Keep pouliot as a #7-#8 d-man? Frank no! Like I said before. Let him play top minutes in the AHL before putting him on bottom pairing in the NHL. He is the top prospect the pens have, why would they sit him in the NHL when he could play in the AHL?
- Zac_O

That is the question of what the team values more... AHL playing time, or practice with the NHL team.

I get what you're saying, absolutely, but with HCMJ being the one who knows DP the best, think he'd rather be riding him everyday in practice then having him sent down.

If he is sent down, doesn't that almost guarantee Gonchar a spot on the roster, and playing time? X_X


Edit: And lets be frank here... we don't NEED Pouliot to become top 4 this year, and maybe not even next year. We need him to be above average for the bottom pairing at the worst. Let him do what Niskanen did in those sheltered minutes, run circles around the other team and put up points.

DP has done nothing to show that he deserves to be in the NHL let alone in a Top 4 role. I, like many people here, was very wrong to think that he could handle a Top 4 role. I thought he could walk in and take one of the top 4 roles but he clearly isnt ready.

I was really interested in the Perron-Bonino-Dupuis 3rd line last night. I would personally swap Perron and Plotnikov. I think Plotnikov would make for a harder working and better 3rd line with Perron being the skill on Malkin's wing.

Our Top 9 no matter what we do is straight up dirty. Really excited to watch this team at full strength when the season starts. defense needs work, i think everyone can agree to that.
- SuperHenderson13

Id say our top 12 is dirty any way you slice it.

No we still disagree. I have reservations about sending Pouliot down because he undoubtedly dominated last season in the AHL while there and playing against completely inferior competition can really screw with someone's development. They pick up bad habits that work against their lessers but won't against their equals.

Think Jahlil Okafor. He spent the entire regular season using his massive frame to bully the smaller NCAA big men instead of developing his post moves. He got to the tourney and his lack of post moves were exploited by opposing coaches' game plans and the more talented big men he faced deeper into the tourney resulting in a lack luster post season by his standards and why Tyus and Justise got all the praise.

Same holds true for Pouliot, and we saw it in the rookie tourney on several plays where he challeneged the opposing five players single handedly because he knew he could. If he spends too much time in the AHL and pulls that poop night in and night out, it's gonna be really hard to get him to break that habit once it's formed which would be a disaster against NHL competition.

I want to send Pouliot down as a warning shot across his bow, not to send him back to the oven to cook.
- Victoro311

Completly dominated how? Because he had a lot of points? That's not dominating for a DEFENSEMAN. People keep acting like he is the 4th forward on every line.

That is the question of what the team values more... AHL playing time, or practice with the NHL team.

I get what you're saying, absolutely, but with HCMJ being the one who knows DP the best, think he'd rather be riding him everyday in practice then having him sent down.

If he is sent down, doesn't that almost guarantee Gonchar a spot on the roster, and playing time? X_X


Edit: And lets be frank here... we don't NEED Pouliot to become top 4 this year, and maybe not even next year. We need him to be above average for the bottom pairing at the worst. Let him do what Niskanen did in those sheltered minutes, run circles around the other team and put up points.
- Guile

I agree with zac that having Pouliot ride the pine is probably not in his development's best interest. I'd rather have him playing in the AHL than that.

But I agree with you completely on your edit. Everyone here is acting like Pouliot is no use to us if he's not a top 4 d man this season. I actually think sheltering is the best go for his development. Favorable zone starts while he wets his feat against NHL caliber competition.

How about "serviceable"? Let's call him serviceable. Plus his post-game interviews are enlightening.
- chimpira

Serviceable ... I can deal with.

That is the question of what the team values more... AHL playing time, or practice with the NHL team.

I get what you're saying, absolutely, but with HCMJ being the one who knows DP the best, think he'd rather be riding him everyday in practice then having him sent down.

If he is sent down, doesn't that almost guarantee Gonchar a spot on the roster, and playing time? X_X


Edit: And lets be frank here... we don't NEED Pouliot to become top 4 this year, and maybe not even next year. We need him to be above average for the bottom pairing at the worst. Let him do what Niskanen did in those sheltered minutes, run circles around the other team and put up points.
- Guile

Or HCMJ could be bias because of their past together and play a player that isn't ready. If the AHL coaching staff isn't good enough to push pouliot in the right direction the team has bigger problems.

Pouliot goes to the AHL only if they force Gonchar onto the team so we don't lose Dumo/Clendening to waivers really. Since they said they are keeping 8 defensemen, maybe spot starts and just more practice with the club would be better than the AHL.

Letang - Maatta
Cole - Clend
Dumo - Lovejoy

Scuds - Pouliot

Erixon, the word is hes been hurt? Can't say I care about him being a "Penguin" before the season even starts, we have enough injury prone players.
- Guile

I'm not sure keeping DP up in the capacity you suggesting is a good idea.

