The Pens are closer to the playoff line than they would like. Is this the year they actually miss the playoffs?
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_AFyA9FqrZ57bb9QRH77wg/join
(Updated) Use the code “thgsentme” on Bench Clearers for 15% off:: https://benchclearers.com/?aff=7&fbclid=IwAR17EPrmSq70Qy24SEfLQo6TNUng_5fkdhl-4Afcmjo6vd2lyp9diuCtKFA
Order jerseys from Ben H Sports while saving 10% off the listed eBay prices by sending him an email regarding jerseys you spot in his listings. ben.hoogenband@yahoo.ca Just tell him Shannon sent you.
Support The Hockey Guy via Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thehockeyguy
Join the Discord server:
https://discord.com/invite/thehockeyguy?fbclid=IwAR0lJA5oRBUNjF0Summt6Dm72vPinjGfv7OMisjM66nan9giCjTMXWycZuM
https://www.facebook.com/youtubehockeyguy/
Follow me on Twitter: @thgofyoutube
Instagram: thgshannon
TheHockeyGuy.yt@gmail.com
Contact me via snail mail at:
The Hockey Guy
PO Box 15038 Seven Oaks PO
Abbotsford, BC
V2S 8P1
In the USA:
Shannon Skanes
1125 Fir Avenue
Suite 119
Blaine, WA 98230
25 Comments
Penguins don't win the cup with their lineup period.
As long as we have Crosby we will not give up on another STANLEY CUP. Build a team around him, four lines that play like he does. I thought DeSmith would become Vasilevsky,, but haven't seen it., Jarry is above average and positionally sound. We think Zucker and Rakell have more upside, would love to see in the playoffs, which they will fight to make. A good team from the east will miss the playoffs and likely be clearly better than a western team. I don't see the Isles missing. The low contribution of the defense to points is very concerning. ITS A GREAT DAY FOR HOCKEY . Go PENS
Sorry to rain on the parade. In the East, you cannot just make the playoffs, you have to at an extreme minimum make the first wildcard spit. No one is beating Boston in the first round this year.
Not super optimistic. Can't hold a lead late. Tough division. Need some defensive upgrades. Power play should be better, but looks horrible without a right handed on the ice. 1st round exit likely. But maybe reach 2nd. Depends on matchup.
Hextall completely handcuffed himself with Carter and Kapanen. Nobody gives those guys that money or term. If they miss, or even if they get knocked out first round he needs to go. Pittsburghers want the Ron Francis deal ever playoff run. Typically not there, probably not alway smart, but how can Hextall make that deal with $6 million plus tied into what appears to be an veteran that is playing old and a 1st round bust. The thing that makes it worse, they’re 2 year deals. I hope they prove me wrong, but I don’t think they’re making it this year
Pens have made some difficult decisions over the last few years. They let some solid players like Rodrigues and Marino go. I like Carter but, aside from being a face-off genius, he's been lacking. As a team, they have a porous defense and a lack of speed/youth. Unless they can pick up some young blood via trade, they won't get past the second round imo.
It's the Pens… They'll make the playoffs, enough said. No matter what happens they always do lmfao.
I can't stand the penguins.. hope they are out
The Penguins are frustrating. There are times they look unbeatable. And there are these times where they look like an AHL team.
Problems:
1. Defense: Pittsburgh's heavy offensive play requires extraordinary defensive play. The second losing spell started (I think) the game after Petry went on IR. Letang has had his health and personal issues. And Rutta has been out. Defense has been inconsistent. But cheers to P.O. He has been great. And the rest are solid. No scrums. Just need three, maybe two, defenders that are extraordinary every game. This affects Goaltending too, below.
2. Offense: The scoring on the third and fourth line has been spotty. Blueger moving up to the third line has energized Carter and McGinn. O'Conner and Poehling have brought grit to the fourth line. I love Kapanen. He is such a great guy and amazing player. But he may be gone soon.
3. Goaltending: Goaltending is what goaltending always is in Pittsburgh, heavily-relied-on and underappreciated. I remember when people talked bad about Flower, then Murray. Pens usually give up a lot of scoring chances to the opposition. Jarry can handle it really well. He is a tremendous goalie, but not elite, yet. DeSmith just is not there yet. It isn't skill, but concentration or vision with DeSmith.
4. Behind the Bench: Don't mess with Sully.
If health wasn't a concern, I would be relatively happy and confident that this squad can go far in the playoffs. But with Jarry's injury history I would like a backup goalie. Someone who can take a lot of shots and not lose it when he allows three goal. That is where Kappy is likely to go.
Crosby hasn't been the best player since 2019
God, I hope they don't re-sign Dumoulin. I can only assume–having to watch so many games–Shannon just hasn't had a chance to really look at his game. Dumoulin's a shell of the player he was in 2017. Worse than that, he's a liability almost every time he steps on the ice.
But this team has a lot of holes. No scoring depth, unreliable goaltending (yet again), no cap space to even call up guys from the AHL. Hextall backed this team into a corner, and I'm not sure they can hold on in the second half of the season to stay in playoff contention. That's even if Crosby and Malkin stay healthy.
I wish our management would give some AHL guys a chance. Our bottom 6 has been non existent lately and guys like Nylander, Puustinen, Poulin I think deserve to at least be given a shot. If it's up to me, I'd call up Nylander and have him play with Crosby because I feel like he could be like a Guentzel part 2.
Before the trade deadline I'd try to get Demko because clearly outside of Jarry out goaltending is way too inconsistent to make it far in the playoffs.
Honestly, I just hope the Penguins win a Round or 2 , I will be happy for the season. Sure, I want the Penguins win a cup one last time, but I just can’t see that happening soon.
Dumoulin has been one of the worst Dman out there this year, every time he's on the ice we get scored on, bad play after bad play …. and Carter needs to go
Not optimistic and something needs to change
Rebuild is looming…Sad days are ahead…
I think they should trade Malkin, Crosby or both.
Several times when those players were injured others on that team stepped up.
Instead of two wins in a rows, there were 3,…
Better to trade them now while they have some market value left.
Did you hear the rumour Demko traded and Vancouver signing UFA Jarry in the summer, Jarry is from Surrey
maybe add a D-man, that's about all. Let's go Pengweenies . *
Dumo probably the worst player on this pens team though, and his defensive results are awful… Only Jeff Carters ability to stunt any line he's on is potentially worse.
Yes, I agree Sid is still one of the best players in the league 😊 I’m not hopeful about the playoffs… and would love to be completely wrong about it.
I like the Pens to make the playoffs and have a nice, deep run.
Biased Pens Fan: Petry & Letang have missed games. Kapanen is out right after he's been playing better, Carter just is not the same as he was, Ryan Poehling was out for a while, Josh Archibald as well. DeSmith has been inconsistent and Jarry has had stints on IR. We'll see how it goes but as the league gets younger and younger this team is getting older. They need to get younger and they stopped that from happening when they decided to keep the core together. Welcome to the new Detroit and once the core is retired we will embrace the tank! For now, let's enjoy our first round exits and just know that there are bright days ahead… way ahead…
Where's the capitals video? Can't find it
Sid is the best until 2nd best wins their 4th Cup.