it will be the one time I advocate losing a game on purpose
- BulliesPhan87

Have fun cheering from Buffalo. I can never ever advocate that (especially since I'll be at the game).

If it was the other way around, pens fans would be saying the same.
- idiotsallofu

Yes they would...on their own message board.

I am, but it has nothing do to with him being a Penguins. I actually hated him much more as a Hab.
- jmatchett383

The early injury to Dupuis and Maatta completely changed what I think JR was aiming for with this team. I am VERY curious to know what we would have went after had he stayed not season ending injury healthy.

I have to assume Martin traded for assets, and a near same deal for Perron, possibly 1st and Sill instead of Klink, because I don't believe we'd have gotten Klink in that scenario.

Then... well hell, no idea where to go from there. Dupuis now on the 3rd line, or a Kunitz Malkin Dupuis 2nd line with Comeau Downie on the 3rd with Sutter. Makes the 4th line Spaling Adams... ummm, Bennett. Eh, get Winnik to bump out Adams and we seem really solid again ~_~

The most overrated buzzword in hockey. Literally gave up a 2nd rounder for Winnik...another grit player. Granted he is light years ahead of Lap and its the deadline so people overpay but a second round pick for a guy with a career high of what i think 11 goals? Lapierre has no place in the league IMO, he is a matt cooke wanna be with that breed of player dying off. If you are going to be a pest you better bring something else to the table like an Andrew Shaw or Brad Marchand.
- did109

Exactly. But realize, the "grit and character" narrative is coming down from Mario on what he wants the team to look like. This team has been adding worthless intangibles for over half a decade and they have nothing tangible to show for it.

Aside from making bold, sweeping changes (i.e. trading members of the core such as Crosby, Malkin, Letang) I'm not so sure what any GM can do with the team. Really, those are your key pieces and you try to build around them. Going into the season, I thought they were a strong team.
- jmatchett383

Trying to look on the bright side for the wrong side of the state, at least they got a pair of viable top six wingers still under contract through next season (and then some for Hornqvist). That's a bit less work to do in the offseason.

Have fun cheering from Buffalo. I can never ever advocate that (especially since I'll be at the game).
- jmatchett383

Why would I cheer from Buffalo? I don't want to go there.

The early injury to Dupuis and Maatta completely changed what I think JR was aiming for with this team. I am VERY curious to know what we would have went after had he stayed not season ending injury healthy.

I have to assume Martin traded for assets, and a near same deal for Perron, possibly 1st and Sill instead of Klink, because I don't believe we'd have gotten Klink in that scenario.

Then... well hell, no idea where to go from there. Dupuis now on the 3rd line, or a Kunitz Malkin Dupuis 2nd line with Comeau Downie on the 3rd with Sutter. Makes the 4th line Spaling Adams... ummm, Bennett. Eh, get Winnik to bump out Adams and we seem really solid again ~_~
- Guile

Any word on if Dupuis is considering retirement?

two things I forgot.

1. why did the Pens not end up on the powerplay when Voracek got the 10-minute misconduct?

2. just a comment.. but when Couturier didn't get a penalty after blatantly tackling Lovejoy away from the puck, I knew we had no hope. Yes, its easy to unravel the Penguins but its a lot easier when Philly is allowed to do anything they want. As Savran tweeted out "I won't be shedding a tear for Devorski retiring, worst ref in the league"

two things I forgot.

1. why did the Pens not end up on the powerplay when Voracek got the 10-minute misconduct?

2. just a comment.. but when Couturier didn't get a penalty after blatantly tackling Lovejoy away from the puck, I knew we had no hope. Yes, its easy to unravel the Penguins but its a lot easier when Philly is allowed to do anything they want. As Savran tweeted out "I won't be shedding a tear for Devorski retiring, worst ref in the league"
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Philadelphia will not miss Devorski either, trust you me.

two things I forgot.

1. why did the Pens not end up on the powerplay when Voracek got the 10-minute misconduct?

