Never said the Rangers are assured of anything either. It's that Barry Melrose old reliable theory of Pittsburgh always being the lead horse that makes me shake my head.

Will they miss the playoffs? That's taking it too far but they are by no means assured of having a really good regular season.
- MidnightMarauder

Why is it so absurd to think that the team that won the division last year is the favorite right now? It's the offseason, and the only thing to base predictions on are FA moves and trades.

Rangers adjusted to a new system... with less talent they are better...

Pens will have a new system, with better talent, but will be worse.

So Rags are still better... rofl. Who doesn't love Ranger fan's attempt at logic
- Guile

It actually took the Rangers until after the New Year to get their stuff together. Hence the reason why they finished 13 points in the standings, against the Penguins, but beat them in the postseason.

No they won't, they will all assimliate seamlessly. From the first game of the season they will run like a well oiled machine. Many fans will confuse these Penguins with the old Soviet Red Army teams that dominated international hockey for over two decades.
- MidnightMarauder

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Pens have a less-great regular season next year, though they dominated the Metro in the regular season last year, winning it by more than 10 points. Probably why I'd still pick them to finish 1st but we'll see.

Why is it so absurd to think that the team that won the division last year is the favorite right now? It's the offseason, and the only thing to base predictions on are FA moves and trades.
- cap1681

It's not absurd to think that.

Rangers adjusted to a new system... with less talent they are better...

Pens will have a new system, with better talent, but will be worse.

So Rags are still better... rofl. Who doesn't love Ranger fan's attempt at logic
- Guile

Penguins have less talent. Neal is more talented than Hornqvist. The way they play the game aside...there is no denying Neal is a more skilled and talented player than Hornqvist.

The Rangers actually have more talent than last year. Unless you think Brian Boyle and Anton Stralman possess filthy offensive skills that the elite powerplay quarterback Dan Boyle or the quick Stempniak don't possess?

Stempniak > B. Boyle
Dan Boyle > Stralman
Hornqvist < Neal

It actually took the Rangers until after the New Year to get their stuff together. Hence the reason why they finished 13 points in the standings, against the Penguins, but beat them in the postseason.
- MidnightMarauder

Whatever you say bud. I am enjoying your "banter". I call it banter, because I am sure you think you are bantering and making good points.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Pens have a less-great regular season next year, though they dominated the Metro in the regular season last year, winning it by more than 10 points. Probably why I'd still pick them to finish 1st but we'll see.
- MannySilvers

They can easily finish first but the reasons given were funny to me. I guess disagreeing with the status quo paints you into a corner though.

Whatever you say bud. I am enjoying your "banter". I call it banter, because I am sure you think you are bantering and making good points.
- Guile

Funny, was thinking that about you and what you think is savvy hockey rationale.

16 points in his last 22 games is rarely producing??
- Vukota

I underestimated his production. I know it took him a little longer to score his first goal than most expected. Those are great numbers though for a rookie.

Penguins have less talent. Neal is more talented than Hornqvist. The way they play the game aside...there is no denying Neal is a more skilled and talented player than Hornqvist.

The Rangers actually have more talent than last year. Unless you think Brian Boyle and Anton Stralman possess filthy offensive skills that the elite powerplay quarterback Dan Boyle or the quick Stempniak don't possess?

Stempniak > B. Boyle
Dan Boyle > Stralman
Hornqvist < Neal
- rangerdanger94

You have less talent, only Rag fans say they have more talent. No other neutral party has said so.

Pens have more talent, all neutral parties have said so.

Horn > Neal. Stop kidding yourself. Neal got sold at a high value since he played on a better team. Horn was dirt cheap for being on a lesser team. Should I send ya a copy of economics for Dummies? Buy low, sell high is a basic theme you are not grasping.

Penguins have less talent. Neal is more talented than Hornqvist. The way they play the game aside...there is no denying Neal is a more skilled and talented player than Hornqvist.

The Rangers actually have more talent than last year. Unless you think Brian Boyle and Anton Stralman possess filthy offensive skills that the elite powerplay quarterback Dan Boyle or the quick Stempniak don't possess?

Stempniak > B. Boyle
Dan Boyle > Stralman
Hornqvist < Neal
- rangerdanger94

That same Brian Boyle, who finished with an almost equally poor corsi stat line as Tanner Glass. Difference there is that Boyle actually played with some decent NHL quality fourth line talent last year.

You have less talent, only Rag fans say they have more talent. No other neutral party has said so.

Pens have more talent, all neutral parties have said so.

Horn > Neal. Stop kidding yourself. Neal got sold at a high value since he played on a better team. Horn was dirt cheap for being on a lesser team. Should I send ya a copy of economics for Dummies? Buy low, sell high is a basic theme you are not grasping.
- Guile

Penguins will always have more talent on paper, than most teams, simply because they employ arguably the top two most talented players in the NHL.

Their individual dominance covers up a lot of the holes they have in their lineup.

I think they will start off poorly like most teams do with a new coach. It usually takes longer than many people expect too. But then they will start rolling. Like the Rangers last year or the Caps under Oates. The Caps under Oates were terrible for half a season before rolling into the playoffs as the hottest team in the league.
- rangerdanger94

Not all teams take that much time to adjust to a new coach.

Penguins will always have more talent on paper, than most teams, simply because they employ arguably the top two most talented players in the NHL.

Their individual dominance covers up a lot of the holes they have in their lineup.
- MidnightMarauder

Then I am not sure what we've been arguing... slow day at work?

