Ryan Wilson: Players to focus on tonight Players to focus on tonight

Foist!!!

We iced a Bylsma-era bottom six last night. For the regular season we'll be adding guys like Rust and Wilson to those units which should lead to an uptick, but until we get centers we're gonna be bad and lean heavily on the top 6 for scoring. I'm not even comfortable with Rowney as full time 4C, especially when one of his line mates will be Reaves. That line is going to be really, really bad. Like Pyatt-Vitale-Glass level bad.

Ryan, is this a good day to talk about Pittsburgh sports?

sweet

lol a 1st round pick!

We iced a Bylsma-era bottom six last night. For the regular season we'll be adding guys like Rust and Wilson to those units which should lead to an uptick, but until we get centers we're gonna be bad and lean heavily on the top 6 for scoring. I'm not even comfortable with Rowney as full time 4C, especially when one of his line mates will be Reaves. That line is going to be really, really bad. Like Pyatt-Vitale-Glass level bad.
- Victoro311

I agree entirely about Rowney. He's a call-up guy. He won't kill us if he gets into 20/25 games a year, but he is not a full time NHL center.

I can't judge Reaves on last night because I didn't watch the game very closely, but what I did see was not good. He's going to need a good skating center to carry him.

I agree entirely about Rowney. He's a call-up guy. He won't kill us if he gets into 20/25 games a year, but he is not a full time NHL center.

I can't judge Reaves on last night because I didn't watch the game very closely, but what I did see was not good. He's going to need a good skating center to carry him.
- madmike71

He's a hit chaser and not particularly good on the boards for his size. Low IQ guy that gives up defensive plays in order to go for the hit and who's not gonna do much good on the forecheck or the back check. Standard goon. The fact that he's faster that most goons his size doesn't particularly matter much when you have no IQ to capitalize on your physical advantages.

Considering his linemates were absolutely useless I thought Blueger played pretty well last night. He let the game come to him and he made good plays on both sides of the ice. Blueger as the 4C should be just fine. He's played well in every game so far this preseason. They should have switched he and Rowneys linemates. Simon was engaged and can at least cycle and shoot. Hagelen can forecheck at least. Reaves has been chasing the game in both games and the fact that Kostin has a chance to make the Blues roster makes it suck even more. I don't hate having Reaves but I hate the trade more and more. There is no reason for Reaves to even play against teams like the red wings and the bolts. Just for games agains Doucebinsky, Tom Wilson, Matt Martin, Zach Kassian(who got destroyed by Nick Ritchie last night)etc. Sheahan still sucks too, that's a waste of precious cap space. But if we take him can he play with Kessel and Hagelen? Or Hornqvist and Hagelen? ZAR and Rust? Which wingers maximize what little Sheahan brings to the table?

Would you trade Reaves for Andrew MacDonald?

Considering his linemates were absolutely useless I thought Blueger played pretty well last night. He let the game come to him and he made good plays on both sides of the ice. Blueger as the 4C should be just fine. He's played well in every game so far this preseason. They should have switched he and Rowneys linemates. Simon was engaged and can at least cycle and shoot. Hagelen can forecheck at least. Reaves has been chasing the game in both games and the fact that Kostin has a chance to make the Blues roster makes it suck even more. I don't hate having Reaves but I hate the trade more and more. There is no reason for Reaves to even play against teams like the red wings and the bolts. Just for games agains Doucebinsky, Tom Wilson, Matt Martin, Zach Kassian(who got destroyed by Nick Ritchie last night)etc. Sheahan still sucks too, that's a waste of precious cap space. But if we take him can he play with Kessel and Hagelen? Or Hornqvist and Hagelen? ZAR and Rust? Which wingers maximize what little Sheahan brings to the table?
- Dcoms

You're right about Simon. He looks more NHL ready than ZAR and Blueger. Right now, if we're looking at middle six LW to start the season because we want to keep Sheary-Crosby-Guentzel in tact, I think he's earned a look.

Given our depth at RW, though, I might break up that first left and put both Guentzel and Sheary on their natural wings while playing Hornqvist on Sid's right. Something along the lines of:

Guentzel-Crosby-Hornqvist
Hagelin-Malkin-Kessel
Sheary-XXX Rust
Wilson-Rowney-Reaves

That fourth line is absolutely terrible and there's no fixing it until we get better center depth and come to terms with the fact that Reaves shouldn't be playing on a nightly basis. It also allows all of our high end wings to play so we can eventually identify who is essential and who is not and draw from our wing depth to trade for a legit 3C at which point whoever is lighting up WBS between Sprong, ZAR, and Simon can come up and be full time NHLers.

My guess is even if trades don't happen, we'll see ZAR and Sprong up here, as well as Simon, and a bit of Blueger this year.

- Feds91Stammer

Clearly top-level talent.

Now post the one where Dan Carcillo walks around the Maple Leafs defense for the diving goal.

Edit: Nevermind, here you go



Clearly top-level talent.

Clearly top-level talent.

Now post the one where Dan Carcillo walks around the Maple Leafs defense for the diving goal.

Edit: Nevermind, here you go



Clearly top-level talent.
- jmatchett383

cool...

So who has tickets for the Mo train tonite?

Get em while they got em is what I say.

Also, let's see how Big J goes tonite.

How are the face off penalties going?? Have the zebs eased up on their early preseason bombardment of certain rules?

I haven't seen Sheahan play. But watching DP tonight, I wouldn't make that trade if I was Detroit. 2 goals for is more than 200 against.

I haven't seen Sheahan play. But watching DP tonight, I wouldn't make that trade if I was Detroit. 2 goals for is more than 200 against.
- eNDSo

Dp looks terrible even in the preseason..he looks so bad that I wonder if he is so unhappy that he is mailing it in. He was definitely more talented that what we have seen from him for the last couple years.

Dp looks terrible even in the preseason..he looks so bad that I wonder if he is so unhappy that he is mailing it in. He was definitely more talented that what we have seen from him for the last couple years.
- taleisyreXIII

If at that age and that opportunity he feels like he needs to pack it in and kiss his career good bye then good the Pens never played him cuz he has a crappy attitude and wouldn't be a good team player.

Bottom line is he sucks and was a bad pick. Thanks SHero!

I haven't seen Sheahan play. But watching DP tonight, I wouldn't make that trade if I was Detroit. 2 goals for is more than 200 against.
- eNDSo

Pouliot was trying to show Detroit how bad he is so he doesn't get traded to them.

McKegg. He's got the speed, size and skill set to play with high end players. He's literally the only internal option right now at 3c. Although, I'd rather him at 4c to help create space for Wilson to find some seems. He's a MUCH better option than Rowney right now.

Clearly top-level talent.

Now post the one where Dan Carcillo walks around the Maple Leafs defense for the diving goal.

Edit: Nevermind, here you go



Clearly top-level talent.
- jmatchett383

C'mon, Carcillo was really talented......he was just a complete nut job lol. He was like a talented Steve Downie who turned into Chris Simon if you looked at him wrong.

McKegg. He's got the speed, size and skill set to play with high end players. He's literally the only internal option right now at 3c. Although, I'd rather him at 4c to help create space for Wilson to find some seems. He's a MUCH better option than Rowney right now.
- cranktheradio

How did our new 3C Johnson go?

Pouliot was trying to show Detroit how bad he is so he doesn't get traded to them.
- Aussiepenguin

He was very successful in that regard.

He was very successful in that regard.
- madmike71

And people are saying he sucks!