Way to play up to the fans' trepidation over the trade, Josh. If this is what can be passed along as professional journalism, I say let the papers all fall.

I have a real problem here with Sid's game the other night. Point race aside, we've seen for the first time a Sid who consistently isn't bringing it. A Sid whose attentiveness and compete level are shallow. A disinterested and unplugged Sid.

We are seeing Sid all too often turn into Kyle Wellwood.

We all know Malkin acts like a wild horse out there and has his discipline problems when he gets frustrated but he's at least been consistent. Malkin has carried the team when Sid has been injured. I suppose I could hope for injured/listless.

It's also a reason I think it would have been a great idea to play 87 and 71 more together this season; for all of the wanting of wingers and so on over the years we seem to have forgotten that they have always had each other to play with. Malkin may be the only guy on that team who could challenge Crosby if he's floating through a shift. I seem to remember Malkin screaming at Gonchar more than a few times after a shift went south.

I guess what I'm saying is that I hope Geno steps up as a leader this post-season especially if Sid comes out and sets a tone of vision-impaired cotton candy hockey.

Iron price and all that.
- Johnny Wrath

Well said. I've been saying this since, like, December.

I've almost lost faith in our Captain. If he sharts the bed again in the playoffs, I think all of my faith will be gone.

Doesn't mean I'm turning on him. doesn't mean I wont root for him. Just means deep down inside, I'll no longer believe in him.

Adams playing tonight, that should help with the secondary scoring for sure.

Well said. I've been saying this since, like, December.

I've almost lost faith in our Captain. If he sharts the bed again in the playoffs, I think all of my faith will be gone.

Doesn't mean I'm turning on him. doesn't mean I wont root for him. Just means deep down inside, I'll no longer believe in him.
- 87_71_11_29

We've seen a bunch of things go wrong in the regular season that had usually been reserved for playoff competition. Sid turning off. Metro teams owning Pittsburgh. Philadelphia really sucking. Power play can't do poop. It's really troubling. Whatever the case, I can't think it ends gracefully.

I had always thought that Disco was wasting Sid. I never would have imagined that Sid would waste Sid. I sure as hell hope that this isn't some fight over Kunitz. That kind of thing is usually reserved for the Steelers.

Adams playing tonight, that should help with the secondary scoring for sure.
- Thorny

This looks very much like there's no plan.

I would dress 7 D here. I've always been a fan of that especially when the bottom six really sucks. I would have for quite some time. If Pouliot is primarily a PP specialist, get him his minutes there and play him at even strength in sheltered situations.

Leading a game? Play him. Mistakes won't be so magnified. Increasingly play Pouliot in meaningful situations as he adjusts and can manage to stop being walked by quality NHL forwards every game. Just don't force yourself to play him in meaningful situations; that's not development, that's doing a disservice to the rest of the roster.

I would dress 7 D here. I've always been a fan of that especially when the bottom six really sucks. I would have for quite some time. If Pouliot is primarily a PP specialist, get him his minutes there and play him at even strength in sheltered situations.

Leading a game? Play him. Mistakes won't be so magnified. Increasingly play Pouliot in meaningful situations as he adjusts and can manage to stop being walked by quality NHL forwards every game. Just don't force yourself to play him in meaningful situations; that's not development, that's doing a disservice to the rest of the roster.
- Johnny Wrath

Pouliot is the 7D, he probably wont see much time in the playoffs, but he doesnt really have much to gain by being sent down. Even a few minutes of playoff intensity hockey will help his development. But in the playoffs the D pairing will and should be:
Letang Martin
Ehrhoff Lovejoy
Cole Scuderi
Pouliot
Cole and Lovejoy may be swapped depending on play/chemistry and Pouliot can be subbed in like you said for PP and scoring pushes.

Pouliot is the 7D, he probably wont see much time in the playoffs, but he doesnt really have much to gain by being sent down. Even a few minutes of playoff intensity hockey will help his development. But in the playoffs the D pairing will and should be:
Letang Martin
Ehrhoff Lovejoy
Cole Scuderi
Pouliot
Cole and Lovejoy may be swapped depending on play/chemistry and Pouliot can be subbed in like you said for PP and scoring pushes.
- stackthepads

Pouliot signed the papers so that he can play AHL playoffs. Doesn't mean that he will, but obviously management will probably move him there and we will dress 6 D.. Can they make call ups in post season? Pretty sure you can but I would keep him up for 7D

Pouliot is the 7D, he probably wont see much time in the playoffs, but he doesnt really have much to gain by being sent down. Even a few minutes of playoff intensity hockey will help his development. But in the playoffs the D pairing will and should be:
Letang Martin
Ehrhoff Lovejoy
Cole Scuderi
Pouliot
Cole and Lovejoy may be swapped depending on play/chemistry and Pouliot can be subbed in like you said for PP and scoring pushes.
- stackthepads

If Pouliot isn't in the top 6 when the team is fully healthy I'd rather see him play in the AHL than just sit and practice.....but I do like the 7 D idea and rotate Sid, malkin, perron and Hornqvist through the 4th line. Try it for a few games now and if it works then go with it in the playoffs

Pouliot signed the papers so that he can play AHL playoffs. Doesn't mean that he will, but obviously management will probably move him there and we will dress 6 D.. Can they make call ups in post season? Pretty sure you can but I would keep him up for 7D
- znagle

Theres an extended roster in the playoffs 5 healthy scratches rather than 3.
I imagine the paper signing was a formality incase the Pens get bumped early it leaves Pouliot eligable to play in WBS if theyre still going.

