LATEST PENGUINS BUZZ
— The job Mike Sullivan has done as Penguins coach has many within the NHL just astonished in how quickly he’s changed the culture and identity of the hockey club.
“It’s one of the best coaching jobs I’ve seen in the last couple years,” a scout said of how fundamentally sound the Penguins have become under Sullivan compared to how they were under Mike Johnston in such a short-time.
One comparison a few NHL types have made in what Sullivan has done is what Barry Trotz did so quickly last season in Washington in his first year. The Capitals started a little slow out of the gates, but once there was a 100% buy-in, they surged near the end of the season, and were a bounce in Game 7 of overtime of knocking off the President Trophy winning Rangers in Round 2. Trotz culture and identity change in year one helped paved the way for the team they are now in year 2, a Stanley Cup Favorite.
Some feel Sullivan getting away from John Tortorella last season and working for the Blackhawks organization might have been the best thing for his career to see things in a different way in embracing a skilled game and how to handle star players more effectively.
Sullivan was known to be more hated by players in the Rangers room than John Tortorella was by the end of their tenures in New York. Those outside the Penguins organization strongly believe Sullivan has changed a lot after his year with the Blackhawks and it’s paid dividends in the job he’s done so far in Pittsburgh.
Tortorella is a good coach, a Stanley Cup winning coach, but one big difference between the two there now appears to be is that Sullivan’s of the belief you only go as far as your best players take you and he embraces that behind the Penguins bench, where as, Tortorella still coaches with that old school mentality of constantly sending messages as we’re seeing in Columbus and running 40 goal scorers out of town like Marian Gaborik when he had him in New York.
10-1-0
— From January 1 – March 1, the Penguins were 4-7-3 against teams in playoff position at the time. Since March 2nd, the Penguins are 10-1 against teams currently in a playoff position, the only loss coming to the Islanders. It’s been the story of their turnaround in going from a team that looked like it would struggle to win a round to now potentially being a serious threat to the Capitals.
Pens – Caps
— If the Penguins and Capitals were to meet in Round 2 of playoffs, Pittsburgh would be an underdog regardless of what happens in Thursday’s game, but if the Penguins can put together another dominating performance like the previous meeting where they dictated the play and pace, there’s no question it could start to cast some doubts in the Capitals room.
“When our team plays that game the right way, I think we’re as good as any team in the league,” Sullivan said after Sunday’s win. “We can beat anybody.”
Derrick Pouliot & the Press Box
— Now almost four years since he was drafted eighth overall (was rated #4 on Penguins draft board), Derrick Pouliot’s failure to still lock down a regular spot in the lineup continues to come down to the fact that his offense just isn’t good enough in the coaches eyes to keep him in the lineup over a less offensive but safer player.
This is a second coaching staff that feels the same exact way about him.
Some in the organization felt by now Pouliot would have at least distinguished himself as a player who would force his way into the lineup because of his ability on the power play. That also hasn’t happened and it’s been Justin Schultz who has emerged as a better option on the power play, further cementing Pouliot’s spot in the press box.
Now currently seventh on the depth chart, Pouliot will soon be eighth again with Olli Maatta working his way back.
“We just want him to play a steady game,” Mike Sullivan said last week about Pouliot, via the Tribune-Review. “Derrick has done a nice job as far as coming out of our end zone, making that first pass. We think that’s one of his strength’s, is he see’s the ice pretty well, he helps us get out of our end zone, and he’s pretty good at joining the rush. But, one of things we’ve talked a lot with Derrick about is just playing a high-percentage game, making sure that he makes the right decisions when he joins the rush and when he gets involved in the offense and when he needs to stay behind the attack in the event that he might have to defend.”
Looking back at the Phil Kessel trade, the Penguins privately would have loved if they could have sold the Maple Leafs on taking Pouliot over Kasperi Kapanen who would be a great fit long-term in Mike Sullivan’s system with his excellent acceleration and straight line speed. Unfortunately the Leafs weren’t big fans of Pouliot’s. The Leafs even preferred Kapanen over Matt Murray who at one point was involved in the trade over Kapanen.
