Penguins/NHL
MORNING PENS BUZZ
*Takeaways & Latest Chatter*
1. When Sidney Crosby is on like he is right now, the difficulty in defending him starts with the tenaciousness he’s playing with down low and along the wall. He’s bouncing off defenders and is near impossible to defend and get the puck off of. He’s coming out of 50/50 puck battles nearly 3/4 of the time.
2. One takeaway from the Penguins fast start was the line of Scott Wilson – Kevin Porter – Conor Sheary setting the tone on the forecheck. One scout noted what stands out most with some of the AHL guys in Pittsburgh is how well coached they’ve been (in the minors) and it “shows with the angles they take on the forecheck,” the scout noted. Lots of praise in the organization for the work John Hynes did last season with most of this group. Bill Guerin is also getting lots of praise around the league for the excellent job he’s done in teaching the little things.
3. *Matt Cullen was 19 of 23 (82%) on faceoffs vs the Ducks. Cullen has stepped up in a big way with Malkin out.
4. *Brian Dumoulin’s patience is his best attribute in what’s made him so effective this season. So many inexperienced defensemen often rush things with the puck. Dumoulin’s outlet pass to Phil Kessel that led to Carl Hagelin’s breakaway goal was a thing of beauty as he took a hard hit to make the pass. Late in the period like that quite a few defensemen would have just thrown the puck off the boards.
5. *Chris Kunitz playing better as the season progresses is a positive sign for the Penguins as last year it was the opposite. Over the final two months of last season (Feb 1-April 11) Kunitz had 2 goals and 7 assists in his final 33 regular season games. In just four games in the month of February Kunitz already has 2 goals and 5 assists. With a two point night vs the Anaheim, Kunitz has 12 points (5 goals – 7 assists) in his last 12 games.
6. *Kris Letang continues to be a points machine with two assists vs the Ducks, giving him 36 points in his last 31 games. How Letang’s season goes from here is going to be fascinating. What keeps Letang from evolving into a true No. 1 defenseman that the Penguins need him to be is the lack of consistency. His career has often been one of exceptional play for long stretches and then implodes for a stretch. Those bad stretches have often come at inopportune times (playoff series). Whether he can put it all together will be telling on how far the Penguins go.
7. *Penguins Even Strength ice time leaders among forwards vs the Ducks:
Bryan Rust – 16:09
Sidney Crosby – 15:55
Chris Kunitz – 15:36
Tom Kuhnhackl – 15:10
Oskar Sundqvist – 13:50
Patric Hornqvist – 13:39
Kevin Porter – 13:02
Phil Kessel – 12:13
Not a major storyline because the Penguins keep on winning but there’s been more and more signs over last couple games of Mike Sullivan being frustrated with Kessel’s play. Kessel was demoted to third line vs the Panthers in the second period and then received the 8th most even strength ice time vs the Ducks among forwards. Bryan Rust the third line right winger received nearly four more minutes than Kessel at even strength
While Kessel did pick up another assist in springing Hagelin for a breakaway goal, anyone could have that pass and the frustration from the coaching staff with Kessel is the lack of individual scoring chances he’s creating, sources say.
Some feel the battle level is not where it needs to be along the wall and that’s where it’s starting.
Despite what a computer may say, the concern for the Penguins should be is that scouts started noticing a big a drop off for Kessel in being able to create high danger individual scoring chances last season. A sign of a declining player…..
8.*Phil Kessel or Ryan Kesler, who you got? Both diminishing players have six years left on their deals, Kessel $6.8 million cap hit, Kesler $6.875 million. I posed this question to a scout of who the Penguins would be better off with considering the Penguins almost pulled off a trade for Kesler in 2014. The scouts response:To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
“sign of a declining player” – I am as pissed at him as the next for his bullshit play but for fuck sakes you were just all over Crosby for the same thing… give your head a shake.
what happened to Sprong ? pens burned his rookie year and now they dont need him ?
He was sent back to JR you dumb fuxk, he can’t comeback up. So much stupid
Phaneuf was going to go to Columbus, but the Savard injury held it up.
thank god leafs are retaining 1.2m of kessels contract up until 2022 . can you imagine stan how worst it wouldve been having him with pens if pens actually paying full amount to that Fraud
$1.2 million worst than now, roughly?
Itd be like Ottawa paying full price for Phaneuf, but for a worst player
Wow. Nothing like Ottawa getting fleeced in a trade to bring the stupid out and brighten a dreary day.
Probably clearing space to give Reimer the $5 million that he wants.
or making space for Stamkos since tampax is good at chasing out star players from that so called team
Try to remember the last star player they “chased out” and can’t come up with anyone.
Chris Kontos.
Can’t name of any stars but if Stamkos does leave I will be able to name 2 arrogant Canadian players they chased off because the arrogant Canadian thought they were better than they actually were.
That sounds about right. Get rid of 1 really bad contract so you can sign another really bad contract. I wonder if that mentality has anything to do with no Canadian teams winning it all in Sam’s lifetime?
It was good not seeing Perron again last night.
wish pens would be able to trade gayjoy kessel and Bennett the team would be better without them. any player pens would get over those 3 clowns would be an upgrade . cant get worst than what they have now
You can tell Ottawa is the more French city. What a dumb trade.
the only dumb trade doing is you trading away your carrots for hot dogs
At what point are you going to use English?
