Ryan Wilson: Tyler Kennedy Returns To Pittsburgh Stanley Cup Champion Tyler Kennedy comes back to Pittsburgh for the first time since he was traded to San Jose

TK would sure look good now that our 3rd line is mostly comprised of stiffs. I too think he was under appreciated.

Emperor, dbell, madmike, it's just SellMyMonkey's opinion. I can see why he gets mad at all the bashing on Letang. I'm a Big fan of him as well and hope for the best every game. I won't say he sucks and trade him all the time. All good defensemen have some flaws. Karlsson has it. Subban too. He's na important piece on this team so Let's support him get through this.

I am obviously not as close to the situation as you guys but TK always played well against the Flyers. For that reason alone, I would think the Pens would want to keep him. The Pens really need a 3rd line like they had with that unit. After chasing 87 & 71, to have to then face 11 & company was a tough ask for any team!

TK would sure look good now that our 3rd line is mostly comprised of stiffs. I too think he was under appreciated.
- madmike71

He was a key piece. Sadly, the Penguins have too many big-ticket players to be able to keep those good supporting players. I'm sure most teams would like having that issue, but for the most part, if (big IF) the top 2 lines get shut down, you won't get much production. It used the be a case of 2 top lines, and then the 3rd line was basically a second line. Now it's a top line, a good second line, and 2 4th lines.

Kennedy is AGAIN on arguably the best 3rd line in hockey

He was a key piece. Sadly, the Penguins have too many big-ticket players to be able to keep those good supporting players. I'm sure most teams would like having that issue, but for the most part, if (big IF) the top 2 lines get shut down, you won't get much production. It used the be a case of 2 top lines, and then the 3rd line was basically a second line. Now it's a top line, a good second line, and 2 4th lines.
- jmatchett383

Moving forward Shero will have more $ to play with, this year made it artificially tougher to have depth.

Kennedy is AGAIN on arguably the best 3rd line in hockey
- RileyB77

Yeah, that line is no joke.

Moving forward Shero will have more $ to play with, this year made it artificially tougher to have depth.
- Ryan_Wilson

It certainly did. The teams with good young players playing those roles have had a better time than the ones relying on veterans in those roles.

Bennett and Sutter are a good start to good 3rd line, but Bennett needs to get healthy before that happens. Then if you can add the right third piece at the deadline, it could be a very good 3rd line in no time flat.

This isn't selling Kobasew short - he'll likely be a help when he gets back.

Bennett and Sutter are a good start to good 3rd line, but Bennett needs to get healthy before that happens. Then if you can add the right third piece at the deadline, it could be a very good 3rd line in no time flat.

This isn't selling Kobasew short - he'll likely be a help when he gets back.
- hardnosed

I thought Kobasew was doing a marvelous job in the 3rd line. What we need is a net front presence pick up.

"Some folks who follow the Penguins did not care much for Tyler Kennedy and thought that he took too many bad angle shots and that he was not a good player , I disagree with those people’s assessment of Kennedy."

Given your affinity for expanded metrics, couldnt you offer up some evidence to support this via Corsi or Fenwick? My hunch is that he didnt drive possession as much as he hurt it. That gap probably became more pronounced once Staal was traded. It was apparent that TK suffered a lot more than Cooke post Staal.

Bennett and Sutter are a good start to good 3rd line, but Bennett needs to get healthy before that happens. Then if you can add the right third piece at the deadline, it could be a very good 3rd line in no time flat.

This isn't selling Kobasew short - he'll likely be a help when he gets back.
- hardnosed

I'm not sold on Sutter in that role. He seems like a guy who isn't defensive enough to center the 3rd line, but doesn't have enough offense for a top-6 (especially as a center on this team). He's a fine player, but I'm just not sure if he has a good fit on the team.

He was a key piece. Sadly, the Penguins have too many big-ticket players to be able to keep those good supporting players.
- jmatchett383

Some of those supporting players parlayed their Penguins' success into inflated deals with other teams.

