2013 Playoffs:
Chris Kunitz: 15gp 5G 5A 10P
Pascal Dupuis: 15gp 7G 4A 11P

Jarome Iginla 15gp 4G 8A 12P

imagine if he was actually used correctly?
- SuperHenderson13

You aren't going to get me to change my mind. He wasn't needed. The passion Iggy played with, or lack there of, made me vomit.

2013 Playoffs:
Chris Kunitz: 15gp 5G 5A 10P
Pascal Dupuis: 15gp 7G 4A 11P

Jarome Iginla 15gp 4G 8A 12P

imagine if he was actually used correctly?
- SuperHenderson13

Exactly! but lets keep the gang together, even though the coach is gone now.

Playoffs and reg season are 2 different sports. PPL that have had season tiks for a long time don't even go to reg season games. Half the time they're a joke. Who cares if that line was great against CAR on a random Tuesday night in January? They couldn't produce when it really mattered and haven't for several years now.

Dupes is fine and all but when you have the ability to balance the whole roster when you bring Iginla to the table, you do it. Don't put him in a position he never plays with unfamiliar line mates.

You aren't going to get me to change my mind. He wasn't needed. The passion Iggy played with, or lack there of, made me vomit.
- Oneonta Penguin

as you and i have discussed, i agree, he wasnt needed. I believe that Shero had no interest in him after he heard the original price and he went and got Morrow. However, Iginla said he wanted to come here so in order to get him and keep Boston on the outside, Shero brought him here.

Iggy played with plenty of passion. He wasnt the leader that Guerin was for a number of reasons... 1) he isnt that type of leader. He doesnt walk into a locker room and just take it off by being vocal like Guerin. Iginla is a very quiet and humble guy who earns respect through his on ice example and his class off of it. 2) this team was rolling, looked like a sure thing winner... Iginla more so hopped on for the ride and was there to chip in as needed. Guerin came in whenever this team was at the bottom of the lake and he had to pull them out.

2 completely different cases. The blame lies on Bylsma. With all of his poor coaching moves, this was probably the worst. Deserved to be fired based on that alone.

I believe that if you bring in Iginla for a full season, he'll have no problem winning the locker room.
it wont happen, but i have always had a special liking for him. great player, great man.

Exactly! but lets keep the gang together, even though the coach is gone now.

Playoffs and reg season are 2 different sports. PPL that have had season tiks for a long time don't even go to reg season games. Half the time they're a joke. Who cares if that line was great against CAR on a random Tuesday night in January? They couldn't produce when it really mattered and haven't for several years now.

Dupes is fine and all but when you have the ability to balance the whole roster when you bring Iginla to the table, you do it. Don't put him in a position he never plays with unfamiliar line mates.
- sammy87

UMMM ... Iggy wasn't needed. It was a poor decision to bring him in. That was on Shero. All you talk about is play-off performances or lack there of, but give excuses for Letang and Crosby and their failures the last three years or so.

as you and i have discussed, i agree, he wasnt needed. I believe that Shero had no interest in him after he heard the original price and he went and got Morrow. However, Iginla said he wanted to come here so in order to get him and keep Boston on the outside, Shero brought him here.

Iggy played with plenty of passion. He wasnt the leader that Guerin was for a number of reasons... 1) he isnt that type of leader. He doesnt walk into a locker room and just take it off by being vocal like Guerin. Iginla is a very quiet and humble guy who earns respect through his on ice example and his class off of it. 2) this team was rolling, looked like a sure thing winner... Iginla more so hopped on for the ride and was there to chip in as needed. Guerin came in whenever this team was at the bottom of the lake and he had to pull them out.

2 completely different cases. The blame lies on Bylsma. With all of his poor coaching moves, this was probably the worst. Deserved to be fired based on that alone.

I believe that if you bring in Iginla for a full season, he'll have no problem winning the locker room.
it wont happen, but i have always had a special liking for him. great player, great man.
- SuperHenderson13

Bringing in a player just to keep him away from Boston isn't a reason to bring him in. "You only get a chance to get a Jarome Iginla once". Well, that is great, but there was no plan. No plan from Shero, none from DB. That, to me, leads to more failure than good. Shero couldn't help himself. I happen to value Dupes more than most here. Too bad people can't see his value correctly. If the first line is going well and has good chemistry, why f*ck it up?