The further north you go, the worse it is. Montreal loses one player and their team falls apart. Then you have the fans that stopped showing up to the Bell Museum. Gutless fans and clueless mgmt./coaching.
Letang not at practice today. Right on schedule.
I have to say – it’s pretty rare that you get a 9 player trade where the 2nd round pick is the most valuable piece included.
and rivalry imagine pens and flyers do a trade
I don’t have to imagine it – I saw it happen in 1992.
Sam was swimming in a baII sack those days. His development hasn’t gone much further since.
painfully – kessel over kessler
Maybe leafs making space for stamkos
Or maybe any taker to get rid of that contract made the deal worth it because they don’t have a guy for 5 years that isn’t worth what he’s currently getting paid?
Yeah I don’t see how the Leafs didn’t win this trade.Phaneuf is overpaid and past his prime. Only a fool would want him in PGH. I wouldn’t even have given up Rust for him if we hadn’t already traded Rust and a 3rd last year.
I’d have traded Rust and a 3rd for him….if Toronto picked up $5 million of his $7 million salary.
Good call. They might be unloading Franson’s contract next.
They must have asked Dion if he had a preference on which canadian team he’d rather miss the playoffs with….
Senators announced today that the club has acquired Dion Phaneuf, Matt Frattin, forward Casey Bailey, forward Ryan Rupert and defence prospect Cody Donaghey from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Jared Cowen, Colin Greening, Milan Michalek and Tobias Lindberg as well as Ottawa’s second-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft. No salary will be retained by either team over the trade’s entirety.
Looks like a lot of shit players moving from team to team.
i wonder how the fans will be when they play against each other
Toronto wins this trade – because they got rid of a $7 million #5 d-man.
phaneuf traded to sens 9 players deal
The Toronto Maple Leafs have traded team captain Dion Phaneuf, Matt Frattin, Casey Bailey, Ryan Rupert and defenseman Cody Donaghey in exchange for defenseman Jared Cowen, Colin Greening, Milan Michalek, Tobias Lindberg and 2nd-rounder in 2017.
and pens had no chance for this trade this summer ? now we lost kapanen
Phaneuf literally sucks out loud.
yeah but he is better than most of the guys on pens roster . when you have daley lovejoy healthy scracth in most nights with the other teams and with pens they become regular you know there is a problem in playoffs
No – he really isn’t. He costs more though.
with leafs he had all the pressure and was number 1 D with pens he wouldve have been number 2 guy and no pressure behind letang malkin crosby. just like your chubby been doing
He couldn’t be a #2 in Wilkes Barre right now.
I guess same was right when he said leafs got the best of the kessel trade.
I guess he knows nothing and shouldve drooled just like the rest here and planed a Stanley cup parade when kessel arrived .
Once again Phaneuf wouldve been a better choice for pens rather than kessel .Now kings and stars might land on Phaneuf
You also thought MT was a good coach so….
phil kessel refuses to get hit or to even bump a guy off the puck. that’s why he never misses a game throughout a season. he is the most 1 dimensional player that i’ve ever seen. he sucks. you know he is going to completely vanish come playoff time too. what a waste of 7 million.
but…but.. he is American
You’re the only retard who cares about nationality you troll
Everyone cares about your trained eye. And what you’ve “seen.” Let me tell you.
LOL, have you even looked at Kessel’s playoff numbers? Just curious what you’re basing your “Vanish come playoff time” on. Because it’s certainly not his playoff numbers. Get a clue before you type.
it’s really great to see the pens flying again. i was dying alive watching them under coach johnston. sullivan has them playing with confidence and i do believe this team has turned it around and will make the playoffs.
No – you can’t change now – you said they’ll miss the playoffs – because they have too many old players. So don’t try to come back now and jump on the bandwagon.
is it the same bandwagon that you have beed jumping on and off this year
In what way have I been jumping on and off?
i can say whatever i want. they have serval kids in the forward group now.
Ah – so the key to making the playoffs was Rust. You’re a complete buffoon.
crosby is playing great and the new coach has the entire team playing with much more confidence. not because of rust. although youth on the 4th line is better than has beens like craig adams.
Fuck off… You guaranteed 10th or 11th… Eat several bags of dicks
as i said before kessel will be traded to his 3rd team while he is still with his original contract with leafs
Make Mine Kessel. You haters are so friggin short sighted.
i take Kessler anyday over that fat fuckk Kessel
the guy is good on faceoffs and come playoffs he is a beast to play againts .unlike Chubby but bottom line i rather get cheaper and hungrier players over those 2
Constantly hurt – completely unreliable – yeah – I’d imagine that’s right up your alley.
this proves Kessel is a Fraud and not worth his paycheck .
I am sure somewhere Stan will enjoy this article along his boy toy Npl
I’d still love even one instance of me pumping Kessel’s tires. Just one. Otherwise, you probably should shut up and try to minimize how often you look dumb.
And I don’t know what “proves” Kessel is a fraud – especailly when they SAT the top two lines for the final 10 minutes of the game. I guess this also proves that Bryan Rust is the next big thing, and more important than your precious Sid.
Great troll title!