And how's that goin for ya?
- j.boyd919

Hahaha thanks man. It came down to the wire. Thank god for Sid's hatty. This week is gonna be rough. Down 15 after the first day. I wasn't expecting Benn and Seguin to poop the bed.
- j.boyd919

I think it will come down to Murray playing and playing well since he is splitting time with MAF now.

I think its more so a case of who's picked rather than how they are developed.
- MattStrat

I might agree with you if it were not for the fact that Poulliot and Despres regressed when placed in the capable hands of the Pens development staff and its NHL coaches.

Moreover, the organization's coaches have player development as part of their job descriptions. They have wasted assets, and need to account for that fact. Of course, the scouts and GM must account for drafting players the development staff then destroys. But it is too convenient to blame the players, especially when the Pens recently drafted many defensemen and have only one successful draft and development case, Matta.

Journeymen...? You do realize that having 3 of your 6 defenseman on your roster coming via draft/in-house development.. is pretty solid right? Take a look around the league and find me a team where their whole defensive corp was drafted homegrown.
- j.boyd919

Yes, journeymen. Letang, of course, is not a journeyman. Doumolin was not drafted by the Pens.

Of course, the issue is asset waste -- wasting first round picks on players the organization fails to devlop.

I think it will come down to Murray playing and playing well since he is splitting time with MAF now.
- TaxMan22

Hopefully Minny keeps sucking it up and Dubnyk gets lit up like a christmas tree too.

Yes, journeymen. Letang, of course, is not a journeyman. Doumolin was not drafted by the Pens.

Of course, the issue is asset waste -- wasting first round picks on players the organization fails to devlop.
- szielinski

Can you provide me with a defensive corp in the NHL you would like the Penguins to be modeled after?

Aren't you still looking for your mug?
- SRam19

Joke's on you, I found it!!

Not defending Pouliot here, but how can a player get into any type of form playing only a couple of games at a time?

Even the other wbs Dmen have been given more time to acclimatise their games - which a couple by the looks haven't done. I think Pouliot should have been told he's getting 6-8 games no matter what & get out there & show us what he can do! At least that way there's a little less pressure to perform & who knows, he might come good.

Yes, journeymen. Letang, of course, is not a journeyman. Doumolin was not drafted by the Pens.

Of course, the issue is asset waste -- wasting first round picks on players the organization fails to devlop.
- szielinski

Dumo having almost his entire development with the Pens and career here, makes him in house. Nice try sport.

Can you provide me with a defensive corp in the NHL you would like the Penguins to be modeled after?
- j.boyd919

nashville?

They count, and I counted them. Neither is stands as a case of a pure success -- a flawless player. So, they count. But are two specks in a sand pile of failure.



Perhaps these players failed to make their mark because the Pens failed them during the crucial moments on their developmental path. Pouliot has regressed since he entered the Pens system. Bylsma, Johnson and crew made a mess out of Despres. Player development and rational asset usage is part of the job description for coaches at every level of the organization. The Pens during the Crosby era have had two few successes, and two came early on: Gologoski and Letang. The Pens even jerked around the Norris Trophy candidate, Kris Letang. In recent years they managed to turn Doumolin and Matta into serviceable journeymen defensemen.

That's just great.....
- szielinski

Wut?

nashville?
- martox

3 of their Dmen who have played 60+ were developed by NSH. Ekholm, Josi, Ellis.

Joke's on you, I found it!!


- stashu

Uh... yeah it does.

2nd part... why? Isn't a Stanley cup more important to you than an MVP? I'm sure it is to Sid, and every other player in the NHL.
- j.boyd919

Then the question is what is the most valuable position in hockey. Goalie easily. Why doesn't a goalie win every year? And again Budaj was the most valuable goalie for any team since he kept them afloat.

Then the question is what is the most valuable position in hockey. Goalie easily. Why doesn't a goalie win every year? And again Budaj was the most valuable goalie for any team since he kept them afloat.
- Zac_O

Depends on how much you overrate Quick, like most of the media.

Depends on how much you overrate Quick, like most of the media.
- j.boyd919

Why? They are a playoff team with Quick, not a playoff team without him. He went down and a 34 year old 3rd stringer played well enough to keep them in realistic playoff contention.

Wut?
- WVPensFan22

I was likewise confused about the definition of "journeyman"

Buffalo fans don't want to hear it, but their defense corp. stinks

Umm...we kinda say that every night, so I don't get this....
- stashu

I guess you've never read one of Ryan Wilson's blogs before lol

3 of their Dmen who have played 60+ were developed by NSH. Ekholm, Josi, Ellis.
- j.boyd919

then they also developed seth jones and weber... even though weber got traded last season and jones got traded 2 seasons ago they were drafted and developed by nashville. though jones wasn't in nashville for that long.

Hopefully Minny keeps sucking it up and Dubnyk gets lit up like a christmas tree too.
- j.boyd919

Won't happen. Bruce's teams don't fold until much later on.

Why? They are a playoff team with Quick, not a playoff team without him. He went down and a 34 year old 3rd stringer played well enough to keep them in realistic playoff contention.
- Zac_O

He provided the same level of play as Quick has the last 3 years. So in my eyes, you have the Kings who are a playoff team when given average goaltending (regardless of whether its Quick, Budaj, etc.). He didn't stand on his head, put up gaudy numbers, or anything. Whereas for example, the Oilers are not a playoff team if you take away their elite number 1 center.

then they also developed seth jones and weber... even though weber got traded last season and jones got traded 2 seasons they were drafted and developed by nashville. though jones wasn't in nashville for that long.
- martox

True, but also at the risk of developing solid forwards tho. Similar to Gogo for Neal. Nisky flourished as a Pen (I give the Pens credit for that as well).

EDIT: I retract the Nisky statement, he still put up solid numbers in Dallas too his first few years.

Seems like Sid could be nominated for the Lady Bing this year too. Only 24 pims. Kopy won last year with 22 pims and a lot worse stats.

Is the Selke based solely on plus minus?

True, but also at the risk of developing solid forwards tho. Similar to Gogo for Neal. Nisky flourished as a Pen (I give the Pens credit for that as well).

EDIT: I retract the Nisky statement, he still put up solid numbers in Dallas too his first few years.
- j.boyd919

DAL was not wise. Good players have bad years and too many teams give up too fast.

True, but also at the risk of developing solid forwards tho. Similar to Gogo for Neal. Nisky flourished as a Pen (I give the Pens credit for that as well).

EDIT: I retract the Nisky statement, he still put up solid numbers in Dallas too his first few years.
- j.boyd919

ye ofc at the risk of the forwards. but the pens draft plan was for many years to draft for defensemen and they had nowhere near as good drafting as nashville when they did the same.