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Jason Mackey's Penguins chat: 1.24.19
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FR
1:37
Is JR seriously considering moving Tristan Jarry?  Who would the Penguins turn to if Murray or DeSmith were injured?
Jason Mackey
1:37
They'd be screwed. But they'd hardly be the only NHL franchise to be in trouble if its top two goaltenders got hurt.
Clementine
1:38
How would you characterize the following coaches as it relates to their greater strength-as motivator or strategist?  Gonchar, Recchi, Jacques Martin and BB Sullivan?
Jason Mackey
1:38
BB Sullivan again? What is this? I think the motivator stuff is overrated. These guys are professional athletes. They don't need "motivated" by a coach.
Eddie Shack
1:38
So what teams out there would actually want Brassard?
Jason Mackey
1:40
A team with a top-six center need. They are out there. I don't think it would be hard to move him. I think the perception out there is that Brassard would be fine in a top-six role. Teams like Boston, Colorado and Winnipeg actually make decent sense given their needs.
Crashguy66
1:40
Any thoughts on Brian Boyle? Rumors are he can be had for picks.
Jason Mackey
1:40
Would absolutely love it. Profiles probably more as a four, but I could see him helping the Penguins, absolutely.
Frustrated Fan
1:40
Jason, what is this team missing in order to seriously contended for the cup.
Jason Mackey
1:40
They need to get more from their third line. Whether that's a plus-wing or a better 3C, that line isn't good enough right now.
Michael
1:41
Think they bring Blueger up for a few games before the trade deadline to see if they may have their 3rd line center already in house?  If he looks great then maybe you trade Brassard.  I'm not suggesting scratching Brassard to find out but a couple games without Cullen or Brassard playing wing would be my thought.
Jason Mackey
1:42
I think it's asking a lot of Blueger to come up and say, 'You're gonna play on the third line, with Phil Kessel, as a true rookie on a Cup-contending team.' I think they probably want a safer option for this season, but they will entertain giving Blueger a greater role next year ... or this year if injuries warrant it. You would think, anyway.
JohnAl
1:42
More Penguins management questions. What areas is Karmanos helping out on? Did he take all of Botterill's former responsibilities with regards to CBA/contracts?
Jason Mackey
1:42
He did, yes. He handles a lot of the salary-cap stuff now. He did that with Rutherford in Carolina. Guerin handles Botterill's AHL duties.
BB Mike Sullivan
1:42
What type of Girl Scout cookies do you prefer?  Thin Mints, Tag-A-Longs, Samoas, other?
Jason Mackey
1:42
Thin mints all the way.
guest
1:42
Some of the west coast games sounded like home games at times (esp Arizona).  Do you find there are a good amount of Pens fans at the away games you cover?
Jason Mackey
1:43
Oh, yeah. I'll say Penguins fans travel extremely well, but I also just think it's a bunch of Pittsburgh transplants who like hockey and are probably OK with Arizona or whomever every other night except when they play the Penguins.
Dave
1:43
Jason, first, you have mentioned that you moved recently to Lebo.  Great place to raise a family. We grew up in Sunset Hills and played a lot of hockey up at the elementary school.  Lots of fights, too! Anyways, is part of the disappointment with Brassard is that he isn't a great guy in the room? My impression is that he's an okay teammate but not the kind of guy who adds a lot of positive vibes to the team. Thanks.
Jason Mackey
1:44
I don't think that's a huge thing. I think teammates like him, although it doesn't seem like he's terribly close with any of them. The biggest issue, honestly, has been Brassard's hangup over the third-line thing. He's a top-six center who has struggled to adapt to a non-traditional rule. Some of it is in between his ears. Some of it is his style. But I don't think he's a bad guy at all. I like Brassard. I Just think they're trying to pound a square peg into a round hole.
guest
1:44
Do you think the Islanders are for real or on a streak right now they can't sustain?  How great would that be to see a playoff series of Islanders versus the Caps!
