has a shelf life but he’s not at expiry yet.
Oh and if it’s just bail outs from the stars? Where were they from 2010 to 2015?
It’s an American thing they have success based on the roster. Db was the same. When galant got hired didn’t I say Vegas will be fine because they have a good coach. I bet if it was db or sully team would’ve been dead last
Remember when you said the Pens would be better with Mike Johnston. Hahaha! You suck, Sam.
We don’t need that Game of Thrones looking midget Letesu. Pass.
Malkin leads the team in 5v5 scoring and Montreal blows…#samonew
Can Morozov play Center?
With RNH out now it is hard to imagine a scenario where Edmonton moves a C
Because Cole takes dumb penalties. Now that he doesn’t play much pens have more chance to win with their power play specialists. For some odd reason our Russian been quiet this year usually he would lead the team with penalties
He hasn’t been quiet. He’s having one of the best seasons of his career and leads the team in 5v5 scoring. Remember you said he was a pp specialist? Like yesterday, and were embarrassed by every person on here? Moron.
Sams fucken stupid lol
Another ex penguin name. I wonder if Craig Adams is available too
He’s been retired for years. But I’m sure that doesn’t matter to you, much like st. Louis. Clown.
Letestu blows – please don’t JR. hope to god the oilers play well so they don’t move him
Blah