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Jason Mackey's Penguins chat: 6.7.18
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Jason Mackey
1:36
Hi folks. Welcome to my Thursday chat. Thanks for dealing with the delay. We're ready to roll now.
The Trout
1:36
Hey Jason. Assuming the Pens are going to target at least one FA D-man this offseason, do you have any ideas who out there might present an attractive and realistic option?
Jason Mackey
1:39
The two that I've been citing most frequently are John Moore and Calvin de Haan. I think both would make sense. Both, though, are left shots. Also like Andrej Sustr from Tampa, but I think he may make too much.
BobB
1:39
Been watching Jay Beagle win nearly every faceoff lately for Caps. Any chance he might sign with Pens?
Jason Mackey
1:40
None. Beagle is going to be way too expensive, but I agree with you; he's a really good player. He'd be an incredible fit, but I don't see how they would swing it. Unless, of course, they traded Brassard. Don't think that's terribly likely.
Frank Black
1:40
In the last 12 months, GM Jim Rutherford has traded 2-1st round picks(2017 & 2018), a top goalie prospect, & a top 6 defenseman (Cole) for a net return of Brassard...who finished the 17-18 season on the 4th line. How important is it for GM Rutherford to have a better offseason, this year?
Jason Mackey
1:42
I think it's very important, but you're omitting the parts where GMJR traded bit parts (basically Scott Wilson and Josh Archibald) for Riley Sheahan and Jamie Oleksiak. But you're points are valid. He swung and missed last year with Hunwick and Niemi. They never utilized Reaves the way they should have, and a negative relationship with Cole-Sullivan made a very good defenseman expendable, in their eyes. He needs to be better, yes, but I'm not going to start banging the Rutherford-needs-to-go drum like a recent emailer did.
Frank S
1:42
The rules of the last expansion draft made all first- and second-year professionals exempt from selection. Is a second-year professional one who has just completed his second year, or is he one who  is about to begin his second year? Does the number of games played in a year matter? For example, if another draft were held next month, would the 11 games Jake Guentzel played with WBS in 2015-16 count as a professional year and, if not, would he presently be considered  a second-year professional?

When will the next expansion draft most likely happen?
Jason Mackey
1:44
Not within the timeframe where they could lose Guentzel, I know that. I honestly don't know the specifics of the expansion draft off by heart, and after what we went through during the 2016-17 season, I refuse to look them up in June 7. At this point, it's extremely unlikely the Penguins will lose a high-level prospect. It could happen, but I would imagine even Daniel Sprong is ineligible for Seattle to pick.
Frank Black
1:44
One way for Rutherford to insure Sprong plays in Pittsburgh next year, is to let Simon walk...am I correct?
Jason Mackey
1:44
Partially. It still doesn't guarantee Sullivan plays Sprong, though. He might steal a pair of Simon's old skates and use them instead.
jason
1:44
during last chat you said you weren't coming back to chat til the draft. what a nice surprise. what gives?
Jason Mackey
1:45
Eh, I'm in the office (Varsity Xtra story, intern lunch, expenses) and figured what the heck. Every time I say not for awhile it ends up happening the following week. Ha.
Joe
1:45
Eliotte Friedman has been saying the Pens are going to be one of the teams to take a run at Tavares, have you heard that at all?
Jason Mackey
1:46
I think they would like to; however, I don't expect it to get very far for three reasons. 1. I don't think Tavares would want the rule he would get here; 2. I don't think the Penguins would be able to fit him under the cap; and 3. I don't think the Islanders, now run by Lou Lamoriello, are going to let the face of their franchise get away.
Guest
1:46
are these Stanley Cup finals going as you expected?
Jason Mackey
1:46
Not at all. I thought Vegas was going to role. Boy, was I wrong.
111
1:46
Will there be an asterisk beside the Caps name in the record books if they win the Cup due to the Tom Wilson controversy?
