With Sullivan gone yes. He had such a knack for carrying the puck into the offensive zone and working off Letang to set everything up for Neal and Malkin. As long as we are talking about using 2 defensemen on the PP to avoid SH goals then I am all for giving Crosby and Malkin 1st PP unit opportunities. The issue is who takes the half wall? They both love to play it. Its certainly a good problem to have when trying to fit them both in but they cannot go 4 forwards on that unit again. Depres/Niskanen and Letang would be ideal because they can defend physically while also rarely missing the net.
- HopintheCordoba

Malkin takes the half wall, Crosby gets the goal line. Crosby's skill set is perfect for that. Best corner player in the league to retrieve pucks/keep possession. Best passer, has the whole ice sheet in front of him, one of the best tippers on the team. Strong skater who has low center of gravity, would be hard to move off the puck or spot on the ice no matter who is on him.

With Sullivan gone yes. He had such a knack for carrying the puck into the offensive zone and working off Letang to set everything up for Neal and Malkin. As long as we are talking about using 2 defensemen on the PP to avoid SH goals then I am all for giving Crosby and Malkin 1st PP unit opportunities. The issue is who takes the half wall? They both love to play it. Its certainly a good problem to have when trying to fit them both in but they cannot go 4 forwards on that unit again. Depres/Niskanen and Letang would be ideal because they can defend physically while also rarely missing the net.
- HopintheCordoba

We had lengthy discussions about this last summer on here. The consensus was 2 fold:
1) Rotate the PP. Keep everybody moving so there are no stationary positions and so passing lanes open up
2) Put Sid behind the net. Let him wheel and deal. Draw the PK low in the zone and work it to the halfwall and points.
What's funny is both systems were used for a while and were fairly effective. Then for whatever reason the team just stopped doing it.

We had lengthy discussions about this last summer on here. The consensus was 2 fold:
1) Rotate the PP. Keep everybody moving so there are no stationary positions and so passing lanes open up
2) Put Sid behind the net. Let him wheel and deal. Draw the PK low in the zone and work it to the halfwall and points.
What's funny is both systems were used for a while and were fairly effective. Then for whatever reason the team just stopped doing it.
- Rawdog9755

With the added sophistication in PK systems as well as the bullet proof hardness of the equipment, if you dont use the whole ice surface on an NHL PP, you will not be successful. You have to give the PK players a reason to get out of their lanes.

It's all nice and good that the nhlpa is so united this time around but what they are failing to remember is that they really have no leverage.
- Gunner Staal

They are united until Sunday when half of them try to go to Europe and take other hockey player's jobs.

And you are correct, they have no leverage. The owners seem willing to give them 50% of HHR, they should take that and be done with it. Would you rather lose a couple percentage points of the pie, or a whole season's salary?

I don't have any sympathy for the owners, but I've also lost any sympathy I've had for the players as well. Wow... a guy making 50x more money than I make in a year might have his salary rolled back a few percent? Not going to shed a tear there...

They are united until Sunday when half of them try to go to Europe and take other hockey player's jobs.

And you are correct, they have no leverage. The owners seem willing to give them 50% of HHR, they should take that and be done with it. Would you rather lose a couple percentage points of the pie, or a whole season's salary?

I don't have any sympathy for the owners, but I've also lost any sympathy I've had for the players as well. Wow... a guy making 50x more money than I make in a year might have his salary rolled back a few percent? Not going to shed a tear there...
- rival22

A losing battle for NHLPA

The longer it goes the more the players lose, its that simple.

The longer it goes the more the players lose, its that simple.
- Gunner Staal

And the more everyone else loses too... Working at Mellon Arena at the time, I saw first hand how not having hockey affected a lot of other people.

Thanks to the lockout though, I met my now wife, so that was a benefit though

Mario wasnt a great captain technically speaking until later in his career. Much worse than Crosby was at this stage in his career.

Mario wasnt a great captain technically speaking until later in his career.
- Deadstar

Very true.

Mario wasnt a great captain technically speaking until later in his career. Much worse than Crosby was at this stage in his career.
- Deadstar

Just curious, can a guy be a great Captain without winning the Cup ? Relative to Mario, you guys would know better than me but did Mario suddenly become a great Captain and then they won the Cup, or was he the same guy as before but just playing with a better team (with the addition of Jagr/Barrasso/Francis, etc) ?

Just curious, can a guy be a great Captain without winning the Cup ? Relative to Mario, you guys would know better than me but did Mario suddenly become a great Captain and then they won the Cup, or was he the same guy as before but just playing with a better team (with the addition of Jagr/Barrasso/Francis, etc) ?
- MadCap2008

He became a great captain from experience. His off season regimen consisted of cigarettes and tv when he was young. He became better when he saw the type of committment it takes to win and learned how much better he can be when he takes care of himself.

He never had a great temper on the ice. That never changed. Francis was always the better captain type. But what difference does it make who wears a C or an A.

He became a great captain from experience. His off season regimen consisted of cigarettes and tv when he was young. He became better when he saw the type of committment it takes to win and learned how much better he can be when he takes care of himself.

He never had a great temper on the ice. That never changed. Francis was always the better captain type. But what difference does it make who wears a C or an A.
- Deadstar

He was putting up pretty incredible numbers in those early years when he was smoking and watching tv

He was putting up pretty incredible numbers in those early years when he was smoking and watching tv
- MadCap2008

That's the scary thing... if he had the type of off season training regimens that players have today, and the work ethic that guys like Crosby have, it would be amazing to see what he could do.

He was putting up pretty incredible numbers in those early years when he was smoking and watching tv
- MadCap2008

He was. Makes you wonder haha. The running joke (still is) towards the end of his career was every training camp that Lemieux "is in the best shape of his career" coming into it.

