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Jason Mackey's Penguins chat: 02.21.19
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John
2:35
Any chance pens can get zucc?!?
Jason Mackey
2:35
Not a very good one, anyway.
PenguinsJesus
2:35
What’s going on with teddy blueger?
Jason Mackey
2:36
He will be a healthy scratch for the second straight game tonight. I think it's a little harsh, but he made a mistake the other night and is paying for it. They've also won two in a row with Blueger out and Sullivan rarely messes with a winner.
Alex
2:36
Is James Neal a possibility to return to PIT at some point? He has electric chemistry with Malkin. And why didn’t a lot of the media members not like him? I think I remember in a chat you said that Yohe and Rossi were the only ones that cared for him.
Jason Mackey
2:37
No, James Neal ain't coming back. To my knowledge, the only Penguins media people who liked Neal were Rossi, Dejan and Madden, although I don't count myself among either group; I was not on the beat at the time.
HiMyNameIsSimon
2:37
If Hags shot on Murray glove side, who would fail worse?
Jason Mackey
2:37
Ha. Good one. I'd take Hagelin.
Joe
2:37
Any chance the Pens claim Devante Smith-Pelley from the Caps? Was really surprised they chose to waive him.
Jason Mackey
2:38
He already cleared waivers. So, no.
LGS
2:38
Visiting Columbus this weekend and will be there for the game on Tuesday. Any recommendations for places to eat or things to do?
Jason Mackey
2:38
Go to Tip Top and get a pot roast sandwich. 16-Bit Bar + Arcade is really neat. Think they let kids in during the day. Little Palace is my favorite eatery in Columbus. Old school place. Food is incredible.
JP
2:39
I know this has been discussed a lot lately, but I still cannot figure it out. Why Simon over Blueger? Compare the two looking at overall play. Blueger is what the Pens need in that spot of the line up--Physicality/grit. Speed. Shot%. Penalty Kill. His Shot% is a team-leading 27% vs Simon at 9%. Get the puck to the net, cause havoc and generate PP opportunities for the big boys. Goal-scoring is not a problem (GF ranks 4th in NHL). Pens need his type of play, now more than any time this season.
Jason Mackey
2:39
I wouldn't focus too much on shooting percentage -- Blueger's sample size is absurdly small -- but I see what you're saying. And you're right. I've gotten a lot of questions about this. We're going to move on after that. But I would be playing Blueger over Simon at the moment.
Brad
2:43
Are there any speedy wingers we could acquire for a low cost?
Jason Mackey
2:43
Jesse Puljujarvi interests me. He's currently hurt, but if you ride it out and the Oilers are willing to move on -- they are, you know, not smart -- you might have something there.
Pete S
2:43
Johnson's Numbers:
3.16 GA/60 at 5v5, .6 higher than the next worst regular on the team.

Of the 183 defensemen to play 500 minutes so far this year his goals against per 60 ranks 168.
Corsi against per 60 ranks 171.
Fenwick against per 60 ranks 173.
Shots against per 60 ranks 172
Jason Mackey
2:44
That's great. He has bad numbers. Didn't we already establish this?
John Hillier
2:44
Hi Jason, what would u think of a Tanner Pearson to Edmonton for Milan Lucic? Salary retained on Lucic. Just wondering what kind of pick we would have to add. What are your thoughts?
Jason Mackey
2:45
I just threw up in my mouth even thinking about this trade. Yuck. I don't think so.
RandomHockeyGuy
2:45
I still do not understand GMJR and Sullivan's love for Jack Johnson.  They may be right that he's been overly-criticized to a point, but at the same time, his number, besides Corsi, aren't very good.  He's getting more O-zone starts than any defenseman, he's been on the ice for more even-strength goals against than anyone but Letang, in less ice time.  I could go on, but I won't.  Not saying trade him or anything, but, I just don't think Johnson should be above sitting out a game to try something else.
Jason Mackey
2:46
Thank you for the input.
John
2:46
What spurred JR's defense of 73? Us fans are very critical of Johnson (with reason), but I haven't seen anything particularly harsh from the media especially from the main local beat writers, yourself included. The lashing out seems very weird? Fans bash Murray constantly, large portions still hate Letang, so I find it hard to believe that he's reacting to fan reaction.  Is he just defending himself more so than 73?
Jason Mackey
2:46
That's my theory. Yeah, I said this earlier, but we had in one ear that we're too soft on Jack Johnson and GMJR. Then GMJR says we're too harsh. Which one is it?
Eddie Shack
2:46
Jason - now that Caps have Hagelin any truth to the rumor they are targeting Sprong and Olekisiak?
Jason Mackey
2:46
Inaccurate.
Billy
2:47
In every year he's played, Hagelin has never failed to make it to at least the 2nd round of the playoffs.   Are the Pens doomed if they face the Caps in the 1st round?
Jason Mackey
2:47
I don't think Carl Hagelin is the ultimate tipping point here that he's being made out to be.
Casey
2:47
Do you see a scenario where Hagelin comes back at a more appropriate salary in the offseason? He's hard to justify at $4 million, but for all the non-scoring aspects of the game that he brings, I can't imagine the Pens would have traded him if he wasn't costing the team so much money.
Jason Mackey
2:47
I don't think so. I think both he and they have moved on. Penguins need to bring up guys like Blueger for good. They don't need to be spending that kind of money, especially if ZAR keeps playing as well as he has.
Dan
2:48
I thought it was interesting the other day Rutherford mentioned Trotman down at WBS as back up… What about Ethan Prow
Jason Mackey
2:48
It certainly seems like Trotman would be the preferred option. I think because he has more familiarity in the NHL than Prow. Prow is probably a better candidate to earn a job for 2019-20, if then.
Guest
2:48
How significant do you think the Penguins interest in re-acquiring Hagelin would have been if they had been able to do so? Do you think they'll have interest in him this summer?
Jason Mackey
2:49
It couldn't have been that great since they agreed to take back $250,000, theoretically knowing that would screw them when it came reacquiring the player. As such, I don't see anything happening this summer, but a lot will depend on how things play out in Washington.
Jill B
2:49
What moves would you make before the trade deadline?
Jason Mackey
2:49
Maybe a depth defenseman or forward ... or both if they're cheap. That's it.
Matt in Cleveland
2:49
I believe the Penguins Management was interested in bringing the World Junior Tournament to Pittsburgh, do you know if there is still interest, or if the ?
Jason Mackey
2:52
There's still interest, yes, but given the fact that it was just here in 2018, they're going to have to wait a few more years before anything is even scheduled. I also wonder how impressed anyone was with the WJC exhibition games we had here. Attendance was only ... OK, if that.
Michael
2:52
Have heard much about any college free agents they might go after?  It seems as if GMJR is excellent at pretending those are his draft picks.  Also do you think he just can't resist himself and does something big before the deadline?  By that I mean maybe move Phil or find a way to go get one of the bigger names.
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