How do you guys see Fleury doing this year, and as a result the Pens finishing in the East? Do you think the D will hold up and he'll put up decent regular season numbers?

I saw the comments by the guy above, I'm asking genuinely.
- david22

I think Fleury is fine, he has been the teams MVP of the last 2 playoffs so the whole falls apart under pressure narrative is outdated. I think we need a defenseman right now and that's what is seperating us from elite and contender status'

I'm skeptical he'll learn much at the AHL level. He was already dominant there last year. Ideally they could put Lovejoy and Pouliot together on the 3rd pairing. But I'll probably end up being Scuderi "mentoring" him.
- jfkst1

I think he goes to WBS and gets used primarily in a shutdown role and killing penalties, no PP time. Until he learns and is capable of doing that side of the game. It worked for Despres

I think he goes to WBS and gets used primarily in a shutdown role and killing penalties, no PP time. Until he learns and is capable of doing that side of the game. It worked for Despres
- Dcoms

So in other words they'll be trading him midseason for Byfuglien.

From what I understand he only "dominated" offensively. As a defenseman that's not dominating a league. And ideally third line would be pouliot and Dumo with cole and Lovejoy on the second line and scuds the #7.
- Zac_O

Scuds as a # 7 and losing Clendening is terrible asset management. Waive Scuds if anything, no one will claim his contract off of waivers

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

Yeah I don't think Zlobin has played since the rookie tourney where he did next to nothing. Would love for him to come back but I don't think expectations have ever been lower for him.

I think he goes to WBS and gets used primarily in a shutdown role and killing penalties, no PP time. Until he learns and is capable of doing that side of the game. It worked for Despres
- Dcoms

I wouldn't mind him being sent down to WBS at all if this is how he is used.

Scuds as a # 7 and losing Clendening is terrible asset management. Waive Scuds if anything, no one will claim his contract off of waivers
- Dcoms

Waive him then leave him in the NHL? Because from what I understand there is no cap reward for him playing in the AHL. I could be wrong though.

So in other words they'll be trading him midseason for Byfuglien.
- jfkst1

Can't afford Buffs cap hit

Waive him then leave him in the NHL? Because from what I understand there is no cap reward for him playing in the AHL. I could be wrong though.
- Zac_O

We get 900k in cap relief if we send Scuderi down. Coincidently, that about washes with Adam Clendening's cap hit.

Waive him then leave him in the NHL? Because from what I understand there is no cap reward for him playing in the AHL. I could be wrong though.
- Zac_O

Scuderi is not getting waived/sent down, whatever. HCMJ considers him a shot suppression and a PK specialist. Also, a stay at home defenseman and a leader in the locker room. We better get used to seeing Scuds in the lineup (I am imagining as a 3rd pairing) on regular basis.

Waive him then leave him in the NHL? Because from what I understand there is no cap reward for him playing in the AHL. I could be wrong though.
- Zac_O

They save $900 000 and the roster spot, that is more than %25 of his salary. Maybe a team like Boston panics and claims him off of waivers. Sweeny was Scuderi when he was a player, maybe he feels a kinship like Bylsma did with Craig Adams. It can't hurt anything. Scuds can mentor Pouly in WBS while they both ride the bus, kindred spirits, one on his way out one on his way in, both struggling right now.

They save $900 000 and the roster spot, that is more than %25 of his salary. Maybe a team like Boston panics and claims him off of waivers. Sweeny was Scuderi when he was a player, maybe he feels a kinship like Bylsma did with Craig Adams. It can't hurt anything. Scuds can mentor Pouly in WBS while they both ride the bus, kindred spirits, one on his way out one on his way in, both struggling right now.
- Dcoms

Management won't send Scuderi down. If their bottom line was winning it would probably happen but this isn't the NE Patriots. They aren't nearly ruthless enough to do it. I wish they would but they won't. Hell they'll probably sign Gonchar and Pens will have a ridiculed geriatric duo out of those two.

I haven't given up on Pouliot even with his rough camp. I think so far life has been pretty easy for him. Everything has come pretty naturally for him. Adversity and overcoming it is where you learn the biggest lessons in life. He'll have a lot of long bus rides to think about it. Maybe he can see MAF's shrink too because most of his struggle right now is in his head. He needs to refocus and rededicate himself and realize that you can't stop working. Even Sid trains harder than anyone and he's the best in the world at what he does.

