I really like the energy younger players bring...we just dont have any good ones on the team. Sill is awful. Surely Megna is a better option, no?
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I don't even know what to say about Sill. For an energy guy he doesn't bring much.

Weird part about all that training camp conditioning...we seem to come out strong and get sluggish in the third.

Not going to panic, but no excuse for not working hard. Would like to see Tocchet play bad cop. Would like to see a shakeup with a trade and getting rid of the dead weight as mentioned above....but it has nothing to do with two losses in October....felt we've needed that since the day after free agency.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

For the record, I'm not panicking, I'm just mad. Panic would be called for if there were structural issues with the team, such as lack of talent. And its not the 2 losses in October that are so bothersome as much as the WAY the losses occurred are a product of the same issues they had in previous years, namely an unwillingness to dump the puck when necessary last night, and indifference to defensive assignments costing them again tonight. Malkin and Dupuis getting caught deep in the Detroit zone while playing hot potato with the puck while they had an open net staring them in the face was bad enough, but the fact that NEITHER of them picked up the trailer on the resultant rush was unconscionable. Its not effort IMHO, its FOCUS. All the effort in the world is meaningless if what you are doing results in playing idiotic situational hockey.

I don't even know what to say about Sill. For an energy guy he doesn't bring much.
- Ben37

He's a borderline NHL/AHL player. I think he's fine for what he does, but I have no doubt there should be better options out there.

Id like to see Sill and Goc without Adams. Adams lost more races and battles and turnovers in a few minutes of ice time than ever before. At least Sill can skate better than Adams. Willing to give him more time. Adams is Adams

Martin, you suck. Seriously, you suck!

What do people see in this guy?
- stevens87

Martin does not suck. However, I think he is slightly overrated by most of us on here. And I do agree he has not looked sharp so far this season. New coach, system, partners, I'm not worried about him but he definitely isn't putting on any clinics for the scouts right now.

So... not happy with the end result... and really just need clarification on one player.

Greiss... I am biased towards him, so I am doing my best to ignore my own thoughts. Each goal he gave up... soft, bad, no chance? Just want to hear on that to assist my thought process

For the record, I'm not panicking, I'm just mad. Panic would be called for if there were structural issues with the team, such as lack of talent. And its not the 2 losses in October that are so bothersome as much as the WAY the losses occurred are a product of the same issues they had in previous years, namely an unwillingness to dump the puck when necessary last night, and indifference to defensive assignments costing them again tonight. Malkin and Dupuis getting caught deep in the Detroit zone while playing hot potato with the puck while they had an open net staring them in the face was bad enough, but the fact that NEITHER of them picked up the trailer on the resultant rush was unconscionable. Its not effort IMHO, its FOCUS. All the effort in the world is meaningless if what you are doing results in playing idiotic situational hockey.
- Emperor Filonius

Lack of Focus is a good way of putting it.
Im tired of this team, I thought the changes would make the difference but to me the problem is having Malkin and Crosby on the same team. It has allowed this team to be shaped culturally around get it to Crosby or Malkin and they will make things happen. There is no 'team' in my opinion, its those two or bust.

I know its unpopular, hell it was unpopular with me up until recently but now I think it is time to trade Malkin. I know people think we wont get a good return but I disagree. People are looking for grand slam home run trades in here. I propose them all the time. But the reality is all we need to do it get a couple top six player, with one being a high end center and we could probably stock the shelves a bit to.

We could almost name a player on almost any team

St.Louis could be Backes + Oshie/Bergland
Winnipeg could be Kane + Ladd

Essentially trade Malkin for a complete second line and make sure to bring back another leader.

Lack of Focus is a good way of putting it.
Im tired of this team, I thought the changes would make the difference but to me the problem is having Malkin and Crosby on the same team. It has allowed this team to be shaped culturally around get it to Crosby or Malkin and they will make things happen. There is no 'team' in my opinion, its those two or bust.

I know its unpopular, hell it was unpopular with me up until recently but now I think it is time to trade Malkin. I know people think we wont get a good return but I disagree. People are looking for grand slam home run trades in here. I propose them all the time. But the reality is all we need to do it get a couple top six player, with one being a high end center and we could probably stock the shelves a bit to.

We could almost name a player on almost any team

St.Louis could be Backes + Oshie/Bergland
Winnipeg could be Kane + Ladd

Essentially trade Malkin for a complete second line and make sure to bring back another leader.
- stackthepads

Wanna make a big splash. Trade with the Penguins of the West AKA San Jose.
Malkin + Letang + Martin + Sutter
Thornton + Marleau + Boyle + Vlasic

I may be delerius with rage.

Wanna make a big splash. Trade with the Penguins of the West AKA San Jose.
Malkin + Letang + Martin + Sutter
Thornton + Marleau + Boyle + Vlasic

I may be delerius with rage.
- stackthepads

Dude... chillax...

Dude... chillax...
- Guile

can't

can't
- stackthepads

Random gifs cure all

I don't know what kind of Coach Johnston is, but this team needs a healthy dose of Mike Therrien.
- madmike71

I miss Therrien....

Really. 5 shots, fought in the corners, back checked. I don't mind the dumb penalty, shows he cares, but he's frustrated about something. I will say in a game like tonight between 18.2 mil, I expect more than an assist between 87 and 71.

Kunitz and dupes are old.
- sammy87

and both scored tonight. damn geezers. probably got those goals on medicare

Fleury wasn't even playing
- Maatta0387

sigh... i forgive you newbie.

Martin does not suck. However, I think he is slightly overrated by most of us on here. And I do agree he has not looked sharp so far this season. New coach, system, partners, I'm not worried about him but he definitely isn't putting on any clinics for the scouts right now.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I've never been a big Martin guy. He's never been a big player on a contending team. I think he's on the soft side. Good solid, positional d-man. Nothing more. Don't care what any analytics say. Eye test applies with him IMO.

