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Mike DeFabo's Penguins chat: 04.08.22
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Chris M
10:56
Good morning Mike. If you were to cite one reason why Penguins fans should still feel optimistic about the team's chances in a likely first-round matchup with the Rangers, what would it be?
Mike DeFabo
11:01
I agree with many of the commenters. Losing three of four to the Rangers while scoring just one even-strength goal is reason for concern. I'll give you the same answer Tristan Jarry gave: health. The Penguins played one game without Evgeni Malkin and another without Sidney Crosby. If you're looking for optimism, you have to hope that with those two both in the lineup (plus Jason Zucker and Brock McGinn), the Penguins look more like the deep team that can roll four lines. I'm not saying that will happen. They did have both of those guys in the lineup for one of the three losses. But that's your best hope in my eyes
LN
11:02
Hi Mike , I don’t understand all the positivity after this string of losses, is Sullivan worried about their confidence and is trying to prop them up ?
Mike DeFabo
11:06
I also find it a bit surprisingly how positive the Penguins have been following the losses to the Rangers. I wonder the same thing. How much of this is the truth and how much of this is psychological? If you tell the team they weren't good enough, what message does that send before a postseason series? But the bottom line is they need to be better
Glenn Kaplan
11:06
It is obvious that Kris Letang and Mike Sullivan seem completely delusional about what has happened against the NYR this season. 4 goals in 4 games and only 1 5 on 5? I feel like I have never seen a Mike Sullivan team so scared to play against Igor Shesterkin. A matchup with the NYR would be so bad for them. CAR or FLA would be a better match up in RD1 for PIT. So what happens if they are eliminated again in RD1? Does Mike Sullivan get the ax and is that why the core hasn't been signed yet?
Mike DeFabo
11:08
I hear you and definitely understand that frustration. I personally don't believe Mike Sullivan has to worry about his job. He's one of the most well-respected coaches in the game. There's a reason he's received Jack Adams Award buzz each of the last three years and why he was slated to coach Team USA in the Olympics. A fourth-consecutive first-round flameout would cause many teams to fire the coach. I just don't see that given the way the club sees Sullivan. But in hockey, many coaches have been fired for much less.
11:09
In terms of the core, that's not the reason they haven't been signed. I think the front office is playing hard ball in negotiations. For Malkin and Letang to stay here, both will need to take pay cuts and agree to shorter deals than they want (probably in the 2-3 year range). They've both said publicly they're willing to play for less. But how much less?
JCHESQ
11:09
Good morning - given the losses to the rangers and avs and increasingly inconsistent play from our D, I don't see this season ending well.  The Pens would be very lucky to get to the ECFs at this juncture.  My question:  do you disagree, and if so, why?
Mike DeFabo
11:11
First of all, I think these will be some extremely competitive playoffs. Four really good teams from the East will be gone from the first round. You can pretty much talk yourself into any of the eight qualifiers making it to the conference final. ... That said, the Penguins are 10-10-2 since mid-February. That raises a red flag. Playoff hockey is about getting hot at the right time. Right now, the Penguins are not that
Joe
11:13
Jarry is slipping the second half of the season. I think he’s playing too much. One thing Matt did not note in his article today is no Cup champ over the last 12 years has had a goalie playing 60+ games. Why does Sullivan refuse to play CDS more? They’re going to be in the playoffs, so who cares about the seeding
Mike DeFabo
11:16
I thought Jarry was very sharp last night, for the most part. But generally I agree with you that he looked like an All-Star goalie the first half and more like a solid starter of late. .... They didn't play DeSmith more this year because, honestly, they couldn't really trust him. At this point, I think one of the biggest priorities should be to put Jarry in position to have success. However, goaltender workload is an inexact science. If the staff/ Jarry feels that playing every night will keep him sharp, they should do that. But if they decide he'll be best served with a lighter workload over the final ten games, that should take precedent over the wins
Slap Chop Guy
11:17
Basketball question on a hockey chat: pick a starting 5 and a 6th player off the bench using the Post-Gazette sports staff ...
