ok so its time to put kunitz on a line with bennett and malkin assuming that will be the trio once horny is back. let them get going. the team is looking like shiizo right now two dumps in a row. contrary to what a lot of people have said i do think we need to make another move. our def right now looks pathetic. we need an ulf samulseon/dion phaneuf kinda guy back there. we lack physicality and if we are looking for downie to provide it we are doomed
- DevnsDad

Phaneuf is not a hitter anymore..he is terrible...I wouldnt give them sill for phanuef

ok so its time to put kunitz on a line with bennett and malkin assuming that will be the trio once horny is back. let them get going. the team is looking like shiizo right now two dumps in a row. contrary to what a lot of people have said i do think we need to make another move. our def right now looks pathetic. we need an ulf samulseon/dion phaneuf kinda guy back there. we lack physicality and if we are looking for downie to provide it we are doomed. if we need to move def prospects i guess as long as its for a guy signed long term I'm good. just as long as the guy doesn't split like hossa did.
- DevnsDad

Isnt Harrington suppose to be that type? But I agree our D is soft, Martin looked slow today. I dont care how well you can move the puck, a Dman needs to drop bodies. I wish we had a Kromwall.

This team is shot through with holes.

Whatever spark Geno and BB had is gone.

Scuds will always get a jersey.

Adams Sill, Goc provide no hype at all. Rarely hit.

Having Martin, Erhoff and Scuds all on D makes us soft. None clear the front effectively. This team needs some thump in the lineup. A Willie Mitchell type.

5 on 5 whatever the Penguins are doing is broken. They just get dominated.

I try to back Flower, but every shot has me cringing again.

Another guy I like is Sutter, but he hasn't done anything in months.

Screw it. too many problems. Hopefully it can be corrected.

Not too late to get in on McEichel sweepstakes. Because this team is going nowhere the way they are playing.

Should get something for Martin before he walks.

I'm sorry but people need to be held accountable. You don't do that to sid or gene because they bring more than downie ever will in his entire career. But that doesn't mean that they shouldn't be taken to task by anyone else in the locker room or coaching staff if the penalties get out of hand with those to. For downie he absolutely can be sat or get the same kind of tough love I'm talking about giving sid or geno. I still think this team is missing a good leadership voice in the room. Not one of them seems likely to me or there are the ones who probably do but have no business being critical of anyone else's aka Scuderi and the bs narrative that he's a leader.
- ImScore71

The sky is falling!!!!!run!!! its over!!!! run for the hills!!!! Pathetic in a month we ll be hearing something very different on the tail end of a 7 game winning streak!!!! We re guilty of being exactly like every other fan base!!!! Truly pathetic

Claude Lemieux has like 5 cups and a Conn Smyth. He was not disciplined. Hes the type you wins cups with.
- sammy87

Claude Lemieux was a good player beyond all the dirty sh*t. Scored 41 goals one year. Routinely, potted 25 to 35 goals.

Downie is not Claude Lemieux and the Pens don't defend like the 90's Devils. Just saying...

What exactly does hold accountable mean?!?
- hardnosed

That was directed to the posters on this board who blame Scuderi. GM. Coaching. Shero. Bylsma. Fleury. Malkin. Etc...

Its 87's turn.

Also, I think the media need to start asking him some tough questions.

Sid, why is it when this team you captain crumbles in the face of adversity every time?

For what its worth, I actually like this adversity. Team had it entirely too easy past 5 seasons and hit the post season with a false sense of security.

So, although I actually like this and could care less about the Metro Title, their core issues still have not been addressed. They are:

1. No leadership

2. Too soft

3. Not hockey smart

4. Too top heavy

5. Refusal to play fundamental hockey

You aint fixing all of that in one season.

With that said, GO PENS!

I can understand the offense having problems with key people out but there is NO excuse for this defense. None!

