Ryan Wilson: Phil Kessel Will Turn Evgeni Malkin Back Into A Power Play Monster Phil Kessel Will Turn Evgeni Malkin Back Into A Power Play Monster

yes he will.

Powerplays and high end scoring are impressive in the regular season. Penalty killing and defensive hockey wins championships in the post season. Kessel may well get his 40 plus goals and be a powerplay force but his refusal to play any kind of defense won't do anything to make the Pens a team to be worried about in the playoffs.

F U ^^^^^

Powerplays and high end scoring are impressive in the regular season. Penalty killing and defensive hockey wins championships in the post season. Kessel may well get his 40 plus goals and be a powerplay force but his refusal to play any kind of defense won't do anything to make the Pens a team to be worried about in the playoffs.
- paulr

The (hopefully) lack of a decimated defense and injuries to one of the league's top-5 centers will be the reason to worry about them in the playoffs.

I wonder if Chicago would have made much noise last year if they were without Keith, Seabrook, and Oduya and had an injured, ineffective Richards or Shaw. I doubt even the great Scott Darling could have helped them.

But when you have trouble scoring more than 1-2 goals/game in the playoffs, adding a guy like Kessel and insulating his zone starts, coupled with a top-10 (again, if healthy) defense should mitigate his defensive deficiencies.

I really miss Craig Adams

You think the Pens have a top 10 defense? Really?

You think the Pens have a top 10 defense? Really?
- JohnnyNYR27

If it's healthy, they absolutely do. I'll put Letang, Maata, Cole, and Pouliot up against any other top-4. Lovejoy is a fine 5/6 player, the only weakness is at the #6 spot.

If they're not all healthy, then there are issues as players get put into spots they won't handle.

The (hopefully) lack of a decimated defense and injuries to one of the league's top-5 centers will be the reason to worry about them in the playoffs.

I wonder if Chicago would have made much noise last year if they were without Keith, Seabrook, and Oduya and had an injured, ineffective Richards or Shaw. I doubt even the great Scott Darling could have helped them.

But when you have trouble scoring more than 1-2 goals/game in the playoffs, adding a guy like Kessel and insulating his zone starts, coupled with a top-10 (again, if healthy) defense should mitigate his defensive deficiencies.
- jmatchett383

The Pens don't have anyone close to Keith, Seabrook or Oduya so I have no idea what your point is while you proved mine? The Hawks are built as a defense first team, the Pens are built as an offense first team. Look at the last 10 or 20 cup winners, most, if not all, were built around a strong defensive game. Unless the Pens play a defense first game they will be passed by Eastern teams that do in the Rangers and Tampa.

If it's healthy, they absolutely do. I'll put Letang, Maata, Cole, and Pouliot up against any other top-4. Lovejoy is a fine 5/6 player, the only weakness is at the #6 spot.
- jmatchett383

You're insane, they don't even have a top 10 defense in the east. Wash, NYR, NYI, Columbus, and maybe even the devils have better D's.

The Pens don't have anyone close to Keith, Seabrook or Oduya so I have no idea what your point is while you proved mine? The Hawks are built as a defense first team, the Pens are built as an offense first team. Look at the last 10 or 20 cup winners, most, if not all, were built around a strong defensive game. Unless the Pens play a defense first game they will be passed by Eastern teams that do in the Rangers and Tampa.
- paulr

My point was that 3 of their top-4 defenseman were injured as was their second-line center (although he played). I don't think that Chicago would have beaten Nashville if that happened to them. And are you saying that Letang "isn't close" to Oduya? Are you really?

You're insane, they don't even have a top 10 defense in the east. Wash, NYR, NYI, Columbus, and maybe even the devils have better D's.
- JohnnyNYR27

x2907

You're insane, they don't even have a top 10 defense in the east. Wash, NYR, NYI, Columbus, and maybe even the devils have better D's.
- JohnnyNYR27

I'd take theirs over Columbus and, hell, I'd take even the putrid Flyers' defense over the mess that is the Devils.

x2907
- SPIDEROCKSTAR

You can laugh all you want, but your defense scares nobody.

What the hell X2907?

I'd take theirs over Columbus and, hell, I'd take even the putrid Flyers' defense over the mess that is the Devils.
- jmatchett383

I wouldn't

I wouldn't
- JohnnyNYR27

Well then we're gonna disagree.

#GirardiforNorris2016

Well then we're gonna disagree.

#GirardiforNorris2016
- jmatchett383

Better than anybody Philly's got

Better than anybody Philly's
- JohnnyNYR27

You say that as if it's a monumental achievement. Philly's defense is gonna be a huge mess for at least the next 2 years. It's like being the tallest midget and/or getting a Participation trophy.

You say that as if it's a monumental achievement. Philly's defense is gonna be a huge mess for at least the next 2 years. It's like being the tallest midget and/or getting a Participation trophy.
- jmatchett383

But you have Del Zotto still, don't you?

But you have Del Zotto still, don't you?
- JohnnyNYR27

Yeah, he's great at creating offense. It's having to defend (a novel concept for a "defenseman") that he has the issue with. He's like a poor man's (younger) Yandle.

Actually, the only player who could be worth some hype is Medvedev. But I want to see him play in a handful of regular season games before I make my decision and refuse to budge from it.

Powerplays and high end scoring are impressive in the regular season. Penalty killing and defensive hockey wins championships in the post season. Kessel may well get his 40 plus goals and be a powerplay force but his refusal to play any kind of defense won't do anything to make the Pens a team to be worried about in the playoffs.
- paulr

Phil Kessel has 13 goals, 21 points and is +8 in 22 playoff games.

Phil Kessel has 13 goals, 21 points and is +8 in 22 playoff games.
- RogerRoeper

Kessel's a goon.

Phil Kessel has 13 goals, 21 points and is +8 in 22 playoff games.
- RogerRoeper

Don't bring facts into this argument.....

Don't bring facts into this argument.....
- cap1681

TeH hAwKs R tEh BeZt TeEm EvErZ D00dZ

The Penguins defense is young but extremely talented. Allowing guys like Pouliot, Dumoulin, and Clendening to make their mistakes and learn during the regular season will only benefit the Penguins in the long term.

I will say this, not many teams can boast a top pairing with more skill than the Penguins. I'd put Letang and Maatta against any top pairing, especially since Maatta is only going to get better.