John Toperzer: Where should Jarome Iginla play, Tomas Vokoun #Pens' MVP? Three-day break between games gives time to ponder questions

Put Igilna in net.

1. Iginla to the right wing. I dont understand why this is even a question.... Oh right bylsma

2. Put iginla on with dupes and sid. Done. It lets neal play right win with geno. Iginla be comfortable on his strong wing with crosby. Solves the problem of iggy not being able to pair well with malkin. Gives the geno line kunitz... Recreating a very effective line and keeps the dupes - sid combo.... Its so obvious it hurts my brain.

3. Iginla to the left point so he can blast away... Again obvious. Pair him with the defensively minded paul martin who has apparently found a knack for getting those pucks on net and passes through traffic.

Its mind blowing that this is not obvious to bylsma.

First off thank you John for acknowledging Vokun. I've had enough of people saying when is Fleury coming back? He is not coming back unless Vokun literally gets run over by a truck. Period.

Those same people will say "But we won't go far with a backup goaltender in net". Anybody remember Chris Osgood in 08 I believe when he replaced Hasek (and I'm sure many other cases). That's what I thought, you play who is HOT!

Iggy needs to play with Crosby. He just doesn't look right on the Malkin line.

Go Pens!!!

Trade Iginla to Edmonton for Hemsky.

Trade Iginla to Edmonton for Hemsky.
- Oilers4Life14

Trade Iginla to Edmonton for Hemsky.
- Oilers4Life14

Hemsky is only worth a fifth round pick to me and Edmonton has to eat 3 million in salary. You are destined to keep him throughout because no one wants him.

1. Iginla to the right wing. I dont understand why this is even a question.... Oh right bylsma

2. Put iginla on with dupes and sid. Done. It lets neal play right win with geno. Iginla be comfortable on his strong wing with crosby. Solves the problem of iggy not being able to pair well with malkin. Gives the geno line kunitz... Recreating a very effective line and keeps the dupes - sid combo.... Its so obvious it hurts my brain.

3. Iginla to the left point so he can blast away... Again obvious. Pair him with the defensively minded paul martin who has apparently found a knack for getting those pucks on net and passes through traffic.

Its mind blowing that this is not obvious to bylsma.
- saintjust21

That's a great article on Iggy by Dejan. As much as Disco deserves credit for getting the Pens to knuckle down an play some defense in the 2nd half of the season, he deserves equal the amount of criticism for his personnel moves. It really is mind numbing how stubborn he can be.

Morrow - Sutter - Iggy third line would be (frank)ing awesome.

That's a great article on Iggy by Dejan. As much as Disco deserves credit for getting the Pens to knuckle down an play some defense in the 2nd half of the season, he deserves equal the amount of criticism for his personnel moves. It really is mind numbing how stubborn he can be.
- madmike71

Very good article I agree. It sounds so simple to make the obvious moves I just don't understand why there are times where everyone can see it except the one guy that matters the most? Iginla should not get some of the criticism he has gotten at times. He's still putting up points. He's just playing where Bylsma wants him to and it's not utitlizing his strengths. I thought in the Islander series when Iggy was on Sid's line for a bit he was going to stay there but I should have known better. I'm not a Byslma basher but some of his decisions can be quite frustrating at times especially when they don't make any sense.

First off thank you John for acknowledging Vokun. I've had enough of people saying when is Fleury coming back? He is not coming back unless Vokun literally gets run over by a truck. Period.

Those same people will say "But we won't go far with a backup goaltender in net". Anybody remember Chris Osgood in 08 I believe when he replaced Hasek (and I'm sure many other cases). That's what I thought, you play who is HOT!

Iggy needs to play with Crosby. He just doesn't look right on the Malkin line.

Go Pens!!!
- Francois Leroux

Everyone in the world sees this except Bylsma.
Geno is an enigma, that man baffles me sometimes.

That's a great article on Iggy by Dejan. As much as Disco deserves credit for getting the Pens to knuckle down an play some defense in the 2nd half of the season, he deserves equal the amount of criticism for his personnel moves. It really is mind numbing how stubborn he can be.
- madmike71

I still think that it's Crosby behind the makeup of his line.

Iggy played with Sid & Dupuis for a couple games, and after the first practice (after gm #1 i think) where Sid was back with Kunitz & Dupuis, he was asked about it, and his first answer was about it being good to be back with guys who were comfortable. He's great at the cliche non-answers, and instead of saying that "it doesn't matter who we are with, guys get moved around a lot... etc", he immediately brought up being comfortable with Kunitz and Dupuis.

Not having him on the left side on the PP makes no sense however. Some of those power plays last game were so lopsided, often with all 5 guys being in the center or on the right. It's not hard to kill a penalty, when you only have to protect 40' wide of ice.

