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Matt Vensel's Penguins chat: 06.01.21
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Matt Vensel
12:35
Very hard. Whether you agree with them or not, the Pens really thought they had a good chance of making a deep, deep run this year. And they outplayed the Isles. And they got knocked out early again largely due to goaltending. That's a tough one to swallow, especially since he might not get another chance like the one he just got. There are no guarantees in life or hockey. Well, unless you're talking about Mark Messier in 1994.
Jason
12:35
Let Sullivan go hire Tochett!!! What’s the chances?
Matt Vensel
12:36
Not good given that our Mike DeFabo just reported that Mike Sullivan will "100%" be back this season. https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/penguins/2021/06/01/pittsburgh-pen...
Guest
12:36
Before the playoffs I would have said to protect McCann but after the plat
Matt Vensel
12:37
Jared McCann had another quiet postseason and it's fair to question whether he is built for playoff hockey. Just turned 25, though, and can still theoretically blossom. Just look at Bryan Rust.
jesse
12:37
hey matt,
Matt Vensel
12:37
Hey, Jesse!
dude?
12:37
How many players do you think it would take for the Pens to have enough grit/size/truculance to satisfy Hextall & Burke? 2?
Matt Vensel
12:38
I would say the Pens will look to add at least two truculent types.
GPT
12:43
If you read between the lines of what Sullivan and some of the players said after the playoffs, I don't see how they can bring Jarry back.  They all talked about how they thought this team was built for a deep run. Leaving Jarry exposed to Seattle is a no-brainer.
Guest
12:43
most people seemed to really think the pens had something special this year , does average goal tending get them to second round ?  And do you think they would have had a chance against Boston ?
Matt Vensel
12:44
This is a fair question. I'd give Boston the edge in that series, especially with Rask back at top form and Taylor Hall giving them another scorer.
Guest
12:44
Do you think guentzels playoff performance hurts his Olympic team chance ?
Matt Vensel
12:44
I don't think so, especially with the Olympics being played on the big rinks.
jesse
12:45
Hey Matt, I totally didn't realize that if I hit enter it automatically sends but. If you were GM how exactly would you re-tool this team? Goaltending sure, and obviously adding size on the 4th line I presume, but if you look at the top teams now in the playoffs, Colorado/Tampa/Carolina/Boston do you try and play copycat? My concern with adding Size is that since Crosby and Malkin are older now and not as quick, this turns us into what the Capitals core looks like, granted they lost for different reasons but bigger and slower with skill
Matt Vensel
12:48
Jesse, with Sullivan back, the first thing I'd do is have conversations with Malkin and Letang about what they'd want in contract extensions. If they were fine with shorter deals at a reasonable salary, I'd bring them back and make changes around them. Malkin appears to be on the decline but I don't know you're finding a second center with more upside over the short term. So if he takes a pay cut, keep him around and pray for the best. I'd then put out feelers for all the veteran wingers to gauge their trade value and pick a trade or two that makes the most sense to reshape the identity of the team. As far as the goalie situation, I'd definitely need a proven start to at least compete with Tristan.
12:49
Hard to sum up all of that in one chat answer. A lot to consider.
Guest
12:49
Does Jarry’s interview after game 5 strike you at all as flippant, quietly cocky, or too nonchalant?
Matt Vensel
12:50
That's just how Tristan is wired. Nothing ever seemed to phase him for more than 60 minutes until the Islanders came along.
Guest
12:50
Why didn’t they try LeGace at all in game 6?  Goaltender confidence that shaky?
Matt Vensel
12:51
Mike Sullivan declined to explain that decision. But there's probably a performance-based reason why Maxime Lagace didn't play an NHL game in more than two years before the regular season finale.
Guest
12:51
Why are penguin home playoff games docile compared to rowdy Long Island ?
Matt Vensel
12:51
My guess is significantly more beer. But what a scene there on Long Island. Definitely going to miss the Coliseum.
Sunner in Orlando
12:52
Don't know why Reaves was traded. He helped protect our boys and he could also skate and score. I know he was forced onto Sullivan so he never had a chance but now circumstances have changed. Would he or someone like him be a perfect fit on a 3rd or 4th line?
Matt Vensel
12:52
A Ryan Reaves question is my cue to call it a day.
Thanks to everyone for joining today's chat. Some really great questions. We'll do these more and more during the offseason as we get more information about what the team has up its sleeves.
12:53
Time to go mow the lawn. Have a great afternoon everyone.
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