what would you do? Change something that was working or keep the status quo & accept Sid may not score but he will help the other lines score? Or change his line to 'weaker' opposition & hope the points arrive???
- Aussiepenguin

Me personally I want to put my players in the best positions. I'd get sid away from it and see if Cullen's line can handle it.

I think the score and the flow of the game plays into that. If the Pens are winning, I think you will see Sid matched against Ovie more..if the Pens are down, I think he will try and get away from it. If the Pens are having a rough go offensively and need a pick me up, I think he will get away from the matchup. I do believe if Sid and Ovie cancel each other out, Pens have a much better chance at winning the series than the Caps.
- Thorny

It's going to be very interesting!

Hypothetically if we use last change to get Crosby away from the Ovechkin/Backstrom unit, who do we send out against them to shut them down. Ovechkin has been invisible all series and I want to keep it that way. If Ovi heats up this is a completely different series. I certainly wouldn't throw out the Malkin or Kessel units. Malkin's been pretty prone to turnovers lately and an untimely turnover to Ovi could mean the game. The Kessel unit is at its best when it's harassing lesser competition and overwhelming them with a lethal forecheck. Is Kuhnhackl-Cullen-Rust talented enough to keep Ovechkin in check?

We don't have Jordan Staal anymore. Crosby IS our shut down center right now. I'd keep matching him up against Ovechkin/Backstrom.
- Victoro311

I don't think you match up Cullen line all game but I'd certainly free sid up a bit. He's our best offensive player I'd like to see him get some opportunities to produce.

Hypothetically if we use last change to get Crosby away from the Ovechkin/Backstrom unit, who do we send out against them to shut them down. Ovechkin has been invisible all series and I want to keep it that way. If Ovi heats up this is a completely different series. I certainly wouldn't throw out the Malkin or Kessel units. Malkin's been pretty prone to turnovers lately and an untimely turnover to Ovi could mean the game. The Kessel unit is at its best when it's harassing lesser competition and overwhelming them with a lethal forecheck. Is Kuhnhackl-Cullen-Rust talented enough to keep Ovechkin in check?

We don't have Jordan Staal anymore. Crosby IS our shut down center right now. I'd keep matching him up against Ovechkin/Backstrom.
- Victoro311

I was just going to write something similar to all of this. I don't care if Sid isnt producing if its because he's shutting down that line. This is all about the best way to beat the Caps, not individual productions.

That's true enough and that's the problem all of you dumb asses are proud of your boy letang. That's what makes you the most hypocritical whiny fan base in the nhl. I hope the caps take someone out next game the reactin from you will be priceless.
- Bobd62

and rangers say that they don't come here and troll. freaking reported

Me personally I want to put my players in the best positions. I'd get sid away from it and see if Cullen's line can handle it.
- dbell646

Definitely don't want Cullen's line anywhere near Ovi's.. they were pinned in their own zone all the time vs. the Rangers, last thing I want is them pinned in their own zone with the best sniper in the NHL all over them.

Definitely don't want Cullen's line anywhere near Ovi's.. they were pinned in their own zone all the time vs. the Rangers, last thing I want is them pinned in their own zone with the best sniper in the NHL all over them.
- j.boyd919

I would be ok with the HBK line out there against them. I think the Pens need 4 to win tonight.

Gotta disagree with you. Karlsson had a much better season than Letang did on a non-playoff team. Tanger should have got the nod over Doughty, but this year the winner should be Karlsson in a landslide.
- thickman1178

Sorry, but I just can't give the Norris to a guy who is -2, I don't care how many points he put up.

Just saw that Drake Caggiula had an interview with Pens as well as about 8 other teams.. This would be a huge boost in our prospect pool if we could get him...

Here's hoping!

Sorry, but I just can't give the Norris to a guy who is -2, I don't care how many points he put up.
- Emperor Filonius

The Sens are awful, Karlsson is the best defenseman in the league. Imagine if he played on a real team, he probably would have put up 90-100.

Just saw that Drake Caggiula had an interview with Pens as well as about 8 other teams.. This would be a huge boost in our prospect pool if we could get him...

Here's hoping!
- nh4442

His write up on Elite Prospects makes him sound like he's the exact mold of Penguin. Speedy, undersized, and full of tenacity.

The Sens are awful, Karlsson is the best defenseman in the league. Imagine if he played on a real team, he probably would have put up 90-100.
- j.boyd919

If he played on a real team he would actually have to play defense.

If he played on a real team he would actually have to play defense.
- MacPatty

Best defense is playing offense. That argument is absurd, especially considering he was better at suppressing shots than Doughty and Burns this season if I'm not mistaken.

Sorry, but I just can't give the Norris to a guy who is -2, I don't care how many points he put up.
- Emperor Filonius

It's kinda like the year Lidstrom won the Norris over Visnovsky. Vinsosvky was better in every stat. Lidstrom was a minus.

