Jagr watch 2015 about to begin
- Palmer117

Hopefully for another GM

Despres. Oh my goodness Despres. Franjndan and what ever lame ass excuse you come up with the guy is top notch. A top 4 d on this squad

Just a question after today's game - as close as it was.

Are we playing like a team that hasn't played together before? Or are each of the goalies standing on their heads everything we play them?

Great to get the points?

No one has any long term vision. You know the Pittsburgh Penguins will still exist in 5 years, 10 years, and so on right? If you trade away the players that will be your best players farther down the road then it will 2001 all over again, and it was really hard being a fan of this team back then. I always pick the Pens when I play any kind of NHL video game have since they had the actual players in the games from like 93 or so. When I had NHL 2002 and I was the Pens it was hard to beat my friends, no matter how drunk we got, because Rico Fata is not a good player. And NHL Hitz for Xbox, we wore that game out, the Pens team on there, not so fun to be. The point is no matter how old I get i want to be the Penguins and I want the Penguins to have good players so I can beat my friends teams, even when we're all sitting in a nursing home. So stop trying to sell our future down the river hoping something better will float it's way back, because just like in life, it NEVER does.
- Dcoms

Maybe you should try Minecraft?

Ryan does a great job on here, you guys are lucky to have him.
- MadCap2008

Yep!

There is such a gigantic drop off in talent between the first PP unit and the second PP unit. Opponent penalties might as well be 1 minute because that 2nd group is terrible. Spalling on a PP?!?!?! Spalling couldn't hit the ocean from the beach with a puck.
- Dcoms

Or the tiles having a pull in the shower.

Greater chance that it's syphilis.
- hardnosed

It's written in his contract on the long break he gets 2 ice girls every night!

So much win in this post. Especially tonight, I'm seeing a commitment to simple, grinding play that, win or lose, they had to incorporate. I see a coach who has noted that the trap kills this team, and has them dumping and chasing and being pests in the paint and manufacturing chances and eventually a goal. Hornqvist mentioned that tonight's focus is to get the puck behind the defense in his intermission interview.

Puck possession is great. So is a spread passing game. But is the defense is playing cover 2, you better be able to run the ball if you want to win the game. Tonight I finally see a Penguins' coach pushing the idea of running the ball against the cover 2, and the roster tonight has bought into it.

It's great to see.
- hardnosed

Can you please repeat that 2nd paragraph in English please? WTF is cover 2?

Ok at this game !!! The problem is on offense NOT on d ...
- Brianandr1

I mentioned this a while back, but it appears that the Pens D are not contributing enough on points. Tonite Despres scores the Pens win, Tanger 5 assists V Jets. Seems like other teams are scoring more with their D.

Can you please repeat that 2nd paragraph in English please? WTF is cover 2?
- Aussiepenguin

its an american football analogy. essentially, playing soft and deep waiting for the pass via long strikes. this type of defense potentially leaves softer gaps up front, but you need to be willing to pay for it via physicality and hard work.

stop shooting for the homerun, and learn to muck and grind your way via the dump and chase and use effort and determination to get to loose pucks in deep against a team that is sitting back waiting to clog the neutral zone.

learn to do that, and then all of a sudden teams wont get to cheat back so much anymore, and then MJ's possession plan will work much better. but it all starts with that commitment to effort.

Can you please repeat that 2nd paragraph in English please? WTF is cover 2?
- Aussiepenguin

double post.

its an american football analogy. essentially, playing soft and deep waiting for the pass via long strikes. this type of defense potentially leaves softer gaps up front, but you need to be willing to pay for it via physicality and hard work.

stop shooting for the homerun, and learn to muck and grind your way via the dump and chase and use effort and determination to get to loose pucks in deep against a team that is sitting back waiting to clog the neutral zone.

learn to do that, and then all of a sudden teams wont get to cheat back so much anymore, and then MJ's possession plan will work much better. but it all starts with that commitment to effort.
- stayinthefnnet

Ok, MJ wants possession via support, coming out with numbers? Dumping the puck in (out of interest what stat does that come under?), gives possession back (opposite) & relies on forechecking to get it back, you probably play a lot more in the O zone unless the opposition does the same? You can play both styles in the same game to confuse the opposing D?

I don't see the games, only the highlights & listen to the game as as well as other teams games (Flames commentary has Jim Carey on it??). So it's a little more difficult to understand the intricacies of the game.

