Well Pierre Lebrun thinks Pens D isn't good: What it means: After outshooting the Caps 45-35 in Game 1 despite a 4-3 overtime loss, the Penguins again got the upper hand in the shot stat, 35-24; two games in a row, their speed game has hemmed the Caps in their own zone for long stretches. Sure, the Penguins’ blue line isn’t very good, but for Washington’s excellent forecheck play to have an impact, the Caps are going to have to find a way to spend less time in their zone and get to more loose pucks. The Penguins, on merit of play, probably should be up 2-0 in this series as it shifts to Pittsburgh, with Game 3 on Monday and Game 4 on Wednesday.
- tpcg402

I don't agree with the bolder statement at all. The Pens' blue line isn't your traditional shut down blue line but it is very good and effective at their role. When they're at their best they're aggressive back checkers that compliment our speedy, agressive checking forwards, and do an outstanding job of supporting breakouts. With our type of play that's exactly what we need.

I think you're dead wrong about Daley. He's been great for us. He's having a rough go about it against the capitals but he's proven himself as a legit top 4 solution for us this season.
- Victoro311

Well that's my point. You guys are pretty dead wrong about Orlov and Schmidt, basing it off these playoffs. It's stupid to sit here and say that guy sucks or that guy isn't good because of a few playoff games.

This preseason when people were questioning our defense i said we'd be best in the Met. I thought people were highly overrating Washington's defense. Obviously Carlson's a stud, Niskanen is a very good middle pairing guy, and Alzner is underrated but then after that they've got a whole lot of mediocrity. Orpik is a mediocre bottom pairing guy at this point and he's their #4 guy.
- Victoro311

Niskanen has earned his contract. I think at the time he had great analytics in a contract year after playing protected minutes as our 5d that year. Nisky is living up to his free agent money's. 5.75 is a ton but he's holding his own as a 3d.

Well that's my point. You guys are pretty dead wrong about Orlov and Schmidt, basing it off these playoffs.
- Blackstrom2

Fair I guess. I guess we'll see how it plays out

Well that's my point. You guys are pretty dead wrong about Orlov and Schmidt, basing it off these playoffs. It's stupid to sit here and say that guy sucks or that guy isn't good because of a few playoff games.
- Blackstrom2

your team is in the 2nd round in the playoffs... (so far). not saying that orlov and schmidt is bad. just saying dp and schultz are as good if not better. but for some reason sullivan thinks playing lovejob and cole is better and I don't doubt his decisions.

I mean, some of you are calling Alzner underrated, some of you are grouping him in with Orpik. Fair to say that the individual player evaluations is kind of all over the place, especially during the playoffs.

What's clear to me, isn't that the aggregate NHL 17 rating of the pens D would be hypothetically higher than the score of the caps D. I don't care about that dumb poop. What's clear is that the Pens are much faster and cleaner at their transitioning, whether that's breaking out or entering the zone, and appear to play as a coherent unit. A real hockey team. Does that mean Justin Schultz is better than Alzner? No, quit huffing glue.

Orlov and Schmidt also have "phenomenal analytics". But, hey because they played two bad games in the playoffs against, who I consider and considered before the playoffs started, the best even strength team in the league, they suck.

Great for DP and his potential. great for Schultz redemption. But you guys are just talking out of your ass for no reason by making statements like that. Who really gives a poop? The Pens, as a whole, play better D than the Caps, as a whole.
- Blackstrom2

All I said was our 8d might be better than your 4d. I don't know your bottom pairing guys very well but we all know orpik and he's your 4d.

Pouliot is a bit in a Drouin situation. Tons of talent and the analytics are checking out but the coaching staff isn't playing the young guy.

I don't agree with the bolder statement at all. The Pens' blue line isn't your traditional shut down blue line but it is very good and effective at their role. When they're at their best they're aggressive back checkers that compliment our speedy, agressive checking forwards, and do an outstanding job of supporting breakouts. With our type of play that's exactly what we need.
- Victoro311

Yea, just bolded it for emphasis. I know Lebrun is only one guy, but thought his opinion was interesting since there's a discussion on here about whose defense is better. I believe the Pens D is highly underrated. Lebrun and all those hockey "experts" would prob say the Rags D is better than Pens too.

your team is in the 2nd round in the playoffs... (so far). not saying that orlov and schmidt is bad. just saying dp and schultz are as good if not better. but for some reason sullivan thinks playing lovejob and cole is better and I don't doubt his decisions.
- martox

Schultz could be the equal or better player a year from now. Will be interesting to see how good he can become after they have him for a full season to remove the Edmonton from his game. He certainly has the talent to be a 2/3 defenseman

Yea, just bolded it for emphasis. I know Lebrun is only one guy, but thought his opinion was interesting since there's a discussion on here about whose defense is better. I believe the Pens D is highly underrated. Lebrun and all those hockey "experts" would prob say the Rags D is better than Pens too.
- tpcg402

Lebrun is no idiot, but there's definitely an "old boys" culture of hockey that the vast majority of the talking heads belong to. The Pens' make up and play style finding success is completely counterintuitive to what they think they know is the right way to play the game. The times they are a changing and it's great to be on the right side of it for once. Hope we can snag the lead tomorrow.