The sky is falling!!!!!run!!! its over!!!! run for the hills!!!! Pathetic in a month we ll be hearing something very different on the tail end of a 7 game winning streak!!!! We re guilty of being exactly like every other fan base!!!! Truly pathetic
- Brianandr1

well we have lost almost every game against the opponents that matter, the metro.
And it isn't just losing its getting blown out. Every game we've won against the metro have been hard fought 1 goal victories where the other team wouldn't let up. Every game we've lost have been pretty much blow outs where we are thoroughly beaten.

A couple things that I would like to gripe about:
Arcabello may be the most boring player I've ever seen, he provides nothing. At least with Farnham you have a guy working his butt off and provides energy, grit and will fight. Rust provides energy and has looks dangerous at times.

We are too soft, a trade can easily be made to bring in a large hitting forward.

I haven't seen Malkin pass the puck at all the past 2 games. He doesn't like who he is playing with, Kunitz should be moved to his line, Downie to the top line until Horny is back.

The bottom line is if a team can frustrate us they will win. And we are an easy team to frustrate. The coaching staff need to get a handle on this, there has to be a way to get this team to play sound disciplined hockey.

The sky is falling!!!!!run!!! its over!!!! run for the hills!!!! Pathetic in a month we ll be hearing something very different on the tail end of a 7 game winning streak!!!! We re guilty of being exactly like every other fan base!!!! Truly pathetic
- Brianandr1

And the obligatory "I'm calmer than all of you post".

Truly unoriginal

well we have lost almost every game against the opponents that matter, the metro.
And it isn't just losing its getting blown out. Every game we've won against the metro have been hard fought 1 goal victories where the other team wouldn't let up. Every game we've lost have been pretty much blow outs where we are thoroughly beaten.

A couple things that I would like to gripe about:
Arcabello may be the most boring player I've ever seen, he provides nothing. At least with Farnham you have a guy working his butt off and provides energy, grit and will fight. Rust provides energy and has looks dangerous at times.

We are too soft, a trade can easily be made to bring in a large hitting forward.

I haven't seen Malkin pass the puck at all the past 2 games. He doesn't like who he is playing with, Kunitz should be moved to his line, Downie to the top line until Horny is back.

The bottom line is if a team can frustrate us they will win. And we are an easy team to frustrate. The coaching staff need to get a handle on this, there has to be a way to get this team to play sound disciplined hockey.
- stackthepads

I for the life of me cant understand why they play Sill over Farnham. Adams I kinda get. He works the PK. One thing we cant complain about is the PK.

They need more dudes like Farnham. Stirs up sh*t. Draws penalties. Hits. Doesn't take stupid penalties. Gives a crap. Has some attitude. Has some nards. He made more of an impact in 1 game then Megna, Ebbett, and Sill have in all of their combined games.

And the obligatory "I'm calmer than all of you post".

Truly unoriginal
- 87_71_11_29

lol ok bud... are you trying to convince me or yourself? "relax"

lol ok bud... are you trying to convince me or yourself? "relax"
- Brianandr1

Got it Aaron. I wish I was as relaxed and as cool as you

i think our main problem is our division struggles.

we have played Boston, Montreal, Tampa, etc. all very well this year.

I can't remember how we played Washington.

We just haven't played Philly, Islanders, or Rangers well and that's a huge problem because we will probably have to go through 2 divisional opponents in the first 2 rounds.

Got it Aaron. I wish I was as relaxed and as cool as you
- 87_71_11_29

Its January... the Pens are playing terrible hockey... better now then April... all I'm saying is it is to early to overreact... Id be right there with you if is was late March.
I feel you but this is the ups and downs of the season

Its January... the Pens are playing terrible hockey... better now then April... all I'm saying is it is to early to overreact... Id be right there with you if is was late March.
I feel you but this is the ups and downs of the season
- Brianandr1

Problem is when it was November it was "it's only November". Now it's almost Feb and the same issues are occurring even as the team gets healthier. Waiting until late March or April will be just that...late.

