Yeah and McDavid he is not.
- MattStrat

Nope, I think he projects as a Kopitar comparable. And I'm quite fine with that

I'm not convinced Bishop makes any difference. Vasilevski was stellar and was the only reason the series went 7 games. It would have been very difficult for Bishop to improve on that performance.
- Emperor Filonius

Thats what I'm saying. The Pens doubled up in chances and shots that series. His save % was around 940 the whole series. Thats insanely good.

Nope, I think he projects as a Kopitar comparable. And I'm quite fine with that
- lumlums

If he turns out to be just like Kopitar then you've got a real gem.

If you can get a ticket by all means pony up the $$ and go. I've been to two games in the finals (one a home win against Detroit in 08 and the other at the Joe for a loss in 09) and its worth every penny.
- Emperor Filonius

Yeah, I was hoping to get tickets too (I live about 90 minutes outside of San Jose), but they're already sold out on days that I can make it, and resale tickets start at about $550 a piece for top row.... if it was TO in the final then I'd do it for sure, but instead I may just head down to one of the viewing parties in the city and join in the fun there...

Rossi has nothing on guys like Simmons or Feschuk.

Hell, the latter interviewed Reimer's mother when he decided that the answers to questions about Reimer's health given by the club weren't good enough. These guys don;t give a (frank) about the players in question, they just want to be the next "hot take" and will sink to any levels to get it...
- lumlums

Simmons is so god damn embarrassing hahah, I don't know much about Feschuk though.

If he turns out to be just like Kopitar then you've got a real gem.
- MattStrat

Exactly. Especially if Marner and Nylander can hit their ceiling, then we'll be in a good place. Just need a 1RD and goalie now and then most major pieces are in place...

I'm not convinced Bishop makes any difference. Vasilevski was stellar and was the only reason the series went 7 games. It would have been very difficult for Bishop to improve on that performance.
- Emperor Filonius

Nah, Bish lets in soft goals too. Bish wouldn't have made any difference, Vasi played out of his mind all series. Kid kept Tampa int he game all series long. Their offense was the difference. they were stagnant as hell.

Simmons is so god damn embarrassing hahah, I don't know much about Feschuk though.
- j.boyd919

Slightly less of an outright douchelord, but much more greasy.

Both can go (frank) themselves in the ass with a rusty rod as far as I'm concerned

Exactly. Especially if Marner and Nylander can hit their ceiling, then we'll be in a good place. Just need a 1RD and goalie now and then most major pieces are in place...
- lumlums

Toronto is stocked with great prospects. I can see them making serious Cup runs in 3-4 years and for the next 6 after that.

I think the issue was that Tampa may not have needed him at that time so sent him down. I'd be pissed if I were him as well. Remember it's a business (except when young players want to treat it that way! ).
- Aussiepenguin

Saying Tampa doesn't need drouin is like saying we don't need Malkin cuz he's a 3rd line forward.

Nah, Bish lets in soft goals too. Bish wouldn't have made any difference, Vasi played out of his mind all series. Kid kept Tampa int he game all series long. Their offense was the difference. they were stagnant as hell.
- j.boyd919

The Pens sleep walked through some periods and add in Vasi's brilliant performances and thats why it went to 7. If the Pens played with the effort and battle level in game 4 and 5 that they had in games 2, 3, 6 and 7 and it never would of went to 7.

The Pens sleep walked through some periods and add in Vasi's brilliant performances and thats why it went to 7. If the Pens played with the effort and battle level in game 4 and 5 that they had in games 2, 3, 6 and 7 and it never would of went to 7.
- MattStrat

The end of your post is very contradictory.

Toronto is stocked with great prospects. I can see them making serious Cup runs in 3-4 years and for the next 6 after that.
- brienstel

Oh I hope so

The end of your post is very contradictory.
- jmatchett383

Haha it was, wasnt it? You got my point though I would imagine.

Toronto is stocked with great prospects. I can see them making serious Cup runs in 3-4 years and for the next 6 after that.
- brienstel

They have a lot of nice forward prospects. No top goalie prospects or defense outside of Zaitsev. They obviously have Reilly on the roster, but it's a big drop off after that. If they win, they're going to have to do it by putting 5-6 goals up on a regular basis, as I don't think they have the goaltending/defense required to win low-scoring playoff games.

Assuming they take Matthews, I'd shop Kadri for a young top-4 defenseman if I were them.

Haha it was, wasnt it? You got my point though I would imagine.
- MattStrat

Yes, very clearly. Tampa Bay sucks and it's a miracle they ever scored on the Penguins.