Jason Mackey
1:46
Which one?
friend
1:47
Jason, did you stay true to your word and check out some Train live shows?  My buddy saw them recently and said they did an extended groove on a 4.5 minute version of Meet Virginia. Crowd in the zone he said
Jason Mackey
1:47
I did not. But I did check out a train in Virginia ... the Metro!
John
1:47
The penguins haven't drafted a player out of a Russian hockey league since Alexander Pechursky in 2008. Do you have any insight on the reasoning behind this? There is a ton of talent over there and a decade seems like more than a coincidence. With some of the unfair stereotypes surrounding Russian players causing them to drop in the draft and the pens lack of 1st round picks, I would think this would be an inefficiency they could exploit to their advantage.
Jason Mackey
1:49
Not ruling it out, John. And you should mention Sergei Plotnikov, to be fair. But maybe after mentioning Plotnikov and Pechursky we have our answer. Seriously, though, I don't think the Penguins are anti-KHL player. That's not it at all. Just hasn't worked out where that's where they thought they found the best fit.
PGH
1:49
Are you going to all of the Stanley Cup games? I don't think the Post Gazette should send you to non-Penguins games. It is a waste of tax payer dollars.   Thanks.
Jason Mackey
1:49
Thanks for your input. Assuming you're a subscriber, you have a voice in where we send people. But tax-payer dollars? Not sure I get that.
movies
1:49
I finally saw that movie you talk about in here non-stop - Sudden Death starring Jean Claude VD.   Do you get residual checks when it comes on tv?
Jason Mackey
1:49
We do not, no.
Guest
1:50
I see that John Mayor is touring with the Grateful Dead. Could this version - taking into considerations Mayor's guitar talent and songwriting skills (Body is a Wonderland, et al) - be actually BETTER than the classic 60s/70s Dead lineups?
Jason Mackey
1:50
No.
Guest
1:50
Jason, I'm sick of the refs stealing games away from LV.   Can you say a few words about the atrocious REFEREEING???
Jason Mackey
1:50
A few words about the atrocious refereeing.
John
1:50
Do you think the Hall and Lauzon picks over the last 2 years influence how they draft defensemen moving forward? It's very rare for players who produce no points at the junior level to make/have success in the NHL. Even defensive D-men tend to produce  SOMETHING in juniors.
Jason Mackey
1:52
I don't think so, honestly. I think you need to evaluate defensemen for what they do well. If they find a physical, stay-at-home guy who does that really, really well ... fights some, hits, plays smart, great stick, positionally sound ... just doesn't score, I'm still drafting that kid. They missed with Hall, because he couldn't stay healthy. That, for me, is not enough to change the entire draft strategy on one position.
Mark
1:52
Jason, if the Caps win the Cup, do you think it will make the Pens feel better about themselves, as opposed to if the Caps were bounced in the Conference finals?
Jason Mackey
1:52
It should. In hindsight, I think the Penguins should not be the least bit ashamed losing to a very good Caps team. But good luck convincing Penguins fans it's ever OK to lose to the Capitals.
mackey fan
1:53
Just gotta get in here again Jason and point out how off you were about the Knights prior to this season. I told you they'd be good and you humiliated me in the chat.  Even if they lose the Cup it is so sweet. I like you, but your prediction was WAAAAY wrong.  Take it easy, dude. Enjoy the summer!
Jason Mackey
1:54
Thanks. I'll try to be better on my next prediction involving a fantasy hockey team from Vegas.
0000
1:54
You read the Selvin Grateful Dead book or any of the Tom Wolfe stuff yet? Waiting for your review...
Jason Mackey
1:54
I have not, sorry. Haven't had the time. Stanley Cup and a ton of family stuff going on in June. Just haven't had the time.
Guest
1:54
You kind of dodged the question a few weeks ago about your PG per diem. Can you get us that info?  I'm trying to determine the finances of being a sportswriter for a college essay. Thanks!
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