looks like beau bennett isnt to far from returning (knocking on wood). Once he comes back, he could slide right in with dupuis and malkin. That will also allow comeau to play with Goc.

thoughts?
- Kunit

We have such a small sample of BB, a few big hits and a nice highlight goal, it's hard to judge what his ceiling is. Top 6 potential maybe, 3rd line most likely. Either way I don't think having BB on the roster prevents implosions like against Detroit. Neither would not having Adams.

James Bobble Head Neal

We have such a small sample of BB, a few big hits and a nice highlight goal, it's hard to judge what his ceiling is. Top 6 potential maybe, 3rd line most likely. Either way I don't think having BB on the roster prevents implosions like against Detroit. Neither would not having Adams.
- sammy87

On this team BB should be top 6, but I agree I think he'll ultimately end up on the third line.

Adams used to be a guy you would put on the ice to protect a lead. Shot blocker, makes smart, safe plays. Now he just occupies a roster spot because he can't skate well enough for any role. I'm really disappointed with Duper on that EN play. He should know better.

malkin needs some help...................





- pensfan024

I kind of feel bad for him

From the Pensblog...

http://did-craig-adams-get-waived-yet.com/

I kind of feel bad for him
- drummer829

But he's a generational talent, he should make those players better. Everyone thought Dupes was good enough for 87, but he's not for 71?

EK's latest blog says the asking price for a 5/6 Dman is a 1st and roster player....Scuds going once...twice....

Funny thing is, Adams has only been on the ice for one goal against so far this year, and that was on the power play.

People have a problem with him being Craig Adams, but he's done a very good job of being Craig Adams.

Funny thing is, Adams has only been on the ice for one goal against so far this year, and that was on the power play.

People have a problem with him being Craig Adams, but he's done a very good job of being Craig Adams.
- hardnosed

He's not losing games or making plays that lead to losses (Dupes) I highly doubt if Adams was replaced by Megna the record would be any different.

But he's a generational talent, he should make those players better. Everyone thought Dupes was good enough for 87, but he's not for 71?

EK's latest blog says the asking price for a 5/6 Dman is a 1st and roster player....Scuds going once...twice....
- sammy87

He fine for Malkin or Crosby if the other wing is stronger... Kunitz or Hornqvist, not Blake Comeau.

He fine for Malkin or Crosby if the other wing is stronger... Kunitz or Hornqvist, not Blake Comeau.
- rival22

That's a good way to put it.

Instead of looking at it in terms of whether Dupes is a top 6 guy, we should be asking whether he's a #4 winger, which I believe he is.

Right now, he's their third-best winger, and that's where the problem lies.

He fine for Malkin or Crosby if the other wing is stronger... Kunitz or Hornqvist, not Blake Comeau.
- rival22

The top 6 is not in good shape. I hope BB can take a spot and play to what we want him to. But Kunitz has looked a bit slow and was a no show in the playoffs.

Comeau had a 24 goal season with the Islanders. He should be able to score 24 with Malkin. He turned Neal from a 25 goal scorer to a 40 goal man.
- Ben37

I'd like to see Malkin/Hornqvist and Spaling. I think Spaling would just get out of their way and go to the net. Yes, that's where Hornqvist likes to end up, but he's capable of more in terms of play with the puck.

Then you can eventually go with Comeau/Sutter/Bennett for a pretty dangerous 3rd line, and Goc/Downie/whoever as a much better 4th.

I like Comeau, but he is what he is... that 24 was a bit of an outlier, no? It's the most goals he's scored in one season since he was a kid. He only hit 24 in junior one year.

He could probably hit 20 as a wing on Malkin's line, but is that what you really want on his line? Two guys that could hit 20 if things work out well.

The top 6 is not in good shape. I hope BB can take a spot and play to what we want him to. But Kunitz has looked a bit slow and was a no show in the playoffs.
- sammy87

Some of that is due to Kunitz now being the third best player on his line. Hornqvist has 34 shots on the year. Crosby has 22. Doesn't leave much left for Kunitz, and he's also had to be more defensively responsible given his linemates.

Funny thing is, Adams has only been on the ice for one goal against so far this year, and that was on the power play.