Mario wasnt a great captain technically speaking until later in his career. Much worse than Crosby was at this stage in his career.
- Deadstar

Coming from an outsider, don't you think the better captain argument is a little silly? You landed two of maybe the top 10 best players ever.

If I was a Pitt fan, I would be worried about the following:

1) Crosby's head
2) Team discipline
3) Overall team D-fense

You'll never have to worry about scoring goals. But I'm not sure that the Pens are now deep enough to win the cup. Saying things a little differently, as a Flyers fan I most fear the Rangers and still the Bruins.

Coming from an outsider, don't you think the better captain argument is a little silly? You landed two of maybe the top 10 best players ever.

If I was a Pitt fan, I would be worried about the following:

1) Crosby's head
2) Team discipline
3) Overall team D-fense

You'll never have to worry about scoring goals. But I'm not sure that the Pens are now deep enough to win the cup. Saying things a little differently, as a Flyers fan I most fear the Rangers and still the Bruins.
- Daman

There is no argument.

And no I'm not worried.

There is no argument.

And no I'm not worried.
- Deadstar

You should have continued with:
What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

Yeah, okay, say whatever you want. Numbers trump everything. They failed miserably on both ends when they added him to the PP. There is no excuse for SH goals given up while you are on the PP. No. Excuse.
- HopintheCordoba

How is that on Crosby? THere are 4 other players on that PP.
If I were the coach I'd go with 58 71 87 18 and well poop I guess you can put Kunitz back out there because who the f else do you have?

Coming from an outsider, don't you think the better captain argument is a little silly? You landed two of maybe the top 10 best players ever.

If I was a Pitt fan, I would be worried about the following:

1) Crosby's head
2) Team discipline
3) Overall team D-fense

You'll never have to worry about scoring goals. But I'm not sure that the Pens are now deep enough to win the cup. Saying things a little differently, as a Flyers fan I most fear the Rangers and still the Bruins.
- Daman

Please provide us a break down of your worries for the Flyers.

Please provide us a break down of your worries for the Flyers.
- dbell646

Defense, goalie, defense, defense

Defense, goalie, defense, defense
- Deadstar

goalie

I find your comments highly insulting. Unfortunately for you, I have been more accurate in my predictions than anyone.

So show a little more respect champ.
- Daman

hahaha...how are you a troll on your teams boards.

Please provide us a break down of your worries for the Flyers.
- dbell646

No not goalie.

Obviously, injuries have killed the defense. First Pronger. Now Mez. Weber didn't work. We all know the deal.

I think our defense, when Mez returns, would have been OK if we played a D style. We play an agressive style and we SUCK at protecting leads. We are the best at coming back from deficits though. If your a Flyers fan, better not be on heart medication.

I think Giroux could use a Neal type winger. I haven't gone through all the wingers in the league but Neal is probably top 10, so I'm sure every team wants that. Not to get into the who's the bets argument again, but let's say G is top 5 in setup guys in the league and it would be nice to have someone scream down the wing and rip a shot from the slot.

For the non-Flyers fans, when we had a healthy D last year plus Grossmann, our goalie was playing at a top level. Injuries really hurt. So I am not worried about the goalie - I am worried about the health of the D, the consistency of the team D overall, and perhaps our overly aggressive style of play.

The old Devils teams could go 1-0 into the 3rd or 2-0 in the second and the game was really over. This is not the Flyers.

Hope that answers your question - just MO.

EDIT: Speaking in Pens fans terms, it would be ideal to add a Letang and Neal. Not in terms of talent, but those are the type of players that we are lacking.

hahaha...how are you a troll on your teams boards.
- drummer829

Quite simple actually. Have you ever been to a Philadelphia game of any sport?

Let's just say not all the fans are intellectually gifted.

Unfortunately, when you have someone as intelligent and honest as I am, you aren't very popular. Add on the fact that many jokes are misconstrued.

Many times it is like flying a kite, in that it is over their heads.

As you can tell, I am quite fair and realistic with my comments.

Good day!

Cheers!

No not goalie.

Obviously, injuries have killed the defense. First Pronger. Now Mez. Weber didn't work. We all know the deal.

I think our defense, when Mez returns, would have been OK if we played a D style. We play an agressive style and we SUCK at protecting leads. We are the best at coming back from deficits though. If your a Flyers fan, better not be on heart medication.

I think Giroux could use a Neal type winger. I haven't gone through all the wingers in the league but Neal is probably top 10, so I'm sure every team wants that. Not to get into the who's the bets argument again, but let's say G is top 5 in setup guys in the league and it would be nice to have someone scream down the wing and rip a shot from the slot.

For the non-Flyers fans, when we had a healthy D last year plus Grossmann, our goalie was playing at a top level. Injuries really hurt. So I am not worried about the goalie - I am worried about the health of the D, the consistency of the team D overall, and perhaps our overly aggressive style of play.

The old Devils teams could go 1-0 into the 3rd or 2-0 in the second and the game was really over. This is not the Flyers.

Hope that answers your question - just MO.
- Daman

Are you in denial? bryz is not good. ask the millions of other people who watch hockey. He has his moments when he looks good, but with the flyers, he doesnt have the ability to save a game. looks at his awful play against the devils

Quite simple actually. Have you ever been to a Philadelphia game of any sport?

Let's just say not all the fans are intellectually gifted.

Unfortunately, when you have someone as intelligent and honest as I am, you aren't very popular. Add on the fact that many jokes are misconstrued.

Many times it is like flying a kite, in that it is over their heads.

As you can tell, I am quite fair and realistic with my comments.

Good day!

Cheers!
- Daman

your intellectually gifted?? You are not realistic with any comments and from what ive seen is that you dont know anything