Coverage: Swing and a miss

Only 3 games for Scuds? Hey, why stop there?

Let's have HCMJ call it a season if it's all about the Cup.

Confused re Kunitz. I thought the coaching staff was clear a few weeks back that he had to pick it up else he'd be demoted, and I believe DK mentioned they were unhappy with Kunitz going back to start of the season.
Are we still going to have to wait to see "how they'll react"?
It seems to me they already have. Kunitz is set in the Top6, despite having loads of the kinds of poor performances that would have other players held far more accountable, I.e. Not just demoted but scratched.

Cole has not been on the ice for a goal yet, I believe I heard.

What's most troubling to me re Scuds is the offensive zone....ever notice how completely wide open he is? The opposing team has zero fear that he's a threat to score and basically leave him, thereby overloading Crosby et al lower down. We play short handed in the offensive zone for all intents and purposes when #4 is out there.

Looking forward to first Scuds scratch to see other 6 perform. He tosses one to front of net 2-3 games ago and suffers no consequence. No one jumps him because he's the vet voice.

To Sarah, there were 2 occasions in O-zone where our forward had puck on half wall, turned to point, saw who was there (Scuds) and then tried threading one cross-ice instead -- picked off. Pathetic, but who could blame us -- really.

Just wait for playoffs when they not only dump to his side but start relentlessly checking him on boards. Predicting fan mutiny.

Downie? Hmmm, I dunno. A bit of the designated whipping boy I think.
Totally agree Kunitzmay still contribute on bottom 6 playing vs lower D pairings and easier line matchups.
Another obvious thing to try IMO...

IMO he gave a little bit of a crap up until the TDL was over LOL!....

Kuni needs to be off 2nd line but not sure BB the answer.

BB disappeared in spots today. 3 on 1 was horrid. Had center drive lane but passes to Winnik on left wing for worse angle. Kid needs to rid himself of pass first mentality. Until establishes himself as dangerous goal scorer cannot hope to realize 1/50th of perceived potential.

In fairness to Kunitz, we really don't know if he's pouting about all these changes. Until DK or another reputable source reports so much as a whisper about Kuny being dissatisfied in any way, I'll stick with what I see on the ice: a once great player falling before our eyes. Yes, I too would like to see Johnston swap Kunitz and Bennett, but I'm not ready to attack Kunitz for off-ice antics that have never been reported as far as I know...

Kunitz, like every other player on the ice with the Crosby we all remember, shines especially bright because of Sid. On any other line he is shown for what he is, an aging talented forward. He found another level playing with Crosby, a level he didn't know he had ... but the years have caught up to him. The same feeling we probably all have being once "great" on the ice and now the bright light of reality sets in. It's sad to see, and experience, 5 literally wasted seasons of the Crosby/Malkin era ... but we can't turn back the clock can we? Chin up Chris .. and help the Pens get back to where we have been destined to be all along ... on top. :)

Nice to see our Eric B with a good job reporting....

Yikes the comments are indeed on fire! When I checked it out a while back there were only a couple...

Just saw it. The agent did well not to challenge the veracity of the original reporting.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Sarah Mott
Date: March 15, 2015 at 11:35:39 AM EDT
To: Sarah Mott

Well,with respect, the original reporting (which I assume to be the "real reason" post citing off-ice issues, as opposed to the "trade-day" post citing focus on speed and skill) had no attributable quotes, in contrast to Bowser's piece, which did.
But really the story here IMO has gone mostly unmentioned, besides Eric's efforts, that being:
A 23yr old with positive upside was sold at low value for an already peaked 31 yr old, due to (apparently) off-ice issues that not only were never reported til after the fact, but that neither Despres nor his agent seemingly knew anything about. And which none of the media (it seems ) asked said agent about, in order to, as diligent reporters, present both sides of the story. As I've mentioned before, with respect, this was disappointing for me.

I would put Horny on PP1.
But flipping BB and Kunitz on lines 2-3 would be something so obvious to try I sincerely doubt we'll see it.

Sarah, you sound like you're pretty much convinced that these are the worst coaches in the history of organized sport.

Not at all - in fact I think there've been worse coaches recently in this very town.
I do believe this coaching staff has a very real problem with perceived accountability when it comes to vets vs younger players. You reported on the staff's dissatisfaction with Kunitz not so long ago, and even whilst continuing in "free-fall" he is still gifted sugar-frosted minutes on PP1 and with Crosby or Malkin that he arguably doesn't deserve. And now we're still waiting for adjustments? Does anyone seriously think Bennett could miss the open nets Kunitz has lately and not be scratched? Disagree?

You're asking for too much Sarah. Bennett hasn't "earned" top six ice time, haven't you heard?

It's a different league now. Guys like Bennett aren't going to "produce" being jerked around on the bottom six. Outside of a handful of superstar wingers, every skilled winger out there NEEDS to be a complement to a legit scoring/playmaking center.

If Kunitz was on fire, of course you keep Beau in the bottom six. However, Kunitz has been awful, putrid in fact, while being put in every favorable position to produce points. The logical thing would be to flip wingers in order to see if you can find a spark, because the current setup simply isn't working.

This is a second coaching staff now that almost seems afraid to put itself in a situation where a young player may usurp some tenured vet, even though the status quo isn't working. I'm getting tired of it.

You have a playoff spot locked up. Seedings and home ice have meant exactly nothing for 5 springs in a row. NOW is the time to sit a Scuderi, put Kunitz on a third line, put Pouliot on the first PP unit, etc. God forbid the Penguins stumble on to something that may work even better than the current setup.

Don't disagree with any.
Sadly, Poo is on a bus back to WBS tonight.....

And, Sarah, Pouliot has been re-assigned to WBS (whether in reality, or just on paper), because the Pens had to move someone to make room for an extra forward in the event neither Crosby nor Malkin play tomorrow.
Without anyone else going on IR (and I certainly hope that isn't a move which has to be made), someone had to be moved from roster.
Pouliot can be moved without waivers. Doesn't mean they've given up on him. He'll definitely be playing going forward.

On the main site, click your username to generate something other than that coding.

kunitz blows and is only on the team because of sid. lets stop mincing words. and i hope he sees these comments. He got knocked on the other side of the mountain at sochi. its like watching an old aging dog and knowing what the inevitable is

Standing up and voting for Geno.

I'll agree with Geno. Earlier in the year, I posed a question if it was possible for a player with his accomplishments having a breakout season. I think his confidence, leadership and for several weeks now, his composure, were the things that seemed different about him this year

No clue what to make of that. The coaching staff was clear w DK after January that They were unhappy with Kunitz and he needed to pick it up. Why would they hide this? And if true Kunitz' TOI and weights should be seriously curtailed for awhile.