Penguins/NHL
Simon starting to show worth beyond his small group of believers
Dominik Simon (3-5-8) continues to show signs of being a pivotal breakthrough player for the Penguins this season.
Getting cheap labor from a spot or two in your top-9 is always a must for a Cup contending team against the cap.
While the fan base, pundits wanted him shipped to Wheeling after last post-season, the coaching staff starting with assistant Mark Recchi who has been a big Simon backer from day 1 saw this coming.
Simon enters tonight’s game vs Toronto riding a five game points streak.
Some key #’s that standout.
At 5-on-5, Simon (9/3, 75%) is tied with Sidney Crosby (12/4, 75%) for first on the team in Goals For Percentage and Simon is tops on the team in Scoring Chance For Percentage at 55.43%, just a tick above Crosby.
— One surprise through 11 games: Carl Hagelin and Bryan Rust have only combined for 2 goals. When Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel are scoring like they are, Hagelin’s production becomes an afterthought because of what he means to that line away from the puck and tracking the puck on the forecheck.
Pittsburgh believed Hagelin with an early summer and in a contract year was set to get back to that 15-17 goal range but Hagelin with 1 goal in 11 games isn’t much of a story because of how well he’s playing in other areas and what he means to that line.
— The Penguins planned to keep Derick Brassard To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
— Riley Sheahan has been on the ice for 10 goals against in 5-on-5 play through 11 games. That just can’t continue even if the Penguins are using Sheahan in some tougher assignments late in games. Sheahan is also at 41% in possession.
His 10-11 game increment to start the season has been very poor.
Making Derick Brassard a winger full-time just puts the Penguins back at square one where you don’t have enough difference makers down the middle in the bottom-6.
Compare similar stats all you want, Brassard and Sheahan are not even close to being near the same level of a player.
However, the wing and center question still lingers with Brassard.
There continues to be a friendly tug of war going on between the GM and coach on whether Brassard should play the wing or center, Sullivan favoring To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
— Growing trend that isn’t going away, Jack Johnson is on the ice for a lot goals against, despite getting fewer and fewer minutes 5-on-5.
Johnson has been on the ice for a team-high 14 goals against. Next closest defenseman is top pairing d-man Brian Dumoulin at 8 who has played 40 more minutes than Johnson.
Olli Maatta who has been dreadful this season has only been on the ice for 6 goals against.
To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Murray injured yet ?
Trump says democrats would destroy Florida his second home. .
This guy is clueless. It’s already destroyed when you have fat fuckk npl living in there already
Hey zero what’s the status update of fleury and Murray
Don’t forget to congratulate Fleury 50th shutout of his career
Go be a Vegas fan… I mean you are the idiot that suggested a rebuild with Sid turning 32 this year. Why wait for the window to close when we can slam it shut…
Like he shut his tv when the Pens were down 2-0 against Edmonton
Told you guys leafs would circle this date. And they won because no Mathews
It’s funny how happy you get when the Penguins lose. Fake ass fan
Boxscore Sam, the Bandwagon Fan.
Anyone miss fleury yet ? Zerotool?
I got an idea. Lets work on developing players the first 3 months of the season and then work getting balance the last 3 months of the season.
Should have stayed out west……LOL
F-U Murray for fuckking my hockey pool this year. Go back to ahl and stay there. And make sure you bring your lover scum sully with you
You cry like a bitch about this every article. No one cares. Get a life.
Lol, excellent play Sid, think he had a blue line beauty like that vs the Islanders too.
That first unit was dog shit tonight. I can’t believe how little they cared this game
On the positive… yoda Hornqvist scored tonight vindicating your remarks lol
So the PP which has been garbage has a chance to fucken do something… yay
That went as well as expected… wonder what it is about home cookin these guys hate early this year
How many do pens need for Murray tonight.
I bet you guys Murray has concussion. Tomorrow morning
This is a bad team. Terrible bottom six. 3rd pairing D is not NHL caliber. Not sure how you fix it when you have no young assets.
