Might still be riding the high from last night but it really feels like the Pens are a team of destiny this year. And not because of their "core" group of players in Crosby, Malkin, Letang and Fleury.

Kessel was chased out of Toronto for being lazy and soft.
Schultz was the "worst player in the league" with Edmonton a few months ago.
Bonino was a throw in 3/4th line journeyman center in the Sutter trade.
Daley "wasnt good enough" to play in the top 4 for Chicago and was traded for Scuderi!
Hagelin cast off by the Ducks as a failed experiment.
Cullen was a late offseason depth signing who's days were thought to be numbered.
Rust, Sheary and Kuhnackl were just AHLers filling a void because of poor depth.
And Kunitz was done, past being useful half way though the season.

And here they all are playing an instrumental role in this team being one game away from playing in the Stanley Cup. This has been the most memorable season for the Pens since they won the cup. Really happy for all of these guys and hoping they can pull it off in game 7!
- MacPatty

We're not the team of destiny this offseason. That'd be the Sharks. Jumbo and Pavs have the world rooting for them right now. Whoever beats them, if it happens, will be vilified.

Glad Sid didn't just dump that puck in last night or toss it to Cullen and instead he surprised the D by carving them up like a god damn turkey on Thanksgiving.

We're not the team of destiny this offseason. That'd be the Sharks. Jumbo and Pavs have the world rooting for them right now. Whoever beats them, if it happens, will be vilified.
- Victoro311

I have no problem with us being vilified. We have to beat Tampa first. I don't want to see that douche Couture housing the Cup.

Haha you're going to hate me. I'm going to Johns Hopkins. It was hard to say no to spending a year in Bologna and a year in DC. Too many opportunities to let pass by. It was a hard choice though. I got a very good financial aid package from Denver.
- Victoro311

LOL ... your loss. In all seriousness, Hopkins is a great school. My sis got one of her degrees from there. Be careful though. Just off campus, dangerous place. Believe it or not, JHU spends more on security than most colleges out there because of its location.

LOL ... your loss. In all seriousness, Hopkins is a great school. My sis got one of her degrees from there. Be careful though. Just off campus, dangerous place. Believe it or not, JHU spends more on security than most colleges out there because of its location.
- Oneonta Penguin

Not surprised. It's in Baltimore. I assume it's a lot like Fordham in that regard. But JHU's School of Advanced International Studies isnt on the main campus. It's based in D.C. with campuses in Bolognia and Nanjing as well. I'll never set foot on JHU's main campus.

I have no problem with us being vilified. We have to beat Tampa first. I don't want to see that douche Couture housing the Cup.
- Oneonta Penguin

No problem with being vilified either, but I'm just saying for us superstitious types who believe in destiny, the Pens don't have that advantage this year.

Anyways, who cares right now. We are still a long way away from facing anyone in the SCF. The Lightning are gonna go balls to the wall tomorrow tonight.

We're not the team of destiny this offseason. That'd be the Sharks. Jumbo and Pavs have the world rooting for them right now. Whoever beats them, if it happens, will be vilified.
- Victoro311

You gotta stop with this Sharks team of destiny poop

Blues are in the exact same shoes as the Pens this eve.

Faith restored

can't they like majorly food poison the tampa bays food tomorrow? like hire a thrid party that does the deed

You gotta stop with this Sharks team of destiny poop

Blues are in the exact same shoes as the Pens this eve.
- MattStrat

Hope tonights game goes into he wee hours with lots of hits and seven overtimes with STL prevailing. Hope they play a very heavy game and give some Sharks some painful hits. I do think SJ wins this series, but want them to pay a heavy price.

If we are fortunate to win this series against Tampa, as well as SJ has played this play-offs, I would prefer them over STL. I just don't think we match up well with STL.

You gotta stop with this Sharks team of destiny poop

Blues are in the exact same shoes as the Pens this eve.
- MattStrat

Can't help the truth

can't they like majorly food poison the tampa bays food tomorrow? like hire a thrid party that does the deed
- martox

I think there is a smorgasbord in Pittsburgh where we can do something to the pickled gherkin and reindeer.

So ... anyone take a look at the contracts of TB? Stevie Y has a lot of decisions to make ... They could be forced to deal Bishop to account for the signings of all pending RFAs not only this year, but next.

No way can they afford to keep Stamkos with Killorn, Brown, Kucherov, Paquette, Nesterov and Marchessault as pending RFAs and Johnson, Palat and Sustr next.

They need to find a taker for Carle. His contract sucks.

Can't help the truth
- Victoro311

How is it the truth? Why are they a team of destiny to you? Pretty sure they were in a playoff spot all year (or most of the year) and didn't make many moves. Polak is the only one I can think of.
The Pens turn around seems more like destiny, if there's destiny at all.

