It’s the defensemen, really, more than anything.
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42 Comments
I'll say it again. Crosby will leave for picks. It's coming.
DK, was Karlsson's Norris Trophy a fluke? Why can a Norris Trophy winner go to another team and fail so dramatically? Either he has skills or he doesn't….or the new system and cast don't allow him to be his best. He was asked recently how he sees his performance so far this season and he seemed very pleased with himself. Don't these guys look at post game videos? The failures are so obvious how can they not see it and change their play?! They are professionals, dammit! They are OK cashing their paychecks after such horrid performances? They should donate it to charity. Is this willful ignorance and stubbornness or just giving up?
I wish they gave Brunicke a shot at the start of the season.
Air quotes "Defensemen". Karlsson especially commits almost no energy to trying to defend. Its grotesque.
11.5 mill for karrlson, he wears a mask and steals his money what a waste,
Id trade karrlson for magic beans and eat half his salary. Addition by subtraction
Karlsson is such an albatross. I see why every fanbase that has had this guy hates him. Erik let Sprong zip by him like he was Guy LaFleur. No effort at all. Also where the hell is Sid?! On the ice and in the room. Someone needs to rip this team a new one. We need a full change of how we go about playing. A trap is sounding like the only option. And even then Letang and Karlsson will f it up.
I would have watched the highlight video had I just seen that the final was 3-4. However, since I saw it was 2-0 Pens and then 2-4, before becoming 3-4, I decided I'd wait for a Daily Shot and catch the breakdown here. Thanks DK 🤘🤘
Fire sully
Defense is bad, offense is non-existent. How do you make up for bad defense? You keep the puck in the opponents zone as much as possible, which this offense seems to be incapable of on any consistent basis. They're just a complete mess, from top to bottom, except (it's weird to say this) goaltending (Blomquist and Ndelcovic)
Theirs always next yr..well mabe we can get a first round pick mabe they could just tank the rest of the yr..
Normally, I'd say that this is a team trying to get its coach fired.
But given Sullivan's stubborn insistence on playing the same system, I'll go so far as to say this is a coach that's trying to get the coach fired. It earnestly seems like Sullivan knows he'd be in demand elsewhere, would prefer a group of players that fits his concepts better, and is trying to get himself cut loose.
Erik Karlsson is the worst defensive-defensemen that I've ever seen. His, and Letang's, puck movement is reckless. It's honestly hard to watch.
This team will not compete for a cup this season; however, they can compete for a playoff spot. Are you going to comment on Jarry? I found it shocking that they sent him down.
We need Kevin Constantine
DK- I know hiring or firing a coach is always the easiest solution to complex/systemic problems, and I know it'll NEVER happen BUT here is a…. Randomy wild and provocative idea: What about trading the coach of the Penguins (contract expires at the end of the next millenium) for the coach of the Bruins (contract expires next year)? Two great coaches but both seem to need a fresh change of scenery. It seems the Pirates (never a role-model for anything) traded Manny Sanguillen to Oakland for coach Chuck Tanner back in the day.
Ill..name a name…LETANG…I don't know WHERE he is…but it ain't Pittsburgh..
@DK I just realized there was a defensive coaching change that also happened in the offseason. Do you think blame lies at David Quinn’s door?
FYI , Ned Stinks Too
Broken record 😂 you're right DK. Feeling older and older.
Agree. It's time for Sid to really speak up, although it's not his style.
Imo and I don’t expect others to agree with this, Pettersson is a smart player but is vastly overrated as a defenseman. I’m not saying this bc like DK said it’s all of them but he commits penalties when he gets in situations he is not skilled enough to get out of. He is physically not capable of moving or even diverting stronger players in front of the net. He falls down easily (not strong enough) and cannot win battles along the boards (⬆️ same as above). When in trouble he shoots the puck the length of the ice resulting in icing calls. On a good defensive team, he’s a 5th or 6th dman. Of course analytics will not show you this but your eyes will if you spend a significant amount of time watching him during games.
what a mess
Maybe we can bring Doug Bodger and Ville Siren out of retirement.
