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

Who has more points? Malkin is Russian, he couldn't lead a bulldog to a gut pile.

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.
- Topshelf Mountain

I'd just message Wilson and mention something constructive if I were you. I was actually thinking of doing the same because I saw someone mentioned it earlier and there were some things brought up that I agree with and other changes not so much. Take last season for example. To me it was perfect because it was a nice combination of game preview/reviews with advanced stats and analysis sprinkled in on a daily basis.

While the advanced stats and graphs picked up partway through this season, it felt like there wasn't as much towards the beginning of the year until people started using a different kind of graph and some of the modified corsi stats etc came out; plus there were fewer game day previews and too much talk of the same trade targets and rehashes of what we all know about our bottom six. So I would like to see him get back to how good I thought the blogs were last year.

As for people who no longer post here, I get the feeling many of them left because they couldn't stand Gunner bringing advanced stats into his blogs when he took over. I can remember quite a few people were being complete asshats in the comments for a while after he was hired and did nothing but female dog about how he wrote, the validity of the stats, and had plenty of childish poop to say about those who enjoyed learning about them. So since there is absolutely nothing preventing them from skipping the blog to come talk penguin's hockey I'd have to assume these people you speak of left when other started calling them out for doing nothing but turning every thread into mocking people who actually do enjoy it.

I'd just message Wilson and mention something constructive if I were you. I was actually thinking of doing the same because I saw someone mentioned it earlier and there were some things brought up that I agree with and other changes not so much. Take last season for example. To me it was perfect because it was a nice combination of game preview/reviews with advanced stats and analysis sprinkled in on a daily basis.

While the advanced stats and graphs picked up partway through this season, it felt like there wasn't as much towards the beginning of the year until people started using a different kind of graph and some of the modified corsi stats etc came out; plus there were fewer game day previews and too much talk of the same trade targets and rehashes of what we all know about our bottom six. So I would like to see him get back to how good I thought the blogs were last year.

As for people who no longer post here, I get the feeling many of them left because they couldn't stand Gunner bringing advanced stats into his blogs when he took over. I can remember quite a few people were being complete asshats in the comments for a while after he was hired and did nothing but female dog about how he wrote, the validity of the stats, and had plenty of childish poop to say about those who enjoyed learning about them. So since there is absolutely nothing preventing them from skipping the blog to come talk penguin's hockey I'd have to assume these people you speak of left when other started calling them out for doing nothing but turning every thread into mocking people who actually do enjoy it.
- ImScore71

I don't mind the advance stats, I just don't like how every blog for everyday for the last 3 months analyzing players based on these advanced stats. Ryan has a great hockey mind and Id love a nice little game day blog or a game recap on how he thought the game went. I don't mind reading advanced stats on the players in the previous game. It's the 30 blogs of advanced stats on sutter that he's not a good 3rd line center that get boring

I'd just message Wilson and mention something constructive if I were you. I was actually thinking of doing the same because I saw someone mentioned it earlier and there were some things brought up that I agree with and other changes not so much. Take last season for example. To me it was perfect because it was a nice combination of game preview/reviews with advanced stats and analysis sprinkled in on a daily basis.

While the advanced stats and graphs picked up partway through this season, it felt like there wasn't as much towards the beginning of the year until people started using a different kind of graph and some of the modified corsi stats etc came out; plus there were fewer game day previews and too much talk of the same trade targets and rehashes of what we all know about our bottom six. So I would like to see him get back to how good I thought the blogs were last year.

As for people who no longer post here, I get the feeling many of them left because they couldn't stand Gunner bringing advanced stats into his blogs when he took over. I can remember quite a few people were being complete asshats in the comments for a while after he was hired and did nothing but female dog about how he wrote, the validity of the stats, and had plenty of childish poop to say about those who enjoyed learning about them. So since there is absolutely nothing preventing them from skipping the blog to come talk penguin's hockey I'd have to assume these people you speak of left when other started calling them out for doing nothing but turning every thread into mocking people who actually do enjoy it.
- ImScore71

I get the impression that RW isnt interested in other peoples views, his opinion is that advanced stats tell the whole story and everything that cant be quantified doesnt exist.

Without reading the comments before commenting, I understand the use of the stats, but how about throwing in the comparisons of the scoring? When did players score showing this graph? What does the bubble size & colour represent (sorry if it's there - very quick comment).

The stats say 1 thing goals say another, when these guys score goals & who they score guys with is the most important thing. You cannot base decisions on showing this graph alone. I have seen the jump in play (seen - so to speak), when certain players are playing & when they don't, so again the unknowns that create chaos amongst stats is important. Which stat is used for motivation, & which is energy & enthusiasm?