1. No leadership

2. Too soft

3. Not hockey smart

4. Too top heavy

5. Refusal to play fundamental hockey

- 87_71_11_29

All this really points to coaching. Crosby is not a vocal guy. I'd like him to be more of a vocal guy, but asking to be something that he's not is probably unfair.

Johnston has to be the leader. I love his intellectual approach to hockey. I'm not sure about his personal approach to it. He doesn't project toughness that the team is going to pick up on. He doesn't have to beat someone up, or be someone he isn't. He's just got to manufacture team toughness, beginning with himself and his coaching focus. Gonna go GoT on folks, but like Varys says, power is trick:

...toughness is also a shadow on a wall. Johnston does not project the fact that he's in charge. He doesn't project the fact that he should be leading his charges into battle with the goal of ultimate victory. He's still in the evolutionary stage where he's trying to prove that he belongs. But as every teacher knows, you can't start the semester lax and then tighten things up later on.

It's also about confidence. Johnston does not project confidence. Has he called a timeout once all year when his team has fallen behind? Has anyone seen him scream on the bench, either at his players or at the refs?

I don't think a coach HAS to be that way. When things are going great, it's easy to not be that way in fact. But coaches have a limited number of techniques for salvaging games and seasons when things aren't going right.

They can demand more from their players, but I'm not sure that's something that is emphasized by Johnston just going off of In the Room footage.

I guess I'm just disappointed, because I really thought that Johnston was going to out-think opposing coaches, beating them with scheme. Which would have made his bland persona more palatable. But what we're seeing consistently is that his system alone is not enough to change the team's fortunes, and that he will not adjust his system any more than Bylsma did.

So if that isn't a strength, he literally has nothing else left.

Houston? We have a problem......maybe.......sort of.........ok we didn't win a game in January - again!

Maybe we can go for a wild card spot & play Habs or Bolts seeing the Metro teams are a little difficult at the moment.

In a slump but still scoring. In a slump & not scoring is worse. Still 2nd in Metro & top 10 in the league - how many teams would love to be where we are?

Seems like we are everyone's female doges oh except the Wild - they sleep on the bottom bunk in our cell.

Problem is when it was November it was "it's only November". Now it's almost Feb and the same issues are occurring even as the team gets healthier. Waiting until late March or April will be just that...late.
- Reverend Killtaker

Reverend that's the thing - 82 games in 1 season. The only time it matters (after qualifying of course), is when the 2nd comp starts. LA are the Kings of that - see what I....... Ah don't worry! So if the points are in the bank they can play softball for all of March if they want. Look at Boston last year?

Reverend that's the thing - 82 games in 1 season. The only time it matters (after qualifying of course), is when the 2nd comp starts. LA are the Kings of that - see what I....... Ah don't worry! So if the points are in the bank they can play softball for all of March if they want. Look at Boston last year?
- Aussiepenguin

I've never been nor am I now a panicky fan, however going into the playoffs or the end of the season in what is already a tight playoff race with the attitude we will eventually get to fixing the problem isn't smart. This attitude has also occurred the last 5 seasons and it hasn't happened. You also can't expect that season altering trade either. It could happen but it's no guarantee. You also have to start to figure out your lines once Horny and Comeau come back even Dupuis. Plus they will need to gel as all lines will be impacted. This along with being successful getting MAF rest and prepping and dealing with the pressure of a playoff race and the playoffs in general the last thing this staff should be concerned about is fixing their problems. No SCF teams are faced with having to do that.

Meh... You win cups with discipline. Not with guys with self control issues leading the league in penalties.

I think Dowine is a good player, but I fully believe he'd do some of the same dumb stuff in the playoffs.
- madmike71

Dude 2 dumb penalties in how many games? 20 + points. Is a better hockey player than half our top six right now. He needs more ice time, and he needs to be allowed to run the game with his craziness. We also need to trade for a guy with actual toughness and call up Farnham at the same time.

