Matt Vensel: It's a hockey night in Pittsburgh, Penguins fans. Pumped for another season to start tonight. Please submit your questions now if you've got them. I'll try to get to as many as possible over the next hour.
Guest: All preseason and camp we saw Jack Johnson either paired with Gudbrandson or a “4th pairing” and then Yohe writes article saying JJ has high probability of being moved prior to season starting. Now all of a sudden he’s on second pairing skating with Schultz (whom he did not skate with at all during camp) and Rutherford is out there saying he was never being moved. What is going on? Is this a case of HCMS wanting to move on from Johnson and GMJR forcing him to be played (similar situation to Ian Cole) or is this then showcasing him, or do the honestly believe he’s capable of playing on a second pairing for this team despite all his problems, liabilities, and shortcomings from last year’s excitement of him being on the 2nd pair?
Matt Vensel: It's no secret the Penguins have been open to dealing Jack Johnson. He would be with the Wild right now had Phil Kessel not nixed that trade to Minnesota in May. But they have been unable to find a deal they like -- or maybe any at all -- to move on from Johnson, who will make $3.25 million in each of the next four years. They use camp to evaluate players and pairings and Riikola, who is far from proven, got a shot to bump him out of the lineup but hasn't done it yet. Instead of having a problematic third pair in Jack and Gudbranson, they split those two up, with Jack playing with Schultz because of handedness. I have a feeling I'm going to be saying this a lot in this chat, but this is the lineup for Game 1 of 82. Things and will change. And that could include Johnson still being dealt if GMJR finds a deal.
Buckaroo Banzai: Did Rust's injury cause a potential Jack Johnson deal to fall apart? It's awfully curious timing that a deal was imminent, then nothing happened after Rust got hurt. On the other hand, why keep nine defensemen on the roster if nothing is cooking? John Marino will probably be a healthy scratch, when he should be getting experience.
Matt Vensel: I don't see how Rust's injury would lead to a Jack Johnson deal falling apart. Maybe I'm missing some tie-in. Anyway, for what it's worth, Jim Rutherford came out and strongly denied the report earlier this week that Jack would be deal before the season opener. That was surprising to me because I've never seen Rutherford do that before.
pozone: Matt with 9 defenseman is there a trade coming soon?
Matt Vensel: Rutherford has made no secret of the fact that he wants to and will likely have to make some sort of trade to break up the logjam on the blue line and free up the cap space for when Rust returns in a few weeks. They aren't going to carry nine defensemen all season. With Marino, he isn't subject to waivers, so they can send him down whenever. We may see him bouncing back and forth here.
Buckaroo Banzai: The Pens signed Riikola last year, Larmi and Palve this year, and have drafted several Finns lately. Are they running an underground railroad out of Finland?
Matt Vensel: Because of that whole Atlantic Ocean thing, I doubt they have an underground railroad. Perhaps they're smuggling them in on boats. But, yes, the Penguins have found some intriguing players over there. To be honest, though, I didn't see much from Palve in camp.
Guest: What’s the purpose of 9 defensemen? Marino won’t benefit from sitting in the box eating nachos.
Matt Vensel: My wife would probably say the same thing about my in-game eating habits. Anyway, I definitely see your point. You'd think they would prefer he play big minutes in WBS. But they obviously think there's a benefit to him being around the NHL club. He'll get bigger paychecks here, too. They did the same thing with Riikola last season.
Matt Vensel: Man, we're already running out of questions here. C'mon, people!
Guest: I assume rust broke his hand ? Any word on how long he will be out ? He was playing so well
Matt Vensel: Given what happened and his longer timetable, that certainly is a possibility. But don't discount the cap savings the Penguins get while he is on LTIR. If, say, his hand isn't broken and he was supposed to miss a couple of weeks, maybe they tell him to take his time?
Ross: How surprising was it to see Casey get sent down over Jarry? Was it primarily salary based?
Matt Vensel: Yes, this was a financial decision. And yes, it was surprising, because there were other ways around it without the Penguins having to risk losing Casey, who Rutherford on Tuesday called the "perfect" No. 2 because of his attitude and ability to play well after longer layoffs. But the gamble paid off and Casey is still in the organization, though I'm sure he's not thrilled about everything that happened.
Buckaroo Banzai: If you were a betting man, who would you see as the first call-up at forward?
Matt Vensel: Adam Johnson, Sam Lafferty or Kasper Bjorkqvist. Would depend on what the Penguins need and who's playing well for WBS.
Alan in Nashville : On a personal note, this whole core just seems stale to me. Even the monotonous tone from Sid. Is it possible that some of these newer guys breathe some life into this team? If we have to hear Sid say “We have to play with desperation” or Geno suggest that he needs to get his confidence back, I might throw my shoe through the screen! Just kidding, BTW!
Matt Vensel: You're right, Alan. They should definitely trade Crosby while they can still get something decent for him.
burt reynolds: Is Mike Sullivan's view on having lefty/righty d-pairs common in the NHL? There are more righties in the NHL than in the past, but I would think that in Sullivan's day, most teams only had 1 or maybe 2 (or even 0) righties. There used to be an old joke about how they didn't sell right handed sticks in Russia. Yet it seems like Sullivan talks about the need to have a lot of righties.
