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Jason Mackey's Penguins chat: 11.8.18
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Ryan
1:22
Hi Jason.  Thanks for the great Pens coverage.
Jason Mackey
1:22
Thank you for the kind words, Ryan.
MA
1:22
Thanks!  I get the value Hags or Rust may have but they are the fastest guys on a team that is moving slow. Would we be able to replace that speed?
Jason Mackey
1:22
Probably not, honestly. And it's probably why I doubt they'll be dealt.
Pens4Life
1:23
Jason: I think it was Starkey who made a good point the other day, and that is there are few players with defined roles on this roster like there were on the Cup winning teams. It’s kind of a plug-them-in-and-see-how-they-fit model right now, and if that doesn’t work, try them somewhere else. Do you agree, because something is clearly wrong?
Jason Mackey
1:24
Joe Starkey has never made a good point in his life. ... Ha, I'm just kidding. I love Joe. ... He's completely right. Good teams have clearly defined roles and objectives. I think the Penguins have neither right now. They have a good top pair (Dumoulin and Letang) and what else? They have two good lines but what else? There's no depth. It might be on the roster, but they're not getting production commensurate with contracts, and the result has been very little cohesion.
Pens4Life
1:24
Zero goals for Sprong. Obviously, that’s an issue, but do you think Sullivan keeps him on the ice in hopes he breaks out, or because GMJR wants it? As has been implied, coach would (seemingly) rather not play him at all, but he does have a boss to report to.
Jason Mackey
1:25
Yeah, I think in Sullivan's world, Sprong would've been shipped out long ago. And I think if Jim gets a decent offer, that's what happens. But how many teams are clamoring for a fourth-liner who's a healthy scratch? That said, if Sprong doesn't get moved out, why not try him? What do you have to lose? And who cares if he struggles on defense. If he can score, heck, nobody else is right now.
huh
1:25
Where do you envision Sprong putting up 20-25 goals in the remainder of the season? Great hot take for Reddit, not sure if it’s a good look for the local beat reporter.
Jason Mackey
1:26
I don't look at Reddit, and I'm not sure why we're calling it a "hot take." I'm relaying a concern of management, one of the reasons why -- from what I've been told -- Rutherford may wait a while before doing anything, if ever.
Pens4Life
1:28
You’ve often discussed how hockey players are, generally, very approachable and media-friendly, but have you ever had any pull you aside off the record and tell you they weren’t particularly pleased with anything you’ve ever written? Anyone from the organization ever say anything in that regard?
Jason Mackey
1:32
Hmm ... good question. But honestly, no. I tweeted something last year about who was/wasn't talking and caught some crap for it, but that's about it. They're professional about it. And some will do it, I'm not saying it doesn't happen. But it's very, very rare.
Uncle Dizzle
1:32
Who would win in a fight, Scary Terry or Pickle Rick?
Jason Mackey
1:32
Scary Terry based on the Google search I just performed.
Matt in Cleveland
1:33
How big of a splash can GMJR make?  Big (example, and I’m not advocating) Dumo+ for Nylander.  Or small (Hagelin + for younger Hagelin)
Jason Mackey
1:33
I would probably rule out your "Big" splash. Really doubt that'll happen. I think the second one is more reasonable, although I'll get Jim starts smaller and sees what happens.
Lord of Carson
1:33
It is being slightly out of line to worry the Pens become the latter day Red Wings of Zetterberg/Datsyuk?  Those two good enough to keep the team out of true despair but not bad enough to be able to draft young studs to help and thus "floating " if u will?
Jason Mackey
1:34
I think it's a little premature to start thinking like that. Had they not had the Canadian swing, maybe. But this group is capable of playing well. They just need to do it a lot more consistently than they have.
Uncle Dizzle
1:34
Why doesn’t HCMS stick with line combos for more than 5 mins? I think some of these combos could work if given a chance to gel a bit.
Jason Mackey
1:35
I think that's a fair criticism. I think he gets antsy because he wants to see something. Seems like he cooled it a little earlier in the year, but we're back to a ton of shuffling and Sullivan trying everything within his power to get a spark. This isn't easy for Sullivan either. The dude cares A LOT. He puts in a ton of time and isn't at all cool with what is transpiring. I think the line shuffling is his way of doing something about it.
Jerry
1:35
If you replaced Sullivan on the bench, which center would you select to give Sprong the best opportunity to demonstrate whether he is NHL ready, Malkin or Crosby?
Jason Mackey
1:36
I would try both, honestly, Jerry. But probably Crosby. I think he's a little easier to play with for young guys. I think he's more responsible, and it might not lead to horrible defensive numbers as easily. But I would honestly want to take a look at both. You never know.
