I cant believe you picked Washington.

Pens in 5....4 if they get some luck

I forget who are the defending champs here? Listen I franking hate the Pens but the Caps aren't showing they're anything different than what they've always been.
- Just5

I like this guy.

For this post, and the fact that he watches home movies.

Something thats not really talked about when two teams are about pay each other is the coaching. I think Sullivan and his staff have to be a factor here too. They seem to adapt and make good adjustments very well from game to game. On top of this Sullivan is great motivator and someone who milks the most out of his players. They almost finished 1st in the league dressing 15 different defensemen and missing very important forwards for significant amounts of time this year.
- MattStrat

Good point.

Something thats not really talked about when two teams are about pay each other is the coaching. I think Sullivan and his staff have to be a factor here too. They seem to adapt and make good adjustments very well from game to game. On top of this Sullivan is great motivator and someone who milks the most out of his players. They almost finished 1st in the league dressing 15 different defensemen and missing very important forwards for significant amounts of time this year.
- MattStrat

I don't think about this often, but its probably true. The Letangless Penguins have been leagues better under Sullivan than the Letangless Penguins were under Bylsma/Johnston. If Bylsma or Johnston were behind the bench, we wouldn't even be talking about the remote possibility the Pens can overcome the absence of Letang.

The caps have 3 first pairing defenseman. They have a huge advantage on D.
- j.boyd919

I'd argue they have 4.

I don't think about this often, but its probably true. The Letangless Penguins have been leagues better under Sullivan than the Letangless Penguins were under Bylsma/Johnston. If Bylsma or Johnston were behind the bench, we wouldn't even be talking about the remote possibility the Pens can overcome the absence of Letang.
- Victoro311

Very true! I think Sullys system just allows guys that are not as skilled as letang to still be able to make the smart plays without as much risk. Johnson and Bylsma made it tough, there were not as many options on the breakouts, not as much support on the walls. Now it seems there are always at least two decent options to get rid of the puck and not cause as many turnovers through the neutral zone.

Very true! I think Sullys system just allows guys that are not as skilled as letang to still be able to make the smart plays without as much risk. Johnson and Bylsma made it tough, there were not as many options on the breakouts, not as much support on the walls. Now it seems there are always at least two decent options to get rid of the puck and not cause as many turnovers through the neutral zone.
- Braximous

Obviously the forwards we have now are exponentially better than the crop Disco and Coach Farce had to work with, so that could very well be factoring more into it than the actual coaching/system, but its something to consider as a possibility.

I'd argue they have 4.
- Feds91Stammer

You're wrong as always.

You're wrong as always.
- RafiDRW

True

You're wrong as always.
- RafiDRW

Who the (frank) are you?

Who the (frank) are you?
- j.boyd919

I'd argue they have 4.
- Feds91Stammer

And thats the old argument is a 1st pairing guy just top 60 NHL dman or are we talking a 1d on a contender.

On a contender I'd say the caps don't have a true 1D guy, they have a lot of number 2/3 guys.

Something thats not really talked about when two teams are about pay each other is the coaching. I think Sullivan and his staff have to be a factor here too. They seem to adapt and make good adjustments very well from game to game. On top of this Sullivan is great motivator and someone who milks the most out of his players. They almost finished 1st in the league dressing 15 different defensemen and missing very important forwards for significant amounts of time this year.
- MattStrat

On the flip side, I think Barry Trotz is one of the best coaches in the league. So it's not like they have some idiot over there.

And thats the old argument is a 1st pairing guy just top 60 NHL dman or are we talking a 1d on a contender.

On a contender I'd say the caps don't have a true 1D guy, they have a lot of number 2/3 guys.
- sditulli

And thats the old argument is a 1st pairing guy just top 60 NHL dman or are we talking a 1d on a contender.

On a contender I'd say the caps don't have a true 1D guy, they have a lot of number 2/3 guys.
- sditulli

And thats the old argument is a 1st pairing guy just top 60 NHL dman or are we talking a 1d on a contender.

On a contender I'd say the caps don't have a true 1D guy, they have a lot of number 2/3 guys.
- sditulli

And thats the old argument is a 1st pairing guy just top 60 NHL dman or are we talking a 1d on a contender.

On a contender I'd say the caps don't have a true 1D guy, they have a lot of number 2/3 guys.
- sditulli

By defenition 1st pair is 2 players and there are 30 teams. If my math is right that is 60 guys...

And the bolded LMFAO

And thats the old argument is a 1st pairing guy just top 60 NHL dman or are we talking a 1d on a contender.

On a contender I'd say the caps don't have a true 1D guy, they have a lot of number 2/3 guys.
- sditulli

By defenition 1st pair is 2 players and there are 30 teams. If my math is right that is 60 guys...

And the bolded LMFAO
- Feds91Stammer

The fact that he questions whether or not the Caps are a contender is hysterical.

And thats the old argument is a 1st pairing guy just top 60 NHL dman or are we talking a 1d on a contender.

On a contender I'd say the caps don't have a true 1D guy, they have a lot of number 2/3 guys.
- sditulli

You are a number 2 guy

The fact that he questions whether or not the Caps are a contender is hysterical.
- j.boyd919

The fact they can roll out Shatty, Carlson, Niskanen, and Orlov on D is ridiculous.

The fact they can roll out Shatty, Carlson, Niskanen, and Orlov on D is ridiculous.
- Feds91Stammer

All 4 were in the top 50 in points from defenseman...

All 4 were in the top 50 in points from defenseman...
- Feds91Stammer

is that good?

is that good?
- j.boyd919

My sources are looking into this.

I unfortunately agree with everything in Wilson's blog... very rare.

The Pens are just not equipped right now due to injury. I also predicted the Caps to take it all this year and I'm sticking by it. Sorry to my fellow Pens fans, but I can't wear my black & gold glasses all the time.

Getting Kunitz and Ruhwedel back will definitely be a boost, but not enough. Missing Letang, Hagelin and Murray is simply too much to overcome against a top-quality team.

By defenition 1st pair is 2 players and there are 30 teams. If my math is right that is 60 guys...

And the bolded LMFAO
- Feds91Stammer

Its not "defined" anywhere. But I do think most people don't mean top 60. They mean a guy who is a top pairing guy on a good team.