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Jason Mackey's Penguins chat: 12.14.17
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Jason Mackey
1:28
Sure. And that's a really good question. It's tough to judge, honestly. Letang doesn't face the same pressure in practice, so that's almost impossible. Yes, Hagelin does score at a normal rate in practice. His inability to finish has been as befuddling to me as it has been to you guys as it has been to him.
Tristan Karlsson
1:28
Give a me a scenario that enables the Penguins to trade for my cousin (Erik) and free him from the cheapskates in Ottawa?
Jason Mackey
1:28
Not sure. But I'm pretty sure it involves an alternate universe.
Mike in Kennedy
1:28
For all the talk about 3rd and 4th line needs, the fact is the top lines and top D-men have been outplayed and outscored (evidenced by +-). That's the main reason the Pens are not winning. What can be done about that? Tweak the system?
Jason Mackey
1:29
Tweak the system to do what, exactly? I don't think that's the answer. If the bottom-six score more -- and thus warrant more attention from opposing teams -- the top-six will see more advantageous matchups. If the fourth line has a really good shift, it might help wear the other team down. If the third line consistently produces offense, it gives the Penguins an added cushion. It all works together.
HB
1:29
Do you think a major shake up is needed like Rutherford is talking about?
Jason Mackey
1:30
Yes, I do. There's something about this team right now. Stale, uninspiring, tired? Not sure of the exact word, but I think a shakeup may very well be necessary.
Idlematt
1:30
Shooting for the stars here of course but chances of an Erik Karlsson to Pittsburgh trade and what would the penguins have to give up?
Jason Mackey
1:30
There's zero chance. Zero. They would have to give up Letang, of course, but this ain't happening.
HB
1:30
Have you met the person who runs Vegas’s twitter handle?
Jason Mackey
1:30
No. Nor do I want to.
Matt S
1:31
Do the penguins go blockbuster and trade for a star or do they trade for numerous middle 6/ no. 3 or 4 D guys?
Jason Mackey
1:32
Tough to say. I wouldn't be against a blockbuster. That's a tough word, though, and I would love to hear who you think of as a blockbuster, Matt. If I was GMJR, I would be open to any and all options, honestly. But coming out of it, I would have to feel better about my third line. I could lose some on defense and be cool with it, maybe even a winger like Sheary or Rust. But I need someone better than Sheahan/Hagelin on my third line, at least in terms of producing points.
Jerry
1:32
Iko, or Women are Smarter?
Jason Mackey
1:32
Women are Smarter.
My wife would go Iko all the time.
S
1:32
With a possible salary cap increase to $78-$82m for next year, might that boost the chances of the Pens re-signing Hornqvist, or do you think they'd have other priorities?
Jason Mackey
1:34
Hornqvist is priority No. 1, believe me, and Rutherford reiterated as much. The issue might be with term. Desperate teams might pay Hornqvist for longer than the Penguins will be willing to. Sort of like Brooks Orpik with the Caps. And know the last years of the deal aren't going to be pretty. Not sure the Penguins would be willing to go there.
SZ in AZ
1:34
All the discussion about trades/shakeups/etc. got me thinking. In most sports in this era, it seems like advanced analytics plays perhaps the biggest role in constructing rosters. But it seems to me that, in hockey, character/chemistry matters almost as much as statistics, and matters more than in other sports. Do you find that to be true, or am I totally off base?
Jason Mackey
1:35
You're not off-base at all. The Penguins employ an analytics team and absolutely take that stuff seriously. But chemistry does play a part. How well guys play together. Who fits the system, etc. I think Guentzel is a guy who may do better here than other places because of his chemistry and surroundings. Tom Kuhnhackl is a fine player, but I think he might be even better on a team that isn't so speed-based, that sort of thing.
L
1:35
Any favorite Flower story or conversation (or anything fun/interesting we might not have heard)?
Jason Mackey
1:37
I could go on and on, believe me. First time I ever met Flower, though, we just started talking. By the end, he's asked about my wife, son, family, starting the job, etc. He's just so genuinely nice. Also Tuesday, when Josh Yohe and I got out early for Vegas' morning skate. We chatted with Fleury for 20 minutes about EVERYTHING. It was off the record, so I don't want to burn Marc, but I don't think he would mind me sharing the existence of the conversation, how he shook our hands twice, waved from the ice, asked where we were staying, what we thought, etc. ... Just everything you could possibly do to show you care about people.
Matt
1:37
If GMJR does pull the trigger on a major trade, what players do you think are being moved? And any potential targets?
Jason Mackey
1:38
I think they would love to get someone to take Hagelin. Cole's an attractive option, I would imagine. Rust, too. Maybe Sheahan, but I doubt it. ... I heard Vegas, Toronto and Colorado sniffed around Cole. If Vegas would be willing to part with Haula, and I was Jim, I'd try to make it worth their while.
Craig
1:38
Is the Ryan Reaves experiment over ?
Jason Mackey
1:39
It will be interesting, Craig. He might be a healthy scratch tonight. It's not over, but I think the Penguins are starting to be a little less enthusiastic about Reaves, given how much their bottom-six has struggled with Reaves in it.
Frank Scoblete
1:39
Are first-round draft picks often "lottery protected" in the NHL, the way they are in the NBA? I seem to recall this concept coming into play in the Kessel trade. Might be relevant this year.
Jason Mackey
1:39
They do have a draft lottery, is that what you're asking? I'm a little confused.
Jerry
1:39
There were discussions about the Pens signing an older KHL veteran friend of Malkin's during the summer.  I cannot recall the name unfortunately-the guy was suspended from the KHL for a drug violation.  Did he ever sign anywhere?  Sorry to be so vague on the name.
Jason Mackey
1:40
Danis Zaripov and no. That's an option, although if they were high on Zaripov, I think they would have done it already. They looked into him extensively. Gonna guess they liked what they saw.
Logan
1:40
When does Sprong/ZAR get called up?
Jason Mackey
1:41
ZAR not for a bit. Sprong I would say the hour is drawing near. Could be within 7-10 days if things don't improve.
guest
1:41
Do you think Hornqvist will play his normal annoying game in front of Fleury tonight?  Or will he go easy on his old teammate!
Jason Mackey
1:41
Oh, he's not changing his game. He might make more of a conscious effort to stay on the right side of the law, but he's absolutely going to harass Fleury.
Logan
1:41
What teams have been scouting the pens recently?
Jason Mackey
1:42
I haven't checked, Logan. I will tonight, though. Thanks for reminding me.
Logan
1:42
What players are on the outs with JR?
Jason Mackey
1:42
None. It's not about "being on the outs." Players like Jim. He's old school and a really, genuinely good guy. But that doesn't mean he can't make moves. They know he will.
Logan
1:42
What pens prospects have good value in a trade?
Jason Mackey
1:43
Sprong would be the only one of significant value. There are others organizations know about, but they're not going to have opposing teams drooling, by any stretch.
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