Jason Mackey
1:45
It would be awesome, No. 1. And while I wouldn't peg the Islanders as Cup contenders just yet, I think this is absolutely sustainable. Barry Trotz is a great coach, and I think that's what you're seeing here.
Clark from Virginia
1:45
I love your behind the scenes articles on Penguin personnel that support the players.  Along those lines, where do players that get called up from Wilkes Barre stay and who pays for the lodgings while the player plays for the parent team?  Garrett Wilson is an example.
Jason Mackey
1:46
The NHL club pays for the lodging. They usually stay in a longer-term hotel near the arena. There are a couple options. But like apartment/suite-style places.
Brad
1:46
Any chance Brassard gets traded for non center forward help and we fill center positions from within.  As in bring up Blueger and use Shehan and Cullen?
Jason Mackey
1:46
Yes, I think there's a chance of that happening, absolutely. Ferland would be an example.
FanDunce
1:46
hey Jason, now that Daniel Sprong scored last night and went minus 2, and has 8 goals and is minus 11, isn’t it obvious he belonged on Malkin’s wing?  That line could be -35 and ruin the reps of any defensemen pair.  Like JJ’s.
Jason Mackey
1:47
Ha. I see what you're getting at there. I think what Sprong has done in Anaheim showcased the Penguins' greatest fear. Solid scorer, not great defensively. I also think Sprong got an unfair shake here. He does score, and should be put with people who can help him do that. Them getting Pettersson back couldn't have worked out better. For either team, honestly.
Matt in Cleveland
1:48
Which of these three, 87, 71, 58, are most likely to play for a different team before they retire?
Jason Mackey
1:48
I'd go Malkin. Too complicated with Letang and his injury history. No way on Crosby.
Andy
1:48
I think it’s painfully obvious that the bottom 2 defense pairs just can’t get the puck out of their own end with control so that the forwards can make something happen offensively.  I know you’ve said previously that they like the way the defense looks.  What do they see that makes them feel so comfortable?  I think a lot of 71’s “struggles” is that he doesn’t get a lot of time with the top pair, so he is doing a lot more work just to get the puck or is have to chip and chase, which isn’t his strength.
Jason Mackey
1:49
I think it's hard to look at 28-73 before this recent trip and say they've struggled as a third pair. I think they envision Schultz on the second pair when he gets back and that group being much better. I tend to agree. I hear you on Malkin, but I also think many of his issues have been self-inflicted, unrelated to the defense pair he's on the ice with.
Alex
1:49
Hi Jason. Do you think there are deals that are at the point where GMJR just needs to pull the trigger? And if so, what is he waiting on?
Jason Mackey
1:52
No, I think GMJR is just fine waiting. Don't force anything. ... he's likely waiting to see what Brassard does, if they can make that work, if prices around the league come down, if someone gets a goaltender hurt and might need Jarry, etc. Again, one of his biggest challenges right now is playing the waiting game on this stuff.
John from WV
1:52
I’m hearing the Jets are interested in Brassard. I wonder if they’d trade Lowry straight up for Brassard
Jason Mackey
1:53
I've heard that, too. I see why Brassard would be a smart add for them -- assuming he becomes their 2C. But I don't know why the heck they would give up Lowry. Feels like robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Andy
1:53
Are they married to the Pettersson-Johnson pairing?  Would like to see what Pettersson has to offer with a more competent partner.  Do you think they would put Schultz with him?
Jason Mackey
1:54
Eh, I think they like what Pettersson has done to stabilize Johnson's game. When they've been on, they've made Johnson playable five-on-five. You saw what happened when Pettersson struggled. I think the best-option is to try and keep those two together and rediscover what they had the first 18 games, then let Olli and Schultz play together.
KJ
1:54
You may have inferred that I was referring to the dressing room.  I was referring to room mates in hotels on the road.  Or do players get their own hotel room?
Jason Mackey
1:54
I believe they get their own rooms.
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