2. just a comment.. but when Couturier didn't get a penalty after blatantly tackling Lovejoy away from the puck, I knew we had no hope. Yes, its easy to unravel the Penguins but its a lot easier when Philly is allowed to do anything they want. As Savran tweeted out "I won't be shedding a tear for Devorski retiring, worst ref in the league"
- YouMeAndDupuis9

In regards to #1, the Pens had a penalty coming up. Giroux got the roughing to even it up, and Voracek simply got a 10-minute misconduct, not a penalty.

2. Don't remember that moment, did it happen in the early 1st or 3rd?

two things I forgot.

1. why did the Pens not end up on the powerplay when Voracek got the 10-minute misconduct?

2. just a comment.. but when Couturier didn't get a penalty after blatantly tackling Lovejoy away from the puck, I knew we had no hope. Yes, its easy to unravel the Penguins but its a lot easier when Philly is allowed to do anything they want. As Savran tweeted out "I won't be shedding a tear for Devorski retiring, worst ref in the league"
- YouMeAndDupuis9

yeah cause the pens can do no wrong. What about the rat face Kunitz? I guess you forgot tho understandable.

So on to next year....

Who should pens draft in 5th rd?

So on to next year....

Who should pens draft in 5th rd?
- nh4442

Zac Rinaldo

Zac Rinaldo
- idiotsallofu

Amazing possession nimbers and scoring chances, but horrible shooting percentage? Seems to me the problem is a severe lack of talent aside from crosby and malkin. We can get all the opportunities we want and control the puck as much as we want but honestly how likely is it going in the net with players like bennett, adam, lapierre shooting it?
- saintjust21

Not very. Hence why I've been advocating for guys like Kap and Sundqvist to get a look. Do Bennett, Adams, or Lapierre provide anything that cannot be replaced? Lapierre I guess is good on faceoffs. Bennett is a decent playmaker when he doesnt have two knee braces and two turd linemates. Adams..I dunno..is really smart?

So go ahead and call moves like that risky or stupid, but I take the guys who increase our chances of scoring goals. That problem needs to be identified. Not just this year, but the last few playoff runs were ended by not scoring goals.

I could be wrong but I thought i remember hearing that Botteril is their answer to cap management and analytics. No offense but for having someone that high up being a cap manager he has failed miserably with this team. It blows my mind that a professional sports team that operates in a cap league can ever be put in the position to have to play shorthanded bc of the cap number.....dont worry you are not alone, the Flyers rushed Mason back from injury and dumbass Berube actually made him play due to the fact that they couldnt afford to recall a goalie.
- did109

I know Karmanos does "analytics." Though I'm skeptical how much the team actually applies it since they make so many moves that a numbers front office wouldn't make.

two things I forgot.

1. why did the Pens not end up on the powerplay when Voracek got the 10-minute misconduct?

2. just a comment.. but when Couturier didn't get a penalty after blatantly tackling Lovejoy away from the puck, I knew we had no hope. Yes, its easy to unravel the Penguins but its a lot easier when Philly is allowed to do anything they want. As Savran tweeted out "I won't be shedding a tear for Devorski retiring, worst ref in the league"
- YouMeAndDupuis9

1. Misconduct doesnt result in anything except that player sitting out ten minutes.
2. Probably a penalty no question but they were tied up and engaging. Please dont blame this game on the refs. They had 47 shots, ran into (figuratively and literally) a hot goalie and didnt get the saves when needed, altho i wouldnt put any of those goals on Greiss.

I could be wrong but I thought i remember hearing that Botteril is their answer to cap management and analytics. No offense but for having someone that high up being a cap manager he has failed miserably with this team. It blows my mind that a professional sports team that operates in a cap league can ever be put in the position to have to play shorthanded bc of the cap number.....dont worry you are not alone, the Flyers rushed Mason back from injury and dumbass Berube actually made him play due to the fact that they couldnt afford to recall a goalie.
- did109

to be fair, Botterhill can do all the number crunching he wants, it won't matter if GMJR decides to go in a different direction

to be fair, Botterhill can do all the number crunching he wants, it won't matter if GMJR decides to go in a different direction
- BulliesPhan87

Yeah, it's not like we know how much input from others in the FO influenced Shero's and Rutherford's decisions.

