Pittsburgh PenguinsCoaches staff eyes change to commitment level
Coming off a second straight Stanley Cup, there are said to have been some alarming signs late in training camp for the Penguins’ coaching staff that this group didn’t have the right mindset and focus yet of being ready to turn the page and treat this as a new year.
That was quite obvious Thursday night in Chicago with the debacle that played out in a 10-1 loss to the Blackhawks.
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How Patient will the Penguins be with Antti Niemi?
It was just one game and Chicago continued to light up Matt Murray when he came into relief, but some buzz around the league is don’t be surprised if the Penguins don’t show a lot of patience with Antti Niemi who is on a one year contract with a $700,000 cap hit.
Sources say the organization has been a bit concerned already over the last couple weeks in how Niemi’s been constantly getting lit up in To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
PLAYER GRADES FROM 10-1 Loss to BLACKHAWKS
Phil Kessel | Grade: 3.2
Kessel was one of the few bright spots. He scored the lone goal, led the team with 5 shots and was the most consistent top-2 line player in creating offense. Kessel was one of two Penguins over 50% in driving possession.
Ian Cole | 3.2
Cole was a minus-1 in over 19 minutes of play is quite a feat for a game where there were 10 even strength goals scored by the Blackhawks.
Evgeni Malkin | 2.9
Malkin was a minus-3 in the loss but he had some impactful moments offensively. Breakaway opportunity, had an assist on Kessel goal.
Matt Hunwick | 2.8
Hunwick was a minus-1 in 13:14 of even strength ice time and led all Penguins’ defensemen with 4 blocked shots. In the second period he had nice outlet pass in springing Evgeni Malkin for a breakaway. That’s the one element the Penguins have felt [hide] Hunwick would give them that a Ron Hainsey couldn’t for them last spring.
Scott Wilson | 2.7
Being on the ice for 14 shots and 11 against at even strength in a game where the Penguins got outscored 10-0 at even strength earns him something.
Others
Sidney Crosby | 2.4
Minus-4 and had an egregious turnover just inside the blueline that led to a goal the other way during the Blackhawks eruption for 4 goals in a 2:55 span.
Olli Maatta | 1.5
A minus-5, Maatta had a brutal night in dealing with the Blackhawks speed.
Conor Sheary | 1.5
Sheary was a minus-5 in just 10:38 of ice time at even strength. That is hard to do.
Kris Letang | 1.7
A minus-5 vs the Blackhawks, Letang is now a minus-7 through two games.
Tom Kuhnhackl | 1.3
Kuhnhackl while on the ice for just 1 goal against, was bleeding shot attempts anytime he was out there. During 5 vs 5 play, Kuhnhackl was on the ice for 1 shot attempt and 18 against.
Justin Schultz | 1.9
Brian Dumoulin | 1.7
Bryan Rust | 2.4
Greg McKegg | 2.3
Carter Rowney | 2.0
Jake Guentzel | 2.4
Carl Hagelin | 2.3
Ryan Reaves | 2.6
Goaltenders
Antti Niemi | 1.2
Matt Murray | 2.4[/hide]
Nice bounce back for Murray. Andore importantly the D zone coverage.
Another shot on Sid.
Sam. Sid in the box again?
The reaves haters are quiet tonight
He’s really deterred all of the cheap shots, as advertised. Oh…wait a sec
Forget the energy and physical presence he brought tonight. Not to mention the decent deflection goal.
Energy and physical presence!
You must be a big fan of women’s hockey.
If you think he deterred something, I’m all ears. Sid might still be picking up his teeth. But again, you’re a guy that breaks rocks with other rocks. Not a critical thinker.
Must be all ears no brains. Sid got into the other scraps because he knew someone was around if he took on more than he could handle. I know you don’t understand morale, team spirit and the ability to make everyone else play taller but some day you will get it.
Because he knew! He took a stick in the face cause he knew! The balls on this kid!
Yeah Sid has some balls but then again he has definitive help on the ice but you cant see that your mind is closed and obsessed. I trust #66 and GMJR more than you how’s that.
“Sid, while walking a little taller, walked right into a stick and several cheap shots. Mission accomplished” -CBauer, breaker of rocks with other rocks
Yeah they finally won its not the freakin ice dancing. Then again a closed mind. You probably think ISIS can be reasoned with.
Are we talking about a win or whether or not a planned deterrent actually deterred? Cause he didn’t. The win was a good win. One has mother to do with the other, rock breaker.
He did both but you wont admit it. That’s ok I realize you are home watching the game with your code pink hat on hoping to see more figure 8’s So enjoy your fantasy hockey were we all get along.
I don’t think you know what “deter” means.
More than you will ever know but that’s ok keep playing with the lightweights on here like you matter.
The old “I know more than you” retort. Hahahahaha
From the middleweight class. No longer does 87 and 71 have to handle the heavyweights. Probably don’t have that in the street hockey you have.
Looking forward to hearing about that one lol
Anyone else have any 4 hour old news they wanna share?
Butcher 4 point game
Habs 0 center / $10.5M goalie model looking flawless.
Sam, I’d like to hear more about the Fleury trade. Was he not taken in the expansion draft?
Holy fuck Cole took it straight in the mouth and looks like he lost all the chiclets… hope is just dental work.
The Canadiens are getting owned by America’s capital.
TK 2.0 dropped to the 3rd line. CoachSam, what are your thoughts on this?
Don’t usually follow the nonsense on here but TK 2.0 = Sherry just making sure.
