People still can't comprehend this.
- acdc1206

Obviously corresponding moves would have to be made.

Obviously corresponding moves would have to be made.
- nbartley9

Thus the loss of Orpik.

A bit off topic, but I was thinking about this today since I read the bolded question below on Twitter, and I've heard it before this summer.

I like Matt Niskanen, for the most part he's been a solid player. When due to injuries, he's role has been elevated, he's struggled a bit, but as a #5 guy he's good.

Question of the day:Are the Pens a better team with Matt Niskanen on the roster?

Opening night, yes. It would be hard to argue that at this moment, Niskanen isn't a better option than Despres or Bortuzzo. He's more experienced, and contributes to the second PP unit, and knows the system and NHL pretty well.

But the problem with that is keeping Niskanen in that role, it robs Despres and Bortuzzo of valuable experience. If the bottom pair is Despres and Bortuzzo for the bulk of the season, then what?

If you ask that same question in game 82, when Despres and Bortuzzo have had a season of playing a regular shift every night and working in all situations, it's a good possibility that the answer would be "No".

The excuse for not using the young defensemen (and young players in general), is that they are inexperienced. But if you only dress them in 40% of the games and give them protected minutes, you can unfortunately use that excuse for years. At some point you have to let them play.

Ryan Wilson out two weeks with knee injury #Avs

— adater (@adater) September 17, 2013

Hope you feel better soon Gunner

A bit off topic, but I was thinking about this today since I read the bolded question below on Twitter, and I've heard it before this summer.

I like Matt Niskanen, for the most part he's been a solid player. When due to injuries, he's role has been elevated, he's struggled a bit, but as a #5 guy he's good.

Question of the day:Are the Pens a better team with Matt Niskanen on the roster?

Opening night, yes. It would be hard to argue that at this moment, Niskanen isn't a better option than Despres or Bortuzzo. He's more experienced, and contributes to the second PP unit, and knows the system and NHL pretty well.

But the problem with that is keeping Niskanen in that role, it robs Despres and Bortuzzo of valuable experience. If the bottom pair is Despres and Bortuzzo for the bulk of the season, then what?

If you ask that same question in game 82, when Despres and Bortuzzo have had a season of playing a regular shift every night and working in all situations, it's a good possibility that the answer would be "No".

The excuse for not using the young defensemen (and young players in general), is that they are inexperienced. But if you only dress them in 40% of the games and give them protected minutes, you can unfortunately use that excuse for years. At some point you have to let them play.
- rival22

Isnt one of the complaints regarding Despres "misuse" by management last year that he was only getting bottom pairing minutes while he is projected as a top 4 defender? Same could be said of Bortuzzo to some extent, although I would have to think he isnt projected as highly as Despres currently. My point being that issue isnt solved by moving Niskanen to another team just to give his minutes as a 5/6 to Despres/Bortuzzo.

Ryan Wilson out two weeks with knee injury #Avs

— adater (@adater) September 17, 2013

Hope you feel better soon Gunner
- rival22

It isn't far from the truth. I played for the first time last night since February because of minor knee surgery. My quads are sore.

A bit off topic, but I was thinking about this today since I read the bolded question below on Twitter, and I've heard it before this summer.

I like Matt Niskanen, for the most part he's been a solid player. When due to injuries, he's role has been elevated, he's struggled a bit, but as a #5 guy he's good.

Question of the day:Are the Pens a better team with Matt Niskanen on the roster?

Opening night, yes. It would be hard to argue that at this moment, Niskanen isn't a better option than Despres or Bortuzzo. He's more experienced, and contributes to the second PP unit, and knows the system and NHL pretty well.

But the problem with that is keeping Niskanen in that role, it robs Despres and Bortuzzo of valuable experience. If the bottom pair is Despres and Bortuzzo for the bulk of the season, then what?

If you ask that same question in game 82, when Despres and Bortuzzo have had a season of playing a regular shift every night and working in all situations, it's a good possibility that the answer would be "No".

The excuse for not using the young defensemen (and young players in general), is that they are inexperienced. But if you only dress them in 40% of the games and give them protected minutes, you can unfortunately use that excuse for years. At some point you have to let them play.
- rival22

Despres is already a better overall player than Niskanen and we need Bortuzzo's physicality at number 6. We also have a cap situation along with a weak bottom 6 that we need every cent to keep competitive. Unless Niskanen plays amazingly well in the remaining preseason game/s, he hasn't earned his get out of cap hell free card.

If Niskanen isn't moved in the first 2 weeks of the season, waiting for a better return will no longer outweigh having a worse 6 on defense. IMO.

Niskanen and Glass must go to free up some space so we can sign Brenden Morrow for $1M

D'Agostini, Kobasew and Jeffrey should be on this roster..

Beau Bennett is an 80 overall on NHL14. Do you guys agree?
- WVPensFan22

Seems fair to me if not a little generous. What is Dupuis is was annoying having him with an 82 in the game last year when simon ganger was an 86

Niskanen and Glass must go to free up some space so we can sign Brenden Morrow for $1M

D'Agostini, Kobasew and Jeffrey should be on this roster..
- Orpik44

Morrow for that much would be cheaper than Glass not a chance in the world he takes that

Alan Muir posted this on SI.com


Coach Mike Bales believes a few minor adjustments can return Marc-Andre Fleury to the ranks of the league’s top goaltenders. Since when was a complete recalibration of a player’s self-confidence considered “minor”?

I know Fleury isn't being given much rope by people outside the organization and maybe a few people in it but---OUCH.

Seems fair to me if not a little generous. What is Dupuis is was annoying having him with an 82 in the game last year when simon ganger was an 86
- Genev21

Yeah, Beau is up 8 points from last years edition. That's fairly decent for a Top 6 guy that hasn't officially played in that spot on a regular basis yet.

Duper does get hosed in that game. Regardless of his numbers He manages to steadily decline which is the complete opposite of his career curve. Oh well---we are talking about a video game. A game that says St. Louis, Teemu and Doan should be tossed aside while Pronger can still play.