You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Jason Mackey's Penguins chat: 12.7.17
powered byJotCast
Joe
12:55
One local publication says the Pens may have offered Hornqvist 3 years at $5.5 mil in September and his agents wanted a 5-year contract.  Do you know anything about this?  If he wants 5 years at $5.5 mil, sign the man now JR! That's very reasonable and he'll get more if he goes to free agency.  Agree?
Jason Mackey
12:58
Hi, Joe. I don't know the "local publication" you're talking about. We didn't report that. Neither did the Trib, DK or the Athletic, to my knowledge. And those are the only local publications who travel, who are around the team every day and who have access to the GM. So, I would love to see what you're talking. I could have missed it, but I have not heard anything similar. To your point, I would first try to go four. That fifth year worries me. You're also not negotiating in a vacuum. Does he have five from somewhere else? That skews things.
Joe
12:58
Has there been any discussion again about limiting Letang's minutes as Rutherford previously said?  He's really not been any good and he's hurting the team playing 25-26 minutes a night.  He should work his way back with lesser minutes.  I know Sullivan doesn't like to express his real thoughts, but has he said anything about why he is playing him so much.  Maatta has been the team's best defender so far.
Jason Mackey
1:01
Yeah, Sullivan generally won't tell us what he's thinking. Does sometimes, but he likes to keep that sort of thing tight to the vest. There's also no change in sight for Letang; with Schultz out, he'll get all the power-play time he can handle. Part of it stems from needing Letang to kill penalties. He's very good at doing it. I personally don't have a problem the minutes Letang is playing. Are you telling me that, if he plays 22 instead of 26 minutes, he's going to be better? It's not his fitness that's the issue. You could also argue that playing him less hides the issue ... well, how he's supposed to work out of it? Letang has enough of a track record that I would keep faith and expect a rebound.
Joe
1:01
Jason, have you heard anything more about any trades in the works?  The bottom six is still a problem and I think they need another defenseman.
Jason Mackey
1:01
I do think they're going to do something to address the bottom-six. It just got a little more complicated, though, with the injury to Schultz.
Cosmo K
1:01
On faceoffs in your defensive zone, do the "defending" players always have to be lined up the same way?  Can the offensive players on the point be defensively covered or are they by rule not allowed to be covered?  Thank you for your most excellent coverage of the Pens!
Jason Mackey
1:02
Thanks, Cosmo. I'm not sure what you're asking, though. Teams can line up however they want ... so long, of course, as they're not on the other team's side of the puck, if that makes sense.
Justin Schultz
1:02
How long will I be on injured reserve?
Jason Mackey
1:02
I'm saying until mid-January.
Gregg McKegg
1:02
Why was I placed on waivers? What the heck?
Jason Mackey
1:03
You were a healthy scratch, Kegger, and really squeezed out of a lineup spot.
Swan Fendler
1:03
Rutherford for the most part has done quite well in his time here, but I think he has whiffed on his moves this year.
Jason Mackey
1:04
It's tough to argue, Swan. Niemi was a disaster. Best I can say about Hunwick is that it's still early. Sheahan isn't going to score with any consistency, and they still need to address that spot. I'll give Jim this, though: It ain't even close to over, and his team's still in contention. Jarry helped. If he gets a bonafide 3C, they'll be fine.
joe
1:04
Is it looking good  for a 3-peat ?
Jason Mackey
1:05
Sure. It's also incredibly premature to talk about that now. Let's revisit in March or April, at the earliest. Long season.
Daniel Sprong
1:06
What is Rutherford and Sullivan waiting for...call me up already!! I'm ready to play!
Jason Mackey
1:06
It doesn't sound like you are, Dan.
Phil Phillouphophussis
1:06
Where do you see the Pens finishing when all is said and done?
Jason Mackey
1:07
I say 1-3 in the Metro, and I really don't think it matters which. Just avoid the No. 4 or 5 spot. I see them as one of the best two teams in the East, along with Tampa. Right now, in the ECF, I'd give the edge to the Lightning based on depth.
HB
1:07
Is jimmy still looking to trade cole or does Schultz’s injury change that?
Jason Mackey
1:07
Don't have a real good sense of that, HB. Need to do some reporting; we only found out the extent of it about 90 minutes ago.
HB
1:07
I’ve never seen you tweet during a Steelers game before are you a fan of football/Steelers?
Jason Mackey
1:08
I am. Grew up playing football. Very much love it. Watch every Steelers game. Try to watch as much NFL as possible on Sundays. Although I'm having a tough time processing everything that has come out this week, I'll be honest.
HB
1:08
Here’s a fun toss up who’s player safety department is more of a joke the nfl or nhl?
Jason Mackey
1:08
I think the NFL might take the cake after that mess yesterday. What a cluster.
HB
1:08
Have you talked to malkin about Russia being banned from the Olympics?
Jason Mackey
1:10
No. He has not been available to us since that news broke. He will be asked, by me or someone else, the next time he talks. I think it's relevant, and fair, given the stance he's taken with Team Putin and his comments following that about rallying Olympic-centric support.
Foghorn Leghorn
1:10
Boy, I say, boy, the holiday season is sneeeeeeeeeeaaaaaking up on us! What did you ask the jolly old man for?
Jason Mackey
1:10
Foghorn, my man. Gift certificates. For clothes. Also probably an improved SiriusXM situation and maybe the Nintendo/Super Nintendo games that came out.
HB
1:10
Do you see Rutherford making more hainsey/streit trades at the deadline?
Jason Mackey
1:11
I do. Was actually talking to Sam about this yesterday. Get the sense this year might look a lot like last. Make an early move, then polishing things up -- with a D -- at the deadline. I believe Rutherford will do something in December.
Lauren
1:11
I noticed Guentzel and Maatta had assists on the same goal in the past two games. Do you think they have chemistry on the ice or is it a coincidence?
Jason Mackey
1:12
I think that's probably a coincidence, Lauren. They play different positions. I think what you're probably seeing there is Maatta continuing to have a very good year and Guentzel being on a bit of a hot streak scoring-wise.
Steven
1:12
Got a Reaves question for you (so surprising, I know).

