Ryan Wilson: Extended Jim Rutherford Radio Transcript + My Thoughts On It Extended Jim Rutherford Radio Transcript + My Thoughts On It

From what I have seen Plotnikov plays big. Like horny does. So it might not make sense to have him and horny both on the same line. So it'll be interesting to see how it works if it happens.

@zac It's just one of those things where you have to wait and see. If I remember correctly the same thing was said about Hornqvist and Kunitz but there was no issue. Everyone will most likely be shuffled around so they can have their chance at locking up a certain spot. I'm looking forward to being able to move guys around if a team manages to shut down our offense.

I share the same concern. Plotnikov and Hornqvist might be redundant. If Plotnikov ends up proving to be top 6 and shows serious chemistry with Malkin, you have to try Hornqvist on Crosby's left. Just for three games or so. Crosby and Kessel should be able to produce even if Hornqvist is dead in the water on the left. And if tragedy hits and that line is somehow totally unproductive then our deep team should be able to pick up the slack for a run of three meaningless games, but I really don't see that happening. Low risk, sky high reward.

Johnston will have plenty of options which is great. he should take the beginning part of the season to find out what works best. I think Kessel and Crosby/Malkin and Hornqvist is the way to go. Who you want to put as the 3rd guy on each of those lines I think is up in the air. I like Dupuis to use his speed with Sid. I like giving a guy like Bennett a chance with Malkin. Maybe Plotnikov steps up but I'd like to see him start on the 3rd line and see what he has. Kunitz I think should be on the 3rd or 4th line, not because he's bad, but because there are better players than him.

This teams forward lineup has so much depth. Literally every line will be a scoring threat. Which is something this team hasnt had in years

I don't really understand the concern with overlapping skill sets. Maybe it would be an issue with Kessel and Hornqvist on the same line because both are very high volume shooters in their careers, but obviously that is not likely and the rest of the lineup I'm not concerned with similar skill sets being an issue.

>>>>>I like Dupuis to use his speed with Sid. I like giving a guy like Bennett a chance with Malkin. Maybe Plotnikov steps up but I'd like to see him start on the 3rd line and see what he has. Kunitz I think should be on the 3rd or 4th line, not because he's bad, but because there are better players than him<<<<<

I think I'm less concerned at this point with Kunitz on the first line than perhaps others, primarily because I think it'll become evident very quickly if he's unable to keep up with Sid and PK. On paper, I also like the idea of Duper on Sid's line; but to my way of thinking, his medical situation makes him such an unknown that I don't want him (at least early in the process) to be placed in any position where Sid and PK could be negatively affected.

This is hands down the most offensively talented team the Penguins have had in Sid's career. As long as health isn't an issue, this is going to be a fun year.

This is hands down the most offensively talented team the Penguins have had in Sid's career. As long as health isn't an issue, this is going to be a fun year.
- neilsonnn18

I thought 07/08 (the one with Hossa) was pretty good. Definitely top-2 though.

I thought 07/08 (the one with Hossa) was pretty good. Definitely top-2 though.
- jmatchett383

yes that team was just all around amazing in terms of talent wise. funny how that team loses to DET in the finals but a lesser penguins team comes back and beats a better DET team the next year.

those were fun years, hoping we can get back to that point.

yes that team was just all around amazing in terms of talent wise. funny how that team loses to DET in the finals but a lesser penguins team comes back and beats a better DET team the next year.

those were fun years, hoping we can get back to that point.
- SuperHenderson13

Barring catastrophes like Maatta and Pouliot's development stalling or a premature Letang retirement I think we're in for a 4-5 year era of Metropolotain Devision domination. Depending on how TB handles the cap moving forward we could even reclaim our position of top dawg in the East.

Barring catastrophes like Maatta and Pouliot's development stalling or a premature Letang retirement I think we're in for a 4-5 year era of Metropolotain Devision domination. Depending on how TB handles the cap moving forward we could even reclaim our position of top dawg in the East.
- Victoro311

I hope you're right, but I see NYI and CBJ being very strong teams going forward. PHI and CAR should turn it around in that time too. NYR and WSH will probably decline and NJD might very well suck the entire time. Divisions might get re-aligned anyway.

Barring catastrophes like Maatta and Pouliot's development stalling or a premature Letang retirement I think we're in for a 4-5 year era of Metropolotain Devision domination. Depending on how TB handles the cap moving forward we could even reclaim our position of top dawg in the East.
- Victoro311

i dont know if i'd say we are poised for domination in the metro, but we have no reason why we shouldnt compete as the #1 or #2 team in the metro and top 3 in the East.

This is it for this group, the next 4-5 years. no excuse not to win at least 1 Cup in the next 4-5 years. If they dont, then i think the Crosby/Malkin era is considered a disappointment.

