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Jason Mackey's Penguins chat: 04.19.19
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Kaspara1t1s
2:26
This was meant to follow what I just typed, but player A is of course Jack Johnson and B is Derrick Pouliot. There’s a dissonance that allows the organization, the fans, the media (not saying you necessarily) to find A better than B. Pouliot was certainly not without his problems, but he enabled offensive play and JJ chokes the life out of it whenever possible. Obviously taking too many gambles hurt the Pens this postseason, but one has to think that management realizes that JJ has been an anchor. Do you believe they feel that way?
Karp
2:28
Too bad the Pens didn't have Ian Moran for these playoffs.  They could have used his enthusiasm, right?!?!  The Pens looked like they were thinking about hitting the golf course instead of playing playoff hockey.  Your thoughts?
Jason Mackey
2:28
No, I don't. And one of reasons I think that is because they like some of the unquantifiable (or not perfectly quantifiable) things that JJ brings: physical, net-front, PK, etc. You can disagree on whether these things are valuable and probably do. But the organization really likes Jack -- or at least everything we hear says they do anyway -- and I have a tough time seeing him traded.
2:29
Yeah, definitely. Ian Moran would've fixed everything.
Hornqvist Fan
2:29
Jason, I just heard Phil Bourque with S. Savran, Just say the only emphatic way to get a message across to a player is to take playing time away.  He cited Boston sitting Pastrnak down in the 1st period against Toronto to send a message.  Sullivan hardly ever/never sent such messages to Kessel, Malkin, Letang, etc whenever players didn’t play the “right way” or we’re going thru the motions.  As a result, the same crap happened thru out the season/playoffs (SHGs, ill timed pinching, etc.).  If Sullivan doesn’t instill greater discipline & accountability then this team is doomed to the same results.   Other than trading all the offenders which won’t happen, then the coach & GM need to stop worrying about hurting Letang, Malkin, Kessel’s feelings.  I’m interested in your thought because you regularly defended not sitting these guys down.
Jason Mackey
2:30
I believe it was brought to me as in benching them for games or healthy scratching them or something like that, but if you're going to ding a guy's ice time for doing stupid stuff, I'm absolutely all for that. I'm also not about to disagree with Bourque.
Dr. Jungy Brogan
2:31
It’s not spelled out directly in this article from Gretz (https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2019/04/17/penguins-playoff-exit-was-two-yea...), but one can draw the assumption that since winning the ‘17 Cup, GMJR has been one of the game’s worst GMs. Would you agree with that sentiment, solely looking at the past 700 days or so?
Jason Mackey
2:31
I know. I wrote basically the same piece as Adam. I think a lot of us did: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/penguins/2019/04/18/For-Penguins-f...
C Man
2:31
So do the pens trade Malkin, Kessel and Letang to get a lot of younger speedier prospects?  If not all 3, which 2 are most likely?  It's time.
Jason Mackey
2:31
Why do we have to pick two? I would trade Phil and talk to the other two.
Guest
2:31
If you were the GM, who would you trade and what would you look to bring in?
Jason Mackey
2:32
I would trade Phil. I think Micheal Ferland would be an interesting add. I think they need to get a little tougher, a little younger and a little more structured. Ferland helps with those first two things, for sure.
Guest
2:32
Why do you think sully didn’t stick with McCann on Sid’s line? They seemed to play really well. There have been some reports that McCann has had an attitude problem in the past, that’s not something we’ve seen but could it have been a personality issue or is it just Sullys ever changing lines issue?
Jason Mackey
2:33
McCann is the complete opposite of an attitude problem here, trust me. I can't speak for how he was at other places, but he is about the nicest person you'll ever meet. I think Sully got away from it because he likes the idea of Rust's speed there and also Simon.
Guest
2:33
So sad the season is over .  I saw your comment you made to ponie which he tweeted that after game 3 you thought that some players were ready for the golf course.  As a fan that is really really upsetting .  Who do you think was checked out after game 3?
Jason Mackey
2:33
It just seemed like as a whole there wasn't enough want-to. They seemed down. I'm not going to single guys out.