Reaves currently receives the least amount of TOI per game of any forward appearing in 15 or more games. There's clearly very little trust there between Reaves and Sullivan, which I think is entirely fair from Sullivan.

Evander Kane, Marco Scandella and Ristolainen's antics over the weekend are in a long list of incidents that have occurred to the Penguins players under Reaves' watch.

With Reaves unable to prevent anything, and contributing such a little amount when it comes to hockey, why does Reaves remain in the lineup over better hockey players like McKegg and Archibald (as well as WBS call up candidates like Dea and DiPauli)?
Jason Mackey
1:14
Funny, I never get asked about Ryan Reaves. ... The Penguins clearly value the toughness Reaves brings, as evidenced by him continuing to dress but not really play all that much. I think, for whatever reason, they want to have that nuclear deterrent on the bench. You can disagree, and most in this forum do, but the Penguins want that and believe it has lessened the abuse their stars have taken. Again, feel free to disagree, but I'm providing their reasoning, the same as I do every week. I don't understand it, either. If you have the guy, play him. Or don't have him.
OHIO412FAN
1:15
Jason, it seems the Penguins have been far from consistent this season in terms winning streaks and losses. They don’t seem right now to have the same punch they use to have last year. Chemistry a problem? They could use a legit center on third line. Maybe I’m wrong, but, I feel like we’ve been here before. Bad early season starts and super strong finishes to the season and playoffs. Thoughts?
Jason Mackey
1:16
They have been inconsistent, yes. But I'm not going to chalk that up to chemistry. There have been real reasons they've struggled. Own-zone coverages. Puck management. Shoddy goaltending. Bad starts. Not enough offense from key sources. Awful penalty killing. I wouldn't say chemistry, or the lack of it, is a huge issue at this point.
OHIO412FAN
1:16
Injury updates on Murray and Shultz? I know they are both week to week, but I would like to know when is the earliest both can return.
Jason Mackey
1:16
Murray is week-to-week, maybe 7-10 days more. Schultz probably until early next year.
Load More Messages
Connecting…