Very close to 2007-2008.

I'd say the overall forward depth was better that year. Mainly because of Jordan Staal. But the offensive ability of this team has more upside. Kessel is better offensively than Hossa by a wide margin. Malone and Horn pretty much cancel out. We don't have that third scoring forward yet on this team to replace sykora, maybe its Kunitz.

Very close to 2007-2008.

I'd say the overall forward depth was better that year. Mainly because of Jordan Staal. But the offensive ability of this team has more upside. Kessel is better offensively than Hossa by a wide margin. Malone and Horn pretty much cancel out. We don't have that third scoring forward yet on this team to replace sykora, maybe its Kunitz.
- sditulli

Kunitz, Plotnikov, Perron, and Bennett could all fill the role of third line scoring forward depending on how lines shake up and how Bennett and Plotnikov end up performing.

yeah , I've always compared him (Kessel)to Macenro :naturally gifted out the ass , Lazy partly because of it. but if he finally grew up ...??? maybe it's just that being on Crosby's side he feels he needs to step his game up and buckle down. either way I could care less !

Very close to 2007-2008.

I'd say the overall forward depth was better that year. Mainly because of Jordan Staal. But the offensive ability of this team has more upside. Kessel is better offensively than Hossa by a wide margin. Malone and Horn pretty much cancel out. We don't have that third scoring forward yet on this team to replace sykora, maybe its Kunitz.
- sditulli

Not just Staal, but when you have a young(er) Kennedy, Cooke, Kunitz, and Dupuis combined with a blueline of not flashy but effective (aside from Gonchar) players, that team seemed like it was built to win. And like you said, Kessel should be better than Hossa (although 26 points in 20 games was only 1 point off of Crosby for the lead) but his play away from the puck is/was near the top of the league.

I'm looking forward to being able to move guys around if a team manages to shut down our offense.
- ImScore71

This! I would envy Chicago so much the past few years. They would just shuffle guys around if things weren't going for them. Everyone would go up and down the lineup and it normally would work out.

The past few years if our top 6 didn't work we had no options to shuffle and see how things could go. This is what I'm looking forward the most.

I hope you're right, but I see NYI and CBJ being very strong teams going forward. PHI and CAR should turn it around in that time too. NYR and WSH will probably decline and NJD might very well suck the entire time. Divisions might get re-aligned anyway.
- jfkst1

Philly is really banking on 2 of Schenn, Couturier, and Laughton to become true top-6 players and 3-4 of their defensive prospects to work out (with 1-2 legit top-pairing players) if they want to be a contender. Definitely at least 2 years away.

Not just Staal, but when you have a young(er) Kennedy, Cooke, Kunitz, and Dupuis combined with a blueline of not flashy but effective (aside from Gonchar) players, that team seemed like it was built to win. And like you said, Kessel should be better than Hossa (although 26 points in 20 games was only 1 point off of Crosby for the lead) but his play away from the puck is/was near the top of the league.
- jmatchett383

I would take a similarly aged Hossa over Kessel 10/10 times. No knock on Kessel he is probably a better offensive player, but Hossa is elite all around.

Philly is really banking on 2 of Schenn, Couturier, and Laughton to become true top-6 players and 3-4 of their defensive prospects to work out (with 1-2 legit top-pairing players) if they want to be a contender. Definitely at least 2 years away.
- jmatchett383

The biggest problem with Philly is the terrible contracts they have to unload still. If they didn't have those they would be a scary team. Their defense is gonna be very good in the future. Hextall has (unfortunately from my perspective) proven to be quite competent.

The biggest problem with Philly is the terrible contracts they have to unload still. If they didn't have those they would be a scary team. Their defense is gonna be very good in the future. Hextall has (unfortunately from my perspective) proven to be quite competent.
- jfkst1

That's why I said they're at least 2 years away. (Hopefully) Lecavalier and (for sure) Umberger will be gone by then. After those 2, the only really bad one is MacDonald.

Edit: I think Columbus will become much more of a player than some people think in the next half decade.

I think this team has Kennedy, Cooke, Dupuis, Kunitz type players.

Fehr, Plot, Dup, Cullen, Sundqvists, bennett all have the ability to play the depth roles.

So the real difference is on the gamebreakers. Hossa vs Kessell, and then we just don't have anyone that compares to Staal this year.

I think this team has Kennedy, Cooke, Dupuis, Kunitz type players.

Fehr, Plot, Dup, Cullen, Sundqvists, bennett all have the ability to play the depth roles.

So the real difference is on the gamebreakers. Hossa vs Kessell, and then we just don't have anyone that compares to Staal this year.
- sditulli

They all do have that ability. Capitalizing on those abilities will be the difference.