Ryan Wilson: Measuring Luck And What It Says About the Kings And Penguins PDO can tell the story of a team's 82 game season if you look close enough.

Those poll results have got to be filled with Flyers fans because both results couldn't be more of base. This team needs a guy like Ott, we cant and wont win without players like him on our team. This team is not constructed (currently) to be successful in the playoffs.


Bottom line is this year the Pens have to win the Cup, if they don't 2 things should happen Bylsma should instantly be fired and the team should be blown up, and I mean totally blown up; meaning Letang and Geno both find new homes. The time for this team is now and we have already wasted way too many of Sid and Geno's prime years by losing in the playoffs.

Those poll results have got to be filled with Flyers fans because both results couldn't be more of base. This team needs a guy like Ott, we cant and wont win without players like him on our team. This team is not constructed (currently) to be successful in the playoffs.


Bottom line is this year the Pens have to win the Cup, if they don't 2 things should happen Bylsma should instantly be fired and the team should be blown up, and I mean totally blown up; meaning Letang and Geno both find new homes. The time for this team is now and we have already wasted way too many of Sid and Geno's prime years by losing in the playoffs.
- nbartley9

Why on earth would you get rid of Geno?

Why on earth would you get rid of Geno?
- dbell646

If we falter again, something drastic needs done; and I personally cant think of anything more drastic.

Those poll results have got to be filled with Flyers fans because both results couldn't be more of base. This team needs a guy like Ott, we cant and wont win without players like him on our team. This team is not constructed (currently) to be successful in the playoffs.


Bottom line is this year the Pens have to win the Cup, if they don't 2 things should happen Bylsma should instantly be fired and the team should be blown up, and I mean totally blown up; meaning Letang and Geno both find new homes. The time for this team is now and we have already wasted way too many of Sid and Geno's prime years by losing in the playoffs.
- nbartley9

First of all, I voted, and voted for Ott (assuming a rental, not a trade and sign). So, yeah, that.

Also, please see below:

This team is not constructed (currently) to be successful in the playoffs.

Bottom line is this year the Pens have to win the Cup...The time for this team is now and we have already wasted way too many of Sid and Geno's prime years by losing in the playoffs.
- nbartley9

I get what you're saying and all, but you can't say they're not built to be successful in the playoffs, but the time is now to win in the playoffs. If they DON'T make the moves to be "constructed to be successful" then how is that the fault of DB, Geno, Letang, etc? The construction the team is on Shero. You can cite lack of on-ice success on them, but not the team construction.

But, for different reasons, I think DB, MAF, and Letang should go IF they don't win in the playoffs. But the problem is, who are you going to bring in to make it better? Maata and Pouliott may be able to give you what Letang does (all-around, generally) in 3-4 years, but that's 3-4 of Crosby's prime years. MAF has had severe playoff problems, but which goaltender are you going to replace him with who upgrades you now? Lastly, what coach are you going to bring in to substantially take over and make this team play better?

I actually advocated the trading of Geno (the greatest luxury/insurance policy in the game) last year and was pretty much slammed for it. It had nothing to do with his on-ice performance or the team's, but was geared at filling glaring holes and obtaining top-notch goaltender prospects.

It's a delicate game. You can't keep the same core and keep failing; at the same time, too many changes can set you back when you're a legitimate contender every year.

If we falter again, something drastic needs done; and I personally cant think of anything more drastic.
- nbartley9

By drastic, you mean stupid?

You don't trade a top 5 player in the league if you want to win now.

And the idea that they have to win the cup or it's a failure worth blowing up the team over is ludicrous.

If we falter again, something drastic needs done; and I personally cant think of anything more drastic.
- nbartley9

Fire the coach yes trade Letang yes trade Geno no. That would not make us a better team

Fire the coach yes trade Letang yes trade Geno no. That would not make us a better team
- dbell646

What if Letang can bring you a top-line right winger (say a Benn/Huberdeau-type) as well as a top-notch prospect?

And I still say Geno could be moved to make the team chemistry better, but that ship has sailed.

Fire the coach yes trade Letang yes trade Geno no. That would not make us a better team
- dbell646

It's debatable that firing Bylsma would make the team better. Huge gamble into the unknown.

What if Letang can bring you a top-line right winger (say a Benn/Huberdeau-type) as well as a top-notch prospect?

And I still say Geno could be moved to make the team chemistry better, but that ship has sailed.
- jmatchett383

Why would moving Geno make team chemistry better? He's very well liked and respected, and by all accounts doesn't want the spotlight that Sid gets.

What if Letang can bring you a top-line right winger (say a Benn/Huberdeau-type) as well as a top-notch prospect?

And I still say Geno could be moved to make the team chemistry better, but that ship has sailed.
- jmatchett383

Why would moving Geno make team chemistry better? He's very well liked and respected, and by all accounts doesn't want the spotlight that Sid gets.

Why would moving Geno make team chemistry better? He's very well liked and respected, and by all accounts doesn't want the spotlight that Sid gets.
- rival22

I'm not talking about locker room chemistry. I'm talking about filling needs (top-line wingers, bottom-6, backup/young goaltenders, etc.). I guess team makeup is a better term.

It's debatable that firing Bylsma would make the team better. Huge gamble into the unknown.
- rival22

I don't think Coaches are that big of an issue. I mean he had about 20 seconds of coaching experience when he was brought in.

I'm not talking about locker room chemistry. I'm talking about filling needs (top-line wingers, bottom-6, backup/young goaltenders, etc.). I guess team makeup is a better term.
- jmatchett383

Letang would bring that top 6 winger. If you trade Geno you add another significant hole with no replacement in the system. Letang you can withstand because you have plenty of potential replacements for the d corps. Maybe not Norris Caliber but 87/71 are generational players IMO. I'm not trading either. Team make up when we won the cup had a lot of guys on the lower lines with a lot more skill and grit then we currently have. You can get those guys in FA without giving up an asset like Geno.

