John Toperzer: It's Time the Pens Get Back to Basics Pens need to work on preventing goals, not just scoring them, with offensive stars sidelined

Pen's fans out indefinately! Shero putting up the for sale sign on all healthy players not name geno orpik z fleury Kunitz.

Put Kennedy or Tangradi in Neals spot and let that line go.

is bylsma lacing up?

This is truly Big Dog's make or break test here on this call up. It will be extended, and should be in the top 6. If he fails here....c-ya.

Kunitz - Malkin - Tangradi
Cooke - Dupuis - Kennedy
Sullivan - Vitale - Asham
McIntyre - Park - McDonald



Edit: Not what they had at Practice, but I like these slightly better.

Kunitz - Malkin - Tangradi
Cooke - Dupuis - Kennedy
Sullivan - Vitale - Asham
McIntyre - Park - McDonald



Edit: Not what they had at Practice, but I like these slightly better.
- PensFan1103

They had...
26-71-14
25-9-48
24-12-38
33-46-45

They had...
26-71-14
25-9-48
24-12-38
33-46-45
- Deadstar

Let's look at these lines salary wise, shall we.

Line 1 = $13.95 Million
Lines 2-4 Combined = $9.107 Million

Yikes!!

I have never seen such a rash of injuries. Didn't think it could get any worse, but it has.

Im sorry i think we need to make a trade.... I honestly dont think we can get by with the lineup we have.... Iknow malkin is putting up points but when he is in this position he usually tries to hard and it doesnt work out..

Im sorry i think we need to make a trade.... I honestly dont think we can get by with the lineup we have.... Iknow malkin is putting up points but when he is in this position he usually tries to hard and it doesnt work out..
- nh4442

What do you trade for? There are too many holes in the damn at the moment. The short term gain may not outweigh the costs.

To fill any gaps, the price will be steep, given who is missing from the lineup. They would also have to likely be a pending UFA since there will be no room under the cap to retain them next year.

The onus may be squarely on Bylsma this year to coach up up what's left--and adjust what it means to "get to your game"--rather than looking to Shero to make a series of moves like he did last year.

That' s not to say that something minor won't be done. But if they can just hover around 7-9 in the standings and maintain until guys start to get back, they should be ok.

What do you trade for? There are too many holes in the damn at the moment. The short term gain may not outweigh the costs.

To fill any gaps, the price will be steep, given who is missing from the lineup. They would also have to likely be a pending UFA since there will be no room under the cap to retain them next year.

The onus may be squarely on Bylsma this year to coach up up what's left--and adjust what it means to "get to your game"--rather than looking to Shero to make a series of moves like he did last year.

That' s not to say that something minor won't be done. But if they can just hover around 7-9 in the standings and maintain until guys start to get back, they should be ok.
- akane13

would u pick up brule off re-entry waivers?

Im sorry i think we need to make a trade.... I honestly dont think we can get by with the lineup we have.... Iknow malkin is putting up points but when he is in this position he usually tries to hard and it doesnt work out..
- nh4442

I would prefer to be sellers at this point. I'm not willing to give up the prospects it would take to get anyone of significance. Add some picks and some some forward prospects.

would u pick up brule off re-entry waivers?
- nh4442

Tough call. He hasn't been able to maintain a spot in the lineup on a terrible Edmonton teams the last couple years. If he's UFA at the end of the season, maybe you take a flyer on him. He can't be any worse than the few remaining options in WBS at the forward position.

I would prefer to be sellers at this point. I'm not willing to give up the prospects it would take to get anyone of significance. Add some picks and some some forward prospects.
- dbell646

i never thought of us a sellers... i wouldnt see anyone who we could send for picks that would make a difference... tangradi and lovejoy might fetch a 4th rd each, martin + might get us a second?? idk...

i could see us buyers with all of our injuries... if we get a few key peices to make a stronger 1st line and a decent 2nd line, when players come back around playoff time, we would have a good roster... i dont think shero will let us go and not be in a playoff hunt, injured or not...

Tough call. He hasn't been able to maintain a spot in the lineup on a terrible Edmonton teams the last couple years. If he's UFA at the end of the season, maybe you take a flyer on him. He can't be any worse than the few remaining options in WBS at the forward position.
- akane13

brule has to be better then having dupes as our 2nd line center... we have dupes, vitale, adams/park as our 2-4th centers behind geno... plus if we pick him up we split his fee with edm, send mac down and it takes care of itself.. its an option

Let's look at these lines salary wise, shall we.

