If McLellan can get some direction & a D man that can actually lead a team then the Oil are far more skilled with their top 9 - they have to be right? How many top picks are running round in Oil?? Individually I think Eichel will be the more do I any player than McD, & quite possibly - just saying, McD will take a lot longer to develop due to the environment he is playing hockey in due to all those top picks he's playing with.

Eichel does have a lot more experience around him but there are still the remnants of the tanking from last year that will take their time to leave.

Edit: What the (frank) is that IPad?? That should be "more dominant individual', (frank)in thing writes it's own sentences!!!,
- Aussiepenguin

I've only watched a little bit of both teams so I couldn't tell you much about them. I think they both have some really weak defenses and that will prevent them from competing even if their forward lineups are really strong.
Speaking of another team that has a strong forward lineup and no defense, CBJ is 0-3-0.

I think he's definitely on a better team. Doubt either will be as dominant as Ovie/Crosby were in their early years though.
- jfkst1

- Jeropotato

granted, it may also be reflective of league wide differences in scoring, but i dont think its laughable to think that mcdavid and eichel wont be shoo ins for 100 plus points and what have you

granted, it may also be reflective of league wide differences in scoring, but i dont think its laughable to think that mcdavid and eichel wont be shoo ins for 100 plus points and what have you
- stayinthefnnet

This season? I wouldn't have expectations that high....just think it's hilarious how many people have passed judgement this early in the season .

- Jeropotato

Yeah, most of us find it pretty hilarious too that the Oilers collect top 10 picks every draft and still can't get out of the basement.

Yeah, most of us find it pretty hilarious too that the Oilers collect top 10 picks every draft and still can't get out of the basement.
- jfkst1

Clever, AND original. You're a rare wit.

This season? I wouldn't have expectations that high....just think it's hilarious how many people have passed judgement this early in the season .
- Jeropotato

That was my opinion before they played a single game. I don't think most expected either to be as dominant as Crosby/Ovechkin were when they were teenagers. More league parity in the players, fewer penalties, better goalies, and frankly I'm not sure either are as good. Crosby finished 6th in scoring as an 18 yr old rookie. Ovie was 3rd as a 19 yr old.

That was my opinion before they played a single game. I don't think most expected either to be as good as Crosby/Ovechkin were when they were teenagers. More league parity in the players, fewer penalties, better goalies, and frankly I'm not sure either are as good. Crosby finished 6th in scoring as an 18 yr old rookie. Ovie was 3rd as a 19 yr old.
- jfkst1

I don't think McD will be anywhere near that. Just laughing at the Eichel/McDavid competition being decided after 2 and 3 games.not that I care much, scoring titles come way after team success, that's what I want to see.

I get it off, yes it is a perk. Up next Vets Day!
- Reverend Killtaker

I don't get off Vets Day

I don't think McD will be anywhere near that. Just laughing at the Eichel/McDavid competition being decided after 2 and 3 games.not that I care much, scoring titles come way after team success, that's what I want to see.
- Jeropotato

Well (frank) Jero, the Rags have already booked the parade after 2 games & have even invited Obama after the 3rd win!! So the season has already been decided & we can declare the winner of the McD/Eichel sweep to be the Sabres.

My take on the problem with this team is they are neither fast nor physical. You need guys who are going to win battles or win races to the puck.

I have liked a lot of the moves made by Rutherford, he has done a good job of making this Mike Johnston's team. Johnston needs to take the bull by the horns and play the guys who play his system best. All I hear is his philosophy is based on speed and yet I see slow players playing big minutes, specifically Kunitz and Scuderi. He needs to grow a pair and use what little speed he has or he will be back in juniors.

Well (frank) Jero, the Rags have already booked the parade after 2 games & have even invited Obama after the 3rd win!! So the season has already been decided & we can declare the winner of the McD/Eichel sweep to be the Sabres.
- Aussiepenguin

Rangers fans should expect to compete for the cup tho.

So... here is a big question to us.

We've been preaching for a few years to let the young guys play, stop trading for rentals and ride it out a year...
Along with that, we also have some fearmongers of "Crosby and Malkin's prime is closing".

Now, I know we shouldn't have sold out on rentals last year, can't help that.. but for this season, do you grab a defensive rental, or ride it out?**


** A "hockey trade" for a dman with 2-3 years left not counting in this scenario, those are fine.

So... here is a big question to us.

We've been preaching for a few years to let the young guys play, stop trading for rentals and ride it out a year...
Along with that, we also have some fearmongers of "Crosby and Malkin's prime is closing".

Now, I know we shouldn't have sold out on rentals last year, can't help that.. but for this season, do you grab a defensive rental, or ride it out?**


** A "hockey trade" for a dman with 2-3 years left not counting in this scenario, those are fine.
- Guile

Surely....you want Andrew Ference?

Surely....you want Andrew Ference?
- Jeropotato

You aren't eligible to answer this, and hes just another Scuderi, so no, unless you want to straight trade him for Scuderi, in that case, we'll throw in a 4th rounder or something.

