The Rangers didn't have a rebuilding phase. They had a "Overpay every free agent possible, but still suck" phase. Seriously Bobby Holik at $9M.
- Ben37

Yea lol. They have a few guys that they drafted on their team now. Their core are all FA signings. The Pens core is pretty much built through the draft except Neal.

I've been a fan my whole life, and if you actually had knowledge you'd know that every team has their rebuliding stages. Now a team like Detroit has drafted so well that this hasn't happened to them for a long time.
- PensMalkin71

I'm guessing PensCrosby87 was already taken, so you picked PensMalkin71.

Makes sense. If every team has a rebuilding stage, why are you trashing on the Islanders fan for his team going through one?

Yea lol. They have a few guys that they drafted on their team now. Their core are all FA signings. The Pens core is pretty much built through the draft except Neal.
- PensMalkin71

Lundqvist. Staal. Girardi. McDonagh. Sauer. DelZotto. Erixon. Bickel. Dubinsky. Callahan. Anisimov. Stepan. Hagelin. Zuccarello

All players who played there first NHL games wearing a Rangers jersey. Our goalie, all of our starting defensemen, and 6 of our top 9 forwards.

You should probably know a thing or two before you open your mouth.

Our free agent signings who are on the team besides Richards and Gaborik?

Rupp, Fedotenko, Boyle, Prust, Mitchell, Anton Stralman, Jeff Woywitka, John Scott, Marty Biron.

You really know nothing. Nothing at all.

Yea lol. They have a few guys that they drafted on their team now. Their core are all FA signings. The Pens core is pretty much built through the draft except Neal.
- PensMalkin71

Yea you're right, the Rangers didn't draft Lundqvist, Staal, Del Zotto, Stepan, Callahan, Dubinsky, Hagelin, Anisimov, sign an undrafted Girardi and groom McDonagh(well aware Montreal drafted him).

The only two impact players on the team, that weren't homegrown and groomed in NY are Gaborik and Richards.

Those days of clowning the Rangers for buying half of their team are long gone.

You must have them mistaken for another team. Actually break down the amount of players that aren't homegrown, on Pittsburgh and New York respectively, and I bet you will be disappointed in knowing that it's probably the Penguins with more transplants than New York.

Oh and Kunitz was a Penguins draft pick? Think not.

Kunitz, Neal, Cooke, Dupuis, Asham, Michalek, Martin, Sullivan, Adams and Johnson. Almost half of the team is not a drafted or groomed Penguin...

Oi vey. You can tell the Pens lost and the Rangers won tonight. Some boys are feeling big in their britches.

We've covered bandwagon fans and bankrupcy. We are a Matt Cooke is dirty, a Crysby, and a Malkin receives star treatment from having the full house of trolls.

Those days of clowning the Rangers for buying half of their team are long gone.


- MidnightMarauder

If 6 seasons is the statute of limitations for mocking a team about a practice then the taking idea for the Penguins has to be coming to an end shortly.

Yea lol. They have a few guys that they drafted on their team now. Their core are all FA signings. The Pens core is pretty much built through the draft except Neal.
- PensMalkin71

yeah that was tough drafting Crosby. Really brilliant front office leadership making that decision.

I think last night's game pretty much takes Fleury out of any Vezina talk, not there was actually any talk of him in consideration other than a Penguin blogger.

Well I missed the game after TK scored and it looks like it was for the better. Hope Fleury gets back to his ways tomorrow night.

Fluery looked stoned last night while he was playing, he was not on his game for sure and should have been taken out earlier...The play he came out and was hit, was terrible, he looked so bad on that, it was comical.

Fluery looked stoned last night while he was playing, he was not on his game for sure and should have been taken out earlier...The play he came out and was hit, was terrible, he looked so bad on that, it was comical.
- bixll

Even the best have their off nights IE: Fleury last night, Lundqvist against the Sabres last Friday.

Even the best have their off nights IE: Fleury last night, Lundqvist against the Sabres last Friday.
- Gunner Staal

Yes the entire D was actually a bit of a trainwreck. Letting too many people get behind them. We can't be just looking to score on every play. We also need to be freaking responsible. Also manage puck possession better, fowards come back a bit to help outnnumber the attacking fowards. Also fowards should help pick up their D that cheat to attack the net.