Mattis
2:33
Schultz or Letang?  I think the pens should keep Schultz over Letang based on Tanger's "attitude" about not playing more responsible on the blue line.
Jason Mackey
2:34
You're assuming, one, they could trade Letang. Having them both also gives the Penguins a huge advantage and helps their forwards. But they need to get Letang to rein it in during important times.
Kevin
2:34
Why is Phil Kessel's name at the forefront when guys like Johnson, Hornqvist, Maatta, Gudbranson, etc. are all guys who, although they make less money, don't bring nearly as much bang for their buck?
Jason Mackey
2:34
Because other teams aren't stupid. Just because you say you're gonna trade a guy doesn't automatically give you a taker.
PM
2:34
I feel like everyone is taking the whole "changes are coming" thing way out of proportion by saying guys like Malkin and Letting will be dealt. Can you actually see either of these guys getting moved?
Jason Mackey
2:35
Very unlikely. I think it'll be Phil and a defenseman.
Kevin
2:35
Isn't it alarming that GMJR thinks this is the best defence he has had since coming here? I just don't see what he sees
Jason Mackey
2:35
Yes, it is. I don't see it either. The defense on other teams won Cups. This team couldn't win a playoff game. It's not better.
Anaheim’s #11
2:35
Since 2006, the Pens have just two of their top-round (1st and 2nd rd) picks left on the NHL roster, Blueger and Määttä, and the latter may be on the way out. Can you think of any other teams that built champions without adequately retaining or growing top talent?
Jason Mackey
2:36
Not off-hand, but a couple things ... they have had a ton of luck in the third round (Rust, Guentzel and Murray) and they've built around the same core, which is before the window you're creating.
Guest
2:37
Is it dangerous that a NHL GM seems to have become disconnected to the reality of his team? Best defense since GMJR has been here?? The team this year was: The Penguins this season by the way were:

26th in the NHL in total shots allowed (33.3 per game)
29th in total 5v5 Corsi events allowed
25th in total 5v5 Fenwick events allowed
16th in total 5v5 scoring chances allowed
17th in 5v5 high danger scoring chances allowed
Jason Mackey
2:37
I don't think this year's group is awful, but I can't put it ahead of the Cup-winning teams.
Kevin
2:37
Is there any possibility of GMJR being transitioned into a different role in the organization and having someone else assume the GM position?
Jason Mackey
2:37
No. You're overreacting, Kevin.
PM
2:37
By retooling, do you think the Pens are heading towards getting players for similar value (similar age, points, etc) or trading guys for younger pieces who can develop (kind of like MIN did with Donato and Fiala)?
Jason Mackey
2:38
I think you're gonna see a couple things here. One, trades to create cap space. Then some spending on players who will get the Penguins younger -- guys who may have produced some but will be getting a much better opportunity in Pittsburgh.
Steeler Joe
2:38
The most baffling thing for me was the seeming lack of life in this team throughout the season and into the postseason. There just seemed to be a gloom over them. Is it possible that all the roster moves and all the line juggling has just left the team befuddled? Without chemistry?
Jason Mackey
2:39
I think that's reasonable. It just wasn't the right mix. You can sense that early on.
Kim
2:39
Hi Jason! Who are the most likely candidates to be the Penguins' seventh defenseman next season?
Jason Mackey
2:39
I could see them retaining Zach Trotman ... although he's probably more of an eight for them. Maybe Riikola or Jack, too.
PM
2:39
What's your view on JJ's future? Still in Pens top 7 next season, traded in offseason, bought out or AHL roster?
Jason Mackey
2:40
Based on GMJR's public comments, I think he's still in Pittsburgh.
Guest
2:40
Jason, what’s your approach to when an athlete responds aggressively/defensively to a question you ask? Like your question to Letang (which I believe he took the wrong way). I know you want to de-escalate the situation, but I’m sure you want to stand firm with your journalistic integrity and stay with the question you asked. Hard balance
Jason Mackey
2:41
It's not hard at all. If I'm asking a question professionally and not in a showy way and articulating myself ... if someone gets mad, that's their problem. That's what we signed up for. My biggest worry is always being respectful and asking things in a way that makes sense, not that someone gets mad.
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