Significant Offers were made for Murray
— Speaking of Murray, it’s been no secret that the Calgary Flames were one of two teams that tried very hard to acquire Murray multiple times this winter. Information has been scant on what type of offers were made until now. To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Guest
13-1 since the Russian is injured pens are really missing him
Sam. Do you have any injury news on the guys I listed below? D is lacking in updates and you’re a pretty good “in the know” kind if guy.
It will be interesting to see what Sullivan does with Malkin when he’s back. I’d like to see him play with Rust, Sheary or Bennett.
Exactly how I feel… Rust for sure then add one of the remaining. Kuhnhackl I would consider too… the size factor, he isnt huge but at 6’2 he adds a little size to work with Geno and he is capable of scoring. It will be interesting because of the four named one has to sit
Wilson would have been ideal TBH but… typical injury bug here
Malkin imo should be playing 20 minutes a game. I don’t want 3rd line wingers playing as much as him. Understood that he can steal minutes from double shifting, PP etc, but you’ll expose Bennett, Sheary etc if you extend them too long. I kinda agree with Phil Bourque this morning. Sullivan and these guys need to get Malkin on Sid’s wing to work……till the Bonino line cools off and you can slot Malkin back to C2 etc.
Then don’t play those 3rd liners on the PP with him!!!
If the Pens get 3 – 5 PPs a game you are looking at what 5 to 8 minutes give or take on the PP alone (if they are successful at points). That leaves him to cycle 5vs5 for 12 to 15. Now consider the potential double shifts and post PK load up shifts that we sometimes see… it would be incredibly easy to get Malkin his 20+ minutes a night while his regular shift wingers play their customary amounts.
Also the Malkin on Sids wing has happened 1000x in the past with varying results. Geno is at his best as a pivot plain and simple. You take him off the C and you take away a big part of his game. Anytime we have watched Malkin overused on the wing we have seen the successes of that duo dwindle. It’s okay as a sometimes option but not a regular shift… it never seems to work over a period of time.
And eventually Bonino will come back down to earth.
Thats nice.. Bonino back to earth may work better with Kessel than Malkin flying. There was a two game stint back in December that Bonino was great with Kessel too. So its either a single hot streak as you say or a better match up overall as the evidence seems to suggest.
Maatta, Fleury, Malkin, Rust, Wilson. Any news on the injury front with these guys?
Did you check the instant buzz?
D should create a system that sends us automatic texts when he adds “instant buzz”. That way, we could be the first to know the inside scoop when it comes to Pittsburgh sports.
Bennett injured yet?
Surprised Sam didnt claim he knew the Pens would lose when they were down 3-0…
#SamKnew
Hey D pens won. No instant buzz?
Where is Waldo? I mean kessel. Letang and crosby suckss trade them for stans sake
Casually skating through the neutral zone embarrassing canadian FRAUD Jonathan Toews for $4 million less a year?
another great night for pgh sports. the bucs win in extra innings and the pens have an incredible comeback. murray was really shaky in the 2nd, but you know what, he won the game so that is one more notch on the beginning of his hall of fame resume! awesome!
Hope you’re right. Hard not to have really high expectations of him. Watching him, you just feel like he belongs. I never got that feeling with Zatkoff of Theissen.
“But he won the game”… Your hypocrisy has now boundaries. You literally just tried to call me out in the last week on the exact subject. Of course you managed to fuck up my position but you still come across as a major fucken hypocrite
I’m making fun of your hypocrisy. Hahaha
Except I am not the hypocrite you idiot, I understand how that part of the game works… not only are you a hypocrite but you actually are an idiot. And I mean that in the scientific sense… an IQ between 0 and 25.
He’s ready. #YogurtKnew
Pens get a point and Islanders beat Rangers Thursday would be beautiful. Need to sit as many as we can vs Philly.
Well being that they only have the ability to carry 2 extra players I wouldn’t be expecting more than 2 players to get a rest if that.
They actually have the ability to call up pretty much the entire Wilkes Barre roster at the moment – I’m pretty sure roster restrictions are gone so long as you can make it work cap wise.
They can call up as many as can fit under the cap since the end of the trade deadline.