Also damn... that was a bad run on sentence.

My take on the problem with this team is they are neither fast nor physical. You need guys who are going to win battles or win races to the puck.

I have liked a lot of the moves made by Rutherford, he has done a good job of making this Mike Johnston's team. Johnston needs to take the bull by the horns and play the guys who play his system best. All I hear is his philosophy is based on speed and yet I see slow players playing big minutes, specifically Kunitz and Scuderi. He needs to grow a pair and use what little speed he has or he will be back in juniors.
- Thunderbolt

They look really slow. My Dad was at the Wings pre season game and he couldnt believe how fast the Wings were. Pens look really slow vs Stars adn Yotes. Moving Sprong back to the minors will only make things worse IMO. Plot, BB, Bonino, Cullen, Kuni, all those guys just have no speed. And when 87 and 71 decide not to play that basically leaves Kessel and Farnham.

They look really slow. My Dad was at the Wings pre season game and he couldnt believe how fast the Wings were. Pens look really slow vs Stars adn Yotes. Moving Sprong back to the minors will only make things worse IMO. Plot, BB, Bonino, Cullen, Kuni, all those guys just have no speed. And when 87 and 71 decide not to play that basically leaves Kessel and Farnham.
- sammy87

Penguins are NOT a fast team. Kunitz, Perron, Hornqvist, Plotnikov, Bennett, Bonino, Fehr, Cole, Lovejoy, Scuderi are all average or below in speed. That being said, speed is certainly helpful, but it isn't an absolute necessity. LAK aren't/weren't a fast team either and that hasn't stopped their dynasty.

Rangers fans should expect to compete for the cup tho.
- Jeropotato

Good team. Hardly great.

Mike Vick is replacement level. If Landry Jones isn't any better than Vick then it's time to cut him and move on.

Penguins are NOT a fast team. Kunitz, Perron, Hornqvist, Plotnikov, Bennett, Bonino, Fehr, Cole, Lovejoy, Scuderi are all average or below in speed. That being said, speed is certainly helpful, but it isn't an absolute necessity. LAK aren't a fast team either and that hasn't stopped their dynasty.
- jfkst1

The Kings aren't fast but they are physical, the second thing the Penguins are not. Slow and soft is not a good recipe to win hockey games. The Blackhawks are a fast team; but what do the 'hawks and Kings have in common? They win battles in front of their own net. The last time the Pens had a defense that won battles in front of their own net they won the Cup. Teams have won the Cup with a run and gun offence and they have won with low scoring offences. The common denominator is a solid defense. I like four of our D, the same four as most everyone on here. The question now becomes do we go with Pouliott and Clendening or go outside the organization. The best way to answer that is to see them two play.

The Kings aren't fast but they are physical, the second thing the Penguins are not. Slow and soft is not a good recipe to win hockey games. The Blackhawks are a fast team; but what do the 'hawks and Kings have in common? They win battles in front of their own net. The last time the Pens had a defense that won battles in front of their own net they won the Cup. Teams have won the Cup with a run and gun offence and they have won with low scoring offences. The common denominator is a solid defense. I like four of our D, the same four as most everyone on here. The question now becomes do we go with Pouliott and Clendening or go outside the organization. The best way to answer that is to see them two play.
- Thunderbolt

They win lots of puck battles and manage the puck well. That's why they are among the best possession teams in the league. No idea why Clendening isn't playing now.

Penguins are NOT a fast team. Kunitz, Perron, Hornqvist, Plotnikov, Bennett, Bonino, Fehr, Cole, Lovejoy, Scuderi are all average or below in speed. That being said, speed is certainly helpful, but it isn't an absolute necessity. LAK aren't/weren't a fast team either and that hasn't stopped their dynasty.
- jfkst1

yet another reason this team could use dupuis back.

Rangers fans should expect to compete for the cup tho.
- Jeropotato

'Compete' & 'celebrate' are 2 completely different words.

So Tampa, Habs, Detroit, Caps & the Pens of course should also be expecting to compete for the cup???

There can be only 1 highlander! (& the Rags aren't it!)

They win lots of puck battles and manage the puck well. That's why they are among the best possession teams in the league. No idea why Clendening isn't playing now.
- jfkst1

The Pens don't lift as a team when they need to. Champions lift & they 'all' lift & up the tempo, this team isn't capable of that. There are sporadic moments where lines will lift & Tanger might make a big play but it's just that, 1 or 2 not the WHOLE team. There are sheep on this team that aren't capable of upping the gear so if we aren't in front we can't lift to win when we need the group effort.

With the new blood & young guys we have a chance to change that, but so far the 'leaders' haven't lifted so what chance have the rest got?

We need to give Dinger a shot!

#dingerneedstoplaymjcauseheaintblackorwhite

The Canadians 5v5 goal differential is 6.00 and the Pens is 0.33. The Canadians have scored 10 goals in 3 games and only given up 4. These numbers are perplexing. Not saying we can't easily win but we will really have to have our &hit together and clean it all up nice and pretty.