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

They've had a couple of these guys ready to go for a year or two, but Dan didn't trust them. These kids can play. 3 or 4 of them came up last year and played well through all those injuries.

Erhoff is an absolute steal. The D is WAY better with him. Also, losing Orpik is addition by subtraction.

Hornqvist is definitely an upgrade over Neal. He'll produce better than Neal did based on where he plays (Hint: He goes to the net) and he won't take ridiculously undisciplined penalties like Neal does.
- BINGO!

Heyooo, we have a winner.

Throw in that the bottom 6 at least belong in the NHL vs last year where it was an absolute mockery of NHL jobs.

If the bottom 6 can do anything...anything at all, it will be a huge step forward. The Penguins appear to be a much more balanced team.

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.
- cap1681

I'm not responding to you because I have no rebuttal. I agree that hornqvist is more gritty and better defensively. Regardless, neal is the better forward.

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.
- cap1681

Scuderi was flat out miserable last season; he really needs a bounce back in order to not be a complete liability next season.

This will be Depres's first big chance to play a steady role on the blueline. Yes there is potential there but it's an uncertainty at how he will respond to an entire year with thebig club.

Bortuzzo seems like a steady defender a solid third pairing blueliner.

If all goes well then the defense should be fine. But without question it's an if.

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

So you think anton "1 goal" stralman is more talented than dan boyle? And that stempniak whos played on the 2nd and 3rd line his career is less talented than brian boyle?

Heyooo, we have a winner.

Throw in that the bottom 6 at least belong in the NHL vs last year where it was an absolute mockery of NHL jobs.

If the bottom 6 can do anything...anything at all, it will be a huge step forward. The Penguins appear to be a much more balanced team.
- Sell My Monkey

This is what Rutherford was brought in for. To patch the flaws in the roster. That's not to say there isn't still work to be done, but he's quietly done a very good job of filling the holes that have sank the ship the past few years.

rangers gonna be contenders for connack mceichel this year, kudos to the bogger that come up with that. nash gonna continue to implode, lungqvuist back down to earth, tanner glass trashes 4th line. staal trade to carolina prior to deadline might be the highlight of the season

I'm not responding to you because I have no rebuttal. I agree that hornqvist is more gritty and better defensively. Regardless, neal is the better forward.
- rangerdanger94

And just saying he is a "better forward" is generalizing it too much. Neal is a better offensively, but Hornqvist's 2 way play closes the gap. They are 2 completely different players. It will be interesting to see if Neal's production suffers not playing with an elite center, and if Hornqvist's production increases playing with either Malkin or Crosby. Standard logic seems to think both will happen to some degree.

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

Our bottom 6 is 100% better. Losing Neal and addding Hornqvist is not going to effect this team to a great degree. The top two lines will produce about the same, and the bottom two lines will be much better than last season. We all know we lost Neal, it is not that big of a deal seeing that we have Crosby and Malkin anchoring the top lines.

So you think anton "1 goal" stralman is more talented than dan boyle? And that stempniak whos played on the 2nd and 3rd line his career is less talented than brian boyle?
- rangerdanger94

It's more about where they fit into the roster. Stempniak is an okay 2nd or 3rd line player. Brian Boyle is a poor second liner, but a fantastic 3rd/4th line guy.

That said, I'd way rather have stempniak.

Conversely, I'd much rather have Stralman than Dan Boyle. Boyle has turned as soft as my supple buttocks over the past few seasons and was a turnover machine late in the year. It's not like the guy is getting better.

Our bottom 6 is 100% better. Losing Neal and addding Hornqvist is not going to effect this team to a great degree. The top two lines will produce about the same, and the bottom two lines will be much better than last season. We all know we lost Neal, it is not that big of a deal seeing that we have Crosby and Malkin anchoring the top lines.
- PittsPens

I'm guessing that Hornquist will play w/Malkin since he lost his robin (Neal) bc Crosby has Kunitz still?

Whats the update on Dupuis?

I'm guessing that Hornquist will play w/Malkin since he lost his robin (Neal) bc Crosby has Kunitz still?

Whats the update on Dupuis?
- Ur Not Me

He'll be ready for training camp

pens
isles
colombus
jersey
wash
philly
rangers
carolina

I had mentioned previously that Rangers would be contenders for a top pick... but forgot they don't have one. yuck. Big season for Carolina. they will either pick up Marc staal via trade or in the offseason... will get a top 5 pick. they might move some peices. could be contending with buff for up n' coming team in 2015

It's more about where they fit into the roster. Stempniak is an okay 2nd or 3rd line player. Brian Boyle is a poor second liner, but a fantastic 3rd/4th line guy.

That said, I'd way rather have stempniak.

