Ryan Wilson: Friday Thoughts Friday Thoughts

Thanks Gunner, nice report. I was pleased with the teams defensive effort and the intensity in general whenever LA tried to respond and score. Geno was skating like a madman and played a strong game with the pedal to the metal! MAF was also very strong. Go Pens, bring on the Sabers.

Kuni sid horn
Comeau geno bennett
Spaling/megna sutter dupes
Megna/Spaling goc downie
Adams

Will work for me... I would like to see bennett sutter downie ehrhoff despres on 2nd pp unit

Having Bennetts right hand shot on left wall will be nice.

Edit: I will admit I have changed my opinion on comeau.. seems like a younger dupes.. you know a 3rd liner that can play top 6 minutes with superstars and put up points playing their game ... As for spaling I'm not sold on him and he can be traded at deadline as part of a package if need be..

Thanks Gunner, nice report. I was pleased with the teams defensive effort and the intensity in general whenever LA tried to respond and score. Geno was skating like a madman and played a strong game with the pedal to the metal! MAF was also very strong. Go Pens, bring on the Sabers.
- powerhouse

If the Pens play even close against the Sabres how they did last night, they could conceivably sleepwalk to a 14-0 win.

If the Pens play even close against the Sabres how they did last night, they could conceivably sleepwalk to a 14-0 win.
- jmatchett383

Would love to see a modern day raping. I think the best game ever was a 1940s game Red Wings 15 - Rangers 0. Would love to actually catch a game like that these days.

Kuni sid horn
Comeau geno bennett
Spaling/megna sutter dupes
Megna/Spaling goc downie
Adams

Will work for me... I would like to see bennett sutter downie ehrhoff despres on 2nd pp unit

Having Bennetts right hand shot on left wall will be nice.

Edit: I will admit I have changed my opinion on comeau.. seems like a younger dupes.. you know a 3rd liner that can play top 6 minutes with superstars and put up points playing their game ... As for spaling I'm not sold on him and he can be traded at deadline as part of a package if need be..
- nh4442

Duper is a top 6 guy period end of sorry. Perhaps it will be different next season or the season after. I can think of no justifiable reason to play bennett over him in the top 6...

Kuni sid horn
Comeau geno bennett
Spaling/megna sutter dupes
Megna/Spaling goc downie
Adams

Will work for me... I would like to see bennett sutter downie ehrhoff despres on 2nd pp unit

Having Bennetts right hand shot on left wall will be nice.

Edit: I will admit I have changed my opinion on comeau.. seems like a younger dupes.. you know a 3rd liner that can play top 6 minutes with superstars and put up points playing their game ... As for spaling I'm not sold on him and he can be traded at deadline as part of a package if need be..
- nh4442

That makes two of us. I wasn't thrilled with his addition initially, but he's been great. Good wheels, hits, decent skill......all at a dollar store price. Good job GMJR.

Duper is a top 6 guy period end of sorry. Perhaps it will be different next season or the season after. I can think of no justifiable reason to play bennett over him in the top 6...
- Brianandr1

because Bennett is a small body. He's gotten much stronger since coming into the League, but he's still not the grinder type that bottom 6 players typically play. If he can stay healthy and snipe consistently like we've seen in small samples throughout the past, he can be a deadly option on the top 6. Dupuis, while great on the top 6, can score goals like a first liner, but also has the build and playing style of the third line. speedy, great forechecker, digs in the corners, and can bury the sloppy goals. Nothing against his playing style or Bennetts, it's just what would mesh best with the NHL system.

Duper is a top 6 guy period end of sorry. Perhaps it will be different next season or the season after. I can think of no justifiable reason to play bennett over him in the top 6...
- Brianandr1

Maybe during regular season, but it is October. Check back around Christmas and we will see. Not until Thanksgiving to reg season games start to have any significance. Not saying it's Dupes fault at all, but the Pens have been a joke in the playoffs ever year he was in the top 6.

Duper is a top 6 guy period end of sorry. Perhaps it will be different next season or the season after. I can think of no justifiable reason to play bennett over him in the top 6...
- Brianandr1

Bennetts camp and the way he was playing before he got hurt.. better shot better hands better speed and younger.. let dupes play the 3rd line role where if you say he is as good as he is he will put up the same amount t of points... unless you're saying dupes put up this poi ts bc he is playing with geno??

And no way dupes last 2 more yrs...

because Bennett is a small body. He's gotten much stronger since coming into the League, but he's still not the grinder type that bottom 6 players typically play. If he can stay healthy and snipe consistently like we've seen in small samples throughout the past, he can be a deadly option on the top 6. Dupuis, while great on the top 6, can score goals like a first liner, but also has the build and playing style of the third line. speedy, great forechecker, digs in the corners, and can bury the sloppy goals. Nothing against his playing style or Bennetts, it's just what would mesh best with the NHL system.
- neilsonnn18

X2

because Bennett is a small body. He's gotten much stronger since coming into the League, but he's still not the grinder type that bottom 6 players typically play. If he can stay healthy and snipe consistently like we've seen in small samples throughout the past, he can be a deadly option on the top 6. Dupuis, while great on the top 6, can score goals like a first liner, but also has the build and playing style of the third line. speedy, great forechecker, digs in the corners, and can bury the sloppy goals. Nothing against his playing style or Bennetts, it's just what would mesh best with the NHL system.
- neilsonnn18

I wouldn't say he's a small body, he just plays more of a finesse style of game.

