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Jason Mackey's Penguins chat: 1.4.18
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Jason Mackey
1:54
I think Kessel is the only one they'd consider, because Sprong can do a lot of what he does with the shot, producing on the PP, etc. They're not trading Letang, as we've been over. Malkin has a full NMC; he'd have to agree, and I really doubt he would. ... Kessel would fetch a decent return how high his stock is right now.
CA_Steeler_Fan
1:54
I only saw the Philly game but Sprong didn't show me much.  Is he the real scoring machine he is supposed to be?
Jason Mackey
1:54
Yes, he is. Limited opportunities for him. Sprong looks like the real deal to me.
CA_Steeler_Fan
1:55
I watched Mario play a long time.  He never had problems scoring.  Why does Crosby go through so many slumps?
Jason Mackey
1:55
Mario never had a scoring slump? Um ... I'm pretty sure every place who has ever played has endured a scoring slump.
Mike in Kennedy
1:55
Canadiens of '70's under Bowman with many stars won many Cups playing trap. Devil's had stars and won 3 Cups. Pens shift to trap in 92 Playoffs resulted in Cup. Who says you can't trap when you have multiple offensive stars?
Jason Mackey
1:56
I can. Sullivan can. Rutherford can. All three would, too. Mike, you really want the Penguins -- the Penguins! -- to play a trap, to slow it down and win games, 2-1? C'mon, man. Some stuff has been rough in the first half, but it's not this bad.
Karl
1:56
Hi Jason! With Rowney out, do you think there is a call-up coming? Blueger?
Jason Mackey
1:56
That's the route that I would go. I watched Rust skate this morning. He did not look close. I'm sort of confused why they haven't made a move already, although they've played games with 12 forwards before.
Steven
1:57
In base scoring chances, Hunwick is worse, but in high danger scoring chances per 60, it's 12.82 for Hunwick and 12.8 for Cole. Analytically, there's very, very little between them. Cole's also taking a pretty ridiculous rate of penalties. Hunwick also generates more offensive chances than Cole. Using 'per game' is analytically ineffective because Cole skates the least ice time at 5 on 5 of the 7 D who've skated 100+ minutes for the Pens.

I'm not suggesting Cole is a bum or anything, but he's a bottom pairing guy, as is Hunwick. They're analytically similar, with Hunwick providing more high danger scoring chances with Cole being slightly better defensively. Cole has the lowest high danger scoring chance for% on the team.

Given he's a UFA who you're not re-signing, and Hunwick was seemingly signed to replace him as 3rd pairing LD after this year, I don't see why you'd pick Cole 100 times over Hunwick. There's not much between them, and Hunwick's better with the puck and a better skater.
Jason Mackey
2:00
OK, so you're stating -- and supporting -- the case that they're equal. Let's go with that. Why I'd play Cole is exactly what I typed before: "Cole has played an integral role on two consecutive Cup teams. Great guy, a personality this team needs. Can't quantify that." ... I would play Cole because, while I understand, like, respect and try to use analytics, they're not everything. Hockey isn't a math problem. There's a human element. Play Cole because teammates respect his [guts] in tossing his body in front of pucks, and he's one of them. Play Cole because it enhances Schultz's value. Play Cole because he's a much better PK guy. Play Cole because his voice is much stronger means a ton more given what he's meant to this team over the past two years. Again, if everything else is equal.
Steven
2:01
Further to Cole's integral use in the playoffs, he skated the lowest TOI in both playoff runs of regular D, and gave up the most high danger chances against per 60 in 16-17 and the 3rd most to Schultz and Daley in 15-16. He's very good on the PK, but to define him as integral when he performed as poorly as he did comparatively to the rest of the D isn't an accurate use of integral.
Jason Mackey
2:01
Thanks, Steven. I respect your opinion, and I think you've outlined your argument very well. We seem to disagree. That's OK. Good, healthy discussion.
Yinzer in NYC
2:02
Jason, thanks for doing the chats!  It's a good way for me to keep tabs on my boys from here in the Big City.  I'm curious how you think Mark Recchi and Mike Buckley are performing as coaches this year.  It was no secret that there was tension between Sid and Recchi when they played on the same team together...and Murray's play has fallen off a bit this year while Bales has obviously helped Cam Ward.  Could these changes in the coaching staff correlate with some of the Pens' problems so far this year?
Jason Mackey
2:03
I don't think. Sid and Recchi have been fine. That was a long, long time ago. Sid's a big boy, too. That he hasn't produced as many goals as he has the past two seasons ... yeah, I'm not blaming that on Recchi. ... Same for Murray and Buckley. A coach can only do so much. These guys are well-coached. They've simply performed below what we're used to seeing from them. It does happen.
fred
2:03
Hi Jason!  Re the human element: Boston Garden 1966-7, I saw Bruin toughguy Ted Green get a NYRanger forward (Jeffrey?) flat down on the ice and pound him unconscious. I was shocked that no one intervened.Clear memory of Green getting up and skating off leaving a motionless form on the ice. Pretty primal stuff... Maybe that colors my view, but I feel there is real value in having someone like Reaves (and now maybe Oleksiak too) in the mix, value that goes well beyond offensive stats. Would you agree, or am I overly impacted by that scene from long ago?
Jason Mackey
2:05
You're not overly impacted by that at all, Fred. Talk to some of these guys, and they absolutely want that element. Some fans, especially those big into analytics, will disagree, and I try to see their side, too. But the fact of the matter is, Rutherford and Sullivan feel a certain way about having Reaves -- believing they're doing the best thing for their players -- and his presence isn't going to change. I get having him on the team. What I don't understand is hardly using him. If he has a roster spot, play him 9-10 minutes a night and find a way to make him useful.
guest
2:05
I know it's been talked about, but i wonder if our screwy schedule has been having a more negative effect than people realize. I mean: 3 games in 4 nights starting today, then off until next Saturday? these guys are creatures of habit and crave routine. hard not to feel mad at the NHL for scheduling us dirty like that. thoughts?
Jason Mackey
2:06
Well, this is the CBA-mandated bye week. Nothing anybody could do here. Every team deals with it. Their early-season schedule, though, absolutely helps explain some of what we're seeing now. It has, in no way, been easy, I'll agree with that.
Steven
2:07
Yeah, well, I respect your opinion too and think you've got a different insight on the human effect of Cole because you're in the room and I'm not. But for the sake of appearances, you smell and I think your subjective opinion is objectively wrong.
Jason Mackey
2:07
I showered this morning, I swear.
On that note, folks, I'm off to Brooklyn. Enjoy the game tonight. Let's do this again next week!
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