Its the only way we can fix the 3D position longer-term.
- sditulli

I don't really believe that. And I also don't believe they need a top 4 defenseman long-term. Letang/Maatta/Dumoulin/Pouliot. It's a short term thing, and trading Fleury doesn't make sense in the short term.

Slow Cole and Stupid Zatkoff.

None of that happens if Cole does his job and takes the man or the puck.
- jfkst1

Agree Zatkof was trying to make up for a Cole mistake. I thought we got rid of that with the Scuds trade.

Here is what I don't get... Zatkoff is fine as a bench warmer but why don't they call up Murray for spot starts and send him back down? We can't afford to give games away or play the third/ fourth best goalie when we arent even in a playoff spot yet... Thoughts?

Yep, Rust is good, Cole is bad!
- so_buzz11

This! x 1000
Add Zatkoff to the bad and Porter is useless

Here is what I don't get... Zatkoff is fine as a bench warmer but why don't they call up Murray for spot starts and send him back down? We can't afford to give games away or play the third/ fourth best goalie when we arent even in a playoff spot yet... Thoughts?
- hipcheck_goalie

Agree 100%. Zatkoff has no value what so eve and should not be/ can not be relied on to start any game at any time. He is scuderi with goal pads on. Just makes bad decisions and has little talent.

I don't really believe that. And I also don't believe they need a top 4 defenseman long-term. Letang/Maatta/Dumoulin/Pouliot. It's a short term thing, and trading Fleury doesn't make sense in the short term.

Slow Cole and Stupid Zatkoff.
- hardnosed

I think it more/less it is a wonderful solution to getting the likes of Cole and Lovejoy out of the lineup permanantly and solidifying the D corps from top to bottom more than anything. I have been hammering Cole all year, and been catching flack for it on this board more times than not.

There will be few penalties called tonight it appears.

Here is what I don't get... Zatkoff is fine as a bench warmer but why don't they call up Murray for spot starts and send him back down? We can't afford to give games away or play the third/ fourth best goalie when we arent even in a playoff spot yet... Thoughts?
- hipcheck_goalie

I agree but that essentially makes Murray the back-up at that point, no?

Plots need to be in every other game this is ridiculous. He is a 25 yr old rookie from the khl. He can't learn if he doesn't play. He is not a bad 3/4th line guy to eat mins. He does stuff in the game to give his line mates chances. You can see it in analytics. He just needs to get on the score sheet and he can't do that in the (frank)ing box! Wtf I hope he gets traded to a playoff team and he scores a poop ton of goals just to say (frank) you to the pens...

And zatkoff sucks! Top 10 pick after tonight

Kuni!!!

I agree but that essentially makes Murray the back-up at that point, no?
- Weisenheimer

No, you let Murray go down during dates that you don't need him to spot start...

I think it more/less it is a wonderful solution to getting the likes of Cole and Lovejoy out of the lineup permanantly and solidifying the D corps from top to bottom more than anything. I have been hammering Cole all year, and been catching flack for it on this board more times than not.
- Weisenheimer

I'm all in favor of improving the D. But not at the expense of the franchise goalie, and I don't see any other way to add a top 4 D.

I like to think Kunitz reads these boards and his recent goal burst is in direct response to my dogging.

No, you let Murray go down during dates that you don't need him to spot start...
- hipcheck_goalie

And you expose Zatkoff to waivers each time, which would likely mean no more Zatkoff, as he's cheaper and better than some teams' backups.

Plots need to be in every other game this is ridiculous. He is a 25 yr old rookie from the khl. He can't learn if he doesn't play. He is not a bad 3/4th line guy to eat mins. He does stuff in the game to give his line mates chances. You can see it in analytics. He just needs to get on the score sheet and he can't do that in the (frank)ing box! Wtf I hope he gets traded to a playoff team and he scores a poop ton of goals just to say (frank) you to the pens...

And zatkoff sucks! Top 10 pick after tonight
- nh4442

Plotnikov sucks, and he doesn't fit the style of play the Penguins are rolling with right now.

Kunitz rules.

Plots need to be in every other game this is ridiculous. He is a 25 yr old rookie from the khl. He can't learn if he doesn't play. He is not a bad 3/4th line guy to eat mins. He does stuff in the game to give his line mates chances. You can see it in analytics. He just needs to get on the score sheet and he can't do that in the (frank)ing box! Wtf I hope he gets traded to a playoff team and he scores a poop ton of goals just to say (frank) you to the pens...

And zatkoff sucks! Top 10 pick after tonight
- nh4442

He had half a season to prove himself and learn. He's ahl talent right now not nhl. Wbs hacks have blown right by him with less games played by far.

Kuni trade value going up

Plots need to be in every other game this is ridiculous. He is a 25 yr old rookie from the khl. He can't learn if he doesn't play. He is not a bad 3/4th line guy to eat mins. He does stuff in the game to give his line mates chances. You can see it in analytics. He just needs to get on the score sheet and he can't do that in the (frank)ing box! Wtf I hope he gets traded to a playoff team and he scores a poop ton of goals just to say (frank) you to the pens...

And zatkoff sucks! Top 10 pick after tonight
- nh4442

Right now Plot is no better than anyone playing right now. Maybe at best he's equal to Kluchnacl

I think we contributions from Sprong, Pouliout , Murray in the next two years that give us a bunch of cost control contributors. If that doesn't happen I don't see how we will ever have championship level depth.

Dumoulin/Pouliot doesn't sound like a cup teams mid-pair. Maybe they are above average, but not elite 2nd pair. Remember we had Nisky as 5d at one point. When we won a cup we had Jordan Staal as 3c. Elite teams have studs playing down the lineup.

Kuni trade value going up
- nh4442

He's not going anywhere.

Kuni trade value going up
- nh4442

They're not trading their best left winger when they have a shortage of left wingers.

And you expose Zatkoff to waivers each time, which would likely mean no more Zatkoff, as he's cheaper and better than some teams' backups.
- hardnosed

You can carry 3 goalies on the roster as long as you move one of your extra skaters back down. Zatkoff would end up being a scratch he wouldn't have to go on waivers.

And you expose Zatkoff to waivers each time, which would likely mean no more Zatkoff, as he's cheaper and better than some teams' backups.
- hardnosed

You don't have to send Zatkoff down... You're allowed 23 skaters. Even so, I doubt any team would claim him.

He had half a season to prove himself and learn. He's ahl talent right now not nhl. Wbs hacks have blown right by him with less games played by far.
- Reverend Killtaker

They need to send him down on a conditioning stint then to get his game on track. MJ ruined him

Plots need to be in every other game this is ridiculous. He is a 25 yr old rookie from the khl. He can't learn if he doesn't play. He is not a bad 3/4th line guy to eat mins. He does stuff in the game to give his line mates chances. You can see it in analytics. He just needs to get on the score sheet and he can't do that in the (frank)ing box! Wtf I hope he gets traded to a playoff team and he scores a poop ton of goals just to say (frank) you to the pens...

And zatkoff sucks! Top 10 pick after tonight
- nh4442

Plotnikov needs to play and Porter needs to get a job at Dominos. Thats what I would make happen if I had the power.