NHL 2021

Jim at Gentex · July 22, 2021, 11:40 AM

Well I will say it out loud.
Hextall made his first draft with the Pens into a shitshow.

We knew every team would lose one player in the expansion, but he managed to lose two, and still failed to fill the holes in the lineup that needed to be filled.

We lost Jared McCann to Toronto in a trade before the expansion draft, then Seattle took Brandon Tanev.
Two really good, experienced forwards, and for what?
If he held off on the McCann trade, they may have only lost one guy instead of two.
We are in worse shape now than we were a week ago.

Tanev was one of those guys like Patrick Hornqvist, who I don't think they should have traded either.
Both of those guys are solid hockey players who were always getting their team revved up with their fast and furious style of play, and with their ability to get under the opponents' skin.
You NEED guys like that in your lineup!
I don't blame Seattle for taking Tanev, but Hextall COULD have avoided losing both guys.
(Popular thought was that Seattle was looking at either Tanev, McCann, or Zack Aston-Reese.)

Well maybe Hextall has an ace up his sleeve that he hasn't played yet, but for now, as a fan, I think he shit the bed.

Jim at Gentex · August 05, 2021, 08:32 AM

Meh...
A few deals made by the Pens, but nothing spectacular.

Hextall is apparently way more conservative than we were led to believe.
He seems to be content, even though there are still a few holes in the lineup.

I hate to say it, but with the Pens' current roster, and the gains that other teams in the East have made through the draft and free agency, they will probably struggle just to make the playoffs.

But either way, I will still be saying:

LET'S GO PENS!!

edit:
It's not just players.
Hextall also fired the Pens' goalie coach and hired the guy who coached Jarry in the minors.
I'm surprised Sullivan survived in the Head Coach's office, but that will remain to be seen once the season starts.
I have a feeling if they aren't winning consistently, Sully will be on his way as well...

Jim at Gentex · October 06, 2021, 11:16 AM

The preseason is under way, and the regular season starts next week.
Meh Pens look just OK, and will be starting the season without Crosby and Malkin.

I'm hoping they don't fall too far behind until those guys are back healthy.

The first home game vs. Chicago on Saturday October 16th will be absolutely crazy seeing Marc Andre Fleury between the pipes for the Hawks.

I predict the Pittsburgh fans will welcome him back with open arms, and likely give him a standing ovation during player introductions.

But once the puck drops, he is the opposing goal tender, and we will want the Pens to score as many goals on him as possible.

LET'S GO PENS!!

Jim at Gentex · October 12, 2021, 04:53 AM

It was a long wait, but the NHL boys are kicking off the full 82 game season tonight @ 7PM in Tampa with the Pens vs. Lightning!

Good news for Pens fans is that Crosby has been practicing, and he made the Florida trip with the team.
To me that's a good sign that he may return to the lineup sooner than expected.

But either way, BRING IT ON!!

LET'S GO PENS!!

Jim at Gentex · October 13, 2021, 08:08 AM

Well...I am pleasantly surprised!

The Pens beat the defending champs just after Tampa Bay raised the championship banner in their own house!

Don't let the 6-2 score fool you.
The Lightning were down 3-0 in the 3rd period, so Cooper pulled his goaltender with a whopping 6:00 left on the clock.
Hey, it's a bit unconventional, but it's worth a shot!

The Lightning scored what amounted to 2 power play goals @ 6 on 5, but the Pens also dunked in 3 empty net goals at the same time.

Anyway, the Lightning were a bit sluggish, but the Pens came in and played hard for the full 60 minutes and walked away with the W.

I know, it's only one game, but it sure feels good!

Too bad to see the Seattle Kraken lose their first game ever, but Vegas is probably the toughest team in their division,
and they had to play the game in Vegas.

That's ok though.
I'm sure with the talent on their roster the Kraken will win their share of games, and they may even give Vegas a run for the division title.

I'M JUST GLAD HOCKEY IS BACK!!!

Jim at Gentex · October 18, 2021, 06:21 AM

Hard to imagine, but the Pens chased Fleury out of the net after scoring 4 goals in the first 12 minutes of the game!