Mike DeFabo
11:19
Brian Batko is a shooter. I've played pool basketball at his place. Mike Persak is a young kid with energy. John McGonigal gets buckets. I think Zeise brings some height and has the right level of anger to be effective inside. Mackey tries hard. He'd dive for loose balls like it's Game 7 of the NBA Finals. ... I'll come off the bench and rack up five fouls, no points
LN
11:19
Does it seem like the pens are playing with a lack of urgency or passion ?  Like on the first goal , the 3 forwards seemed to coast back with no sense of urgency just watching the play happen.  I am wondering if this type of play was hidden by the exceptional play of Jarry early in the season and he is now playing at a more average level.
Mike DeFabo
11:22
I don't think passion is the issue. The Penguins were barking at the refs all night. I also liked the scrum at the end. I see this more a problem of execution. To your point about the first goal, the Penguins transition defense has been an issue. It's not just giving up 2-on-1s. Sometimes they have numbers back but aren't correctly identifying the biggest threat. It cost them against the Avs and cost them again last night. That transition D is going to be a huge factor in a possible series against the Rangers. They have so much speed that if you make one mistake with the puck, they're sprinting the other way to create a great chance
simonhargus
11:22
How much of this subpar play might just be them being a bit worn out ? Do we see a very different team after a little rest?

I know all teams are playing a lot of games but 1) we played a lot of hard teams lately and the age of the top lines probably means they don't' rebound as easily?
Mike DeFabo
11:25
At this point in the season, every team is dealing with fatigue (mental and physical), coupled with nagging injuries. But I still am concerned that they're just 10-10-2 since mid-February. I could give them a pass if they laid an egg on the second half of a back-to-back or something. But even with adequate rest, they're not stepping up in big games
11:26
Look at the Rangers, by contrast. They seem bored against lesser teams and play down to the competition. They've recently lost to the Flyers, Islanders (twice) and Devils. But then they step it up when it matters, beating Tampa and Carolina in back-to-back nights and then all these results against the Penguins
Jay Daven
11:27
Mike, can the Pens win in the playoffs with a 57% win percentage since Feb 1st?  They can't beat the big guys either.   What can Sullivan do to spark the team?
Mike DeFabo
11:29
The best hope right now is the team gets healthy. We already addressed how Crosby missed one game and Malkin missed another against the Rangers. So let's look beyond that... I think getting Brock McGinn back could be an underrated significant move. For so long, the Penguins counted on Teddy Blueger to anchor a shut-down defensive line. But with McGinn out and ZAR in Anaheim, they're missing that identity. If you're a Penguin fan, you hope that when McGinn is back you again have a trio that can shut down an opponent's top line and then create better matchups across the board
WonkCat
11:29
Penguins starting 5 if they entered the NCAA tournament as a 16 seed.
Mike DeFabo
11:31
Did everyone see the video of the Penguins playing knockout on the court after an NCAA tourney game? Sid won and Jake was second. So those two. Brian Boyle dunked and is humongous. Kapanen actually had a nice-looking jump shot. Let's throw Jeff Carter in there, too. I bet his has the old-man, mid-range game
Guest
11:31
What do you think are the reasons/issues the pens have been just 500 since mid February versus when they were so hot early in the season ?  And do they have time to turn it around ?
Mike DeFabo
11:34
Ron Hextall said depth scoring was an issue ahead of the trade deadline. Mike Sullivan said last night they need to produce more offensively. So that's a good place to start. ... Beyond that, they have these lapses that are costing them. Too often they are too nonchalant with passes. That ends up leading to odd-man rushes or quality chances the other way.
Guest
11:34
Mike. A little unsettled by the recent unfollow. But in Penguins news…I feel that the end has come full circle for this team. It’s time to make the changes in the off-season with the cap space and prospects. What they have isn’t working and most of all…winning. Thoughts?
