Tough Penguins Practice: Hush Crosby Trade Talk, Pens ‘Keep Fighting’
SAN JOSE, Calif. — “You mean the Biz stuff? Yeah, Sid’s not going anywhere.”
Over the past week, outlets in Montreal lobbied for the Montreal Canadiens to take a run at acquiring Sidney Crosby, and one of the most influential hockey personalities in the game, Paul Bissonnette, made his latest pitch to trade Crosby to the Colorado Avalanche.
An organization source didn’t angrily dismiss or reject the rumors but rather shrugged them off. There was a line to speak with Crosby over the last couple of days, but with questions ad nauseum from local media about Macklin Celebrini, the more pressing issues had to wait. With the silliness escalating, the Penguins source decided to nip the conversation in the bud.
No, Crosby is not leaving. Not considering it. Not even hearing it.
Crosby signed a two-year contract extension that kicks in next season for the numerological correct bargain price of $8.7 million.
One Sid. One uniform. Mark it down
Penguins Practice
It was the day after for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
It was the day after a humbling defeat to the NHL’s worst team, the San Jose Sharks. It was the day after they scored just one goal for the fourth time in five games.
The Penguins are in a rough spot. Their playoff hopes are, for all intents and purposes, gone. After 52 games, they have shown only inconsistency, and often, they’re not a good team. They’re last in the Metro Division, next to last in the Eastern Conference, have a whopping minus-40 goal differential, and need a .700 winning percentage for the remainder of the season just to get to 90 points.
So, coach Mike Sullivan held an hour-long practice–a rare event the day after a game–at SAP Center. One of the features of the battle drills the coaches put the players through was a few messages, too.
“I think we’ve got to work harder to get inside more. You know, when we get inside, we’re more encouraged to put the puck in play and create opportunities off of it,” Sullivan said. “I just think sometimes we’re looking for the next play that doesn’t materialize. That was some of the practice today–trying to get inside, beat people out of the corners, bring people inside to the net, using physicality to to earn ice in the scoring area.”
With some irony, the Penguins are in a nearly identical spot as they were one year ago before going on a torrid run to end the season. While there are a couple of differences, from the depth of the roster to the ceding games in hand to opponents, Sullivan didn’t shoo away a question about last season, as he usually does.
“For sure (we can draw from last season). I mean, there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that we’re not out of it. And we’ve just got to keep fighting,” said Sullivan. “And so that’s what we’re trying to do. We’ve got to make sure that we control what we can to put ourselves in the best position to win.”
Sullivan’s voice wasn’t as stern as it had been. There remains a certain hope but acknowledgment of not a teeterin acquiescence around this team. Last season, it was a dark, unhappy place in which answers were hard to come by. They didn’t understand why they were struggling.
There is no such ambiguity this season.
Penguins Lines
The lines remained somewhat similar to Monday night, though the inclusion of Blake Lizotte shuffled a few things. At this point, it might seem that Sullivan has little choice. Forward Jesse Puljujarvi cycled in often, and Philip Tomasino seemed to drop to the extra D pairing once. So, there may be a few changes on Wednesday when the team visits the Utah Won’t-be-the-Yeti for the first time.
Blake Lizotte was a full participant, but he’s practiced with the team during his three-game absence following illness.
Rickard Rakell-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust
Michael Bunting-Cody Glass-Anthony Beauvillier
Drew O’Connor-Kevin-Hayes-Philip Tomasino/Jesse Puljujarvi
Matt Nieto-Noel Acciari-Blake Lizotte/Boko Imama
Defense
Marcus Pettersson-Kris Letang
Matt Grzelcyk-Erik Karlsson
Ryan Graves-P.O Joseph
Categorized:Penguins Penguins Practice Penguins Trade Talk
Is it worth talking about Brandon Saad who was cut by the Blues or is he another “old” veteran who costs too much and performs the same function as 5 other wingers we have? Me, I like him.
No.
I’d rather call up one of the penguin younger players in WBS.
When I saw he was on waivers, I was interested in the Pens getting him… at first. But he’s 32 and I’d say just another costly “old” vet while a kid from WBS is cheaper and might be the future.
Cap space no no
If Lizotte is healthy I’d take Nieto out and keep Boko in. I know Boko got benched last night after a mistake, but he’s still a far more intriguing player than Nieto is. Nieto just kind of exists, Boko is at least a physical presence.
You mirror my thoughts
Nieto should be waived or traded(7th rounder in 2028???)!!!
How about for future considerations…
Also if Lizotte is healthy he should be on a line with either 13, 72, 18, or 53, while Glass should be with 55 and Boko!
I was thinking a variation of this too. Move Lizotte up to 2C, DOC down to line 4. Roll with Lizotte, Bunting, Tito on line 2, Tomasino, Hayes, Puljujarvi line 3, and Glass, Acciari and DOC on line 4.
I like it!
But you would have a guy playing on his off wing on both line 2 and 3!
What mistake did Boko make? He wasn’t a minus last night so it couldn’t have been too egregious.
Yeah, they kind of were
Agree. Boko may ramp up some ” juice ” for our players
LMAO “I mean, there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that we’re not out of it”. The guy is delusional but just the coach we need to tank.
Dubas needs to look for a playoff team with a bad PK – Edmonton say. They are cap strapped so send them Petey, Nieto and Acciari – retaining $1MM on Petey and $1MM on Acciari (for 2 years) for Savoie, some draft picks and whatever pucks they need to move to be cap compliant.
They only have 1 slot left for retention.
Good catch Espo
Trade Letang to Montreal
Trade Karlsson-Retain some salary
Trade Rust
Trade Rakell
Fire Sully
Make Quinn Head coach
Full tank mode!!!!!!!
See if Sid still wants to stick around.
Full rebuild!!!!
WBS called up Atley Calvert from Wheeling. The kid looks interesting and is undrafted. Played with Yager in Moose Jaw. He’s a UFA and we have one slot left.