Everyone in the world sees this except Bylsma.
Geno is an enigma, that man baffles me sometimes.
- nbartley9

Malkin E Nigma? Hmmmm... I like the ring of that.

I could see Geno dressed up in the green Riddler suit.

I still think that it's Crosby behind the makeup of his line. Iggy played with Sid & Dupuis for a couple games, and after the first practice (after gm #1 i think) where Sid was back with Kunitz & Dupuis, he was asked about it, and his first answer was about it being good to be back with guys who were comfortable. He's great at the cliche non-answers, and instead of saying that "it doesn't matter who we are with, guys get moved around a lot... etc", he immediately brought up being comfortable with Kunitz and Dupuis.

Not having him on the left side on the PP makes no sense however. Some of those power plays last game were so lopsided, often with all 5 guys being in the center or on the right. It's not hard to kill a penalty, when you only have to protect 40' wide of ice.
- rival22

Your 100% right he is the reason for the line pairing. Then again he is the best player in the world, then on the other hand the coach should have the final say no matter what.

Rough spot to be in.

Malkin E Nigma? Hmmmm... I like the ring of that.

I could see Geno dressed up in the green Riddler suit.
- Francois Leroux

Haha I hope to god that doesn't mean we have to see Val Kilmer as Batman again!!!!!!!

Your 100% right he is the reason for the line pairing. Then again he is the best player in the world, then on the other hand the coach should have the final say no matter what.

Rough spot to be in.
- nbartley9

That's the problem... Byslma has no authority in the matter. Not that it would ever get to this, but even if Shero backed Byslma and told Crosby that Kunitz was playing with Malkin, all Sid has to do is call Shero's boss, who handpicked his linemates his entire career.

He's not really that spectacular, he's just head and shoulders beyond MA Fleury. When it comes to playoff hockey, Fleury is Dan Cloutier bad. Relatively speaking, Vokoun is Terry Sawchuk.

That's the problem... Byslma has no authority in the matter. Not that it would ever get to this, but even if Shero backed Byslma and told Crosby that Kunitz was playing with Malkin, all Sid has to do is call Shero's boss, who handpicked his linemates his entire career.
- rival22

Spot on.

But I don't see Sid as THAT GUY.(im calling daddy kind of guy)

He's not really that spectacular, he's just head and shoulders beyond MA Fleury. When it comes to playoff hockey, Fleury is Dan Cloutier bad. Relatively speaking, Vokoun is Terry Sawchuk.
- tkecanuck341

Sure...that's why MAF has played in 2 Stanley Cup Finals and won 1 of them.

1. Iginla to the right wing. I dont understand why this is even a question.... Oh right bylsma

2. Put iginla on with dupes and sid. Done. It lets neal play right win with geno. Iginla be comfortable on his strong wing with crosby. Solves the problem of iggy not being able to pair well with malkin. Gives the geno line kunitz... Recreating a very effective line and keeps the dupes - sid combo.... Its so obvious it hurts my brain.

3. Iginla to the left point so he can blast away... Again obvious. Pair him with the defensively minded paul martin who has apparently found a knack for getting those pucks on net and passes through traffic.

Its mind blowing that this is not obvious to bylsma.
- saintjust21

literally of this is is perfect. the powerplay was at its best with iginla providing that threat of a bomb from the other side. and i understand having kunitz with iginla, i just feel that malkin needs him more. malkin with kunitz and neal. crosby with iginla and dupuis. iginla on the point on the powerplay. its the only thing hes really provided so far, so lets use it.

Should be Dup-Sid-Iggy
Kun-Malk-Neal
So each line has a guy to do the dirty work, a beast center, and an elite sniper.

Spot on.

But I don't see Sid as THAT GUY.(im calling daddy kind of guy)
- nbartley9

im not saying it would be that blatant, but i wouldnt be surprised. sid wouldnt have to even say that. this organization would put him with whoever he wants line wise even if he slightly expressed the desire.

Spot on.

But I don't see Sid as THAT GUY.(im calling daddy kind of guy)
- nbartley9

Problem is too that Sid has stats on his side. He played with Iggy for a few games and got chances, but only had a couple points. First game back with his crew and he scores a hat trick. Sort of hard to tell the guy that he's wrong when he's put up so many points with Kunitz...

And while he's played the best with Kunitz and Neal, Malkin has put up some good stats without Kunitz for the most part in the post season.

Problem is too that Sid has stats on his side. He played with Iggy for a few games and got chances, but only had a couple points. First game back with his crew and he scores a hat trick. Sort of hard to tell the guy that he's wrong when he's put up so many points with Kunitz...

And while he's played the best with Kunitz and Neal, Malkin has put up some good stats without Kunitz for the most part in the post season.
- rival22

very good point

Sure...that's why MAF has played in 2 Stanley Cup Finals and won 1 of them.


- Killian

Another thing people outside of Pittsburgh forgets