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Matt Vensel's Penguins chat: 10.31.25
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Matt Vensel
12:31
Dean, I do think we will see Broz before the end of the year, but he will need to continue to do his part down there. Sam Poulin has gotten favorable reviews, too. If you are curious about what's been going on in Wilkes, you will want to read my From the Point column tomorrow.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
12:32
Do you believe that the Pens will continue to rotate the goalies every other game? I know most teams settle on 1 goaltender, but this rotation seems to be working. Any way they continue this process?
Matt Vensel
12:33
Hey, Sunner. Thanks for stopping by again. I do think the rotation will continue. To me, Tristan is starting to separate himself from Silovs. It's not that Silovs has been bad. Tristan has been that good. But why fix what isn't broken? The rotation is working for the team and both goalies.
Idggy DeBeau
12:33
Just a comment…It’s so refreshing to see what the Pens are doing so far this season. Sully is a great coach but even he would probably say he needed a new environment. Wish some owners on the North Side had done the same. It could have been better for everyone.
Matt Vensel
12:35
This is a great point, one I alluded to earlier. I really hope folks around here don't turn this great start into a referendum on Mike Sullivan. He was a great coach here for a long time. And as Idggy wisely notes, sometimes everybody just needs a change.
Ryan
12:35
Matt do you think about The play of Bryan Rust he has looked good these past few Games
Matt Vensel
12:36
Yeah, he's been good. Four goals in the last four games. After he finally scored his first goal, I wrote that we shouldn't be surprised if Rust got hot after that. Allow me to pat myself on the back for actually being right about something for once. Haha
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
12:36
Have you spoken to the players off record why they are playing so much better than last year? Is it the refreshing new voice in Muse or do the youngsters bring a spark of energy that they did not have last year? Vets like Malkin, Letang and Karlsson seem to be playing a more disciplined game, and they are getting a lot more scoring opportunities?
Matt Vensel
12:37
If I spoke off the record with them, I couldn't share it here... grin
Rahn
12:37
The other first-rounders are in good spots, too, no? Bill Zonnon is hurt but when he returns, he's on a wagon with Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, likely the top team in the Q. And Will Horcoff is pressing well with Michigan. Both don't seem to have spots for World Juniors but is the team happy with where they are developmentally?
Matt Vensel
12:38
I mean, Bill Zonnon being on the shelf for the last two months or so can't be construed as a positive. It shouldn't impact his development, but it ain't helping it. Horcoff has been very productive for Michigan, albeit against lesser competition in a few games. The team is excited about both kids.
Rahn
12:38
What's the story with Emil Pieniniemi, refusing his assignment to Wheeling and getting suspended? Any news on this?
Matt Vensel
12:39
That's the news. He didn't report to Wheeling and is now suspended.
Tim
12:39
Hey Matt! Thanks for these chats. Do you see this start affecting the more long term plans of Dubas? He's acquired quite a few draft picks over the past few years in a rebuilding effort but do you see him using any of those to help make a run this year (assuming they stay in playoff contention)
Matt Vensel
12:40
No. It will take a lot more than 12 games for him to reverse course.
Ricky Blitt
12:40
Hi, Matt.  Great stuff you’ve been writing.  I’m starting to feel guilty for thinking Kyle Dubas was worse than Covid, but after a rough start on the job, he’s done a lot of smart things since.  I’m sure he’s read my criticisms and sometimes they depress him so much he can’t get out of bed so my question is can you please tell Mr. Dubas I’m sy
Matt Vensel
12:41
Ricky! How's it going? I will let him know you are back on board. Haha
Danno
12:41
Malkin looked slow and tired at Philly. Could be his age. Do you think he would accept a couple "of load management" games - taking one of the back-to-back games off?
Matt Vensel
12:42
You just don't see that in hockey. Maybe we will one day get to that point, hopefully not like it is in the NBA. I will add that Muse has made a point to more evenly distribute the minutes of all his forwards within games. Geno is averaging a career low in ice time as a result.
Jim K in Jax
12:43
Hi Matt, have you noticed any difference with in-game adjustments from the current coaching staff versus the previous? Do all the lines play the same style, or is it structured to their strengths? I haven't noticed a real pattern in how the Penguins are playing differently from last year beyond being much sounder defensively. Have a great weekend!
Matt Vensel
12:44
Good question, Jim. This is probably not the forum to expand in all of that. There's a lot to it. My inclination is that the skill sets and player archetypes of the players, more than anything, are what leads to stylistic differences in lines. I don't know that the coaches influence that much, though they can to a degree.
Owen from OH
12:45
Any chance we can continue this hot start to Christmas? I haven't felt this cautiously optimistic since 2016.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
12:45
With the Steelers going into the tank a bit earlier than usual, it looks like the Pens are the city's best hope to get to the playoffs. Is this sustainable or will they come back to earth and miss the playoffs?
Matt Vensel
12:47
I will tackle these two questions together. I am not ready to change my preseason prediction that the Penguins will miss the playoffs. Not after 12 games. This has been fun, and their spirit and resolve definitely have had me reconsidering things. But as I noted earlier, there are some real warning signs on the defensive side that are being covered up for good goaltending. Plus, this is still an older team, so there will be more injuries. So, I lean toward the latter there, but I am open minded going forward. It would be a great story to cover.
That will do it for today's chat. We will do this again sometime soon. In the meantime, you can reach me at mvensel@post-gazette.com. I generally will respond to reader questions fairly quickly. Have a great Friday and Happy Halloween to everone!
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