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Matt Vensel's Penguins chat: 02.13.20
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Matt Vensel
1:05
Hey, Pens fans. Running a little late today due to practice and locker room time. I'll be ready to start answering your questions in about 10 minutes. But feel free to send one or five over now if you've got something on your mind. Thanks!
Dan
1:24
Matt do the Pens realist have any trade pieces left ? Also looking into the off season do you think yhey could move a goalie to re coup the lost first rounder ?
Matt Vensel
1:25
Dan, I wrote about this for today's paper actually. But to summarize, they gave up two of their top five future assets to get Jason Zucker, but they do have some stuff left to give up if they want. Here's a link: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/penguins/2020/02/12/penguins-prosp...
I don't see them moving a goalie now.
rpk21774
1:25
When bigger teams exert physical play against the Penguins, they seem to be put back on their heels and go into survival mode .  Last Capitals game third period a very good example.  Can they survive a 7 game physical series?  I don't think so.
Matt Vensel
1:26
I think that's a fair concern considering how they've fared against Boston and Tampa Bay. I think they can get through one of those teams but might be hard to beat two or three big, physical teams in a row.
66fan
1:26
shouldn’t/should the Pens be giving Jarry some starts against top teams down the stretch to see what he can do against better competition this time of the year? Murray’s contract asks (8 years for $8mil per, as reported in Post Gazette) seem like way too much money and term... they might need to go to Jarry as their #1. it would be nice to know if he can step up. thoughts?
Matt Vensel
1:27
They're going to play both guys and hope one runs away with the gig. And then they'll figure it all out this summer when both Murray and Jarry are set to be free agents. As for Murray's contract demands, yeah, that's a lot to pay for a goalie. Murray is such a unique case. He has two Cups and has been solid in the last two playoff exits. But he's yet to put together a consistently good regular season. So how much do you pay him and for how long? Big decisions.
billmaloni@aol.com
1:29
What are the chances of the Pens re-acquiring D's Gubranson, Daley, or Hainsey, or anotherwing?
Matt Vensel
1:30
Given they dumped his contract for cap reasons, I don't see Gudbranson happening. I do see them looking into adding another defenseman, likely a lefty, to bolster their depth. But nothing major.
RichmondPensFan
1:30
Zucker's shot on the power play looked very similar to many of his highlight reel goals even with no team practice. Is it possible he could replace what's been missing since Kunitz?
Matt Vensel
1:31
I don't see him and Kunitz as similar plays but I do think he can help the power play. He got a little bit of time in his Pens debut in the Bryan Rust spot. I could see him bumping Rust out of that spot, though Rust has been better there than I thought he would do. Rust's improvement this year has been wild.
Dan
1:31
What moves, if any, do you expect the Penguins to make on'before the trade deadline?
Matt Vensel
1:33
Obviously, they made the big one already in getting Zucker. I think they'll look into adding a bottom-line winger and an extra D. The fourth line has been a mess but it should get better with Galchenyuk, who isn't much of a grinder, gone and the possible return of Kahun in the coming days to bump somebody down the depth chart.
66fan
1:33
I would like to see the Pens add some depth at D for the playoffs... they have played well this season but playoff hockey is a different animal, not to mention the possibility of injuries. couldn’t Hainsey be a nice insurance policy? he’s played here before, won a Cup, is a good locker room guy, good on the PK
Matt Vensel
1:33
You make a good point, but I'd be careful about bringing in a guy just because he did something for you in the past. Any move should be about what he can do to help you now.
Brittany
1:34
what is your opinion on the zucker trade? Did we give too much away? Or? Thoughts?
Matt Vensel
1:36
I like the deal for a couple of reasons. One, Zucker should be a really good fit with his speed, shot and smarts. This wasn't just bringing a good player. It was about bringing in what might be the best possible fit available. Two, Zucker has three years left on the deal, so I don't mind them giving up two assets. I would not have felt the same way if Zucker was just a rental.
Brittany
1:37
What do you think of the Matt Murray and Tristan Jarry Duo. Their contract are both up in july... thoughts on who penguins will Sign? Or both?
Matt Vensel
1:40
This is to be determined. The Penguins are going to let this play out then decide whom to pay after the season. It's hard to see a scenario where both guys are back because I think each will have interest in the RFA market. Maybe the Pens can somehow flip one for an asset. Jarry would be cheaper given he doesn't have, as of right now, two Cups on his resume. Matt, understandably, wants to get paid as one of the top goalies on the market given what he's done. It's going to be fascinating to see how it plays out. But right now, it's a good thing that they have this healthy competition. Not many teams get strong goaltending pretty much every night.
