I like what Farnham brings but he is a short stint/ small shelf life kind of guy. I would call him up during the postseason to wreak havoc...otherwise, he's going to get abused and worn down during the regular season....just my two cents
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Well there is only half a season left, but the post season is more physical and the schedule gives no time off

Goc's career high is 30 points and has 6 points in 53 games for us. Putting him any higher than 4c will hurt the team.
- znagle

How could it hurt a team that's already playing like poop? Spaling isn't exactly lighting the lamp on a consistent basis, and the last time I checked Comeau and/or Hornqvist aren't coming back to the lineup any minute now. They're weeks away.

I'm not saying that Goc is the end-all-be-all, but what could it hurt to experiment? He plays poop minutes on the 4th line with the likes of Craig Adams. He's not exactly going to win the Art Ross there.

How could it hurt a team that's already playing like poop? Spaling isn't exactly lighting the lamp on a consistent basis, and the last time I checked Comeau and/or Hornqvist aren't coming back to the lineup any minute now. They're weeks away.

I'm not saying that Goc is the end-all-be-all, but what could it hurt to experiment? He plays poop minutes on the 4th line with the likes of Craig Adams. He's not exactly going to win the Art Ross there.
- simethos

My point exactly... and a better addition is that Spaling is ALSO able to be a center. Wasn't part of the reason for us getting him to put pressure on Sutter to sign for less?

I see no reason to "try" Goc with top line minutes for a couple games and have Spaling Center the 4th line. We've tried all else but Adams up there.

My point exactly... and a better addition is that Spaling is ALSO able to be a center. Wasn't part of the reason for us getting him to put pressure on Sutter to sign for less?

I see no reason to "try" Goc with top line minutes for a couple games and have Spaling Center the 4th line. We've tried all else but Adams up there.
- Guile

Exactly. If it doesn't work after a few games, oh well, experiment over.

Exactly. If it doesn't work after a few games, oh well, experiment over.
- simethos

Yep... Thats what about half of this season has been unfortunately. Line experiments and seeing which players can become a different matchup with other linemates. Something Bylsma didn't do much when half the team was injurred.

My point exactly... and a better addition is that Spaling is ALSO able to be a center. Wasn't part of the reason for us getting him to put pressure on Sutter to sign for less?

I see no reason to "try" Goc with top line minutes for a couple games and have Spaling Center the 4th line. We've tried all else but Adams up there.
- Guile

That's like saying why don't we try Perron on third and fourth line? They have a place for a reason, the reason is that he is not good at hockey

That's like saying why don't we try Perron on third and fourth line? They have a place for a reason, the reason is that he is not good at hockey
- znagle

You are taking this to a stupid measure just to not try something.

You have a wing on Malkin that has gotten very little production with all these injuries. Why would you be so set against trying ANOTHER winger there who is on our roster? What is it going to hurt, trying Goc there for a game or two and having Spaling man the 4th line?

Spaling might make the 4th line better as its center, and Goc does the same as he did on the 2nd wing. In that scenario, you get to be right about Goc not being better up top, but the team is better as a whole with the stronger 4th. But, no way to tell if you stubbornly decline even the thought of this.


And no, this will never apply to letting Adams try the top 2 lines. We don't need to even humor that.

That's like saying why don't we try Perron on third and fourth line? They have a place for a reason, the reason is that he is not good at hockey
- znagle

What? No. Perron was traded for to be exactly where he is. Malkin's line is a goddamn mishmash of people that have no business on his line. Malkin is stuck with the leftovers, and until he gets quality people on his line the Penguins are stuck experimenting to see who works best with him.

I completely get that there has to be some kind of order to the lines, but when your entire offense is generated by the first line + one (Malkin), you kind of have to try and figure out how to get the other three lines going.

You are taking this to a stupid measure just to not try something.

You have a wing on Malkin that has gotten very little production with all these injuries. Why would you be so set against trying ANOTHER winger there who is on our roster? What is it going to hurt, trying Goc there for a game or two and having Spaling man the 4th line?

Spaling might make the 4th line better as its center, and Goc does the same as he did on the 2nd wing. In that scenario, you get to be right about Goc not being better up top, but the team is better as a whole with the stronger 4th. But, no way to tell if you stubbornly decline even the thought of this.


And no, this will never apply to letting Adams try the top 2 lines. We don't need to even humor that.
- Guile

But seriously, Spaling has 13 goals halfway through the season and that is more than Goc's career high already. Let Spaling stay where he is at the moment. He will be back down to 3rd-4th when we are healthy

But seriously, Spaling has 13 goals halfway through the season and that is more than Goc's career high already. Let Spaling stay where he is at the moment. He will be back down to 3rd-4th when we are healthy
- znagle

I am saying try 2-3 games with Goc there. Holy hell... we've tried players that are not even on the roster up there right now. Really should not be this much resistance to more experimenting here while we await Horny's return.

Once Horn is back, the roster will start to return to its true form, with just Comeau being the missing piece for the playoffs (sorry Dupuis).

But seriously, Spaling has 13 goals halfway through the season and that is more than Goc's career high already. Let Spaling stay where he is at the moment. He will be back down to 3rd-4th when we are healthy
- znagle

Dude, he has 6 goals this season. Where are you getting 13?

I am saying try 2-3 games with Goc there. Holy hell... we've tried players that are not even on the roster up there right now. Really should not be this much resistance to more experimenting here while we await Horny's return.

Once Horn is back, the roster will start to return to its true form, with just Comeau being the missing piece for the playoffs (sorry Dupuis).
- Guile

I was thinking about Duper yesterday.... We all talk about players that have been Penguin killers over the years. Duper is a Ranger killer. Always played great against them.

One of those Ranger fans talking about the Pens have no depth... When you consider the players that are out.....yes, it certainly takes a huge bite out of the depth. Missing Horny, Duper, Comeau and Maatta....that's going to sting. Take 4 players of that caliber off of any team and it will be noticeable.

I am saying try 2-3 games with Goc there. Holy hell... we've tried players that are not even on the roster up there right now. Really should not be this much resistance to more experimenting here while we await Horny's return.

- Guile

The time to experiment with that was when Kunitz and Bennett were also out and Perron wasn't here. I proposed Goc centering Malkin at that time as a way to be able to roll three decent lines.

But with the additions, Goc doesn't belong on the 3rd let alone the 2nd.

And Spaling drives possession in his own way. Keeping pucks alive, keeping pucks in, etc. He just doesn't finish prime chances often enough to consistently be a top 6 guy.

Goc doesn't finish chances enough to be a 3rd line guy.

But seriously, Spaling has 13 goals halfway through the season and that is more than Goc's career high already. Let Spaling stay where he is at the moment. He will be back down to 3rd-4th when we are healthy
- znagle

In fairness to Goc, Spaling has spent time on Sid and Genos line while Goc usually plays with the likes of Sil, Farnam etc. That being said, Goc was brought here to improve the depth of 3rd or 4th lines nothing more. While he has been serviceable, I don't think he has ever lived up to his end of the bargain.