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Jason Mackey's Penguins chat: 11.21.18
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LA Matt
1:56
Is it time to just roll the dice with Murray? In other words, play him for five games in a row to get out of this funk rather than in one game, out the next?
Jason Mackey
1:56
That's what I would do, Matt, and it's what I wrote about for today's paper. You're losing without him. What's the difference if you lose with him? Let him find his game.
The Fan
1:56
Much was made of the cheering going on in the press box by the Jacksonville media in the earlier stages of the Steelers game.  Why is that viewed as a sin among others in the press box?  It seems many journalists these days like to think their friends with players, coaches and general managers.  Why not cheer for them when they perform well?
Jason Mackey
1:58
I don't view myself as friends with any of the players, coaches or members of the front office. Do I hope they respect me for my work ethic, accuracy, ability to do the job? Sure I do. But it's a professional relationship and some are different than others. I think that's a big misconception by fans. We are not fans. I don't care if they win or lose by 50. Makes zero difference in my way, and that's how it should be if you want honest, objective coverage. If you want EVERYTHING IS GREAT ALL THE TIME, read the team's coverage.
Matt in Cleveland
1:58
If the Pens don't bring up Jarry to see if he can have a better save pct than .877 because it screws up Murray's mind, maybe  the Pens should have hired Hitchcock!
Jason Mackey
1:59
Mike Sullivan is not the problem. And, um, Mario Lemieux isn't firing Sullivan for Ken Hitchcock. I think he just threw up in his mouth thinking about it.
LA Matt
1:59
Despite the two cups, does Rutherford deserve some blame for the team's current problems?  In other words, it seems like he brought in too many round pegs to fit in square holes and vice versa.
Jason Mackey
2:00
Sure. I think that's fair. His work the past two summers hasn't been good enough -- Niemi, Hunwick, Reaves, etc. They don't have enough depth right now ... or at least it looks like they don't. That doesn't mean Jim should be tarred and feathered on the spot, but thinking he's included in criticism of the team is more than fair.
Bob
2:00
Do you want my turkey legs?!  No one in my family eats them!!!  It's a shame they go to waste every year.
Jason Mackey
2:00
Who doesn't like turkey legs? C'mon, people.
Guest
2:00
Do you think the team would ideally like to move Kessel for some younger players, forward and D, if it looks like they’ll be out of the playoff hunt?
Jason Mackey
2:01
No, I don't. I don't think his teammates would like it. I don't think the fan base would like it. He's also been one of the best and most consistent point producers this season. But GMJR needs to make good business decisions and arguably more of them. If he gets an offer for Kessel where he can turn Phil into a couple younger players who are cost-controlled, then yeah, I think that would be smart to entertain. However, there's no indication that deal is there to be had.
Joeco
2:01
yours thoughts on this...it seems to me the penguins are in a chase the puck vs go where it's going to be...  they seem behind the eight ball on both ends....
Jason Mackey
2:02
It's not wrong, but that's a really narrow depiction of what's going on. They need to be smarter with the puck. If they don't give it away -- looking at you Olli Maatta -- then they obviously would have it more.
Steven
2:02
In Friedman's 31 Thoughts he just put out, he talks that the Penguins were trying get Brandon Montour. I obviously see the desire to get Montour, but can you confirm that desire at all, and what the Penugins were willing to give up to get it done?
Jason Mackey
2:03
I've been doing this and covering the skate, and I'm not going to go knocking on doors over interest in Brandon Montour on a game day ... but I have no reason to dispute Elliotte's reporting. He's one of the best, if not the best. What I can you now, though, is this: JIm expresses interest on a lot of guys. Doesn't mean he's aggressively making offers all the time. But he's on the phone a lot with other GMs, and lately I know he's been checking even more than normal. So it doesn't surprise me.
Mario
2:03
If Rutherford is going to stay quiet and not pull the trigger on a trade, what is going to happen with Sprong?  I would still like to see him with better players on his line and see him moved from the dreaded 4th line.  But doesn't seem likely due to HCMS.  Could Rutherford pull rank and instruct Sullivan to play Sprong on another line?
Jason Mackey
2:05
Yeah, he could. And I don't think we're far off from that. I think it's been a bit of a back-and-forth with those two. Rutherford wants Sprong to play with more skilled people and can accept if it's not with Crosby or Malkin. Sullivan hasn't view Sprong as one of the club's best 12 forwards a decent amount of the time lately. I feel like something has to give here. Either play him with someone like Brassard or trade him.
Guest
2:05
Do you think JR might be interested in trading for a veteran backup goalie like Ryan Miller in Anaheim?
Jason Mackey
2:05
No, I don't. I think they're fine with the goalies they have. They have bigger fish to fry.