Lord of Carson
1:36
Why doesn't Hagelin score more in your opinion?  It seems his playoff game is another level from the regular season
Jason Mackey
1:37
I think that's a problem much bigger than this season. With Hagelin's speed and smarts, if he had the finishing ability of say, Phil Kessel, he'd be an $8 million-a-year star. It's like asking why cornerbacks don't play wide receiver, though. The hands just aren't the same.
Pens Fan
1:37
Jason, your coverage is “best in class.”   This is the 2nd year in a row for this team to show up uninspired. Last year they had an excuse.  This year there is no excuse.  The GM needs to shake this team up beyond a couple call ups & add a top defenseman. I’m tired of paying top ticket prices to watch a team sleep walk thru home games.  Thanks
Jason Mackey
1:38
Thank you for the kind words, and I don't blame you. If I was paying $150/game or whatever to see a team that looked like it didn't care, I would be livid. I don't blame you folks at all for voicing your displeasure, especially when it looks to, at least at times, be effort-related.
Jeff Houston
1:38
Pens Trade ; LD- Maatta , C- Sheahan, RW- Sprong, LD- Lauzon, & 19' - 1st rdr       -     To Flordia   -  For C/RW- Trocheck, RD- Petrovic , RW- Malign ,& 19' - 4th rdr
Jason Mackey
1:39
Why would Florida give up Vince Trocheck -- an All-Star -- for a defenseman who struggles to skate, a center who doesn't score, a winger who's not in the lineup, a defenseman who's hurt ... this is all of our bad players for all of your good players. C'mon, Jeff.
FR
1:39
Say in ain't so Mackey.  Is Sullivan losing the team?  Has he already lost the team?
Jason Mackey
1:40
I don't think he's losing the team. I honestly don't. Unless he lost them because Vancouver and here, and that would be incredibly quick. I think the pendulum swung a little far with the Islanders and Devils debacles. They played decent last night. Just didn't get the result. I think things may be a little stale. I agree there. But they're not tuning him out, trust me.
Mike
1:40
Do you feel as though hagelin signs elsewhere next year if he's not traded? Also how do you feel about letang Johnson combo. Don't love it personally.
Jason Mackey
1:42
I hate the combo, first off. I would go Dumoulin and Letang and juice everything I can from them. Johnson wasn't brought here to be a top-pairing defense, because he's not a top-pairing defender. He's playing out of position. ... The other part, no, I don't think Hagelin signs here. I think he moves on, primarily because someone else is going to be willing to pay him more than they Penguins will.
Steven
1:42
Personally, I didn't love Rutherford coming out in the media the way he did against the team. I understand that he's always prone to being candid, and that's fair, but it's also very early in the season. They did have a very good Canada trip, and in their current losing streak, have played 2 very good games (@NYI, @WSH). I think it's a little early to be yelling in the media about how terrible things are. I especially feel his criticism of Rust was unfair, considering Rust has been snakebitten. He's got a good process going on (scoring chance, possession stats suggest this), just is unlucky right now. How did the team respond to these comments from JR?
Jason Mackey
1:43
I'm not sure, Steven. I wasn't in Washington. (Yesterday was actually my wife's due date, so I had some trips Matt had to take.) And the club is off today. I will be interested to hear how they respond to them or what they think. It's certainly scathing criticism. I'm not sure if I think it's too much. He's their boss, and he can say what he wants. You don't like it, play better. But yeah, some of the stuff was strange. Even Hagelin. He's not converting, but don't tell me he's changed his game or something like that. Pardon the quadruple negative there.
Dan
1:45
Let’s face it..sports is cyclical..This Penguin team is trending downward. Just watching other teams around the league and suddenly we may be in the middle of the pack...what worries me the most is the goaltending..Murray has been below average all year and is injury prone...I guess my question is at what point do you think about selling?
Jason Mackey
1:46
I think we're still a ways off from that, Dan, assuming you mean to tear it all down. They have Crosby, Malkin, Letang and Kessel -- plus Hornqvist et. all -- under contract for a while longer. I don't think they're going to shred all of that over a five-game winning streak in November. It's frustrating, yes, but I think saying the window has closed is a little harsh.
Jerry
1:46
Might there be a flaw in the Sullivan system that encourages a player like Maata to pinch, forcing Kessel to cover for him (happened in a recent game)?
Jason Mackey
1:47
I don't agree with that, Jerry. In the NHL these days, you have to get an extra man involved in the attack. The forwards have to be better covering for the defensemen when it happens, and the defensemen have to be more calculated about when they do it. But I don't think it's Mike Sullivan's system's fault.
John
1:47
Do you think the coach has lost faith in Murray, since DeSmith is getting more starts ?
Jason Mackey
1:48
I don't think Sullivan has lost faith in Murray, but i do think he thinks DeSmith is giving the team the best chance to win right now. And given their situation -- in dire needs of points to snap out of this -- he doesn't have time to monkey around with Murray's confidence. I'd say he goes back to DeSmith on Saturday.
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