Is it that Niemi and Smith played all-word or that Sidney Crosby played the most disinterested and least offensively threatening hockey of his life?

You guys have been whining how invisible Crosby has looked. How he has zero shot attempts and looks like he's gliding out there. And then when you get shut out and only put up 1 goal on a team that should be a bottom 3 team in the league, you go to the "but their goalie was really good" excuse? Can't have it both ways....

All this new and shiny depth and the Penguins continue to be a team where if Crosby and Malkin don't do anything, then the entire Penguins team doesn't do anything. But please, keep blaming it on the other goalie being hot. You always have an excuse.
- rangerdanger94

Man I hate you. I just can't stand you. Go gloat somewhere else you snide, condecending a-hole! And use a different avatar, why would use one of the most punchable faces in the world? Actually nvm it suits you.

I think we've been feeling good all summer long.

Lundqvist claims he's in the best shape of his life and has never felt this good to start a season...and it seems that's true.

Our team, despite being ranked like the last place prospect pool in the league for the past 4 years, continues to pump out quality NHL talent that can play 200 foot games. Lindberg is playing unreal, JT Miller is playing great, Hayes is developing, Kreider will probably have a breakout season and Stepan looks poised to finally break 70 points. McDonagh, Girardi, Staal, Yandle, and Klein are playing good right now...especially Yandle and Klein. We had Fast and Etem scratched last night which is just a testament to how deep we really are. I see a final 4 finish for the 4th time in 5 years at the very least again.
- rangerdanger94

WHO CARES!!!!! I hope ISIS captures the Rangers plane and beheads the whole team on Aljazeera and then they play soccer with Girardi's head.

Sprong Crosby Hornqvist
Kunitz Malkin Kessel
Perron Bonino Plotnikov
Potter Cullen Bennett

Don't like Kessel with Sid anymore, he is too much finess, I think Sid thrives on a line that gets in and grinds. I loved the Kuni Sid Horny line last year, but every game Sprong plays harder and harder on the puck. I think he could fit with Sid and Hornqvist.

Malkin is better suited to play with Kessel, I though the speed on Kessel and Crosby would be deadly but now I think the slower miander that Malkin plays with will allow Kessel more time to find a soft spot while everyone concentrates on Malkin.

Bonino is too slow, Fehr should be an upgrade one he gets back.
- stackthepads

No reason not to try it. We have so many options that we should try everything and goes with what works. That being said, Crosby-Kessel looked fantastic during the preseason and I think they played pretty well the first game. Didn't watch yesterday, it being a college football saturday and all, but I think two games isn't long enough to make definitive judgements.

I like what you're saying but I would be too uncomfortable giving Dumoulin the 20+ minutes a night that Letang's partner gets. I still think that we should roll the Maatta-Letang pairing.

There really is way too many bad vibes just two games into the season. 50% of the lineup is new. Let the boys build chemistry for a bit and the young guys settle in before hitting the panic switch. There's something to the Johnston critiques but I'm not ready to claim that he's lost the room or call for his firing two games into the season.
- Victoro311

Dumoulin is the only one with the footspeed to match Letangs, they are 2 of the fastest guys in the league and could cover each other pinching in.

Dumoulin is the only one with the footspeed to match Letangs, they are 2 of the fastest guys in the league and could cover each other pinching in.
- Dcoms

Other than 58, the Pens D has been a bottom pairing including Maata. None look that good. We can cry about Scuds all we want, but replacing him with Franson wouldnt stop the ship from taking on water.

Dumoulin is the only one with the footspeed to match Letangs, they are 2 of the fastest guys in the league and could cover each other pinching in.
- Dcoms

I'm a believer in Dumo, but as of now all he's proven to be is a serviceable bottom pairing guy when sheltered. As of now, I think he has parts of his game that need work before we give him top 4 minutes, let alone Letang minutes which is a whole other beast all together.

