Ryan Wilson: It's their fault It's their fault

The players have blame for sure but I think its more so on Dubas and coaching staff this season.

I just think the older these guys get the harder is for them to get up for games mid season. Most of them have played a fvck ton of really meaningful games of hockey in their lives. You could see when their playoffs hopes looked squandered by mid March they started really getting up for games and went on a 8-1-3 run.

Not Sid though...he's a freak of nature both mentally and physically. I think there was only one or two games of the 81 so far he didn't look into it...possible he had the squirts or other ailment(s)...

You brought up that loss to Anaheim. I'm a Ducks fan and even I couldn't believe they won. You bring up a great point, though. It's not just the games at the end of the season that are important, they all are.

You brought up that loss to Anaheim. I'm a Ducks fan and even I couldn't believe they won. You bring up a great point, though. It's not just the games at the end of the season that are important, they all are.
- duxcup07

So many games they were in control and should have won but didnt...quite a few games they rallied from behind to get it to OT and lost...I can think of at least 4 or 5...so they win 1 of those in OT and they could clinch tonight

Still gave a job to do tonight. Big W for the Pens tonight!

They went 8-4-1 in November and 7-4-1 in December. There were stretches of times they were playing so well after it turned 2024 people were in here saying they could see them doing damage in the playoffs and winning rounds...but yes, the PP never did improve.

October and the lull around losing their top 2 wingers for a period then trading away one did real damage. Just one more win and OT loss and they're in the playoffs hahah
- MattStrat


Nowhere did I say they didn’t have stretches of good play… I’m saying it wasn’t an October only excuse when people try and use the chemistry excuse this was all season long.
October: 3-6-0
November: 8-4-1 PP% 9.4
December: 7-3-3

January: 4-4-3 PP% 12.2 PK% 74% (worst month for PK)
February: 5-5-1 (Jake hurt Feb 14th game played entire game) (Rust hurt Feb 25th)
***In February they were 1-3 with Jake and Rust***

March: 5-8-3
April: 6-1-1

Pretty consistently inconsistent with the worst 2 power play months coming in November and January (with Jake and Rust) These same problems lasted all year. Overall, the health was pretty damn good all year. Every team is gonna have some injuries and they will have injuries next season.

Sid needs 6 points tonight to reach 1600. Obviously that's incredibly unlikely, but not much else to root for?

Good post-mortum. However, I'll never agree with the mentality about making a coaching change because the next guy might not be good either. They need an experienced coach who can "skillfully" have honest discussions with the core players. I guess if that guy isn't out there, you nibble around the edges with assistant coaches. I don't think it will help much. It's the guy at the top who needs to go.

Good post-mortum. However, I'll never agree with the mentality about making a coaching change because the next guy might not be good either. They need an experienced coach who can "skillfully" have honest discussions with the core players. I guess if that guy isn't out there, you nibble around the edges with assistant coaches. I don't think it will help much. It's the guy at the top who needs to go.
- madmike71

If he was cleared by the league, would you consider Coach Q an option?

Sid needs 6 points tonight to reach 1600. Obviously that's incredibly unlikely, but not much else to root for?
- MickV

I’m just going to root for the Penguins and have a few tall boys.

As a Rangers fan the one team I did not want to see them playing in the 1st rd was the Pens...I think if they got in they had a chance to make a little run. Going to be interesting to see what direction they go in off season. Do you expect they will sacrifice this yrs 1st rd pick or next

As a Rangers fan the one team I did not want to see them playing in the 1st rd was the Pens...I think if they got in they had a chance to make a little run. Going to be interesting to see what direction they go in off season. Do you expect they will sacrifice this yrs 1st rd pick or next
- hfc355

We finished outside the bottom 10, so it's an easy decision since the only way we get a choice is being drawn in the lottery (which would move us up 10 spots to around number 4).

Kyle Dubas’ depth players were not functional. In fact, you could argue the only reason the Penguins were able to make the run at the end of the year that they did is because Ryan Graves, Noel Acciari, Jansen Harkins, and Matt Nieto were all unavailable to play. Noel Acciari, Jansen Harkins, and Matt Nieto combined for five goals in 121 games played. Not that Graves was signed for offense, but throw him in and it was 191 games and eight goals scored. Part of why Erik Karlsson's tangible point total wasn't as good is the team had little finishing talent to actually finish off the space and lanes created.

One game left, but the Pens have scored 12 fewer goals than last year, but have also let in 22 fewer. Obviously, context is needed here, but that's a net improvement.

I think overall, you need to find guys that can both provide depth scoring, and solid defense, no?

Kyle Dubas’ depth players were not functional. In fact, you could argue the only reason the Penguins were able to make the run at the end of the year that they did is because Ryan Graves, Noel Acciari, Jansen Harkins, and Matt Nieto were all unavailable to play. Noel Acciari, Jansen Harkins, and Matt Nieto combined for five goals in 121 games played. Not that Graves was signed for offense, but throw him in and it was 191 games and eight goals scored. Part of why Erik Karlsson's tangible point total wasn't as good is the team had little finishing talent to actually finish off the space and lanes created.

One game left, but the Pens have scored 12 fewer goals than last year, but have also let in 22 fewer. Obviously, context is needed here, but that's a net improvement.

I think overall, you need to find guys that can both provide depth scoring, and solid defense, no?
- Chunk

Nope. Just constant back and forth rush chances for 60 mins.

