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Jason Mackey's Penguins chat: 11.2.17
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Jason Mackey
12:40
Hi folks. I'm sitting here at the Scotiabank Saddledome for the Flames skate. Gonna say this ahead of time, but I might be in and out a bit on this. After they skate, I'll have to duck into the dressing room. (No, Jagr isn't skating; I don't think he'll talk, either.) Also need to get back to my hotel and eat something at some point. Will do my best to stay up on everything here, though. As always, thanks for hanging out.
Alex
12:40
As currently constructed, do you believe this roster can make it all the way to the SCF? If not, what needs to be done?
Jason Mackey
12:41
Hey Alex. I do. If the D is healthy, very good. Great top-six. My question remains with the bottom-six. If they fall short, this is what I'd be looking at. If it doesn't improve, I think this is what GMJR has to concentrate on at the deadline.
Guest
12:41
In your opinion is the NHL trying to make it harder to three-pete by scheduling all these back to back games on the PENS. Scheduling luck, I BELIEVE not.
Jason Mackey
12:42
I don't know about specifically to threepeat, but they're certainly trying to achieve competitive balance, in my opinion. And that's not rare. NFL does the same stuff. But as Kris Letang pointed out recently, the Penguins also have the fewest miles traveled, I believe, and they don't jump time zones as much as other teams. So there are plusses and minuses all around.
Alex
12:42
I’m confused. Carl Hagelin who, admittedly, is not having any offensive upside right now, was recently scratched. But, besides that has played well. Yet, Ryan Reaves, who never had much offensive upside to begin with and is not really providing anything on the fourth line, is playing. Why? He hasn’t had to “deter” much at all.
Jason Mackey
12:44
I think Reaves was a smart play last night against Edmonton, with Lucic and some other guys who are a little bit nasty. Tonight? I'll be curious to see whether the Penguins go a different direction. I was a bit confused by the Hagelin scratch, but maybe it was because Archibald plays a similar game? Or just change for the sake of change for someone who appears to be fairly snake-bitten at the moment?
HB
12:44
Regardless how you feel about the reeves trade and the fact in my opinion we overpaid for him do you see him ever being a scratch? So someone who can play the pk can take his place.
Jason Mackey
12:45
I don't think they overpaid. What is Sundqvist doing right now? Limited offense. They can afford to lose him. First-round pick? Penguins rarely have those. I think we need to find a larger sample size before arriving at any sort of judgement regarding the Reaves deal.
HB
12:45
No really a question but an observation guentzal had a bad game but on the 5-3 he’s better suited than hornqvist. On that PP hornqvist found him self alone top of the shot and couldn’t get enough elevation on the puck and I think guentzal would be better for this. But keep hornqvist on the 5-4
Jason Mackey
12:46
I want Hornqvist on my top power play every day of the week. Five-on-three, with them firing away, I want Hornqvist in front. There's enough triggermen there.
HB
12:46
What arena so far has had the best music?
Jason Mackey
12:46
It's not used anymore but Joe Louis Arena. It was incredible. Similar at Little Caesers.
HB
12:48
Penguins have been awful during  back to back games but all of them have been road games so far do you think they would play better if it was at home?
Jason Mackey
12:48
Some of those games I think the Penguins would have lost in an alley or on a golf course they were so bad. But they have played considerably better at home. So, yeah, I think there may be some validity to that.
Pens4Life
12:49
Any chance JR could be looking for a backup goalie, or is the plan to ride Jarry in that role for a while? If he tanks, will they kick the tires on finding a replacement?
Jason Mackey
12:49
JR is in wait-and-see mode. If Jarry works out, no need. If he doesn't, then yeah, he knows he has to go get one. But I think the path of least resistance here is obviously for Jarry to step up and win the job. We'll see tonight, right
Pens4Life
12:49
Do you think Letang is getting too much ice time? With the benefit of hindsight, should he have been worked in a bit slower?
Jason Mackey
1:19
I think hindsight, like always, is 20/20. I'm not worried about Letang, to be honest. He's a great player. He's struggled. It happens. From talking to him the other day, it sounds very much like he's thinking too much out there and not relying on his instincts enough. I don't see how less ice time would improve that. If they had their top-six D healthy, maybe I could see using him less. But I'd rather let Letang work out his struggles than play Corrado or Trotman.
Pens4Life
1:19
I know it's only been a few games, but how do you assess Sheahan so far? Is he grasping the system?
Jason Mackey
1:19
He's been OK. Just OK. We were told a lot about his battle level down low. Haven't seen a ton. I also think he could be more assertive in the offensive zone. Seems like he's grasping things ... but also kind of easing into his role.
HB
1:19
Jason do you know how I can break in to the NHL front office jobs like do the Penguins have internships for that? Or ask Jim if they are looking to hire dashing and bright  20 year olds.
Jason Mackey
1:20
Yep, generally job in professional hockey are contingent upon asking. Nothing to do with starting out at the bottom, paying dues, making sacrifices and working your way up. Fire off an email. That should do the trick. :-)
Cindy
1:20
What do you make of the Hagelin scratch? Line shake-up, banged up, in the dog house? It was my impression he was playing fairly well, just not scoring. Thanks!
Jason Mackey
1:21
I don't think he's banged up. Dog house is probably a little strong. My belief is that it was to give Hagelin a different look, to maybe get him going offensively. Also, he and Archibald play similar games, and you had to get Archibald a game sooner or later.
Pens4Life
1:21
Anyone in WB lighting it up and possibly looking at a call up any time soon?
Jason Mackey
1:21
Daniel Sprong has been on a tear. I'd look for him in December perhaps.
Pens4Life
1:21
ETA on Hunwick's return to game action?
Jason Mackey
1:22
I'm thinking next Tuesday against Arizona. Has to practice with contact first.
HB
1:22
Did you watch the World Series? And were you rooting for anyone?
Jason Mackey
1:22
Not much. I was covering the game and writing on deadline. Didn't really matter to me, honestly.
OHIO412FAN
1:22
Jason, after listening to last nights game, the overall effort by the Pens was phenomenal. Although there are some things to tweak, like defense, penalty kills, etc. What do you think moving forward are the things to focus on improvement wise? This team always seems to find ways to bounce back. I’m not worried about them as a team throughout the season, the real question is whether the cards will fall their way in the playoffs in order to win another Stanley Cup?
Jason Mackey
1:24
They need to score more five-on-five. That's first and foremost. Need to get Letang right, better backup goaltending and more secondary scoring. That would be my short list.
Dev
1:24
Is it safe to say that Rust and Kessel have been two of the more consistent players so far this year? It’s so funny to me that so many people wanted to trade Kessel in the offseason and he’s been one of the only guys to bring it each night.
Jason Mackey
1:25
I don't know why anyone would've wanted to trade Phil coming off a 23-goal season. That's trading stock at its lowest point. Is Kessel going to finish out his contract here? I don't think so. But I'd keep him, hope he scores 30, let Sprong and ZAR develop more, then see what the market says. Rust has been consistent ... for awhile now. Kessel, too. Agree on that.
HB
1:25
I have an inside source and he told me there are no back to backs in the playoffs. Can you confirm or deny this?
Jason Mackey
1:25
Confirm.
caopall
1:25
Ruhwedel has played well. Has he played well enough to take Hunwick's spot as the 6th d-man once Shultz is ready to return?
Jason Mackey
1:25
No, he hasn't. They need Hunwick back. On the PK especially. Ruhwedel is a No. 7. And a very good one at that.
caopall
1:25
How did the refs justify calling at the same time two separate minor penalties against Guentzel last night? Theoretically, wouldn't play stop the moment he committed one or the other?
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