Ryan Wilson: Taking A Look at the Penguins Bottom 6 Center Options Taking A Look at the Penguins Bottom 6 Center Options

I'd go with spaling-sutter-downie, and megna-goc-comeau... With Adams as the extra

Sutter to the 2nd line to play with Malkin and Hornqvist.
Goc with Bennett and Downie
Spaling with Comeau and Megna
Adams = cut.

Sutter brings some speed to the 2nd line and hopefully can play the defensive roll so we can turn Malkin loose!

Goc with Downie in hopes that his all business German demeanor rubs off on Downie.

Nice looks at the options for bottom 6. Certainly doesn't leave Shero in too great a light.

As an aside, great handle. Actually made me youtube the incredibly believable Mighty Ducks shootout!

So we improved the bottom six? Other than Goc, not so much.

If Craig Adams had one of these he would be faster.

https://www.facebook.com/...10154243552325105&fref=nf

I can't see Spaling or Adams getting much time at center. I also have a had time seeing Adams getting much playing time at all.

I like the idea of Sutter getting some playing time on the second line. That frees up Malkin to play with Crosby or Sutter. Plus it tells us if Sutter is worth his contract. It also gives some of the young guys looks at center and wing.

I'm sorry but I have to say it. You have written this blog so many times before. You mean the Penguins are better a better possession team with guys like Crosby, Malkin, Kunitz on the ice than when Craig Adams is out there? I'm glad you checked the numbers cause i wasn't sure.
Another thing that I find funny is Nick Spaling is already a failure, I can see it now once or twice a week for the entire season "Nick Spaling continues to get a sweater every night while providing a 44.3% in the possession department. Meanwhile Brain Gibbons is tearing it up for Columbus's AHL affiliate".

I'm sorry but I have to say it. You have written this blog so many times before. You mean the Penguins are better a better possession team with guys like Crosby, Malkin, Kunitz on the ice than when Craig Adams is out there? I'm glad you checked the numbers cause i wasn't sure.
Another thing that I find funny is Nick Spaling is already a failure, I can see it now once or twice a week for the entire season "Nick Spaling continues to get a sweater every night while providing a 44.3% in the possession department. Meanwhile Brain Gibbons is tearing it up for Columbus's AHL affiliate".
- Grinder47

Fvck Corsi

I'm sorry but I have to say it. You have written this blog so many times before. You mean the Penguins are better a better possession team with guys like Crosby, Malkin, Kunitz on the ice than when Craig Adams is out there? I'm glad you checked the numbers cause i wasn't sure.
Another thing that I find funny is Nick Spaling is already a failure, I can see it now once or twice a week for the entire season "Nick Spaling continues to get a sweater every night while providing a 44.3% in the possession department. Meanwhile Brain Gibbons is tearing it up for Columbus's AHL affiliate".
- Grinder47

I have to say, I was thinking the same thing, there is no way that these players can get close to what Crosby/Malkin lines would be.

I'm sorry but I have to say it. You have written this blog so many times before. You mean the Penguins are better a better possession team with guys like Crosby, Malkin, Kunitz on the ice than when Craig Adams is out there? I'm glad you checked the numbers cause i wasn't sure.
Another thing that I find funny is Nick Spaling is already a failure, I can see it now once or twice a week for the entire season "Nick Spaling continues to get a sweater every night while providing a 44.3% in the possession department. Meanwhile Brain Gibbons is tearing it up for Columbus's AHL affiliate".
- Grinder47

Ha ha ha I needed this to start my day

What was spalings strength of competition? And playing in the east might boost his corsi the west is a (frank)ing buzzsaw. And fvck corsi

I'm sorry but I have to say it. You have written this blog so many times before. You mean the Penguins are better a better possession team with guys like Crosby, Malkin, Kunitz on the ice than when Craig Adams is out there? I'm glad you checked the numbers cause i wasn't sure.
Another thing that I find funny is Nick Spaling is already a failure, I can see it now once or twice a week for the entire season "Nick Spaling continues to get a sweater every night while providing a 44.3% in the possession department. Meanwhile Brain Gibbons is tearing it up for Columbus's AHL affiliate".
- Grinder47

Salty?

The constant hatred/bashing of Spalling is getting old. How about we let the kid play a few games first for the team

For Bully


On a serious note, I hope Spaling proves me wrong. However, I maintain that whle trying to upgrade the bottom 6 was important I don't see why he was the guy. Maybe Nashville tossed him in and Rutherford just decided a somewhat known entity was better than a pick. I don't know. Getting a guy headed to FA like that was really part of his only blemish so far as GM. Not too bad. Like I said, hopefully I'm wrong. Just seems like an iffy move right now.