For a team with their two best players still sidelined by injury, the Pens seem to be holding their own.

Anyone else been watching any NHL games?
If so, how are your teams doing early on?

marshal · October 20, 2021, 07:36 AM

I couldn't make it to the home opener for the Wild last night, had to stay home with the wife and kiddos. A bit depressed about that, but holy cow it was one of the best games I've ever watched.

Jim at Gentex · October 20, 2021, 11:01 AM

Quote from: marshal post_id=17425 time=1634740584 user_id=93I couldn't make it to the home opener for the Wild last night, had to stay home with the wife and kiddos. A bit depressed about that, but holy cow it was one of the best games I've ever watched.

LOL...
Yeah I heard that was a 'wild' one (pun intended :p ).
Any game that ends 6-5 in OT must have had the place rockin'!!

Good on Minnesota @ 3-0 to start the season.

Tim Johnson · October 20, 2021, 12:06 PM

Chicago sucks again this year...

marshal · October 20, 2021, 12:14 PM

[quote="Tim Johnson" post_id=17451 time=1634756768 user_id=68]
Chicago sucks again this year...
[/quote]

I don't see the problem :p

Jim at Gentex · October 22, 2021, 04:44 AM

[quote="Tim Johnson" post_id=17451 time=1634756768 user_id=68]
Chicago sucks again this year...
[/quote]

Fans booing the head coach during the home opener is never a good sign.

Might be a loooooong season for the Hawks.

Tim Johnson · October 22, 2021, 05:09 AM

The Blackhawks should have fired Stan Bowman instead of Joel Quenneville. Jeremy Colliton doesn't belong in the NHL.

Jim at Gentex · October 22, 2021, 11:28 AM

Joel Quenneville is 2nd on the list of ALL TIME winningest coaches in the NHL.
That doesn't happen by accident.

Teams that fire coaches of his caliber are usually taking the easy way out rather than addressing the systemic issues within their organization.
IMO it is safe to say Joel Quenneville was NOT the problem in Chicago.

Dunno how they ended up with Colliton, but now they apparently have even more problems than they had before.
Surprise, surprise.

Sounds like he may have one foot out the door already.
But a revolving door of coaches coming and going is not going to fix anything.

I feel for Hawks fans, but I blame upper management / ownership for the sad state of their franchise.

Jim at Gentex · October 27, 2021, 05:32 AM

Well GM Stan Bowman and Senior VP Al MacIsaac just resigned over that sexual assault case back in 2010, so that is a step in the right direction for the Chicago franchise.

Ownership is playing dumb, but it seems nearly impossible the Wirtz's didn't know what was going on after the high level meeting in June 2010.
Maybe Bowman deliberately insulated the Wirtz family, but there will always be lingering doubts about what they knew and when they knew it.
Who knows, they may end up selling the franchise before this is over.

As a life-long Penn State fan, I can definitely sympathize with Blackhawk fans in this case.
It's sickening to see how one sexual predator can completely destroy the reputation of a university or a major sports franchise.

Whatever happens, I hope Chicago can rebuild the franchise and move on.

Tim Johnson · October 27, 2021, 09:30 AM

[quote="Jim at Gentex" post_id=17757 time=1635337946 user_id=83]
Well GM Stan Bowman and Senior VP Al MacIsaac just resigned over that sexual assault case back in 2010, so that is a step in the right direction for the Chicago franchise.

Ownership is playing dumb, but it seems nearly impossible the Wirtz's didn't know what was going on after the high level meeting in June 2010.
Maybe Bowman deliberately insulated the Wirtz family, but there will always be lingering doubts about what they knew and when they knew it.
Who knows, they may end up selling the franchise before this is over.

As a life-long Penn State fan, I can definitely sympathize with Blackhawk fans in this case.
It's sickening to see how one sexual predator can completely destroy the reputation of a university or a major sports franchise.

Whatever happens, I hope Chicago can rebuild the franchise and move on.

[/quote]

I think I know what the main topic will be on 670 the Score radio station as I drive home. It's strange that I personally have heard nothing about the sexual assault case. You would think some kind of information would have slipped out in eleven years of time.