Matt Vensel: Yes. Right-handed defensemen remain a valuable commodity. I have wondered if the lefty-righty pairing thing is a little exaggerated. It probably just depends on the individual players. Jack Johnson really struggled last year on the right side after Justin Schultz went down. But I'm guessing Kris Letang would still be damn good on the left.
Guest: Can Casey stay here or does he have to physically go down to wb? That must be so demoralizing for him
Matt Vensel: He has to physically go there, yeah, though I'm sure some teams try to skirt that rule with some of those "paper transactions."
SZ in AZ: Ha. Early days for chats, too, I guess.
OK. I'll bite. If you were suddenly made GM, how would you resolve the glut on defense, assuming there was no trade for JJ in the offing?
Matt Vensel: Given the cap issues now and the bigger ones that loom next summer, I would have tried to get Jack's deal off the books by throwing in a mid-round pick or a prospect. I just think that's a lot of money for your sixth defenseman. But, OK, say Jack is still on the team. If you really think Marino is ready now, you could look to move another righty, such as Gudbranson. But I don't think they need to do something drastic just because they have nine here now. Marino can go back to WBS. If you don't want to play Jack, play Riikola instead. And Ruhwedel is your "break-glass-in-case-of-emergency" guy. We'll see if Jack looks different tonight, but moving him, if possible, remains the smartest move for cap reasons.
HB: Why do you think Edmonton didn’t pick up Sprong or Ho-Sang off waivers both have more potential than the janitors they have on the wings of Mcdavid.
Matt Vensel: I have no idea, but I'm pretty sure 29 other teams felt the same way.
Guest: How are the new guys fitting in the locker room ? Who do they have them sitting next to ?
Matt Vensel: Galchenyuk sits next to Malkin, which is definitely noteworthy. Kahun and Tanev are somewhere in there between Geno and Sid. I don't think there is anything noteworthy about their locker locations.
PM: Random idea, but while Rust is out and we have a little bit of extra cap, why not sign someone like Marleau/Boyle to come help out. You’ll make a trade regardless at some point. I know the Pens probably want to prioritize the young players, but man would it be cool to see Marleau in a Pens sweater.
Matt Vensel: I'm guessing they would prefer to give one of their young guys from WBS a chance over a veteran in the twilight of his career. Besides, we might only be talking about a dozen or so games without Rust.
All I knowis: Over/under on first bad drop pass at the blue line by Geno?
Matt Vensel: Give the guy a chance. Yes, Geno has those moments that make you shake your head. But he has been one of the top 10 centers in the NHL over the past decade-plus, won three Stanley Cups, took home an MVP award and a scoring title, etc. Does he need to play smarter, especially as his physical tools erode? Yes. But they probably aren't winning a Stanley Cup this year without him. He's still one of their two most important players. We'll see if he bounces back.
Ross: With the new rule changes, do the players or coaches see any advantages or disadvantages in how it could affect the game?
Matt Vensel: It will be interesting to see if the rule regarding the location of some offensive faceoffs will make much of an impact. I think the new rule that will penalize teams for failed coaching challenges will result in far less challenges. Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. But, hey, at least we'll all get home from the arena a little earlier!
burt reynolds: What do you see being the #1 pp configuration tonight, assuming Galchenyuk plays (if that matters)? If Galchenyuk doesn't play, do the Penguins dress 11 forwards and 7 D, or do they take an extra D and have them play forward?
Matt Vensel: Based on the morning skate, the five we will see on the first power play tonight are Crosby, Malkin, Guenzel, Hornqvist and Letang. We all know where Hornqvist and Letang will be. I'm curious to see where those other three are. Been a lot of tinkering the past few weeks. Oh, and Galchenyuk is playing. Don't worry.
Andy: Showcase Jack Johnson? He has been in the league over a decade, teams aren't going to learn anything new at this point.
Matt Vensel: You're right, so I don't think that's what's happening here.
Guest: Do you think there is anything to the on ice interactions we have seen the past few practices between Erik G and Horny/Geno? Seemed a little extra passionate
Matt Vensel: I don't think so. They're probably just tired of practicing against each other and are ready to play another team. The other day, Hornqvist got irritated with Gudbranson and slashed his stick out of his hand. But he appeared to quickly apologize and flip Gudbranson his stick. Gudbranson kind of shrugged. That's just Hornqvist. He's a good guy and teammates love him. But he's got no off switch on the ice.
JD: Can Casey be recalled from WB without clearing waivers? Also if recalled can he be sent back down without clearing again?
Matt Vensel: Yes, for a little while. My new partner, Mike DeFabo, wrote a little about that the other day: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/penguins/2019/10/01/pittsburgh-pen...
Guest: Hi matt. So excited to get the season started . Pens not getting much love nationally . I know it is just starting but do you see a difference in the team this year to have a better year ?
