Penguins/NHL
SUNDAY’S PENGUINS BUZZ
The Penguins had a major identity crisis last season from management to the coaching staff. How the Penguins wanted to play and were built seemed to change on a month by month basis.
Things went from the Penguins wanting to be a possession team with four scoring lines that had Mike Johnston in his first training camp telling reporters any player who dumps the puck in will be “tasered.”
A couple months later, suddenly the organization bought into a philosophy of trying to win games 2-1 and going out and acquire players like Max Lapierre and Daniel Winnik.
The Penguins mid-season adjustments during the 2014-2015 season were abysmal, highlighted by the Simon Despres trade. The Penguins biggest issue was that they were reacting to others.
This season started out the same. The Penguins were slow, lacked a youth enthusiasm in their lineup and had an identity crisis again.
While the coaching staff and management group were not on the same page, which was a problem for a group just a year into a relationship, management at least had a vision since the summer of how the Penguins should be built and have stuck to it after it took a few months to come to fruition.
Things started slowly changing when Pascal Dupuis was forced to retire. As sad as it was for many in the organization to see Dupuis have to call it quits, it was a blessing for the Penguins on-ice.
Then the perfect storm happened in the Penguins becoming a faster, attacking team in the months ahead.
The coaching change, Trevor Daley for Rob Scuderi, Carl Hagelin for David Perron and maybe just as important, injuries to disappointing players like Nick Bonino, Beau Bennett that opened opportunities for players like Bryan Rust, Tom Kuhnhackl to get legitimate shots to earn full-time roles and add the dynamic to the Penguins lineup they haven’t had in young players coming to the rink everyday because they love to play the game, not because it’s their job to show up.
Bennett’s time as a Penguins nearing an end
Beau Bennett is an extremely honest person, which is a great thing, but Bennett informing the Penguins in early February he needed some time away from the team to contemplate his future hasn’t won him over [hide] any favors with the coaching staff.
Also in a discussion with Jim Rutherford prior to the trade deadline, Bennett wondered if a fresh start would be a help to his career but did not officially demand a trade by any means, a source says.
Rutherford explored his value and other than some talks with the New Jersey Devils, nothing materialized.
Two sources close to Bennett say the winger was medically cleared to return to the lineup two weeks ago but Bennett not appearing in a game yet has been about the coaching staff wanting Bennett to prove he’s all-in.
“This is not an injury situation,” a source said on why Bennett’s not dressing, indicating it’s “strictly” a coaches decision. “He’s ready to play”.
Even after the Evgeni Malkin injury, Penguin coaches have not planned to make Bennett a regular in the lineup believing others have earned their spots with their on-ice play and commitment. The Scott Wilson injury, though, should open the door for Bennett to get a shot in the lineup as early as the Devils game but we shall see.
The relationship is a bit strained right now and it’s likely Bennett will be moved in the summer. [/hide]
Fleury didn’t face enough shots to be considered good! Maloni and Yogurt! Midget!
Hey sam you fucking idiot… while i commend the Pens for stepping up they are now 3 for 43 on the PP without Malkin… this is a playoff recipe for disaster. This is a 6.98% success rate. Please tell me how that will pay off when the 5v5 game tightens up in the playoffs. You’re so fucking dumb it hurts.
isn’t it funny how the pens are playing great as soon as they get a bunch of kids in the lineup. remember how you all told me to STFU when i said craig adams was a waste and you guys were all over his jock? the next move that needs to be made is for st.blurry to trainwreck so they can go with murray. that is the pens only hope. after that, move your patron saint so the pens have even more youth in the lineup.
i don’t recall anyone, anywhere, ever, being on craig adams jock. I mean craig adams. really?
dude, people were rejoicing when the pens signed him to a 2 year deal.
Really? Name one! I do believe there was universal condemnation of the move… what people spoke about was how it wanst a make or break move for the team.
Everyone was on Craig Adams’ jock! Yogurt!
then by all means, keep grinding that ax to use against all of those craig adams loving ‘people.’ those jerks will finally get their comeuppance.
Stanch, how’s Crosby playing. Earning that $12 million?
Equivalent of $24 million this year, my man. Since he’s getting $12 mil for half a season.
This must be killing Yoda…Fleury playing great…Pens playing great…lol rofl He’s gotta be depressed!
Don’t forget about Maloni. With the goaltending being good, he’s been befuddled on what to blame for two years now.
Fleury’s great. 17 shot in goal, clown. Load another donut
The tool brigade is in full effect. So good. St. Blurry! You two should tell us some more about how great Lundqvist is.
st.blurry playing great???? he was garbage yesterday. typical st.blurry. the pens dominate in the 1st, then st.blurry gives up that pathetic garbage goal poke checking it off that dudes head into the net. the next good chance he looked like a goof on that breakaway. he sucks.
Simply Dusty at it again.
Going on vacation till after Easter. Have fun this coming week!
Go Pens!
This is the best thing you ever posted.
Guess who said this……I’m not sure I understand this notion that the Pens realistically have a chance of being anything other than 1 of the 2 wild card teams baring a collapse from either NYR or NYI, with everyone having 12-15 games remaining their just isn’t enough time in the era of forced parity. Assuming both NYR/NYI play .500 hockey the rest of the way the Pens would need 18 of the 28 possible remaining points just to have a shot. One of those teams collapsing could happen but I’m not sure I would be banking on it, the Isle… Read more »
Oh please great one, educate us some more on how teams will perform based upon your book of stats. lol stupid dbag faggot.
Who are you talking too?
They are only a couple points up on the 7 and 8
Simply Dustin just wanted to see what it felt like to post something intelligent so he copied and pasted 1 of my posts.
