![]() From where I started with this, I can’t believe I’ve almost talked myself into seeing some logic in it. In that case, might as well go with the idea to build around him. Maybe there’s no actual way around that for at least this season. Then again, with his no movement clause, Carter doesn’t have to be going anywhere. He’s gotta be more of the problem than the solution. Is that going to work?Ĭarter’s issue is the speed of the game and hitting an age-related wall. Or put them in the top-six and bumped Bryan Rust down with Carter. Louis and/or Adam Henrique from Anaheim and put them with Carter. Still, say the Pens brought over Ivan Barbashev from St. Maybe Jeff Carter isn’t the problem, everyone else is! (Well, given how McGinn and Kapanen have fared, perhaps it’s not that far-fetched). “Zigging when literally everyone else is zagging” is a classic tenet of a good hot take, and I’m here for it. Get a legitimate middle 6 winger to play with him and watch his line start clicking- Pens Sphere February 22, 2023 Jeff Carter isn’t the problem, it’s his line mates. That’s definitely something to keep an eye on. ![]() Too often in key situations during games, neither player goes down to the high-scoring area, and the team doesn’t end up scoring. I will say though that almost every time the top group scores a PPG, either Malkin or Crosby is right at the net. Is the Pens’ power play under-scrutinized? Not sure on that, it seems like they take their share of slings and arrows when times get tough - and they’re up and down enough to where they get colder than one would expect. They’ve also conceded two goals against, leaving the top guys only a +4 in PPG in the last nine games, which suddenly doesn’t look as rosy. ![]() It’s true that the first line key players only have six of those goals (three for Evgeni Malkin, two for Sidney Crosby, one for Letang) and the second group as picked up two goals. In the nine games since Kris Letang returned from injury/bereavement leave on January 24th, the Pens’ power play is clicking at 24.1% (8-for-33), which is ninth in the NHL. Then again, it’s also a matter of perspective. They’ve also given up six goals, which is second highest in the league. The Pittsburgh power play is sitting 16th in the NHL at 21.5%. The Pens PP should be getting more criticism than it is.- Henry Williams February 22, 2023 ![]() There’s no signs the Pens are that desperate to waive established NHLers with years left, but at this point it’s not that crazy to hypothetically consider. Alex Nylander though is something of a poor man’s Kapanen - extremely questionable away from the puck - I’d quibble and lean towards Filip Hallander instead.Ī bottom-six without McGinn and Kapanen and with some youth would be fun. Probably impractical, but I like the mention behind it. If the Pens can’t trade players due to their contracts, waiving them is a bold step. I love a good hot take that mis-spells or mis-names a player (O’Connell instead of O’Connor) but it’s a point taken. This is good places to start to make changes. McGinn hasn’t recorded as much as a point in now over a quarter of the season. Kapanen and McGinn are arguably the two worst and most disappointing players on the team right now, both are currently at the bottom of the 5v5 expected goal ledger for the team. Sit Carter, send down Kapanen and McGinn, play O’Connell, Puustinen and Nylander- Matt B February 22, 2023
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