Penguins/NHL
Latest Pens Buzz
An interesting dynamic on how the Penguins roster has played out this summer is the likelihood of the team reverting away from being a four line scoring team.
Some believe the acquisition of tough guy Ryan Reaves started getting the ball rolling of the Penguins being primed to lose that uniqueness about them that was so evident during their 2016 Stanley Cup run, but what you have at center is what dictates the way a particular line is going to play not who is the left or right wing.
Scouts I’ve heard from believe the Penguins will feel more short-term pain by Matt Cullen signing with Minnesota than Nick Bonino leaving for Nashville.
“Cullen’s going to be the bigger loss [for them],” an Eastern Conference scout said of the Penguins center situation in losing Nick Bonino and Matt Cullen this summer. “His speed and all the intangibles [from the 4th line center position] gave them that extra dimension and what gets understated is you could plug any style of player on his wing and that line led by Matty would always play the same way.”
“They’re not going to have that,” the scout added.
If the Penguins still had Cullen, you could put Carl Hagelin on left wing and Ryan Reaves on his right wing and you’d have a 4th line that could give you a little bit of everything.
You put Carter Rowney in that spot or Jay McClement and you’re looking at a line that is going to struggle mightily to produce offense and dictate pace and play that had been a staple of how the Penguins play.
Where does McClement fit into the equation?
The McClement PTO is being applauded by Penguin coaches who had a lot of input on the Penguins targeting him for a PTO.
McClement is an awful fit if the Penguins want to continue their trend of having four scoring lines but that’s not what they’re looking for anymore and McClement has a couple attributes coaches love:
Strong ability on faceoffs and great smarts on the PK.
Some can argue that a players ability on the PK should be overrated as even Jim Rutherford has publicly stated this summer it’s a teachable area and the Penguins just won back-to-back Stanley Cups by being very poor in the faceoff circle, 28th in the NHL during the regular season.
However, the Penguins coaching staff and some in upper management see McClement being able to replace some of the attributes/little things the Penguins are going to lose with Matt Cullen gone, a source says, and a primary reason he was eyed as a PTO target.
One source put the percentages To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Latest Trade/Roster Buzz & League Chatter
— Among potential impact trades, the Penguins have identified more targets who To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
— Don’t discount a surprise move up the depth chart for Derrick Pouliot?
I’ll believe it when I see it but that talk is slowly brewing outside of Pittsburgh and there’s a few on the inside with the Penguins who actually believe Pouliot’s going to shock a lot of people this camp.
The Penguins feel Pouliot has shored up some mental areas of his game that have hindered him.
— Two things to watch early on in the season.
1. The coaching staff’s usage of Matt Hunwick who Mike Sullivan pushed hard to sign and some around the league believed the signing is tied to Olli Maatta in some way.
2. How married the coaching staff is with Carter Rowney as a regular in the lineup? Rowney was a good story in the post-season but he’s had a pretty small sample in the NHL and there’s much higher offensive upside players gunning for regular roles.
Last season Penguin coaches also felt Rowney was a better winger than center.
— Nothing imminent and very unlikely to happen before the season starts, but league sources continue to contend To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Looks like Haden signing a 3 year deal. Turns out you can set your phone up to give you automatic updates if something happens!!!
anybody else hearing the steelers are the favorite to sign Haden?
I’m sure anyone that follows Schefter, or any Steelers beat writer on twitter.
Ok, cool. Thanks. Not everyone sits on twitter 24/7.
No – but I bet everyone takes a dump, and can check on their phone for ten minutes. Then again – you’d have to have a phone.
For all of those who don’t own a smart phone, and don’t defecate, it’s also listed on ESPN.com’s front page. You’re welcome.
This clown has no job and leachs off from tax payers money to be on this site. Him and that fat Democrat Npl
Dude. You have a car your mom pays for. The balls on you.
Shane Doan announced his retirement after 21 seasons. Sam – make sure you post this again in three days like you had an inside source.
Remember when we were all drooling over Doan because something something as many goals as Kessel…. remember how that was us hating on Kessel and using Shane fucken Doan as the comparison piece?
