Lets expand a bit on that... we know the Defense shakeyness at this point... How much does a good 3rd and 4th line help that? I'll be honest, I do not recall how much the Staal 3rd line helped the Defense, or that solid 4th line of ours years ago.

Can our great forward group help the defense lean on them until they pick it up? Or is that getting too optimistic?
- Guile

You know what they say.. a good offense is a good defense

I think our offense will definitely take some of the pressure off the D

Lets expand a bit on that... we know the Defense shakeyness at this point... How much does a good 3rd and 4th line help that? I'll be honest, I do not recall how much the Staal 3rd line helped the Defense, or that solid 4th line of ours years ago.

Can our great forward group help the defense lean on them until they pick it up? Or is that getting too optimistic?
- Guile

Too optimistic IMO. Seeing that our only two capable Dmen are fragile, or unlucky depending on what side of the fence you are on, we are one injury away from a disasterous defense in which our collection of forward won't probably matter. Winning games 6-5 might be great in the regular season, but it doesn't get it done when it truly counts.

Yotes sent Samuelson down. Another great Shero pick!

Yan Hejda got cut from the Hawks, most likely they cant afford him. He was a decent bottom guy with the Avs, better than Scuds that is.

Too optimistic IMO. Seeing that our only two capable Dmen are fragile, or unlucky depending on what side of the fence you are on, we are one injury away from a disasterous defense in which our collection of forward won't probably matter. Winning games 6-5 might be great in the regular season, but it doesn't get it done when it truly counts.
- Oneonta Penguin

Well, they got 82 games to get their poop together with the Defense at least.

Well, they got 82 games to get their poop together with the Defense at least.
- Guile

It's much less than 82 games. I'd say about 30-40 games tops. If it takes us longer, we might not make the playoffs.

It's much less than 82 games. I'd say about 30-40 games tops. If it takes us longer, we might not make the playoffs.
- chimpira

Oh no no no... we will win games 17 to 12 until the D gels, obviously. How else can Kessel break 100 goals?

Oh no no no... we will win games 17 to 12 until the D gels, obviously. How else can Kessel break 100 goals?
- Guile

LOL. Misread it the first time I read that. Thought you meant we will win 6 games (game 17 to game 12).

LOL. Misread it the first time I read that. Thought you meant we will win 6 games (game 17 to game 12).
- chimpira

6 games of 17 goals each... Kessel could get 100 in that

Third and fourth lines could very well be the best we have seen in Pittsburgh since winning the Cup provided health. You are probably one that thinks Bennett will do something. I don't. Seen this movie at Denver and now here.

Your worrisome issues are valid without question. However, my worrisome thing is this ... we don't have anything to send the other way in a deal which we will need to do to get a top four Dman. Sure, Sprong, Murray and maybe Sundqvist. Absent that, we don't have much at all. I'm pretty sure those top two you don't send anywhere at this juncture. If not for dumb acquisitions at the deadline in previous years, we might have the resources to make a deal to get said player. That is my worrisome issue as I look at this roster. Goalie is solid and our forwards, if healthy, should be deep. Defense is not impressive - at all.
- Oneonta Penguin

It doesn't matter if Bennett does anything or not. He could get injured and the Pens would still have excellent forward depth.
I don't want to make anymore rental trades so unless the team is going to acquire someone in a "hockey" trade, I don't want them acquiring anyone at all. I don't, and never have, believed the window was going to slam shut just because Malkin and Crosby aren't in their top primes anymore.

It doesn't matter if Bennett does anything or not. He could get injured and the Pens would still have excellent forward depth.
I don't want to make anymore rental trades so unless the team is going to acquire someone in a "hockey" trade, I don't want them acquiring anyone at all. I don't, and never have, believed the window was going to slam shut just because Malkin and Crosby aren't in their top primes anymore.
- jfkst1

Didn't he actually get injured last night? What was the whole wrist thing?

It doesn't matter if Bennett does anything or not. He could get injured and the Pens would still have excellent forward depth.
I don't want to make anymore rental trades so unless the team is going to acquire someone in a "hockey" trade, I don't want them acquiring anyone at all. I don't, and never have, believed the window was going to slam shut just because Malkin and Crosby aren't in their top primes anymore.
- jfkst1

Rental trades are a main reason why our roster looks the way it does and why we have very few assets to deal.

Didn't he actually get injured last night? What was the whole wrist thing?
- chimpira

I have seen no reports besides a snarky wrist comment on this board about a Beau Bennett injury

Rental trades are a main reason why our roster looks the way it does and why we have very few assets to deal.
- Oneonta Penguin

I guess it's a catch 22 sorta thing driven by Sid and Geno and how their prime years might be wasted if the Pens don't put a good team together on the ice so that the chance of winning the Cup are higher.

Byfuglien takes lots of penalties and has a career +/- of -41 (including a -7 with Chicago in 2010). Although he has lots of offensive abilities and can deliver bone-crushing hits he can also be lazy and undisciplined. Combine this the fact that Winnipeg would ask a lot for him I see no way he ends up with the Pens and truthfully, I don't want to see him on the team - not even if he was a FA.

