Kessel delivering amid minor trade talk from the summer
The Pittsburgh Penguins made no attempt this summer behind the scenes to quiet the Phil Kessel speculation that despite a 70 point season and the club winning a second consecutive Stanley Cup, the relationship was a bit tenuous. In fact, rival clubs believe the Penguins were putting some of the Kessel trade talk out there as a away to send a message to the player.
While the Penguins did in fact have trade talks with clubs about Kessel around late June/early July, the most substantive talks with the [hide] Calgary Flames, per league sources, the team was never close to trading him, though, the Kessel camp believed at one point in July a trade was a possibility.
For Kessel’s sake, he’s delivered so far this season.
With 22 points in 19 games Kessel is tied for 4th in the NHL in scoring and he’s currently scoring at a 30 goal pace. His goal totals from the past three seasons have been 25, 26 and 23.
But, what the coaching staff is most pleased with from Kessel is how he’s been more engaged away from the puck than previous seasons, among the areas Mike Sullivan in particular has wanted Kessel to change.
So far so good on the early returns.
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— Riley Sheahan has matched pretty much everything scouts outside of Pittsburgh were saying about him when Pittsburgh acquired him. When it comes to being an ideal third line center in this league, his slow the pace game is not built for today’s speed/skill game that has evolved the last two seasons.
Therefore, a similar trend in Detroit has continued:
Minimal ability to create individual offense.
— The Penguins remain on the hunt to add a veteran backup goaltender as the goal remains to get Tristan Jarry back to the minors.
Boston’s Anton Khudobin To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
One goaltender trade scenario that was discussed last winter prior to the deadline that would have had an impact on the goaltending situation for this season.
Marc Andre Fleury going to Calgary and To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
— Former Penguins netminder Antti Niemi is back on waivers. He made two appearances with Florida, stopping 34 of 39 shots.
— Sportsnet’s Headliners segment from Saturday night had NHL insiders Elliotte Friedman and Nick Kyperos stating the Penguins are looking to add veteran leadership to their lineup.
Regret in the organization for not even making Chris Kunitz an offer?
I’m hearing no on that front as the front office wanted to go in another direction but there was frustration among some of the core Penguin players that Kunitz wasn’t brought back and that frustration remains. He was a very valuable piece in the room and it’s not like he wouldn’t still be one of the Penguins best-4 left wingers.
— Former NHL assistant coach on Kris Letang:
“The early struggles look more mental [to me] than any physical limitations from the injury. He’s rushing things with the puck and over the next little while you should start seeing a player where the game starts slowing up for him [again]. Kris has always been a player who puts a ton of pressure on himself and I think it’s just taking him longer than he imagined to get up to game speed.”
While a consensus around the league is Letang will be fine in the long-run, an Eastern Conference Scout says one part of Letang’s struggles is that he’s been [hide] tentative when retrieving pucks that has the opposition forcing him on his backhand when trying to exit the zone.
“Coaches have seen something on tape. They are targeting him effectively by getting him on his backhand more than I’ve ever seen,” the scout said. “He’s usually a step ahead of the fore-checking pressure and you don’t see it [right now]……. I love watching the guy play but how many more injuries can he take? It’s natural that another injury would be in the back of his mind.”[/hide]
You’re a bitch, D. Wanna respond? Or do you think you can con people because you were a “top” player for a club team? Guy basically played on a college beer league team.
Huge Chad R (can’t spell) fan. Really solid bottom pairing dman. I don’t take him out even when Hundwick is back.
Guy can play.
Ruhwedel… Hunwick
Ol blue 80 , doing well tonight.
Cole is a killer… hope they can retain him too. May be a good time to take a legit look at this Letang thing. If they can turn him into a decent top 4 and lean on Schultz more saving cash of that it would potentially mean keeping Cole and Rust!
And Hornqvist
Guess Hags can also be moved, keeps Rust and helps make room for Sprong
If rags going nowhere I would like pens get Nash while they retain part of salary and pens send haggs in a package deal
Yes, let’s add an aging bum because he’s Canadian… is Montreal playing like dogshit and losing to the Coyotes really making you that much more stupid?
Aging bum last I checked pens playing shitt without their aging bums kunitz, cullen
Ya it’s definitely Cullen and Kunitz absence that’s led to the slow start. Nothing to do with playing all that hockey! God you’re a fucken dumbass.
Bring back stanchion !
Yeah so he can piss people off
This site sucks.
It’s pathetic that he expects people to pay for this shite coverage.
I hate myself for coming back even at only 30 bucks… this page has been a pathetic joke for ages. D is a fucken hack wannabe that is robbing all that actually pay. I’m done after this term, fuck TIOPS and fuck DePaoli for this utter pathetic Busch league operation!
The virginal bandwagon is giving maloni a bunch of thumbs. How cute.
They are the “power couple” on here.
I love that the three of you can’t stop thinking about me.
Get over yourself, I didn’t say jack related to you as much as I was pointing out another sammich lie
Nobody thinks about you. You are so irrelevant.
I thumbs up you mstar.
Don’t care. GFY.
What is cuter is the fact that sam has been chest pounding for weeks about a supposed reduction in thumbs down with Stan gone but I don’t see much of a difference.
Other than the abrupt change in the pronunciation of his name, it’s Hard to understand why Pens management would be unhappy with Share-sies
DePaoli, how about some third line center speculation, just to keep us excited about the playoff possibilities.
Sheary for the win! Kids a beauty. Nice to Sid get on the board and get involved in some Sheary offence. Hornqvist needs to be resigned… I’m hoping two years for lateral money if possible.
agree on hornqvist. that guys motor is unreal.
Wow… so 2 people disagree and stan isn’t on the page. I wonder who could possibly have multiple accounts and dislike a comment that was very pro Sheary??? Hmmmmmmm… fucken fraud lol
Captain Geno to the rescue. Sweet pass. Nice goal.
Mike Lange to retire very soon! His health is very poor, Pens to announce this week.
That’s what happens when you take Letang off the power play.
Stain did you turn off your TV yet?
You miss him so much.
No one believes the Kessel trade talk. Move on.
a
What a horrendous call.
The Canadiens picked up Niemi! Hahaha
Good observations about Letang. He has been a step slow to get to the puck in his own end. I too don’t blame him. Dude isn’t big and has taken a beating over the years.
Wonder what shitstain thinks
On the plus side it means it’s only a matter of time for him to sort through it. Maybe change the way he approaches pucks.
Dude can’t play.
phil kessel: carrying the team