Completly dominated how? Because he had a lot of points? That's not dominating for a DEFENSEMAN. People keep acting like he is the 4th forward on every line.
- Zac_O

I'm not gonna claim like I watch many WBS games but every time I see him playing against AHL caliber competition it's man against boys. Gonna go ahead and assume it's much the same night in and night out in the AHL. Unless the coach is going to bench him when he pulls his one-man commando poop then I don't want him playing there for an extended period of time and developing that habit even if he's learning about positioning. He can learn about positioning in a sheltered role up here while simultaneously learning what works and what doesn't work at this level.

I'm not sure keeping DP up in the capacity you suggesting is a good idea.
- Oneonta Penguin

Its not my first choice either, just another alternative to sending him in the AHL "if" its not going to do him much good.

I'm not gonna claim like I watch many WBS games but every time I see him playing against AHL caliber competition it's man against boys. Gonna go ahead and assume it's much the same night in and night out in the AHL. Unless the coach is going to bench him when he pulls his one-man commando poop then I don't want him playing there for an extended period of time and developing that habit even if he's learning about positioning. He can learn about positioning in a sheltered role up here while simultaneously learning what works and what doesn't work at this level.
- Victoro311

It's hard to be against a sheltered role for him. It's probably one of the better options. Just scares me that there are already so many questions with this defense then you give extra attention to one guy. Seems risky.

It's hard to be against a sheltered role for him. It's probably one of the better options. Just scares me that there are already so many questions with this defense then you give extra attention to one guy. Seems risky.
- Zac_O

It's not giving extra attention to one guy. The third pairing will absolutely have to be sheltered regardless of who's on it. The best way to deal with our defense is by giving Maatta-Letang Suter miniutes, having Cole and whoever his partner ends up being pick up the slack, and then give the third pairing the Dumo-Chorney treatment.

Completly dominated how? Because he had a lot of points? That's not dominating for a DEFENSEMAN. People keep acting like he is the 4th forward on every line.
- Zac_O

Pouliot struggling is still better than Gonchar or Scuderi. I've yet to see Dumoulin play well either. Clendening is the only unproven dman that has really looked solid to me. Though obviously I'm only seeing them in limited exposure.

It's not giving extra attention to one guy. The third pairing will absolutely have to be sheltered regardless of who's on it. The best way to deal with our defense is by giving Maatta-Letang Suter miniutes, having Cole and whoever his partner ends up being pick up the slack, and then give the third pairing the Dumo-Chorney treatment.
- Victoro311

And I hate that too because you're putting two injury prone guys on the ice for 22-30 minutes a game. Suter can do it because he's durable. Tanger and maatta would fall far from that category.

Man you dudes were all set with Pouliot in the top 4 a few weeks ago. I thought it was likely he was going down just because of waiver status. Right or wrong I don't know I haven't been able to watch 1 second of a game so far. However I seem to recall Letang struggling pretty badly at the beggining of his career. Seemed to turn the corner when paired with Gil.

I'm on board with Cole and Clendening on the second pair, I think Clen has lots of upside, watched him in Vancouver and he didn't blow it wide open but you never know in a new system. He's probably like Lovejoy but with a better transition game and potential to get better. Dumo and Lovejoy can have the bottom pairing, with Dumo most likely swapping with OK Rob depending on how he plays. We all know 3 million isn't gonna be sittin in the press box often. I do think if the younger guys like Dumo or Clen fall on their face the coach will have Scuderi right back in the top 4..... Scary

Pouliot hasn't earned an NHL spot yet IMO, thats why excluded him, he may do so later in the season.

Man you dudes were all set with Pouliot in the top 4 a few weeks ago. I thought it was likely he was going down just because of waiver status. Right or wrong I don't know I haven't been able to watch 1 second of a game so far. However I seem to recall Letang struggling pretty badly at the beggining of his career. Seemed to turn the corner when paired with Gil.
- dbell646

Oh, now it's "YOU DUDES"??

Man you dudes were all set with Pouliot in the top 4 a few weeks ago. I thought it was likely he was going down just because of waiver status. Right or wrong I don't know I haven't been able to watch 1 second of a game so far. However I seem to recall Letang struggling pretty badly at the beggining of his career. Seemed to turn the corner when paired with Gil.
- dbell646

Most were set with Pouliot in the top 6. I've seen every combination of Pouliot/Cole/Dumoulin/Lovejoy/Clendening suggested as the 2nd pair.

And I hate that too because you're putting two injury prone guys on the ice for 22-30 minutes a game. Suter can do it because he's durable. Tanger and maatta would fall far from that category.
- Zac_O

I'm actually way more concerned about Maatta. Ignoring concussions and freak things like strokes, Letang is actually pretty durable. He's an insane fitness and health freak so as long as no freak accidents happen like the Doane hit I'm not worried about him not being able to handle the minutes. The Doane fiasco was at least the second time Letang has suffered a concussion due to trying to dance around a hit and not properly absorbing it. Hopefully he's finally figured it out.

You have a point on Maatta. He was tuckered out by the playoffs his rookie season and those shoulder surgeries are scary. Only time will tell.

At the end of the day, it's never ideal to lean very hard on one pairing or line, but given the state of the defense it's what we have to do, at least to start. Hopefully our guys develop as the season progresses and they shoulder a bigger role, and if not Rutherford will be forced to make a trade. It will all work out.

