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Jason Mackey's Penguins chat: 10.26.17
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Pens4Life
12:52
Jason: Any more chatter in the rumor mill after the Sheahan signing? Injuries starting to pile up. Is the plan to tap into WB or is JR shopping for needs?
Jason Mackey
12:53
The rumor mill? Is this an actual place. ... Nothing much in the way of chatter. Hunwick will be back soon. Don't have enough of a grasp on Schultz; concussions make that very, very hard. But I don't think GMJR is shopping for a defenseman if that's way you're asking.
Joe
12:54
Jason, the line combinations are god awful. I don't understand why Sullivan insists on keeping Sid and the Kids line together despite the fact they've shown this early in the season to have defensive problems. They have a chance to get outworked by a heavy Winnipeg team too. Why does Sullivan refuse to see that Hornqvist is actually the best RW for Sid? I've heard Sid doesn't like playing with him. Is that true? If so, Sullivan should say too bad Sid, it's a combination that works. Also, when will he give Kessel a chance to work with Sheahan? They need to spread the offense out to three lines and Malkin and Kessel also seem like they are on different pages much of the time
Jason Mackey
12:55
Joe, I think you need to exhale, my friend. ... Let's let Sheahan play more than one game for the Penguins before we start saying he needs new linemates. 62-15-72 was fine last game, and Kessel & Malkin combined on the game-winner. I do think they'll tinker with Sheahan and Kessel together. I get what you're saying on the three scoring lines, but I don't think there's any sense of urgency there, either. You're right on Sid and Hornqvist. It also hasn't worked with Malkin. Best remaining case has Sid and the Kids or Sid, Guentzel and Rust together on the top line.
Joe
12:56
I love Bengtsson's game and he has been playing real well in WBS. He's a RD who has the skill set to replace Schultz. Why wasn't he called up instead of Corrado?
Jason Mackey
12:56
They would like to see Bengtsson develop more. Corrado has more/some NHL experience. Calling up Bengtsson, when he's just going to sit, would disrupt his development.
Joe
12:56
Do you think the Pens will be in the market for another center before the deadline? Maybe one with higher offensive skills than Sheahan. I like Sheahan but he had no shots on goal the last game and that's his MO
Jason Mackey
12:57
I think they're going to wait and see. I wouldn't rule it out, but Sheahan is a project; we need more than one game to evaluate. If they're getting no bottom-six offense by the deadline ... yeah, I think they will try to upgrade the center spot, provided there are options out there.
Sarah
12:57
Future consideration, Jason
Jason Mackey
12:58
Generally a vague term for contingency picks. For example, if Team X makes the playoffs, Team Y gets a first-rounder. If Team X misses the playoffs, Team Y gets a second-rounder. The bigger terms are generally announced. When it's, say, a seventh-rounder, it's not. Or it can be a combination of picks/players.
guest
12:59
Jason, you were so right about Ollie Matta, he is having a great season.  I never understood why people have been so hard on him, he has made mistakes but so do all players.  Given his young age and all he has been through, he is someone fans should be rallying behind, not criticizing and running out of town!
Jason Mackey
1:00
I'm not going to collect my prize yet, but I have said that he looks different and I'm expecting his best season since his rookie year. I think people forget that beat reporters are around these guys EVERY DAY. We don't just watch on TV. Sad it is sometimes is, this is our life. Olli is having an excellent year. Sullivan said yesterday he thinks Maatta's confidence is "at an all-time high." Heck of a statement right there.
caopall
1:00
ally
Jason Mackey
1:01
I've liked that line. I think it has some personality, and I think with Sheahan in the middle they have a chance to produce. If Hagelin keeps shooting -- his numbers are up there -- and can create some rebounds for Hornqvist, I think that line has the possibility of being very good.
guest
1:01
I feel bad for Scott Wilson, he went from playing on the second line in the Stanley cup, to watching Reaves play 3 to 6 minutes a game while he was in the press box, to going to a team with no chance for the playoffs.  Why did he fall so far out of favor?
Jason Mackey
1:02
Wilson had the tendency of disappearing, taking too many shifts where he did nothing. Was never sure if it was mental or physical. There would be times -- last postseason, for instance -- where he hits everything that moves. Other times where he shows some goal-scoring touch. Just too many times where he disappears. Finding consistency is so hard. And on a good team, there's rarely the opportunity to wait for guys to do it.
Dev
1:02
During the 15-16 playoffs the Pens were lethal with their breakout passes, seems like every offensive possession started with a crisp pass up center ice for a breakaway (exaggerating a little bit). The defense is similar to what it was then, but why haven’t they been able to get back to that kind of puck moving?
Jason Mackey
1:04
Interesting question, Dev. I will say I think the breakouts have been improved on the whole with Kris Letang back, but I know what you're saying: It's not what it was. ... To get back to answering, though, it's probably a combination of things. From other teams adjusting, to different personnel (I'll take a healthy Trevor Daley over Chad Ruhwedel, no offense to Chad) to consistency in their overall game, which hasn't always been there this season.
guest
1:04
Thanks so much for doing these chats, my favorite part is when you give off the ice/behind the scenes insight that fans might not otherwise hear about.  Are the players close off the ice /do they tend to hang out in their free time?  Who would you say are the biggest personalities in the locker room?
