Eklund: Should Malkin's injury serve as a clue to the Pens to rest their players?

First.

And no.

If you were Dan Bylsma would you rest up your stars or try to keep rolling through into the postseason on all cylinders?
- Eklund

Can you crunch the numbers? I need to know how Malkin stacks up against, oh....let's say Wayne Simmons in terms of points per second on the ice.......


Then I can better answer this question.

Can you crunch the numbers? I need to know how Malkin stacks up against, oh....let's say Wayne Simmons in terms of points per second on the ice.......


Then I can better answer this question.
- bcallaway

Don't worry, Malkin is one of the top players in the world! He's right there with Simmonds and Giroux and Schenn etc.

You guys should keep crying about that Simmonds post...it doesn't make you look like whiny little girls at all.

I would definitely sit Crosby for a game here and there, not consecutively, to get him some rest.

Beyond that, not a lot the Pens can do.

I'd say play the baby penguins but they have been playing most of the season anyway

Yes.

The important question is: What is Malkin's glue % after he rests up for 2-3 weeks?

You guys should keep crying about that Simmonds post...it doesn't make you look like whiny little girls at all.


- wolfhounds

Frig...I can't unsee that, you know...

MATH

If Crosby needs rest, then just roll 4 lines straight through the game. Gives younger players more time on the ice to grow, but also gives them their leader's presence and takes time/pressure off Crosby, but keeps him wired in.

If Crosby needs rest, then just roll 4 lines straight through the game. Gives younger players more time on the ice to grow, but also gives them their leader's presence and takes time/pressure off Crosby, but keeps him wired in.
- JohnnySoze

Yes - this! Next question please.

I would definitely sit Crosby for a game here and there, not consecutively, to get him some rest.

Beyond that, not a lot the Pens can do.
- wolfhounds

Crosby doesn't need to sit out, Blysma just needs to be more selective with his minutes i.e. Give Sid a little more PP time and more offensive zone starts

I think maybe Sid gets a game off near the end (within the last 5?) and maybe a couple of other guys. But mostly, it's about managing ice time the rest of the way. In the best case scenario, the 3rd and 4th lines get bigger chunks of playing time AND they still manage to win 7 of their last 11. Those two things might be mutually exclusive for the Penguins though.

Do you think this could help the team going into the playoffs?

The obvious answer is "yes" of course because several Penguins players were major players in the Olympics and at some point will wear down. The NHL playoffs have always been a war of attrition. Some rest right now for Malkin can probably only help, and I can't help but wonder if the Pens should also give Sidney Crosby a week or two off. Especially given the fact the Crosby's ice time is up around 21 minutes a game and without Malkin in the lineup won't be likely to decrease.
- Eklund

Obviously, you want all your top players injured and not in game shape...

There's a silver lining to Malkins injury, but NO it will not HELP the team going into the playoffs.

Eklund: Should Malkin's injury serve as a clue to the Pens to rest their players?
- Eklund

Can we permanently ban this guy from posting on his own site? It really brings down the quality of the other bloggers...

More to come

Can you crunch the numbers? I need to know how Malkin stacks up against, oh....let's say Wayne Simmons in terms of points per second on the ice.......


Then I can better answer this question.
- bcallaway

My guess is he averages a point for every 5 minutes. Not even close to Simmons.

Eklund: Should Malkin's injury serve as a clue to the Pens to rest their players?
- Eklund

The Penguins should mathematically rest Malkin.

The Pens players who really need to sit a few games are Orpik and Scuderi. Orpik has played bad all season and Scuderi has played bad since returning from injury.

Unfortunately the Pens are going to have a short playoff run unless Letang and Martin return and are able to get back into relatively good form. These defensemen along with Maata are the team's best at feeding the offense and setting up plays, hence the offense's recent lack of production. Resting Crosby and/or Malkin for a game or two may help a little but it won't fix the underlying problem.

Orpik and Scuderi are stay-at-home defenemen but even at this they have been bad as of late, with giveaways, being out of position (especially Orpik), being slow (especially Scuderi, who can be like a pylon in front of the net at times), and not hitting. I would think Orpik would play better since it is a contract year for him but I guess he doesn't care about landing a big contract next year. Unfortunately Bylsma stubbornly defers to veterans regardless of how they are playing. He should sit both of these guys for at least a week and bring up defensemen from Wilkes-Barre.

Sorry guys, I still have my eyes on Carolina waiting for the "Trades that didn't happen" blog and some follow up on the Kings and Oilers talking a big deal. Can't talk now.

My guess is he averages a point for every 5 minutes. Not even close to Simmons.
- carcus

you're still pissed that simmonds destroyed your team

you're still pissed that simmonds destroyed your team
- Flyfreaky

You should probably rest him going into the playoffs. MATH

you're still pissed that simmonds destroyed your team
- Flyfreaky

Yes

You should probably rest him going into the playoffs. MATH
- glove_was_stuck

I think you guys should rest chara until next season

Players get injured, it's just the f**kin way she goes... so no.