And don't forget the massive back injuries that he suffered in the late 80s. I still remember the night that Mario's 46-game point scoring streak came to an end. It was a game against the Rangers and Lange and Steigy talked the entire game about the great lengths he had been going through all season just to get on the ice. Couldn't even tie his own skates and was putting up 150 points.
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- Thread starter Phillypanther2
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Yeah I like it. I was not liking the direction they were headed, I think these two guys bring a different look, different approach and one thing maybe he can get Sullivan to change up his tactics and so forth.
Because Sully would outright refuse to play Ryan Reaves or other guys. And the fact we were so struggling with our bottom pairing defense during the Montreal series, and that was only 5 months ago, and we see what POJ is doing now, how was he not given a shot? How? The Pens 91 Cup team (1st Cup) had TWO rookies (Paul Stanton, Jim Paek) neither with half the pedigree of POJ (1st rd draft pick) and managed okay.
Ryan Reeves is still a better 4th line hockey player, let alone tough guy, than anyone we've had there since. Amazing Sully refused to play him
Yeah I understand that they want a level of buffer between ownership and the GM. But who is ultimately calling the shots? I'm hoping Hextall is the one making the roster decisions.
Here's what I like about the move. I am less than convinced than this version of the Penguins can be salvaged. I trust now Hextall/Burke in realizing this and making the hard moves going forward than Rutherford who would just give up more 1st rd picks for more smurf wingers.
I think the first order of business is to evaluate the coaching staff. I strongly believe we need a change, and find it unlikely Burke & Hextall won't come to that conclusion relatively soon, like in the next month or two.
They need to upgrade their scouting department because it's been terrible. All the draft picks and prospects JR traded away weren't worth a sh!t because their drafting sucked so bad.
Zuckar and Tanev do nothing for me, deal them and try to get some picks. You can't build a team with a mish mash of trades and half the locker room changing every year.
Unless the team totally collapses they won't fire Sullivan until at least the off season.
You have a problem with Tanev ?
Sheesh - we clearly have very different ideas of what effective two way hockey is
Burke is old school, and a straight shooter. He won't last 10 games of watching this b******* from the Penguins without losing his mind or moving on the coach. The effort and attention to detail is simply not their anymore under Sully.
I also think Zucker is pretty good. I mean how is he worse than Malkin, Rust, Guentzel? Jerry? What have any of them done?
Zucker has really turned it around the past handful of games
Malkin was dragging everyone down
I like rust on the top line
They need a mucker like hornqvist was
Tanev is a breath of fresh air. That was a great contract signing.
Plays every shift like his hair is on fire -
That energy and intesity is contagious
He’s the stereotypical “hard guy to play against “
Yeah, Tanev in your bottom 6 is a really good thing. And ZAR really changes things down there also. They are similar players.
I do see this Management group eventually moving one of: Rust, Guentzel, Zucker, Kapanen. All of these guys are similar players, 5'10ish, 180lbish. And while they all can skate, I think the top 6 mix needs some size, and hopefully a Sammy Poulin will find his way who will give some size and definitely scoring talent.
The team still lacks a 3rd line Center. I like Blueger/ZAR/Tanev line as a 4th line that rivals the Islanders 4th line (considered the best in the NHL).
Also, as the Defense corp gets healthy, a surplus all of a sudden occurs. You aren't moving Marino or POJ. young guys with their careers in front of them on Entry Level contracts,
So.....that leaves Petterson, Dumoulin, Matheson, Ceci and maybe Letang. The first two likely would bring back better return just based on their affordability. And Marino and POJ makes either of them easier to move, especially also the play of Chad Ruwhedal, who I don't know why never got more chance on the bottom pair last year, because he is solid bottom pair, and also is signed to the NHL minimum.
So to get, you got to give. The Pens need? 3rd line Center. Maybe a bigger winger. Veteran back up goalie. Oh yeah, and draft picks moving forward. So I believe the way the roster is configured when healthy, the Pens finally have a chance to make some moves that don't involve draft picks or prospects.