A little adversity. I like it. Things have been too smooth for this team the past few years. I have no interest in another meaningless Metro championship banner.

Despres has been borderline awful so far. Almost every time he is on the ice, bad things happen in our end. I know he's paired with Scuds but I seem to notice 47 always being the one at the center of the chaos. I know its early, but so far, perhaps Disco was right about him.

But, keep playing him. I want to see what he has over an extended period. However, if he continues this play into December, perhaps then it would be time to look at other options.

Very incoinsistent play the last two games. The perfect play bug is creeping back in as well. Penguins play was bad in the last 5 minutes and OT.

But nothing was worse than when Steigy said Scuderi is a security blanket for Despres. My mind was blown!!

Really. 5 shots, fought in the corners, back checked. I don't mind the dumb penalty, shows he cares, but he's frustrated about something. I will say in a game like tonight between 18.2 mil, I expect more than an assist between 87 and 71.

Kunitz and dupes are old.
- sammy87

Kunitz and Dupuis scored 2 of our 3 goals.

A little adversity. I like it. Things have been too smooth for this team the past few years. I have no interest in another meaningless Metro championship banner.

Despres has been borderline awful so far. Almost every time he is on the ice, bad things happen in our end. I know he's paired with Scuds but I seem to notice 47 always being the one at the center of the chaos. I know its early, but so far, perhaps Disco was right about him.

But, keep playing him. I want to see what he has over an extended period. However, if he continues this play into December, perhaps then it would be time to look at other options.
- 87_71_11_29

Despres had a great game last night though. He was physical, moved the puck well, put a couple of good low shots on net for redirects and was the primary assist on Kunitz' goal with his breakout pass.

Scuds wasn't exactly awful last night either. He certainly wasn't great but he was a bit better than normal.

Martin had a rough game. Letang and Maatta, although easily our best defensive pairing and were used everywhere last night, had a few costly errors.

I'm not worried about the D. Even Pouliot or Harrington or Bortuzzo could fill in and I think the D is fine. The forward core is going to be a different story.

Comeau is going to make a great 3rd line winger for Sutter. I know people like Downie, but he is a fourth line option for me with Goc and Spaling.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Hornqvist get some time with Geno and Duper next game. See if anything meshes five on five there.

It is October, tinker with everything and see what you got. Last night was a fun game to watch. I promised myself no anger or pain till march.

Despres had a great game last night though. He was physical, moved the puck well, put a couple of good low shots on net for redirects and was the primary assist on Kunitz' goal with his breakout pass.

Scuds wasn't exactly awful last night either. He certainly wasn't great but he was a bit better than normal.

Martin had a rough game. Letang and Maatta, although easily our best defensive pairing and were used everywhere last night, had a few costly errors.

I'm not worried about the D. Even Pouliot or Harrington or Bortuzzo could fill in and I think the D is fine. The forward core is going to be a different story.
- usethe1-2-2

Thank you. People are picking on #47 but he's doing just fine. I'd sit #4 in favour of #41, that's all.

Our focus in the 3rd is the main problem I see. Forwards forget how to play D.

Martin had a rough game. I see Ehrhoff doing well the majority of the games but he always seem to cough up the puck at least twice a game and give opportunities to the enemy.

Very incoinsistent play the last two games. The perfect play bug is creeping back in as well. Penguins play was bad in the last 5 minutes and OT.

But nothing was worse than when Steigy said Scuderi is a security blanket for Despres. My mind was blown!!
- tbassett

It's a mindset among too many players on the team.

I remember a power play where Crosby's unit came off with something like 1:13 left on it. Crosby had just tried a pass across ice through players that was picked off and then the second unit came on. I liked that because maybe it shows some people are not happy with that unit doing those things?

Penguins have everything they need to win...except the team's key members need to lead by example more at the critical points in the game and too often they don't.

It's a mindset among too many players on the team.

I remember a power play where Crosby's unit came off with something like 1:13 left on it. Crosby had just tried a pass across ice through players that was picked off and then the second unit came on. I liked that because maybe it shows some people are not happy with that unit doing those things?

Penguins have everything they need to win...except the team's key members need to lead by example more at the critical points in the game and too often they don't.
- icedog97

Gary Roberts/Bill Guerin are long gone. Iginla and Morrow weren't exactly the leaders we expected them to be...very quiet guys when entered our locker room. Perhaps they were intimidated by Crosby.

Thank you. People are picking on #47 but he's doing just fine. I'd sit #4 in favour of #41, that's all.

Our focus in the 3rd is the main problem I see. Forwards forget how to play D.

Martin had a rough game. I see Ehrhoff doing well the mojority of the games but he always seem to cough up the puck at least twice a game and give opportunities to the enemy.
- Barnaby36

Yes and that will continue to happen, people make mistakes. He has been one of the better shut down D, outside of Olli I think he has been our best.

I think the reason people do not like Despres is the lack of trust instilled in the fan base by the previous organization and the fact that his game is the least aesthetically pleasing game I have seen out of such a good skating defender.

Yes and that will continue to happen, people make mistakes. He has been one of the better shut down D, outside of Olli I think he has been our best.

I think the reason people do not like Despres is the lack of trust instilled in the fan base by the previous organization and the fact that his game is the least aesthetically pleasing game I have seen out of such a good skating defender.
- usethe1-2-2

I'm really liking Ehrhoff's game as I always did. Martin 2.0 with a few differences. I like how they are being paired together tbh.

Despres is good. Give him Bortuzzo instead of Scuderi for a few games and see our 3rd pairing blossom.