Emperor, dbell, madmike, it's just SellMyMonkey's opinion. I can see why he gets mad at all the bashing on Letang. I'm a Big fan of him as well and hope for the best every game. I won't say he sucks and trade him all the time. All good defensemen have some flaws. Karlsson has it. Subban too. He's na important piece on this team so Let's support him get through this.
- Orpik44

What are you talking about. Letang is playing like trash and I call it how I see it. I never said trade him I'm just stating the obvious. If you check my history I'm a pretty big fan of Letang but I don't have to ignore what he's putting out on the ice this season. I've also called out Malkin and Crosby this year when they were playing below the line.

What are you talking about. Letang is playing like trash and I call it how I see it. I never said trade him I'm just stating the obvious. If you check my history I'm a pretty big fan of Letang but I don't have to ignore what he's putting out on the ice this season. I've also called out Malkin and Crosby this year when they were playing below the line.
- dbell646

I don't think he's "playing like trash." If you want to see that, watch a Flyers' game. He's definitely not playing like a premier #1 defenseman who's making a boatload of money, though.

I always liked Tk and what he brought to the team. I'm real excited for tonights game. San Jose is the best team I've watched this year.

I don't think he's "playing like trash." If you want to see that, watch a Flyers' game. He's definitely not playing like a premier #1 defenseman who's making a boatload of money, though.
- jmatchett383

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I see him making huge mistakes that lead to odd breaks and a lot of times goals. I'm done with this topic. It's all about TK for the rest of the day

"Some folks who follow the Penguins did not care much for Tyler Kennedy and thought that he took too many bad angle shots and that he was not a good player , I disagree with those people’s assessment of Kennedy."

Given your affinity for expanded metrics, couldnt you offer up some evidence to support this via Corsi or Fenwick? My hunch is that he didnt drive possession as much as he hurt it. That gap probably became more pronounced once Staal was traded. It was apparent that TK suffered a lot more than Cooke post Staal.
- Rawdog9755

Fenclose% 2010-2013 54.7%

http://stats.hockeyanalys...ick&sort=PCT&sortdir=DESC

Fenclose% 2010-2013 54.7%

http://stats.hockeyanalys...ick&sort=PCT&sortdir=DESC
- Ryan_Wilson

Emperor, dbell, madmike, it's just SellMyMonkey's opinion. I can see why he gets mad at all the bashing on Letang. I'm a Big fan of him as well and hope for the best every game. I won't say he sucks and trade him all the time. All good defensemen have some flaws. Karlsson has it. Subban too. He's na important piece on this team so Let's support him get through this.
- Orpik44

I have nothing against Letang. I'm sure he is a good guy, and I want him to play better because the Pens NEED HIM to play better...but that doesn't mean he should be above constructive, analytical criticism, because the alternative is to just stick your head in the sand and say everything is rosy, which would be a lie. I was critical of Martin during his struggles and have likewise done so with Malkin when he at times was making brutal decisions with the puck. Notice I'm not saying "Letang sucks" blah blah blah....that's not fair either, but it is certainly fair to call out glaring holes in his game, especially because they are things that can be fixed if he works on developing better situational awareness.

I always thought Kennedy kind of got a bad rap here. He was what he was, a good 3rd liner, and I'd never be critical of a guy who wanted to get the puck on the net. Gunner, you bring up something that always mystified me: why did he never kill penalties here? He certainly had the wheels to do it...any insights?

Kennedy will score tonight for sure.

I like how he took a shot at the ice. What an embarrassment it is that they can't make good ice in this building.

I always thought Kennedy kind of got a bad rap here. He was what he was, a good 3rd liner, and I'd never be critical of a guy who wanted to get the puck on the net. Gunner, you bring up something that always mystified me: why did he never kill penalties here? He certainly had the wheels to do it...any insights?
- Emperor Filonius

For a while it was the case of having so many guys who could provide that role: Staal, Cooke, Dupuis, Adams, Talbot for example

But I certainly believe he has the physical skill set to help out a little bit on the PK.

Bylsma has gone with a 4 man rotation for much of his tenure as coach and Kennedy just wasn't one of those four players.

Kennedy is not killing penalties for SJ either (0:20 SHTOI/G)

Do you guys think Letang will get an invite for Team Canada? Not sure he was at the summer camp or not, but he looked like a shoo-in for one of the 5/6 spots after last year, now maybe not.