Missed the game but I see we did not play well against a pretty below average Calgary team. This is ok. We just went on a big time wins streak where we racked up a bunch of points and started looking like we were figuring it out in the last few games. We're gonna have off nights, but yes, some line up changes are in order and maybe this loss is just what we needed to take away Johnston's "if it ain't broke" excuse away.

We need a different look on the pairings. I've said from the first game that Cole and Letang do not compliment each other well. Either promote Dumoulin to the first pairing since he's played so well, or stick Maatta on Letang's left just for a change up to see if we can get 58, 28, and 3 all going again. I wouldn't touch the Dumoulin-Lovejoy pairing so I'd go with the latter.

Time to give either Bennett or Sprong a shot at the top 6. I'm not gonna cast shade on Hornqvist. I actually think he's starting to iron out the kinks. Hornqvist is not a really a skill player and is more so an uber talented grinder, so getting upset at him when the skilled puck movers like Crosby and Letang are underperforming around him is unfair, so I'm not about demoting him. I do, however, see 1LW as wide open and if they're gonna play Fehr on his off wing and give him a shot up there, why not Bennett or Sprong? Bennett and Bonino have formed a really good unit, and I think Cullen and Fehr were forming like chemistry on the fourth unit before Fehr was pulled into top 6 duties. I'd like to see Cullen and Fehr reunited in their natural positions, which would push Sprong to his off wing anyways. Why not give him a shot with the Captain to see if his youthful hunger can get something going on that unit?

There are a lot more stars that are having a terrible start to the season. Matt Dushene, Getlaf , Perry, Kesler, the Stalls, Nash, Stamkos, Johnson, Ryan Strome got demoted to the AHL for f sakes, Datsyuk hasn't played a game and may never again, Mike Green is already injured, Gaborik, Mike smith has plummeted after killing us in game 2, there is more for sure if I THINK harder. There is lots of money not being earned right now but it's a league wide thing. The funniest part about this board is watching some of the guys flip flop back and worth from "we are cup contenders!!!" To "we are in the Austin Mathews race and everyone should be traded or fired!!!!" It's not good for your hearts to go from that high to that low. The sky is not falling just because we lost 1 game that we were due to lose and they were due to win. Everyone needs to take some prozac and listen to some massive attack. CHILL!!!

IMO Crosby prefers to receive the puck in transition. Whereas I think Malkin is much more comfortable coming back into the D zone and carrying the puck out himself. But then again, if Crosby is one of the best players in the world, he should be versatile enough to do that too.
Hornqvist and Crosby were very good together last year. It's inexcusable that they are incompatible now.
- jfkst1

There's very few things in the world that are "inexcusable" and that is definitely not one of them. What Hitler did to the Jews was inexcusable. Slavery was inexcusable. Donald Trumps hair cut is inexcusable. Crosby and Hornquist just need to work on it a bit and they will be fine. Save the drama for yo mama.

There are a lot more stars that are having a terrible start to the season. Matt Dushene, Getlaf , Perry, Kesler, the Stalls, Nash, Stamkos, Johnson, Ryan Strome got demoted to the AHL for f sakes, Datsyuk hasn't played a game and may never again, Mike Green is already injured, Gaborik, Mike smith has plummeted after killing us in game 2, there is more for sure if I THINK harder. There is lots of money not being earned right now but it's a league wide thing. The funniest part about this board is watching some of the guys flip flop back and worth from "we are cup contenders!!!" To "we are in the Austin Mathews race and everyone should be traded or fired!!!!" It's not good for your hearts to go from that high to that low. The sky is not falling just because we lost 1 game that we were due to lose and they were due to win. Everyone needs to take some prozac and listen to some massive attack. CHILL!!!
- dcoms77

There are a lot more stars that are having a terrible start to the season. Matt Dushene, Getlaf , Perry, Kesler, the Stalls, Nash, Stamkos, Johnson, Ryan Strome got demoted to the AHL for f sakes, Datsyuk hasn't played a game and may never again, Mike Green is already injured, Gaborik, Mike smith has plummeted after killing us in game 2, there is more for sure if I THINK harder. There is lots of money not being earned right now but it's a league wide thing. The funniest part about this board is watching some of the guys flip flop back and worth from "we are cup contenders!!!" To "we are in the Austin Mathews race and everyone should be traded or fired!!!!" It's not good for your hearts to go from that high to that low. The sky is not falling just because we lost 1 game that we were due to lose and they were due to win. Everyone needs to take some prozac and listen to some massive attack. CHILL!!!
- dcoms77

Toews has had a slow start also. Hossa is coming back from injury & looking to get his season started. I was thinking the same thing the other day, I think the only 'stars' that have started well are in fact the Stars being Seguin & Benn. Voracek, Ass grabber, Kopitar are a few others that are on the slow side.

So is that all a coincidence or is there something new in the water?

D man what's with the new call sign?

Toews has had a slow start also. Hossa is coming back from injury & looking to get his season started. I was thinking the same thing the other day, I think the only 'stars' that have started well are in fact the Stars being Seguin & Benn. Voracek, Ass grabber, Kopitar are a few others.

So is that all a coincidence or is there something new in the water?

