The no forwards policy was a disaster. The bottom sis such as Crag Adams, Tanner Glass and such was not helpful.
- powerhouse

Agree, that's why you have to sign aging vets to pricey contracts. I love both Kuni and Duper, but Dupes would have been allowed to walk if there were a good, young winger ready to take his slot. Not saying that I'm unhappy that he's on the team, Just saying I'd rather have Sid centering at least one guy in his 20's. Who knows when either of those two will hit the wall. Odds are pretty good that it will be before either of their contracts are up.

I was 50/50 on ditching Shero because he has done some things well and I'm not exactly enthralled with GMJR either.

Agree, that's why you have to sign aging vets to pricey contracts. I love both Kuni and Duper, but Dupes would have been allowed to walk if there were a good, young winger ready to take his slot. Not saying that I'm unhappy that he's on the team, Just saying I'd rather have Sid centering at least one guy in his 20's. Who knows when either of those two will hit the wall. Odds are pretty good that it will be before either of their contracts are up.

I was 50/50 on ditching Shero because he has done some things well and I'm not exactly enthralled with GMJR either.
- madmike71

I'd say Shero's biggest fault, was the Pens did not get a second cup with all his big trades that were to make a push for it. Had they gotten a 2nd cup, I think he'd still be here... Dan, not so sure, but I don't believe you can fire a GM who won 2 cups in a fairly short time period.

I'd say Shero's biggest fault, was the Pens did not get a second cup with all his big trades that were to make a push for it. Had they gotten a 2nd cup, I think he'd still be here... Dan, not so sure, but I don't believe you can fire a GM who won 2 cups in a fairly short time period.
- Guile

Since the lockout only the Pens have won a cup with a player taking up 8.7 of the cap. Malkin was at 3.5 in 09. Now Malkin is at 9.5. Pens still need 1 more top 6 player. I really like what JR has done, but Dupes wasn't really needed, Scuds def not, no Forwards, trading away all the picks...I was calling for Shero for the past 3 years.

not that anyone cares

http://nambut.sportsblog....do_they_really_mean_.html

The no forwards policy was a disaster. The bottom sis such as Crag Adams, Tanner Glass and such was not helpful.
- powerhouse

I dont think it was the no forwards policy, but poor choices in the fa market. without going into it, I bet there were some damn good bottom sixers out there and glass, admas, pyatt, etc were chosen instead. Remember, last year was always gonna have to be a tread water year due to the cap crunch.

Since the lockout only the Pens have won a cup with a player taking up 8.7 of the cap. Malkin was at 3.5 in 09. Now Malkin is at 9.5. Pens still need 1 more top 6 player. I really like what JR has done, but Dupes wasn't really needed, Scuds def not, no Forwards, trading away all the picks...I was calling for Shero for the past 3 years.
- sammy87

slow clap... even the year he won GM of the year?

Agree, that's why you have to sign aging vets to pricey contracts. I love both Kuni and Duper, but Dupes would have been allowed to walk if there were a good, young winger ready to take his slot. Not saying that I'm unhappy that he's on the team, Just saying I'd rather have Sid centering at least one guy in his 20's. Who knows when either of those two will hit the wall. Odds are pretty good that it will be before either of their contracts are up.

I was 50/50 on ditching Shero because he has done some things well and I'm not exactly enthralled with GMJR either.
- madmike71

the nice thing about shero is that he was able to mke big trades at the deadline and still keep the pens youth stocked with top notch prospects. the fruit of sheros drafting will be tasted this year and the following years when half or more of the d is on elc or 2nd contracts and the gm has a boatload of money to spend on forward talent. and despite all that future planning the pens made the playoffs each year and had a reasonable chance to win the cup each year... what else can a gm give his team?

slow clap... even the year he won GM of the year?
- ChrisMS

Yes building a team that plays globetrotter hockey on random Tuesdays in December is not really award worthy IMO. The roster should really surprise nobody for the early playoff exits.

If you dudes are talking stats when the season starts I'm routing for a different team.

Yes building a team that plays globetrotter hockey on random Tuesdays in December is not really award worthy IMO. The roster should really surprise nobody for the early playoff exits.
- sammy87

I was always suprised ... and disappointed. Though usually in Crosby/Malkin for disappearing in the playoffs. While I understand the need for accountability in firing dan and ray, I wholeheartedly believe much of it was scapegoating. shero worked the team into a position to remain competitive in the cap era. globetrotter hockey... really? so boring hockey all year long as long as we win a cup? why play the regular season at all! Hey... when you read a book do you skip straight to the end?

If you dudes are talking stats when the season starts I'm routing for a different team.
- dbell646

If you dudes are talking stats when the season starts I'm routing for a different team.
- dbell646

Better start picking

The no forwards policy was a disaster. The bottom sis such as Crag Adams, Tanner Glass and such was not helpful.
- powerhouse

I thought Glass was a bet. We lost. Just like the Rangers will.

Many of Shero's moves looked good on paper but some didn't turn out well.

I was always suprised ... and disappointed. Though usually in Crosby/Malkin for disappearing in the playoffs. While I understand the need for accountability in firing dan and ray, I wholeheartedly believe much of it was scapegoating. shero worked the team into a position to remain competitive in the cap era. globetrotter hockey... really? so boring hockey all year long as long as we win a cup? why play the regular season at all! Hey... when you read a book do you skip straight to the end?
- ChrisMS

Crosby and Malkin disappear in the playoffs cuz the rest of the team is garbage and the competition is actually trying for once. Neither has done a whole lot the last few playoffs and have been shutdown for long stretches. Why? look at the rest of the team, it's not that good.

