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Jason Mackey's Penguins chat: 9.6.18
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Jason Mackey
12:55
Hi folks. Welcome to my weekly Penguins chat. Thanks for hanging out and caring about hockey during a crazy football week like this one. We're gonna get started here in a couple minutes.
Steven
1:00
What's the team's plan with Juuso Riikola? There's not much of a spot to be won on the main roster this year, but given his experience as a 1D in Liiga, how high a ceiling does the team see in him?
Jason Mackey
1:01
Hi Steven. I see him as capable of winning a spot on the NHL roster -- just not this season. Was talking to Guerin about this the other day. Little bit of an unknown because of how he'll adjust to North America, but they certainly don't view him as someone with an AHL ceiling. Maybe if they don't return Schultz? Probably useless to forecast where he fits NHL-wise, but they certainly think he has that level of talent.
caopall
1:01
I’m amazed by the volume of reporting that you do on the Pens. Like grandma’s cooking - good stuff and a whole lot of it. When do you sleep? Can we expect more of the same this coming season or do you plan to slow down any time soon?
Jason Mackey
1:02
Ha. Thank you for that. I won't take credit for much in this job, but I do work hard. My parents taught me a good work ethic. I won't be changing how I do this job. Don't know any other way to do it.
HB
1:03
Id stop criticizing Bell I wouldnt want you to end up in one of his diss tracks.  Actually Id love to see you in a diss track that be hilarious.
Jason Mackey
1:03
I would never, ever hear it, trust me. Would rather listen to nails on a chalkboard.
caopall
1:04
Even if he is playing well, do you expect the Pens to throw Cullen out there every chance they get, or will they rest him more than they did his first go around, hold him back as insurance while giving guys like Hayes and Simon and Sprong ice time?
Jason Mackey
1:05
I think they plan to use Cullen as much as possible if he's healthy and effective. Now, that being said, he'll be 42 in November. If they can find some rest spots for him, I think they would like to try. But he does a lot of things they need right now; they need to play him.
Alex
1:05
Hi Jason. What team do you think is the most well-drafted?
Jason Mackey
1:07
Do you mean this year or in general? This year I would say Buffalo. But in general ... whew, that's tough. I think I would need some time to crunch some numbers and talk to some folks. Too much to give an accurate, off-the-cuff answer.
Alex
1:07
What do you think Jordy Bellerive projects to be in the future?
Jason Mackey
1:09
Not sure. Would be easy to say he's ticketed for NHL stardom based on his season last year, but a couple things there: 1. It's the WHL. All numbers are crazy-high. 2. He has more developing to do. 3. He's a scorer. If he's such a can't-miss, top-six guy, why was he undrafted? Now, I like Bellerive a lot. I think he could one day play top-six minutes for the Penguins. But I think there are still plenty of question marks with him.
Mike Gay - RotoWire
1:09
How is Simon's thumb?
Jason Mackey
1:09
It's fine. Healed. No issue there. Unless he slammed it in his car door heading home today.
dave
1:09
How interesting/uncomfortable do you think Kessel's first media scrum will be?  He's been discussed a lot since the end of last year, and he skipped out on the media after the season ended.
Jason Mackey
1:11
I think it will be at all. A couple points: 1. All Kessel media scrums have a certain amount of uncomfortability, just because who we're talking about. And to be honest: I don't blame Phil for hating this setting. Don't take that as criticism. 2. I don't think he loved what was written and said about him, but Phil has never been the type -- outside of the Dion explosion a couple years ago -- to engage much with media. Better chance he gives his typical Phil answers, says nothing, and goes on with his day.
MaySee Gray
1:11
I know he only talks about caring whether his team wins but do you think Mike Sullivan has any motivation to win the Jack Adams considering he didn't get them during back to back Stanley Cups?
Jason Mackey
1:12
None whatsoever. And he shouldn't. Mike Babcock hasn't won it. Joel Quenneville hasn't since, what, 2000? Destroys all credibility right there.
dave
1:12
Do you think Cullen would be OK with being a healthy scratch at times?  Lots of C's on the roster.
Jason Mackey
1:13
Cullen is the consummate team guy. He's not going to complain about anything, period. The only thing I think both sides will need to watch is fit and rhythm. If Cullen is playing well and going, neither side may want to disrupt that.