If he was cleared by the league, would you consider Coach Q an option?
- Chunk

No

Kyle Dubas’ depth players were not functional. In fact, you could argue the only reason the Penguins were able to make the run at the end of the year that they did is because Ryan Graves, Noel Acciari, Jansen Harkins, and Matt Nieto were all unavailable to play. Noel Acciari, Jansen Harkins, and Matt Nieto combined for five goals in 121 games played. Not that Graves was signed for offense, but throw him in and it was 191 games and eight goals scored. Part of why Erik Karlsson's tangible point total wasn't as good is the team had little finishing talent to actually finish off the space and lanes created.

One game left, but the Pens have scored 12 fewer goals than last year, but have also let in 22 fewer. Obviously, context is needed here, but that's a net improvement.

I think overall, you need to find guys that can both provide depth scoring, and solid defense, no?
- Chunk

Yes but, those guys are hard to find on the cheap but are still out there.
I don’t think it needs to be a set defensive line or offensive line. You can mix 2 offensive players with a defensive player and have a very effective line.
DOC - Eller - Domi probably costs you 7 mill.

If he was cleared by the league, would you consider Coach Q an option?
- Chunk

Consider? Absolutely. But not sure if he has stayed sharp while away. Would that help us get Kane here in the offseason?

I hear Babcock is available too and probably at a bit of a discount....

We finished outside the bottom 10, so it's an easy decision since the only way we get a choice is being drawn in the lottery (which would move us up 10 spots to around number 4).
- MickV

Not so sure for 2 reasons...good chance next yr Pens are better and draft position might be lower and 2nd delays the rebuild even longer

Not so sure for 2 reasons...good chance next yr Pens are better and draft position might be lower and 2nd delays the rebuild even longer
- hfc355

Not sure what you're getting at. The pick is top-10 protected but based on record we're going to have either the 13th or 14th pick, hence we cannot keep the pick unless we win the lottery --- which would move us up 10 spots to 3 or 4, in which case we would definitely keep the pick. (So we either have no choice or an easy choice depending on what happens in the lottery. Our odds of moving up though are very small.)

Bertuzzi - Crosby - Rust
Bunting - Malkin - Rak
Duclair - Domi - (5 ish mill player)
DOC - Eller - pulju

Would need to unload Smith and Acciari

They went 8-4-1 in November and 7-4-1 in December. There were stretches of times they were playing so well after it turned 2024 people were in here saying they could see them doing damage in the playoffs and winning rounds...but yes, the PP never did improve.

October and the lull around losing their top 2 wingers for a period then trading away one did real damage. Just one more win and OT loss and they're in the playoffs hahah
- MattStrat


Nowhere did I say they didn’t have stretches of good play… I’m saying it wasn’t an October only excuse when people try and use the chemistry excuse this was all season long.
October: 3-6-0
November: 8-4-1 PP% 9.4
December: 7-3-3

January: 4-4-3 PP% 12.2 PK% 74% (worst month for PK)
February: 5-5-1 (Jake hurt Feb 14th game played entire game) (Rust hurt Feb 25th)
***In February they were 1-3 with Jake and Rust***

March: 5-8-3
April: 6-1-1

Pretty consistently inconsistent with the worst 2 power play months coming in November and January (with Jake and Rust) These same problems lasted all year. Overall, the health was pretty damn good all year. Every team is gonna have some injuries and they will have injuries next season.
- pens4life-66

Who's doing that?

A lot of what you wrote is a long winded way of me saying "but yes, the PP never did improve." and also illustrating that October and the very end of February into March, when Rust and Jake were out the same time and then Jake traded, were by far their worst months per their records. If they went .500 in October they're in playoffs. It was their worst month and personally I cant dismiss a 50% roster turnover as a factor for that month. That month isnt the season though. Just a big factor in why their season is done now.

Yes, every team is going to have injuries. However, most teams haven't been trading good draft capital on the regular for almost two decades straight. They have no organisational dept. I will also add that most teams are going to be negatively impacted by losing their 2 first line wingers, one of which an absolute stud and the other a borderline one, no matter their depth.

Statistically the Pens were the better team by the time the final whistle blew in more games than not this season, 5 on 5 that is. Its just I've never seen a team find so many different ways to lose in the 3rd period as much as this one haha. Wild stuff.

Bertuzzi - Crosby - Rust
Bunting - Malkin - Rak
Duclair - Domi - (5 ish mill player)
DOC - Eller - pulju

Would need to unload Smith and Acciari
- pens4life-66

I like this. I think Berts started really upping his game down the stretch and if he does really well in playoffs he might get a raise and term from a team.

Smith might not be as hard to shake now with only one season left and teams value Acciari types all the time.

When a guy like Granlund gets almost 60 points with a Sharks bad team what does that tell you. Maybe it is the way they use these players when they come to this team Maybe the philosophy is all messed up. Others who were here did pretty well when leaving Sprong McCann Granlund E Rod Maybe it is just Sully and his way of doing things, how else can you explain that when guys leave here they do okay Pittsburgh is where middle of the line players come to die

Sure glad the penguins got EK to help with the PP?? Penguins were dead last this year. EK's PP savvy and (skating ability) sured helped, along with 10 mil on the books for the next 3 years? Glad they got him..Sarcasm.

That bottom 6 and guentzel went out the door when they traded for 1 player at 10 mil.

EK got a game winning goal and it sounded like the penguins won the cup this year? So I guess he earned his 10 million???..How many games did the penguins lose with EK pinching in (with a lead) in a game? Ek just lost that 10 million he earned...

Enjoy another loooong summer as they're becoming more frequent with the penguins..

Oh and thanks dubas for keeping sullivan and not bringing in any toughness/physical players that this team has lacked for many years now. Toughness and physical players does not mean goons either. Although the penguins need a few.
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I just couldn't resist to comment.

...and out come the tards....feasting...pounding their chest of being right....

Should see Sammy any minute now....