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.
- sammy87

dupes was phenominal on crosbys wig and crosby and kunitz play better with him. his contract was designed to keep him in that role for 2-3 more years and then have him drop down and provide, dare I say it, depth. despres was on bylsma. Now I for one am one of the few on this board that has the bad feeling Despres will show this year just why DB wasn't playing him. scuds was a good signing at the time and only maatta wowing made it look as foolish as it did. dupes and kunitz arn't that old... early to mid 30's. many top 6'ers in the league in that catorgory. It really seems like we can't see eye to eye sammy "hindsight is 20/20" 87. I feel bad you haven't been able to sit back and enjoy the success we've had. but a whole lot of teams in the league would be happy to be where we are.

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?
- Barnaby36

hosnetly, I'd rather have all three... they can embarass by their on ice play. carcillo is going to shame us with on ice actions... some things are more important than winning.

. some things are more important than winning.
- ChrisMS

Like what?

Have you read this board when the Penguins lose two games in a row. It's like someones relative has died.

dupes was phenominal on crosbys wig and crosby and kunitz play better with him. his contract was designed to keep him in that role for 2-3 more years and then have him drop down and provide, dare I say it, depth. despres was on bylsma. Now I for one am one of the few on this board that has the bad feeling Despres will show this year just why DB wasn't playing him. scuds was a good signing at the time and only maatta wowing made it look as foolish as it did. dupes and kunitz arn't that old... early to mid 30's. many top 6'ers in the league in that catorgory. It really seems like we can't see eye to eye sammy "hindsight is 20/20" 87. I feel bad you haven't been able to sit back and enjoy the success we've had. but a whole lot of teams in the league would be happy to be where we are.
- ChrisMS

No we really don't see eye to eye. I don't see reg success as success. I see a team that struggles in the 1st round against CBJ, NYI and loses to an inferior Rags team. And its not a real surprise either. I feel you are a fan of the last few years with reg season success. Yet here we are, new coach, GM, bottom 6 is gutted, neal gone...

Oh and with Scuds, signing an aging Dman who has already won 2 cups to a career salary is something questionable IMO. He has nothing to prove other than to keep cashing checks. I guarantee a D prospect/rookie will play much harder than an aging, accomplished vet. Scuds really has nothing to prove at this point.

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?
- Barnaby36

I would agree he is more "useful" (GMJR's term) than those three. I see him as a guy that plays about half the games though....especially in the playoffs. Nice option to have and mix in with the WBS guys like Megna, Uher, Payerl.

No we really don't see eye to eye. I don't see reg success as success. I see a team that struggles in the 1st round against CBJ, NYI and loses to an inferior Rags team. And its not a real surprise either. I feel you are a fan of the last few years with reg season success. Yet here we are, new coach, GM, bottom 6 is gutted, neal gone...
- sammy87

If they won they were not inferior. and thats what makes this fun. the ups and the downs. I would hate to be a fan of the old habs or oilers franchises. knowing you were going to win everyday... you brought up the globetrotters... yawn... at least we agree that neal leaving was b-e-a-utiful. pens fans are very lucky to get to watch their stars for 82+ gmes a year. minus injuries of course. and all these young d-men coming up. gonna be fun to watch, championsip or no cham[ionship

Like what?

Have you read this board when the Penguins lose two games in a row. It's like someones relative has died.
- Ben37

i'd more like to compare it to the reactions on other teams boards when one of their... um... hockey players pull a cheap stunt on a pen player. then applaud the signing of carcillo and downie. Mario is certainly proving to be some kind of hypocrite.

Oh and with Scuds, signing an aging Dman who has already won 2 cups to a career salary is something questionable IMO. He has nothing to prove other than to keep cashing checks. I guarantee a D prospect/rookie will play much harder than an aging, accomplished vet. Scuds really has nothing to prove at this point.
- sammy87

Again the biggest issue with Scuds was that he was signed for 4 years knowing we have used all our early draft picks on defenseman.

hosnetly, I'd rather have all three... they can embarass by their on ice play. carcillo is going to shame us with on ice actions... some things are more important than winning.
- ChrisMS

Not crazy about how dumb Carcillo can be, but at least he will be on a really cheap deal (assuming he signs) and hopefully a 2-way contract. That is quite different than Neal, a core player taking up $5M in cap space being a knucklehead.

If they won they were not inferior. and thats what makes this fun. the ups and the downs. I would hate to be a fan of the old habs or oilers franchises. knowing you were going to win everyday... you brought up the globetrotters... yawn... at least we agree that neal leaving was b-e-a-utiful. pens fans are very lucky to get to watch their stars for 82+ gmes a year. minus injuries of course. and all these young d-men coming up. gonna be fun to watch, championsip or no cham
- ChrisMS[ionship

I don't watch every reg season game anymore. I don't have the time and I live in CO, so they start at 5pm, I don't really get into the season until after the all star break. I still follow and read post game of the games I miss. I just started to feel in reg season games, teams just try a lot of times. Too many games possibly but the effort isn't always there, so I don't always put in the effort to watch.

I don't watch every reg season game anymore. I don't have the time and I live in CO, so they start at 5pm, I don't really get into the season until after the all star break. I still follow and read post game of the games I miss. I just started to feel in reg season games, teams just try a lot of times. Too many games possibly but the effort isn't always there, so I don't always put in the effort to watch.
- sammy87

I miss quite a few too... work day evening rotation at the hospital. and I will absolutely agree the season is a little to long. somewhere in the 60's would make each game worth a bit more. but one still has to make it to the plyoffs and the metro aint gonna be easy. actually... a home and home with each team and 2 home and homes with each division rival would be 74 games... how bout that?makes the games worth a bit more...

i'd more like to compare it to the reactions on other teams boards when one of their... um... hockey players pull a cheap stunt on a pen player. then applaud the signing of carcillo and downie. Mario is certainly proving to be some kind of hypocrite.
- ChrisMS

All teams have players who are guilty of dirty plays. Who cares if the fans want to be sanctimonious about it. They are going to female dog and moan about anything the Penguins do.

I know what Mario said, but in the real NHL you need guys on the edge a team full of nice guys won't get far.

Hell even the Redwings acquired Jordan Tootoo.

Also I think that when one of those teams player pulls a dirty stunt on Crosby or Malkin we'll be happy to Carcillo or Downie around.

All teams have players who are guilty of dirty plays. Who cares if the fans want to be sanctimonious about it. They are going to female dog and moan about anything the Penguins do.

I know what Mario said, but in the real NHL you need guys on the edge a team full of nice guys won't get far.

Hell even the Redwings acquired Jordan Tootoo.

Also I think that when one of those teams player pulls a dirty stunt on Crosby or Malkin we'll be happy to Carcillo or Downie around.
- Ben37

Nothing wrong about having a Downie (who actually can play hockey, just like Cooke could) or a Carcillo (for league minimum and will chip in offensively and keep bad guys in check).