So ... anyone take a look at the contracts of TB? Stevie Y has a lot of decisions to make ... They could be forced to deal Bishop to account for the signings of all pending RFAs not only this year, but next.

No way can they afford to keep Stamkos with Killorn, Brown, Kucherov, Paquette, Nesterov and Marchessault as pending RFAs and Johnson, Palat and Sustr next.

They need to find a taker for Carle. His contract sucks.
- Oneonta Penguin

If Stamkos wants to come back to TB, with TB's plethora of youth, it would honestly be worth it for them to package a 1st with Carle in exchange for pucks.

So ... anyone take a look at the contracts of TB? Stevie Y has a lot of decisions to make ... They could be forced to deal Bishop to account for the signings of all pending RFAs not only this year, but next.

No way can they afford to keep Stamkos with Killorn, Brown, Kucherov, Paquette, Nesterov and Marchessault as pending RFAs and Johnson, Palat and Sustr next.

They need to find a taker for Carle. His contract sucks.
- Oneonta Penguin

They're going to lose some important guys, making this playoffs very important for them.

How is it the truth? Why are they a team of destiny to you? Pretty sure they were in a playoff spot all year (or most of the year) and didn't make many moves. Polak is the only one I can think of.
The Pens turn around seems more like destiny, if there's destiny at all.
- MattStrat

Because Jumbo is 36 and has never won the Cup and that core the Sharks have seem to have been together for over a decade but always get stopped by LA.

If Stamkos wants to come back to TB, with TB's plethora of youth, it would honestly be worth it for them to package a 1st with Carle in exchange for pucks.
- Victoro311

Bishop could be on the blocks too. He could be made expendable. It's not like the backup sucks and their third string is ready to be a backup in the NHL. Not sure he can do anything more in the AHL to be honest.

If Stamkos wants to come back to TB, with TB's plethora of youth, it would honestly be worth it for them to package a 1st with Carle in exchange for pucks.
- Victoro311

With that blood clot issue, I'd be very wary of Stamkos. If a doctor tells SY this condition could crop up again, I'd let him walk.

Bishop could be on the blocks too. He could be made expendable. It's not like the backup sucks and their third string is ready to be a backup in the NHL. Not sure he can do anything more in the AHL to be honest.
- Oneonta Penguin

Bishop should be easy to move, too. But I think to keep Stamkos, Kucherov, Hedman, Palat, Drouin, and Johnson together they're going to need to move both Bishop and one of Carle and Callahan. Callahan still has worth he's just over payed. Carle has been passed by rookie Slater Koekoek on the depth chart. Easy decision who's more worth it to give up a high draft pick in order to move

Bishop should be easy to move, too. But I think to keep Stamkos, Kucherov, Hedman, Palat, Drouin, and Johnson together they're going to need to move both Bishop and one of Carle and Callahan. Callahan still has worth he's just over payed. Carle has been passed by rookie Slater Koekoek on the depth chart. Easy decision who's more worth it to give up a high draft pick in order to move
- Victoro311

Bish's contract is over next year, I don't think they have to get rid of Bish. Having him and Vasi as a tandem for next year is solid, and just let him walk for big money after.

Because Jumbo is 36 and has never won the Cup and that core the Sharks have seem to have been together for over a decade but always get stopped by LA.
- Victoro311

That core has never even been to the finals and still might not this year. I will say though looking at this years playoffs from the first games up until last night, as a whole, the Sharks are probably playing the best hockey overall.

Bish's contract is over next year, I don't think they have to get rid of Bish. Having him and Vasi as a tandem for next year is solid, and just let him walk for big money after.
- j.boyd919

All the more reason to more Fleury at the draft..... he might fetch a decent prospect and a pick this offseason... next summer it's peanuts with the potential avaliable goalie market.

All the more reason to more Fleury at the draft..... he might fetch a decent prospect and a pick this offseason... next summer it's peanuts with the potential avaliable goalie market.
- Yonk1216

You've got several solid goalie options hitting UFA this season too. Neuvrith, Mason, Reimer... Bargain picks in Hutton and Ramo. Can't remember if Greiss is up or not. There will always be available goalies that drive down the price of other goalies in a trade.

All the more reason to more Fleury at the draft..... he might fetch a decent prospect and a pick this offseason... next summer it's peanuts with the potential avaliable goalie market.
- Yonk1216

I don't have a problem going into next season with MAF and Murray as a tandem. I think there are pros and cons of trading him. I'm more inclined to keep him and risk losing him, given Tampa's situation this season.. having a 1B goalie (regardless of who it is next season) in the wings in case of an injury is proving very valuable.