Ryan Wilson: Murray, Hornqvist, and Hagelin Get The Best Of Malkin and Maatta Murray, Hornqvist, and Hagelin Get The Best Of Malkin and Maatta

Hey im first

Any chance we see Maata have a breakout season this year in Pittsburgh? I like him as a player and he's probably the Pens 2nd best defenseman at this point yet he barely sees any powerplay time and with all the injuries... he didn't progress as expected.

So, according to that chart, Evgeny Dadonov was better than the following players:

Vladimir Tarasenko
Alex Ovechkin
Gabriel Landeskog
Filip Forsberg
Loui Eriksson
Pavel Datsyuk
Victor Hedman
Evgeny Kuznetsov

The Panthers were fools for letting this superstar walk.

maatta was the same Maatta during the playoffs. Just too slow to keep up with anyone. I know he's facing team NA, but I'd like to think Maatta could at least keep up with other players his age

Risto is garbage. This is the guy the Sabres are banking on leading their D in the future?

Any chance we see Maata have a breakout season this year in Pittsburgh? I like him as a player and he's probably the Pens 2nd best defenseman at this point yet he barely sees any powerplay time and with all the injuries... he didn't progress as expected.
- Scabeh

Statistically he is never going to be a big point guy. He is behind Letang, Daley and Schultz on the power play. Therefore he will not see much time on the man advantage. Many people here, myself included, feel that Dumoulin has surpassed Maatta. That really doesn't mean much as they are going to share time on the left side pairing beside Letang and Daley.

Any chance we see Maata have a breakout season this year in Pittsburgh? I like him as a player and he's probably the Pens 2nd best defenseman at this point yet he barely sees any powerplay time and with all the injuries... he didn't progress as expected.
- Scabeh

Probably not.

Any chance we see Maata have a breakout season this year in Pittsburgh? I like him as a player and he's probably the Pens 2nd best defenseman at this point yet he barely sees any powerplay time and with all the injuries... he didn't progress as expected.
- Scabeh

points wise I don't think so. but he has looked like his old self from his rookie season so far in this tournament which is a really really good sign that he might have a breakout season. just not point wise since I don't really see olli as a pointgetter. look at schultz, letang and pouliot for that

Quotes arent working... Maatta could be a point getter if he was used in more offensive opportunities... but that's not his strengths either... to me, he's fundamently sound and rarely is caught out of position. His vision of the whole ice makes him a tremendous shutdown guy. Pens use him in the correct way in my opinion.

Any chance we see Maata have a breakout season this year in Pittsburgh? I like him as a player and he's probably the Pens 2nd best defenseman at this point yet he barely sees any powerplay time and with all the injuries... he didn't progress as expected.
- Scabeh

There's absolutely a chance. He didn't just have a couple of injuries, he went a significant amount of time without playing. That's not something you just come right back from.

I think this tournament, regardless of how well he performs, will do wonders for his upcoming season.

Pens have too many players in this tourney. Not good.

So, according to that chart, Evgeny Dadonov was better than the following players:

Vladimir Tarasenko
Alex Ovechkin
Gabriel Landeskog
Filip Forsberg
Loui Eriksson
Pavel Datsyuk
Victor Hedman
Evgeny Kuznetsov

The Panthers were fools for letting this superstar walk.
- jmatchett383

Well, Florida basically let Donskoi walk too. I'm sure they wished they hadn't done that based on the way he played this year. I felt he was one of SJ's top three players against us in the Cup finale.

Pens really don't have a ton of players playing for a team coming off a cup win IMO.

Baring a freak injury, Crosby and Hags shouldn't have a major problem as they are supremely conditioned.

Maatta is a concern as is Murray... but less so if Murray is splitting time with Fleury early on in the year.

I'm extremely thankful that Kessel and Letang aren't playing though.... those 2 deserve a good rest going into this season.

Pens really don't have a ton of players playing for a team coming off a cup win IMO.

Baring a freak injury, Crosby and Hags shouldn't have a major problem as they are supremely conditioned.

Maatta is a concern as is Murray... but less so if Murray is splitting time with Fleury early on in the year.

I'm extremely thankful that Kessel and Letang aren't playing though.... those 2 deserve a good rest going into this season.
- Yonk1216

Especially Letang with his resume of getting injured.