I have come to the conclusion that these statistics are valuable in certain situations and in others they can be very misleading.

The teams that figure out how to use them appropriately will do well with them. Hopefully each teams 'stats guy(s)' work with the team closely enough to help them understand this.

If Spalling is a bad possession guy, then the team can review the video and determine what things in particular might be leading to that and help him improve in those areas. Maybe he has a certain tendency that leads to negative results.

For Bully
On a serious note, I hope Spaling proves me wrong. However, I maintain that whle trying to upgrade the bottom 6 was important I don't see why he was the guy. Maybe Nashville tossed him in and Rutherford just decided a somewhat known entity was better than a pick. I don't know. Getting a guy headed to FA like that was really part of his only blemish so far as GM. Not too bad. Like I said, hopefully I'm wrong. Just seems like an iffy move right now.
- HopintheCordoba

Not to be petty but he was headed to RFA which does make a difference. I don't mind getting him instead of a pick. I understand we don't have much in way of picks/prospects but we also need depth asap and that is the way JR decided to get depth in the lineup. Considering he hasn't even played yet none of us know whether that was the correct decision or not. Time will tell.

Not to be petty but he was headed to RFA which does make a difference. I don't mind getting him instead of a pick. I understand we don't have much in way of picks/prospects but we also need depth asap and that is the way JR decided to get depth in the lineup. Considering he hasn't even played yet none of us know whether that was the correct decision or not. Time will tell.
- kgrpitt

I agree with you to a degree. He may improve. But, it's no secret that PP time and minutes that he got in Nashville probably won't be available to him here. I do wish him the best but I'm not expecting him to blow anyone away. Having said that, it wouldn't take much to outplay Adams or a few other bottom 6 options we've had over the past 2 years.

I read the second link as well. In it Ryan writes that the old school guys can slant their stories to how they see fit, which is exactly what's done with most of these Corsi comparisons. There are too many variables to stare at these charts and call one guy crap and the next guy god. I understand the importance of advanced stats and I'm sure someone will put together a formula to properly assess a player in one chart, Corsi isn't it.

I agree with you to a degree. He may improve. But, it's no secret that PP time and minutes that he got in Nashville probably won't be available to him here. I do wish him the best but I'm not expecting him to blow anyone away. Having said that, it wouldn't take much to outplay Adams or a few other bottom 6 options we've had over the past 2 years.
- HopintheCordoba

Isn't that the truth. hah!

Yeah I get the playing time won't be the same quality but what about a young player who was looked upon to be a scorer on a team with little scoring skill in the lineup to help? He may thrive in a less of a "your line must score for us to win" situation. I'm just being the devils advocate here, I can see this from both sides.

So we improved the bottom six? Other than Goc, not so much.
- powerhouse

Blake Comeau is a huge upgrade in the bottom 6. He had a 53% Corsi % last season for all you advance stats people, and had 197 hits in 66 games. People keep forgetting about what he will bring to the 4th line.

Isn't that the truth. hah!

Yeah I get the playing time won't be the same quality but what about a young player who was looked upon to be a scorer on a team with little scoring skill in the lineup to help? He may thrive in a less of a "your line must score for us to win" situation. I'm just being the devils advocate here, I can see this from both sides.
- kgrpitt

I agree with you completely. Not trying to look at it from either extreme yet. I was disappointed. But I'm hopeful now. If a player suits up for our club I always hope they succeed.

Blake Comeau is a huge upgrade in the bottom 6. He had a 53% Corsi % last season for all you advance stats people, and had 197 hits in 66 games. People keep forgetting about what he will bring to the 4th line.
- cap1681

Goc Downie Spaling Comeau and either Megna/Payerl/Uher is a huge upgrade over what we had last season IMO.

Goc Downie Spaling Comeau and either Megna/Payerl/Uher is a huge upgrade over what we had last season IMO.
- dbell646

Absolutely. I'm excited for what could be. I expect Megna, Payerl, Uher, Zlobin, Marcantuoni, Wilson and Sheary to be a part of the converastion for sure. Especially since Downie and Comeau are only signed for 1 year deals.

Can't understate Dumoulin, Harrington, Samuelsson and guys like Ruopp going forward on the blue line either.