Matt Vensel: Everyone has been talking about there being a new energy around the facility. But what else are they going to say? I don't think we're going to know about the hunger and chemistry questions anytime soon. As Sid acknowledged during camp, that's going to take time. But they are younger, probably a little faster and, they hope, deeper. Tanev has been really impressive but I can't say that Galchenuk (before he got hurt) or Kahun wowed me at any point. We'll see in real games.
Guest: Who is your prediction for being the best surprise on the team this year ?
Matt Vensel: I think Teddy Blueger could score between 15 to 20 goals. Given more opportunities, could Dominik Simon approach 40 points? I think Justin Schultz could come close to matching Kris Letang's production if he gets a decent chunk of time with the top power play.
Ron J: I can’t understand how Rusty could block a shot with his hand in a exhibition game .
Matt Vensel: He was in a shooting lane and the shot hit him in the hand. I've seen this criticism a lot. What's Bryan supposed to do? Dive out of the way? I'm sure that wouldn't go over well with his coach, fans, media...
Jaromir Jagr: What have you noticed in camp the team is doing to make sure they don’t fall into bad habits from last year I:E 2 on 1’s, short handed goals against, bad 3v5 play
Matt Vensel: I don't know what Mike Sullivan can do on the ice to limit 2-on-1s and shorthanded goals other than reminding guys constantly to play smart. He wants his offensive guys to attack when opportunities to arise and knows it would be foolish to try to play conservatively. So all he can do is harp it on them like he did the other day. He has them practice 2-on-1s for about five minutes or so then pulled them together and basically said, "You know why we just did that? Because you allowed five of them last night, so we better get good at defending them." That was a calm, clever way for make his point.
MaySee Gray: I have been a Dom Simon proponent for a while but it's mystifying that he hasn't been able to produce consistently or really at all. How much time do you think he's given before he loses a spot?
Matt Vensel: He's starting the season on the fourth line, though I don't think he's in jeopardy of getting put on waivers or anything. I'm sure we'll see him back in the top six at some point in the next few weeks. But, yeah, he needs to produce like he did for the Czech team at the world championship this summer.
Malkin_theBeast: Hello, nice to meet you! I've enjoyed Mackey's chat for 2 years, I'm sure you'll show us same insightful and personal opinion about Pens and hockey! ^_~
So how about my favourite Beast? Geno is he really back to a hart trophy contender... in his last game, I've doubted a bit, hopefully it's only a short let down... Malkin is thinner this year, do you feel his skating has an edge on the ice compared to last year?
Matt Vensel: I'd be cautiously optimistic. He showed up in better shape and looks motivated right now. And, yes, he has been moving well out there. But we'll see if that is still the case in January and February. Not saying it won't be the case, just that it's a question mark.
burt reynolds: Are there any current NHL players, other than Marchand with the Bruins, who are not all that polite with the media, like Tom Barrrasso was?
Matt Vensel: I haven't dealt much with players from other teams. I can speak to the Penguins, though. They've been great. Some are better talkers than others. But everyone has treated me like a human. Yes, even Phil. He didn't talk much and you can tell he's not thrilled about the media (understandable after how he was treated in Toronto) but he still had a sense of humor and was never rude or anything like that.
Charles Grimball: Who does GMJR go after to ease the loss of Kessel's offensive production?
Matt Vensel: He added Galchenyuk, Kahun and Tanev. They are betting on better chemistry and more depth to make up for what they have lost by trading Phil. We'll see if it works. If it doesn't, I'm sure Rutherford will start looking to see which moves can be made next.
Andy: So getting rid of a point per game scorer who never missed a game, keeping the same defense corps, and adding more "push back" is supposed to point to optimism from a team who got swept by the Islanders in the first round? Outside of Matt Murray having a Vezina type season, I don't see anything better than fighting for a wildcard spot or even missing the playoffs altogether. What say you?
Matt Vensel: I think it's fair to wonder if the Penguins have gotten better. On paper, they look deeper up front and a little faster overall, but there are still a bunch of question marks. If Sid keeps playing at an All-NHL level, if Malkin returns to his previous form or is close to it, if Murray finally finds regular season consistently and if Letang and Schultz stay healthy, they are a playoff team for sure. But that's a lot of ifs.
Matt Vensel: I wasn't asked to make an official prediction so I'll do it here. While a playoff spot is no guarantee, I think the Penguins will finish second or third in the Metro and if most of the above things break right for them this season, they very well could make the NHL's Final Four.
Matt Vensel: They could also be one-and-done again this postseason, too.
Matt Vensel: That's why it's going to be fascinating to see what happens with this team. They're running out of chances in the Crosby era to win another Cup. And if they miss the playoffs or get embarrassed in a similar fashion to what happened this past spring, there will probably be far bigger changes than trading Phil Kessel and Olli Maatta.
Matt Vensel: But, as the coach might say, let's take it one game at a time. Enjoy the season opener, check out all the great stuff we have on the site now and will after the game tonight, and we'll chat again next week.
First Published: October 3, 2019, 2:46 p.m.