Penguins/NHL
Carolina Hurricanes third line center Derek Ryan is another name starting to pop up connected to the Penguins on the rumor mill.
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FROM TSN.CA: [In their quest for a third-line centre to replace Nick Bonino, the Pittsburgh Penguins are believed to be sniffing around on Ryan, a pending free agent. Ryan, 31, is on track for 19 goals and 45 points centreing Carolina’s third line. He is also 11th in the league in faceoff win percentage (56.3) among centres with a minimum of 300 draws taken.
The Penguins could also be interested in bringing back centre Mark Letestu for another tour of duty, although he remains a possibility to re-sign with Edmonton. Fulfilling their biggest need with a relatively inexpensive but effective Ryan or Letestu would allow GM Jim Rutherford to be a player in the Evander Kane sweepstakes. The belief is Rutherford is also seeking a winger with scoring punch for the Pens’ top two lines. Kane, the mercurial Sabres winger, remains atop the Trade Bait board for the fourth consecutive week – and his first-year GM Jason Botterill served as Rutherford’s assistant in Pittsburgh.]
TIOPS Scouting Report
Ryan struggles in his own end against bigger centers, is not a strong player along the wall and won’t win many puck battles. An Eastern Conference scout via text says “[hide]coaches have to find ways to hide him [defensively]” and it’s one reason Ryan hasn’t been a regular NHL player until age 30.[/hide] Ryan, though, is a pretty good skater with some offensive ability. He has 11 goals on the season to go with 15 assists. He has also been a very good possession player this year, 56.8 CF%, and for his NHL career has been above 50%.
Ryan is also a right handed shooter and the Penguins have been very intrigued about adding a right handed centerman to play with Phil Kessel.
On the contract front, Ryan carries just a $1.45 million cap hit and is a free agent at seasons end.
Ryan has been a career minor league player, while also playing overseas. He has appeared in just 121 career NHL games, totaling 24 goals – 33 assists – 57 points and a minus-20 rating.
Ryan’s points/60 this season is 1.99 with his most common linemates being Jeff Skinner and Justin Williams, so there is some intrigue with Ryan being able to play well with talented wingers.
The Skinner – Ryan – Williams line when it has been together this season drove possession at 58%.
Ryan has 9 goals and 8 assists at even strength (5 v 5) compared to Riley Sheahan who has 3 goals and 10 assists during 5-on-5 play.
Some numbers that also stand out:
Derek Ryan
Individual Scoring Chances – 92 [hide] | Individual High Danger Chances – 53[/hide]
Riley Sheahan
Individual Scoring Chances – 54 | Individual High Danger Chances – 23
Sheahan is the better all-around player when it comes to forechecking and wall play, but Ryan would bring more skill, speed and better ability to drive possession to the table.
However, playing Ryan and Phil Kessel together in the defensive zone wouldn’t be a good scene.
How has Ryan matched up against some of the league’s best centers this season?
Head-to-head vs Sidney Crosby
19:39 TOI | 51.5 CF%
Head-to-head vs Evgeni Malkin
14:33 TOI | 62 CF%
Head-to-Head vs Auston Matthews
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9:24 TOI | 51.4 CF%
Head-to-Head vs Mathew Barzal
9:34 TOI | 61 CF%
Takeaway: Early feedback this morning is that Penguins scouts have indeed pin-pointed Ryan as a player the organization has been taking a close eye on since December, but it doesn’t sound there’s been any substantive trade talks to this point as Carolina has not made Ryan available in talks, a source says.
The Hurricanes enter today two points out of a playoff race and the team is a few weeks from deciding which direction they will go. League sources say a mandate from new Hurricanes ownership is not to sell off players if the Hurricanes are realistically still in the playoff hunt. If the Hurricanes decided to sell, Ryan could garner a second round pick because of the lack of centers available.[/hide]
Once again pens needed 4+ goal in order to entertain the average bandwagon fans and give the W to Murray
Ya they had to outscore the best team in the conference with the best goal scorer of his generation… what a fucken tragedy! Maybe if Letang could play a little D more than once or twice a night Murray would be looking better. Pens score seven and win by three… Letangs a minus 2 again lol
How’d Vegas do tonight fuckface?
