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Jason Mackey's Penguins chat: 12.29.17
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Jason Mackey
2:18
I have a tough time seeing Arizona doing that. Seems to me he'd one of the pieces there. Kind of question his fit in Pittsburgh, too.
Rt
2:20
I'm not sure if there is any speculation out there, but when do you see GMJR pulling the trigger on a trade? He tends to do it a month before the deadline but is there anything that makes you think it'll be sooner than that?
Jason Mackey
2:20
If they lose tonight, I'd look for something. If they don't, I think GMJR won't mess with what they're doing right now.
BennyD
2:20
More callups from W/B but still no Sprong... a factor of his not being ready or not the right player for the role they need filled at the moment?  What can you tell us about Garrett Wilson?  Thnx
Jason Mackey
2:21
Career AHLer. Tough. Goes to the net. Won't play unless someone gets hurt. Honest player. Good dressing room guy. Doesn't fit with the Penguins' style, but very good in the minors.
Guest
2:21
Pens were willing to trade Letang, found suitors, and then no one would pay the price, and then Pens told the media(You) they weren’t trading him as a pushback.
Jason Mackey
2:22
No. ... If you read my 20 Thoughts, you read that, on Tuesday, the Penguins had made no mention of a trade to Letang's camp. I said if they were actually shopping him, that would be weird given his status in the league and on the team. Nice try.
Logan
2:22
If Letang were traded, what teams do you see as suitors?
Jason Mackey
2:22
He's not getting traded.
Logan
2:22
I think Mike Hoffman is a good target. Does Sprong+Hagelin+1st get him?
Jason Mackey
2:22
I don't think that's enough. Hagelin right now isn't an asset. He's an ask. You're not giving enough to balance that out.
Rose
2:22
Hi Jason really enjoy your work as  WBS season ticket holder I agree totally with the organization that Sprong is not ready yet having said that do you believe they would trade him for a 3rd center?They already traded 23yr old McGuire which I was very surprised of
Jason Mackey
2:23
Hi, Rose. I think Sprong could be part of a package. I don't think he can be the focal point, for the reason that you outlined. He's not ready. He's no sure thing. He's absolutely a prospect, but there has to be something else, another ingredient.
Logan
2:23
Who is the next call up on foward? Why was Garrett Wilson called up instead of Sprong?
Jason Mackey
2:23
Sprong isn't ready. The Penguins don't want to screw his development over some inconsistent play.
Matt N.
2:24
With Rust possibly out for a long stretch, is it Sprong-time yet?  We could use some more firepower as both he and Sheary haven't quite produced like they seem capable of.
Jason Mackey
2:25
You are accurate on that second point. I think we're close to Sprong time -- you'd think this kid could split the atom based on the number of questions about him -- but it's going to take a loss tonight to even make it a consideration. I know they'd rather not do it out of desperation.
Alex
2:25
Hi Jason. I know that Letang is not getting traded. However, when rumors were flying around about him and then he got hurt, it made me think. Is it possible for players to fake or exaggerate injuries in order to not get traded? (It is my understanding that a player can’t get traded while on IR?)
Jason Mackey
2:25
No player would go that far, Alex. They want to play. That said, if someone is out for a game because a mysterious lower-body injury then traded three days later? Believe that has happened before. This isn't that.
Alex
2:26
Garrett Wilson over Sprong on the call up? Is Sprong really that bad defensively? He can’t really be much worse than 2x Stanley Cup Champion Phil Kessel
Jason Mackey
2:26
Phil's game has improved quite a bit this year. There's more to what's holding up Sprong than his defensive game. It's an all-around thing. Also, they're working with him on where he shoots and producing five-on-five.
Steven
2:26
With regards to the Letang not for trade comments, did a source reach out to you/Yohe/Bombulie, or did one of you seek it out? If you can't answer that, no worries.
Jason Mackey
2:27
For protection-of-source purposes, I'd rather keep that one in-house, Steven.
Logan
2:27
To backtrack on that Wilson instead of Sprong, I think Wilson is just up to sit the bench.
Jason Mackey
2:27
You are correct.
2:29
I get the reference, Hollywood. ... I never thought of Jim as a "doddering old fool." I never thought anything of Jim, to be honest with you. When they hired him, I was surprised given how out-of-left-field it seems, but after getting to know Jim, I think he's incredibly smart, patient, funny and tremendous to cover. Has he screwed up? Absolutely. Five D, Downie/Ehrhoff/Comeau/etc. ... there have been mishaps. But the guys knows his stuff, and he's a fundamentally good human being. I consider it one of the coolest things in my career to be able to say I've covered someone like GMJR. Other beat writers are often jealous of the sort of stuff that Jim does. Other GMs aren't like him.
Steven
2:30
Jason Mackey
2:30
You can double-dip. Everyone else does. The Penguins aren't trading Kris Letang.
2:31
As I understand it, too, they were never trading Kris Letang. I've gotten no indications to corroborate Mark's report.
JV
2:31
Hi Jason. Last game's effort against Columbus is what every fan hopes to see night in and night out - a team that refuses to quit and gives a full 60+ minutes. But too often we see something less than that, and disturbing patterns begin show up, like taking whole periods (or more) off, mental errors, lack of urgency. The head coach responds with endless line combinations. And this trend predates Coach Sullivan - we saw the same thing under HC's Therrien, Bylsma and Johnston.  Much of the Penguin's Stanley Cup success has come on the heels of a coaching change.  Do coaches in the NHL have a shelf life, and players, no matter how talented, eventually become tone deaf to the message?  And if so, how does Coach Sullivan break the cycle?  Mixing up the lines has not proven successful and may have the opposite effect.
Jason Mackey
2:32
Coaches absolutely have a shelf life, but we're not in the same solar system as that right now with Sullivan. He ain't the issue. Does he need to chill out on the tinkering? Yeah, I think he does. But I'm not the coach. The struggles you mentioned, a good bit of them are real. But I'm not ready to start questioning how Sullivan does his job. If anything, I'm amazing he still has any hair left over what this team has put him through.
Chad in WV
2:32
How important is it to have Schultz back in the lineup? I know he won’t fix everything, but he seems to have become an important player since coming to Pittsburgh.
Jason Mackey
2:33
Absolutely. Gives a different look on the PP, too, allowing Maatta to only kill penalties. That pair with Ian Cole becomes a plus No. 3 pairing. He moves the puck well, adds some offense when the team could use it. Very important to get Schultz back.
NJPensFan
2:33
How serious or close do you think Rutherford is to making a deal. I think we need more help on defense than offense.
Jason Mackey
2:34
I think he's trying to gauge where his team is at results- and effort-wise. If tonight stinks, I think he'll judge that again, the Columbus win was a blip; problem isn't fixed. If they play well tonight, I think Jim will kick the can again, hoping these guys have figured something out.
Kessel's Favorite Hot Dog
2:36
Report today from Pittsburgh Hockey Now that Guentzel's name is out there. Hear anything on that?
Jason Mackey
2:36
They're not trading Jake Guentzel.
Alex
2:36
Have you heard from your sources of teams that are kicking the Pens tires and vice versa?
Jason Mackey
2:38
Do you mean teams that GMJR is talking to? He talks to a lot of teams, honestly. He had dinner with Arizona GM John Chayka when we were there. He and Ron Francis are good friends; they talk a lot. Does that mean they're making a deal, no? Would imagine given needs, etc., that VGK, OTT, EDM, TOR and COL have come up probably a bit more than others.
John
2:38
Do you think JR would trade the pens number 1 pick?
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