It’s simple trade chubby or malkin. They won the cup they don’t need to prove more. Team needs to build for the future it’s called business decision something bandwagon’s here dont understand
If you’re talking the roster apart for future building Crosby is the most valuable asset on the team… this is why you’re stupid and very transparent
The teams got issues, the depth is a question but the lack of effort tonight was a serious concern. They are off in a big way at home right now
Yeah but Crosby is the franchise and is the ticket sales for the bandwagon team something you don’t understand. Specially when you come from Edmonton you should know that when Gretzky was traded now fans burned jerseys and mad. But in penguins case fans are weak they would just not watch and show up to games .
If you ate talking rebuild why would you hold on to an asset that would devalue you stupid fuckk?
PS, the oilers won a cup after Gretzky was sold to allow the white collar criminal pocklington to fund failing businesses. You don’t even get that trade either, you are stupid in every aspect!
If you start flipping stars “for the future” the only reason to keep Letang and Crosby is simply to keep your “husbands bulge” alive you fucken moron
Just got home… Did DeSmith start the game and get hurt?
Just got home ? You shoukdve just kept your TV shut. As for desmith he will start next game because Murray will pull a concussion excuse
Marner is the best player Sam never heard of.
His Canadian.
So is Trudeau
So was John Candy.
So was Rob Ford. Good God that country is fat.
Rob Ford was real big… so is Doug lol. Ever hear of Rita McNeil? All of them from the East
Who stopped watching ?
I got to trade my Murray In my pool he is costing my season singlehandedly
So do it and shut up already.
Tvs are turned off people
Anyone know what site D gets Jack Johnsons defensive failing stats from? Not being a smart ass, actually curious
hornqvist>simon. hornqvist is a waste playing with shaehan and cullen. who gives a crap about simon. last year the playoffs were going fine until simon was placed on crosby’s wing and hornqvist was taken off that line.
The only two players who showed up last year during the playoffs were Crosby and Getz… that is why they lost last year.
No fucken shit genius but again… Pens are trying to find balance and Simon has not only been decent he has actually done well with Crosby. It’s funny how you haven’t bitched about Guentzel as he’s been fighting the puck for a few games now. More of your inability to see the ice. Also vs TO: Crosby skated with Rust while Hornqvist skated with Sheahan and Cullen… these were the same lines vs the Oilers. In Calgary Brassard played in Rusts spot while the Cullen line remained the same. Against Vancouver Rust was back with Crosby while the Hornqvist, Cullen… Read more »
If they cannot play Brassard where he was brought into fucken play then move him. This is absurd… he was brought in as a 3C period. Play him there or fucken trade him. Enough already of trying to force him on to the wing. With Simon looking far better than yoda is capable of seeing keep him on the top line and allow Brassard to figure out the 3rd C. With Sprong FINALLY looking like hes still willing to figure out the NHL game maybe give him a look although Hornqvists play on the 3rd would mean there is no… Read more »
As for Hags, love his all around game despite the lack of production. Maybe there is a reup here for less cash?
Agree they need to keep Brass at center. I’m concerned his trade value is dropping like a rock with his performance in Pittsburgh so far. If he’s still nursing his groin issue from the spring, he might be dealing with that all season…..yikes.
They are. Guentzel/Sid/Simon, Hagelin/Geno/Phil is our top 6. Brass isn’t going to be a bottom six wing.
It’s the “where Brassard plays in the line up keeps fluctuating” that I’m referring to specifically. If he’s not shoehorned on to a top 6 wing then he’s a C no question. I’m just tired of them trying to shoehorn then complaining about depth
Pretty sure I pegged him for the wing a few weeks after he arrived. Could see that coming a mile away. He’ll be moved at the deadline b/c he is not coming back next season.
It’s not a move that is conducive to long term success regardless!
P-I-T-T !!!
1st place in the Coastal. Bring on Clemson!