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Jason Mackey's Penguins chat: 3.21.19
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Jason Mackey
2:17
I think the Pens do. The media does not have anything together, although I'm sure we're all doing them with our outlets, wives, etc.
Frank
2:20
What percentage of NHL officials are not Canadian?  If the NHL hired an amoumt of European officials proportionate to the its European players, would the game be called more by rule than by Canadian tradition?
Jason Mackey
2:20
Per Scouting the Refs, it looks like 20.7 percent (17 of 82) are not Canadian. https://scoutingtherefs.com/nhl-officials/
2:21
And no, I don't think that would change anything. I think the NHL wants its product to look a certain way -- you might debate that, but it's true -- whether its on-ice officials are from the United States, Canada, Finland or Australia.
Guest
2:21
Kessel has been terrible. Rutherford’s recent comments saying Phil will be fine, worry me. Is he being truthful? Do you think the front office will finally trade Phil this summer becUse
Jason Mackey
2:22
What do you want GMJR to say in that context? Yep. I'm freakin' out and couldn't sleep the past three nights because of Phil. Of course he's going to pump his player's tires, hoping Phil reads it.
Guest
2:22
Do you think this Pens team is as tight as the Cup-winning teams? To me, it looks like they’re not having as much fun out there?
Jason Mackey
2:23
It's tough to say. You're comparing those others (who had playoff experiences, which is where the most fun was had) with one that has not experienced that. I don't think we'll know until playoffs. Yes, things can kinda look mundane right now. But the regular season is loooong.
JohnAl
2:23
In your talk with Scott Young and he mentioned Lauzon going to development camp, do they expect to sign him to an ELC or would it be an AHL only deal?
Jason Mackey
2:23
I did not talk to him specifically about that. I think that's a little too far down the road. I think they need to see his health keep improving because thinking about that stuff.
Guest
2:23
What do you think the Pens chances are of, first, avoiding the WC2 spot and Tampa in the first round, and second, beating the Metro teams they face, including Washington, and making the ECF?
Jason Mackey
2:24
I see the Penguins finishing in the 2/3 spot in the Metro. I think the only question is who they play -- NYI, CAR or CBJ. I'm rooting for CBJ.
***Note: This has nothing to do with hockey reasons. Just logistically the easiest and a great city.
Jason
2:24
Why is there no accountability when players constantly turn over pucks? All you ever hear is we need to correct it but you never see players benched for lousy pick control. Wouldn’t the coach be making a statement to sit players who constantly do this I.E 71 even for a game or two.
Jason Mackey
2:25
I'm pretty sure they're trying to lose. And HCMS prefers as little accountability as possible, praising players when they discard any attempt at thoughtfulness and just wing it.
I'm joking, obviously, but they're not gonna bench Malkin. This isn't junior high.
Gus
2:25
It is early, but the way the Pens have been so inconsistent all season makes me think a deep playoff run is not going to happen. Therefore, any thoughts as to what the return for Phil Kessel would be this summer?  I have never cared for the trade - hes a one dimensional (lazy) player who only has a wrist shot (unable to slap shot, one timer, play defense). As of late, his turnovers have cost us many goals against, and I'll be glad to see him go.
Jason Mackey
2:26
I think GMJR, as he did last summer, will listen on Phil. If he gets an offer that makes sense, I think he'll do it. I think his threshold this summer will also be lower than it was last summer. Will he do anything? I think that depends on the interest. Last summer there wasn't a ton.
dave
2:26
Do you think Cullen might be a healthy scratch at some point?  He can't stop getting kicked out of faceoffs, and he doesn't seem to have much scoring ability any more.
Jason Mackey
2:28
Geez. He was playing with Joseph Blandisi and Garrett Wilson. I wouldn't be looking at him to score 20 goals. And getting kicked out is not new. My colleague, Matt Vensel, actually talked to Cullen about this. Read his mailbag for more: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/penguins/2019/03/20/olli-maatta-in...
Short answer: No. There's zero thought whatsoever given to healthy scratching Cullen.
Nate
2:28
Love reading your work as a PA transplant in Boston. Very insightful. Last week in what a think was the Washington game holtby was out of position and a shot got past him but was ‘saved’ by a defender. I know that counts as a shot on goal but does the goalie get credit for the ‘save’ or does it get lost in the black hole of statistics.
Jason Mackey
2:29
That's a great question, Nate. Let me check on that. If someone knows it, please chime in. But I don't have an answer to give you that I feel 100 percent confident in.
dave
2:29
Do you think there's something wrong with Crosby?  He's made some very uncharacteristic mistakes in the past few games.
Jason Mackey
2:29
There's nothing wrong with Sidney Crosby.
Lord of carson
2:29
Jason. Any chance Sully was playing in the Czech league in and around the same time Dom Simon was born ?
Jason Mackey
2:29
None whatsoever.
Harold
2:29
Hi, Jason: Any reason you can ascertain that Sullivan is limiting Teddy Blueger's ice time the last couple of games?  It was particularly surprising in the Flyers game, that he only played 11 minutes.  The NBCSN announcers were very effusive in their praise of Blueger and had replays of a number of good plays he made throughout the game.
Jason Mackey
2:31
Blueger has played 14 or more minutes in four of the past five games. He's currently centering a line with Jared McCann and Phil Kessel. I'm not sure I agree with you that Sullivan is under-utilizing a rookie with 20 games on his NHL resume.
Todd HH
2:31
Jason.  I roundly acknowledge the great year Letang has had. But is there something  , even back to their last Cup run ,  that the D is every bit as effective and maybe more so in a different way ?
Jason Mackey
2:32
One, you never turn away a player like Kris Letang if you have him available. Two, I think their D was a lot better back then than people -- including me -- gave them credit for. I think we're seeing that now. Three, I think it's an underrated thing for, as a defense corps, those guys to just make the simple play and not get too fancy, as has been the case when Letang has been out.
JohnAl
2:32
Re: Simon being a center. He wasn't one in WBS either. Or in the Czech league. Last time he was a center was in the Czech junior leagues.
Jason Mackey
2:33
I believe he said he saw some time there, although I could be wrong. Either way, it's not even close to an option.
Todd HH
2:33
Jason ,   I don’t think any Cup team would have the likes of Zar and Simon getting top 6 minutes. They simply don’t score enough themselves for that role. That and the black hole of offensive that’s their 4th line prevents this team from being a realistic Cup team.  Thoughts ?
Jason Mackey
2:34
If your point is that they need more scoring depth, I agree. But I think ZAR and Simon could conceivably provide that. Have they? In stretches. I don't think it's smart to tie playoff success automatically if xxx or xxx is playing xxx minutes. That's not at all fact-based.
Eric
2:34
To your earlier point about scoring depth, besides the obvious (Crosby's line, Malkin, and Kessel) who has the best chance to get hot and to go on a streak with some pucks in the net on a consistent basis?
Jason Mackey
2:34
Can I say Hornqvist? My other two candidates would be Nick Bjugstad and Bryan Rust. Maybe Rust first. He has shown the ability to catch fire, and Bjugstad -- that line has been good -- has been shooting the puck a ton.
Nodak guest
2:34
I have liked the way Gudbranson has played so far since the trade. However, his contract makes me cringe. Do you think he will be out this summer? If not, what is the plan going forward to get more cap space?
Jason Mackey
2:35
I think they'll trade a D this summer. Gudbranson could be on. And I agree with you, he's been much better than advertised. I think who gets traded is still very much up in the air.
Bob in WV
2:35
What's your take on Marcus Pettersson? He seems like a liability at times.
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