If everyone's talking playoffs & 4th line winners, nobody has mentioned the small fact that our D hasn't been putting the puck in net as much as it probably should.

LA match winner Martinez. Yes they had clutch F - 1 of which 5m 3rd/4th line C? Not real cheap & definitely a luxury in any GM's book.

Let's get out team playing like a team with the D scoring & we will be ok. Capgeek gone so has all sense of the Pens cap & why trading for another F will not happen unless a contract goes the other way - que trade Sutter talk.
- Aussiepenguin

Backing all the way to the net and giving up unchecked wrist shots is a bigger concern for the Pens D. They frequently leave the front of the net open. I'm just not seeing the tactical structure that would lead to stronger possession play. I'm not talking about Corsi%, I'm talking about puck management and manufacturing both zone entry and passing/shooting lanes.

Gaining possession of the puck is not one of the Penguins' strengths. They just simply don't check worth a damn. Neutral and D-zone coverage is below average. The 'core' guys don't check, and they set the tone throughout the roster. Nick Spaling thinks he's playing a finesse game; so has every other tweener forward in recent memory. The tweener forwards don't check. The real bottom six forwards have just sucked, and have done a disgraceful job.

In short, the Penguins have been trying to pay the Gold Price. The Penguins need to pay the Iron Price.

If everyone's talking playoffs & 4th line winners, nobody has mentioned the small fact that our D hasn't been putting the puck in net as much as it probably should.

- Aussiepenguin

The Penguins have one and only one power play goal from a defenseman this season. One.

Other than Letang, no other defenseman is a scoring threat.

Martin was out for a while, he's never been a big shooter or scorer, and he's tasked with being the shutdown guy. Despres is hot and cold with knowing when to press and when to sit back. Ehrhoff can't hit the net. Scuderi is Scuderi. Harrington is overwhelmed. Dumoulin makes too many mistakes to pinch effectively. Bortuzzo isn't afraid to take shots or jump up, but he's Bortuzzo. Pouliot has offensive skill but has other shortcomings.

It's a big problem. Might just be one of those things about waiting for the floodgates to open.

Johnston said when Pierre interviewed him on the bench that the Penguins needed to shoot more. Then I watched them pass up shots for 30 more minutes.

Whatever happened to the 10 shot a period goal? Zach Sill sits there and passes up wide open shots. If Sill won't listen, why would anyone else?

In short, the Penguins have been trying to pay the Gold Price. The Penguins need to pay the Iron Price.
- Johnny Wrath

The last guy who walked into the place and started talking about the Iron Price was abandoned by his men, tortured and castrated.

I might be talking about Theon or I might be talking about Thierrien. I'm just not sure.

The Penguins have one and only one power play goal from a defenseman this season. One.

Other than Letang, no other defenseman is a scoring threat.

Martin was out for a while, he's never been a big shooter or scorer, and he's tasked with being the shutdown guy. Despres is hot and cold with knowing when to press and when to sit back. Ehrhoff can't hit the net. Scuderi is Scuderi. Harrington is overwhelmed. Dumoulin makes too many mistakes to pinch effectively. Bortuzzo isn't afraid to take shots or jump up, but he's Bortuzzo. Pouliot has offensive skill but has other shortcomings.

It's a big problem. Might just be one of those things about waiting for the floodgates to open.

Johnston said when Pierre interviewed him on the bench that the Penguins needed to shoot more. Then I watched them pass up shots for 30 more minutes.

Whatever happened to the 10 shot a period goal? Zach Sill sits there and passes up wide open shots. If Sill won't listen, why would anyone else?
- hardnosed

I agree, we have drifted further and further away from the shots shots shots style of play that worked for us early on. Now we have been doing the pretty passes that mainly do not work.

If the Penguins could develop Oskar Sundqvist into a player with capabilities like Bobby Holik, it would be awesome. So very awesome. Turn WB/S over to Jacques Martin and give him the impetus to develop defensive monsters.

This of course would result in someone female doging that the third line center isn't scoring 25 goals. The thing is, the third line center cannot score 25 goals nor can he check at this point. Trying to have it both ways almost never happens unless your European scout is Hakim Andersson.

Backing all the way to the net and giving up unchecked wrist shots is a bigger concern for the Pens D. They frequently leave the front of the net open. I'm just not seeing the tactical structure that would lead to stronger possession play. I'm not talking about Corsi%, I'm talking about puck management and manufacturing both zone entry and passing/shooting lanes.