Mike DeFabo
11:37
I'm not sure who I unfollowed, but please don't take it personally if it was you. You're all my pals. ... In terms of changes this offseason, I'm intrigued what they do defensively. I believe the new front office would like to add more-physical blue liners on the back end. Petterson, by his own admission, hasn't been nearly as good recently. I also believe our old buddy GMJR is interested in Marino. And then there's Letang's pending contract situation. I could imagine a world with as many as 2-3 new defensemen next season
Chris C
11:39
Last night was bad on so many levels despite the regular nonsense HCMS churns after each loss. I think it’s safe to say this lineup going forward after the early exit pending in a few weeks is necessary. They aren’t winning with this team-why keep it together?
Mike DeFabo
11:41
Let's pump the brakes a bit. Remember, the Penguins beat the Islanders six of eight times last year during the regular season... then we all remember how the postseason went. So let's not get too far ahead and assume a first-round exit is inevitable (even if the recent performances vs. the Rangers are concerning). That said, I agree with you. If they don't make it out of the first round for a fourth consecutive year, something has to change
Bill
11:41
What would it hurt to try a fourth line of O'Conner, Zahorna and Angello for the last 5 games and see what they have got. Our team is older, slower and smaller that the elite teams. Give the kids a look, could bring size, youth and some degree of physicality.
Mike DeFabo
11:45
Angello is big, but I'm not sure he brings a ton to the table beyond that. Zohorna has somewhat underwhelmed me this year. He showed such a spark last year. Sullivan termed it "moments of brilliance." But he was sick in camp and just hasn't flashed in nearly the same way.... O'Connor though? I agree with you there. He's been lighting it up in Wilkes. I don't have a ton of clarity as to why he's not back in the NHL
Guest
11:45
Hey Mike! Thanks for doing this, quick question: When are you going to open your twitter DM's to the public? If at all? (on a side note, hope you're doing well!)
Mike DeFabo
11:45
You can always email me if you've got a question
Joe
11:45
Mike, I love how Sullivan praises the process and just think they’ll start scoring. I think their process (their system) is flawed for the players they have. They can’t consistently establish a strong forecheck, possess the puck in the offensive zone and teams know how they play and are boxing them out. The problem is systemic. Sullivan needs to change how they play. He seems blind to this. Has anyone asked him about this? What do you think?
Mike DeFabo
11:47
Remember this is the same system that won back-to-back Cups. I don't think the problem is systematic as much as it is the execution. The Penguins do want to be an aggressive puck-pursuit/ puck possession team. And at times this year, they have looked like that. For whatever reason, I think they've just gotten away from their game
Bill
11:48
Zahorna is plus 12, why is he not playing more, replacing guys like Heinan or Rodrigues
Mike DeFabo
11:49
I kind of addressed this in an earlier question. I had such high hopes for Zohorna this year. They even gave him a chance to win one of the center jobs when Crosby/ Malkin were out with injuries early in the year. I'd like to see a little more from him.
Dan
11:49
With all the recent signings of defensemen. Is Letang the guy out after the season?
Mike DeFabo
11:51
I bet Malkin takes less and stays. Letang and Rust I feel less confident about. And actually, Rust is the guy who I think is most likely to walk. If you're him, you're 30 years old. This is your last contract. He probably is looking for 6/7 mil a year and a deal that's around five years. I'm just not sure the Penguins are going to be willing to pay him what another club can
Dan Bylsma
11:51
Are the penguins tired, disinterested, or does Sully need  to change things up. Injuries aside, the penguins are making a lot of fundamental mistakes for this late in the season.
Mike DeFabo
11:55
Getting healthy players back will provide opportunities to make changes. We've seen Carter skate alongside Malkin, out of necessity, for example. But really, he's best served as a third-line center. Getting Zucker back will bump BJC back into his proper place. The Blueger line doesn't have the same identity when Kapanen is on his wing. He needs McGinn back.
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