Sams teams, in order of who he rubs his cock too the most
1. The Pathetic Habs
2. The Las Vegas Golden Fleury
3. Crosby and Letang
30. The Pittsburgh Penguins
This is so gross… Fucken Malkin scores on the power play again… if this was Vegas they would sit him for sure. You don’t win by scoring all these goals especially on the power play. Fucken joke, hate this team the way it’s constructed, they’ll never win this way. Last I checked Vegas knew how to win playing hockey, not sure what I’m watching. Boring fucken game anyway… not like Vegas games! Amirite sammich?
Well that penalty negates the four point night… time to close my TV. Vegas is having a better game losing to Minny 3-1 anyway
Those 2 losers Malkin and Kessel back from vacation yet?
Now fucken Kessel? Bums making too much money and scoring far too often. The team won’t win like this… Vegas wouldn’t put up with this shit
Phil Kessel is really good.
Credit where it’s due, good job Letang
Damn high priced superstars… gonna be the death of this team
When do they send Reaves to do something? Wilson might have ended Coles night and fucken Oshie with a cross check to the neck? I mean ffs that’s why the guys here right… many in this fan base were sold on the idea we needed a Reaves, if you are not gonna put him out there while this shit is going on then not only was it a waste because he’s on the bench most nights but it’s a bigger slap when he’s not being used to at least try and convince Washington to knock it the fuck off. Pens… Read more »
He shoulda been out there before, but now that it’s 7-4 Reaves needs to be out there delivering a message.
It’s just a frustration… I prefer the W and the score sheet revenge but it’s a tough pill to swallow when you brought a guy like a Reaves in amid questions and arguments and yet in a game where even the guys that argued against his value wanna see him do his thing we get nothing!
Regardless the Pens get two again and they have NJ in another big Metro game tomorrow so it’s all good.
I just hope we get some real Vegas hockey from the Penguins at some point this season
Letang has battled being French his whole life. Sadly, its starting to be too much to overcome.
Letang looks like Scuderi during his 2nd trip as a Pen.
Jesus, Letang is a fukking disease.
Trade Hagelin and then try to get the cheap version of Hagelin….Grabner from the Rangers.
Just because they both skate fast, doesnt mean theyre the same. There is a reason one makes significantly more than the other.
Grabner has 21 goals. Just an fyi.
He makes significantly more money but has been scoring significantly less.
Point taken, and admittedly, my tone was a bit strong. My point is, Hagelin’s all around game is better than Grabner’s. He might not be lighting the lamp at a higher rate but he creates offense, helps generates shots for his linemates, while suppressing shots on the opposite end. Hes exactly the type of player this team needs for the playoffs.
Haha, or keep Hagelin when he scores likes that!
The guy has scored nearly 50 goal his last two seasons, so far… and his contract is up! His numbers are better tha Hags were going into his 4million. So ya, trade Hags for Grabner then give the latter another million?
IF Hags was to be moved it’s for the sole purpose of opening cap space up… with Hags taking off in January it’s making less and less sense to move him when the team is looking for three.
Then again according to sam the team has way to many stars to ever win a Stanley cup
Letang gets worse and worse every game. Maybe he needs a month off.
This we can agree on
Kessel scoring 5v5, then Crosby taking an offensive zone penalty. Typical.
Sam thinks Phil Kessel isnt good
If they are looking to trade with Edmonton, Strome should be the target, not Letestu.
Strome is fucken awful. Neither should be looked at
Strome has been awful for Edmonton. He wasn’t awful before being traded. Doesn’t mean he’d be awful here. Sometimes change helps. Look at Schultz and Oleksiak
He was pretty bad for the Islanders outside the one decent year. I get what your saying about players that blossomed as Penguins but it’s a big risk to take based on the idea that the team needs an instant payoff. I’d want someone more predictable
That said if Sheahan keeps this up then I’d bring Strome in easily… a guy that could still have the potential as you’ve stated but if he struggles he might be a decent 4c 😉
Not a Strome fan. You can’t keep on taking reclamation projects and assuming they’ll work.
I’ll continue to hold my breathe in hopes Toronto budges and moves Bozak. Read a couple articles about them moving Nylander to center and that has worked out well for them. Some think hey may be more open to moving him now.
Sam never gets offended by anything written about him on here, because he cant read.
