You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Matt Vensel's Penguins chat: 05.30.19
powered byJotCast
Prev Page View Full Chat
Guest
2:32
You think they will keep maatta if they r able to trade Johnson ?
Matt Vensel
2:32
I'd think so unless they got something appealing for Maatta.
me
2:32
Do you know if Maatta has any kind of no-movement clause?
Matt Vensel
2:32
I do not believe so.
Guest
2:32
There are good reasons to trade Kessel apart from Sullivan’s predilections; however, handling the way the Pens have and likely be forced to get very little back or having to keep with the further acrimony this will generate has been stupid. Any chance Rutherford’s job is on line because of this, or should be?
Matt Vensel
2:33
Considering he just got a contract extension a few months ago, the only way Jim won't be here next season is if he stunningly retires.
Guest
2:33
Were you surprised more pens didn’t play in worlds ?  Like maatta for Finland
Matt Vensel
2:33
They had seven guys there and I'll go out on a limb and say that Canada probably would have found room for Sid had he wanted to play. That's a pretty big contingent.
Guest
2:33
Any thoughts on who the Pens might get in the Draft?
Matt Vensel
2:35
It's hard to say who they might pick at 21 or 22 (I think it's 21 but am too lazy to confirm right now), but it's said to be a good draft. GMJR said during the season that he was clinging to his first-round pick because they thought it was a strong draft. So they might be able to get an impact prospect who can help them in a year or two.
Guest
2:35
Why after the debacle of last season has the coaching staff, which could not get “buy in” from more than one player, returning intact? Seems to me that Recchi is not very good and Martin has run his course. Why not bring in some fresh ideas?
Matt Vensel
2:38
Mike Sullivan is the head coach. The buck stops with him. I'm not saying they should fire him. That would be rash. But he's the coach and it was concerning that during the sweep against the Islanders that he either couldn't a) make the right adjustments or b) get his players to buy in. And, obviously, the problems started long before them. The Penguins were up and down for most of the season, pulling together for a few weeks in March to make us think they had flipped the switch. This will be a big year for Sullivan. How does he get better buy-in? And how does he tweak their systems to account for that fact that, barring some major personnel changes, the Penguins are probably in the middle of the pack now when it comes to team speed? Sullivan is a good coach, maybe a great one. I bet he has some good answers.
Guest
2:38
Has there been  any rumblings about Maatta? It was very interesting to me that Chad R resigned w the Pens. I thought for sure he would test the market and try to go somewhere where he was going to be more than the 7th or 8th Dman
Matt Vensel
2:40
I think Chad signing here mostly had to do with him feeling comfortable here and probably realizing there wasn't going to be much better opportunities on the open market. He will be the seventh or eighth defenseman entering the season. I don't think it will have any bearing on what the Penguins do with Jack, Olli, etc.
Dan Mucy
2:40
Ok, Matt, you wanted a non-Kessel one!  Everyone wants to trade Maatta all the time.   I get the feeling the Pens DON'T  want to let him go.  Your thoughts?   Thanks again!   Dan
Matt Vensel
2:41
I think the Penguins wish he was significantly faster. He's a useful player but his skating makes him a liability at times, and the rest of the league doesn't figure to slow down in the coming seasons.
Guest
2:41
Do you agree with some comments either Rossi or Yohe made recently suggesting that Kessel has crafted his 8-team trade list to essentially be a full NTC wherein he can’t be traded without his prior approval and that Phil thinks he might outlast Sullivan if he does that?
Matt Vensel
2:42
I don't know about any of that, but if so, so what? That's Phil's right. He earned the clause and can use it how he sees fit. If it's true that he wants to stay in Pittsburgh, are folks really going to rip him for that?
2:43
OK, folks, I'm going to take a few more here then call it a day.
hello
2:43
Hi Vensel, what happened to Jason Mackey?
Matt Vensel
2:44
Jason has moved over to the Pirates beat. I believe baseball is Jason's first love and his lanky self actually played in college. So, while I think he is crazy for jumping ship, I'm happy for him and happy for this opportunity. We're working to get someone else in here to help me out.
pens
2:45
So Jason used to talk a lot in these chats about his love of the Grateful Dead music. Do you have a band that you really like or a hobby you love the way Jason loves the Grateful Dead? Thanks Mat!
Matt Vensel
2:47
I'm not a big music buff, which made Jason want to throw a tie-dyed t-shirt at me. Most of my hours are spent with my two young kids. But when I get out of the house, you'll find me on the ice. I've played hockey since I was a kid, was a goalie on the Butler High team that went 4-18-1 in 1999-2000, played low-level club hockey and still skate a couple of times a week (not fast and not well though). Like Jason moving to the Pirates, this is a dream come true for me.
JB
2:47
Non-Kessel question (yay)...how about the logic in trading DeSmith?  He'd be more appealing than Jarry to another team looking for a goalie, he's never going to be the starter here, and a backup shouldn't be too terribly tough (or expensive) to come by either in free agency or in a trade if you decide Jarry's not the guy for that job.  I could see DeSmith and Matta being a fairly attractive pair of acquisitions for some teams...certainly more attractive in a cap world than, well, anyone with Johnson...
Matt Vensel
2:49
Casey is one of my favorite humans on the team and he showed this year that he can play. But I don't think any teams will view him as a starter. IMO, he's an ideal backup. He's a super positive guy, works hard behind the scenes and -- given that he's been a backup at pretty much every stop along the way to Pittsburgh -- is content in his role. And if Murray gets hurt or struggles, as we saw in November when Casey helped save their season, he's capable of being more in stints. I'd hang on to him.
Guest
2:50
What’s the deal with ZAR? Does he stick around for one more year on a “prove you’re worth it” contract or does the team let him go and go with younger guys from the system?
Matt Vensel
2:51
Unless he is involved in a trade, Zach will be back next season with a chance to show the Penguins they can count on him. I like his game in theory. He's got a little speed, a little grit and a little skill. But this past season was a disappointing one. Injuries and inconsistency.
scott
2:51
ok Matt I just read through the chat, which is dominated by Kessel questions.  How come nobody is talking about Letang?  As good of a player as he is.  He got killed pinching in along the boards all year and gave up odd man rushes.  When does he get traded?
Matt Vensel
2:54
I mentioned this early in the chat, but I think Letang stays and that this was more about rattling his cage and letting him know that he's not perfect. That said, he had an awesome season before he got hurt in the outdoor game in Philadelphia. Like Norris finalist good. Given how he played last season, his first one back after neck surgery, I think the 2018-19 season overall was very encouraging. Do you want to see Kris tweak his game a little bit as he ages? Sure. But as he alluded to after the season, he's at his best when he's living on the edge out there.
Guest
2:54
Vensel...did you used to cover the Ravens?   They are the #1 enemy of the Steelers!!!! How could you do that!!!?????!!!!!!!!!
Matt Vensel
2:57
OK, last question for the day. Since you're going to see more of me going forward, here's my origin story. I'm from Butler, went to Penn State for the best five years of my life, attended grad school at Towson in Baltimore and got my first job working for the Baltimore Sun. And, yes, eventually I was on the Ravens beat for a few years. In 2014, I moved to Minnesota to cover the Vikings. After three years and two kids, my wife and I moved back east and this past season was my first covering the Penguins. It's a dream come true and I'm excited to be doing it. I know Jason worked his butt off and did a lot of great work and that he leaves big shoes to fill. I'll try my best to keep it coming.
Alright, thanks for stopping by. Apologies if I didn't get to your questions. We'll do this again soon. Talk to you then.
Connecting…