Crosby and Malkin disappear in the playoffs cuz the rest of the team is garbage and the competition is actually trying for once. Neither has done a whole lot the last few playoffs and have been shutdown for long stretches. Why? look at the rest of the team, it's not that good.
- sammy87

Just don't come here and say we should trade Malkin in order to make the team competitive please. I don't buy that at all. It's all about finding the right pieces for reasonable prices and there are a few of them out there that could've been.

Crosby and Malkin disappear in the playoffs cuz the rest of the team is garbage and the competition is actually trying for once. Neither has done a whole lot the last few playoffs and have been shutdown for long stretches. Why? look at the rest of the team, it's not that good.
- sammy87

yup... all the 4th line grinders fault... dont blame the multimillion dollar superstars.

Just don't come here and say we should trade Malkin in order to make the team competitive please. I don't buy that at all. It's all about finding the right pieces for reasonable prices and there are a few of them out there that could've been.
- Barnaby36

as always you are a paragon of reason... cept when carcillo is concerned

yup... all the 4th line grinders fault... dont blame the multimillion dollar superstars.
- ChrisMS

I blame, Kunitz, Neal, Dupes, they all disappeared as well. Neal was not a good all round player, Dupes is broken, Kunitz banged up, the team is 87 and 71. The rest are basically plugs.

Just don't come here and say we should trade Malkin in order to make the team competitive please. I don't buy that at all. It's all about finding the right pieces for reasonable prices and there are a few of them out there that could've been.
- Barnaby36

I'm not gonna say that now. THat time would have been a few yrs ago. Cant do it now. Only problem is with the Pens situation reasonable prices are much lower than what they need.

It's a combination of things with the weight on Crosby and Malkin...in terms of shear minutes played...being too heavy.

3rd and 4th line issues were the reason for it.

Improvement there should result in star players being able to perform at that level when it is needed.

I know everybody says Gaborik (a star winger) is a big reason for the Kings winning and I don't disagree. But it's not his star winger status necessarily that made them champs. It's that they had frigggin Mike Richards as a 4th line center!!!! And things like that.

It's about the depth that team had and the rolling of 4 lines.

That wins championships...and will every time over 2 great lines and 2 invisible ones. Especially when the 2 great lines are over played.

I blame, Kunitz, Neal, Dupes, they all disappeared as well. Neal was not a good all round player, Dupes is broken, Kunitz banged up, the team is 87 and 71. The rest are basically plugs.
- sammy87

dupes was hurt, kunitz injured, crosby injured, malkin playing sup-malkin-par. again, how does shero control these issues? maybe sign... oh wait... theres that pesky salry cap. sheros plan will only be really seen after he is gone. I am just glad he left GMJR with such a solid foundation in which to guide us back to championship

It's a combination of things with the weight on Crosby and Malkin...in terms of shear minutes played...being too heavy.

3rd and 4th line issues were the reason for it.

Improvement there should result in star players being able to perform at that level when it is needed.

I know everybody says Gaborik (a star winger) is a big reason for the Kings winning and I don't disagree. But it's not his star winger status necessarily that made them champs. It's that they had frigggin Mike Richards as a 4th line center!!!! And things like that.

It's about the depth that team had and the rolling of 4 lines.

That wins championships...and will every time over 2 great lines and 2 invisible ones. Especially when the 2 great lines are over played.
- icedog97

Highest paid player on the Kings was Doughty at $7/yr. But yeah lets have 2 players carry the team with a bunch of scrubs deep into the playoffs!

dupes was hurt, kunitz injured, crosby injured, malkin playing sup-malkin-par. again, how does shero control these issues? maybe sign... oh wait... theres that pesky salry cap. sheros plan will only be really seen after he is gone. I am just glad he left GMJR with such a solid foundation in which to guide us back to championship
- ChrisMS

Dupes and Kunitz are old. Its inevitable that playing top 6 mins will put them at risk. Why do we have 0 read on Despress? No excuse to sign Scuds. That money could have been spent on a better top 6 and dropping Dupes to the 3rd line. Oh I know Dupes had a good season 2 years ago, lets keep him there till hes 40 just because that's the nice thing to do.

I dont think it was the no forwards policy, but poor choices in the fa market. without going into it, I bet there were some damn good bottom sixers out there and glass, admas, pyatt, etc were chosen instead. Remember, last year was always gonna have to be a tread water year due to the cap crunch.
- ChrisMS

I'm in no way arguing that they were poor choices, just trying to see this from Shero's side.

I think Glass was somehow viewed as the cheaper Cooke replacement. Knowing he would score less goals, he was playing on the third line with Winnipeg the season before I believe.

Adams was actually a good pickup 5 or 6 years ago. He was at least a veteran leader on a really young team at the time. But again, like Glass, this was another guy who you sign to play for your team knowing he will score between 0 and 5 goals in a full season. You simply can't have so many forwards completely unable to score or add anything to the offense.

Pyatt at least had 2 things going for him...1.) he was big (though not physical) 2.) he was "free" to pickup and 3.) he actually contributed on offense and scored some goals in his career (though it was mainly a few years ago). Just a complete desperation move to improve a bottom 6 that was god awful and help deal with the injuries. He wasn't good here but I can't be upset for giving it a shot.

as always you are a paragon of reason... cept when carcillo is concerned
- ChrisMS

Carcillo is a dummie but certainly can play better than what we had...+ he can play in front of goalies a bit. Not afraid of getting physical. Tell me he's not better than Adams, Pyatt or Glass?