Ryan Wilson: Last dance at The Joe Last dance at The Joe

fist.

Ryan Wilson: Last dance at The Joe
Last dance at The Joe
- Ryan_Wilson

What if they make the playoffs? No chance for another game or two?

What if they make the playoffs? No chance for another game or two?
- mlindsay

U think they can still make the playoffs? No chance.

U think they can still make the playoffs? No chance.
- madmike71

Hmmm...
What was it people were saying about the Pens (and the Sharks) this time last year?

Do I think they make it? No. Do they still have a chance... yup... and they've been counted out the last 3 years or so and proved us wrong before. Never say never.

Hmmm...
What was it people were saying about the Pens (and the Sharks) this time last year?

Do I think they make it? No. Do they still have a chance... yup... and they've been counted out the last 3 years or so and proved us wrong before. Never say never.
- mlindsay

Both the Pens and Sharks had the players to reverse fortunes. I don't see that with the Wings. More importantly, it's damn near impossible to leapfrog 7 teams at this stage of the season. I have a feeling they'll be dumping players sooner than later.

even though malkin scored last game i though that migh have been the worst game i have ever seen him play seemed like every time he touched the puck it led to a turnover.

im not sure if he was trying too hard or what.

i also feel like we are probably gonna hit our yearly slump soon if we havent already. prob go .500 over the next 10 games or so.

that is all.

thanks for coming.

f martox

The finals in 09 truly were incredible. It was like every shift was an uphill battle, clawing for every inch. Orpik throwing those (what would now be called unnecessary) hits, that third line, Craig Adams blocking shots. I think I'm going to buy a picture of the joe to hang on my wall of stuff I like to look at.

Letang and Cole are a pairing. This was a disaster the last time it was tried. Granted, Cole is playing a hella lot better right now than at the beginning of last year, but I only see this ending poorly. But it leads to an interesting thought.

Olesky-Schultz is a pairing and Maatta-Daley is the other pairing. Schultz is clearly playing better than both Maatta and Daley right now. I wonder if these pairings are configured this way right now so that when Dumoulin comes back, he can plug in for Olesky and we can try a Dumo-Schultz second pairing, giving Schultz a test run in a top 4 role.

Detroit should be the model for the Pens and how the perceive the future and the eventual ends of the Crosby/Malkin/Letang era. Trying to rebuild on the fly is nearly impossible and almost never works out well, you just can't replace the elite talent of the core when you're drafting at or near the end of each round in the draft. That is a place where you can land really nice complementary players but it's near impossible to find franchise cornerstones drafting that late. The Pens need to focus on maximizing the remaining years of the era and winning as many Cups as possible regardless of the long term cost and then bottom out for 2-3 years after the era ends and reload the core with with the elite players that are only available at the top of the draft. I know it's a tough concept to swallow after such a long time at the top but any other plan leads to eternal mediocrity like Detroit is experiencing now.

even though malkin scored last game i though that migh have been the worst game i have ever seen him play seemed like every time he touched the puck it led to a turnover.

im not sure if he was trying too hard or what.

i also feel like we are probably gonna hit our yearly slump soon if we havent already. prob go .500 over the next 10 games or so.

that is all.

thanks for coming.

f martox
- pensfan024

plz no. my ass is already sore.
what is up with all the negativity towards me xD

Letang and Cole are a pairing. This was a disaster the last time it was tried. Granted, Cole is playing a hella lot better right now than at the beginning of last year, but I only see this ending poorly. But it leads to an interesting thought.

Olesky-Schultz is a pairing and Maatta-Daley is the other pairing. Schultz is clearly playing better than both Maatta and Daley right now. I wonder if these pairings are configured this way right now so that when Dumoulin comes back, he can plug in for Olesky and we can try a Dumo-Schultz second pairing, giving Schultz a test run in a top 4 role.
- Victoro311

I expect Warsofsky with Schultz based off line rushes this AM. I agree with giving Schultz a test run in top 4 and when Dumo comes back have a top 4 of Dumo- Letang, Maatta-Schultz, Cole- Daley or something similar to that

Letang and Cole are a pairing. This was a disaster the last time it was tried. Granted, Cole is playing a hella lot better right now than at the beginning of last year, but I only see this ending poorly. But it leads to an interesting thought.

Olesky-Schultz is a pairing and Maatta-Daley is the other pairing. Schultz is clearly playing better than both Maatta and Daley right now. I wonder if these pairings are configured this way right now so that when Dumoulin comes back, he can plug in for Olesky and we can try a Dumo-Schultz second pairing, giving Schultz a test run in a top 4 role.
- Victoro311

I don't get Olesky over Ruhwedel or WarSOFsky. He's awful. I thought Ruhwedel looked pretty competent at both ends of the ice. Olesky looks incompetent on nearly ever shift.

Nobody has mentioned it much, but Schultz has replaced Letang (at the moment) on the PP.

I don't get Olesky over Ruhwedel or WarSOFsky. He's awful. I thought Ruhwedel looked pretty competent at both ends of the ice. Olesky looks incompetent on nearly ever shift.

Nobody has mentioned it much, but Schultz has replaced Letang (at the moment) on the PP.
- madmike71

I've thought he should as early on as last year. Letang is not a good PP QB.

I don't get Olesky over Ruhwedel or WarSOFsky. He's awful. I thought Ruhwedel looked pretty competent at both ends of the ice. Olesky looks incompetent on nearly ever shift.

