Are the Penguins truly … good? Plus, my worst journey nightmare story: Mailbag

PITTSBURGH — It’s solely two weeks into the season, and but, we have now a lot to debate.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are 5-2. Justin Brazeau has eight factors in seven video games. The crew, consider it or not, is taking part in protection.

Thank you, as at all times, for the good questions. I’ll have one other mailbag in just a few days.

Away we go.

Are the Pens truly good? — @Beep02408171

I really like this query as a result of it’s so easy, so sincere, so hopeful.

The fact is, I don’t know. It’s too early to say. What I’ll say is that, on the very least, I do assume they’re higher than what we have been anticipating. Here’s why:

• New Coach Energy is an actual factor.

• Speaking of the brand new coach, Dan Muse has been spectacular.

• Penguins GM Kyle Dubas might have discovered thrift-store gems in defenseman Parker Wotherspoon, forwards Brazeau and Anthony Mantha, and goaltender Arturs Silovs.

• Goaltender Tristan Jarry has been sharp.

• Defenseman Erik Karlsson is responding to this teaching employees a lot, a lot better.

• Evgeni Malkin is upset that he hasn’t been provided one other contract, and, if that is his final season, he needs to placed on a last present.

• Ben Kindel, an 18-year-old rookie middle, is particular.

• Harrison Brunicke, a 19-year-old rookie defenseman, is particular, too.

I see some sustainability on this checklist.

Do I believe the Penguins might be a playoff crew? No. Do I believe it’s way more doable now than I did just a few weeks in the past? Yes. I don’t know that they will hold this up, however their early-season success has not been a fluke. They’re taking part in properly, they usually’re taking part in onerous. Look on the checklist above. I didn’t even point out Sidney Crosby.

How sustainable do you assume the early season success might be? Obviously quite a lot of hockey left to go this 12 months, however I’d think about holding this tempo may throw any deadline and offseason plans for a loop. — @masondeel

It is fascinating, proper? Let’s have some hypothetical enjoyable. Let’s say Christmas arrives, and the Penguins are in a wild-card spot.

Then, a contender comes alongside and makes an enormous supply for Rickard Rakell. What does Dubas do?

The reply is straightforward. The future is Dubas’ precedence, and it must be. However, I sense that if the Penguins produce a magical season and provides themselves an opportunity to succeed in the postseason, Dubas wouldn’t do a lot to hurt their trigger. He’s already delighted with the Penguins’ most up-to-date draft class, and the crew has an unlimited quantity of draft picks arriving within the subsequent two years. He will proceed to fret concerning the future, however don’t search for Dubas to commerce any massive names if the Penguins hold this up. (I don’t actually assume they may, but it surely’s been enjoyable to observe.)

What is the largest shock to you to this point, each good and unhealthy? — @itsspelledgraig

I’d have to begin with Brazeau. The man has eight factors in seven video games. Enough stated.

I even have been pleasantly shocked with Karlsson’s extra skilled model of play this season and with Jarry’s resurgence. That is fairly unimaginable, given the place he was in early March (in Wilkes-Barre, and taking part in poorly there).

Bad surprises? There aren’t many, however Tommy Novak and Philip Tomasino have been a letdown.

Chances they hold Kindel up for the 12 months ?? — @jtotheoey23

I believe it turns into extra probably with every new day. I believe each of the youngsters are right here to remain.

If you’ve seen them play, you know the way good they’re. Will it assist their respective developments to go play in opposition to a bunch of youngsters in Western Canada? I don’t assume so. And I don’t assume the Penguins assume so, both.

Does Kindel and Brunicke making this roster present how good they’re or how unhealthy the Penguins are? — @ZuckerVision

I believe it exhibits how good they’re. The Penguins aren’t nice on paper, however they aren’t the Sharks or Blackhawks, both.

These younger guys are one thing to observe — they actually get higher virtually each night time.

Is there any indication that the Global Series has something to do with Karlsson and Rakell not being traded to this point? Or is it nearly ready for the best supply and seeing the place this season goes? — @DMetag

I guarantee you that the Global Series has zero affect. Dubas isn’t going to prioritize selling a sport in Sweden over what’s finest for his hockey crew.

I’m not listening to that something is imminent.

Hey Josh. Hope the layover goes by quick. With the cap area the crew has, if by some probability they’re in competition on the deadline would Kyle use it to enhance the crew? If not, any thought what he’s saving it for? — @Ohiopensfan

He nonetheless is the president of the crew and solutions to possession. While he does have the authority to spend to the cap, the Penguins aren’t precisely promoting out their enviornment as of late. So I wouldn’t say that he’s “saving it.”