Gus
2:06
Jason, I cannot wrap my head around the similarities that are starting to come to light between Bylsma and Sullivan - ignoring top talent (Sprong, Pouliot, Bennett) and instead playing average 4th liners (Adams, Talbot, Rupp, Grant, Cullen, Wilson, etc). I also feel that Sullivan, like Bylsma, is unable to change his game plan as other teams catch on. Sullivan was all about speed, but we are no longer the fastest team in the NHL. I know he has 2 Cups, but I think Tocchet played a large part in those. I think with Quenville on the market, he has to be on a shorter leash?
Jason Mackey
2:07
He's not, and I wouldn't get rid of HCMS, either. I wouldn't even think about it. Sullivan has tried, trust me. And it's not a matter of being ill-equipped. It's execution, and the Penguins are costing themselves by being sloppy. ... Also, you're describing pretty much every hockey coach ever when you saw they trust some safer players more than the risky ones. Perhaps it comes from the hockey-ism that fires coaches like every other day.
Mark
2:07
Craig Custance in The Athletic earlier this week wrote an article saying there is a whisper if the Pens do not turn it around, they may "work" to get into the chase for the #1 pick to choose Jack Hughes.  He didn't outright say they would tank it, but.....What are your thoughts on this theory?
Jason Mackey
2:08
What would they do, rig the lottery system? Throw games while having a payroll at the cap ceiling that includes a couple of future Hall of Famers? C'mon.
GuestSC
2:08
Freddie Tiffels seemed to be  highly ranked on the organizational depth chart.  Things apparently did not end well.  Can you shed any light on what happened there?
Jason Mackey
2:08
I think Tiffels wanted to play in his native Germany and didn't see a clear path to the NHL with the Penguins' big club. Simple as that.
Jeff
2:08
Is Riley Sheahan cooked? Sure seems like it.
Jason Mackey
2:09
He's not adding much, I'll give you that. Offensively, you can't even say that he's getting a bunch of chances and getting robbed. Right now anyway it looks like they were very smart to only do a one-year deal with him.
Guest
2:09
Do you think Murray seeing less game time is in part due to his attitude towards the situation? https://pittsburghhockeynow.com/pittsburgh-penguins-16050-2/ It's hard just getting bits and could be reading into it, but he also denied a request to talk to the media last week and the in linked article his responses seem a bit curt. Does it seem like behind the scenes he isn't handling the situation as best as he could be and that is frustrating Sullivan? Seemed liked last game was a good transition to get him back into the net
Jason Mackey
2:11
Hard to say. Murray being uninterested in talking about anything isn't unique. He's done the same through successful playoff runs, too, so I don't know if I would read too much into that. I was there for all of it and found it quite humorous. And yeah, he said last week I think it was that he "had to be outta here in 8 minutes and couldn't stick around." This was amid a run of gamedays (where he doesn't talk) and off-days (where we don't have access to him) so you think this would be the time, but he didn't want to talk. I don't fault him. I think he's ticked off at a lot of things, and I think he should be. Does that mean he's not handling it right? I don't know. Nobody made me the judge of handling stuff right or wrong. I just think the guy needs to play better than he has.
Guest
2:11
Sidney Crosby one for one for Connor McDavid, who says no? :P
Jason Mackey
2:11
Me, for one.
guest
2:11
HIndsight is easy and maybe a change of scenery has been good, but it looks like they should have kept Sheary, he is producing more than any of our bottom six.  I think they miss his youthful excitement.
Jason Mackey
2:12
Yeah, I think that's a reasonable point. Don't know what you got 'till it's gone right? He seems to be doing quite well in Buffalo. Good for him. ... Although given his slumps and inconsistent performance over the past two seasons, I can see moving him, too.
Norm
2:12
Jason, do the Pens still have their 2019 #1 pick?  And if so, do you think they go after the best available forward, defense man, goalie?
Jason Mackey
2:13
They do, yes, but I don't think you can target one position. Need to take the best player available given the dearth of talent right now in their system.
Reggie dunlop
2:13
Bonino is +12 though and he isn’t playing with anyone as dangerous as Kessel in fake country and western land.  Didn’t they just pay Jack Johnson 16 million?
Jason Mackey
2:13
They did. They also play different positions, have different contract lengths and came up for free agency at different times.
guest
2:13
It seems Jack Johnson is the unluckliest player, he is on the ice for goals but usually seems to be in the right position and at least covering his man which is more than I can say for some of his teammates.  Case in point in Buffalo game when shot goes off his skate, he was on his man in the crease.
Jason Mackey
2:14
Guess I agree with some of that, but there's also awareness involved. I'm not sure if I would read anything into that sequence good or bad. Just fluky. My stance on Jack has been if he's a third-pairing guy, I'm cool with it ... and we'll worry about length of contract later. I stand by that.
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