Nobody has mentioned it much, but Schultz has replaced Letang (at the moment) on the PP.
- madmike71

Olesky was playing darn well at the start of this stint in the show, you people won't admit it because he throws hits. He has been getting worse as the stint has gone on. It shouldn't surprise you that he plays over those two. When they are all 3 in the A he plays more minutes than them there too.

What if they make the playoffs? No chance for another game or two?
- mlindsay

Both the Pens and Sharks had the players to reverse fortunes. I don't see that with the Wings. More importantly, it's damn near impossible to leapfrog 7 teams at this stage of the season. I have a feeling they'll be dumping players sooner than later.
- madmike71

I can only hope.

Olesky was playing darn well at the start of this stint in the show, you people won't admit it because he throws hits. He has been getting worse as the stint has gone on. It shouldn't surprise you that he plays over those two. When they are all 3 in the A he plays more minutes than them there too.
- Grinder47

I like hitting and physical play.....probably more so than many around here, but my first priority is being steady on defense. He's been the exact opposite. Warsofsky isn't great either, but he's a better skater with some skill.

I thought Ruhwedel was kind of "in-between" those two and I don't understand why he was sent down after he got over the flu.

That trip from Olesky was f'n awful the other night. It's the kind of play that we'd be screaming about if it happened to one of our players. He made a terrible decision then compounded it by sticking out his leg to trip a guy. You can end a guys season doing that.

We should put this on your tombstone: Here lies Grinder biggest fan of unskilled hockey players and pugnacious underdogs.

Hmmm...
What was it people were saying about the Pens (and the Sharks) this time last year?

Do I think they make it? No. Do they still have a chance... yup... and they've been counted out the last 3 years or so and proved us wrong before. Never say never.
- mlindsay

Kind of early to be drinking.

Detroit should be the model for the Pens and how the perceive the future and the eventual ends of the Crosby/Malkin/Letang era. Trying to rebuild on the fly is nearly impossible and almost never works out well, you just can't replace the elite talent of the core when you're drafting at or near the end of each round in the draft. That is a place where you can land really nice complementary players but it's near impossible to find franchise cornerstones drafting that late. The Pens need to focus on maximizing the remaining years of the era and winning as many Cups as possible regardless of the long term cost and then bottom out for 2-3 years after the era ends and reload the core with with the elite players that are only available at the top of the draft. I know it's a tough concept to swallow after such a long time at the top but any other plan leads to eternal mediocrity like Detroit is experiencing now.
- jaydogg1974

I strongly disagree. Detroit transitioned from federov/yzerman to zetterberg/datsyuk fairly well granted they got lucky.

I think it's very possible for the pens to stay competitive post Crosby/Malkin. Might be tough to be the top dog but you can definitely run on the NYR model. New York teams never rebuild and they are competitive every year. LA kings have won cups without rebuilding. Their team is mostly based on lower picks (Doughty exception).

I also think the quality of the draft is starting to deepen so maybe you start to see a few more dynamic guys picked second half of first round.

I think you need to build your team on 3-4 stud defenseman as oppose to a center model as teams do hit on dmen later. Hit on a few and you have a chance.

I don't see us doing a full rebuild if Murray is a top 5 goal tender. Then we will try to make the playoffs every year. And hope to hit on some picks. If you spend to the cap every year you can make the playoffs every year without full rebuild if your drafting is decent.

I strongly disagree. Detroit transitioned from federov/yzerman to zetterberg/datsyuk fairly well granted they got lucky.

I think it's very possible for the pens to stay competitive post Crosby/Malkin. Might be tough to be the top dog but you can definitely run on the NYR model. New York teams never rebuild and they are competitive every year. LA kings have won cups without rebuilding. Their team is mostly based on lower picks (Doughty exception).

I also think the quality of the draft is starting to deepen so maybe you start to see a few more dynamic guys picked second half of first round.

I think you need to build your team on 3-4 stud defenseman as oppose to a center model as teams do hit on dmen later. Hit on a few and you have a chance.

I don't see us doing a full rebuild if Murray is a top 5 goal tender. Then we will try to make the playoffs every year. And hope to hit on some picks. If you spend to the cap every year you can make the playoffs every year without full rebuild if your drafting is decent.
- sditulli

I agree with you in the idea that although it is tough to win without a stud center, it is even tougher to win without a couple of solid defense men.

The old adage-offence wins contracts, defense wins championships is the way to transfer from one group to the next.

We should put this on your tombstone: Here lies Grinder biggest fan of unskilled hockey players and pugnacious underdogs.
- powerhouse

I wouldn't have a problem with that. I hope to have an unmarked grave though.

I like hitting and physical play.....probably more so than many around here, but my first priority is being steady on defense. He's been the exact opposite. Warsofsky isn't great either, but he's a better skater with some skill.

I thought Ruhwedel was kind of "in-between" those two and I don't understand why he was sent down after he got over the flu.

That trip from Olesky was f'n awful the other night. It's the kind of play that we'd be screaming about if it happened to one of our players. He made a terrible decision then compounded it by sticking out his leg to trip a guy. You can end a guys season doing that.
- madmike71

I really would have liked it if it happened to Justin Williams. I really hate that guy.

I agree with you in the idea that although it is tough to win without a stud center, it is even tougher to win without a couple of solid defense men.

The old adage-offence wins contracts, defense wins championships is the way to transfer from one group to the next.
- Thunderbolt

I think the centers are tough to get without tanking and hockey is still a center centric game. But defenseman are a bit random in the draft and easier to get with lower picks.