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Jason Mackey's Penguins chat: 8.24.17
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Jason Mackey
1:56
Everyone wants to trade Carl Hagelin, it seems. When you score six goals in 61 games and make $4 million ... that's not the most transferable situation. Maatta could go, but I really don't think that's the direction GMJR wants to go.
TK
1:56
I know you've covered both the Steelers and Pens during your career.  Would you say that hockey players are easier to deal with than football players?  To me, hockey players seem much more humble and down-to-earth.
Jason Mackey
1:58
I wouldn't say "easier" to deal with. They're just ... different. Hockey players are more humble, but that also means they're usually willing to say less; football players aren't afraid to have an opinion on matters and will probably more so resist the cliches. One thing I love about hockey takes the niceness and squares or cubes it: The culture around the sport. It's accepting of media and value our role. That more than anything, for me, makes hockey a ton of fun to cover. You're dealing with a bunch of good humans who love the game, respect it and want to see it do well.
Pete
1:58
Do you think ZAR or sprong will be in on opening night?
Jason Mackey
1:59
No, I don't. I think the best thing for either of them will be to develop a little bit more before coming up midseason.
Birdie
1:59
Did you get ? From birdie on VGK or should I resend
Jason Mackey
1:59
I got it. Check out NHL Center Ice. That should solve your problem.
Devyn
1:59
What would a Bryan Rust extension look like? Do you think the Pens re-sign him when the time comes?
Jason Mackey
1:59
Yes, I think they re-sign him. I'm not even going to guess on dummying that thing out. I'm not an agent.
Mark
1:59
Hi Jason - i know its early but which teams in the Esat present the biggest challenges to the Pens. Caps seems to have lost alot also and the Rangers made some strange moves. Thoughts!
Jason Mackey
2:01
Caps have made some strange moves, too. I like what Tampa did this offseason. I think Toronto will be right there as well. In the Metro, I like the Penguins to win it, but I think Columbus will be there along with the Rangers. I think the Hurricanes will take a sizable step forward. I know the Caps will be there, but how effective remains the biggest question for me. I still don't see them making it out of the second round.
guest
2:01
Hi Jason,
Jason Mackey
2:01
Hello.
John
2:01
Do you think A trade for 3rd line center will happen before training camp begins.
Jason Mackey
2:01
Maybe not before. But I do think before opening night they will have done something.
Mark
2:01
Am excited to see Ryan Reaves play against Tom Wilson of the Caps - maybe now he'll stop taking runs at the Pens. Thoughts?
Jason Mackey
2:01
I don't think Ryan Reaves is going to stop Tom Wilson from being Tom Wilson. But, yes, it should be an entertaining fight. And you know they will go first game.
Kevin
2:02
Coming in with one more, thoughts on Ryan Nugent-Hopkins availability and fit? Since Edmonton will soon be in a cap crunch and I saw an article saying Chiarelli  is prepared to trade him below his trade value
Jason Mackey
2:02
I like the player, but I think $6 million per season, for that position, isn't a smart contract for the Penguins to take on.
guest
2:02
I loved your article on Matt Murray!  That makes me pull for his continued success even more.  He seems like a great kid!!
Jason Mackey
2:03
Thanks so much! Matt was a really good sport about all of it. I can't thank him enough for how candid he was. And yes, I agree with you: There's a really wonderful person in there, and I hope that came through in the piece.
Carl H
2:03
I could put up more points if I was on the right team.  Is there a team out there who would trade for me?
Jason Mackey
2:03
Don't think so, Carl. And to be fair, you had plenty of opportunities in 2016-17.
TK
2:03
Do you think there's any friction between Kessel and Sullivan?
Jason Mackey
2:05
None at all. Does Phil require some extra effort? Absolutely. But Sullivan is no dummy. He knows what Phil can bring, and, like any good manager, he wants to get that out of him. Phil's just a different cat. It's one of the reasons why Tocchet was important. He's hardly a cancer or anything like that. He just doesn't have much of a filter, so the assistant acts as a buffer. But I know for a fact that Sullivan likes Kessel ... while also recognizing that he comes with his own set of challenges, the same as many great players.
Pope
2:05
Ok, now that all of the departures are mostly finalized and barring any trades for a 3C, what are your starting 4 lines on O?
Jason Mackey
2:07
Guentzel-Crosby-Sheary // Rust-Malkin-Kessel // Hagelin-3C-Hornqvist // Wilson-Rowney-Reaves. Note: That middle six is fairly interchangeable in my opinion.
Kevin
2:07
When we lost Kunitz, bonino, etc I was a little concerned. Now Cullen is gone & I'm really concerned. The difference between these pens & the pens that choked from 10-14 was an ability to control emotions & just play. Do you think they still have the leadership to turn the other cheek & stay focused with all the departures? I'd hate to see the retaliation garbage which is better left in the past
Jason Mackey
2:08
Absolutely they still have that. That much is attributable to Sullivan more than any one player. If you're concerned over losing Bonino and Cullen and replacing them with nobody, I get that. Or maybe the depth on defense with Daley and Hainsey gone. That's fair. But the mindset will, by all accounts, stay. Other guys will grow into those leadership roles.
Dino Ciccarelli
2:08
Who scores more regular season points in 2017-18?  Penguins or Capitals?  And does that team win the highly un-coveted Presidents Trophy?
Jason Mackey
2:09
I see the Penguins finished ahead of the Capitals in the regular-season standings. However, I don't see them winning the Presidents' Trophy. Because of injuries.
Lukas
2:09
Is renting Bozak really worth Maatta or would we get something else back in the trade?
Jason Mackey
2:09
I question whether Bozak would be worth it. It's one year. I don't love that. If I was GMJR, I would definitely insist on getting something else in the deal.
Steven
2:09
Could you shed some light on Jason Karmanos for me? His Eliteprospects page has him as the assistant GM in Carolina since 1998, but as he's only 42 now, that would have been an extremely young person to give that role to.

I believe when he came over with Rutherford from Carolina, he worked on an analytics department, and just moved into assistant GM as Botterill left. Do the Penguins have big plans for him given he's young and has plenty of experience?
Jason Mackey
2:11
Jason Karmanos is an extremely bright guy. Just saw him today, as a matter of fact. I think they absolutely view him as someone eventually capable of running him own team. For the time being, though, he handles a lot of analytics, yes, but also scouting and evaluation, the same as everyone. Jason knows Rutherford probably better than anyone on his staff. Granted Carolina wasn't a cap team while they were there, but Jason also did a lot of numbers-crunching down there. He can wear a lot of hats.
Lukas
2:11
Would Maatta and a pick for Kadri be a more balanced option?
Jason Mackey
2:11
It could. But why would Toronto do that?
Gary Bettman
2:11
September is here soon - are the NHL fans missing the World Cup of Hockey? Can we do it again soon?
Jason Mackey
2:11
Thanks, Gary. Honored you're participating in my chat.
Lukas
2:11
Would Andreas Athanasiou be a trade candidate or would Detroit rather see him off to the KHL for a year and keep his rights?
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