Don't know much about Clendening nor Warsofsky. Are they playing well? Different styles? Whom do they compare to? Goligoski? Niskanen?
- Barnaby36

Jeeze that's a good question. Warsofsky is like Mugsy Bogues really, I don't know of an NHL comparable off the top of my head, maybe Krug light. Clendeninig reminds me of a young Dan Boyle.

Yea pens have a 1 in 4 shot with 2 capable defensemen, who will probably play 75-100 games combined, and a goalie who can't stop a beach ball when the pressure is on.

Where do I sign up to bet on these odds?

I'm done here anyways. Always read on this site fans of 29 teams saying pens fans were the most delusional. I didn't believe it until I read Maata is better than SubbaN. Never open this thread again it's like a thread full of James tanners. Everyone was right. Go live your pipe dreams of making round 2.
- QuickSCF

Good Riddance!

It might be fair to say that Pittsburgh is the emergence or acquisition of 1 top 4 d man away from being a cup team... that's a lot closer then Montreal... Fleury has been great in the big spot the last two years... Maatta is not better then Subban at this point... but the potential is their... Letang is better and cheaper...

Friend when you go onto another thread an say dumb things what do you think is going to happen?
- Brianandr1

Subban has pretty much hit his ceiling Maatta has not that's why Subban would not get you Maatta plus that contract is vomitous.

I'm actually way more concerned about Maatta. Ignoring concussions and freak things like strokes, Letang is actually pretty durable. He's an insane fitness and health freak so as long as no freak accidents happen like the Doane hit I'm not worried about him not being able to handle the minutes. The Doane fiasco was at least the second time Letang has suffered a concussion due to trying to dance around a hit and not properly absorbing it. Hopefully he's finally figured it out.

You have a point on Maatta. He was tuckered out by the playoffs his rookie season and those shoulder surgeries are scary. Only time will tell.

At the end of the day, it's never ideal to lean very hard on one pairing or line, but given the state of the defense it's what we have to do, at least to start. Hopefully our guys develop as the season progresses and they shoulder a bigger role, and if not Rutherford will be forced to make a trade. It will all work out.
- Victoro311

Ya I guess it's not fair to say tanger is injury prone. I'm probably over thinking it because the defense is the weakest part of the team.

A subject I believe we agree on. Anton Zlobin Is in the lineup tonight. Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe this is his first preseason game this year. I am still holding hope he will pull a "comeback" or "turnaround" thing in his injury riddled career and become a stud. I'll definitely be watching for him tonight.

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/james-neal-predators-sniper/

Love him or hate him, this is a really interesting article. Makes me even more impressed with Sprong that he's already shown an ability to score at this level. Also I found the switching sides part extremely interesting. Moral of the story: you just don't know how switching sides will effect different players. James Neal was switched at the conclusion of his development as a prospect which gives me faith that you can teach an old dog new tricks. There is no down side to trying both the older dog (Hornqvist) and the young pup (Sprong) on their off wing for a few preseason games or a meaningless stretch at the beginning of the season. If Sprong is ready for a top six wing role, and someone pans out on their off wing, that opens up the possibility to trade Kunitz or Perron for top 4 d help
- Victoro311

You can't trade Perron in that instance because he doesn't make enough money. I think if Sprong works out he can play his strong with with Malkin and Perron on the left. Then we trade Kunitz and Lovejoy together for a Hamhuis type.
Letang Maatta
Cole Hamhuis
Dumoulin Clendening
Warsofsky
Looks really good and takes pressure off of Pouliot. Then Pouliot becomes an answer next year.

I'm on board with Cole and Clendening on the second pair, I think Clen has lots of upside, watched him in Vancouver and he didn't blow it wide open but you never know in a new system. He's probably like Lovejoy but with a better transition game and potential to get better. Dumo and Lovejoy can have the bottom pairing, with Dumo most likely swapping with OK Rob depending on how he plays. We all know 3 million isn't gonna be sittin in the press box often. I do think if the younger guys like Dumo or Clen fall on their face the coach will have Scuderi right back in the top 4..... Scary

Pouliot hasn't earned an NHL spot yet IMO, thats why excluded him, he may do so later in the season.
- nelson911

If all Clendening is is a 5-6 d man then I'll still be happy since he fits so well in our system. Sometimes people forget that ideally we want seven defensemen that fit our system and think that if one of these PMD aren't top 4 caliber then they're worthless, which is just wrong. We'll be moving on from Lovejoy and Scuderi soon, and the goal is to get d men that are better suited for our system than they are.

Ya I guess it's not fair to say tanger is injury prone. I'm probably over thinking it because the defense is the weakest part of the team.

A subject I believe we agree on. Anton Zlobin Is in the lineup tonight. Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe this is his first preseason game this year. I am still holding hope he will pull a "comeback" or "turnaround" thing in his injury riddled career and become a stud. I'll definitely be watching for him tonight.
- Zac_O

Letang is absolutely injury prone. He's missed at least 8 games in 7/8 NHL seasons.