Regardless of their fantastic begin, it’s onerous to think about a world the place the Penguins are patrons on the deadline.

We all count on trades to be forthcoming sooner or later this season, and naturally, it takes two groups to make a deal, however in case you needed to guess proper now, which “bigger” participant do you assume would be the first one to maneuver from the Penguins? — @Wizard1Lord

I assume you’re mentioning the opportunity of the Penguins going into promote mode, which continues to be totally believable and maybe even probably, regardless of the feel-good begin.

Rakell could be the more than likely individual to go, I believe. He doesn’t have the organizational roots that Rust does, and he’s so much simpler to commerce than Karlsson.

With the Pens trying like a distinct crew than final 12 months, system, velocity, youthfulness and so on… and in the event that they proceed an upward development, does it change Dubas’ plan in any respect? They aren’t contenders, however they aren’t as unhealthy as all of us thought they might be. — @DarkSithLord17

I may see him doing little or no this season in the event that they hold taking part in like this. Dubas is in no place to commerce future property, and he is aware of it. If the Penguins organically shock the world and make the playoffs, good for them. Hell of a narrative. And Dubas wouldn’t get in the best way of that. But he nonetheless has a future to fret about.

What’s the funniest interplay you’ve had with somebody you have got lined? (Excluding the Montreal Fleury story) — @franty_n

That’s powerful to say. There have been many. Once, I unintentionally stepped on Steve Yzerman’s foot within the dinner line within the Pittsburgh media lounge. He was not amused and gave me a grimy look. This is in stark distinction to the time in 2005 when Joe Namath stepped on the identical foot that stepped on Yzerman’s. My left foot has been by way of wars.

My favourite dialog was in all probability within the Columbus locker room in 2014 with Nick Foligno. He laughed hysterically for 5 minutes whereas telling me what it was wish to play in opposition to Bobby Farnham.

“That f—— guy was telling us he was going to kill us and throws his body around like no one I’ve ever seen,” Foligno stated. “I wish we’d sign him. I’d just be laughing all the time. I actually love that guy.”

Other than 2 for Talking, what different hockey podcasts do you get pleasure from showing on/listening to?— @Yatch18

Thanks for the plug. I by no means watch or hearken to podcasts, however in case you ask me, I’ll in all probability seem in your podcast. I get pleasure from speaking hockey.

You are getting back from the west coast…in all probability good climate and all that. Would you reasonably need to go there now, when it’s fall in Pittsburgh OR winter (get away from the chilly) OR late within the 12 months for a pleasant journey earlier than the season ends? — @Nuttinghatesus

This is the sort of query I can respect. My girlfriend ought to reply this one as a result of she needed to hear me complain about going to California and Florida in October.

There’s nothing incorrect with going to these locations in October, however you actually need these journeys in January or February, once we’re within the useless of winter. I additionally occur to like October in Pittsburgh. It’s one of the best.

And Western Canada in January? I clearly want to talk with the league’s schedulers. That’s the journey you need in October, I guarantee you.

What is the journey course of like? Are you reserving your personal stuff? Let an organization journey company deal with it? Worst journey nightmare story? — @CDatres24

We have an app that we use for journey. It’s fairly good, and we get to maintain the Marriott and airline factors, which is what makes the world go ’spherical.

In 2014, my baggage was misplaced within the Toronto airport. Then, a snowstorm hit Toronto and shut the airport down for a few days. So, I used to be in Vancouver with no garments aside from what I used to be sporting. Everyone in Vancouver is bodily match. I’m extra of a thick gentleman.

So, I went strolling round Vancouver searching for garments that match me. No luck. I used to be sucking in, and nah, not occurring. So, lastly, I walked as much as an worker at a mall in Vancouver and stated I wanted some garments that match me.

She checked out me and stated, “You must be an American.”

I responded, “How’d you know? Don’t answer!”

She then stated, “There’s an Old Navy that way.”

And I used to be saved.

Hi Josh, I visited Al’s cafe for the primary time a few weeks in the past. It was terrific and exactly as you’ve described! Those sorts of locations are few and much between as of late, sadly. Anyway, what’s your go-to order while you go? — @11816TD

Well, you’re a person of style and integrity.

Al’s Cafe, my favourite restaurant, is a Bethel Park staple. My go-to order is the rooster Romano with pasta and a Caesar salad. They additionally lately switched from Pepsi to Coca-Cola merchandise, which makes it even higher.

Thanks for all the questions, everybody. Another mailbag might be coming in just a few days, as will a number of articles on the newest entries to the Penguins’ Hall of Fame class.

Until then, it’s off to Florida … in October. But I’ve the best job on the earth, so no complaints.