@emptynetters
Key phrase from Bylsma today when talking about Bennett: "Puck battles." He's been winning a bunch in Wilkes-Barre.

@emptynetters
Key phrase from Bylsma today when talking about Bennett: "Puck battles." He's been winning a bunch in Wilkes-Barre.
- Gunner Staal

Thats good to hear...maybe he will work well with geno neal

Am I the only one that's seen some good in Boychuk? Good skater. Makes some nice passes. Plays with a little grit. Seems to put himself in the right places. He might not be the answer for Geno's line, but he was far and away superior to Tangradi IMO.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I see Boychuk on the roster at the end of the year. Maybe not always on the ice for every game.
- madmike71

Im with you. He was creating some good space and good chances. Things just weren't really going his way as far as getting points.

They should at least try bennet- sid- duper then put kuni with geno neal. Boychuk>kennedy
- SayWhat...NoWay

It's hard to compare Boychuk and Kennedy. Kennedy is a good 3rd liner, Boychuk a marginal 2nd line player/good AHL player. TK helps this team more than Boychuk does right now.

Karlsson the best player in the league? I wouldn't trade him for Letang, ever.

Im with you. He was creating some good space and good chances. Things just weren't really going his way as far as getting points.
- schoobs2731

Agreed, he def is worth more than TK right now.....and at times.....Duper. Just bad luck finishing a play off

It's hard to compare Boychuk and Kennedy. Kennedy is a good 3rd liner, Boychuk a marginal 2nd line player/good AHL player. TK helps this team more than Boychuk does right now.

Karlsson the best player in the league? I wouldn't trade him for Letang, ever.
- Orpik44

Seconded, being a defensemen requires you to, ya know, play defense at times

Am I the only one that's seen some good in Boychuk? Good skater. Makes some nice passes. Plays with a little grit. Seems to put himself in the right places. He might not be the answer for Geno's line, but he was far and away superior to Tangradi IMO.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I see Boychuk on the roster at the end of the year. Maybe not always on the ice for every game.
- madmike71

I like Boychuk too. The guy hasn't lit the world on fire in his first 6 games as a Penguin, but he certainly hasn't hurt the team either. He's played a speed game w/ a little physicality & in doing so opened some space for Malkin and Neal. He's even created a few turnovers as well.

Is he the complete package? No, but he isn't a waiver-wire player either. I think if he is given more time in the system he can definetly contribute as a 3rd line guy.

Also, i think its worth pointing out that Boychuck and TK's stats are pretty much inter-changeable since the Pens acquired Boychuck. If you had the choice going forward, would you rather have Shero try to re-sign TK as an UFA for +$2M/yr, re-sign Boychuck as a RFA, or go another route.

“I don't know if it's going to be a top-six role for him,” Shero said. “It might be a bottom-six role. I just think he needs an opportunity to find his confidence at the NHL level. It just seemed like there were some guys passing him by.”

Interesting on two things 1) Bennett was said to might play along with sid, so why all of a sudden a possible bottom 6 minutes? 2) who are these other players passing him by? Bc if they are better then him why arnt they up?
- nh4442

To me, you don't bring Bennett up to play bottom six minutes. To me, playing him with Glass and Vitale would be a waste of time. He isn't the typical third line guy.

Seconded, being a defensemen requires you to, ya know, play defense at times
- ryman1566

Exactly. Karlsson reminds me of Mike Green on his good days. Letang is a warrior and would rather have him on our roster. Also think Gonchar complements Letang better than Karlsson.

It's hard to compare Boychuk and Kennedy. Kennedy is a good 3rd liner, Boychuk a marginal 2nd line player/good AHL player. TK helps this team more than Boychuk does right now.

Karlsson the best player in the league? I wouldn't trade him for Letang, ever.
- Orpik44

I think it depends on what you are after on your 3rd-line. If you want O-zone possession and a banger who isn't that much of a threat to score, TK is a better player. However, I'd argue that adding in Boychuk w/ Sutter & Cooke would add some additional speed and some offensive creativity to the line at the expense of some physicality.

If Letang ends up signing for the same money as Karlsson I would trade Letang for him in a second if it was offered.

