You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Jason Mackey's Penguins chat: 02.28.19
powered byJotCast
Prev Page View Full Chat Next Page
Dan Mucy
1:15
Hello again, Jason!  Great job by all you guys on trade day
Jason Mackey
1:15
Thanks, Dan. Appreciate that.
Cosmo K
1:16
In the eyes of the world, are the Pens regarded as a serious cup contender if all comes together health/execution wise?
Jason Mackey
1:16
I don't know. The postseason has its seasons, its evenings and songs of its own.
JoshK
1:16
When Letang and Doumolin return, why break up Shultz and Johnson. That's as good as Johnson's been. Let him play with Shultz. And other pairing should be Petterson and Rikkola/Gudbranson. Even if Maata comes back, don't force him with Shultz if that would undermine Johnson.
Jason Mackey
1:17
I agree with you ... at this point. I wrote about this for tomorrow morning -- the Riikola/Schultz pairing. They've been good. But it has been a small sample size. Dumoulin and Letang need to be together. Should have some time to figure out where Olli fits, assuming he's able to make it back.
Dan Mucy
1:17
Hi Jason!  Great job by all you guys on trade day!   I watch these guys and boy can they be frustrating!   However, for whatever reason, they seem to come to play when their backs are to the wall.   Isn't that a good omen come playoff time?  Especially if Murray sets out to prove a lot of us wrong?   Thanks...keep up the great work!  Dan
Jason Mackey
1:18
I think it's the same as it's been, Dan. This team is wildly inconsistent. Great win the other night, but I don't think it means anything until they're able to repeat the process over and over again a few times. I don't doubt the ability is there, especially with Murray. But they haven't been very consistent with the effort and execution this season.
Cosmo K
1:18
Is a penalty shot that goes on goal and is saved counted as a shot on goal in the stats? Of course a penalty shot which misses the net and/or doesn't touch the goalie can't count as a shot on goal? I'm running out of shot on goal/off post questions...Darren says keep up the great work, and superb Potash article!
Jason Mackey
1:21
Thanks, Darren. I believe it is. Honestly, though, I'm not 100 percent positive. But I believe it is.
Guest
1:21
Is Blueger > Simon?
Jason Mackey
1:21
I think so.
JoshK
1:22
After having watched them for a few games, I suspect that McCann was GMJR target and Bjukstad was the one he had to take rather than the reverse (or am I giving GMJR too much credit?). Haven't been impressed with Bjukstad, he's noticeable bec he's big but nothing particular stands out, likes to shoot, not great along the wall, not great skater, kind of ehhhh, I think I prefer him on the wing, no?..... McCann very different, great skater, noticeable energy, above average shot..... what say you?
Jason Mackey
1:22
I think McCann has had a better start to his Penguins career. I think it's too early to make any sort of official determination on the trade.
Guest
1:31
Was moving Cole the beginning of this current slide and the problems we are seeing and the bad run of mistakes and hacked fixes? Seems like moving a ‘heart and soul’ personality that is a top 4 defenseman and who is all world at blocking shots is when we saw this reversal begin. That is 100+ more shots that the goalie now sees and that seems like a lot.
Jason Mackey
1:33
I don't see moving Cole as having any sort of cataclysmic effect. Derick Brassard was not the right fit. That hurt. But I can't sit here and crush the intent. That was the right move on paper. It should have worked. ... And also, I don't think Ian Cole's shot blocking is why Murray sees more shots. I think they're worse defensively as a group than they were in, say, 2016-17.
Ed
1:33
Any update you can provide on the injury front?
Jason Mackey
1:33
Club is off/traveling today, Ed. Next we'll know anything is tomorrow morning.
JoshK
1:33
I'm actually happy with the top 2 lines. 72 better with Sid and Guentzel. 46 has solidified the second line with Geno and Phil. Rust injury really hurts. Who will now play with Mccann and Bjukstad? Simon? maybe try bleuger there. And I thought the 4th line has been pretty decent too, with Wilson and Cullen, don't love SImon there either. What to do with Simon?
