well when all these older guys don't help to win a cup in 4yrs and there is no one to replace them bc they never stocked their farm system, I wont tell u I told u so
- nh4442

What makes you think that shero won't replace those players successfully? Besides 87 & 71 the entire top 9 is different than the '08 cup finals team (maybe Cooke), and only Kunitz is there from '09 team.

I have given Bylsma credit in the past many times, it was hard for me to do but I did it.

I don't blame our loss in embarrassing fashion 100% on Bylsma, our superstars didn't score that's hard to argue.

But Bylsma can not and will not adjust to anything any team throws at him, and that is a huge problem.

"O crap the other army is coming by sea!" "ok lets use land mines." "O NOOO the other army is coming by air!!" "land mines I said."
- nbartley9

he does seem stubborn to the point of giving up on anything new. I am hoping that he learns that with the tools he has, line matching can be a real positive for this team.

Just like we need malkin and Sid to pick up their play as the playoffs move on, not drop off. The year we won the cup Malkin got better and better as the rounds went through. This time, he went backwards.

how is that? you don't think they can get another top talented top 6 winger somehow.. draft? trade?
- nh4442

They need one?

I said last season that this team especially neal and kuni haven't been hitting as much... remember when neal came to this team, he couldn't score but he checked everyone and backchecked.. then he started to score and stopped doing that.. there was no balance with him... pens don't hit guys in corners or open ice.. bc they are afraid of getting a bad call on them..
- nh4442

The Pens out hit both the B's and Flyers the last two years and lost both series in fairly embarrassing fashion. Hitting is obviously important, but it didn't exactly result in winning at the most important times.

Ive no issue with not hitting in the open ice now, the game is so fast that if you miss you are basically giving away a top quality scoring chance.

On the boards the only player who consistently forechecked with a physical presence was Kunitz, Cooke had to curtail how he does it, and Dupes is not an aggressive player. Neal needs to work out how to check without falling over or giving away a sill penalty. Bennett, well we all have to see how he does it this year.

There are far more positives than negatives with this team
- walshy66

I agree 100%, what I am fed up with is the lack of future outlook at the wing position.. Shero tried to the win the cup now by getting iggy, morrow, and murray.. regular season was outstanding with them and playoffs was horrible.. coaching and goaltending played a hug part in that...

Chicago trusted a 20yr old on the top line for playoffs and look how he did...
pens have no one in farm system to replace these guys.. and now we are signing older guys to 4 yr deals for more money then they should have.. which limits then down the road...

how is that? you don't think they can get another top talented top 6 winger somehow.. draft? trade?
- nh4442

not with the way the roster is being built, you can see where Shero believes in this team.

If he thought he could get a young fast winger to take on Dupes's roster spot, he would.

Plus there is no NTC clause in the contract so he will be movable if it comes to it, but I cannot see it happening

They need one?
- Deadstar

Kunitz, Dupuis, Neal & Bennett are pretty good

They need one?
- Deadstar

yes they need one or two in the system... all we have is Zlobin

The Pens out hit both the B's and Flyers the last two years and lost both series in fairly embarrassing fashion. Hitting is obviously important, but it didn't exactly result in winning at the most important times.
- madmike71

no the deliberate attempt to 'out tough' the Bruins was probably the biggest error and most frustrating thing for me to watch as it took the team away from its strengths and Toronto showed that speed was a killer against the Bruins.

So well deserved, this man along with Cooke and Orpik are the heart of this team.

there have been many plays and games where he misses passes from sid, doesn't hit the net, makes horrible passes etc... I point them out everytime showing how he doesn't belong...
- nh4442

He's not unique in that regard. Anyone with a number and a nameplate on their back is going to do the same.

I agree 100%, what I am fed up with is the lack of future outlook at the wing position.. Shero tried to the win the cup now by getting iggy, morrow, and murray.. regular season was outstanding with them and playoffs was horrible.. coaching and goaltending played a hug part in that...

Chicago trusted a 20yr old on the top line for playoffs and look how he did...
pens have no one in farm system to replace these guys.. and now we are signing older guys to 4 yr deals for more money then they should have.. which limits then down the road...
- nh4442

I am happy he did try to win it. Many have said it before, you need luck to win the Cup, Boston ran out of it against the Blackhawks, used it all up against the Leafs. We used all our up against the islanders.

You cant blame Shero for using picks to win the Cup when it wasnt the players he got in that lost it, they may not have won it but they were not directly responsible for the loss.

Plus the use of Bennett is not on Shero but on Bylsma and he was not the only young roster player misused

yes they need one or two in the system... all we have is Zlobin
- nh4442

Having no depth at the wing position is not because of Shero signing players like Dupuis and Kunitz to long term deals, it because Shero has gone d-man in the 1st round 3 out of the last 4 years. He now has the best group of d-man prospects in the NHL.

I am happy he did try to win it. Many have said it before, you need luck to win the Cup, Boston ran out of it against the Blackhawks, used it all up against the Leafs. We used all our up against the islanders.

You cant blame Shero for using picks to win the Cup when it wasnt the players he got in that lost it, they may not have won it but they were not directly responsible for the loss.

Plus the use of Bennett is not on Shero but on Bylsma and he was not the only young roster player misused
- walshy66

im not blaming shero for going after them I blame him for not noticing how bad the farm system is with wingers who are suppose to take over for kuni, dupes, etc when they leave..

Having no depth at the wing position is not because of Shero signing players like Dupuis and Kunitz to long term deals, it because Shero has gone d-man in the 1st round 3 out of the last 4 years. He now has the best group of d-man prospects in the NHL.
- cap1681

I know that! but im saying those 4 yr deals is not good for the team, and the cap hits are too high IMO..