Other than 58, the Pens D has been a bottom pairing including Maata. None look that good. We can cry about Scuds all we want, but replacing him with Franson wouldnt stop the ship from taking on water.
- sammy87

It's really not that bad. Right now it just looks like a team that hasn't played together too much and some really bad personnel/ coaching descisions. Playing Perron and Bennet on the wrong wings even though they are on the same line. Playing Cullen over Sundquist, playing Porter over Rust or Wilson, Scuderi playing at all let alone 20+ minutes, 2 PPs, etc. It's all fixable within the organization it's all up to how stubborn Johnston is. He's a smart guy and very articulate he just needs to break some bad habits, the biggest being playing younger guys. The Coyotes could surprise everyone this year. They have everything they need if they stay healthy. If Smith can stay hot all year they can score goals. They have the best defenseman (2 way)in the league. Good, fast, hungry young scorers. Next year with Strome and if they do get Mathews they will have a very good team.

Other than 58, the Pens D has been a bottom pairing including Maata. None look that good. We can cry about Scuds all we want, but replacing him with Franson wouldnt stop the ship from taking on water.
- sammy87

Looks like Franson's season has not gotten to a good start either. 2 Games: 0 G 0 A, -4.

What game were you watching? Scuderi was embarrassing. He fell down at least twice when no one was even near him. He did nothing useful in any way. Did you service him at a glory hole one day or something? I don't get why you're so blind to his uselessness?
- Dcoms

So im "servicing Scuds" because I pointed out that he was "decent, not good" last night... Even RW numbers show that he been ok... I'm "servicing him" or your just filled with blind hate toward the man regardless of what he does in 60 minutes?????? (Falling down twice is evidence of nothing... he made a nice play to nix breakaway.. funny you did not site that!!!?)

It's really not that bad. Right now it just looks like a team that hasn't played together too much and some really bad personnel/ coaching descisions. Playing Perron and Bennet on the wrong wings even though they are on the same line. Playing Cullen over Sundquist, playing Porter over Rust or Wilson, Scuderi playing at all let alone 20+ minutes, 2 PPs, etc. It's all fixable within the organization it's all up to how stubborn Johnston is. He's a smart guy and very articulate he just needs to break some bad habits, the biggest being playing younger guys. The Coyotes could surprise everyone this year. They have everything they need if they stay healthy. If Smith can stay hot all year they can score goals. They have the best defenseman (2 way)in the league. Good, fast, hungry young scorers. Next year with Strome and if they do get Mathews they will have a very good team.
- Dcoms

IDK, when you go and trade away 2 first rnd picks for the 2nd best goal scorer in the league and you still cant score....I'd say things are bad.

The D isnt good. Cole never in his career was more than a borderline NHL player and now he has top minutes with 58 and we expect more out of him. Maata looks really rusty. He may never be the player he could have been, or he just needs more time. Dumo needs more time, but the Pens dont have a ton of it.

IDK, when you go and trade away 2 first rnd picks for the 2nd best goal scorer in the league and you still cant score....I'd say things are bad.

The D isnt good. Cole never in his career was more than a borderline NHL player and now he has top minutes with 58 and we expect more out of him. Maata looks really rusty. He may never be the player he could have been, or he just needs more time. Dumo needs more time, but the Pens dont have a ton of it.
- sammy87

Kessel has been the best skater on the team so far. Fault lies with Maatta, Crosby, and Malkin playing far below expectations.

IDK, when you go and trade away 2 first rnd picks for the 2nd best goal scorer in the league and you still cant score....I'd say things are bad.

The D isnt good. Cole never in his career was more than a borderline NHL player and now he has top minutes with 58 and we expect more out of him. Maata looks really rusty. He may never be the player he could have been, or he just needs more time. Dumo needs more time, but the Pens dont have a ton of it.
- sammy87

The one preseason game that Maatta played with Letang the two looked dominant together. I think the fact of the matter is Lovejoy is not a top 4 player and will flounder in that capacity and Olli is too inexperienced to hold up that pairing. I think the defense will look much better if the Maatta-Letang super pairing was recreated and Cole is given a smaller role in a second pairing capacity. My Notre Dame homerism aside, I think Cole has looked good for us, but he's not athletic enough to play with Letang. He can thrive in a more diminished role. Would really like to see what he and Clendening can do together. I think they'd make for a good pair.