Anyway, fuck Shane Doan… I was never a fan. He was a “star” on a mediocre team his entire career and this “will he or won’t he” deadline thing over the past 5 or 6 seasons became obnoxious. To me it’s fitting that the year he was “ready to win a cup” the market was dryer than sams mom puzzy! I am sure he has his share of fans but I never liked the guy and he was dirty… even on team Canada I scoffed lol.
If he were american, he’d just be another guy – he’s another player totally overrated because he was a canadian farm boy that went from milking cows to playing hockey. Nice player – nothing overly special. Dirty player to boot.
Fair description actually.
Just spit on it.
Which? her cooch or face?
Ahh you and tbj must announce your retirement too when it comes about drooling over a washed up player year after year
per thefourthperiod.com
Like how St. Louis retired the day after you wanted to bring him in over the guy that led our team in playoff points?
So predictable lol
McClement, one of 4 NHL caliber(ish) centers currently on the roster, “viewed as having strong chance to earn contract.” Uh, yea, id say so.
Just hoping he won’t come playoff time.
I like the Reeves addition I like his game but for a 1st round that is fuckedd up. If that’s the case then pens should trade chubby or Russian and get 3-4 1st round picks in return
Reeves for a 1st, straight up. Was that the trade, Sam Sam Bitchelow?
He’d fuck up a cup of coffee
If you needed any further confirmation that “Reeves” [sic] blows, look no further….
Pouliot sighting.
he’s been working out with gary roberts. he’s in the best shape of his life.
Chubby should join them too
From a page called the record.com as it discussed the work of a football player working on conditioning for pro athletes “The fourth-year University of Waterloo Warriors receiver spent his summer break working at the Gary Roberts High Performance Training Centre in Aurora as an assistant speed and agility coach. The training gig allowed the Elmira native to work with elite NHL players by day and use the top-notch training facilities at St. Andrew’s College on his own time. Connor McDavid, Phil Kessel, Mike Smith, Steven Stamkos and Kitchener native Mark Scheifele were some of the big-name players that were… Read more »
If McClement makes the roster…Jesus. It’s not like our bottom 6 looks anything like it will come March anyway, but that’s still miserable.
It also kinda shows that they misplayed their hand, moving Sundqvist for Reaves. I think many of us thought that anyway, because Reaves is a one dimensional cement head, but they clearly thought they had a center to give up based on being able to fill out a roster with a trade and Cullen returning – and considering things didn’t work out, they’re forced to dumpster dive for a guy that put up 8 points in 65 games. Bravo.
Or, they concluded Sundqvist was never to be more than a 4th line center. It’s August
I’m not sure anyone thought he’d be more than a fourth line center. What does that have to do with dumpster diving for what amounts to a fifth line center? Nobody is saying they’re in danger of going into the playoffs with McClement actually playing – the point is…Ryan Reaves blows – and they miscalculated the market / Cullen’s intentions – nothing more, nothing less. And to reiterate – Ryan Reaves f’ing blows.
Obviously, you’ve never watched Reaves play.
Not through a bar window whilst wearing my velcro shoes in McKeesport. No.
Lol. Exactly. You contribute nothing to this board but regurgitated insults and nonsense. You really need a life or at least a hobby.
I wasn’t a fan of the Reaves trade, but I’ll keep an open mind to him. I’ve seen him play, but admittedly at a minimal capacity, as with most fourth liners from the other conference. A lot of people are talking about his skating ability, which bodes well for our system. If he can drive play and bring a physical game, I’m cool with him being on the roster. What I didn’t like about the trade is that I wanted to use our first rounder as a piece to help land a 3c. We ultimately moved down however many spots… Read more »
I’m really worried about the opinion of some guy running around Portvue in velcro shoes, rothey. That same guy questions my “contributions” while blowing smoke up Ryan Reaves fringe NHL ass. Good stuff. Gooooood stuff.
I think the Reaves’ acquisiiton was all about Sid’s and Geno’s comfort or lack thereof.
If–as it appears–they are happy, I am happy.
Hated losing Bonino and Cullen (and Kunitz), but naive to think that a back to back SC winner wouldn’t lose any personnel or coaches.
Love the Reaves signing. Youre just a racist.