Conversely, I'd much rather have Stralman than Dan Boyle. Boyle has turned as soft as my supple buttocks over the past few seasons and was a turnover machine late in the year. It's not like the guy is getting better.
- BINGO!

Fantastic 3rd liner? Holy balls. The entire rangers fanbase wanted him to get hit by a truck so hecouldnt play aanymore with his limited 4th line minutes for 3 years until the playoffs.

He's a great pker and shotblocker but those are a dime a dozen.

Dan boyle fills a need we had. PP QB after the richards buyout. Plus he will add more offense than stralman did which we need more than defensive defensemen since we still have mcd, girardi, staal and klein.

Even if the Flyers didn't get better/worse, pretty much ever other team competing with them did.

rangers gonna be contenders for connack mceichel this year, kudos to the bogger that come up with that. nash gonna continue to implode, lungqvuist back down to earth, tanner glass trashes 4th line. staal trade to carolina prior to deadline might be the highlight of the season
- ChrisMS

Lundqvist coming back down to earth?

Nash going to continue to implode?

A fourth liner affecting the other three lines effectiveness?

Your logic is truly a sight to behold.

Fantastic 3rd liner? Holy balls. The entire rangers fanbase wanted him to get hit by a truck so hecouldnt play aanymore with his limited 4th line minutes for 3 years until the playoffs.

He's a great pker and shotblocker but those are a dime a dozen.

Dan boyle fills a need we had. PP QB after the richards buyout. Plus he will add more offense than stralman did which we need more than defensive defensemen since we still have mcd, girardi, staal and klein.
- rangerdanger94

Brian Boyle on the third line? I can see that person really knows what he is talking about there.

Even if the Flyers didn't get better/worse, pretty much ever other team competing with them did.
- TheRollingPuck

Like? Columbus, Rangers, Flyers and Pens did not really change. You could argue additions and subtractions but the players gained/loss are minimal. NJ and Carolina did not get better and Isles and Caps did get better in some areas but not enough to call them a playoff team.

Lundqvist coming back down to earth?

Nash going to continue to implode?

A fourth liner affecting the other three lines effectiveness?

Your logic is truly a sight to behold.
- MidnightMarauder

Predictions only. tanner glass only gonna trash the 4th line... but it hurt the pens enough last year to be quite noticeable. nash isn't gonna be top line material and at best will be 2nd line material... lundqvist is gonna play good but not great. I stand by my predications that rangers will be 7th in the metro.

Like? Columbus, Rangers, Flyers and Pens did not really change. You could argue additions and subtractions but the players gained/loss are minimal. NJ and Carolina did not get better and Isles and Caps did get better in some areas but not enough to call them a playoff team.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Summer predictions, for the regular season, are made to start arguments.

I caught in it and I feel shame for it. Basically, nobody knows what to expect from all of the teams in this division aside from Carolina.

Predictions only. tanner glass only gonna trash the 4th line... but it hurt the pens enough last year to be quite noticeable. nash isn't gonna be top line material and at best will be 2nd line material... lundqvist is gonna play good but not great. I stand by my predications that rangers will be 7th in the metro.
- ChrisMS

All good, will be happy to remind you of this though in April.

Fantastic 3rd liner? Holy balls. The entire rangers fanbase wanted him to get hit by a truck so hecouldnt play aanymore with his limited 4th line minutes for 3 years until the playoffs.

He's a great pker and shotblocker but those are a dime a dozen.

Dan boyle fills a need we had. PP QB after the richards buyout. Plus he will add more offense than stralman did which we need more than defensive defensemen since we still have mcd, girardi, staal and klein.
- rangerdanger94

This is because you weren't paying attention.

All good, will be happy to remind you of this though in April.
- MidnightMarauder

more than fair enough!

All good, will be happy to remind you of this though in April.
- MidnightMarauder

Without me looking it up, what would be the Rags cap situation after next year on possibly having to give Staal $6M+ (which he deserves)? Meaning does he resign or trade him?

Defense is vastly improved, how? Maybe in a year or two, when the kids get their legs under them, but right now it looks like a defense that has potential to be good but half of blueline is going to be under 24-years old on average and have little to no NHL experience.
- MidnightMarauder

Addition by subtraction. We have about two or three D prospects that are NHL ready that will automatically be improvements over Orpik (walked) and Scuds (likely benched a good bit this season) and we refused to overpay for an inflated Matt Niskanen. Despres is a hound dog, Bortuzzo is a faster, better version of Orpik at this point in his career, and Dumoulin can surprises. I have faith that Martin, Ehrhoff, Letang, and Scuds have enough experience to ground the young d core. Remember that Despres and Bortuzzo have been getting NHL experience for about 3 years now. This isn't their first rodeo.