Sam helps me pass the time before my next meeting
Haha what meeting for your unemployment money . You bum you have no job and now that you have Republican is in the seat recess time is over. Find yourself a job you slob and enough with your #BlackCocksMatter movement no body cares and it doesnt matter except for your mom
Trump won Florida, he won the popular vote in Florida too… you stupid ****! Why do you talk about stuff? Besides, who are you to talk about “balls like Texas and saying we don’t need your money”? I have mentioned this before but for those unfamiliar with transfer of wealth in Canada we have something called equalization payments (as most of you probably don’t give a fuckk anyway lol). Its where the “have provinces” send money to the “have nots” (I won’t go into much more detail because its boring and fun stringing dumbfuck here along). In 2017 for 2018… Read more »
Sam made out with a cheerleader once. His name was Francois.
This has made it worse haha…. He was from Gatineau… he was the baby-sitter that I was talking about from earlier
Sam watches Will & Grace
Sam wishes Mike Johnston was still coaching the Pens.
Sam thinks Alex Galchenyuk is a great Russian hockey player.
Sam heard his dad being pegged by his mom once.
Okay I am reading these from the bottom up… I was giggling just fine but I am in tears right here… I cant stop laughing and now my coworkers wanna know whats so funny hahaha
Sam has never seen Breaking Bad because his mom thinks its too violent.
Sam’s biggest claim to fame is looking like the kid from the Little Giants
https://media.tenor.com/images/5263918c64ffeb085e2f9c074de42a11/tenor.gif
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQJRUKSfrZY
Again his Habs tryout
Sam has never been on a bus with more than 3 rows.
Sam thinks Conor McDavid has been terrific in Vancouver
Sam thinks Cody Franson’s best year was in 2016 with Toronto
Sam has a milk moustache on his Grindr profile pic
Sam only eats penls shaped foods.
Sam still thinks the Pens didnt get Stempniak.
Pens playing Washington tonight is a good time to remind new hockey fans that the game is at least 3 periods long, and longer if the score is tied after the 3rd period. Want to make sure no one shuts their TV off like Sam did during the playoffs, missing the Pens come back from a 2 goal deficit late in the game.
Going to Paris next week for the first time. From what I’ve read and have seen for myself, the French are asshoIes.
Remember when Hagelin suckked
Hopefully he keeps this up, he has paced like this before. Would be nice to see some offence click for him down the stretch. It either helps justify the pay or makes the contract tradeable in the offseason
I remember when people drooled over hbk line and same said it won’t be the same the following year. BTW How is bonino doing zerotool
Do you remember saying Marty St. Louis was a better option than 2-time Stanley Cup Champion Phil Kessel – just one day before St. Louis retired?
He got a big paycheck from Nashville and is currently centering the 3rd line of the 5th best team in hockey… may get his 3rd ring this year. How is Rick Nash doing you fucken retard? Or Paul Byron? Or Shane Doan? Or Martin St Louis…
Best part, your reply misses the point that Hags has been decent since January hit lol
Good joke tbj about Canada’s anthem when Mr obama was helping schools if they accepted the transgender bathrooms. Only state that had ballss was Texas that said we don’t need your money. Most democrat places like Florida accepted in a heart beat to make people like npl comfortable
Trump won Florida, he won the popular vote in Florida too… you stupid fuck! Why do you talk about stuff? Besides, who are you to talk about “balls like Texas and saying we don’t need your money”? I have mentioned this before but for those unfamiliar with transfer of wealth in Canada we have something called equalization payments (as most of you probably don’t give a fuckk anyway lol). Its where the “have provinces” send money to the “have nots” (I won’t go into much more detail because its boring and fun stringing dumbfuck here along). In 2017 for 2018… Read more »
Damn, I didn’t think it would be this hard to get a good 3C or think that you’d have to give up the farm to get one. Hopefully they look to develop one in the future, or else looks like you’ll be paying the 4 mill that Bonino got to get a good one.
I haven’t watched the last few games, but does Guentzel not fit there? Kessel seems to be doing well with Sheahan I’m wondering if bringing in an elite winger could mask our 3c situation a bit. Seems like you’d payas much for one of them as a 3c.
I dunno, I like Jake at wing. When I think of a 3C, I think of great faceoff guy, primary penalty killer, matches up well against other teams top centers and puts in about 10-12 goals a year and maybe 30 points total. That doesn’t sound like Guentzel to me. But I also don’t think of Kessel as a 3rd line winger either. I think due to our depth at wing, we’re able to throw out such an offensive 3rd line, that it doesn’t really fit the regular mold of how a team is structured. I’m still not a fan… Read more »
Ya I would prefer to leave Jake on the wing too. While he has been decent as a C I hope the team can solve the issue through trade. The problem is we probably are not gonna see the move made early. As we approach the deadline it may become more clear as to who is a playoff pretender and deal could be made but right now there is a bit of a log jam for the playoff through many of the spots
Yeah we trust your player evaluations when you have a hard on for Jarry and continue to say Murray isn’t that good after consecutive cups. Classic Simply Dusty.
