Skating is McDonagh's best asset actually. Not sure if I'd say he's a better skater than Letang, but McDonagh is definitely an elite skater and one of the best in the league at it.

Here's an example of him using his skating (for reference, on the Gallagher play, McDonagh was behind the Canadiens' net and Gallgher was on a breakaway starting at his own blue line):


- RAGSareDANGERus

If he is so great at positioning why is he chasing Kessel like that?

If he is so great at positioning why is he chasing Kessel like that?
- LetsGoPens!!

..Is this a serious question?

If he is so great at positioning why is he chasing Kessel like that?
- LetsGoPens!!

He cheats offensively because he's confident in his ability to get back into position with his skating. Seriously.

If he is so great at positioning why is he chasing Kessel like that?
- LetsGoPens!!

CHECKMATE, ATHEISTS

He cheats offensively because he's confident in his ability to get back into position with his skating. Seriously.
- RAGSareDANGERus

Yeah, well guess what.

He cheats offensively because he's confident in his ability to get back into position with his skating. Seriously.
- RAGSareDANGERus

it really has nothing to do with cheating offensively. It's hockey. Breakaways happen. good defenders lose 50/50 puck battles sometimes. It happens. Sometimes the forward doesn't recognize the defender pinching. It happens. If the takeaway from that gif is why is he chasing Kessel in the first place and not, what an amazing display of backchecking, then I'm not sure what to tell him.

CHECKMATE, ATHEISTS
- BulliesPhan87

BROTHER BULLIES!

Yeah, well guess what.
- jmatchett383

Letang still skates better?

BROTHER BULLIES!
- Guile

I'm back and better (i.e. the same) as ever. how goes?

I'm back and better (i.e. the same) as ever. how goes?
- BulliesPhan87

Well... I got hired by Google, and I am going have some awesome krispy crust pizza for the game tonight. So a pretty good day.

Letang still skates better?
- RAGSareDANGERus

I, um...I really didn't know to go with that.

Well... I got hired by Google, and I am going have some awesome krispy crust pizza for the game tonight. So a pretty good day.
- Guile

You guys have Krusty-O's in Pittsburgh???

Well... I got hired by Google, and I am going have some awesome krispy crust pizza for the game tonight. So a pretty good day.
- Guile

Very nice, think you can get me access to the secret super search engine? Or at least one of those coveted GMail invites?

You guys have Krusty-O's in Pittsburgh???
- jmatchett383

Zero idea... I am going to ferraris near(ish) Pittsburgh for pizza...

Very nice, think you can get me access to the secret super search engine? Or at least one of those coveted GMail invites?
- BulliesPhan87

No

No
- Guile

Can you take me to the cloud?

Can you take me to the cloud?
- jmatchett383

NO ONE UNDERSTANDS THE CLOUD!

No
- Guile

how about a slice of pizza instead? C'mon, as a valued chromebook owner I think you guys owe me one.

NO ONE UNDERSTANDS THE CLOUD!
- Guile

IT'S GONN RAIN!

Letang still skates better?
- RAGSareDANGERus

I like McDonagh, and think he is a great defenseman. That being said, Letang is better. He is a better skater, which isn't a slight against McDonagh, has a lot more offensive ability, and is more physical than McDonagh. As for the defensive side, McDonagh is slightly better than Letang, but it's not by much, no where near the gap in offensive ability.

I like McDonagh, and think he is a great defenseman. That being said, Letang is better. He is a better skater, which isn't a slight against McDonagh, has a lot more offensive ability, and is more physical than McDonagh. As for the defensive side, McDonagh is slightly better than Letang, but it's not by much, no where near the gap in offensive ability.
- cap1681

No... Letang is not more physical than McD... and defensivEly he is much better than Letang.... I do think Letang's defensive play is much improved this season.. but definitely not on the level of McDonagh's.

Zero idea... I am going to ferraris near(ish) Pittsburgh for pizza...
- Guile

Whaaaaat... you gotta go to Ambridge and snag some Police Station Pizza. Best pizza around the Burgh easily. You can always settle for Beto's too though... it's pretty similar.

No... Letang is not more physical than McD... and defensivEly he is much better than Letang.... I do think Letang's defensive play is much improved this season.. but definitely not on the level of McDonagh's.
- j.boyd919

Yeah, I was wondering where this, "Letang is more physical than McDonagh" came from.

No... Letang is not more physical than McD... and defensivEly he is much better than Letang.... I do think Letang's defensive play is much improved this season.. but definitely not on the level of McDonagh's.
- j.boyd919

If the Penguins could trade Letang for McD they would be so, so much better overnight.

Whaaaaat... you gotta go to Ambridge and snag some Police Station Pizza. Best pizza around the Burgh easily. You can always settle for Beto's too though... it's pretty similar.
- j.boyd919

Is that the place with the cold toppings?

Also best Pizza around the Burgh I believe is Monte Cello's, its just fantastic.