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Jason Mackey's Penguins chat: 9.13.18
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Jason Mackey
12:18
Hi folks and Happy Thursday. It's our last one of these before the start of the 2018-19 season, and I'm sure you've got plenty of questions. Feel free to leave them here. I'll be back at 1 p.m. to answer everything, as always. Thanks.
12:58
... and with Sunshine Daydream (8/27/72) on the headphones, away we go ...
Kody
12:58
Who should we really pay attention to at Training Camp?
Jason Mackey
12:59
Hey Kody. Lots of stuff, honestly. Watch whether the Brassard-at-wing experiment works. Who Jack Johnson plays with. Does Kris Letang bounce back? ... Aside from the obvious, it'll be interesting to see if ZAR can earn a regular role ... maybe if Cullen is what the Penguins think he can be. We have an ongoing, 15-part series at post-gazette.com, hope you can check it out. Addresses plenty of things to watch at camp. I have a piece coming out tomorrow, actually, on the top battles.
Regent Square Mick
1:00
Jason, with the logjam at the center, and the publicly stated goal of trying out Brossard on the wing a bit in camp, will there be enough time for Sullivan to settle on his line combinations, especially given the Sprong situation as well? I wouldn't rule out a trade of one of the centers, but I would think this year, more than in recent years, it would really behoove Sullivan to have more stability concerning line combinations (with the caveat of course of injury forcing changes).
Jason Mackey
1:01
Hey Mick. Let me start with this: Sullivan is going to screw around with his line combinations all season. I wouldn't worry about "time." Just who he is and how he does things. That said, there is stuff they need to learn. Where does Sprong fit? Who goes with Geno? Left or right side for Rust? Is Brassard a capable wing, etc.? There's enough time to learn that stuff, I do believe, but it'll change even after camp.
Zach
1:01
Who do you have in the lineup, for the bottom 6?  A LOT of possibilities it seems.  Thanks man you are the best
Jason Mackey
1:02
Thanks, Zach, although I don't know about any of that. My lineup would start out like this: Guentzel-Crosby-Hornqvist // Hagelin-Malkin-Kessel // Cullen-Brassard-Sprong // Grant-Sheahan-Rust.
HB
1:02
so is Matt going to have a mailbag like sam or another chat? Hi Sam if he’s here today.
Jason Mackey
1:02
Yes, he will. We're ironing out those details. But it's likely he'll do a mailbag like Sam did.
Guest
1:02
Heard anything more about the Mallon “injury” from the last practice?
Jason Mackey
1:03
I have not, but I saw him walking around the facility -- he didn't speak with the media -- afterward, and he looked perfectly fine. I think it was certainly a scare: stick to the face and collision. But it doesn't look like anything to fret over.
Guest
1:03
Chances that Sprong starts the season either playing with Crosby or Brassard?
Jason Mackey
1:05
Almost 100 percent if you're going to give me both. He won't play with Malkin. Sullivan wants Malkin to play on a line where he's the primary shooting option ... or he's willing to acquiesce a bit if it's Geno and Phil. But Sprong likes to shoot the puck, should shoot the puck, and the organization wants him to shoot the puck. Putting him with Geno doesn't let both accomplish their individual goals. The thing with Sprong will be to see with whom he fits better: Crosby or Brassard. Very doubtful they try Sprong in a fourth-line role; he's simply not that kind of player.
Guest
1:06
Geno didn't do season ticket delivery, and wasn't at the Topgolf event, is there any info on where he's been? I suspect he got a cold, he did a lot of traveling in a short time period with not much rest. Just thinking the Pens would want him to not do events, stay home and get better in time for Testing and Training Camp
Jason Mackey
1:07
Geno never did Summer Sticks; he isn't any good at golf and hates it. A little strange on season-ticket delivery, which he usually does, but you never know. He has stuff going on at home. He's also just a different animal than, say, Sid. Geno isn't nearly as comfortable in those settings. As someone who isn't exactly the most social or outgoing person in the world, I can't say I blame him.
Bill
1:07
What should be my realistic expectations for Matt Cullen? Am I too greedy to want 12 mins a night on the ice and a 20+ point season?
Jason Mackey
1:08
I don't think so, Bill. Although I think 12 minutes might be a tad high. If he's playing 9-10, and they're effective, I'm fine with that. Figure, the Penguins could run out a third line that's very non-traditional. It's OK to give the third line a little more and the fourth a little less. But if they're winning and need someone responsible to hop over the boards, those are the games you could theoretically see the fourth line's ice time tick up.
John
1:08
Any word on new third jerseys this year?
Jason Mackey
1:09
They'll have them. Other than that, crickets.
Al
1:09
When are we getting third jerseys?!?
Jason Mackey
1:09
Not quite sure, Al. Sorry. These details are pretty much non-existent.
Steven
1:09
Who stood out to you at the prospect tournament other than Adam Johnson?
Jason Mackey
1:10
Honestly, Steven, not many. Addison looked good. Needs to bulk up and get more comfortable defensively, but he was fun to watch. Angello has some potential. Huge dude. I liked Olund, but I'm not sure saying "stood out" is the right word. Maybe some encouraging signs. I'll put it that way.
JamesinNYC
1:13
Heard you on Stan's show yesterday great stuff.....tell us what we should know about Grant please.
Jason Mackey
1:15
Thank you. Love being on with Stan. It was always one of my dad's proudest moments when I'd talk hockey with Stan. Just extra special to me ... Solid faceoff guy, can do a little PK/PP ... where he fits is the interesting part. He's smart. Can skate a little, too. But needs to have some offense around him to thrive; can't do it all on his own. I can't wait to see how the Penguins elect to use him.
Kim
1:15
Which player do you think needs to improve the most this season?
Jason Mackey
1:16
Good question, Kim. ... Is Brassard too easy? It's tough for me not to say him. ... Cullen has a ways to go from where he was last year. Johnson, too. Although those latter two had sort of special circumstances. Among incumbents, maybe I'll go with Matt Murray.
Lauren
1:16
What is your prediction for the player who will be the first to score a goal this season?
Jason Mackey
1:16
I'll go with Sid on this one. Never a bad bet, right?
JP
1:16
do you think Kessel gets 90+ ponts again, does Guentzel hit the 60-70 point mark?
Jason Mackey
1:17
I say yes on both of those. Given how he plays and who he'll play with, I can easily see Phil doing it again. I think Guentzel goes for 30-plus goals and will easily get to 60-70 points while playing with Crosby. He may have that by January or February.
Steven
1:17
The Penguins are taking quite a small group of players to camp, compared to other teams. Any reason for this?
Jason Mackey
1:20
I didn't look at other teams' rosters, honestly. But based on the pertinent players who are healthy and all that ... I don't think it's that small. Gets to be too much if there's any more than that, I think.
Brandyn
1:20
Where is Sprong in your line up?
Jason Mackey
1:21
I'd start him with Brassard and Cullen on the third line. I like how Cullen would provide defense, a second centericeman and could keep up speed-wise. Would be good for Sprong's head, too.
JP
1:22
does Brassard enjoy playing here?
Jason Mackey
1:23
He'll never say so publicly. I think it's still TBD. I don't think he loves last year, but that was because he struggled to find a fit, and once he did, he got hurt. Bad, too. ... Is that permanent? It shouldn't be. He has a great opportunity here. I think he probably got a little annoyed that he was never able to settle in with regular linemates, for myriad reasons. I think that's something they'll try and give him.
JP
1:23
do you think brassard enjoys playing here?*
Jason Mackey
1:24
Answer hasn't changed, JP. ... Just messing around.
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