D man what's with the new call sign?
- Aussiepenguin

patrick kane too since he is leading the league after all

Nice post. I just don't understand what is wrong with Sid. I don't believe he's washed up because we've seen plenty of shifts and/or games where he looks like his old self. It's the first time in his career where I've seen such crappy effort. Sometimes he's just gliding around out there.

I can only think of two things... He hates the system and therefor the coach. Or he's very frustrated with the direction of the league. There is no doubt the clutch and grab is back in full bloom. Every game I watch it's the same thing. Frankly the NHL is pure crap these days. Large stretches of games is mind numbingly boring.
- madmike71

I personally think people way underestimate the effect age is having on Sid's play. Has anyone every considered that the reason we see spurts here and there of the old Sid is because at 28 it's impossible for him to maintain that level all game? It's been proven that around this age is when most players start there decline or at least see a dip in their production. I know most don't want to believe it and I would not used the word washed up at all but I think it's possible that what we are seeing is simple what Sid should be at 28, a player that dominates in spurts and needs supported the rest of the time.

I personally think people way underestimate the effect age is having on Sid's play. Has anyone every considered that the reason we see spurts here and there of the old Sid is because at 28 it's impossible for him to maintain that level all game? It's been proven that around this age is when most players start there decline or at least see a dip in their production. I know most don't want to believe it and I would not used the word washed up at all but I think it's possible that what we are seeing is simple what Sid should be at 28, a player that dominates in spurts and needs supported the rest of the time.
- jaydogg1974

except malkin is older and is playing his best hockey almost and I know they have 2 diffrent styles of hockey but still

There are a lot more stars that are having a terrible start to the season. Matt Dushene, Getlaf , Perry, Kesler, the Stalls, Nash, Stamkos, Johnson, Ryan Strome got demoted to the AHL for f sakes, Datsyuk hasn't played a game and may never again, Mike Green is already injured, Gaborik, Mike smith has plummeted after killing us in game 2, there is more for sure if I THINK harder. There is lots of money not being earned right now but it's a league wide thing. The funniest part about this board is watching some of the guys flip flop back and worth from "we are cup contenders!!!" To "we are in the Austin Mathews race and everyone should be traded or fired!!!!" It's not good for your hearts to go from that high to that low. The sky is not falling just because we lost 1 game that we were due to lose and they were due to win. Everyone needs to take some prozac and listen to some massive attack. CHILL!!!
- dcoms77

This sounds too much like excuse making to me, sure you can look around the league and find other top players that are struggling but that has happened every season since the league has come into existence, it's natural variance. You can just as easily go though the league and compile a list of top players who aren't struggling and use that list as an example of why they are underachieving.

Seguin, Benn, Kane, Krejci, Hall, MacKinnon, Ovechkin, Carter, Subban, Tarasenko and O'Reilly are some names off the top of my head that aren't having any issues producing so it isn't a league wide issue at all, it's an individual issues.

I personally think people way underestimate the effect age is having on Sid's play. Has anyone every considered that the reason we see spurts here and there of the old Sid is because at 28 it's impossible for him to maintain that level all game? It's been proven that around this age is when most players start there decline or at least see a dip in their production. I know most don't want to believe it and I would not used the word washed up at all but I think it's possible that what we are seeing is simple what Sid should be at 28, a player that dominates in spurts and needs supported the rest of the time.
- jaydogg1974

I'll put a suggestion that his new system requires more effort in D & he may be getting frustrated with it - especially seeing no familiar faces back there he can rely on. Has he ever had a coach say to him to play more D? Even still it's been reported he wants to play a more complete game - he may be finding that easier said than done?

Getzlaf & Perry in the past haven't been hampered by being over 30. So there are different angles for whichever argument you support (a little like analytics ), that's without even mentioning the J word.

Hornqvist is a 7th round pick with 7th round talent

We got hosed on the Neal Trade

If you arent being sarcastic, you are stupid.

There's very few things in the world that are "inexcusable" and that is definitely not one of them. What Hitler did to the Jews was inexcusable. Slavery was inexcusable. Donald Trumps hair cut is inexcusable. Crosby and Hornquist just need to work on it a bit and they will be fine. Save the drama for yo mama.
- dcoms77

Everything is relative. Spending $11.925m/yr on two top line players their entire careers that are 28 and producing like bottom 6 players is pretty damn inexcusable in the cap era.

Nice post. I just don't understand what is wrong with Sid. I don't believe he's washed up because we've seen plenty of shifts and/or games where he looks like his old self. It's the first time in his career where I've seen such crappy effort. Sometimes he's just gliding around out there.

I can only think of two things... He hates the system and therefor the coach. Or he's very frustrated with the direction of the league. There is no doubt the clutch and grab is back in full bloom. Every game I watch it's the same thing. Frankly the NHL is pure crap these days. Large stretches of games is mind numbingly boring.
- madmike71

Sadly, I agree with this. I have found myself bored during long stretches of games already this year. Mostly because there is no room for anyone to skate, and when there is, guys are being held. That penalty call on Crosby the other night was the icing on the cake. He was dragged to the ice and then he got put in the box.