As for Sullivan?? Everyone agrees he is a good coach. But...if he is not willing the change and adapt, is he really that good of a coach? The PP still remains a liability, and also, you have to wonder why the Pens just don't get more PP's, based on the Pens not going alot in the "dirty areas" where defenders have to be more aggressive against the forwards which usually results in more penalties.
The good thing about a new management team, is they aren't going to be in love with the current players because none of them are their acquisitions. So they can be more honest, and I believe more forceful with Sully on personnel decisions (ie not playing the union card mentality and sit POJ when all the veterans come back healthy) like Sully has done alot the past few seasons. (Which is ironic because his first two seasons, which we won cups, he had no problems inserting rookies into the lineup and important roles). So this team has gotten stale.
This team has to make the playoffs, but a first round, 4 or 5 game exit is no good. But they don't have a 1st rd pick (again). So it will be interesting. I do think the Pens have become more interesting again with the change in management. They were getting stale, and Rutherford was overpaying on assets who were all basically the same type of players.
I do see this Management group eventually moving one of: Rust, Guentzel, Zucker, Kapanen. All of these guys are similar players, 5'10ish, 180lbish. And while they all can skate, I think the top 6 mix needs some size, and hopefully a Sammy Poulin will find his way who will give some size and definitely scoring talent.
The team still lacks a 3rd line Center. I like Blueger/ZAR/Tanev line as a 4th line that rivals the Islanders 4th line (considered the best in the NHL).
Also, as the Defense corp gets healthy, a surplus all of a sudden occurs. You aren't moving Marino or POJ. young guys with their careers in front of them on Entry Level contracts,
So.....that leaves Petterson, Dumoulin, Matheson, Ceci and maybe Letang. The first two likely would bring back better return just based on their affordability. And Marino and POJ makes either of them easier to move, especially also the play of Chad Ruwhedal, who I don't know why never got more chance on the bottom pair last year, because he is solid bottom pair, and also is signed to the NHL minimum.
So to get, you got to give. The Pens need? 3rd line Center. Maybe a bigger winger. Veteran back up goalie. Oh yeah, and draft picks moving forward. So I believe the way the roster is configured when healthy, the Pens finally have a chance to make some moves that don't involve draft picks or prospects.
As for Sullivan?? Everyone agrees he is a good coach. But...if he is not willing the change and adapt, is he really that good of a coach? The PP still remains a liability, and also, you have to wonder why the Pens just don't get more PP's, based on the Pens not going alot in the "dirty areas" where defenders have to be more aggressive against the forwards which usually results in more penalties.
The good thing about a new management team, is they aren't going to be in love with the current players because none of them are their acquisitions. So they can be more honest, and I believe more forceful with Sully on personnel decisions (ie not playing the union card mentality and sit POJ when all the veterans come back healthy) like Sully has done alot the past few seasons. (Which is ironic because his first two seasons, which we won cups, he had no problems inserting rookies into the lineup and important roles). So this team has gotten stale.
This team has to make the playoffs, but a first round, 4 or 5 game exit is no good. But they don't have a 1st rd pick (again). So it will be interesting. I do think the Pens have become more interesting again with the change in management. They were getting stale, and Rutherford was overpaying on assets who were all basically the same type of players.
A bigger winger, you ask? I have one in mind. He even has familiarity in Sullivan’s offense!
Give em Matheson. Who says no?
Horny's contract is not good (I know neither is Matheson) and let's be honest, the last two playoff series where they could use a tough, in front of the net, cause traffic, get some goals, well Horny was on those teams.A bigger winger, you ask? I have one in mind. He even has familiarity in Sullivan’s offense!
Give em Matheson. Who says no?
Tanev makes top 2 line money (same as Rust, more than Kapanen) to play on the 3rd line and recruits is suggesting he'd be great on the 4th line. He's a bottom line hustle winger. I'd prefer not to have his contract over the next 5 years.
Zucker stinks.
Zucker stinks.
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