All I heard was we are tanking for Mario and I’m here for it
I'm not opposed to replacing the coach, but I do find it funny that people keep complaining that he isn't adjusting the system to fit all these bad players. I hate to break it to people … there is no system that works with Erik Karlsson. He's a pylon on defense. If Karlsson had played on the 1995 Devils, then the Devils trap would not have worked. He's that bad. You don't fix that. And then you have Grzelcyk … who should not be in the NHL. The reality is the GM has done a terrible job with the roster for two years after taking over for a GM that did a terrible job with the roster for 2-3 years. The Pens have bad players, so they are a bad team. It's that simple.
DK, I was at the game, 5th row to the left of the Canucks goaltender, where Sid on the PP sets up…..and I'll tell you from that close I could see Graves eyes whenever the puck came to him and he literally looked scared!!! He didn't want it to come to him. He's terrified, DK. I'm serious. It's obviously horrible but so very sad to watch. I could only imagine, but wouldn't a professional athlete be excited to play the game they love? Karlsson isn't playing with Petersson, why!?!? They got into such a great groove late last year and at the World's, why wouldn't Sully not play them together?!?! Every year they start off so ugly!! 😡😡😡
I disagree on two counts. First, when this team was winning cups, this team was playing TEAM defense. There was always one or two forwards getting on their horse to get back for the defensive play. That never happens now. Second St. Ivany is with Graves. Graves is the exact opposite of Sid in the fact that he drags down anyone who plays with him.
I;ve been banging the Defense is bad drum for a long while now, but a team is only as good as the components. I hope we can agree that Sullivan knows how to coach, but when he isnt presented with good components by 'management' his options become very limited. What I watched in the Canada trip is that this team overall is just slow..and looks old .Slow forwards do not help a less than good defense. A slow team does not help the goalie. So not only are the Pens now old and slow, they arent very physical. There didnt seem to be much planning for the future by 'management' and I think it has all caught up w. the Pens. It's a long season and the team can only skate as fast as they can. Am I blaming Dubus and FSG? Yep
Thank you for not being a cheerleader. October hockey… oi, vey. Granted hockey is so dynamic, you need a good offense to have a good defense, and vise-versa. The way we are playing, we cannot wait for a mid season change. Guessing ownership won't move until attendance falters. I give them 4 weeks to show a winning streak, not .500. How long do you think DK?
they are all around underachieving. Not sure where the issue even begins or ends.
So how long till we make changes?? Can this be fixed through trades or in house? We shouldn’t e this bad
Rebuild has started, anything else is just cope
Yes, there is plenty of blame to go around, but I agree the defense is abysmal…
I agree DK. If they plan on winning more games, they must play more aggressive on defense. For all the goals they made and caved in on defense, they must do a whole lot better. Thank you DK
Pens about to fire Sully and promote David Quinn to head coach
We about to be the Karlsson show bois
Couldn't play devil's advocate if I even wanted to. Something slightly more recent, I just checked the stats for the X Generation team in 03-04. The top six D (in terms of TOI) were Dick Tarnstrom, Josef Melichar, (a 23 year old) Brooks Orpik, Drake Berehowsky, Marc Bergevin, and Dan Focht. I honestly believe they'd be better than the current top six, if you could teleport them to the present.
Dk what would your thoughts be on trying karlsson on the wing, I think he would be much less of a liability and could be an offensive weapon
Plot Twist: it's the captain sabotaging his own team, and getting a big fat $8.7 million paycheck to do so.
I'm very disappointed with all. From top to bottom.
Been a fan since '84.
What bothers me the most is management, coaches and players are pissing down our legs in interviews while telling us its raining.
✌❤🤘
Ill trade this start, for a fixed powerplay of yesteryear,,, yes please. … Thank You!!!
Please stop putting all the blame on the defense. Your best players are your worst I. Terms of plus minus. The forwards, including 87, have been awful. you act as you know hockey. Blame the forwards as wells. Defense is a 5 man game.