I think all and all you need to relax a bit. Its been two games. The boys will find their chemistry. You can't keep talent like ours off the scoreboard forever.

Overall the team might be playing like trash but at least they haven't suffered any injuries beyond Dupuis and Fehr.

So im "servicing Scuds" because I pointed out that he was "decent, not good" last night... Even RW numbers show that he been ok... I'm "servicing him" or your just filled with blind hate toward the man regardless of what he does in 60 minutes?????? (Falling down twice is evidence of nothing... he made a nice play to nix breakaway.. funny you did not site that!!!?)
- Brianandr1

Corsi percentages after only two games isn't great data but a 45% is pretty goddamn awful so I don't know what numbers you're looking at. It's just that everyone according to the numbers have been putrid besides the top pair.

In what world is falling down while skating not evidence of anything? He's supposed to be a shut down defenseman. That requires solid positioning and awareness to clog up shooting lanes and keep up with slick-skating forwards. You can't do that when you can't even stay up anymore. Rob Scuderi clearly has nothing left in the tank and is declining. We should be playing Clendening who has the potential to not only be better than Scuderi right out of the gate, but actually progress as the season goes.

Kessel has been the best skater on the team so far. Fault lies with Maatta, Crosby, and Malkin playing far below expectations.
- jfkst1

Im not blaming Kessel at all, I think he has looked really good. That said teh whole situation is a bit ironic and laughable at this point.

Yes 87, 71, 3 have been huge letdowns so far adn the D supporting cast just blows. You can put 3 and 58 on the ice together, but holy sh!t Id be scared to see what happens when they're not on the ice. Plot skates around like hes just happy not to collect rubles anymore. Kuni while still has a good shot has no legs, and BB has 0 intensity in his skating.

IDK maybe if I were BB where my career depends on the season, I might try to hussle every now and then instead of just going with the flow.

Question...If Bonino only nets 10 goals and Sutter gets 20 in Van based on what we've seen who wins the trade? Guess it depends on Clandening.

Corsi percentages after only two games isn't great data but a 45% is pretty goddamn awful so I don't know what numbers you're looking at. It's just that everyone according to the numbers have been putrid besides the top pair.

In what world is falling down while skating not evidence of anything? He's supposed to be a shut down defenseman. That requires solid positioning and awareness to clog up shooting lanes and keep up with slick-skating forwards. You can't do that when you can't even stay up anymore. Rob Scuderi clearly has nothing left in the tank and is declining. We should be playing Clendening who has the potential to not only be better than Scuderi right out of the gate, but actually progress as the season goes.
- Victoro311

Scuds was never a shutdown Dman. OV had like 8 goals vs the Pens in 09. The Flyers almost won their series as well. Kings didnt need him ot move on and win a cup. Scuds is another name in the long list of overrated Dmen in recent years.

Scuds, Nisk, Martin, Orpiks last 3 years, Despres.

Scuds was never a shutdown Dman. OV had like 8 goals vs the Pens in 09. The Flyers almost won their series as well. Kings didnt need him ot move on and win a cup. Scuds is another name in the long list of overrated Dmen in recent years.

Scuds, Nisk, Martin, Orpiks last 3 years, Despres.
- sammy87

Your hatred of Paul Martin baffles me. Only knock on him was that he couldn't clear the crease, but that was never his game. I also have no idea how you can call Despres overrated. If anything he was underrated. Everyone loved to hate on the guy and last season he made Scuderi look serviceable. His reward was a kick out the door for a run in the mill bottom pairing defenseman vet. Now he has flourished into a top 4 d man along side Cam Fowler.

Your hatred of Paul Martin baffles me. Only knock on him was that he couldn't clear the crease, but that was never his game. I also have no idea how you can call Despres overrated. If anything he was underrated. Everyone loved to hate on the guy and last season he made Scuderi look serviceable. His reward was a kick out the door for a run in the mill bottom pairing defenseman vet. Now he has flourished into a top 4 d man along side Cam Fowler.
- Victoro311

Despres might be a good Dman, while he was here he was a turn over machine. The trade for Lovejoy was stupid, but I dont think he would be a difference maker. He would be upgrade over most the scrubs have now, but some pretend he was the next best thing.