I can’t wait to see Vegas get smeared in the first round. Every game they win is a joke.
It’s called a team hockey. They don’t depend their game on bunch of high paid power play specialists
They might not have big star players like pens but their brand of hockey is way more entertaining then pens hockey lately
More entertaining than Pens hockey lately? The team has started winning… dominating some of those games and our best players are assaulting the score sheet nightly and you are not entertained? Sam misses the deadpuck era… really loved the strategy and teams with all the “hockey players” that didnt waste time on “powerplay stars” like the Habs lol GTFOH you moron
I am still laughing here, a handful of Penguin castaways that the team was unable to win with good… Star/MVP quality guys winning 2 consecutive cups for the 1st time in 20 years bad.
The team he supposedly cheers for has completely erased the huge differential hole they were in early this season and you are not enjoying their games? I was enjoying Vegas… you make it easy to want to hate them lol
You mean the guys that have won 2 of the last 2 Stanley Cups… and at this rate could be a real threat to do it a 3rd time? I get that you don’t understand what it takes to win a championship as Montreal hasn’t been to the show since your mom rubbed the nut off her face into her pusspuss to rope your dad in but… It’s funny how this is the dipshit that has consistently downplayed the regular season because of the show that Kessel and Malkin have put on regularly throughout their careers but suddenly the regular… Read more »
Adam Lowry-C of Winnipeg might be the best choice for the Pens at 3C.
Sam sucks
Dusty hearts Jarry.
So does Reaves play or do they call up Sprong?
Reaves, unfortunately.
Reaves is perfect for the Caps.
According to Sportsnet, Evgeni Malkin & Phil Kessel have combined on 65 goals since the start of last season. That is the most in the NHL among teammate duos.
Great news guys. Quebec doesnt have a hockey team.
Nor Montreal a Stanley Cup on this millennium.
Great news guys. Sheary out for a month
week to week… try honesty especially when it’s easy to find online… two days ago 😉
Canada just passed a bill to make their national anthem gender neutral. This way, same is covered no matter how he’s feeling on a given day.
Are they changing “all thy sons command” to something else?
I think to “all thy us command”
“in all of us command” – someone like sam is gonna lose his fucken mind over this but the reality is the anthem has changed several times over the years and the version we currently use, it’s origins trace back to 1908. Here is the original lyric to that piece “thou dost in us command” – sometime after the war it was changed to sons and became officially used in 1980. I love this country but for the sammiches that will bitch in full force, the identity of his country has always struggled to find itself outside of hockey and… Read more »
It’s like that everywhere man. America isn’t any better. It’s just unreal that the perception of anything outside of a man or woman (except in extreme cases) is becoming mainstream. PC trumps logic, no pun intended.
Trump did what “outsided of a man??”
He/she*
How dare you assume same couldn’t be a ze!
(yes that is a real thing people claim to be)
keep the hot stove burning D
Do we have a contrast with Nick Bonino and how he played in the same situations?
So I do not have a break down of Bones vs the same guys but on the whole Ryans numbers are substantially better than Boninos were in CF%, Fenwick% and FO%. He scores at a similar pace. I am not sure if he is the answer, late bloomer that could be one of those guys thats a fit with that team however the data suggests he would be as effective as Bones on that side of the puck…
hi what are your thoughts and adam lowry? Winnepeg has been scouting us.
He is more of a grit guy, would make a decent 4C but we have one. Besides I think he is predominantly used on the wing no? Kind of like a Carter Rowney type with a little more offensive upside. I guess he only has a few seasons under his belt and maybe there is more there offensively as he looks like he has a lot of his fathers game in him although, in fairness, Dave flirted with some 20 goal seasons himself. Lowry would be an okay guy to have in a depth role on the wing but I… Read more »
How about Galchenyuk?
He brings a lot more creativity and offence, he is a defensive liability, at least he is now. I think his ceiling is 2C… or he could go Josh Bailey down the road and finally live up to draft day but I wouldnt say no I am just wondering how much it would take to get him and keep him. I think the defensive concerns are similar to what was stated above about Ryan however without a comparison breakdown of Bones it’s harder to make that assessment.