Again what are you talking about? That post is 100% factual and 100% correct as per usual. I clearly said 2 things needed to happen for the Pens to have a realistic shot at getting out of the wildcard, they need to stay hot and collect 18 of the remaining 28 points and either NYR(1-2-2 in last 5) or NYI(1-3-1 in last 5) needed to slump and play sub .500 hockey, so far everything that I said needed to happen for it to be possible has happened. God are you dense!
If Dumo is out long term Pens are in trouble. Yup, I just said that.
Look at Maloni trying to notice that there are other people on the ice other than the goaltender.
Unlike you and Yoda Still haven’t noticed Sid, Letang and fleury been carrying this team on their back
Unless you haven’t noticed (whatever that means), if Sid didn’t take off half a year, they’d be comfortably gliding into the playoffs now. But I keep forgetting, for 40 games, his line “just wasn’t scoring” like Kane’s line was….
Nah, just needs something to doom and gloom over.
Look at Stanch getting up early to make the donuts. Seriously dickless, other than “crosby sucks because he makes $12M per year” share one other hockey observation with us. Just one Stanch…you can do
I can’t bring that hard hitting “Midget sucks” analysis you’ve been leaning on for five years. Midget! You actually say that with a straight face!
Sid sucks
Calm you tits. Playoffs haven’t started yet. And it’s not the first third of the season.
Where’s yogurt?
Trade the Russian and Bennett in a package deal
Jarred Tinordi.
Hey zerofool pens are really missing the Russian this shows the team is playing better 5v5 and not rely on the pp
Of course they miss hi you fat French twatt
Can we please stop the Bonino on the top PP unit experiment?
Can we please stop the bonino with pens team experiment
Orpig suckss
You’d know. You fucked him.
Waiting for you to be sloppy second
That sounds like an admission. Didn’t know orpig was a chubby chaser
Man. Calgary vs Montreal. There’s some hot garbage going on in Canada tonight.
Jamie Dixon to TCU. It’s best for both involved…he’s peaked and starting to decline. Pitt will get a $5-$10 million buyout to go get their nexr coach. #H2P
How would Pitt get a 5-10M buyout if Dixon goes to TCU? The only way he can even discuss a position with TCU would be for Pitt to fire him first or grant him permission to talk to TCU, since Pitt would owe Dixon a large payout if they fired him they don’t have much bargaining strength trying to sell TCU on paying them a buyout.
A school does not have to grant permission for a coach to speak to anybody. A coach is free to go to any job NCAA or NFL, but the school or coach has to pay the buyout on the contract. Shoop at PSU paid his own buyout to go to Tennessee, while Wisconsin paid the buyout for Chryst and ASU paid the buyout for Graham. If you think Pitt gave permission for ASU to talk to Graham, or PSU for Shoop to talk to Tennessee, then you must not have followed either situation too closely.
A coach that is under contract with a Pro team or University CAN NOT speak to another team or program without permission from the current employer. Chryst was given permission to speak to Wisconsin and the buyout they paid for was the buyout that Pitt paid Chryst to terminate his contract so that he was free to sign a contract with Wisconsin. You really should educate yourself a little before posting and making yourself dumb.
I guess Todd Graham telling the Pitt administration to get the F off my lawn is Pitt ok’ing him to talk to ASU. You live a boring life if you will argue shit even when you are CLEARLY wrong. Go read another book of stats dbag.
Dustin is right on this one Jay. College works different than pros. A coach does not have to ask for permission to leave. They have buyouts in their contact that they (or the new school) have to pay to acquire that coach. In this case TCU would have to pay Pitt about $10 million.
I’ll be the 1st to admit that I’m not an expert on college coaching contracts, I have to rely on what I read or hear and I read or hear every year about a school asking permission to speak to a coach for another school, there were reports everywhere in 2010 about whether Oregon was going to seek permission to speak to Dixon, here’s a USA today article about them possibly asking permission. uastoday30.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/2010-03-30-pittsburgh-oregon-Dixon_N.htm Here’s another one from this site about Hofstra seeking permission to speak to Pitt assistant Tom Herrion about their head coaching position. insidepittsburghsports.com/story/ncaa-hofstra-seeks-permission-to-speak-to-pitts-tom-herrion As I said… Read more »
If Washington would have scored on their first shot, this game would be different. Ignore the next 16 minutes of Penguin domination, we’re doomed!!!
You really are working hard for the title of dumbest person on this site.
What are you even talking about?
No need to further explain, your posts speak for themselves.
Don’t get the decision… Guy was in a bad place and was concerned about his place in the game. While I get why that doesn’t quite sit well with the staff he is still a better option than a few guys playing now. If he can play he should… Even if it’s only for a period or two lol
“Bennetts time as a Penguins”? Did you hire same to write this?
You shouldn’t ounish Bennett for questioning his future. He has actually been through a lot. But you can question him for the fact his body is brittle
Can somebody explain to me how losing our fastest skater in Dupuis was a blessing in disguise because at that point, we decided to turn into a speed team? I could see if two plodders like Horni or Kunitz did, but not Duper. Thanks in advance.
Because while Dupuis “skating speed” had not diminished his “game speed” was a shell of what it once was, Hagelin is 10x better for this team than Dupuis at this point in their careers.
hahahaha, Sully giving Bennett the Plotnikov treatment.
Great news. Bennett injured yet.?
You never have to worry about getting injured. Wayyyyy too much padding around those bones
Another shero 1st rounder Bust
He’s no Jared Tinordi. Or David Fischer. Or Louie LeBlanc.
2 for 38 on the PP without Geno… this is a recipe for disaster, man we miss Malkin
Yeah forgot also 5-0 without malkin this means this team I playing good 5v5 hockey an don’t need a 9.5 power play specialist. Maybe if was 7m guy then I’d be more tolerable about that one dimensional Russian same goes for Chubby