Gaining possession of the puck is not one of the Penguins' strengths. They just simply don't check worth a damn. Neutral and D-zone coverage is below average. The 'core' guys don't check, and they set the tone throughout the roster. Nick Spaling thinks he's playing a finesse game; so has every other tweener forward in recent memory. The tweener forwards don't check. The real bottom six forwards have just sucked, and have done a disgraceful job.

In short, the Penguins have been trying to pay the Gold Price. The Penguins need to pay the Iron Price.
- Johnny Wrath

You lost me at Corsi%.

Horny & Comeover are checking players so hopefully once they get back & start showing up the effect on the others will be evident to pull their (frank)ing fingers out & play tough hard hockey & win.

The last guy who walked into the place and started talking about the Iron Price was abandoned by his men, tortured and castrated.

I might be talking about Theon or I might be talking about Thierrien. I'm just not sure.
- hardnosed

Pittsburgh's tactics are more like Asha's 'run in a deceptive circle back to the ships' startegy at Deepwood Motte.

Yah, I'm not worried. Bit of a meltdown against the Isles and the crap game against the Rangers is not ideal, but it is January still, hard to get angry.
Get healthy and let the system work its magic. When you get to roll lines like Perron-Crosby-Hornqvist, Kunitz-Malkin-Bennett, Comeau-Sutter-Downie, you typically are going to have a better shot at winning.

I like how people on here talk about the transition game and getting the puck out of our zone, yet dont want guys that do that really well on the blue line like Pouliot getting time over guys who stink at it like Scuderi.

I agree, we have drifted further and further away from the shots shots shots style of play that worked for us early on. Now we have been doing the pretty passes that mainly do not work.
- znagle

Cant remember who, but in the 3rd someone passed up a shot for a dumb pass. Entire CEC "SHOOOOOOOOT"

Well we had Mcdonagh, Girardi, Klein, Dan Boyle, John Moore, and Stepan all out at the same time earlier this year and we did alright.

It would be tough if all those forwards were out but I think we'd have better players to plug in from the minors than sill or Adams. If those 3 forwards were out, our top 12 would look like
Nash - Brassard - Hagelin
Miller - Stepan - stempniak
Fast - Hayes - hrivik
malone - Moore - glass
- RAGSareDANGERus

No earlier this year you struggled to stay in the race.

Once you got them back the true value of the team shone through and the Rangers once again look like they should.

The Penguins right now look like the early Rangers.

The Penguins have the issue of a history of NEVER getting healthy when it counts to ice their best roster.

So depth to step up doesn't matter when 3 of your top 6 are out and one of your top is done for the season.

Downie-Crosby-Downie
Downie-Malkin-Downie
Downie-Downie-Downie
Downie-Downie-2010 Cooke

Is this lineup possible?

Downie-Crosby-Downie
Downie-Malkin-Downie
Downie-Downie-Downie
Downie-Downie-2010 Cooke

Is this lineup possible?
- Grinder47

Certainly not by nature.

The Penguins have one and only one power play goal from a defenseman this season. One.

Other than Letang, no other defenseman is a scoring threat.


- hardnosed

That's a really stunning stat. Of course, Malkin usually plays the shooting role at the point, so maybe its not, but I agree with the premise they need more offense from the D, as part as a more overall balanced attack.

The last guy who walked into the place and started talking about the Iron Price was abandoned by his men, tortured and castrated.

I might be talking about Theon or I might be talking about Thierrien. I'm just not sure.
- hardnosed

Just so they don't pay the Stark price:

That's a really stunning stat. Of course, Malkin usually plays the shooting role at the point, so maybe its not, but I agree with the premise they need more offense from the D, as part as a more overall balanced attack.
- Emperor Filonius

just wanna point out here that latang is the only defense on the power play.....im pretty sure he even stayed out with the second unit....but even if he didnt the second unit probably gets like 45 secs a game.

other news.....did scuderi suck last night or what? that was about as terrible a game ive ever seen from a defense man.

just wanna point out here that latang is the only defense on the power play.....im pretty sure he even stayed out with the second unit....but even if he didnt the second unit probably gets like 45 secs a game.

other news.....did scuderi suck last night or what? that was about as terrible a game ive ever seen from a defense man.
- pensfan024

I'm still the only one that holds this view but I think Pouliot is a better option on the third pairing than Scuderi and would provide a real boost on the PP. We need someone to get the puck set up in the zone and get shots on net through traffic....none of our defenseman can do that. Malkin can do it but I'd rather have him ripping bombs from the left slot.