They save $900 000 and the roster spot, that is more than %25 of his salary. Maybe a team like Boston panics and claims him off of waivers. Sweeny was Scuderi when he was a player, maybe he feels a kinship like Bylsma did with Craig Adams. It can't hurt anything. Scuds can mentor Pouly in WBS while they both ride the bus, kindred spirits, one on his way out one on his way in, both struggling right now.
- Dcoms

I've been meaning to ask if Boston is a potential landing spot for Scuderi. They seem to love their stay at home d there and with Chara constantly hurt now and Seidenberg out till God knows when maybe they'd trade a 7th for scuds at 1 mil retained. It gives as much cap space as buying him out without the extra year of cap penalties. I can see Scuds being stomach able to the Bs at 2.25 mil and since Boston has an OK team Scuderi may actually wave unlike Toronto. That Yohe article made it sound like he was getting tired of the lack of appreciation around these parts.

Management won't send Scuderi down. If their bottom line was winning it would probably happen but this isn't the NE Patriots. They aren't nearly ruthless enough to do it. I wish they would but they won't. Hell they'll probably sign Gonchar and Pens will have a ridiculed geriatric duo out of those two.
- jfkst1

If Gonchar is signed then there are a lot of people that are not doing their jobs and at this level that is unacceptable. I get that everyone likes Scuderi the person and he brings other things to the table and blah blah blah but you can't say that about Gonchar.

I've been meaning to ask if Boston is a potential landing spot for Scuderi. They seem to love their stay at home d there and with Chara constantly hurt now and Seidenberg out till God knows when maybe they'd trade a 7th for scuds at 1 mil retained. It gives as much cap space as buying him out without the extra year of cap penalties. I can see Scuds being stomach able to the Bs at 2.25 mil and since Boston has an OK team Scuderi may actually wave unlike Toronto. That Yohe article made it sound like he was getting tired of the lack of appreciation around these parts.
- Victoro311

Lets hope the universe aligns and he's somehow gone. It's not like the fan base isn't demanding it. I know that should not have anything to do with it though.

I find it funny how we're used to being weak on offense and strong on D, and now the roles are reversed

*Strong applies when we weren't crippled by injuries

We should have 4-5 people from this message board do our own Penguins Buzzcast previewing the season, since A) our blogger never communicates with us and when he does he's a condescending wiener and B) the Buzzcast itself the 4 guys on the panel, with the exception of Kevin Allen, have no idea what they are talking about when it comes to the Pens and hate them no matter what. I don't know how to set it up or anything but we could make it available on here. Would be a lot more fun and interactive than what we currently have

I find it funny how we're used to being weak on offense and strong on D, and now the roles are reversed

*Strong applies when we weren't crippled by injuries
- Pens_Burgh

When have we ever been strong on D? We were strong on D last year when everyone was healthy which lasted all of five games. Our defense has been as big a weakness as our bottom six.

We should have 4-5 people from this message board do our own Penguins Buzzcast previewing the season, since A) our blogger never communicates with us and when he does he's a condescending wiener and B) the Buzzcast itself the 4 guys on the panel, with the exception of Kevin Allen, have no idea what they are talking about when it comes to the Pens and hate them no matter what. I don't know how to set it up or anything but we could make it available on here. Would be a lot more fun and interactive than what we currently have
- Dcoms

Every week we'd need one advanced stats generalist, one eye test generalist, one pro-Scuderi guy, and one anti-Scuderi guy just to cover all the bases.

If Gonchar is signed then there are a lot of people that are not doing their jobs and at this level that is unacceptable. I get that everyone likes Scuderi the person and he brings other things to the table and blah blah blah but you can't say that about Gonchar.
- Dcoms

You know who else was a strong leader in the locker room and had the love of management from the GM down? Mike Richards. Ask him how that panned out for him. There comes a point where you just have to do everything in your power to move on from a bad contract, whether that be sending the contract down to the AHL for a measly 900k in cap relief, or coming up with bogus reasons to terminate a contract.

Every week we'd need one advanced stats generalist, one eye test generalist, one pro-Scuderi guy, and one anti-Scuderi guy just to cover all the bases.
- Victoro311

I'll be the funny guy that's anti-scuderi and tells off other teams fans

When have we ever been strong on D? We were strong on D last year when everyone was healthy which lasted all of five games. Our defense has been as big a weakness as our bottom six.
- Victoro311

Like I said, when healthy we were strong. The past few years defense hasn't been anywhere nearly as much of an issue as our offense. Granted Bylsma's system did suck for our defense as well.

You know who else was a strong leader in the locker room and had the love of management from the GM down? Mike Richards. Ask him how that panned out for him. There comes a point where you just have to do everything in your power to move on from a bad contract, whether that be sending the contract down to the AHL for a measly 900k in cap relief, or coming up with bogus reasons to terminate a contract.
- Victoro311

I agree I can't be rid of Scuderi fast enough, I'm talking about the players.

Every week we'd need one advanced stats generalist, one eye test generalist, one pro-Scuderi guy, and one anti-Scuderi guy just to cover all the bases.
- Victoro311

Ill be the jaded minor league guy who hates every prospect we have in our system.