How about the pk doing a complete 180 and not allowing a goal in the last 6 (22 attempts). Also Hornqvist has been a mini machino. Imagine malkin with someone like that on his line. Has a team ever had 4 100 point players

Duper is a top 6 guy period end of sorry. Perhaps it will be different next season or the season after. I can think of no justifiable reason to play bennett over him in the top 6...
- Brianandr1

I agree if comparing Beau and Dupes in a vacuum. Duper definitely.

To all the "we told you so" crowd with Duper and Kunitz: Slow your roll. Its only 3 weeks in so far.

I was one of the "they are starting to show signs of aging" crowd. So far this season, they have proven me wrong. I certainly hope that continues.

Lets see how their bodies hold up over 82 and into April/May. After that, you can brag that you "knew it all along" and "I told you so".

How about the pk doing a complete 180 and not allowing a goal in the last 6 (22 attempts). Also Hornqvist has been a mini machino. Imagine malkin with someone like that on his line. Has a team ever had 4 100 point players
- drummer829

Well that's why alot of us thought kuni would drop down to Malkins line to give him someone like that.

Kuni sid horn
Comeau geno bennett
Spaling/megna sutter dupes
Megna/Spaling goc downie
Adams

Will work for me... I would like to see bennett sutter downie ehrhoff despres on 2nd pp unit

Having Bennetts right hand shot on left wall will be nice.

Edit: I will admit I have changed my opinion on comeau.. seems like a younger dupes.. you know a 3rd liner that can play top 6 minutes with superstars and put up points playing their game ... As for spaling I'm not sold on him and he can be traded at deadline as part of a package if need be..
- nh4442

BB had chemisty with Sutter, and Dupuis has 8 pts in 9 games on Genos line. If you really think theyre going to bump Duper down to line 3, youre insane.

I agree if comparing Beau and Dupes in a vacuum. Duper definitely.

To all the "we told you so" crowd with Duper and Kunitz: Slow your roll. Its only 3 weeks in so far.
I was one of the "they are starting to show signs of aging" crowd. So far this season, they have proven me wrong. I certainly hope that continues.

Lets see how their bodies hold up over 82 and into April/May. After that, you can brag that you "knew it all along" and "I told you so".
- 87_71_11_29

Nope 9 games in and they are already engraving their name on the cup.

Nope 9 games in and they are already engraving their name on the cup.
- sammy87

Seems to be the case.

Some never learn...

Duper is a top 6 guy period end of sorry. Perhaps it will be different next season or the season after. I can think of no justifiable reason to play bennett over him in the top 6...
- Brianandr1

It sad that this has to be continually said.

If you look at his last four seasons, his point totals (even with the injury last season) put him above or in the neighborhood of guys like Evander Kane, JVR, Hornqvist, Skinner, Perron, etc.

Pascal Dupuis IS a top 6 wing in the NHL. End of story.

BB had chemisty with Sutter, and Dupuis has 8 pts in 9 games on Genos line. If you really think theyre going to bump Duper down to line 3, youre insane.
- thickman1178

Considering Dupuis is at his true spot of left wing and Beau is a right wing, they would be bumping down Comeau to play with Sutter, which is the best move for the team.

BB had chemisty with Sutter, and Dupuis has 8 pts in 9 games on Genos line. If you really think theyre going to bump Duper down to line 3, youre insane.
- thickman1178

Was it Downie - Sutter - Bennett that looked good in the preseason? I think Johnston will go back to that at least to start with.

That will move Spaling to the 4th line with Goc, so at least Goc will have someone who can actually accept a pass.

Has anybody watched any of the Lightning's games?? I would trade Pouliot or Harrrington in a heartbeat for Kucherov. That kids going to be special, and he would be a force playing with either Crosby or Malkin.

because Bennett is a small body. He's gotten much stronger since coming into the League, but he's still not the grinder type that bottom 6 players typically play. If he can stay healthy and snipe consistently like we've seen in small samples throughout the past, he can be a deadly option on the top 6. Dupuis, while great on the top 6, can score goals like a first liner, but also has the build and playing style of the third line. speedy, great forechecker, digs in the corners, and can bury the sloppy goals. Nothing against his playing style or Bennetts, it's just what would mesh best with the NHL system.
- neilsonnn18

"If he can stay healthy" no offense but when had that been? Duper is versitile yes ... But he deserves to be in the top six

Kuni Crosby horny
Duper MALKIN bennet

If you insist on him being in the top six

Has anybody watched any of the Lightning's games?? I would trade Pouliot or Harrrington in a heartbeat for Kucherov. That kids going to be special, and he would be a force playing with either Crosby or Malkin.
- cap1681

I haven't seen him play, but man, they have a stable of great looking young forwards. And Stamkos is only 24... that team is going to be VERY good in the near future.

Seems to be the case.

Some never learn...
- 87_71_11_29

There is no evidence across the board that either player is in decline using traditional or new stats.... So other then the pure speculation of you and others what is the evidence? Please back it up with some facts so "we can learn"?