Same with Martin, he was never anything amazing and the Pens D during his tenure was bad and he was hurt a lot. Dont miss him.

Your hatred of Paul Martin baffles me. Only knock on him was that he couldn't clear the crease, but that was never his game. I also have no idea how you can call Despres overrated. If anything he was underrated. Everyone loved to hate on the guy and last season he made Scuderi look serviceable. His reward was a kick out the door for a run in the mill bottom pairing defenseman vet. Now he has flourished into a top 4 d man along side Cam Fowler.
- Victoro311

Martin and Despres I liked... Though Martin got smoked by the Rags more then a few times in last years play offs...I just want to be clear... I'm not saying Scuds is good, I'm saying been ok, especially vs the yotes... maybe 30 games down the road your right and I'm wrong! Pens worst d man has been Lovejoy and it's not close

Despres might be a good Dman, while he was here he was a turn over machine. The trade for Lovejoy was stupid, but I dont think he would be a difference maker. He would be upgrade over most the scrubs have now, but some pretend he was the next best thing.

Same with Martin, he was never anything amazing and the Pens D during his tenure was bad and he was hurt a lot. Dont miss him.
- sammy87

So basically you hate Martin because he wasn't flashy and the rest of our defense sucked? Got it. Sounds reasonable...

It was pretty obvious that Despres' mistakes came from trying to do too much in order to carry his pairing. Doesn't make sense that the kid sucked all the way up until the trade and decided to play hockey the second he was traded. Is Despres a super star? No and he never will be but he will be a solid top 4 guy for years to come and would have been a huge asset to the d core right now.

Martin and Despres I liked... Though Martin got smoked by the Rags more then a few times in last years play offs...I just want to be clear... I'm not saying Scuds is good, I'm saying been ok, especially vs the yotes... maybe 30 games down the road your right and I'm wrong! Pens worst d man has been Lovejoy and it's not close
- Brianandr1

Don't know how things went last night but from the sounds of it everyone but Kessel played bad. But the first game I watched and I can tell you the worst defenseman out on the ice was leaps and bounds Rob Scuderi. Ben Lovejoy was fine, although he still should not in any world play above the bottom pairing.

So basically you hate Martin because he wasn't flashy and the rest of our defense sucked? Got it. Sounds reasonable...

It was pretty obvious that Despres' mistakes came from trying to do too much in order to carry his pairing. Doesn't make sense that the kid sucked all the way up until the trade and decided to play hockey the second he was traded. Is Despres a super star? No and he never will be but he will be a solid top 4 guy for years to come and would have been a huge asset to the d core right now.
- Victoro311

I dont hate Martin or think he sucked, I just didnt think he was the Lebron James of hte Pens D that some make him out to be. He was a good mid pairing Dman that was soft and getting old.

Looking back, holy crap Lovejoy sucks and Id take the chance of Despres any day the week over him.

I dont hate Martin or think he sucked, I just didnt think he was the Lebron James of hte Pens D that some make him out to be. He was a good mid pairing Dman that was soft and getting old.

Looking back, holy crap Lovejoy sucks and Id take the chance of Despres any day the week over him.
- sammy87

Ok so turns out we do see eye to eye. You shouldn't let other people's stupid opinions on a payer affect what you think of a guy. Martin isn't a game breaker, but he was exactly the kind of guy you need in the top 4. Reliable, sound positioning, good stick work, good skating, and good passing. It'd be awesome if Martin had one more season on his contract but it was a no brainer letting him walk. He'll start declining soon. Not good value.

I'm back



F Sutter

Don't know how things went last night but from the sounds of it everyone but Kessel played bad. But the first game I watched and I can tell you the worst defenseman out on the ice was leaps and bounds Rob Scuderi. Ben Lovejoy was fine, although he still should not in any world play above the bottom pairing.
- Victoro311

Yotes scored 0 goals while Scuds was on the ice, and despite falling down a few times he was steady making a few big plays... We ll agree to disagree on both topics...