He will think it’s a sign of how he plays vs an attempt to create depth as he and McKegg also seem to work well together… is Hornqvist back too?
He must be an amazing player they put him on 3rd line to balance the talent
Kind of like how your mom puts on your shoes.
So predictable lol
Hey D can you tell us how fleury did last night on his season opener game with the Vegas. I heard he has a win. 46 saves and team with half the talent as pens needed only 2 goals order to win for him. Once again same is right too soon to trade fleury
No, you’re a fucken idiot, I’m ecstatic that MAF had that kind of debut in Vegas and works to prove some of the idiots out here wrong (especially the one that got real quiet on the subject and let yoda take the brunt) but it doesn’t change the fact that he’s ten years older than Murray who put up terrific numbers for this team who’s hands were tied on the matter. So fuckk off
They didn’t trade him, dumba$$. Once again, fat Samantha is proven clueless.
ok…. whatever his name spelling is sorry about that just call him greg…..and sorry my cap bar as stuck ! 🙂
I need more MCGREGG in the lineup.
LOUD NOISES!!!!! Take the caps lock off Yoda.
MARC ANDRE FLUERY 45 SAVES TONIGHT IN A 2-1 WIN AT DALLAS FOR THE VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS…GO FLOWER….
Lol yoda
i CAN’T SAY gm JIM RUTHERFORD HAS DONE TOO MUCH WRONG OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS, BUT SIGNING THAT SLUG GOALIE NIEMI…BAD MOVE .AND WAITING WAY TOO LONG TO GET A 3RD LINE CENTER…PATIENCE IS GOOD BUT NOT THIS TIME..
WE SHOULD HAVE A RYAN SPOONER, TYLER BOZAK, ERIC HAULA BY NOW. I THINK MCGREGG IS A GOOD YOUNG PLAYER BUT A 4TH LINE CENTER..THIS IS ALSO THIS IS A GOOD LESSON TO JUST HOW VALUABLE PATRIC HORNQVIST IS, HIS ENERGY, LEADERSHIP AND TALENT
Yoda misses Fleury
This team better get thrir heads out of their collective asses…..they didn’t look all that great versus St;Louis and sucked against he black hawks….I never liked the neimi signing..and watching Torontot get goalie Calvin Pickard today …uugghhh he is solid goalie backup in the NHL to put behind Murray who also has sucked..
wake up boys…
Always a goalie isssue huh yoda?
I see the bitching about Reeves is starting early. ROFL well there are always people more comfortable being martyrs. Glad it only took two games to start throwing Reeves under the bus. Guess all those years of street hockey have paid off for you guys.
RIP Ralphie May.
Wonder what Green Arrow thinks?
I hope Letang can play a few more games this year
LETANG -5 HE NEEDS WORK AS DOES THE WHOLE DEFENSE 15 GOALS 2 GAMES FUCK
Yoda
D any way you can grade this site’s members too. I’m curious where stain and Npl stands
Isn’t that what the thumbs up/down are for?
Reaves was twice the player kuhnhackl was, eventhough Reaves was a -2 in 7:43 with 10 penalty minutes and Kuhnhackl was a -1 in 15:45 of ice time? I see D will be defending Reaves to no end this year. That’s his lapdog for the 2017 season.
The Reaves novelty will wear off shortly after everyone realizes he isn’t good and no one fights anymore.
Hell become a fan favorite after 3 hits in 1 shift around April.
I was so mad I double posted.
DePaoli doesn’t know what he’s watching either. Stick to having kids and your man crush on LeJunk.
I dont even care. Theyll make the playoffs and do their damage there. Ill see you in April when the Canadiens are golfing.
Really? They were all saying that about Niemi in preseason? I mean he was atrocious last night yet so was everyone else. I had read in the Gazette that Niemi looked decent in the preseason, I believe I read the word solid in one article so I am curious as to how he has retroactively become a massive risk because of his preseason. 38-42 vs Buffalo on the 27th 31-34 vs CBJ on the 22nd 25-27 vs Buffalo on the 19th 94 stops vs 103 shots = .913 (not sure if I am missing a game here) One thing that… Read more »
I was going to post something similar (if not far less detailed) and ask that question, but figured, what’s the point… But I completely agree with you – if Niemi had look like he looked, and then Murray came in and was a wall, I’d be concerned. The problem thus far has been systemic – I’m not even bothering to evaluate teh goaltending thus far – they haven’t helped, but they also haven’t BEEN helped. You throw last night’s game in the anomaly bucket and move on. It’s barely worth discussing. You likely won’t see another performance like that clunker… Read more »
Its obvious DePaoli misses Fleury
While you miss orpig and dB
Hard to miss DB when they have 2x Stanley Cup Winner Scum Sully behind the bench.
Reaves graded out as the 5th best player and 3rd best forward??? The guy literally did absolutely nothing in his whooping 7:43 of ice time except take a completely retarded penalty near the end of the game. I get that the teams as a whole wasn’t very good but Reaves was completely worthless last night and was visibly the worst player on the ice for either team if you actually took the time to watch.
Reaves 0g/0a/-2/1sog/3hits/10pim/7:43toi = 2.6 grade
Rowney 0g/0a/-2/1sog/3hits/0pim/13:57toi = 2.0 grade
I guess Reaves gets the .6 bump over Rowney for the 10pim and 6 minutes less of ice time.
I think with last nights game, the less you were on the ice, the more favorable your grade.
Well at least the beginning of the year isn’t boring