Dan’s Daily: Hextall Tried to Trade for Gudas, Penguins’ Pursuers Lose
It could have been a different NHL trade deadline had Pittsburgh Penguins GM Ron Hextall landed one of his sought targets. Elliotte Friedman said Radko Gudas was on the Penguins’ trade board, but the Florida Panthers declined to move him. Coach Mike Sullivan will put the defenseman they did acquire to good use tonight, as Dmitry Kulikov will be in the lineup ahead of P.O Joseph. Kulkov was all smiles about coming to a winning team. Monday, Connor McDavid and the Chicago Blackhawks gave the Penguins’ playoff hopes a little help.
We’ve reached the point where everything the Penguins do is wrong. I know a lot of fans like P.O Joseph. I think my advocating for his inclusion in the lineup was well-known. So, when I tell you Kulikov could be an upgrade, take it seriously. Of course, there were a bunch of pro-Joseph analytics tweets going viral yesterday. There were significant flaws in all of them, and they usually used old data to impugn Brian Dumoulin, a much better player today than he was in December.
And that’s the biggest problem with so much Twitter analytics; it almost always tells us what we want to hear. I accept being the bad guy for pointing that out, but giving it to you straight is more important to me than popularity.
Pittsburgh Penguins / Steelers, Pirates
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Jake Guentzel got the day off, Ryan Poehling took a step forward, and coach Mike Sullivan deployed the controversial new D-pairings. Check out Penguins practice.
Here’s me on WPXI’s Final Word, talking hockey with Tim Benz and Alan Saunders.
Watch: A quick semi-live chat from PPG Paints Arena. Questions from Twitter. Penguins analysis here.
PHN+: The Penguins’ new d-man was all smiles and was getting congratulatory texts for being traded to a winning team. Here’s Dmitry Kulikov.
George Richards in Florida tells me that Kulikov is one of the really good guys. My first impression agrees.
Steelers Now:
Vince Williams really wants the Steelers to draft Joey Porter Jr.
Should the Steelers take a look? The Tennesse Titans will cut — thus making available — Bud Dupree.
SN+: More importantly, how will new GM Omar Khan conduct the Steelers Draft?
Pittsburgh Baseball Now:
It’s just spring training. It’s just spring training … but Luis Ortiz was roughed up by the Yankees yesterday.
PBN+: John Perrotto projects the Opening Day Pittsburgh Pirates roster.
NHL News, Penguins’ Playoff Chase, & National Hockey Now
NHL.com: Connor McDavid is ridiculous. He scored a goal at light speed, and the Edmonton Oilers helped the Penguins by beating the Buffalo Sabres in regulation, 3-2.
Here’s a video for everyone who misses their grandparents. Jakob Chychrun is close to home with the Ottawa Senators. The family, including Grandpa, gets to come to the games — and that hit Chychrun right in the feels, even Gramps’ broad smile while gnawing on some Tims as the defenseman scored his first goal with Ottawa. Fortunately for the Penguins, the Chicago Blackhawks thumped the Senators 5-0 Monday.
After Monday’s help, the Penguins lead Buffalo and Ottawa by three points and have one game in hand on Ottawa. Every little bit helps. The Penguins will get a little more help Tuesday because Buffalo faces the New York Islanders, and both teams can’t win.
Washington Hockey Now: Some NHL trade deadline stuff — the Washington Capitals were in on Chychrun down to the end. Capitals trade news.
And the Penguins got a bit more help as the Capitals lost to the LA Kings, 4-2.
NYI Hockey Now: The Islanders still have the first wild-card spot. Here’s how they are surviving without Mathew Barzal.
Sportsnet 32 Thoughts Podcast: The NHL trade deadline that could have been. Trades that didn’t happen, including Penguins GM Ron Hextall taking a run at heavy Florida d-man Radko Gudas.
Wild-Card Relevant Tuesday Schedule:
Vegas at Florida
Buffalo at NYI
Categorized:Links NHL Trade Rumors Penguins
Thank you for pointing out there is more to the story than batches of analytics you may see pushed around.
Good to see Buffalo, Ottawa (somehow against Chicago) and Washington all lose in regulation yesterday. Need to take care of business tonight and then finally take 2 from the Isles on Thursday and we might be in OK shape.
There are two big pluses of Joseph over Dumo. Speed and an ability to shoot on net from the point. How many times has Joseph’s shots resulted in rebounds or deflections? Dumo can’t shoot or he’s not quick enough to change the angle and get a shot off. If they’re afraid of PO’s physical game well Dumo doesn’t have much of that either.
Its permanent too. The D will all stay completely health the rest of the year, POJ will never play again.
On a more serious note, go look at POJs offensive zone start percentage. By far the highest on the team. There is a reason for that.
Letang gets a lot of O-zone starts, for obvious reasons hes the most dangerous D and he is usually out there with one of the top two lines. POJ gets them to shelter him.
Petry, Rutta, and then Pettersson get the bulk of the D zone starts.
Yeah that’s Sullivan not trusting youth again it’s got nothing to do with sheltering him. Doc was outplaying most of the bottom six but given little ice time until iinjuries and trades.
PO’s biggest challenge always will be his heft. He just doesn’t have any (as I noted at the beginning of the season).
William, ate you serious? P.O is just to young. Thank God for Steelers. Free Agency and draft. Plus new GM and assistants that will change and clean up team. They will again build for Championships, not a 500 record. William, have you seen these players in person? Dumoulin, Malkin are 200lbs? I’ve seen more physically built tennis players. Petterson muscular? He’s bones? Rugwedl, I’ve seen better and bigger players in Midget football. It’s not his built. Not on this Pens team.
Well this smith kid has less. So get rid of him. And all the other players under 190 lbs.
POJ is 23 years old. Weighs five pounds less than Erik Karlson. The Pens aren’t going anywhere in the playoffs. Play POJ and let him get more experience during a crucial time of year. It will only help him in the long run.
Exactly. Even if the Pens exit the first around, what’s more valuable: PO with 4 more games of playoff experience that he can draw from next year, or Dumpolin who isn’t even going to be here next year? If I was any kind of young player, I’d never come to this team as long as Sullivan is coaching. I don’t care how many Crosby’s are on the team (including Bing).
It’s Columbus. Give the new guy a game to get familiar somewhat . Pens should win this game with either poj or kulie
I’m p.o.’d at Joseph. And I bet Sullivan is p.o.’d, too. #Sawft