Just paly better defense and get that mind set if you ask me.

Yes the entire D was actually a bit of a trainwreck. Letting too many people get behind them. We can't be just looking to score on every play. We also need to be freaking responsible. Also manage puck possession better, fowards come back a bit to help outnnumber the attacking fowards. Also fowards should help pick up their D that cheat to attack the net.

Just paly better defense and get that mind set if you ask me.
- powerhouse

And to be honest, Fleury gave up at least two TERRIBLE goals that are really not the norm for him. Isles won by 2. For all that was bad on the surface, we lost because of goaltending IMO. 50+ shots is nothing to sneeze at.

Think it's time to buy one of these for Fleury and just stake in right in the crease.

And to be honest, Fleury gave up at least two TERRIBLE goals that are really not the norm for him. Isles won by 2. For all that was bad on the surface, we lost because of goaltending IMO. 50+ shots is nothing to sneeze at.
- Gunner Staal

OK, but we are giving up some odd man rushes that are avoidable. I was at the game and could not really see what you are referring to.

Glad I missed the game last night.

Pens have been sloppy defensively for a while now... It seems like a lot of the post game comments from the players last night recognize that too.

Thursday is a big game to see how serious they are about tightening up. If it's a sloppy, back and forth game, then I am worried... If they really tighten up, I'll feel a lot better for the last week of the season.

The team has to get back to what it was doing before Crosby came back.

Even the best have their off nights IE: Fleury last night, Lundqvist against the Sabres last Friday.
- Gunner Staal

The last perfect person was nailed to a cross, who wants to be perfect??

Think it's time to buy one of these for Fleury and just stake in right in the crease.


- brianb0422

I have always said to get a shock collar so when he leaves the crease it zaps him. I think the cable would get in his way.

I have always said to get a shock collar so when he leaves the crease it zaps him. I think the cable would get in his way.
- kgrpitt

I think when Fleury gaffes during his escapades out of the net they are very obvious. I do not think he is awful at the job he does with it though. He is not very good at all, but he is acceptable IMO. When he screws up though, he screws up!

I think when Fleury gaffes during his escapades out of the net they are very obvious. I do not think he is awful at the job he does with it though. He is not very good at all, but he is acceptable IMO. When he screws up though, he screws up!
- Gunner Staal

Holtby pulled a "Fleury" on the 1st goal by the Sabres last night. That kind of stuff really sets a bad tone for the game and almost always seems to figure significantly in the outcome.

Holtby pulled a "Fleury" on the 1st goal by the Sabres last night. That kind of stuff really sets a bad tone for the game and almost always seems to figure significantly in the outcome.
- MadCap2008

I'm sorry about that game last night for you. I can't imagine the frustration. What an egg. I watched more of that game than the Penguins one.

4th goal summed that game up perfect.

I'm sorry about that game last night for you. I can't imagine the frustration. What an egg. I watched more of that game than the Penguins one.

4th goal summed that game up perfect.
- Gunner Staal

Yeah, that sort of summed up much of the season, honestly. I hate to devote 6 months of following hockey to have my team not make the playoffs, but the Caps simply don't deserve it.

OK, but we are giving up some odd man rushes that are avoidable. I was at the game and could not really see what you are referring to.
- powerhouse

The secret for beating the Pens has been the same all year.

Stand up at the blue lines, clog the neutral zone and create turnovers then counter attack. When they get so caught up with scoring they really lose focus on playing defense.

At least in the post game, the players all said the right things. Let's hope we see the attention to details tomorrow and Friday.

Shelly Anderson ‏ @pgshelly Close
#Penguins prax lines: 14-71-18, 24-11-48, 26-87-9, 12-27-45. Pairs: 44-4, 37-5, 47-7.

I didn't see the game last night, so maybe this was done a bit then, but it looks like Staal & Sid have traded wingers.

Yeah, that sort of summed up much of the season, honestly. I hate to devote 6 months of following hockey to have my team not make the playoffs, but the Caps simply don't deserve it.
- MadCap2008

Sorry. Ona positive note I am hearing Backstrom is feeling better.

New blog for you folks.