1. Misconduct doesnt result in anything except that player sitting out ten minutes.
2. Probably a penalty no question but they were tied up and engaging. Please dont blame this game on the refs. They had 47 shots, ran into (figuratively and literally) a hot goalie and didnt get the saves when needed, altho i wouldnt put any of those goals on Greiss.
- did109

I didnt even know that. Thought misconducts still resulted in 2 minutes of powerplay time. Though extremely rare, I suppose one can learn something on these boards.

I'm not one that thinks the Pens get the shaft every game nor am I solely blaming that game on the refs, but I don't think that game was officiated well. The Pens penalties were weak and there was certainly Flyer embellishment (especially mason acting like he get shot). They should have called Kunitz for 2 minutes for unsportsmanlike...even though its not in the rulebook. But I don't know why the Flyers were so mad anyway, the puck didnt even go in lol.

Like I said...the Couturier/Lovejoy thing was the one that really got me.

I didnt even know that. Thought misconducts still resulted in 2 minutes of powerplay time. Though extremely rare, I suppose one can learn something on these boards.

I'm not one that thinks the Pens get the shaft every game nor am I solely blaming that game on the refs, but I don't think that game was officiated well. The Pens penalties were weak and there was certainly Flyer embellishment (especially mason acting like he get shot). They should have called Kunitz for 2 minutes for unsportsmanlike...even though its not in the rulebook. But I don't know why the Flyers were so mad anyway, the puck didnt even go in lol.

Like I said...the Couturier/Lovejoy thing was the one that really got me.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Seriously, how did Kunitz miss that?

I didnt even know that. Thought misconducts still resulted in 2 minutes of powerplay time. Though extremely rare, I suppose one can learn something on these boards.

I'm not one that thinks the Pens get the shaft every game nor am I solely blaming that game on the refs, but I don't think that game was officiated well. The Pens penalties were weak and there was certainly Flyer embellishment (especially mason acting like he get shot). They should have called Kunitz for 2 minutes for unsportsmanlike...even though its not in the rulebook. But I don't know why the Flyers were so mad anyway, the puck didnt even go in lol.
Like I said...the Couturier/Lovejoy thing was the one that really got me.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Kinda summed up Kunitz's season in one shot. Obviously blatant disrespect and frustration. He has fallen hard and fast not playing along side Sid, although even during his time with him this year his hands seem like complete stone.

I for one came in here to read about how those nasty, bad-for-the-game Flyers acted like a bunch of thugs and hooligans in dispatching of the Pens yesterday. I am leaving disappointed.

So plenty of bodies entering local rivers in Pitt. I'll try to keep things positive.

1. Sid is beginning to look more like the old Sid. I've been critical of him at times this year but I like his play more over the past 10 games or so. My hope all season was that he was saving it for the playoffs. He's ramped it up.

2. Sutter has played better the past few games. Perhaps we get good Sutter in the playoffs?

3. They are getting tons of good looks. If they haven't had this same issue the past few seasons by making goalies look better than they are, I'd be even less concerned. Eventually, some of these have to go in. Right? Don't they? I refuse to believe their offensive core of 87, 71, 72, 14, 39 will remain this ice cold over the next few weeks.

4. Ian Cole has been a very pleasant surprise. Upgrade over Borts and I was a Borts guy.

5. Cant wait to see Horny in the playoffs.

6. We all said at various points that the regular season is meaningless. Just get in and go from there. I'll take my chances against the Habs or Rags. Actually think we can win either of those series. All of the playoff pressure would be on those 2 as opposed to the Pens.

Any word on if Dupuis is considering retirement?
- did109

Anything but that... you should read the article Dupuis wrote for the Trib on the subject and his injury. Pretty good insight into the mind of most hockey players (probably near all athletes) when it comes to their career, love of the game, and hiding injuries.

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/in-my-blood/