I like Boychuk too. The guy hasn't lit the world on fire in his first 6 games as a Penguin, but he certainly hasn't hurt the team either. He's played a speed game w/ a little physicality & in doing so opened some space for Malkin and Neal. He's even created a few turnovers as well.

Is he the complete package? No, but he isn't a waiver-wire player either. I think if he is given more time in the system he can definetly contribute as a 3rd line guy.

Also, i think its worth pointing out that Boychuck and TK's stats are pretty much inter-changeable since the Pens acquired Boychuck. If you had the choice going forward, would you rather have Shero try to re-sign TK as an UFA for +$2M/yr, re-sign Boychuck as a RFA, or go another route.
- s0rcerer1984

Boychuk to me is a third line guy in Pittsburgh once they figure out what to do with TK - trade him. He has done enough good things to stay, but not get top six minutes.

If Letang ends up signing for the same money as Karlsson I would trade Letang for him in a second if it was offered.
- canadianpenfan

That shouldn't even be a hard decision. While we all know the importance of Letang, you dump him off to Ottawa in a second if everything was equal.

If Letang ends up signing for the same money as Karlsson I would trade Letang for him in a second if it was offered.
- canadianpenfan

Karlsson is cool but Letang is da man.

To me, you don't bring Bennett up to play bottom six minutes. To me, playing him with Glass and Vitale would be a waste of time. He isn't the typical third line guy.
- Oneonta Penguin

I misread, that was about tangradi

It's hard to compare Boychuk and Kennedy. Kennedy is a good 3rd liner, Boychuk a marginal 2nd line player/good AHL player. TK helps this team more than Boychuk does right now.

Karlsson the best player in the league? I wouldn't trade him for Letang, ever.
- Orpik44

I would.

Seconded, being a defensemen requires you to, ya know, play defense at times
- ryman1566

Karlsson isn't terrible defensively... no one will ever compare him to Dan Girardi or Shea Weber, but he's a great skater and playing with Gonchar has seemed to teach him better positioning. The key is, that he's only 22... you can teach a player to pay more attention to defense, but you can't teach one to skate and move the puck like he can.

Karlsson isn't terrible defensively... no one will ever compare him to Dan Girardi or Shea Weber, but he's a great skater and playing with Gonchar has seemed to teach him better positioning. The key is, that he's only 22... you can teach a player to pay more attention to defense, but you can't teach one to skate and move the puck like he can.
- rival22

Dynamic, it describes Crosby and Malkin, it also applies to Karlsson.

It's hard to compare Boychuk and Kennedy. Kennedy is a good 3rd liner, Boychuk a marginal 2nd line player/good AHL player. TK helps this team more than Boychuk does right now.

Karlsson the best player in the league? I wouldn't trade him for Letang, ever.
- Orpik44

Yea i know i just dont want tk anymore lol

Dynamic, it describes Crosby and Malkin, it also applies to Karlsson.
- Gunner Staal

Very true, good word.

If Letang ends up signing for the same money as Karlsson I would trade Letang for him in a second if it was offered.
- canadianpenfan

I make that deal too. Letang is the better defensive player, but Karlsson is the elite offensive D in the league. Would be really entertaining watching him play with guys like Sid and Geno.

Letangs start to the season hasn't been without flaws.

I'm sorry but I find Kris Letang a more complete player. I'd take him on my team any day. Most people here are hurt because our PP is not clicking with him at the point. We'll fix it eventually.

Yea i know i just dont want tk anymore lol
- SayWhat...NoWay

Seems like Shero called him out a bit last night.

Jayson Megna‏@Jayson_Megna
Happy Valentines Day everyone! Even if @JMorrow7 takes me on a couple man dates today, you are still my number one Mom.
Retweeted by Simon Despres

Jayson Megna‏@Jayson_Megna
Happy Valentines Day everyone! Even if @JMorrow7 takes me on a couple man dates today, you are still my number one Mom.
Retweeted by Simon Despres


- nh4442

Kinda funny, Morrow, Pouliot & now Megna have all tweeted Valentine's wishes about their mothers lol. The kids were raised well, I guess