I underestimated his production. I know it took him a little longer to score his first goal than most expected. Those are great numbers though for a rookie.
- rangerdanger94

While its not wrong to say the kids are unproven because they have yet to do it over the course of a full year I would like to think Nelson, Lee & Strome all showed last year why they belong in the NHL and I expect them only to get better from here on out. Mix them in with the rest of the forwards on this team and they have the potential to be one of the deeper teams up front in the division. Have to go out and prove it now.

Penguins have less talent. Neal is more talented than Hornqvist. The way they play the game aside...there is no denying Neal is a more skilled and talented player than Hornqvist.

The Rangers actually have more talent than last year. Unless you think Brian Boyle and Anton Stralman possess filthy offensive skills that the elite powerplay quarterback Dan Boyle or the quick Stempniak don't possess?

Stempniak > B. Boyle
Dan Boyle > Stralman
Hornqvist < Neal
- rangerdanger94

I love how you keep ignoring my posts where i say that Neal is a better offensive player, but Hornqvist is a better 2 way player, and thats what the Pens need.

Penguins have less talent. Neal is more talented than Hornqvist. The way they play the game aside...there is no denying Neal is a more skilled and talented player than Hornqvist.

The Rangers actually have more talent than last year. Unless you think Brian Boyle and Anton Stralman possess filthy offensive skills that the elite powerplay quarterback Dan Boyle or the quick Stempniak don't possess?

Stempniak > B. Boyle
Dan Boyle > Stralman
Hornqvist < Neal
- rangerdanger94

You're discounting the improvements in the bottom 6 on the Pens. It's not worth getting into a pissing match over which team is better in July, but last year's version of the Pens was basically a two line team even before all of the injuries.

One of the main reason's they fell on their faces in the playoffs was because Dan ran Crosby into the ground in the regular season trying to compensate for a horrendous bottom half of the team.

You're discounting the improvements in the bottom 6 on the Pens. It's not worth getting into a pissing match over which team is better in July, but last year's version of the Pens was basically a two line team even before all of the injuries.

One of the main reason's they fell on their faces in the playoffs was because Dan ran Crosby into the ground in the regular season trying to compensate for a horrendous bottom half of the team.
- madmike71

Don't bring logic in here......

Not all teams take that much time to adjust to a new coach.
- cap1681

The coach seems promising but if I was a Pens fan I would be a little worried about the lack of experience in the defense.

Martin, Letang and Ehrhoff are solid veterans but how does the rest of the blueline round out? Maata, coming off shoulder surgery, will likely get off to a bit of a slow start. Which other two blueliners will round out the unit?

Then I am not sure what we've been arguing... slow day at work?
- Guile

It wasn't an argument until you called me a homer for expressing my opinion.

Penguins have less talent. Neal is more talented than Hornqvist. The way they play the game aside...there is no denying Neal is a more skilled and talented player than Hornqvist.

The Rangers actually have more talent than last year. Unless you think Brian Boyle and Anton Stralman possess filthy offensive skills that the elite powerplay quarterback Dan Boyle or the quick Stempniak don't possess?

Stempniak > B. Boyle
Dan Boyle > Stralman
Hornqvist < Neal
- rangerdanger94

Not here to burst your bubble how can you make these comparisons when;

Stepniak has been a 2/3rd line player to a career 4th liner in B. Boyle plus I think what Boyle gave the Rangers in his time was/is what Stepniak has done in his previous 2-3yrs. Don't discount the value Boyle provided for your team.
D. Boyle playing top 4 mins in his entirety to a guy who might have found his game this past year. Boyle is great but he's also on the backend of his career.
Neal is better by far but Hornquist is better defensively

My point being is its almost hard 2 compare players when there roles of comparison are not alike, if you get my point. Ex - like me comparing Cizikas to Brassard, ones a 4th liner while the other is a 2/3

It wasn't an argument until you called me a homer for expressing my opinion.
- MidnightMarauder

zomg... HOMER!

The coach seems promising but if I was a Pens fan I would be a little worried about the lack of experience in the defense.

Martin, Letang and Ehrhoff are solid veterans but how does the rest of the blueline round out? Maata, coming off shoulder surgery, will likely get off to a bit of a slow start. Which other two blueliners will round out the unit?
- MidnightMarauder

Scuderi is up there in age, but hopefully has a bounce back season
Bortuzzo who has been a solid bottom pairing guy.
Despres, a former 1st rounder who has been good when given a chance should get a bigger role. He's was a force in the AHL playoffs for the baby Pens.

To say that Hornqvist > Neal is ridiculous. There's a reason Nashville had to include another NHL player with Hornqvist to get Neal and not the other way around.
- rangerdanger94

Because David Poile is an extraordinary moron?

The coach seems promising but if I was a Pens fan I would be a little worried about the lack of experience in the defense.

Martin, Letang and Ehrhoff are solid veterans but how does the rest of the blueline round out? Maata, coming off shoulder surgery, will likely get off to a bit of a slow start. Which other two blueliners will round out the unit?
- MidnightMarauder

You are missing that come 2-3 months into the season... its just 1 position on the defense being a true rookie/non starter from last season. If the 6th man on defense is a team's biggest spot to worry about, I'd say thats a pretty solid team.

And, I've been wanting Bortuzzo up in the lineup for two years, I think he is what Orpik was years ago. A little bit less physical, just as good on the shutdown role, but faster. Playing time should make him into a solid asset.

I personally don't want to bank on the pure rookie D players (and the whatever the hell happened to Despres), I'll stick with Bortuzzo as that 6th D since he was VERY strong in the playoffs, despite the loss.