It would be kind of funny if the Flyers end up with him because it could be a replaying of the Pronger situation . He is similar to Pronger except slower, less talented, and less dirty (which is saying something because Byfuglien is quite dirty). They would probably get two or at best three good years out of him and then he would be in the twilight of his career and knowing them, they would probably try to give him a decade long contract.

I guess it's a catch 22 sorta thing driven by Sid and Geno and how their prime years might be wasted if the Pens don't put a good team together on the ice so that the chance of winning the Cup are higher.
- chimpira

Yes, it is a catch 22 without question. However, very few rental deals have worked out here. I would have loved to keep the assets that it took to acquire Iggy (non factor), Murray (worse) and even Winnik last year along with a few others instead of seeing a worthless trade go even worse. Daniel Winnik wasn't going to solve out problems last year.

Rental trades are a main reason why our roster looks the way it does and why we have very few assets to deal.
- Oneonta Penguin

I think the value of rental players is pretty random anyway. Vermette scored some timely goals for CHI but they paid a huge price for him and his collectively body of work with them was very unimpressive. They might not have needed those timely goals if he played up to his trade/salary demands. Timonen was a liability to the point that they avoided putting him on the ice and played their top four insane minutes. CHI could have very well won the SC without either of them. Hopefully the Pens stay healthy and they won't need/be able to make any rental trades at the deadline anyway. I'm all for making hockey trades to improve the team. I'm done with rentals.

the sky is not falling everyone...

we have yet to ice our whole lineup. yeah our D hasnt looked good, neither has our goal tending. heck, our offense hasnt been that impressive. thats bc we havent iced our full team yet.

plus a 9 to 7 win is still a win. playing defense is overrated. i say we get rid of any one listed as defense and have nothing but forwards....this would be entertaining.

The defense has time to get it together. Lets of potential combos and time to get it worked out. If you look to past SC winners and finalists, it's not like their defenses were elite. they simply played together and operated well in front of their above average goaltender.

Pouliot should start in the AHL. His problems appear more mental. You solve those problems by letting him log big minutes in WBS than by being a fringe dman in Pittsburgh. Give him 2 months in the AHL and then bring him up in December, I think he'll be a much better dman by then.

I'll give you Polak for Scuds and a 1st for taking him

No seriously, Perron hopefully should get you a guy in a similar situation and shore up the D if the young guys can't do it.

No seriously, Perron hopefully should get you a guy in a similar situation and shore up the D if the young guys can't do it.
- Aaron_85

I think it's too early t tell. It's early in the season and the whole team has had a makeover. It will take time to gel and see what we have. But you know I expected the defense to struggle a bit early on, that's natural.

I think this team as it is, should get 10-15 games to see where it is at. I think the upside at defense is there, especially if the young guys can grow more and more. I think DP should start in the A, there is no reason for him to be up here right now. I know he will be a huge part of this season, but right now, he needs to settle down and collect himself. I think its pretty much a given, Scuds is the 7th dman on this team, for what its worth, I think they are trying to "force" him out wit lack of playing time.

I love the way Sprong plays, there is no reason he shouldn't get the 10 game look to start the year, and if he plays as he has been, make the team. I don't care about the age, all I care about is if he can help this team, and I think he can. Sprong, BB and Cullen is a pretty good 4th line.

I think it's too early t tell. It's early in the season and the whole team has had a makeover. It will take time to gel and see what we have. But you know I expected the defense to struggle a bit early on, that's natural.
- powerhouse

Fair assessment. I only care how well Kessel and Malkin do this year to be honest. Have them in some fantasy pools

I think this team as it is, should get 10-15 games to see where it is at. I think the upside at defense is there, especially if the young guys can grow more and more. I think DP should start in the A, there is no reason for him to be up here right now. I know he will be a huge part of this season, but right now, he needs to settle down and collect himself. I think its pretty much a given, Scuds is the 7th dman on this team, for what its worth, I think they are trying to "force" him out wit lack of playing time.

I love the way Sprong plays, there is no reason he shouldn't get the 10 game look to start the year, and if he plays as he has been, make the team. I don't care about the age, all I care about is if he can help this team, and I think he can. Sprong, BB and Cullen is a pretty good 4th line.
- Thorny

It's a waste to have Sprong on the 4th line. He's only played RW from what I understand so unless he beats out Kessel or Hornqvist, I don't see why he should stay longer than a 9 game tryout.

I think this team as it is, should get 10-15 games to see where it is at. I think the upside at defense is there, especially if the young guys can grow more and more. I think DP should start in the A, there is no reason for him to be up here right now. I know he will be a huge part of this season, but right now, he needs to settle down and collect himself. I think its pretty much a given, Scuds is the 7th dman on this team, for what its worth, I think they are trying to "force" him out wit lack of playing time.

I love the way Sprong plays, there is no reason he shouldn't get the 10 game look to start the year, and if he plays as he has been, make the team. I don't care about the age, all I care about is if he can help this team, and I think he can. Sprong, BB and Cullen is a pretty good 4th line.
- Thorny

Sorry, but your solid opinionated optimism is not welcome here. We must sell all we hate and fast, and replace them with super steals of players with immensely better caliber.