Theres an extended roster in the playoffs 5 healthy scratches rather than 3.
I imagine the paper signing was a formality in case the Pens get bumped early it leaves Pouliot eligible to play in WBS if they're still going.
- stackthepads

That's exactly it.

Pouliot signed the papers so that he can play AHL playoffs. Doesn't mean that he will, but obviously management will probably move him there and we will dress 6 D.. Can they make call ups in post season? Pretty sure you can but I would keep him up for 7D
- znagle

With the lack of forward play it might be better to dress 7d and double 87 and 71

Theres an extended roster in the playoffs 5 healthy scratches rather than 3.
I imagine the paper signing was a formality incase the Pens get bumped early it leaves Pouliot eligable to play in WBS if theyre still going.
- stackthepads

Ahh makes sense. Thanks for clarifying

Yes, but we used to have game day blogs. Ever since #fancystats went mainstream it's all we've been given.
- znagle

Never look a gift horse in the mouth. Just skip to the comments section and read the previews elsewhere.

I still say Bennett is a bust He just cannot finish Hopefully with his girlfriend he will to a better job

Beau Bennett is outperforming his role significantly.

We must be watching a different Beau Bennett, because the one that is on the pens rosters sucks. The dude has had like 2 or 3 decent games this year.
- joescullz

Pretty sure he's not watching games, just looking at the charts the next morning.

"Usage" as defined by "advanced" stats means nothing when it comes to the Penguins. Johnston rarely matches lines, and doesn't strategically deploy lines based on zone starts except for at the end of periods, end of games, and sometimes after an icing. End of story.

Never look a gift horse in the mouth. Just skip to the comments section and read the previews elsewhere.
- Topshelf Mountain

I think its not just that there are no previews, its that RW is constantly tearing down our team. I know he doesnt want to sugar coat things but he is just constantly attacking players and saying they are terrible based on the super narrow view of advanced stats. And for a guy who doesnt want to sugar coat he has no problem with snide remarks.
Alot of posters on here are bored of it. Sometimes its nice to read a bit of homerism, and sure I can find that elsewhere but Hockeybuzz is the forum I enjoy reading and posting on.

I've read more than once now about managements distain for Despres's off ice activity. Anybody have clue what the crap this could even be?

Simon Despres vs Pittsburgh - should be interesting.

3-2 Penguins

With the lack of forward play it might be better to dress 7d and double 87 and 71
- jchst22

Been thinking this for a while now

I still say Bennett is a bust He just cannot finish Hopefully with his girlfriend he will to a better job
- holeinone

He reminds me of a less talented JVR. He has the potential to do it, but just can't put it together. I wouldn't give up on him yet. Let him get a full off season of workouts and a full training camp. Hopefully he has better luck on the injury front and show some improvement

I think its not just that there are no previews, its that RW is constantly tearing down our team. I know he doesnt want to sugar coat things but he is just constantly attacking players and saying they are terrible based on the super narrow view of advanced stats. And for a guy who doesnt want to sugar coat he has no problem with snide remarks.
Alot of posters on here are bored of it. Sometimes its nice to read a bit of homerism, and sure I can find that elsewhere but Hockeybuzz is the forum I enjoy reading and posting on.
- stackthepads

Completely understand. I stopped reading the blog a few months ago and now go directly to the comments where the hockey banter is usually not tiring. I expressed my views a few months ago about this blogger, and then stopped. CPF said something about it, and I've noticed it to. Most of the older regulars have stopped posting because of the constant female doging. It's a pretty widespread opinion about the blog, but the bashing should stop so some of those regulars return.

Myself and many other posters come here because the regular posters are familiar, and the banter is fun. Everyone has quite a few things in common also, so everyday it's usually something different, like real estate suggestions in Raleigh last week. That's my enjoyment out of this, and I do it without letting one persons repetitive thoughts impede on that enjoyment.

Just my two cents. Go Pens!

Completely understand. I stopped reading the blog a few months ago and now go directly to the comments where the hockey banter is usually not tiring. I expressed my views a few months ago about this blogger, and then stopped. CPF said something about it, and I've noticed it to. Most of the older regulars have stopped posting because of the constant female doging. It's a pretty widespread opinion about the blog, but the bashing should stop so some of those regulars return.

Myself and many other posters come here because the regular posters are familiar, and the banter is fun. Everyone has quite a few things in common also, so everyday it's usually something different, like real estate suggestions in Raleigh last week. That's my enjoyment out of this, and I do it without letting one persons repetitive thoughts impede on that enjoyment.

Just my two cents. Go Pens!
- Topshelf Mountain

Well said. GO PENS!

Sid with 2 points, GENO with a goal. 3-2 PENS

$10 says Despres will sneak in on the forecheck and lay one on Scuds as he's going to chip it off the glass and out of our zone. That would be the perfect payback.

Completely understand. I stopped reading the blog a few months ago and now go directly to the comments where the hockey banter is usually not tiring. I expressed my views a few months ago about this blogger, and then stopped. CPF said something about it, and I've noticed it to. Most of the older regulars have stopped posting because of the constant female doging. It's a pretty widespread opinion about the blog, but the bashing should stop so some of those regulars return.

Myself and many other posters come here because the regular posters are familiar, and the banter is fun. Everyone has quite a few things in common also, so everyday it's usually something different, like real estate suggestions in Raleigh last week. That's my enjoyment out of this, and I do it without letting one persons repetitive thoughts impede on that enjoyment.

Just my two cents. Go Pens!
- Topshelf Mountain