Yes, very clearly. Tampa Bay sucks and it's a miracle they ever scored on the Penguins.
- jmatchett383

#NailedIt

Yes, very clearly. Tampa Bay sucks and it's a miracle they ever scored on the Penguins.
- jmatchett383

You forgot the sarcasm font. Tampa certainly dont suck. They were the only team responsible for Pens losing 2 in a row in the past 3 months. They were the only team that beat the Pens when the Pens were leading after 2 periods this whole season....but they were no where near as good overall as the Pens were in this series.

They have a lot of nice forwards. No top goalie prospects or defense outside of Zaitsev. They obviously have Reilly on the roster, but it's a big drop off after that. If they win, they're going to have to do it by putting 5-6 goals up on a regular basis, as I don't think they have the goaltending/defense required to win low-scoring playoff games.
- jmatchett383

On D, Gardiner is a decent 2nd line guy signed to a good deal. I'm very intrigued by Nielson and Dermott as prospects, both did very well for their respective junior teams this past year. I'm also interested to see what Connor Carrick can do - he's only 21 and the last time I looked was leading all AHL playoff scoring. Beyond that Percy and Valiev should round out into decent NHLers, even if it's as lower pairing guys; neither are liabilities out there, they just don't chip in a load of offense from the back.

In response to the whole Drouin situation that played out in Tampa this year, as a resident of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, I want to point out something that most of you probably have no idea about.

Drouin is a Frenchman from Quebec, and he played his junior hockey career in the QMJHL. Although not a part of Quebec, there are a few teams in the league that are from the Atlantic provinces, including the Halifax Mooseheads.

When Drouin was initially informed that he would be playing in Halifax, he was angry about it, and initially held out, and wanted to play in Quebec. After some drama and threats of suspension, he finally gave in and came to play in Halifax. (Where he was an awesome player and helped win a memorial cup along with Nate MacKinnon).

The guy is a great talent and has a great future in the NHL ahead of him, but he's a hot head and a drama queen, and Tampa isn't the first time he's acted the role of a spoiled brat. Not a fan!

Toronto is stocked with great prospects. I can see them making serious Cup runs in 3-4 years and for the next 6 after that.
- brienstel

Those great prospects have to develop into solid NHL players. Not all of them will.

Yeah, I was hoping to get tickets too (I live about 90 minutes outside of San Jose), but they're already sold out on days that I can make it, and resale tickets start at about $550 a piece for top row.... if it was TO in the final then I'd do it for sure, but instead I may just head down to one of the viewing parties in the city and join in the fun there...
- lumlums

Yeah, that's steep for a game when you don't have a rooting interest in one of the teams. I paid almost double that for tickets to watch my college Alma Mater (MSU) play in the Rose Bowl a few years ago. Worth every penny, but I'm lucky that I can afford to do that kind of stuff now and then.

Going seven games in the series and even going down 3-2 at one point was a good thing in my opinion. Adversity defines character in those moments and the best rise to the top. San Jose is going to be a difficult team but I believe, and id say the Pens too, know if they fall behind in the series that they can come back.

In response to the whole Drouin situation that played out in Tampa this year, as a resident of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, I want to point out something that most of you probably have no idea about.

Drouin is a Frenchman from Quebec, and he played his junior hockey career in the QMJHL. Although not a part of Quebec, there are a few teams in the league that are from the Atlantic provinces, including the Halifax Mooseheads.

When Drouin was initially informed that he would be playing in Halifax, he was angry about it, and initially held out, and wanted to play in Quebec. After some drama and threats of suspension, he finally gave in and came to play in Halifax. (Where he was an awesome player and helped win a memorial cup along with Nate MacKinnon).

The guy is a great talent and has a great future in the NHL ahead of him, but he's a hot head and a drama queen, and Tampa isn't the first time he's acted the role of a spoiled brat. Not a fan!
- bochangs

He's a diva.

In response to the whole Drouin situation that played out in Tampa this year, as a resident of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, I want to point out something that most of you probably have no idea about.

Drouin is a Frenchman from Quebec, and he played his junior hockey career in the QMJHL. Although not a part of Quebec, there are a few teams in the league that are from the Atlantic provinces, including the Halifax Mooseheads.

When Drouin was initially informed that he would be playing in Halifax, he was angry about it, and initially held out, and wanted to play in Quebec. After some drama and threats of suspension, he finally gave in and came to play in Halifax. (Where he was an awesome player and helped win a memorial cup along with Nate MacKinnon).

The guy is a great talent and has a great future in the NHL ahead of him, but he's a hot head and a drama queen, and Tampa isn't the first time he's acted the role of a spoiled brat. Not a fan!
- bochangs

Did not know this. He's going to be a nightmare whenever he's up for extensions.