The Preseason Feedback Thread
by FrankD on Sep 26, 2011 2:11 PM EDT
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PrintThree games down, thee tallies in the 'W' column and three more to go. What better time than now to start chatting about some of the early preseason highlights?
So far, you have to like what Evgeni Malkin is showing out there. We all read reports of his ridiculous work ethic during the offseason, but now it's really showing that he's primed to flip the switch back to "Beast Mode." Admittedly, I think it's safe to say he's not going all out at this point, but do you really want to see that from him during the preseason? He doesn't need to prove anything other than the fact that he is capable and healthy. He's done both with a few goals, some solid passing on Pascal Dupuis' goal the other night and no signs of wear and tear. Should he feel 100% by the season opener, we may see a completely different monster wearing #71 this season.
Nice showing from Brad Thiessen against Minnesota. While the Post-Gazette was quick to point out the next day that there is little room for him to elevate to the Pittsburgh squad this season, seeing as how Marc-Andre Fleury and Brent Johnson are ahead of him, you can't rule out the possibility heading into 2012-13. Barring any sort of serious injury to either MAF or BJ, I don't think we'll see much of Thiessen this season. But Thiessen is playing for next year, in my opinion, and if he's prepared to play as an NHLer in the AHL this season, then I don't see how Ray Shero and company can pass on the option next summer.
Simon Despres time with the team was short and sweet but it's already been noted that the Pens will likely take the Alex Goligoski-like slow-and-steady ride to The Show over the Kris Letang approach to cracking the Pittsburgh lineup. That's not a knock against Despres' abilities by any means. I'm actually a fan of that approach because honestly, what's the rush?
Props to Joe Morrow for potting one the other night against Minnesota. Even though he still has a ways to go before he is a legitimate contender for a spot on the starting roster, it has to at least be a nice confidence boost to light the lamp during a Pittsburgh preseason game.
The Eric Tangradi situation could be an interesting one worth following. If he doesn't start this season in Pittsburgh, then I don't think he will be even the first option coming out of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton if/when the Pens need to call on some reserves. Does it come down to work ethic? Natural-born talent? Chemistry? So hard to say at this point but the window is closing quickly. With any luck he cracks the lineup and shows some solid play this season. Otherwise I fear he may soon go the way of Luca Caputi and Janni Pesonen.
Those are just a few reactions I figured I'd throw out there at this point in the preseason. By all means, feel free to jump in with some of your own in this preseaosn feedback thread.
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I thought Tangradi finally showed what he was capable of in that Minnesota game that was lacking from his regular season play last year. He was a threat around the slot in the few minutes of the game that was 5 on 5, and he delivered the big hit and fight that basically sparked the goal flurry. It was a boring, passive game before that. Don’t think Bylsma didn’t notice.
On the other hand, I don’t think Bylsma has ever liked him for some reason. With the exception of his brief stint on Malkin’s line last year, he hasn’t been given any serious time with the big centers since he scored two goals on Sid’s line in preseason two years ago. They always stick him on the 4th line, or even here in the preseason he’s down with Park and Johnson and McIntyre while MacDonald somehow gets to play with Staal. The only way Tangradi will ever show his value is if given a chance, and Bylsma tends to be unwilling to really give that chance to some players, while giving too much of a chance to others. I know it’s a problem of depth, but what Tangradi really needs is some extended time in the NHL to adjust to the speed of the game and hone his skills; he’s not the kind of player who is going to suddenly perfect his game in the minors and come to the NHL and light it up. He requires patience, which the coaching staff seem unwilling to give him, which just contributes to his apparently lack of confidence out there. How can you have confidence in yourself if the coaching staff doesn’t have confidence in you?
"Those goals just rip the heart right out of your stomach." - Edzo
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Disco Dan has shown a tendency to favor effort over ability, i.e. Connor/Letestu on the ice in the final moments of last year’s game 7 as opposed to Talbot/Kovy, and I fear it is to his detrament.
I know that Bylsma was a grunt in his NHL days but he needs to stop living vicariously through those players like those psycho-moms on Toddlers and Tiara’s.
If Tanger2 is a top six talent he should be playing top six minutes with premier centers and stop trying to make him a plugger in a bottom six role. Imagine if the Penguins had decided to keep Kevin Stevens in a bottom six role because of his size and preceived skill.
I thought the preseason was about “trying things out” because it doesn’t count yet. The only “for-sure” top 4 wingers the Pens have are Kunitz, Neal, and Sullivan. There is an opening, why not give Tanger2 a real look at that spot?
Life is about one simple choice, get busy living or get busy dying
The Eric Tangradi situation could be an interesting one worth following. If he doesn’t start this season in Pittsburgh, then I don’t think he will be even the first option coming out of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton if/when the Pens need to call on some reserves. Does it come down to work ethic? Natural-born talent? Chemistry? So hard to say at this point but the window is closing quickly. With any luck he cracks the lineup and shows some solid play this season. Otherwise I fear he may soon go the way of Luca Caputi and Janni Pesonen.
