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Jason Mackey's Penguins chat: 12.29.17
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Jason Mackey
2:02
Hi everybody. Thanks for hanging out with me for a bit. Let's get this thing going.
Randy from Conneaut Lake
2:02
How much do injuries to Letang, Ruhwedel, Rust affect trades in your in your opinion? Set the time frame back or eliminate potential suitors?
Jason Mackey
2:02
I think it depends who the ask is. If it's Hagelin, Cole or Sheary, I don't think it matters. They're obviously not trading Letang. ... If the team can't gain traction of this latest win, I think there will be a bigger push to do something, regardless of injuries.
Scott
2:02
What an awesome moving article about Brock...thanks for that. Any word on when we might see sprong?
Jason Mackey
2:03
Thanks, Scott. I keep saying soon. ... And we ain't getting anything. As I just typed, if they don't gain traction off this latest win, I think they will ultimately realize there needs to be changes, and that very likely could trigger a Sprong promotion.
Rahn
2:03
Checking in on if you had a chance to ask about Adam Johnson's progress. I read Dave Molinari's always-great holiday prospects piece and Bill Guerin's comments, and remember their high hopes and excitement with signing him this summer.
Jason Mackey
2:04
I have not, Rahn. I'm sorry. Lemme kick the can ahead a week, if you don't mind.
Joe
2:04
jason, do you really think the Pens will be able to complete a trade for Letang over the next few weeks that makes them a better team than before they traded him?  Get real. Every GM knows his history. JR will be getting pennies on the dollar. Stupid trade to make during the season, but if they want a hockey trade for him, they'll be in a position during the off season
Jason Mackey
2:04
They're not trading Letang. Not being a jerk. I think this was asked before my story went live. But they're not trading him. I expected to get this a lot today.
Joe
2:04
Looked like Rust injured his wrist again...I know injury info is like trying to open Fort Knox but are you hearing if it's the same issue he had when he was out for six weeks or so last year?
Jason Mackey
2:05
Fort Knox is correct. I haven't heard enough on it to speculate with even a sliver of accuracy.
Joe
2:05
Do you think the Pens are working on a trade with Ottawa ?
Jason Mackey
2:05
I think they'd like to. Brassard and Pageau make a lot of sense for what this team needs. Depends on the ask. But I would say that Ottawa is one of the top suitors for them right now.
Shoob
2:05
If you were head coach of the Pens, what would you do to enhance more drive in the players? From what I gather, Sully is doing his best in terms of trying to achieve consistency. Just makes me wonder what CAN be done for two time champs to raise the bar from consistently playing close/from behind games? Love reading your work, by the way!
Jason Mackey
2:07
Thanks for the kind words, Shoob. I think the world of Mike Sullivan as a hockey coach, and boy would I come off as smug or arrogant or something like that to pretend I know more than he does. The only thing I'd like to see him -- or anyone do -- is just give these guys some consistency. We can all relate, right? You just want things to be consistent. For Crosby, let him play with the same guys for a stretch and try to build something. Sully has been trigger happy. As for the rest, I don't think they need to overreact. The starts are the only thing where I'd look for a different approach.
Rahn
2:08
I'm not one to propose trades or wildly speculate with no reporting done, but here I go: With Ottawa's struggles, their (for lack of a better word, meddling) owner and reticence to spend money, might Erik Karlsson be the kind of blockbuster that could be undertaken? The owner Melnyk might like the cost-certainty and name recognition of Kris Letang as the centerpiece coming back. So... (brace for wild speculation): Could be rounded out as as Karlsson, Mark Stone (good hands, net-front guy to replace Hornqvist if he leaves) and Colin White (young center who's plateaued a bit there and one the Pens don't have in the system and third line guy) for Letang, Rust, Sprong, Sheary and a first-rounder. Just a little fun for the holidays.
Jason Mackey
2:08
No.
Kessel's Favorite Hot Dog
2:08
In your opinion - regardless of likelihood - what teams would most be in on a Kris Letang trade, and what would the price be?
Jason Mackey
2:08
Kris Letang isn't getting traded. (I know this was asked prior. It's OK.)
HB
2:08
In yesterday’s game Dubois in the shootout whiffed his shot and the puck slided to the side of Murray without Murray touching it and Dubois shot it wide if that second shot went in would it of counted?
Jason Mackey
2:09
I believe the first attempt -- to count as an attempt -- has to go in the general direction of the goaltender. Like, if he had shot and it hit the end boards, then that's it. But I think Dubois, what he did, was OK.
