They will make it.
- ikyan

Looking at the teams in front of them I feel like they have enough to get in.

That's a good thing though. The Caps issues start with McPhee. I know that there aren't many good GM candidates out there right now with proven track records, but he should have went a while ago.
- Blackstrom2

This topic was kicked around the office when I was in Annapolis last week before we went to the Caps game.

How many chances do you give McPhee to surround the corps players (Backstrom, OV, Green) who are really very good and capable of carrying/leading the team before cutting ties and looking to someone else? He has made a ton of moves the last couple of years. Collectively, they seem to reflect an identity crisis. By that, I mean, GMGM doesn't seem sold on the direction or type of team he has or wants. Compare him to other highly successful teams/GMs like Holland or Holmgren, for example (and even the Pens under Shero/Bylsma), who have a distinct direction and type of player they want to go with.

I'm just glad we don't have to choose. And yes, I would take a chance on Knuble if the price was right.

I'll have a Rick Nash thing up after I get back from lunch I think for anybody who is interested.

dbell's trade proposal was so good I had to elaborate on it.

This topic was kicked around the office when I was in Annapolis last week before we went to the Caps game.

How many chances do you give McPhee to surround the corps players (Backstrom, OV, Green) who are really very good and capable of carrying/leading the team before cutting ties and looking to someone else? He has made a ton of moves the last couple of years. Collectively, they seem to reflect an identity crisis. By that, I mean, GMGM doesn't seem sold on the direction or type of team he has or wants. Compare him to other highly successful teams/GMs like Holland or Holmgren, for example (and even the Pens under Shero/Bylsma), who have a distinct direction and type of player they want to go with.
- akane13

GMGM had an identity, it was just the wrong one. Just look at his draft record. While I think he is a fairly average, or good, GM when it comes to drafting and identifying talent, they always choose the higher-end risk talent type of player over who may have less of a ceiling, but makes up for it in tenacity, grit, etc. Reading the comments from him and BB the past 2 or so years only reinforced it. One of them actually said that we didn't need toughness because our PP was so potent, teams would be afraid of taking penalties. Really? Only recently has he realized that building around high-end skill doesn't work if it's not injected with the right amount of grit and toughness. He obviously missed the mark on some of these signings (Ward, Hamrlik).

Right now the Caps are going through an identity crisis, but it's because they realized their free-flowing system didn't work. Confidence seems to play a major factor in how this team does too, which isn't a good thing. I really don't understand what I am watching sometimes, at this point I don't know if some of the miscues they do are the result of Hunter telling them to ring it around to no one, or if they just are continually making bad decisions as a team.

As a positive side, Semin has looked rather good under Hunter and I really like the play of Orlov. That's it.

I'll have a Rick Nash thing up after I get back from lunch I think for anybody who is interested.

dbell's trade proposal was so good I had to elaborate on it.
- Gunner Staal

we left off in the other blog with edmonton, and you asked what Edmonton would have to give up, did you catch my reply, or need a repost?

That's a good thing though. The Caps issues start with McPhee. I know that there aren't many good GM candidates out there right now with proven track records, but he should have went a while ago.
- Blackstrom2

I'm sure they could find someone more capable. As long as its not a retread.

No Crosby on the ice today again... Yesterday was a planned day off, we'll see what Bylsma says about him today.

I would take Knuble but I doubt the Caps would be that willing to give him to us.

John Toperzer: Choice of fully healthy Sid or Geno: Who do you take?
Pens lucky to employ best two hockey players
- the-mitch-wilsons

No doubt...Crosby for sure.

we left off in the other blog with edmonton, and you asked what Edmonton would have to give up, did you catch my reply, or need a repost?
- ryman1566

The Jackets would ask for at least one of the following: Nugent-Hopkins, Hall, or Eberle, and I think the conversation would end there.

I just don't think they are good trading partners. The Oilers have enough skilled forwards. They need defense in a bad way, at least IMO.

I would take Knuble but I doubt the Caps would be that willing to give him to us.
- Deadstar

If it becomes to the point of the Caps trading Knuble, I don't think it'll matter where he goes. They'll engage in sellers mode.

I for one don't see that happening, I think they will try to make the playoffs all-out from here on.

If it becomes to the point of the Caps trading Knuble, I don't think it'll matter where he goes. They'll engage in sellers mode.

I for one don't see that happening, I think they will try to make the playoffs all-out from here on.
- Blackstrom2

Aside from a healthy Backstrom and Green, what do you guys need?

No Crosby on the ice today again... Yesterday was a planned day off, we'll see what Bylsma says about him today.
- rival22

Just took the ice for a post-practice workout

Just took the ice for a post-practice workout
- ryman1566

I just saw that... good to hear.

Looking at the teams in front of them I feel like they have enough to get in.
- dbell646

Eh. When they decide to open it up, the goals start pouring in the other way, like last night. Not to mention this team has been on the wrong side of puckluck all season. I don't know, they are so frustrating to watch. They literally are incapable of stringing together two passes. Clean entry into the neutral zone? Unheard of. Slow, weak breakouts because of our slow, weak defense.

Unless something happens and they decide to start playing like a (frank)ing NHL team, they aren't going anywhere but down.

John Toperzer: Choice of fully healthy Sid or Geno: Who do you take?
Pens lucky to employ best two hockey players
- the-mitch-wilsons

It would suck to have to actually decide that... luckily we dont have too

hopefully theres a trade today

What kind of a question is that? LOL

"If healthy, who would you rather have... The best player in the freaking world, or anyone else"?

Must be a slow day.

It would suck to have to actually decide that... luckily we dont have too

hopefully theres a trade today
- nh4442

Today's the day nh, I can feel it. I have the #83 sweater ready to go.

Today's the day nh, I can feel it. I have the #83 sweater ready to go.
- canadianpenfan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkADj0TPrJA&ob=av2e

What kind of a question is that? LOL

"If healthy, who would you rather have... The best player in the freaking world, or anyone else"?

Must be a slow day.
- Charliebox

If you watched Malkin every night you would understand why it's a valid question.

Aside from a healthy Backstrom and Green, what do you guys need?
- ryman1566

The problem is we have too much salary tied up, to really get what we need. If I was the GMGM, I would put everyone on the block, frankly. But we know that Backstrom and Ovi are completely unrealistic.

We need a strong two-way center who can play 2C. Maybe another winger in the top-6 mix. Dump guys like Ward, re-shuffle the bottom-6 with grittier guys. What we need is basically unattainable at the deadline.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkADj0TPrJA&ob=av2e
- ryman1566

Hemsky got hurt trying to turn that song off.

If it becomes to the point of the Caps trading Knuble, I don't think it'll matter where he goes. They'll engage in sellers mode.

I for one don't see that happening, I think they will try to make the playoffs all-out from here on.
- Blackstrom2

Especially for a guy like him because he is only a temporary asset to the team getting him. IF the Caps do trade him, just making the play offs, not matching up against the team he goes to, will be their primary concern.

Regarding you other post... Semin has played better of late for sure and the play of Orlov speaks for itself. He's been good. Who is the big Russian winger expected to make the team next year? Kuznetsov? (sp).

Today's the day nh, I can feel it. I have the #83 sweater ready to go.
- canadianpenfan

he wont be here until feb 27th

if asham returns does oreilly go on waivers and jeffrey back at center? or does park get sent down?