DK’s Daily Shot of Penguins: Oh, there’s talent

Oh, there’s always been talent, and still is.

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[jerryyeager]

Bonté divine DK, We, got a win. My French is terrible. The game was good for them. Thank you DK so much

[mikecrow]

Now this is only one random stat. But something to think about when asking what has happened to the Pens over the years:

From 2019-2022 (3 seasons): the Pens were 7th in the NHL in High Danger Chances Against per 60 minutes at 5v5. They were even as good as 5th in 2019-20. Now the Pens have never been known as a defensive team ... no one would ever confuse them with the 1994-95 New Jersey Devils ... so for them to have been in the top 10 in this category was pretty darn good. Then during the offseason of 2022 then GM Ron Hextall traded Marino and Matheson and essentially replaced them with Petry and POJ (since Ty Smith never actually played), who were then essentially replaced with Karlsson (whose never been know for his defensive abilities) and Graves by now GM Dubas, who then also added Grzlyck into the mix for this season.

Well, since 2022 ... so 2022-2024 (2 seasons and 30+ games): the Pens have gone from 7th in the NHL in HDCA/60 to 24th in the NHL in HDCA/60. And they are actually 30th (out of 32) this season in that regard. (Only San Jose and the NYR are worse this season.) They've gone from being a top 10 team in terms of giving up scoring chances to one of the worst in the league in less than three seasons.

Is it personnel? Coaching? Getting old? All of the above? I don't know. But that is somewhat telling.

[polarbear]

Hey DK,
Let me first congratulate you for the work done every single day…good stuff!!!
J1Q : “Knowing that defense starts with the forwards and offense starts with the defenders, and also knowing that defense has been one of the main, if not The main issue this season, how do you access the work of the forwards defensively so far? Is the team now having less defensively responsible forwards and does it trickle down to the defenders…?
Who are our “Selke” forwards, if any…?”

Cheers and keep up the good work 👍
Paul

[hutchhutchison]

Oh the joys of a schizophrenic season.
Holding on for the ride.
✌❤🤘

[TheBearGuyCanada]

Last night was good to see, 9-2 and the boys were smiling. I even smirked after the horrible blue line pass of Letang's that led to a goal on the very first shot he faced. It was a typical Pittsburgh script against a very bad Montreal team. For the best part of two periods it wasn't a great game by both teams. With the penalties Jarry had to come up with some big saves, and if this was Colorado and MacKinnon and Rantenan, the game may of gotten away. Than introduce the third and it was like Montreal stole the Penguin's script with turnovers, being out of position, weak goal tending, and a lack of energy and urgency. But for once Pittsburgh turned up the pressure and went for the kill and everything was going a fan I was happy yet confused. Next up is Ottawa, a big and physically team that seem to share the same sloppy gameplan as Pittsburgh and team that the Pens should beat? 31 games, the question remains, what is the identity of this team? As nice as last night was to see, I don't get too excited about it, the scars from Colorado, NYR, Carolina, Jets, Edmonton, Dallas, too deep to forget.

[ajwilsonny]

Pretty sure that the questioner was referring to Brooks Orpik’s slapper to SId’s noggin.

[pasqualgzzz]

I’ve been vouching for Rakell since we grabbed him… Genuinely mad I never grabbed his jersey last year in his down year because now I look like a bandwagon. Nonetheless Rakell is proving he’s hungry and wants to be on a line with Sid

[johnmassung]

Jarry is now 8-1-1 all time vs The Canadians. He has their number. Go figure.

[SiimViisut]

Today game between Ottawa vs Penguins we will see some lineup changes?

[blutomindpretzel]

they needed that win last night. Bet they can't do it again

[nicolascleroux]

Hopefully un autre 9 but contre Ottawa 😂😂

[polarbear]

No doubt they have talent…
9 of the players yesterday are former round 1 picks…
Letang, Karlsson, Pickering, Crosby, Rakell, Malkin, Glass, Tomasino, Beauvillier…
I’m not saying that all of those confirmed their talent so far or not, that’s another conversation, but the “once seen talent” that made them first round round picks was there, so…yes they have talent…
Maybe they should target a proven talented goalie now…going all in for that!!!
…knowing that goalies don’t grow on trees 😅

[roberthalyama]

Thanks for helping me brush up on my French DK, haven’t had an opportunity to use my limited knowledge in a while. With that said, I think this was a wasted opportunity for a “Neuf said” title

[daleemlet]

It was Montreal. Enough said. Nothing to celebrate. When the Pens do this consistently against teams not worse than the Pens, then let's celebrate. All this does is give Sullivan more reason to keep the wrong players in.

[robsavage]

We just need to get Geno some actual second line Wingers now. Bunting maybe, and then a bunch of mix and match 3rd and 4th liners. Penguins score 9 goals and Geno doesn't factor in on any of them? Get the guy a little help...

[maczed]

I'm a big Dubas critic having seen his approach and work closely over the last decade....I think the Eller signing and Lizotte signing were good haven't found any of his other moves good....and to your point DK....the guys that have been here, always been here, haven't been the issue....it's the roster construction around of it falls on Sullivan, I don't yell at him for his system, he has actually changed things up on 4 different occasions, but maybe who dresses. I wonder if that is in part because there is an effort to move some guys and they need exposure/ice time to....but my predictions pre season was that Sid won't be a points per game player because he doesn't have first line wingers, and that they will finish bottom 10 because of the roster

[brakbrakley]

The Pens are medoicre. Tha Habs suck. Voila 9-2. Fun game though.

[hockeyfreak]

Crosby an malkin look like they dont even care