Especially Letang with his resume of getting injured.
- Oneonta Penguin

But he does still have to avoid injury while waking up, eating, breathing, looking at things, sleeping, and in the end, putting on hockey equipment. That's a lot to ask.

Especially Letang with his resume of getting injured.
- Oneonta Penguin

You know Torts would send some scumbag to board him if he was playing. I'm hoping for the fewest Pens possible to advance in this tourney, they need to get some rest in and stay healthy.

But he does still have to avoid injury while waking up, eating, breathing, looking at things, sleeping, and in the end, putting on hockey equipment. That's a lot to ask.
- jmatchett383

You're mistaking him with Beau Bennett. Letang, outside of the stroke, generally gets hurt on cheap shots by less talented teams that know he drives the pens play from the back end.

But he does still have to avoid injury while waking up, eating, breathing, looking at things, sleeping, and in the end, putting on hockey equipment. That's a lot to ask.
- jmatchett383

We traded that guy for a third round pick - Brittle Beau.

Pens really don't have a ton of players playing for a team coming off a cup win IMO.

Baring a freak injury, Crosby and Hags shouldn't have a major problem as they are supremely conditioned.

Maatta is a concern as is Murray... but less so if Murray is splitting time with Fleury early on in the year.

I'm extremely thankful that Kessel and Letang aren't playing though.... those 2 deserve a good rest going into this season.
- Yonk1216

Actually I'm fairly surprised at how willingly hockey guys decide to play in these tournaments. Football is a far different sport, but I could never see those guys ever taking injury risks for no pay. Its all about getting to the league ASAP and trying to get to your 2nd contract. That is where the money. A guy like McDavid could end his career on any hit and he hasn't been paid yet. I could see a guy like him playing in 12 months after he signs a mega-deal, but right now a hockey injury is very high risks to him. Any career ending injury int he next year costs him his $100 million contract he's likely looking at.

Maata I can understand. He needs the ice time to develop and has already partially paid. Murray I can understand too because he's still developing and trying to earn a pretty big 2nd contract.

Hockey isn't as dangerous as football, but I'm still shocked at how many guys willingly play in these tournaments when these are not the things that will pay them. (football contracts are also not guaranteed so that is a difference).

There are plenty of Shaun Livingstone types who suffer a career altering injury before signing their generational F$ck you money contract.

You're mistaking him with Beau Bennett. Letang, outside of the stroke, generally gets hurt on cheap shots by less talented teams that know he drives the pens play from the back end.
- mw630

Good point.

Also, judging by how some people have talked in here in the past, "less talented teams," or more simply, "lesser teams," includes every NHL team not from Pittsburgh.

Good point.

Also, judging by how some people have talked in here in the past, "less talented teams," or more simply, "lesser teams," includes every NHL team not from Pittsburgh.
- jmatchett383

Bennett tweeted that if he was younger and better, he would be on Team North America.

Nichikiken, Dallas LW, (spelling) signed with KHL... I liked him and thought he would be great for Malkin...

Bennett tweeted that if he was younger and better, he would be on Team North America.
- hipcheck_goalie

If I was younger (a lot younger) and better (a whole lot better), so would I.

But I'm not.

Actually I'm fairly surprised at how willingly hockey guys decide to play in these tournaments. Football is a far different sport, but I could never see those guys ever taking injury risks for no pay. Its all about getting to the league ASAP and trying to get to your 2nd contract. That is where the money. A guy like McDavid could end his career on any hit and he hasn't been paid yet. I could see a guy like him playing in 12 months after he signs a mega-deal, but right now a hockey injury is very high risks to him. Any career ending injury int he next year costs him his $100 million contract he's likely looking at.

Maata I can understand. He needs the ice time to develop and has already partially paid. Murray I can understand too because he's still developing and trying to earn a pretty big 2nd contract.

Hockey isn't as dangerous as football, but I'm still shocked at how many guys willingly play in these tournaments when these are not the things that will pay them. (football contracts are also not guaranteed so that is a difference).

There are plenty of Shaun Livingstone types who suffer a career altering injury before signing their generational F$ck you money contract.
- sditulli

Pretty sure World Cup rosters are getting paid. It's not run by the IIHF. It's an agreement between NHL and NHLPA.