Thanks

Flat out piss poor way to develop a young d...look at despres..he wasnt ready..seriously ready until now. You would not have seen this from him last year. Letang was the same...everyone wanted him playing sooner..and more minutes....but u let the young bodies fill out..develop. we have the depth to let DP have one year of pro before nhl.
- taleisyreXIII

I can't believe people are still defending Bylsma and the way he handled Despres. Bylsma said the kid was not coachable and had no intention of giving him an opportunity. He was wrong.
Letang is not the same, he was playing third pairing minutes his first year out of juniors. He was returned to juniors while Jordan Staal remained with the Pens and many media type people were convinced that Letang would stay ahead of Staal. If that is what you remember you are correct but he did not spend any significant time in WBS, he developed his game at the NHL level.

Ok, MJ wants possession via support, coming out with numbers? Dumping the puck in (out of interest what stat does that come under?), gives possession back (opposite) & relies on forechecking to get it back, you probably play a lot more in the O zone unless the opposition does the same? You can play both styles in the same game to confuse the opposing D?

I don't see the games, only the highlights & listen to the game as as well as other teams games (Flames commentary has Jim Carey on it??). So it's a little more difficult to understand the intricacies of the game.

Thanks
- Aussiepenguin

Jim Carey was a goalie who played for several teams, the only one which I remember is Washington. It is not the comedian.

You and I need to get together and drink that elixir you've got. You're having a damn good night tonight and I want in!
- Topshelf Mountain

It's good wine. Honest, that's it. The trick is to drink just enough, not too much.

Jim Carey was a goalie who played for several teams, the only one which I remember is Washington. It is not the comedian.
- Thunderbolt

I mean to say that who ever it is sounds like Jim Carey. (sounds like the character out of liar liar - just goofy enough.

I mean to say that who ever it is sounds like Jim Carey. (sounds like the character out of liar liar - just goofy enough.
- Aussiepenguin

You do know you can listen to the games from Pens online radio? Right?

We still don't have enough physicality on our team. We need a couple big bodies who can play.

I can't believe people are still defending Bylsma and the way he handled Despres.
- Thunderbolt

The proof is in the pudding - which is his solid, sometimes spectacular play this year.

John Hymes said a couple weeks ago that Despres turned his game around after playing in the AHL playoffs last year.

Ok, MJ wants possession via support, coming out with numbers? Dumping the puck in (out of interest what stat does that come under?), gives possession back (opposite) & relies on forechecking to get it back, you probably play a lot more in the O zone unless the opposition does the same? You can play both styles in the same game to confuse the opposing D?

- Aussiepenguin

There's a difference between doing what you want to do and taking what the defense gives. If a team is sagging back to trap, coming through with numbers simply hasn't and isn't going to work.

You have to dump and chase in that instance, which the Penguins did as well as I've seen them do it years. Some of that is personnel (Lapierre is like a heat seeking missile in puck retrieval), some of that is better technique (D dumps were softer and more precise), and some of that is commitment (team buying in an going and doing it).

"Marcel Goc recorded his first point as a Blue tonight, assisting on the Reaves goal. He's been a welcomed addition to the Blues fourth line. His puck moving ability along with his defensive play has really helped Steve Ott and Reaves as well. Ott and Reaves can play more of a reckless game physically, but they are now getting offensive chances as well. Lapierre wasn't a detriment to the Blues fourth line, but Goc is just an all around better player when it comes to playing with Ott and Reaves. The line has become dangerous, which everyone wants out of their fourth line. "

"Marcel Goc recorded his first point as a Blue tonight, assisting on the Reaves goal. He's been a welcomed addition to the Blues fourth line. His puck moving ability along with his defensive play has really helped Steve Ott and Reaves as well. Ott and Reaves can play more of a reckless game physically, but they are now getting offensive chances as well. Lapierre wasn't a detriment to the Blues fourth line, but Goc is just an all around better player when it comes to playing with Ott and Reaves. The line has become dangerous, which everyone wants out of their fourth line. "
- Barnaby36

Pens should have aquired reaves and ott is what ur saying? I love both of them.

I was at the game last night, completely dominated the devils, the crowd was silent and it easier could have been a 6-0 game

The proof is in the pudding - which is his solid, sometimes spectacular play this year.

John Hymes said a couple weeks ago that Despres turned his game around after playing in the AHL playoffs last year.
- hardnosed

Are we in 1932?

I was at the game last night, completely dominated the devils, the crowd was silent and it easier could have been a 6-0 game
- kfinl170

Kfin don't you think we could add at least one or two forwards with size? Sometimes I feel like we are getting abused on the ice. We might have the shortest team in the league aside from Montreal.