Bringing in a player just to keep him away from Boston isn't a reason to bring him in. "You only get a chance to get a Jarome Iginla once". Well, that is great, but there was no plan. No plan from Shero, none from DB. That, to me, leads to more failure than good. Shero couldn't help himself. I happen to value Dupes more than most here. Too bad people can't see his value correctly.
- Oneonta Penguin

i agree, shero deserves some of the blame. as much as i love iginla, i would have let him go to boston and took my team to the playoffs as is.

dupuis is a useful player who has found a lot of success here.... but even pretending he is on jarome iginla's level is just funny.

UMMM ... Iggy wasn't needed. It was a poor decision to bring him in. That was on Shero. All you talk about is play-off performances or lack there of, but give excuses for Letang and Crosby and their failures the last three years or so.
- Oneonta Penguin

I do agree, he wasn't really needed, but he was not put in a position for success.

As far as Letang and Crosby playoff performance, I think you have to throw Malkin into the bunch as well. Im not sure why, I do think Crosby was dead by the end of the season, not having a decent F to play with, even dupes would have helped, but they still would have lost. The Pens aren't like the Hawks where they lose close games in the playoffs in OT, they aren't even showing up. They look like a bad game in the reg season. To me that is alarming, I have no clue why. During the cup years they lost games, but they fought the entire game. Not so much now, I think that's why DB and Shero are gone. Some of the CBJ games were just unwatchable bad hockey.

I do think the make up of this team is not that good. I think you can build a solid team around 1 super star, not 2. We will see what happens with the Hawks.

Bringing in a player just to keep him away from Boston isn't a reason to bring him in. "You only get a chance to get a Jarome Iginla once". Well, that is great, but there was no plan. No plan from Shero, none from DB. That, to me, leads to more failure than good. Shero couldn't help himself. I happen to value Dupes more than most here. Too bad people can't see his value correctly. If the first line is going well and has good chemistry, why f*ck it up?
- Oneonta Penguin

Because the bottom lines are full of AHL players and Joe no knee cap Morrow.

Can't wait to see what goes down tomorrow. Should be a fun time checking my twitter feed in a sneaky fashion every five minutes at work.

i agree, shero deserves some of the blame. as much as i love iginla, i would have let him go to boston and took my team to the playoffs as is.

dupuis is a useful player who has found a lot of success here.... but even pretending he is on jarome iginla's level is just funny.
- SuperHenderson13

I don't pretend he is on Iggy's level. Never have. I'm one that believes if you have a good thing going and those three were going, why f*ck it up even it it means Iggy has to play with two other players that were pretty significant. Poor Iggy ... you make it sound like he had to play with poopty players in Malkin and Neal. What is so bad about that?

I thought about taking tomorrow off but with this new "courting period" I have a feeling the action's going to come in fast and furious after High Noon.

I thought about taking tomorrow off but with this new "courting period" I have a feeling the action's going to come in fast and furious after High Noon.
- Incredible Malk

I love MTN time, everything happens earlier and before lunch!

I'm really convinced the Pens are going to try to get up to 4 free agents tomorrow. That, of course, means there will be other moves made. Trying to look into the future, I can see a couple "future" deals. Aka, if they find a cheaper 3rd line center, they could trade Sutter for picks/prospects. Same with Fleury, if they trade him, they will replace him in Free Agency and try to get picks/prospects in return...just a hunch.

I'm really convinced the Pens are going to try to get up to 4 free agents tomorrow. That, of course, means there will be other moves made. Trying to look into the future, I can see a couple "future" deals. Aka, if they find a cheaper 3rd line center, they could trade Sutter for picks/prospects. Same with Fleury, if they trade him, they will replace him in Free Agency and try to get picks/prospects in return...just a hunch.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I have a feeling Martin is out the door. Comments like that aren't made public for no reason.

I really liked the pro-con approach to this blog Ryan. Very balanced. One of my favorite blogs you've written. Thank you.

I do agree, he wasn't really needed, but he was not put in a position for success.