Hey Sam… Bonino suddenly had 28 points. Could finish with 30… This is exactly what we got from Sutter. Add Fehrs 14 point in half a year and we got nearly twice the production pace for less than what Sutter makes Lmmfao. You’re so dumb Sam
That’s how I feel about malkin if pens can trade him and get two 45, 50 point scorer I’d be happy
Except Malkin was on pace to do that himself this year, genius. Once again you miss the whole point. How about Hagelin with his 2 goals?
In today’s NHL – which team is giving up two 50 point guys? They want to bring Malkin in to play WITH those two 50 point guys – not bring him in to play with nothing. That’s why Kessel was traded for a bag of pucks. Maybe ONE legit NHLer – then picks and prospects. That’s how it works now. It’s not 2002 anymore.
I’m quickly becoming an Eric Fehr hater. Dudes worthless.
You also said they had to tear the whole team down. I doubt many are jumping to trust your keen eye.
Unless they go 82-0, everyone sucks in malonis book. I don’t understand why an aging vet coming off a major injury, making 1.3m/yr doesn’t put up 40 goals?
I thought he has been decent. I mean he’s fought when he’s had too, he has 8 goals in half a season which would be nice over 82! He kills penalties well… I mean one penalty and we hate him? At what? 1.3 million?
He’s a fourth liner. Nice depth player. Not worth the hype.
What hype?
Not sure who was hyping him. We were expecting to get a decent depth guy who can kill penalties and plays with some size. He’s delivered that I’d say
Guys – live look in from Le Mausolee Bell:
http://i.cbc.ca/1.3432953.1454550052!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/bell-centre.jpg
I think I see Sam.
That wouldn’t be hard in a full house.
Trade fleury asap
Good thing Sheary is playing. Otherwise it woul be a boring game.
Ouch, it was a laff but thats just ugly. With TB up on NY we could clinch with a point in this game. They need to wake up
Maybe Murray is doing his best fleury playoff impression.
Our all-star rookie goalie is unraveling.
Murray’s ready. #YogurtKnew
murray won the game. wins are all that matter. tonight, murray was a hall of famer.
Yet fleury loses 1-0 games and it’s the end of the world by fans like Yoda and stan. I won’t even name npl because his hockey only starts when it’s the playoffs
Weak fucken goal Murray…
hilarious! you love st.blurry so much it’s insane. you were screaming for blurry to go back in vs the isles during his meltdown when vokoun took over and now you are in a hissy over a few weak goals dispite a hall of fame performance by murray tonight. murray won, that is a hall of fame night.
See, more proof… I was clearly making fun of how you see the game. This particular post was in regard to a goal given up by Murray that was 100% not on him and maybe one or two alltime would have had the athletic ability to get back and make that save. You really are a dumbfuck hey HAHA. PS that vokoun year was 3 playoffs ago now… it was a long time ago.. deal with it. I mean even if MAF hadnt failed our coach still blew his line up in a big way. Last I checked Vokoun didn’t… Read more »
Weak goal Murray…
Trade everyone but Sid.
be ready boys Con artist Malkin will be ready by playoffs
and will show to people he is around and pretend he is playing up until pens are out and then he joins WC
Someone translate this mess.
Oh – the “con artist” has 4 more points than canadian fraud Jonathan Toews, and has played 21 less games. That’s right. Conning us to the bone, outproducing the $10.5 million man having played 1/4 less of the season. Pulled the wool right over our eyes.
What exactly is an NHL type?
If we are forced to make the decision between MAF and Murray i think the choice is obvious. As much as I love MAF we probably go with the younger goalie. That said… I hope the PA gets its way pertaining to no movement clauses 😉
keep murray, dump st.blurry. numbers don’t lie. murray has had a better year than blurry and he is 5 million dollars cheaper.
Well, to be fair, Fleury’s “year” didn’t consist of playing 3/4 of it against inferior talent in the AHL. But hey, we know Yogurt thinks that’s a 1:1 comparison because he consistently tries to eat soup with a fork.
LOL… listen to that line of shit… “Numbers don’t lie” yet MAF is sitting in like 4th or 5th in virtually all statistical categories for tenders who will have played 55 or more games… the true starters. Cherry picking asshole lol.
murray’s numbers are better and he is 5 million dollars cheaper. please explain to me why st.blurry is worth 5 million dollars more than murray.
