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Jason Mackey's Penguins chat: 05.02.19
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Jason Mackey
1:23
I wouldn't do a ton, honestly. I would move Phil and Olli. I'd try to get another Jared McCann -- a young, energetic, top-six forward. Someone like Micheal Ferland from Carolina I think would fit here. But I wouldn't trade Malkin. I wouldn't trade Letang.
George
1:23
Are the Penguins likely to bring back Matt Cullen? if yes what would they do with Blueger(he has proven to be much better a centre than wing).
Jason Mackey
1:24
I don't think they're going to bring back Cullen. I also question whether he even wants to play. But Rutherford has already said Blueger will be in the top 12. That basically means the end of the road for Cullen here. One would think anyway.
George
1:24
Any chance of Penguins going for PK Subban?
Jason Mackey
1:24
That would certainly change things up, but no, I don't see that happening.
George
1:24
Who are the Penguins looking at in terms of UFA's if any?
Jason Mackey
1:25
I think it's a little early to start seeing names, but I know Micheal Ferland was someone they liked around the trade deadline. Have to imagine he's a possibility in free agency, too.
Southern Penguin
1:25
Jason, love your chats and your articles in the PG. From what you and others have written since the sweep there seems to be a consensus that there was a failure of communication or “buy-in” between HCMS and some key members of his team on how he expected them to play and also an issue between GMJR and HCMS on personnel.  If those situations are as they’ve been portrayed and not simply an overreaction to the playoff loss is it not incumbent on ownership to step in and more or less demand that everyone start rowing the boat in the same direction?
Jason Mackey
1:26
Thank you for the kind words. I don't think Mario and Burkle need to do anything. One, they're hands-off owners to start. If they start meddling now, I don't know if that would play well, nor do they want to. Two, I don't think GMJR and HCMS were that far apart. Do they have stuff to improve upon? Absolutely. They got swept. Everybody has stuff to improve upon. But I don't think there's some sort of gulf between them.
George
1:26
What is a realistic return for Phil Kessel, would trading him even be worth it?
Jason Mackey
1:27
Return-wise, you're not looking so much at players you get back as you are the cap space created/achieved.
And yes, I think you could move Phil.
Andrew from Long Island
1:27
Rumors of Murray getting extended.... Def seems like a building block for now and future Penguin teams... Think GMJR would even consider trading him as the return could be potentially huge and play Jarry?
Jason Mackey
1:27
Not at all. He's an indispensable part of this team in the GM's mind.
Mark
1:28
What is Carolina doing that has the Islanders so baffled? Does this make the Pens issues bigger that expected?
Jason Mackey
1:29
I don't know if they're doing anything overly complex, but they are attacking the Islanders the way you need to -- simple, responsible plays, being willing to dump the puck in and not turn it over and giving them freebies. Carolina has been very ... not careful but maybe call it diligent with the puck. It has helped them. And they've converted on their chances. Penguins did not.
Christian
1:29
Hi Jason, it’s become apparent that one of the bigger goals of the offseason is to have the players listen to Sullivan. How does the organization begin to accomplish that and do you think they will be successful in this goal?
Jason Mackey
1:30
I agree with you that one of the biggest goals has to be for players to listen to Sullivan. And their route of getting them to do that is interesting -- saying they need to listen again instead of just firing the coach, the way other NHL teams probably would. I would imagine that this sort of embarrassment would help. If it doesn't, if they're still stubborn, I'd look at getting new players.
GPT
1:31
Jason, have you heard GMJR take any sort of responsibility for making the Pens slower and less talented the past 2 years? He's fired a bunch of shots at the players (some of it deservedly so), but he is the one that has put this roster together.
Jason Mackey
1:32
He's made mention that we're in all in this together, but he does not believe speed has played a huge factor ... at least not his team having too little of it. GMJR has framed it more as how they play the game and how quickly they move the puck. He thinks they're fast enough; they just didn't play a fast enough game, if that makes sense.
Stinkpot
1:32
Do you foresee any WB/S Penguins moving to the big club next year?
Jason Mackey
1:33
I think Ethan Prow will probably get a shot. I don't know if you want to count Juuso Riikola with that group, but he's another one. Also look for Adam Johnson, Sam Lafferty and Anthony Angello to get a long look in training camp, although I think they'll start the season in the AHL.
