Ryan Wilson: Things To Watch Tonight Things To Watch Tonight

Getting worried about Malkin. They giving us no piece of news whatsoever is troubling. No one said what his injury is. When they talk about Crosby, dupuis or kunitz they always go into specifics, but with Malkin it's just: No Malkin at pratice.

Getting worried about Malkin. They giving us no piece of news whatsoever is troubling. No one said what his injury is. When they talk about Crosby, dupuis or kunits they always go into specifics, but with Malkin it's just: No Malkin at pratice.
- Conse

I'm feeling the same way. Nobody is addressing it from team to media. I find it quite unusual for a player of his caliber. Would love to know his status before my hockey pool this weekend. Lol

Gunner: long time listener first time caller... I was wondering your thoughts on potential trade partners for guys like scuderi samuelsson sutter etc... with guys being hurt on other teams coupled with guys like harrington doumolin sundqviust being bubble guys that might be NHL ready I feel a trade or 2 might be in order.. thanks

Tonight I'm watching Scuderi. There is a good chance he is our 9th best defender in camp and with Pouliot returning later that makes him 10th. There is no room for a guy like Scuds and it's that simple. If he plays hot potato again tonight I'm done. He constantly just put the puck back into scrums or flipped it to Martin right away despite a forward on Martin and no one on himself.

As for Spaling, my expectations were so low I was impressed by his board play and play around the net. I would like to see him generate more scoring chances, but going from Nashville to Pittsburgh has to be a culture shock.

Getting worried about Malkin. They giving us no piece of news whatsoever is troubling. No one said what his injury is. When they talk about Crosby, dupuis or kunits they always go into specifics, but with Malkin it's just: No Malkin at pratice.
- Conse

Gunshot Wound

Tonight I'm watching Scuderi. There is a good chance he is our 9th best defender in camp and with Pouliot returning later that makes him 10th. There is no room for a guy like Scuds and it's that simple. If he plays hot potato again tonight I'm done. He constantly just put the puck back into scrums or flipped it to Martin right away despite a forward on Martin and no one on himself.

As for Spaling, my expectations were so low I was impressed by his board play and play around the net. I would like to see him generate more scoring chances, but going from Nashville to Pittsburgh has to be a culture shock.
- usethe1-2-2

Why were your expectations for Spaling so low?

Why do you think Scuds is 10th...he's worse than guys that don't even have permament NHL gigs yet?

Gunshot Wound
- eichiefs9

Russians don't use weapons, they are a kind and gentle people.

Russians don't use weapons, they are a kind and gentle people.
- usethe1-2-2

Why were your expectations for Spaling so low?

Why do you think Scuds is 10th...he's worse than guys that don't even have permament NHL gigs yet?
- icedog97

For Spaling I had read so many varrying articles that I just didn't know what to think. So I figured he was serviceable but nothing more than a depth guy.

As for Scuds, YES. He just does nothing to add to the club anymore. His defensive zone play is to pass it to Paul Martin and in the offensive zone he throws the puck along the boards into a scrum of guys (sometimes right after the puck just came from said scrum).
I think guys like Dumoulin and Harrington are better right now than Scuds. Bortz and Despres are clearly better than him too. I also placed Samuelsson above Scuds because of his puck handling ability. It is a possession game and Scuds can't hold his own anymore. Just my opinion though...

Why were your expectations for Spaling so low?

Why do you think Scuds is 10th...he's worse than guys that don't even have permament NHL gigs yet?
- icedog97

Because Ryan Wilson told him so.

I didn't think Spaling played that bad vs. Detroit. Wasn't really effective offensively, but played a strong defensive game matched up against Datsyuk. Skates better than what I originally thought. I think a line of 13-71-72 will be very effective.

Because Ryan Wilson told him so.
- Willaged

You show me a positive article about his play and I'll show you ten that basically lable him a "good guy" and "role player" which basically means serviceable. For a team with little depth like Nashville what does that say?

Why were your expectations for Spaling so low?

Why do you think Scuds is 10th...he's worse than guys that don't even have permament NHL gigs yet?
- icedog97

Because Spauling isn't that good of a hockey player.

Was Scuderi really high fiving at the bench after the Datsyuk hit?

You show me a positive article about his play and I'll show you ten that basically lable him a "good guy" and "role player" which basically means serviceable. For a team with little depth like Nashville what does that say?
- usethe1-2-2

I'm just not going to write him off so quickly. Is he a viable top 6 option long term? He sohuldn't be, but in a top 9 situation he's ideal.... The guy is 26, 6'1'', 200lbs, scored 13 goals, 19 assits last season in Nashville. I'm willing to give him a chance. Guy with some size, speed and can put up 30-40pts is a prototypcal 3rd line player, somethnig we didn't have last year. I respect Gunnar, and agree with alot he has to say, but I'm not willing to write Spaling off before he even plays a real game in a Pens jersey. Some posters around here hang on Ryan's every word, its like a cult.

Was Scuderi really high fiving at the bench after the Datsyuk hit?


- StargateSG1

Didn't see it but if you want to send someone after him to put him on IR I'll chip in

Because Spauling isn't that good of a hockey player.
- Oneonta Penguin

He's a 3rd liner...that might get 1st or 2nd line minutes. Was he ever declared as something better?

We got 2 players for 1 in a trade...not such a bad deal.

Hold on. Is Kapanen eligible to go to the AHL? Also I thought he was in the suiss league

I'm just not going to write him off so quickly. Is he a viable top 6 option long term? He sohuldn't be, but in a top 9 situation he's ideal.... The guy is 26, 6'1'', 200lbs, scored 13 goals, 19 assits last season in Nashville. I'm willing to give him a chance. Guy with some size, speed and can put up 30-40pts is a prototypcal 3rd line player, somethnig we didn't have last year. I respect Gunnar, and agree with alot he has to say, but I'm not willing to write Spaling off before he even plays a real game in a Pens jersey. Some posters around here hang on Ryan's every word, its like a cult.
- Willaged

Richard riders

Because Ryan Wilson told him so.
- Willaged

I believe there is a certain truth to that.

He's a 3rd liner...that might get 1st or 2nd line minutes. Was he ever declared as something better?

We got 2 players for 1 in a trade...not such a bad deal.
- icedog97

Excatly. Don't get me wrong, I don't expect a top 6 player out of him, but people here speak of him like he's the next Taylor Pyatt, which I do not buy.

Didn't see it but if you want to send someone after him to put him on IR I'll chip in
- dbell646

Except, I wouldn't target Scuderi.

I'm just not going to write him off so quickly. Is he a viable top 6 option long term? He sohuldn't be, but in a top 9 situation he's ideal.... The guy is 26, 6'1'', 200lbs, scored 13 goals, 19 assits last season in Nashville. I'm willing to give him a chance. Guy with some size, speed and can put up 30-40pts is a prototypcal 3rd line player, somethnig we didn't have last year. I respect Gunnar, and agree with alot he has to say, but I'm not willing to write Spaling off before he even plays a real game in a Pens jersey. Some posters around here hang on Ryan's every word, its like a cult.
- Willaged

I certainly wasnt writing him off. I think in a new system with better linemates he can do well. I also like his ability to play along the walls and he has better puck handling skills than I thought, but I saw nothing written about him that screamed he was anything more than a serviceable player. The best article on him was about his character not even his play.

I think he can be a good third line winger, doubt he will be top six though.

spling hasnt played with malkin or croby yet, whom specialize in making top 6 tweeners into legit top 6. maybe thats the pixi dust he needs to not be invisible.