Alternative explanations:
1. Tangradi’s Work Ethic
2. Tangradi’s Genetic Endowment to play hockey
3. Tengradie’s Social/Hockey Chemistry
And, of course,
4. Shero, Bylsma have their heads up their asses with regards to Tangradi
I’ll take Door #4, Monty. There is no evidence at all that Tangradi is a slacker, untalented or can’t fit in with his teamates.
Actually, to cut Shero and Bylsma slack, which they might not deserve, Tangradi can be optioned to the minors without a waiver exposure. So…. That said, their treatment of Tangradi is suspect, and I would advocate putting the microscope on Shero and Bylsma with regards to Tangradi.
s.zielinski
while no position represents 100% of the true I tend to disagree with putting the blame on the coaching staff… here are my points:
1) in the last few years the Penguins rely heavily on a system build on hard work and since they don’t get 1st and 2nd overall picks (here’s hoping they manage to sustain that) I think that’s a very important focus
2) based on 1) no player in the Penguins system makes it to the NHL the easy way (e.g. Jeffrey, Letestu, Lovejoy, Engelland).
3) all of the players mentioned have spent at least two full seasons in the AHL, where the last of these seasons they have been considerably better than most of their peers at that level (if you have seen some WBS games from the beginning of last season you would’ve seen Jeffrey dominating)
4) yet, after these years of seasoning there’s no direct way to the top two lines(pairings) for these players (baring an injury meltdown like last season)
5) all the other players that still haven’t got their chance have only one option (if they want to remain with the Penguins) – to work hard in WBS and prove they deserve one! (just think of Nick Johnson and Joe Vitale drafted 7 and 6 years ago respectively. They may not posses supreme skills, but they work hard and are persistent and each season they have been given more of a look and more of a chance)
Since Eric Tangradi has yet to prove himself as a dominating force in a full season in the AHL I don’t think he’s more deserving of a chance to play in the NHL (let alone the top 2 lines) than all of the players I’ve mentioned.
I really hope he’ll live up to the expectations and his perceived higher upside, but he still has to earn it.
You have to see it for yourself...
Since Eric Tangradi has yet to prove himself as a dominating force in a full season in the AHL I don’t think he’s more deserving of a chance to play in the NHL (let alone the top 2 lines) than all of the players I’ve mentioned.
As William Munny memorably put it: “Deserve’s got nothin’ to do with it.” It’s about need, talent, production and organizational management. Is Tangradi ready: It looks like he is. Therefore, he needs to start on one of the top two lines. It’s time Shero was done signing rustbuckets to play along side of Malkin and Crosby.
s.zielinski
Looks like Tangradi is ready physically, but I’m not convinced he’s consistent and reliable enough.
Anyway I don’t mind giving him a chance to skate on the top 2 lines for a couple of games, but they tried that last season at the beginning and he’s also got at least 3-4 games alongside Malkin in the last two preseasons – he hasn’t impressed. Based on that he doesn’t strike me as “ready for the NHL” yet, but only time will tell.
You have to see it for yourself...
Agree with you. PEOPLE ARE MAKING TOO MUCH OF who he is playing with. If he is ready to play in the NHL, he has to be able to do it with anybody. The coach is not looking at how many pretty plays he does, or how many 2 on 1 he sets up. DB is looking at effort, positioning, technique. Tangradi still doesn’t have it. It’s not like he is dominating the AHL, and is being kept down. The Pens are a contending team, to make that team you have to have certain components that he sill hasn’t shown. Don’t forget that last year he played with the 2 top lines. He should use this as his motivation to work harder. By the way on a somewhat related note, Caputi has been cut from the Leafs (I believe placed on waivers or sent down).
The Hockey Dr.
Despres/Morrow
If there is any rush it’s be b/c while Lovejoy is a perfect fine 6/7 and Engo is a perfectly fine 6/7 when muscle is needed, Nisky is weak—which showed esp. in the TB series—meaning there is no solid anchor to the 3rd pairing + not enough depth when one of the Top 4 misses time due to injury.
I enjoy us being all back together! Kinda lame, but ya. The energy on this site is good!
I don’t look too much into preseason. Definitely happy that Malkin is playing good and I think that Richard Park was a GREAT move. I really do! The Park signing went under the radar but he WILL pay dividends 10 fold.
"Have you ever seen such finesse?"
"When you lose say little, when you win say less"
Tangradi
He’s still young so I’m not going to write him off yet. However, he also could be used as trade bait come deadline time to acquire a veteran at a position of need if there is one at that time. Some team will want his potential. Yet, I’m hoping he does have a future here in Pittsburgh.
Proud fan of Pittsburgh's professional sports teams and the Pirates too.
by Black&GoldTrain on Sep 28, 2011 1:58 AM EDT reply actions
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