People have a problem with him being Craig Adams, but he's done a very good job of being Craig Adams.
- hardnosed

People have a problem with him because Ryan Wilson tells them too. Its like they think he knows something that the NHL former players/coaches don't. This was a very good blog about the current state of the Pens however. I love the Downie/Neal matchup.

My issue with Horny and Kunitz playing with Sid 5on5 is neither 14 or 72 are great carrying the puck into the offensive zone. Is rather see duper or comeau on that like and move horny down with Geno. I believe both those lines should have two players with speed to decent speed and skating with the puck. 72 and 14 have lots of strengths but carrying the puck through the zone with control and speed isn't one of them. 72 is awful from what I seen carrying the puck into the zone and taking a pass graceful while top speed

My issue with Horny and Kunitz playing with Sid 5on5 is neither 14 or 72 are great carrying the puck into the offensive zone. Is rather see duper or comeau on that like and move horny down with Geno. I believe both those lines should have two players with speed to decent speed and skating with the puck. 72 and 14 have lots of strengths but carrying the puck through the zone with control and speed isn't one of them. 72 is awful from what I seen carrying the puck into the zone and taking a pass graceful while top speed
- GlueBoy89

With as well as PH and 87 are playing so far, that line is not going to be broken up just because. Despite playing with Comeau and Dupes, Malkin is still pt/gm.

With as well as PH and 87 are playing so far, that line is not going to be broken up just because. Despite playing with Comeau and Dupes, Malkin is still pt/gm.
- sammy87

I don't think Comeau is a problem at all on the 2nd line. He got promoted for a reason. The guy has been very good so far. Physical/Carrying the puck well and SHOOTING. Why not? He can play.

I don't think Comeau is a problem at all on the 2nd line. He got promoted for a reason. The guy has been very good so far. Physical/Carrying the puck well and SHOOTING. Why not? He can play.
- Barnaby36

Not at all, he played well against Philly, willing to hit and play low.

But he's a generational talent, he should make those players better. Everyone thought Dupes was good enough for 87, but he's not for 71?

EK's latest blog says the asking price for a 5/6 Dman is a 1st and roster player....Scuds going once...twice....
- sammy87

If that's the true asking price, no wonder no trades have happened with all these teams in D trouble. Unless you are getting a good young guy who happens to be a 5/6 (like Leddy was), that is waaaaayyyy too steep.

Pretty good interview with Crosby, Lundqvist, & Toews:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...george-stroumboulopoulos/

People have a problem with him because Ryan Wilson tells them too. Its like they think he knows something that the NHL former players/coaches don't. This was a very good blog about the current state of the Pens however. I love the Downie/Neal matchup.
- Grinder47

I have a problem with Craig Adams (+ Sill to a lesser extent given his other contributions) because he gets the plum zone starts and opposition that Geno/Crosby would crush in order to minimise his (+ Sill's) damage to the team. With a competent 4th line, we can get Malkin and Crosby more offensive zone starts against weaker competition and therefore more powerplays and goals for us. That's true whether he gets scored on or not.

maybe they are just keeping the sid, kuni horn line together because they have someone in mind that they feel good about gettin to play with malkin and duper. let the first line stay how they are to make chemistry......or maybe im just an idiot

I don't think Comeau is a problem at all on the 2nd line. He got promoted for a reason. The guy has been very good so far. Physical/Carrying the puck well and SHOOTING. Why not? He can play.
- Barnaby36

I've loved Comeau so much so far that I'm trying to keep quiet and let the sample size play out...there has to be a reason he's being paid 700k and Spaling is 2.2M ..right? RIGHT?

I have a problem with Craig Adams (+ Sill to a lesser extent given his other contributions) because he gets the plum zone starts and opposition that Geno/Crosby would crush in order to minimise his (+ Sill's) damage to the team. With a competent 4th line, we can get Malkin and Crosby more offensive zone starts against weaker competition and therefore more powerplays and goals for us. That's true whether he gets scored on or not.
- cygnus41

The whole zone starts thing is way over blown by Fancy stat bloggers. Crosby wins a face off in the D zone and can be in the O zone in under 10 seconds, Goc loses a faceoff in the O zone and can be in the D zone in under 10 seconds. Ever think that most of the time there is a Offensive zone faceoff the 1st and 2nd line were prob just out there?