March 26, 2015

Metzer

by Dejan Kovacevic • Podcasts • Penguins

BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC Here’s the podcast of my weekly appearance on Penguins Radio 24/7, the team’s online HD station, with host Brian Metzer. If you’re a diehard puckhead, I wouldn’t miss this one. Bringing up the lack of scoring and power plays in the NHL strikes quite the nerve with me.

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10 Comments Newest to oldest

Scott in Orlando
3-26-2015, 6:10 pm
Good afternoon DK,

Always a pleasure to hear you on the podcasts.

I am not in agreement whatsoever relative to your opinions on the league, blocking shots, saving coaching careers, etc.

Do you remember your comment to those individuals who wrote about the poor attendance at Pitt football games and you said something akin to, frankly you were tired of hearing about it? I feel similarly about the dribble about the NHL Commish and subsequent issues with the league.

Every league Commish, and I mean every one, has been inundated with ridicule from the public on many subject matters. In this instance, to believe the NHL owners would knowingly and willingly permit dereliction from GB, after 22 years of service, is nonsense. Perhaps the scoring issues you refer would not be so noticeable if teams, inclusive of the Penguins, were more successful in scoring on a PowerPlay situation. I don't know the stats of power play success this year to historical seasons but things are never constant and things should never be constant as games, players, skillsets evolve.

IMO, this is an example of a saying my late father once told me. When circumstances change one must adjust their sails to take advantage of the new wind direction or they will be dead in the water. Things change, times change and philosophies must change too. Is there any wonder why the Pittsburgh Penguins are known as the leagues most prolific whiners? Torts had it right all along.

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Dejan Kovacevic
3-26-2015, 7:53 pm
Nowhere in my writings or in this podcast have I ever connected what's wrong with the NHL to what's wrong with the Penguins. There has been no excuse-making at all. My feelings about the league and its scoring and its officiating have absolutely nothing to do with the local franchise. Otherwise, I'm not really sure how to respond.

Old 1Sgt
3-27-2015, 12:33 pm
Scott, if you can't see what's wrong with the NHL then you haven't been watching very long. I am tired of all the clutching, grabbing, mugging and we'll blow a whistle when we feel like it. The suspensions given out are a joke. Bateman has got to go if this league is to advance beyond 4th sport status. DK has been very clear about his concern and suggestions for the league, which would benefit every team and not just the Penguins. He never said the Penguins problems are because of how the league is run. He has always said "best game, worse league" and that is correct. DK is not a "homer" and has proven that many times. The current game of clutching, grabbing and interference with no whistle is boring. I shake my head every game I watch. I've been a Penguin fan since before Mario and frankly, this is getting hard to watch. The NHL has the potential to become the 3rd major sport if it changes. It can also drift off to a fringe sport if it doesn't.

DJ
3-27-2015, 2:50 pm
Dribble?

Drivel.

Scott in Orlando
3-27-2015, 2:53 pm
Old 1st SGT., I appreciate your opinion and your support of DK.

Relative to your inquiry on how long I have been watching. My comments reference a period when your "clutching, grabbing and mugging", began in earnest. It has remained a consistent issue since 66 rightfully made his frustrations painfully aware to the league and subsequently the public. I reiterate, if the owners of the league believed this to be problematic, in their view not the players, Mr. Bettman (not Bateman) would have been given strict marching orders to get this issue rectified. This is NOT his league and he is beholden to the owners, not the other way around.

Now, this isn't to say I do not agree with you these actions are not frustrating and are having an impact upon the league. I'm saying, get over it as the owners obviously do not want it changed. So, if they won't change, what is the alternative? With the game of "clutching, grabbing and mugging" to use your verbiage, it seemingly has precipitated more injuries than ever before. What's changed to make that occur? Owners/Coaches/Medical Staff who are more cautious with the players? Probably so. Outside of concussions, what has the league owners done to truly prevent such injuries? The penalties handed down, inclusive of those from the league are absolutely laughable but completely, again, if the owners wanted it changed it could be done tomorrow. Bettman is NOT the issue, look to the Governors of the league, who are the owners.

Finally, about DK being a "homer", again your verbiage. I'm not sure what prompted your statement as I've never made that claim, nor would I. He reports on Pittsburgh sports and his professionalism has never been in question. However, his columns and opinions are open to scrutiny by me, and you. Hence, this comment section to free-flow as one sees fit. :) Nothing more, nothing less.

Imagine if everyone felt the same. How boring would that be?

Scott in Orlando
3-27-2015, 4:20 pm
DJ, certainly you can use drivel, referencing meaningless. My reference of dribble is a reference of quantity of speak on this subject matter. :)

Balthazzar
3-26-2015, 10:31 pm
A Paul Martin slapper did in fact end someone's career DK. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqDvaA7onaU

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zdh8771
3-27-2015, 3:22 am
I do agree that more scoring and a better flow to the game needs to happen. I'm not on the make it illegal to go to the ice to block shots, however I do think that if a guy doesn't want to do it, that there should be some sort of oversight if a coach, like Torts, benches a guy because of it. That should never happen.

And as far as Kapenen and Sundqvist go, I am all for it. I was and am still bewildered,angered, etcetera for Kapenen not starting the season with the Pens. I personally thought/think he is NHL ready and we need scorers.

A significant player, or multiple significant players seem to get hurt every year now (we always have too many man games lost) and I think having Kapenen and Sundqvist could have helped a lot.

Kudos on the Wayne Simmonds comment. He's always been one of my favorite non- Penguins players. When he got traded from LA to Philly, a piece of me died inside. I always wanted the Pens to trade for him. I think he'd be a perfect fit on 87 or 71's line and the PP

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zdh8771
3-27-2015, 3:24 am
Also, I had a question about a comment Lovejoy made about this being the most scripted offense he's ever seen on a team.

Do you think that's hurting the offense? I'm all for some scripted plays but the game just needs to flow as well. Let the creative players be creative.

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jbummr50
3-27-2015, 2:20 pm
It is absolutely unfair to heap such scorn on Bettman when he is absolutely BEHOLDEN to the NHL Board of Governors.

Probably the least influential commissioner in professional sports.

Not saying he couldn't be doing more, but much of that blame should fall on the Canadian mafia.

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