I've never been nor am I now a panicky fan, however going into the playoffs or the end of the season in what is already a tight playoff race with the attitude we will eventually get to fixing the problem isn't smart. This attitude has also occurred the last 5 seasons and it hasn't happened. You also can't expect that season altering trade either. It could happen but it's no guarantee. You also have to start to figure out your lines once Horny and Comeau come back even Dupuis. Plus they will need to gel as all lines will be impacted. This along with being successful getting MAF rest and prepping and dealing with the pressure of a playoff race and the playoffs in general the last thing this staff should be concerned about is fixing their problems. No SCF teams are faced with having to do that.
- Reverend Killtaker

You cannot have full continuity within a team without all the players. Pens haven't had that for quite some time.

Team sport is all about preparation, confidence & confidence in the player next to you. These guys have to gel to win - we agree fully on that. No idea what MJ is telling them or what he may be trying at this stage.

Approaching the playoffs there needs to be cohesion & limited errors in their play. The closer we get to the playoffs hopefully the better the team becomes - I remember last season Iggy actually came out & said he hoped that Boston wasn't peaking too early.

It's the same this year, because you beat a team in January/February even March doesn't mean you will beat that team in April - June.

Just aside from that - this team needs leadership. Someone earlier said 87 isn't a good leader. I agree with that, Crosby doesn't look like a natural leader. He is an exceptional talent but that doesn't instantly make him a leader of men. I believe Dupuis is the leader in that room & he is not on the ice with the team. That I believe is a huge problem.

Can this team win Stanley? Yes.

I dont care how this team is playing right now. i will care how they are playing in a month or two. the only teams that should be worried about how they play now are the teams looking to tank and the teams right on the edge of the playoffs.

as we saw in 09, we sucked most of the year but everything came together at the right time and we were carried all the way to the Cup.

we've been the top dog for the best 3 or 4 years now... let someone else be it and take the pressure that comes with it.

Problem is when it was November it was "it's only November". Now it's almost Feb and the same issues are occurring even as the team gets healthier. Waiting until late March or April will be just that...late.
- Reverend Killtaker

Pens are a good team... so are the rags and the Illes. I think that when the pens are healthy, motivated (yes I said that) and right they ll be fine.... no im not going to stress in January... but yes if its late February/ March its time to press the panic button.... lets see what happens ... going ape sh*6t is changing nothing at this point

You cannot have full continuity within a team without all the players. Pens haven't had that for quite some time.

Team sport is all about preparation, confidence & confidence in the player next to you. These guys have to gel to win - we agree fully on that. No idea what MJ is telling them or what he may be trying at this stage.

Approaching the playoffs there needs to be cohesion & limited errors in their play. The closer we get to the playoffs hopefully the better the team becomes - I remember last season Iggy actually came out & said he hoped that Boston wasn't peaking too early.

It's the same this year, because you beat a team in January/February even March doesn't mean you will beat that team in April - June.

Just aside from that - this team needs leadership. Someone earlier said 87 isn't a good leader. I agree with that, Crosby doesn't look like a natural leader. He is an exceptional talent but that doesn't instantly make him a leader of men. I believe Dupuis is the leader in that room & he is not on the ice with the team. That I believe is a huge problem.

Can this team win Stanley? Yes.

- Aussiepenguin

It was widely known that Mario wasn't a vocal leader either. When they won those cups in 91 & 92 it was Kevin Stevens serving that role. JMO but the idea of needing the captain to be a vocal leader and motivator is over-rated in professional sports. Frankly, I'd rather the coach be the motivator......that's absolutely in the job description.

Sid is not without blame however. He's not exactly been a selke candidate the last several weeks. The team as a whole is not playing well 5v5 and I think the captain needs to lead by example in that department.

Honestly I think flower is tired... He is playing too much. Greiss can easily play more games. He just looks solid in net. Use him more and waive adams send Sill down and trade scuderi bring back pouliot and this team will be better.