Jason Mackey
1:34
JoshK: You've officially asked me more questions than my wife has today. ... I would expect them to use Simon there tomorrow and Blueger on the fourth line. They likely need someone to play the right side on the third line, and Simon has more experience doing that. Plus, Blueger and Wilson were pretty good with Cullen, if you remember.
Pens Fan
1:34
So is it a foregone conclusion that the Pens are going to have to trade Jarry this offseason?  I think he has an NHL only contract for next year and they'd loose him if they tried to put him back in the minors next year, right?
Jason Mackey
1:34
Right. I think that's the most likely scenario, yes, to trade Jarry.
Jeff
1:34
It seems the Pens miss having RIck Tocchet on their coaching staff.  Less tenacious and get less out of Kessel since he left.
Jason Mackey
1:36
I think that's obvious. Tocchet was really good at his job, hence why he was hired as a head coach and has done an excellent job in Arizona. I definitely think they've felt that with Kessel and just with one-on-one conversations with players. That's not a slight toward the current guys, either. I'm just saying that Tocchet was well-liked and respected by pretty much everyone.
Hornqvist Fan
1:36
Jason how would you explain this team’s poor defensive play for most of the entire season?  Is it simply desire?  The team’s overall defense has been horrible. Thanks.
Jason Mackey
1:37
I don't think they've been poor defensively "for most of the entire season." I think they've been inconsistent, which means ups AND downs. ... When they struggle, it's often defensemen pinching at the wrong times, allowing odd-man rushes the other way. Of course, goaltending. And also puck management issues that generally occur at their own blue line -- risks not at all worth taking.
Shaun
1:37
To me this team's biggest problem right now is a lack of consistent goaltending. Murray just hasn't been good enough this year whether it's injuries, technique, etc.  Four defensemen play their guts out in philly only to have Murray blow it with two incredibly weak goals at the end of the game.  Do you think there's any hope that he plays better than this or is this what he is at this point in his career?
Jason Mackey
1:38
I think he absolutely he can be more consistent he has been lately. He was that way from December-January. Hot take: I don't think he's that far away from rediscovering that form, either.
Mike S
1:38
Am I becoming as unpopular among yinzers as that other coach in town? Do I need to remind people that I won two Cups recently? And Sprong still stinks....
Jason Mackey
1:39
Hello, Mike. ... I don't think you're becoming unpopular, but I think when your team struggles, it seems to be en vogue to play you. Yet when you win, it has nothing to do with anything you've done. It's a weird dynamic, I'll say. Of the problems your team has, I don't see you ranking very high on the list.
JoshK
1:39
Speaking of penalty shots, what do you think of tweaking the rule, that if the player does not score on the penalty shot, then his team gets the 2 min powerplay? but if he scores, then no powerplay.
Jason Mackey
1:39
I would not want to see that.
guest
1:39
Alot of talk about the inconsistent Pens play.  Are most hockey teams outside of a few like Tampa like this?  Or are the Pens more inconsistent than most given their level of talent?
Jason Mackey
1:40
I think teams are inconsistent in general; they all have bad stretches. I think the concern with the Penguins is that it's gone on this long. They're consistently inconsistent, if that makes sense. And for their talent level, I think it's fair to expect more from them than simple squeaking into the playoffs.
Shaun
1:40
Why does Simon still get ice time?  Blueger showed more in the few games he played than Simon has shown in several years.  I think Blueger is the next surprise Guentzel type and he sits while Simon plays.  I don't get it.  What gives?
Jason Mackey
1:41
The coach likes Simon a lot and thinks he does a lot of things to help them -- that obviously don't involve scoring goals, because he hasn't done much of that. Expecting Blueger to be the next Guentzel is wrong. He's not that type of player. But he should be getting more of a shot than he has thus far.
Joeco
1:41
Welcome back Malkin....looked energized last few games.   does MS  plug Blueger in on that line with Kessel?  this weekend?
Jason Mackey
1:41
No. That doesn't fit Blueger's game. Plus, ZAR has been very good in that spot.
Mike
1:41
Could we see letang this weekend?
Jason Mackey
1:42
Doubtful, Mike. With no practice today -- and with the fact that he's not skating -- it would be rare to join the team for Friday's morning skate then play. Not ruling him out, mind you. Just saying it would be a special case.
Connecting…