You’re a special goddamn breed of dumb.
I hate when i reply, and then someone replies over me, and now it looks like I’m calling Zero dumb, when i agree with everything he said.
Stanch, the vets on this site know
I got you – just venting. The way this site collates posts is dumber than Sam and Yoda on a meth binge.
All good… we all know where it was directed lol
There is no point attempting to explain the finer points of this… first off not a single reply has stated anything in respect to Murrays ability vs Marc Andre Fleury’s. What we have is an unproven commodity that has not yet taken the full time reigns who has primarily seen games vs the lesser competition of the two. While It would be fucking wonderful to throw Murray out there and say “go get it kid” and it all work out the reality is there is a significant risk involved as well. Carolina’s cup run on the back of Cam Ward… Read more »
I have stated for awhile the perfect scenario would be carrying both and allowing MAF to mentor Murray. Slowly let Murray take the reigns so he can adjust as opposed to giving him the job and hoping he doesnt flounder in the slightest. If he does he may end up reading the incoherent bullshit that assholes such as yourself spam the internet with by the minute. Last thing I would want is for Murray to not be perfect and spend the next decade watching you whine, bitch and moan that we still need a goalie!
while yoda thinks its easy to find goalies that can play 65 games a year and grows on trees,meanwhile Stan thinks pens can easily have another Defense that can play 27mins a night and that also grows on trees
Trade letang and fleury now
Well – yeah – he plays 27 minutes a night – except the 20 games a year he misses – then he plays 0 minutes a night. That part actually IS easy to replace.
while you have players play full time and are more of a passengers in the team
Kessel
hey stan you think the part when you can replace the con artist malkin is easy as well ?
The “con artist” literally is one of two reasons this team isn’t scratching for an 8 seed.
i know ever since he is not in the lineup the canadian boys have done well to carry this team to the playoffs
crosby, letang and fleury .
Good observation stan
Or has it mostly been the rise of the HBK line? That’s right. America! Fuck yeah! But yeah – if you’re really trying to convey that they’re better off without the best player on the team, I’m going to kindly disagree with you – as I’d imagine most others would as well.
I like how this “passenger” is outproducing canadian overpaid fraud Jonathan Toews.
is he also outproducing his fellow American Parise as well ?
last i heard he is a Fraud as well
Did I black out and forget how I went on and on about Zach Parise and how great he was? Or are you just picking random names out of a hat and throwing them at the wall?
you have to be simply stirring the pot, no ones that moronic except sam
That sample size is way to small to even use that as a comparison. The kid is def trending in the right direction and hopefully he has metal to deal with playoff pressures and failures.
You realize you’re basically trying to teach a toddler long division here. He’s just too dumb. Let him be.
Soooooo Calgary was looking to admit in the 1st season they had the young potential star Dman that they screwed up and were looking to ship him out of town? I have serious doubts on that claim.
Likewise.
Unless something changes in the process of the exp draft, the pens have a huge decision to make in the goalie position.
They haven’t even decided to expand yet.
Murray will be the next price his calmness maturity level and positioning in goal for his age is quite impressive
why stop there – maybe hte next hasek. or the next Roy.
Id like to see this happen, so please dont guarantee this and call us clowns. Ive been burned before…
Are you worried that Murray might end up as new Carey Price with Ladd Hudler down in Florida?
I have no idea what the rush is with pouliot. Next year he’ll play full time and it’ll be fine. Dumoulin was already drafted when we traded for him and he just cracked the lineup this year. People mature at different paces. it’s not a huge deal.
agree and some people career slows on a different paces. (Malkin,Kessel )
Yeah – or Sid, now that you only get a half season and poor playoff production.
No matter how many times you hear “defensemen take longer to develop” and everyone nods their head in agreement. Those same people want to throw said defenseman to the wolves for a trial by fire development track.
yeah like some here think Letang suckss and dont deserve the money
Hard to think he deserves full time pay for part time work, champ.
Nice work; enjoyed the insider look.
agreed. good stuff, d.