You can say that the 4th line has been non existent and has been terrible, but they haven't cost tons of goals like last season. Jeff Carter has been terrible, but he's not even costing them games this season. It's the main guys that cost them games. They are the only guys producing, but many of the 5v5 goals that were scored against the Pens were when the main guys are on the ice. You can blame Jarry on some of the goals against, but there are also some goals that are on the defence. The PP actually was able to score a few goals against Anaheim, but they had a 5 on 3 late in the game and couldn't score on it. The PP hasn't been the same since Hornqvist who plays that net front presence left. Their PP has been inconsistent since the 2020-21 season. They don't really have a player that plays net front presence. Ryan Graves has not really look as much of an upgrade over Dumoulin as expected. EK65 has fallen back to reality. Aren't the core supposed to be motivated to go for another cup? They looked lazy at times. They need some coaching change whether it means changing assistant coaches or firing Sully. Honestly it might be the best for them to lose to San Jose cuz management could look at the past 2 games and just say oh we got goalied. Honestly 2022 was probably their last chance at a deep run. I think had Jarry been healthy in the 2022 playoffs, they make the ECF (cuz Carolina couldn't win on the road that year and Pittsburgh went 1-1-1 against Carolina that season). This season looks like it'll be their 2016-17 Detroit Red Wings season.
McDavid, Connor
250 000 $)
CapFriendly
CapFriendly