I'm still the only one that holds this view but I think Pouliot is a better option on the third pairing than Scuderi and would provide a real boost on the PP. We need someone to get the puck set up in the zone and get shots on net through traffic....none of our defenseman can do that. Malkin can do it but I'd rather have him ripping bombs from the left slot.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

i do think it would be better for pouliots development to just be the man in the minors right now in all situations.

i really wonder why ehrhoff cant succeed in that role. he did for years in vancouver.

Jagr and Tlusty, why are you obsessed with these 2 in particular, I don't get it. What the Penguins need is another Bill Guerrin type player, one with leadership, some toughness and can chip in offense. I think the only player that fits the bill that is attainable via trade is Shane Doan. Just need to figure out how to get the Coyotes to take Scuderi and Spalling so we can make it work. Picks and a second tier prospect? Anyone not named Pouliot, Doumalin, Harrington, Jarry, Murray, Kapanan, Blluegars. Who's left? Zach Kassian is still a cheap injection of toughness as well.

Jagr and Tlusty, why are you obsessed with these 2 in particular, I don't get it. What the Penguins need is another Bill Guerrin type player, one with leadership, some toughness and can chip in offense. I think the only player that fits the bill that is attainable via trade is Shane Doan. Just need to figure out how to get the Coyotes to take Scuderi and Spalling so we can make it work. Picks and a second tier prospect? Anyone not named Pouliot, Doumalin, Harrington, Jarry, Murray, Kapanan, Blluegars. Who's left? Zach Kassian is still a cheap injection of toughness as well.
- Dcoms

I think I'm with you on this argument. I would love to see Jagr in a Pens uniform again, but we really do need that Guerin/Roberts type personality on this team. Doan would fit the bill, although I dont see how we can get him cap or trade wise.
Another unpopular trade I've seen mentioned on here that may fit the bill is Schederi for Lecavalier.

Downie-Crosby-Downie
Downie-Malkin-Downie
Downie-Downie-Downie
Downie-Downie-2010 Cooke

Is this lineup possible?
- Grinder47

What's the maximum penalty minutes a team can take & how many minimum can be on a PK?

Jagr and Tlusty, why are you obsessed with these 2 in particular, I don't get it. What the Penguins need is another Bill Guerrin type player, one with leadership, some toughness and can chip in offense. I think the only player that fits the bill that is attainable via trade is Shane Doan. Just need to figure out how to get the Coyotes to take Scuderi and Spalling so we can make it work. Picks and a second tier prospect? Anyone not named Pouliot, Doumalin, Harrington, Jarry, Murray, Kapanan, Blluegars. Who's left? Zach Kassian is still a cheap injection of toughness as well.
- Dcoms

What if we traded Dumoulin + for Sekera and then traded Martin (or scuds) to clear major cap space. Lots of moving parts, but then we have endless options.

Personally if that were the case, I would consider Bortuzzo, Spaling, Scuderi, whatever we got for Martin, or even Sutter would be guys we could deal at that point.

I know its still jan. we still have key players out of the lineup but a loss to the flyers tonight just mght lead to my first trip to jail in years. only so much a guy can take. a win over our biggest rival could do wonders for pur team right now. not to mention my mental health.

Anyone else interested in seeing how Johston blows up the D combo's tonight? I would really like to see Despres get some time with Letang again. That combination doesn't have to play 17 minutes together, but if they can get 12-13 in, that has the potential to be a game changer.

Downie with Geno.

F Sutter (sorry Bart but I am on the wagon, dissapointed in him so far this season)

I think I'm with you on this argument. I would love to see Jagr in a Pens uniform again, but we really do need that Guerin/Roberts type personality on this team. Doan would fit the bill, although I dont see how we can get him cap or trade wise.
Another unpopular trade I've seen mentioned on here that may fit the bill is Schederi for Lecavalier.
- stackthepads

I would love Shane Doan on the team, his deal is up after next season I think though and that 5 million cap hit is a lot. I also don't think they'll trade him either, he chose them to resign there for cheaper than what he was offered elsewhere. Never know, maybe next year we can get him as a rental with the cap moving up

Downie-Crosby-Downie
Downie-Malkin-Downie
Downie-Downie-Downie
Downie-Downie-2010 Cooke

Is this lineup possible?
- Grinder47

You are very quickly becoming my favorite HB poster.

F The Flyers