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Derrick Pouliot’s subpar camp has been the worst possible scenario for the player and team.
From the players standpoint, Pouliot at 22 years old needs to be playing every game for him to have a chance to potentially take a next step in his development.
From the teams standpoint, Pouliot has given the coaching staff zero confidence he is one of the Penguins top-6 defenseman and it’s going to put the team in a bind.
What is more beneficial for Pouliot?
Sticking around as the No. 7 defenseman in the NHL or playing top-pairing minutes in Wilkes Barre?
There’s a good argument that Pouliot needs more fine tuning in the minors, his lack of awareness in the d-zone has been highlighted in the preseason and his decision making with the puck is still not at the level it should be, which has frustrated coaches.
What the team also has to weigh is what sending Pouliot down mentally would do to the player.
The best case scenario of Pouliot having a great camp and showing signs of being someone who could push an Ian Cole, Justin Schultz or even Olli Maatta for playing time early in the season just hasn’t panned out.
And from a cap standpoint, the best case scenario would Pouliot be giving the Penguins enough confidence this season that he could move into a Trevor Daley top-2 pairing role next season, if Daley becomes too pricey to return.
None of that is playing out and now it’s back to the drawing table for the Penguins’ brass on what’s best for Pouliot’s development in the short-term.
The thing Mike Sullivan continues to draw on for Pouliot is that he showed up to camp in excellent shape and that’s something to build on despite his shaky camp.
“He really took control of his career this summer by making a real concerted effort to come into camp in great shape,” Sullivan said of Pouliot following Thursday’s 5-2 loss to the Red Wings. “He’s shown signs of real solid play and he’s shown other examples where he’s struggled at times. As most young players do, it’s a bit of a process to get these guys to where our expectation is, as far as consistent performance, shift after shift.”
— Scouts have been flocking to Penguins games this preseason and a team with a particular interest in the Penguins is [hide] Las Vegas.
Las Vegas GM George McPhee wants to mirror his club next season and long-term in the mold of how the Penguins play under Mike Sullivan.
Las Vegas officials have been studying tape of the Penguins style and plan to scout the organization heavily this season and already are.
For all of the talk of Matt Murray and the expansion draft, young forwards like Conor Sheary, Scott Wilson and Bryan Rust will be eligible to be exposed and they’re the type of players (speed/skill) Las Vegas plans to build their team around.
Scott Wilson’s strong camp to go with Bryan Rust injury (won’t be ready for start of season) has given Wilson a prime audition to play with Evgeni Malkin to start the season.
However, the pressure will be on Wilson to produce early to sustain a regular spot.
He’s still not at the point yet where he has the resume built up that makes him a surefire top-9 player right now.
Mike Sullivan has talked this week of Wilson having the “potential” to be a top-6, top-9 player.
NHL sources say the Minnesota Wild remain in hot pursuit of Eric Fehr as a trade target.
— Jake Guentzel was everything as advertised in camp/preseason. Great hockey sense and what many in the organization have raved about is the patience Guentzel showed with the puck. Many young players try to rush things and how Guentzel allows plays/scoring chances develop is a great barometer the Penguins’ look for in projecting top-9 NHL players.
The player who surprised just above everyone is Carter Rowney. He’s made a huge jump up the organizational depth chart.
“Those guys [Jake Guentzel, Carter Rowney], for me, are part of the big picture,” Sullivan said Friday.
Guentzel is certainly a big part of the Penguins’ future, widely regarded as the Penguins top forward prospect.
Rowney, though, at age 27 is still a wait and see situation.[/hide]
Calmly awaits Sam bitching about Malkin “always being injured.”
Sid has a concussion.
He’s done. Malkin’s team now.
With the start of the season upon us I thought it would be fun to throw out some bold predictions for the season: 1) Kris Letang plays in 75+games and wins the 2016-2017 Norris Trophy. 2) Scott Wilson scores 22+goals and is in the discussion to be a finalist for the Calder Trophy, he obviously won’t win and may not even make the final 3 but he’ll be in the discussion for final 3. 3) Fleury/Murray will play roughly the same number of games with Fleury’s numbers being slightly better which earns Fleury the net going into the playoffs. 4)… Read more »
Should have predicted Sid’s concussion. That would have been prophetic.