Jason Mackey
1:06
I love doing these. And I love when I get questions that aren't standard hockey, believe me. ... Yes, these guys do all hang out. Sometimes in weird clicks, too. Like Crosby and Maatta hang out a lot. You usually hear about Sheary, Rust, Kuhnhackl and Wilson (when he was here). Guentzel is kind of a loner. Letang's all over the place with who he hangs with. ... Biggest personalities? Reaves, Cole ... Malkin when he wants to be. Kessel is always good for a laugh.
caopall
1:06
Right out of the gate, the Sheanan, Hornqvist, Hagelin line looked like it will be an effective checking line, generally tough to play against and capable of GRINDING out some long shifts. Not sure if those long shifts will translate into more than the occasional dirty goal (Hagelin and Hornqvist just aren't that good skating with the puck). Are long shifts and the occasional goal enough for the 3rd line?
Jason Mackey
1:07
Sorry caopall, I think I answered an iteration of this before. Third line needs to score more, and I think these guys are capable. They also need to be responsible defensively, but Sullivan doesn't necessarily believe in a tradition, shutdown third line.
Guest
1:07
when you hear about trading players, Matta's name always seemed to get mentioned.  Why is it him over other defensemen like Dumolin or Schultz?
Jason Mackey
1:07
No clue. I don't know why we keep hearing Maatta's name in the first place. None of the three should be traded, but that hasn't stopped people from wanting to do it.
caopall
1:07
Ruhwedel stepped in and stepped up the other night. Can we expect the same from Trotman (and maybe Corrado)? What is\are Trotman's strengths? What is the scouting report?
Jason Mackey
1:08
Trotman is a bigger guy. Can hit some. Makes the safe place. An OK skater. He might mix it up some. Trotman strikes me as a bright guy. One of the things that has led to Ruhwedel's success is that he knows his limits. i think Trotman is similar. That goes along way when filling in back there -- not over-exposing yourself to anything.
TheTrout
1:08
Hey, Jason. the Corrado trade was a head scratcher for which I never heard adequate explanation. Did we really give up Eric Fehr AND Steve Oleksy AND a fourth-rounder for this guy? Is he seen as one of those unlimited-potential guys, or was JR just desperate to dump Fehr's modest salary? The two games Corrado was up last year, he looked bewildered by the sport of hockey.
Jason Mackey
1:10
I think they viewed Oleksy as expendable, and they wanted to dump Fehr's salary. In hindsight I think they would probably like to have Fehr as the 4C right now, but you do what you have to do at the time. ... I'm going to refrain calling Corrado a success or failure. I've seen him play so little. He's a young defenseman that they're trying to revive a bit. That takes time. I think we still may be in the process of that. I.e. Let's try to hold our judgement.
Guest
1:10
Do you think the Pens SHOULD try to re-sign Hornqvist before the trade deadline, and if they can't, should they move to trade him?  I like him a lot and we don't have any players like him, but is he a fit on this team if he's not playing with Sid or Geno and is commanding 5+ million per year salary?
Jason Mackey
1:11
I think they should try. I don't think they'll be successful. If I'm Hornqvist -- where I've scored consistently, won two Cups and can hit the market in a serious position of strength -- why wouldn't I cash in? Teams overpay for players all the time. I'm not talking about going to a junk team, but if I'm him, you better believe I'm going to see what the offers are before I commit to anything, especially if it's going to be my last big contract.
Guest
1:11
Why doesn't Sullivan try to run three scoring lines again, as he'd ideally like, by playing Hagelin-Sheahan-Kessel as the third line?
Jason Mackey
1:11
He might. Sheahan has had one game here. How much tinkering do you want him to do during the guy's first game?
OHIO412FAN
1:11
Jason, with the Pens looking very solid overall as of now, one weak spot for them is Goaltending. How will they shake that out? Will Jarry and DeSmith emerge as solid goalies behind Murray? Injuries are looking problematic for them right now. Any updates on Hunwick and g
Jason Mackey
1:13
Hunwick has been skating on his own. I'm thinking next Wednesday in Edmonton for him. Reason: Doubt they practice tomorrow. He'll need to practice, take contact and respond to gain proper clearance. Can't do that with a (possible/likely) day off, then back-to-backs and another day off. I think maybe Hunwick takes Saturday's morning skate, adds contact Tuesday at practice and returns Wednesday. Again, just my (informed) opinion.
OHIO412FAN
1:13
Sorry for the typo. Are you seeing any interesting developments amongst the Pens prospect pool going on right now?
Jason Mackey
1:14
Daniel Sprong and Zach Aston-Reese. Funny how those work, huh? ZAR has been really quiet. As for Sprong, I'll have something more on him tomorrow, but he's killing it down there. To the point where, if this keeps up, then he's going to make it very tough for management in December if the Penguins are struggling to score; soon there will talk of Sprong's promotion. They are very happy with him right now.
OHIO412FAN
1:14
What do the Penguins need to do in order to achieve the quest for a three-peat? Anything you think they could improve on right now?
Jason Mackey
1:15
Sure, plenty. Backup goaltending has to be better. They need to allow fewer shots on goal, which they could do by improving their overall team defense and puck management. PK has become wobbly again. They've stunk on the second night of back-to-backs and haven't played terribly well on the road. There's a few things anyway.
HB
1:15
Well it was fun while it lasted but pens injured season is upon us I have no doubt they will overcome but it be nice if important players would stop getting hurt.
Jason Mackey
1:16
Ha. As Mike Sullivan would say, it's a belligerent game.
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