Crosby will break this slump and very soon. How many times has Ovie started the season slow and everyone said he was on the decline and it's time to trade him and blah blah blah. Ovie is 2 years older too. Crosby is the best conditioned player in the league he's not having this massive decline. He's actually become much more dedicated to the defensive side of the game which will actually make him even more valuable. The effort has been there he just needs some bounces.
- Dcoms

Good point.

The funny thing is that it makes more sense than a Malkin trade and yet the loons have no issue talking about trading Geno. Neither make sense.
- Victoro311

I don't think anyone here is advocating for a Crosby trade, or actually thinks one is going to happen, it's just interesting conversation.... Oh sorry, forgot where I was... SCUDERI SUCKS, PDO, ANALYTICS, CHARTS AND GRAPHS, FREE BARTLEY.... That's better.

The whole discussion is useless because Toronto's not making a trade for Crosby anyways, even with the "best in the world" moniker. Toronto appears to finally be on the right track building a team. Marner, Nylander, Kapenan, Reilly, plus a top 3 this year and the pens 1st rounder... 3-5 years from now they'll have a hell of a team. Trading for Crosby now, weather it's a package of youth, or JVR AND REILLY coming back only returns to them mediocry, as after Crosby there would be no one else. As I prefaced my post.. Trade is not gonna happen... But if I were going to make one I'd take the pack of futures over JVR 10 times out of 10.
- Willaged

The only team out of the ones mentioned that would realistically be interested is Montreal. As you said, Toronto is steadily building a young, talented team. A trade with LA makes no sense, as they had success and have a top 10 C they will be paying big time in the offseason. Montreal needs something to get them over the hump of good regular season team who comes close in the playoffs.

The only team out of the ones mentioned that would realistically be interested is Montreal. As you said, Toronto is steadily building a young, talented team. A trade with LA makes no sense, as they had success and have a top 10 C they will be paying big time in the offseason. Montreal needs something to get them over the hump of good regular season team who comes close in the playoffs.
- cap1681

Agreed. What do they have that they'd be willing to give up, that we'd want in a Crosby trade.

2016 1st, 2017 1st, Galchenyuk and Tinordi??

For us, it's a big enough haul to justify dealing Crosby, for MTL, speaking about this years team, as far as rostered players, it's a Galchenyuk for Crosby swap. Which is a big win for them for the next 3-4 years.

Once again, hypothetically speaking for those of you who take yourselves way too seriously.

http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/eye-on-hockey/25361196

Puts crosby's and the pens slow start into perspective. It's not just us struggling for points and goals. It's a product of this awful NHL.
- buckster2342

I find all the talk about the NHL being a skilled game a complete oxymoron. As the author notes, coaches expect low-risk play, especially through responsible puck management. The game is played north/south -- get the puck deep -- and make the opponent go 200 ft. for a scoring chance. Furthermore, 5v5 minutes, and the style of play, take away the time and space needed for creative, skilled plays.

The NHL product is all about parity + revenue growth. I'm sure, during the course of Bettman's tenure, the owners are very pleased w/ the results of the on-ice product. If not, the commish would have long been replaced. Leveling in-game winning probabilities (closer to 50/50) allows fans to believe their team of choice has a legit chance of winning. Believing means more butts in seats. Parity/ competition also assists w/ TV ratings.

End of story.

The funny thing is that it makes more sense than a Malkin trade and yet the loons have no issue talking about trading Geno. Neither make sense.
- Victoro311

I do tend to agree Malkin is better suited for todays NHL.

Agreed. What do they have that they'd be willing to give up, that we'd want in a Crosby trade.

2016 1st, 2017 1st, Galchenyuk and Tinordi??

For us, it's a big enough haul to justify dealing Crosby, for MTL, speaking about this years team, as far as rostered players, it's a Galchenyuk for Crosby swap. Which is a big win for them for the next 3-4 years.

Once again, hypothetically speaking for those of you who take yourselves way too seriously.
- Willaged

Yea, I'd rather discuss trading Sid than talk about nothing at all. Theres 40 million layers to any kind of trade this large (salary cap, NTC, etc) but just for s***ts and gigs, I'd be looking for a quality package. It would take a lot to pry away the face of the franchise and the NHL. There's certainly a premium for it.

It could make sense in the right scenario, getting younger and cheaper, expanding the Pens "window" many years.

I'd start with two cornerstone type players not quite on Sids level...like Sammy's Malkin trade. Sid for Barkov and Ekblad. Or Seth Jones+Forsberg+. Or Kopitar+. Or Jordan Staal+Justin Faulk+picks/prospects.


edit: that MTL package is not enough for me.

Yea, I'd rather discuss trading Sid than talk about nothing at all. Theres 40 million layers to any kind of trade this large (salary cap, NTC, etc) but just for s***ts and gigs, I'd be looking for a quality package. It would take a lot to pry away the face of the franchise and the NHL. There's certainly a premium for it.

It could make sense in the right scenario, getting younger and cheaper, expanding the Pens "window" many years.