HB
2:09
On the broadcast they said malkin went to Florida during the break did anyone else go anywhere fun?
Jason Mackey
2:09
Nah. Sheary went home. Murray stayed. Sheahan went home. The American guys got home. Most of the rest stayed.
HB
2:09
With all the injuries to defensemen does the Ian cole trade get put on hold?
Jason Mackey
2:10
Yes. With basically three of their top six out, no way they can trade Cole right now. ... Speaking of which, earlier I mentioned Cole as a trade-now guy. That's wrong. Please disregard that. Should be Sheary and Hagelin.
HB
2:10
It’s very telling for me that with all the injuries they aren’t willing to bring up sprong and if he plays well you
Jason Mackey
2:11
Not sure what you're saying, but I'm not about to criticize the Penguins' development of young forwards. Trust them. They know what they're doing here.
HB
2:11
second part:if he plays well then you have an additional asset for the big shake up.
Jason Mackey
2:12
Sprong's value to other teams does not match his value to the fan base, trust me. If you develop him right, you have a long-term big part of the franchise and a potentially successor to Kessel. You could then flip Kessel into picks and prospects and help re-stocking the cycle. If you get antsy and trade out of need, you short-circuit that stuff.
BennyD
2:12
While he has made some spectacular individual saves at times, and team struggles in general have contributed, Matt Murray has been very average.  Fleury (albeit in a smaller sample size) has been stellar.  Considering the Pens are in “win now” mode, is it possible they kept the wrong goalie?
Jason Mackey
2:13
I don't think so. Murray is 23 and has won two Cups. His contract is reasonable. You'd like him to stay healthy, I get that. But again, he's 23, has won two Cups and has a reasonable contract. Fleury wanted to play. I don't blame him. But I'm not going to second-guess the decision because Marc has played the way he's capable. I'm just going to be happy for Marc.
Dave
2:13
With all of these injuries, how will this restrict JR from making deals...when and if that happens?
Jason Mackey
2:14
It makes trading Cole tougher, although GMJR said Kris Letang and Justin Schultz will likely be back next week. ... Other than that, I don't think it does a ton. Getting an accurate gauge on this team -- which version are they? -- has been the more challenging thing for GMJR to wrap his head around. I still don't think he really knows.
BennyD
2:14
Great “20 Thoughts on Pens” article.  Crosby’s reluctance to shoot the puck has been noticeable.  I was surprised to read that Sullivan hasn’t mentioned it to Sid.  It seems like he is the type of coach that is willing to address anyone...  am I misreading this?  Thanks— keep up the good work!
Jason Mackey
2:15
Thanks, Benny. Sullivan loves Sid, and I get why. I think he's the best player in the world, and he has the best attitude of any pro athlete I've ever seen. That said, a couple things. One, Sully never criticizes a player publicly. So they theoretically may have talked about it; he'll never say ... which asking that question absolutely convinced me of. You're not mis-reading anything.
Hollywood
2:15
I always thought Jordan Staal's shorthanded goal against Detroit in Game 4 in 2009 was the turning point of that series. Any chance the Pens could swing a deal to bring him back to center that third line? In your view would that even be a good thing? I haven't really followed his career so not sure if he's still the high-level 2-way player he used to be.
Jason Mackey
2:16
No. No, no and no. ... One, his contract. $6 million is a lot. Two, the Canes are improving and Staal has been very good this season. They love him down here. He wasn't available when they checked over the summer, and he's definitely not available now.
Dev
2:16
Sorry if this question is beating a dead horse at this point, but I’ve had military duties to deal with and no access to internet for awhile so I’ve been out of the loop for the most part. Which Penguins players could you foresee being trade pieces?
Jason Mackey
2:18
No apologies necessary, and thank you for your service. ... Ian Cole would be trade piece No. 1, but the Penguins probably have to wait until Letang and Schultz return to the lineup to do anything. Conor Sheary would be one. Makes $3 million (reasonably). Scored 23 goals a season ago. I'd think they'd like someone to take Hagelin's two-goals-on-a-$4-million-a-year situation, and I could see them bundling Tom Kuhnhackl (solid two-way player, doesn't get much of a role here) to make something work.
Rt
2:18
Do you think Duclair is a possibility for the Penguins? He name was thrown out there by Elliotte Friedman. What kind of return would the Yotes want?
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