Steven
1:13
On the topic of Jimmy Hayes, would it be correct to say the Penguins have very little intention of him getting into an NHL game this year (excluding injury call ups)? Numerous fan run social media account seem to have the idea that he'll have some big rebound.
Jason Mackey
1:15
I don't think they have an expectation either way. I would say ideally, no, it wouldn't be best if he plays in the NHL. They'd prefer Sprong to score 30, ZAR and Simon to make huge strides, etc. But they signed him with the intention that he would embarrass himself or them if he got into a game. So, intention is tough to say, but they're certainly not shying away from it.
Alex
1:17
Say it’s 2024. The Penguins are accepting the reality of a rebuild. What is your approach of a rebuild if you have Sid and Geno for two more years before they retire?
Jason Mackey
1:18
It depends on their record and what's around Sid and Geno. Do the Penguins stink? Do they have nothing else? Are they close? If they are absolutely terrible -- which is what you're asking -- and trading Sid and Geno nets you important picks, likely a couple of first-rounders, sure, I'd consider it. But there's a lot of ifs involved here.
dave
1:18
Wouldn't it make sense to put Sprong on Sid's line instead of Simon?  Simon did nothing on that line last season.
Jason Mackey
1:19
I've gotten no indication they're going to put Dominik Simon there. Could be Patric Hornqvist. Could be Daniel Sprong. Could be Bryan Rust. I'm not expecting to see Simon there.
Guest
1:19
Grant & Hayes or Simon & ZAR? Who would you rather see this season?
Jason Mackey
1:20
If I'm a Penguins fan, I don't care if one of my choices is Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, I want whomever is playing better; don't care who it is. More likely? I'd go with Grant and Hayes.
MaySee Gray
1:20
Defensive depth has been an issue for the Penguins for the last few years.  While they seem to cope well (to the tune of that sweet SC) there's always some suspense.  With the loss of Bengtsson and Pedan (and additions of Riikola and Elliot) will this year carry the same storyline?
Jason Mackey
1:21
Not sure that depth that low in the organization had anything to do with their NHL wins/losses. ... Put another way, the Penguins struggled at times last year, but I don't think it's fair to say it's Zach Trotman's fault or that a better 10th defenseman would've solved the issue. The bigger problem was Kris Letang's inconsistency, plus the lack of a quality third pair for much of the year.
MaySee Gray
1:26
I was mainly thinking about how last year how the unimpressive Hunwick was the next man up if anyone got hurt. But I see your point.
Jason Mackey
1:26
They definitely needed more competition on the back end, I'll give you that.
Monday Morning QB
1:27
Best Wings in Buffalo (outside of the Anchor Bar)?
Jason Mackey
1:29
Never been to Anchor Bar. GMJR told me Gabriel's Gate is better. I LOVED Duff's. My college pitching coach took me to Bar Bill Tavern for wings and a beef on weck whenever I was last in Buffalo. I have a tough time believing Anchor Bar is better than either of those two places, but it is an awesome NHL road city.
Steven
1:29
I do have to disagree with your assessment of Simon in the playoffs. I don't recall if I've previously had this discussion with you, but while with Simon, Crosby produced a similar amount of scoring chances/60 as he did without him. I understand Simon didn't score a goal, but he racked up 3 assists in the limited ice time he had with Crosby, which got him to a pretty solid 2.0 p/60. He isn't amazing and without warts, but he did his job on that line to dig pucks out of the corner.
Jason Mackey
1:31
That's fine, Steven. You're allowed, although in this chat I didn't really give an assessment of him in the playoffs. I hear what you're saying, and I don't disagree. I just thought too many other things lacked to hitch my wagon to digging pucks out of the corner and a really small sample size.
MaySee Gray
1:33
You usually stay mum on lockerroom talk but has anyone on the team said anything about the insane story involving erik karlsson's wife?  Since it involved another player how do you broach that subject as a GM/coach?
Jason Mackey
1:33
I stay mum on off-the-record stuff that should stay that way, but honestly, in hockey dressing rooms, stuff like this isn't talked about ... at least with media present. I also wouldn't even think about bringing it up.
GPT
1:48
Is Phil just super uncomfortable around the media, or is he really a bit of a jerk and people don't call him out on it because he is a 40 goal scorer (not that I expect you to call him out here)?  I'm sure most players don't like answering the same questions over and over, but it is part of the job.
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