Guys hitting last time I looked Kunitz, Spaling & Lapierre - are hits important in winning games? Is forechecking pressure important in winning games? Forcing turnovers? Again I make the point that Corsi relies on team averages & doesn't detail anything - not even shots. It can be used in conjunction with other factors in evaluating a player.

Who has scored goals with who, & in what type of scenarios? It's nearly impossible to establish due to the events of a hockey game are unique they never repeat themselves exactly. Underachieving players can be game winners on any given night in any given circumstance against any given opposition.

How many times does a team have fantastic stats & lose? How many GWG are by someone unexpected? I hope that in our underachieving forwards there are a few GWG's that take our underachieving arses to Stanley glory!

Without reading the comments before commenting, I understand the use of the stats, but how about throwing in the comparisons of the scoring? When did players score showing this graph? What does the bubble size & colour represent (sorry if it's there - very quick comment).

The stats say 1 thing goals say another, when these guys score goals & who they score guys with is the most important thing. You cannot base decisions on showing this graph alone. I have seen the jump in play (seen - so to speak), when certain players are playing & when they don't, so again the unknowns that create chaos amongst stats is important. Which stat is used for motivation, & which is energy & enthusiasm?

Guys hitting last time I looked Kunitz, Spaling & Lapierre - are hits important in winning games? Is forechecking pressure important in winning games? Forcing turnovers? Again I make the point that Corsi relies on team averages & doesn't detail anything - not even shots. It can be used in conjunction with other factors in evaluating a player.

Who has scored goals with who, & in what type of scenarios? It's nearly impossible to establish due to the events of a hockey game are unique they never repeat themselves exactly. Underachieving players can be game winners on any given night in any given circumstance against any given opposition.

How many times does a team have fantastic stats & lose? How many GWG are by someone unexpected? I hope that in our underachieving forwards there are a few GWG's that take our underachieving arses to Stanley glory!
- Aussiepenguin

There are buddy, there are...you'll see.

Anyone know who is scratched for adams?

Anyone know who is scratched for adams?
- Topshelf Mountain

Probably Beau. If I could choose, I'd scratch Lapierre for a game.

Probably Beau. If I could choose, I'd scratch Lapierre for a game.
- Barnaby36

You know its saying things like this that make me believe you're someone masquerading as Barnaby.

Probably Beau. If I could choose, I'd scratch Lapierre for a game.
- Barnaby36

If everyone was held to the same standard, Sutter or Lapierre would be scratched....scratching BB in his backyard with a bunch of family there would be a real slap in the face.

Wow...no Downie tonight...seems like an odd scratch to me...BB with Sutter

Wow...no Downie tonight...seems like an odd scratch to me...BB with Sutter
- Thorny

I just heard BB is on the 2nd line and Comeau is bumped to the 3rd in place of Downie

I just heard BB is on the 2nd line and Comeau is bumped to the 3rd in place of Downie
- Guile

Comeau Sutter Winnik sounds like a pretty good line, if they can get Sutter to play a bit more of their brand of hockey those three could be really impactful come playoff time.

Been thinking this for a while now
- schoobs2731

yeah try Letang on forward 😜 !!

Comeau Sutter Winnik sounds like a pretty good line, if they can get Sutter to play a bit more of their brand of hockey those three could be really impactful come playoff time.
- stackthepads

I like it. Can Winnik play center?

yeah try Letang on forward 😜 !!
- Bradlee3

Seriously why not?

I like it. Can Winnik play center?
- drummer829

Yes. Although, I'd probably just use Spaling there first instead of Sutter. I actually trust Spaling to be a better defensively and in possesion for a 3rd line. Sutter on the 4th is a minor upgrade of Lapierre.

Yes. Although, I'd probably just use Spaling there first
- HopintheCordoba

I'm hoping Sutter can somehow duplicate his playoff performance from last year. If he does, the third line could really improve our chances of a long run.

Then promptly sell him high at the draft.

Wow...no Downie tonight...seems like an odd scratch to me...BB with Sutter
- Thorny

I'm guessing they are going with more skilled players against a highly skilled team....

I'd go

Perron sid horn
Kuni geno bb
sutter winnik comeau
Spaling lap adams

Well I'd really go downie instead of adams

A younger kuni would have one timed that for a goal...

Wow sutter and spaling out.. Please kill me now... so much offense...

Comenguys.. One guy has to go after puck when it's only the goalie

Scuds ugh

Overall good start. Kuni not so much.

Is MJ teaching them to stop or cut on the blueline? Wtf.is going on with this amatuer poop!! Skate the (frank)ing puck in to the net.. if u can't skate to the net shoot the puck towards the net bc the F2 should be going to the net for a pass or rebound...