Daley, Cole, and Lovejoy aren't anything to write home about, and with just one bad game, or even period, would be getting the same damning that Orlov, Schmidt, or Orpik would be getting. Since the day we signed Orpik, I've said he sucks. But Schmidt and Orlov both have put very impressive possession numbers in the regular season, so to say they suck and some team's random 8th guy riding the bench is better than them because of a few bad games in the playoffs is just asinine.

But thank you for being the only decent response.
- Blackstrom2

Daley would be your third best Dman.

Niskanen has earned his contract. I think at the time he had great analytics in a contract year after playing protected minutes as our 5d that year. Nisky is living up to his free agent money's. 5.75 is a ton but he's holding his own as a 3d.
- sditulli

He isn't playing to his cap hit. He is a good Dman, but not a 5.75 Dman. That is too much for him. Then again, they are paying Orwiener 5.5 which is a joke.

I'm not getting in a debate about who's defense is better but I'm enjoying the hell out of this series. A 7 game series to me is a process it looks like the pens are slowly doing exactly what they want. Caps playing well too can't wait to see the rest

He isn't playing to his cap hit. He is a good Dman, but not a 5.75 Dman. That is too much for him. Then again, they are paying Orwiener 5.5 which is a joke.
- Oneonta Penguin

Remember the let's trade Letang and pay Niskanen 6 mil crew?

Remember the let's trade Letang and pay Niskanen 6 mil crew?
- Victoro311

I wasn't one of those. I have to admit, I wanted to keep Niskanen, but giving him north of 5 per year is ridiculous.

TSN reporting Orpik to have hearing with league.

TSN reporting Orpik to have hearing with league.
- Willaged

Yep they want the 4k fine they're going to dish out to be paid in cash and in person so they can give him a stern talking to.

Remember the let's trade Letang and pay Niskanen 6 mil crew?
- Victoro311

Brining in guys ufa is a classic case of the winners curse. You can't build a team on ufa guys. But you can overpay a little and fill a roster hole without giving up any assets. To get a guy as your 3d for 5.75 without giving up other assets is a successful move. Id rather pay nisky 5.75 then enter the trade mkt and get a guy at 4.5 and lose draft picks ( draft picks save you cap room by giving you cheap elc guys).

Yes Letang at 7 is a steal and I always thought it was. Biggest issie with the contract is the health issues he developed.

I wish we had locked up nisky the year before. We probably could have gotten it done a 4 a year. If nisky was ufa this year he would see similar 5.75 offers and maybe up to 6.5.

He isn't playing to his cap hit. He is a good Dman, but not a 5.75 Dman. That is too much for him. Then again, they are paying Orwiener 5.5 which is a joke.
- Oneonta Penguin

5.75 is the ufa rate for a quality 3d. Yes it's overpaying for guys with rfa rights, but when the ony asset a team is giving up to acquire a player is salary it's going to seem high.

The Caps team D is one of the best in the league this year. Sure, their individual defensmen might not all be stars, but the team as a whole plays pretty damn good D. Trotz is a big reason for this. At the end of the day individuals don't matter at all. It's about team D from the forwards through the defensmen to the goalie and the Caps overall D is great.

TSN reporting Orpik to have hearing with league.
- Willaged

Yeah about this, it amazes me that someone who has been through concussions delivers so many to other players. Seriously Orpik? C'mon man...

Yep they want the 4k fine they're going to dish out to be paid in cash and in person so they can give him a stern talking to.
- mw630

Exactly ... it will be a fine to help with the NHL office Xmas party.

The Caps team D is one of the best in the league this year. Sure, their individual defensmen might not all be stars, but the team as a whole plays pretty damn good D. Trotz is a big reason for this. At the end of the day individuals don't matter at all. It's about team D from the forwards through the defensmen to the goalie and the Caps overall D is great.
- MattStrat

and put a lot of emphasis on goalie. vezina winner

Yep they want the 4k fine they're going to dish out to be paid in cash and in person so they can give him a stern talking to.
- mw630

LOL, wouldn't doubt it.

I'm going with 2 games.

TSN reporting Orpik to have hearing with league.
- Willaged

Should be at least 3, but I think he gets 1 or 2 games