As far as Letang and Crosby playoff performance, I think you have to throw Malkin into the bunch as well. Im not sure why, I do think Crosby was dead by the end of the season, not having a decent F to play with, even dupes would have helped, but they still would have lost. The Pens aren't like the Hawks where they lose close games in the playoffs in OT, they aren't even showing up. They look like a bad game in the reg season. To me that is alarming, I have no clue why. During the cup years they lost games, but they fought the entire game. Not so much now, I think that's why DB and Shero are gone. Some of the CBJ games were just unwatchable bad hockey.

I do think the make up of this team is not that good. I think you can build a solid team around 1 super star, not 2. We will see what happens with the Hawks.
- sammy87

I agree with alot of this post actually. The problem here is when you have 33% of your cap on three players, there are going to be problems elsewhere. Because of this, and a dumb contract to Scuderi we need to sign nine players with 14.6 million to play with. We will be forced to play young defensemen, which I'm a proponent of actually. We need to see what we have from them. You don't have the $$$ to go out and sign a stud. You are stuck with getting a player with warts to fill your top six.

The makeup of this team isn't good. Too many unknowns.

Columbus series wasn't that unwatchable to me as games five, six and seven of the Rags series. That was garbage. To me, that team mailed it in for game five and six. Didn't care. DB and RS are gone for a variety of reasons and all justified.

I have a feeling Martin is out the door. Comments like that aren't made public for no reason.
- sammy87

Everything GMJR says is public. The man has no filter.

I really liked the pro-con approach to this blog Ryan. Very balanced. One of my favorite blogs you've written. Thank you.
- ChrisMS

Actually, I agree with this post as well.

Everything GMJR says is public. The man has no filter.
- Incredible Malk

Lol. Just like Grim Rutherford.

I'm really convinced the Pens are going to try to get up to 4 free agents tomorrow. That, of course, means there will be other moves made. Trying to look into the future, I can see a couple "future" deals. Aka, if they find a cheaper 3rd line center, they could trade Sutter for picks/prospects. Same with Fleury, if they trade him, they will replace him in Free Agency and try to get picks/prospects in return...just a hunch.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

JR has stated, and I believe him, that crosby / malkin / fluery are the only untouchables for the team. sorry to burst many peoples on this blogs bubbles

I have a feeling Martin is out the door. Comments like that aren't made public for no reason.
- sammy87

I also think Martin is gone. There are some clues that lead me to believe this.

Everything GMJR says is public. The man has no filter.
- Incredible Malk

Kind of like most old guys. They just don't give a f*ck. Unfortunately, seeing his work up close, some of his work with the 'Caines is starting to make sense.

I agree with alot of this post actually. The problem here is when you have 33% of your cap on three players, there are going to be problems elsewhere. Because of this, and a dumb contract to Scuderi we need to sign nine players with 14.6 million to play with. We will be forced to play young defensemen, which I'm a proponent of actually. We need to see what we have from them. You don't have the $$$ to go out and sign a stud. You are stuck with getting a player with warts to fill your top six.

The makeup of this team isn't good. Too many unknowns.

Columbus series wasn't that unwatchable to me as games five, six and seven of the Rags series. That was garbage. To me, that team mailed it in for game five and six. Didn't care. DB and RS are gone for a variety of reasons and all justified.
- Oneonta Penguin

I said it before....one more top 6 forward (or even top 9) who is worth a damn on an ELC and we could really complete this roster...even with the Scuderi/Adams dead weight. You don't want to be "too" young...but imagine if Kapanen was ready this year. Or even if we could count on 1 guy from Wilkes-Barre for the 4th line. Harry Z is the only guy right now who can fill a role on a cheap deal.

I also think Martin is gone. There are some clues that lead me to believe this.
- Oneonta Penguin

It is what it is. Gunner made a good point earlier that if he isn't going to sign the extension, trade him now and get what you can. It is better than getting nothing.

I said it before....one more top 6 forward (or even top 9) who is worth a damn on an ELC and we could really complete this roster...even with the Scuderi/Adams dead weight. You don't want to be "too" young...but imagine if Kapanen was ready this year. Or even if we could count on 1 guy from Wilkes-Barre for the 4th line. Harry Z is the only guy right now who can fill a role on a cheap deal.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I really really wanted Gibbons back