The Sens are awful, Karlsson is the best defenseman in the league. Imagine if he played on a real team, he probably would have put up 90-100.
- j.boyd919

If you are only evaluating his performance based on points, sure. Doughty, Letang, Hedman all had better possession metrics. I'm not hating on Karlsson. He's the best offesnsive defenseman in the league. I just don't think he's the best all around defenseman. I can't give the award to a guy whose team gave up the 5th most goals in the league, and who gave up more shots against per game than any other team in the NHL when he's on the ice 28 minutes a night. Maybe that's not fair to him, but I also don't think the Sens are as awful as you portrayed. They were mediocre for sure, but its not like he was playing for Toronto. At some point, IMHO you have to put some of their defensive failings on his shoulders.

He's great, but not deserving.

It's kinda like the year Lidstrom won the Norris over Visnovsky. Vinsosvky was better in every stat. Lidstrom was a minus.
- MattStrat

In my opinion, if you're looking at +/- alone and using it to base your opinion, than that's just bad evaluation. There are so many other statistics to look at, on-ice goal differential in all situations, GF/60, A/60, p/60, GA/60, any other analytics, common linemates, not to mention if you've actually watched Sens games... you'd know that he is good as defending, he just doesn't have to do it hwen the puck is in the offensive zone.

If you are only evaluating his performance based on points, sure. Doughty, Letang, Hedman all had better possession metrics. I'm not hating on Karlsson. He's the best offesnsive defenseman in the league. I just don't think he's the best all around defenseman. I can't give the award to a guy whose team gave up the 5th most goals in the league, and who gave up more shots against per game than any other team in the NHL when he's on the ice 28 minutes a night. Maybe that's not fair to him, but I also don't think the Sens are as awful as you portrayed. They were mediocre for sure, but its not like he was playing for Toronto. At some point, IMHO you have to put some of their defensive failings on his shoulders.

He's great, but not deserving.
- Emperor Filonius

I think that if it wasn't for Karlsson, they would be pretty damn close to Toronto's level.

If you are only evaluating his performance based on points, sure. Doughty, Letang, Hedman all had better possession metrics. I'm not hating on Karlsson. He's the best offesnsive defenseman in the league. I just don't think he's the best all around defenseman. I can't give the award to a guy whose team gave up the 5th most goals in the league, and who gave up more shots against per game than any other team in the NHL when he's on the ice 28 minutes a night. Maybe that's not fair to him, but I also don't think the Sens are as awful as you portrayed. They were mediocre for sure, but its not like he was playing for Toronto. At some point, IMHO you have to put some of their defensive failings on his shoulders.

He's great, but not deserving.
- Emperor Filonius

Why does Karlsson have to shoulder th defensive shortcomings of his team? Imagine Kris Letang had the exact same statistical year he just had but his partner was Ian Cole, the rest of the defense was made up of Rob Scuderi Clones, and the Penguins were a bottom five team in goals against. Would Letang not be worthy of a Norris nom because the rest of his team sucks?

I'm still flabbergasted as that one, but it's the NHL's old "officiate the score, not the game" philosophy in full-effect.
- ScienceJesus

Or make up calls. Neither of which should actually be a thing.

In my opinion, if you're looking at +/- alone and using it to base your opinion, than that's just bad evaluation. There are so many other statistics to look at, on-ice goal differential in all situations, GF/60, A/60, p/60, GA/60, any other analytics, common linemates, not to mention if you've actually watched Sens games... you'd know that he is good as defending, he just doesn't have to do it hwen the puck is in the offensive zone.
- j.boyd919

Oh I now that +/- can be a bit of a farce but that year Visnovsky was better in every single way and Lidstrom still won. Even though I know +/- can be a misleading stat it does however mean that he was on the ice for 2 more goals against,than for, at even strength. I dont like a Norris winner being a negative.

Me personally I want to put my players in the best positions. I'd get sid away from it and see if Cullen's line can handle it.
- dbell646

See, Im of the opposite thought. If we can continue to get secondary scoring, I dont give two poops if Sid has a single point in this series. Sid's line has been doing a good job against them...if it aint broke, dont fix it.

Sorry, but I just can't give the Norris to a guy who is -2, I don't care how many points he put up.
- Emperor Filonius

-2 on one of the worst teams in hockey may as well be a +20 playing on a decent team.

Letang finally took a skate off.

Letang finally took a skate off.
- Victoro311

...he's ok though, right?

-2 on one of the worst teams in hockey may as well be a +20 playing on a decent team.
- thickman1178

I dont believe any player on a non playoff contending team deserves a major award...mvp vez norris are awards given to elite performers and if they play on a team that is not even sniffing the pressure of making the playoffs their stats mean jack in my opinion. The pressure of playing meaningful games matters. The ability to outperform all players in the league while playing meaningful games is a very important part of winning an elite award. Couple this with the fact that EK is absolutely terrible defensively(always has been) you just cannot award him the norris.