Why would moving Geno make team chemistry better? He's very well liked and respected, and by all accounts doesn't want the spotlight that Sid gets.
- rival22

You don't trade Geno. Ever. If you want to move parts, try letting Bylsma go first of all. Letang, Neal would be the ones I'd choose to go in order to acquire guys like Brown/Callahan/Backes.

This is a very pivotal season, I would be willing to bet all parties involved know that the repercussions for having another failure of a playoffs would be drastic. Shero, Bylsma, and players alike all know they have one more shot with this group before, kaboom!!

It would be a crying shame if Sid becomes a slightly more successful Dan Marino.

Letang would bring that top 6 winger. If you trade Geno you add another significant hole with no replacement in the system. Letang you can withstand because you have plenty of potential replacements for the d corps. Maybe not Norris Caliber but 87/71 are generational players IMO. I'm not trading either. Team make up when we won the cup had a lot of guys on the lower lines with a lot more skill and grit then we currently have. You can get those guys in FA without giving up an asset like Geno.
- dbell646

I'd call Crosby a generational player (Gretzky) and Malkin a superstar (Sakic). Would you rather have one superstar player, or a variety of good players (keeping in mind you already have the best player in the game, who plays the same position as the superstar)? Let's say you fill Malkin's spot with a traditional #2C, bring in a top-line winger, a top-flight goaltender prospect, and a top-4 young defenseman? To me, personally, I'd do it.

As for getting "those guys" to fill in the lower lines through FA, why haven't they done it, since you make it seem so easy?

I'm not talking about locker room chemistry. I'm talking about filling needs (top-line wingers, bottom-6, backup/young goaltenders, etc.). I guess team makeup is a better term.
- jmatchett383

With the salary cap, it's nearly impossible to trade someone like that though and not be a rebuilding team. Malkin would command a couple high end players (plus picks/prospects). You likely can't fit a couple top end players on your team for less of a cap hit than Malkin's. Heck, next season the return for trading Alex Goligoski will have a higher combined cap hit than Malkin.
You might end up with a more balanced team, but would be in more cap trouble.

Letang would bring that top 6 winger. If you trade Geno you add another significant hole with no replacement in the system. Letang you can withstand because you have plenty of potential replacements for the d corps. Maybe not Norris Caliber but 87/71 are generational players IMO. I'm not trading either. Team make up when we won the cup had a lot of guys on the lower lines with a lot more skill and grit then we currently have. You can get those guys in FA without giving up an asset like Geno.
- dbell646

Exactly. This^

You don't trade Geno. Ever. If you want to move parts, try letting Bylsma go first of all. Letang, Neal would be the ones I'd choose to go in order to acquire guys like Brown/Callahan/Backes.
- Orpik44

I guess I just don't get the Malkin love. He's VERY talented. No one's going to deny that. But to me, I also think he's a very overrated player as well. He's a superstar, no doubt. But people act like he and Crosby are 1 and 1A and everyone else is so far down the line when, to me, Crosby is #1, Malkin's maybe 3/4 (Stamkos is my #2), and the separation between Crosby and everyone else is the size of 4 Grand Canyons. It would be a definite shift in the team, but if the payment was crazy enough, I'd do it.

This is a very pivotal season, I would be willing to bet all parties involved know that the repercussions for having another failure of a playoffs would be drastic. Shero, Bylsma, and players alike all know they have one more shot with this group before, kaboom!!

It would be a crying shame if Sid becomes a slightly more successful Dan Marino.
- nbartley9

Lemieux was a top 2 or 3 player of all time and only has 2 Cups. Winning is extremely hard, and there is a lot of luck involved too.

With the salary cap, it's nearly impossible to trade someone like that though and not be a rebuilding team. Malkin would command a couple high end players (plus picks/prospects). You likely can't fit a couple top end players on your team for less of a cap hit than Malkin's. Heck, next season the return for trading Alex Goligoski will have a higher combined cap hit than Malkin.
You might end up with a more balanced team, but would be in more cap trouble.
- rival22

My proposal (last year) was Huberdeau, Markstrom, Weiss, Trochek, and Kulikov. All young, fairly cheap, and makes your team more "complete", if you will. And I'm not going through why i think Florida would do it again.

If the idea of success is solely predicated on winning the Stanley Cup then a lot players and coaches are complete failures every season.

Its not a realistic expectation to win the Cup. A realistic expectation is that you ice a team that can compete for one. The Penguins do that every single year as do a number of other quality teams.

Fans hate to admit it but it takes luck to win it all in any given season.

I guess I just don't get the Malkin love. He's VERY talented. No one's going to deny that. But to me, I also think he's a very overrated player as well. He's a superstar, no doubt. But people act like he and Crosby are 1 and 1A and everyone else is so far down the line when, to me, Crosby is #1, Malkin's maybe 3/4 (Stamkos is my #2), and the separation between Crosby and everyone else is the size of 4 Grand Canyons. It would be a definite shift in the team, but if the payment was crazy enough, I'd do it.
- jmatchett383

By trading Letang and Neal we could have a more balanced and defensively responsible team. No need to let Malkin go. There are stretches in which he IS the best player in the planet. He's just very talented.

And to trade those two it would have to be for the right pieces (Brown, Backes, Callahan)

Bottom line for the Kings. They posess the puck. They have great goaltending when they're playing well defensively. They are somewhat deep on the back end. That's great. BUT they have had a hard time scoring as of late and they're trying to find ways to correct that.