Funny how I met Stephane richer now and said how league is a business. and politics something that same said but bandwagon American fans don’t see that. And agreed with me letang should’ve made team Canada and is underrated but he knows nothing because we have stain that hates letang,and wants him traded
Picturing this conversation just literally made me laugh out loud.
Richer must be doing charity work for people with learning disabilities.
I could see same trying to plug a square block into a circular hole, Richer just tapping him on the shoulder, telling him it’s ok, then just agreeing with the following nonsensical ramblings.
Sam you just said a whole bunch of things that no one was aware of… Profound. If you needed to talk to Richer to learn that the game is a business than you’re a bigger dip shit than given credit for in the past. It’s always been a business… The fact that the teams collect money from patrons and the players are paid as the product sold by definition means it’s always been a business. It’s more convoluted now sure but if Richer is saying that it wasn’t a business in his day it means that him choosing hockey over… Read more »
So you admit that it’s done on purpose make Canadian team be weak since jew bettman took over an make bandwagon fan base team win the cup.
You’re such a stupid fucken idiot… How you hot that from what I said? You’re a fucken indictment of our education system. Your misrepresentation of what I’ve said is one of the most common fallacies in an argument, it’s proof of how feeble minded you really are!
Same’s worst sentence structure ever. I had to go to the quite room after I read it because my head hurt.
How in the world would D know what George McPhee is thinking and how LV wants to build their team? A quick reminder of why I rarely read or post anything on this site anymore.
They’re drooling over Sheary and Rust….isn’t it obvious?
I’d ship tk. I mean sheary any day
Can we ship you to Vegas!
Sheary is no Louie LeBlanc. That much is clear.
Dabridge, you’re so cynical and negative.
Good day for Pitt football. Win vs GaTech and a big commitment from Carter Warren!
There was great atmosphere in the stadium yesterday. But they need to start closing games
Who else has seen enough of Scott Wilson?
I’ve seen enough of you on this site. You are the new Npl
You’re free to leave whenever you want bub. You’ll never have to see me again. Nice knowing you.
We need a new Yoda
He is one of a kind need to put him in a zoo or something as the last species remaining
Boom! Sam!
Ppppsssst. It’s the pre season clown. #teamsport
I don’t even think he is a certified clown probably he even failed clown college
Another zinger from Sam!
Tell us. Which aspect of your dek hockey career led you to the conclusion you had seen enough of Scott Wilson? What did your wife think considering she’s the one that can hold down a job?
Also. What aspect of your dek hockey career led you to think in March that they needed to tear the team down and start over. We’re all dying for your expertise.
Coming from someone that wanted letang and crosby traded in January
Right. Malkin is the one to trade. Right? Because you’re a xenophobe.
Chocolate donut please. (I think your name tag is crooked)
You could be the most unpopular poster on this site Stanch. Tell us again how Sid should score every game bc he makes $12 m.
How much do you think my popularity amongst a bunch of faceless names (one of which leeches off of his wife) matters to me?
A guy who makes donuts for a living? I think it matters a lot to you.
This is extra funny because you’d have to ask your wife for the $45 american dollars to join sam’s knowledge laden hockey league. #Zak #SomethingSpecial
I know I had lol
No Sid tonight. Guess they couldn’t trick him into thinking a skating penguin looked like a maple leaf.
Maybe they are in the process to trade him and make miserable clowns like you happy
Wasn’t malkin supposed to be back in Russia 6 years ago? Nice call on that one.
Yeah 13-14 season you are right 6 years
Wouldn’t he just half ass it for the next team until the Olympics?
Do you like how same changes his predictions after he’s wrong?
I’m quite used to it.
Where was Sam when the big Racine / Bozon trade went down
Trying to figure out the significance of making the entire last paragraph bold, between that and trying to figure out if I’ve ever heard or seen someone use the phrase “now it’s back to the drawing TABLE” before really has my head hurting, reading a sports blog shouldn’t be this difficult.
D you forgot to add Crosby to debut tonight and some fans will be watching him closely tonight. (Stain)