Richard Kimbal
1:40
Are the Pens still missing a decent RW on Sid's line? If/when all are healthy, will Simon be there or will Bjugstad have a chance? I think we all know by now that it wont be Hornqvist. Could Toffoli's game fit with Sid?
Matt Vensel
1:42
I don't see them acquiring another top-six winger now that Zucker is in the fold. As for who plays with Sid and Zucker, the top candidates are Hornqvist and Simon. I can't feel strongly about either. But as I've always said with Simon, if he isn't slowing Crosby down, and he usually isn't, I don't mind him being on that line. Bjugstad is a wild card. He hasn't skated for a month after being on the ice back in January. I don't know that you can bank on getting anything from him at this point.
Guest
1:42
Have you seen guentzel around ?  I was wondering how he was doing mentally and if he keeping his spirits up
Matt Vensel
1:43
We do see Jake around. He was in the press box during Tuesday's game and his arm was still a sling. We do not get a chance to talk to him, other than brief chitchat. The Penguins don't have to make injured players available to the media.
Guest
1:43
How about convincing cullen to come out of retirement ?  Would help solve fourth line issues.
Matt Vensel
1:45
I actually just talked to Cullen an hour ago for something for tomorrow's paper. Be sure to check it out. But, yes, I did ask him if he still has the itch to play and he does not. He's very content in retirement and pumped to be seeing his kids every day. It's hard as a parent to be on the road as much as these guys are.
Joe
1:46
Why does Sullivan think the team has been trending down since January 1? Has anyone asked him what the issues are?
Matt Vensel
1:48
Joe, to be fair, they were winning at an unsustainable clip in December. Plus, you know, injuries. But to your point, there has been some cause for concern. There have been more odd-man rushes, for example, and they're not getting much scoring from their bottom two lines.
Guest
1:48
When kahun comes back does that mean mccann goes to fourth line?  Don’t you think he is too good to be on the fourth line?
Matt Vensel
1:50
I do think it will come down to either McCann or Kahun next to Malkin and the other guy moving down the lineup. Ideally, the bottom two lines are 3A and 3B and their usage will vary on the situation, if that makes sense. Some nights we may see the Blueger line more. And if they're trailing, we might see a line centered by McCann more often. Ideally, they have four they can roll with in the playoffs.
Den
1:51
Sid’s level of play seems to have dropped off lately.  Is he still not 100% after his injury or could this be something new?
Matt Vensel
1:52
There's been a couple of rough games, plus a few really good ones, for his line but I think he's been solid. Probably doesn't help that the Pens are still trying to figure out who his linemates are going to be. I don't know that the injury is a factor at this point. He took his time coming back.
Ron J
1:55
What is wrong with the power play ? Good afternoon Matt
Matt Vensel
1:58
They're 15th in the league, so it's not like they've been awful. But you're right that they aren't meeting their usually lofty expectations, and the answer is obvious to me. It's all the injuries. They were missing one or two or three of their key guys at most points throughout the season. Since Crosby came back, they have been a lot better. Yeah, they have been hot and cold. That's how it usually goes. But I think they are heading in the right direction. Sullivan wants them to move their feet more and move the puck more. When they do that while not making risky plays, they are pretty dangerous.
Joe
1:59
Other than Malkin, no other player is scoring regularly for this team. Rust has been quiet lately, Sid has looked slow and not very good at even strength the last handful of games. Rust had an unsustainable shooting %. I think we needed someone like Hoffman more than Zucker. Is Zucker really a difference maker on offense?
Matt Vensel
2:01
Zucker is a better fit. It's not just about scoring goals. It's fitting into a fast, straight-forward, two-way style of play. Malkin has been great. Crosby has been fine and should be better now that he has an upgrade on the wing. And until recently they had been getting goals from all over the place. They have nine guys with 10 or more goals. As of the other night, that was tops in the league.
Brian
2:01
Is it me or is Coach Sullivan trying to hand the starting goalie job back to Matt Murray? It's kinda hard to argue the numbers that Jarry has put up this year.
Matt Vensel
2:02
Brian, have you been watching Murray his last few starts? He's been awesome. Jarry has been solid but he's not performing close to the crazy level he was at in December and early January. I think the Pens should continue to have a pretty even split here until one of them seizes the job. Murray might just be doing that.
2:03
That's it for today, folks. Thanks for joining the chat. Be sure to check out the website later tonight or tomorrow. We have some good stuff on the way.
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