Line 1 = $13.95 Million
Lines 2-4 Combined = $9.107 Million

Yikes!!
- PensFan1103

look at the salary were missing
crosby - 8.7
staal - 4
neal - 2.8
letang - 3.5

we all know neal and letang are worth much more than what their cap hit show as well.

im really not in panic mode yet. we saw last year the team was able to win without malkin and crosby. the team needs to grind it out and malkin needs to change a little bit and understand he cant get fancy with the players he will have on his line and PP unit. simple shoot the puck and hopefully kunitz doesnt breathe on the goalie the wrong way and get more goals dissallowed

brule has to be better then having dupes as our 2nd line center... we have dupes, vitale, adams/park as our 2-4th centers behind geno... plus if we pick him up we split his fee with edm, send mac down and it takes care of itself.. its an option
- nh4442

like I said, he might be worth the flyer. Half his remaining salary for the season can't be too great.

i never thought of us a sellers... i wouldnt see anyone who we could send for picks that would make a difference... tangradi and lovejoy might fetch a 4th rd each, martin + might get us a second?? idk...

i could see us buyers with all of our injuries... if we get a few key peices to make a stronger 1st line and a decent 2nd line, when players come back around playoff time, we would have a good roster... i dont think shero will let us go and not be in a playoff hunt, injured or not...
- nh4442

You don't think teams would be interested in Cooke Duper TK Sullivan Engelland Nisk Lovejoy?

look at the salary were missing
crosby - 8.7
staal - 4
neal - 2.8
letang - 3.5

we all know neal and letang are worth much more than what their cap hit show as well.

im really not in panic mode yet. we saw last year the team was able to win without malkin and crosby. the team needs to grind it out and malkin needs to change a little bit and understand he cant get fancy with the players he will have on his line and PP unit. simple shoot the puck and hopefully kunitz doesnt breathe on the goalie the wrong way and get more goals dissallowed
- drummer829

This sounds stupid but I think I'm just mentally drained from all of the injuries the past 2 seasons.

I would prefer to be sellers at this point. I'm not willing to give up the prospects it would take to get anyone of significance. Add some picks and some some forward prospects.
- dbell646

I don't think it's time to panic and sell at this point. They know they'll get everyone back 'cept Crosby. They need to tighten up and play strong team D. Concentrate on creating chances off of turnovers and win low scoring games. I know I keep saying this, but I think Bylsma has needed to make an adjustment for weeks because of their inability to compete with the elite. Doesn't make sense to always try to get to 40 shots, when most of them are easy saves.

We have some decent second tier prospects that a rebuilding club should want. Look at all the D prospects that came up and played pretty well. When they have guys like Despres, Morrow and Harrington in the fold, it pretty much opens up Bortuzzo, Sneep and Strait to be moved.

Teams are starving for D. We've got a surplus... Niskanen, Lovejoy even Martin (if he can be traded). There's a way through this and I'm sure Shero thinks the same thing.

This sounds stupid but I think I'm just mentally drained from all of the injuries the past 2 seasons.
- dbell646

Not stupid. I feel the same way. Its not as fun to watch this team as it used to be through no fault of their own.

Pens are in a tough spot. Their options arent that good. They can ride it out and try again next yr. Or they can trade away picks/prospects to fill the gaps, but then w/o Crosby, Letang, Staal the team will still be average. Or they can make a big move and risk future yrs for this yr. I like plan A.

I don't think it's time to panic and sell at this point. They know they'll get everyone back 'cept Crosby. They need to tighten up and play strong team D. Concentrate on creating chances off of turnovers and win low scoring games. I know I keep saying this, but I think Bylsma has needed to make an adjustment for weeks because of their inability to compete with the elite. Doesn't make sense to always try to get to 40 shots, when most of them are easy saves.

We have some decent second tier prospects that a rebuilding club should want. Look at all the D prospects that came up and played pretty well. When they have guys like Despres, Morrow and Harrington in the fold, it pretty much opens up Bortuzzo, Sneep and Strait to be moved.

Teams are starving for D. We've got a surplus... Niskanen, Lovejoy even Martin (if he can be traded). There's a way through this and I'm sure Shero thinks the same thing.
- madmike71

Agreed, I don't think it is worth tradin potential future pieces for players who won't be playing with Sid, Letang, Staal, etc. and then not be here next year. The only exception to me is Tangradi. We need to survive this somewhere between 7th and 10th position, and go on a run if we get any healthy bodies in March.

Agreed, I don't think it is worth tradin potential future pieces for players who won't be playing with Sid, Letang, Staal, etc. and then not be here next year. The only exception to me is Tangradi. We need to survive this somewhere between 7th and 10th position, and go on a run if we get any healthy bodies in March.
- ryman1566

Ha Ha so for the next 4-6 weeks they are supposed to stay around 7-10 without Crosby, Staal, Neal, Letang and who knows who else is out long term? I doubt it. I wouldn't feel comfortable acquiring the likes of Iginla or someone like that and giving up assets. Last year they were much tighter on defense and thought they could weather the storm. Not sure they want to weather the storm this year. I'm sure this has to be taxing on their psyche. Hopefully I'm eating these words mid February.