Christian
1:33
Jason, something that I don’t believe that has been talked about enough is how the Penguins could potentially draft an immediate impact player in the first round. From where they are picking in the draft and knowing how deep this draft is how likely do you think that is?
Jason Mackey
1:35
I think it's possible, but I don't know if it's likely. If they were in the top five, yeah, I think it's possible. But the first round has about a half-dozen guys who can immediately make the leap. Four of five of those are usually the first guys off the board, then one or two other surprises.
Johnal
1:35
Seeing the report from John Shannon that Francis hasn’t outright ruled out a return to hockey management, do you think the Penguins might want his services come July 1st when his deal with Carolina expires?
Jason Mackey
1:36
It's been my understanding that Francis has some family ties to the Raleigh area that might preclude him from taking a job where he would have to move. Maybe that has changed. If it has, then yeah, I think Rutherford would love to have Francis. But at one point he did sorta need to stay down there, as I understood things.
Jeff H
1:36
JM- I think ppl realize u could never replace 58/71 value to this team and will never get close to trade value back for either of them and the Pens become a much worse team. But Pens must rid themselves of 73- anyway/anyhow.
Jason Mackey
1:37
I'm not going to absolve Jack Johnson of blame here, but c'mon, with everything that went wrong with the Penguins this season, we're using trading Jack as the ticket to the promised land? I think there's some unnecessary vitriol being spilled here. He's a third-pairing defenseman.
Christian
1:37
Jason, can you see this core, maybe except for Kessel, winning one more cup?
Jason Mackey
1:37
Yes, I absolutely can.
Colonel Sanders
1:37
What's your favorite flavor of Blizzard at DQ?
Jason Mackey
1:38
Love Blizzards. And true story: We always go to Rossi's parents' Dairy Queen. Salted caramel truffle every day of the week, please.
Athletic
1:38
"We're coming to get you Barbara" - The Athletic
Jason Mackey
1:38
My name's not Barbara, nor will you have much luck.
Jake
1:38
Any legitimacy to Malkin being open to being traded to Florida and NYR? Saw it on a rumor site so obviously I have my doubts but you never know as well. Also, with Guentzel’s yearly progression, shouldn’t he be considered one the “untouchables”? He seems to get better every year, he and Crosby have undeniable chemistry, is probably Sid’s best linemate in his time in Pittsburgh.
Jason Mackey
1:40
Yeah, I don't see a scenario where Guentzel gets moved. That would be dumb. I could see Malkin being OK with getting moved to Florida or NYR. He lives in Miami. They're supposed to load up. I've seen them linked to Panarin and Bobrovsky. Having another Russian or two in a low-pressure market where you spend your summers? Wouldn't be the worst thing. Also believe that Malkin, along with many NHL players, loves Manhattan. Have a tough time seeing Malkin fit into the Rangers' rebuilding plans, though.
Pens7297
1:40
I know this will be brought up far too many times in this chat, but maybe it really is time to let Malkin go. I think people are too hung up on him being a franchise player and whatnot and using that as an excuse for not trading him. I don’t think he’ll ultimately get traded, but why is everyone so hellbent on keeping a moody player who seems to only play well when he wants to play well? People keep saying that it was just a rough year for him, blah blah blah; however, he’s had several rough years in the past and we’ve all seen that he’s capable of flipping a switch and going from meh to WOW in a matter of a game. He didn’t do that this season even after he acknowledged his poor play multiple times. Between that and his attitude, why give him yet another chance when he’s done this time and time again?
Jason Mackey
1:41
My argument would be because you don't let someone like Evgeni Malkin go for nothing. I think the Penguins are smart for putting all options on the table. They got their butts kicked. They should look at everything. But think of it from a business perspective: You're selling one of your biggest assets at perhaps its lowest point. Ron Burkle didn't make oodles of money doing stuff like that.
GPT
1:41
Is the organization not down on Jack Johnson because they think he's a good player, or because they're still defending his signing? Because if it's the former.....
Jason Mackey
1:42
I think it's more that they think he's useful in his role. You might disagree, but they -- from everything any of us has heard -- have no issue with some of his analytics. It's more of an eye-test thing and valuing the person.
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