I'll put a suggestion that his new system requires more effort in D & he may be getting frustrated with it - especially seeing no familiar faces back there he can rely on. Has he ever had a coach say to him to play more D? Even still it's been reported he wants to play a more complete game - he may be finding that easier said than done?

Getzlaf & Perry in the past haven't been hampered by being over 30. So there are different angles for whichever argument you support (a little like analytics ), that's without even mentioning the J word.
- Aussiepenguin

I'm not actually trying to suggest it's one or the other or even that it's a combination of both. I just think people completely dismiss the aging factor and expect the 28yo Crosby to be no different than the 23yo Crosby, every player ages differently, some players like Jagr are ageless and really see no dip in their level of play, some players hit 28 and completely fall off a cliff, I personally have no clue if Sid will/should be in the Jagr category, the fall of a cliff at 28 category or somewhere in between, I'm just saying that we can't dismiss that the 23yo Crosby is gone and what we are seeing now is just what the 28yo Crosby should look like.

Maybe #87 and #58 are dying alive. A few games back, before this road trip, I was thinking the same thing. Either they're not happy w/ defense first, or the style of game that the NHL has shifted towards. Maybe both. After this year, if #87 has 60pts, but is a Stanley Cup champion, does any of it matter? For me, its either get on board with the program, or move on. Isn't it about TEAM success anyway? Art Ross and Norris trophies mean nada.
- out_of_market

Yes, yes, and YES! This is a team sport. The end goal is the Cup. All the personal accolades mean absolutely 0 to me.

the Lions' share

Panarin

we grabbed the wrong Russian

Reading through the comments cracks me up:

We miss Martin, We need DP, We should trade PH, Cole isn't a top pairing Dman, but he was last week, MAF is back to himself, BB should be on the top line, Scuds is the reason this team sucks....

You could make all the changes you want it still doesn't change the fact that the 87 and 71 aren't producing. 13 games in and Malkin is 49th in scoring, no clue how far down Crosby is. I know they are capable of changing that quickly, but its just not acceptable.

Yes, yes, and YES! This is a team sport. The end goal is the Cup. All the personal accolades mean absolutely 0 to me.
- chimpira

Z and Dats never put up stupid amount of pts, but they play very good hockey. They also get help from the rest of the team. Pens problem is the team is Crosby and Malkin, the rest is just along for the ride, well not Kessel he's part of the trio that needs to perform.

Toews has had a slow start also. Hossa is coming back from injury & looking to get his season started. I was thinking the same thing the other day, I think the only 'stars' that have started well are in fact the Stars being Seguin & Benn. Voracek, Ass grabber, Kopitar are a few others that are on the slow side.

So is that all a coincidence or is there something new in the water?

D man what's with the new call sign?
- Aussiepenguin

Call sign? I think it's beyond coincidence it's a bonafide anomaly. Let the world return itself to th natural order.

Everything is relative. Spending $11.925m/yr on two top line players their entire careers that are 28 and producing like bottom 6 players is pretty damn inexcusable in the cap era.
- jfkst1

Everything is definitely relative to ones own definition of the word "inexcusable". Let's just agree on that.

Z and Dats never put up stupid amount of pts, but they play very good hockey. They also get help from the rest of the team. Pens problem is the team is Crosby and Malkin, the rest is just along for the ride, well not Kessel he's part of the trio that needs to perform.
- sammy87

Disagree, the "rest along for the ride" are actually contributing nicely this year. They are actually getting secondary scoring, and if/when Sid and co. start producing, we could see some solid production from the entire forward ranks. Kessel and Malkin are both playing well, sure he's 49th in scoring, but Malkin has developed his defensive game immensely. Backchecking, takeaways, he's playing more of a complete game, and I'm ok with that. The problem with this team is the absurd amount of shots they are giving up, and hopefully the coaches see that and address it.

Disagree, the "rest along for the ride" are actually contributing nicely this year. They are actually getting secondary scoring, and if/when Sid and co. start producing, we could see some solid production from the entire forward ranks. Kessel and Malkin are both playing well, sure he's 49th in scoring, but Malkin has developed his defensive game immensely. Backchecking, takeaways, he's playing more of a complete game, and I'm ok with that. The problem with this team is the absurd amount of shots they are giving up, and hopefully the coaches see that and address it.
- j.boyd919

What about their breakouts? They are horrible! Not one decent pass these days. They are getting eaten up in the neutral zone but the feasting opp's forwards.

I finally see people saying what I have been saying...Sid is not leading...he is along for the ride...or something.

This guy is not motivated to play...period.

What about their breakouts? They are horrible! Not one decent pass these days. They are getting eaten up in the neutral zone but the feasting opp's forwards.
- chimpira

I agree that they are horrible. There's a few reasons for that, the defensemen's lack of puck moving skill forces the forwards to come deeper into the zone, giving the opposing forwards the room in the neutral zone to stop the breakout. This is where players like Lovejoy and Scuderi tend to drag the Pens down, IMO. I see no reason why they should TRY to address this issue by swapping Pouliot/Clendening in. I completely believe they should try to improve from within before making any trades to try and bring in D help (which I think it could eventually come to.)