I'd start with two cornerstone type players not quite on Sids level...like Sammy's Malkin trade. Sid for Barkov and Ekblad. Or Seth Jones+Forsberg+. Or Kopitar+. Or Jordan Staal+Justin Faulk+picks/prospects.


edit: that MTL package is not enough for me.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Why Jordan and not Eric? Jordan has proven hes not good enough to be a 2nd line center. In this hypothetical it'd make way more sense to get Eric and Faulk + and sign Eric long term.

A trade between Pittsburgh and Colorado makes sense. The trade would have to involve the following pieces.

To Pittsburgh: Matt Duchesne, Denis Everberg, 2016 1st round pick, and 2017 2nd round pick.

To Colorado: Sidney Crosby, and Rob Scuderi


just my thoughts....

The only way Sidney Crosby gets traded is if he wants to be traded. Just because that dope Fischler thinks it's a good idea doesn't make it a valid subject.

Kunitz not on the ice for practice and there's already interweb chatter he's being traded. I love interwebs paranoia and speculation.

A trade between Pittsburgh and Colorado makes sense. The trade would have to involve the following pieces.

To Pittsburgh: Matt Duchesne, Denis Everberg, 2016 1st round pick, and 2017 2nd round pick.

To Colorado: Sidney Crosby, and Rob Scuderi


just my thoughts....
- TheUltimateJet

A trade between Pittsburgh and Colorado makes sense. The trade would have to involve the following pieces.

To Pittsburgh: Matt Duchesne, Denis Everberg, 2016 1st round pick, and 2017 2nd round pick.

To Colorado: Sidney Crosby, and Rob Scuderi


just my thoughts....
- TheUltimateJet

Who the hell is Denis Everberg? I think more like McKinnon, Barre, Rantanan, Pickard and a first and second for Sid, Zatkoff and Scudmuffin. And even then that's not quite enough.

Crosby down low on the PP and Dinger skating with Maatta. Make out of that what you will.

Crosby down low on the PP and Dinger skating with Maatta. Make out of that what you will.
- Victoro311

I see it as mj fixing mistakes. still got a little trust in him

Crosby down low on the PP and Dinger skating with Maatta. Make out of that what you will.
- Victoro311

I think it is time to try out some different defense pairings. Even last game the top pairing didn't look very good.

Kunitz not on the ice for practice and there's already interweb chatter he's being traded. I love interwebs paranoia and speculation.
- Reverend Killtaker

Well he also had a "maintenance day" Sunday from what I saw. There could be something to it, but its more likely to be a minor injury.

I think it is time to try out some different defense pairings. Even last game the top pairing didn't look very good.
- jfkst1

Maatta-Letang
Cole-Lovejoy
Dumo-Clendening

This what you're thinking?

I think it is time to try out some different defense pairings. Even last game the top pairing didn't look very good.
- jfkst1

I think what we have to do is put Maatta with Letang. Cole's looked good and Maatta really hasn't so its not like we're front loading our defense by making a super pairing. I just think that Cole's not that good of a fit for Letang and putting Maatta with Letang can give him some mojo. I'd stick Clendening on Cole's right and see what happens.

Maatta-Letang
Cole-Lovejoy
Dumo-Clendening

This what you're thinking?
- Zac_O

Reverse Clendening and Lovejoy.

Maatta-Letang
Cole-Lovejoy
Dumo-Clendening

This what you're thinking?
- Zac_O

That's the first thing I would try. Fleury is carrying too many passengers on the blue line right now.

Here's a nice little nugget from the hockey press clowns. Proposed trade: Hamhuis for Scuderi, Dumoulin, Sundquist AND A SECOND!!!!!! Our worst contract- fine. Our second best dman right now- NO FREAKING WAY!!!!! AND our best forward prospect for a 34 year old defenseman who is a free agent at the end of the year. I'm all for trading for Hamhuis, I think he's the best, most attainable solution. But this deal is just stupid. Rutherford should be hung from a street light if he did this. Yes I know it's BS. http://thehockeypress.ca/...-penguins-edm-nj-cbj.html

Maatta-Letang
Cole-Lovejoy
Dumo-Clendening

This what you're thinking?
- Zac_O

I'm not sure I'd mess with Dumo and Lovejoy. I think they've been quietly our most consistent pairing. I think Letang and Cole needs a shakeup however.

Here's a nice little nugget from the hockey press clowns. Proposed trade: Hamhuis for Scuderi, Dumoulin, Sundquist AND A SECOND!!!!!! Our worst contract- fine. Our second best dman right now- NO FREAKING WAY!!!!! AND our best forward prospect for a 34 year old defenseman who is a free agent at the end of the year. I'm all for trading for Hamhuis, I think he's the best, most attainable solution. But this deal is just stupid. Rutherford should be hung from a street light if he did this. Yes I know it's BS. http://thehockeypress.ca/...-penguins-edm-nj-cbj.html
- Dcoms

God I had purged this article from my memory. Why did you show this to me again?

I do tend to agree Malkin is better suited for todays NHL.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I hope that's a joke, the best player in hockey has a slow start and you he's not as Good for 'today's NHL' , so your talking about RIGHT now as in today ? was last season 'yesterday's ' NHL ?