My personal list right now in order of untouchables:

1) Simon Despres
2) Scott Harrington
3) Joseph Morrow
4) Olli Maatta
5) Derrick Pouliot
6) Brian Dumoulin
7) Phillip Samuelsson

During that cup run he had Orpik, Gill and Scuderi blocking shots in front and keeping shots to the outside. He played solid, but not spectacular. The D in front of him that year bailed him out.
I don't understand why you keep defending him. He is very inconsistent and is the reason the Pens have been kicked out of the post-season ever since 2009.
- panthers92

This is the first post i have made about Fleury. I just call it like it is. He had a very rough series last year... But the majority of reasons most goalies have multiple rough games is due to the lack of support in front of them ( too many quality chances, not enough blocked shots, etc). As a Pens fan I am comfortable with him ( not our team D). I think he is a top 10 goalie in the league.

My personal list right now in order of untouchables:

1) Simon Despres
2) Scott Harrington
3) Joseph Morrow
4) Olli Maatta
5) Derrick Pouliot
6) Brian Dumoulin
7) Phillip Samuelsson
- Orpik44

Looks good to me!!!

How could I forget Messier?

Ovechkin just hit the 700 point plateau last night (before Malkin and Crosby).

Here is the PPG comparison with top players in the league and some of the greatest:

Gretzky - 1.92
Lemieux - 1.88
Crosby - 1.42
Forsberg - 1.25
Malkin - 1.23
Jagr - 1.22
Ovechkin - 1.21
Sakic - 1.19
LaFontaine - 1.17
Yzerman - 1.16
Lindros - 1.14
Bure - 1.11
Messier - 1.07
Selanne - 1.04
Stamkos - 1.04
Thornton - 1.00
Kariya - 1.00
Datsyuk - 0.98
Fedorov - 0.94
Recchi - 0.93
Zetterberg - 0.93
Getzlaf - 0.93
P.Kane - 0.93
St.Louis - 0.92
Hossa - 0.92
Modano - 0.91
Iginla - 0.90
E.Staal - 0.90
B.Richards - 0.90
Roenick - 0.89
Toews - 0.89
Tavares - 0.86
Giroux - 0.86
LeClair - 0.84
H.Sedin - 0.84
D.Sedin - 0.83
Nash - 0.82
Perry - 0.81


4 of the top 6 are Penguins = VERY SPOILED!!

Malkin and his Ted Lindsey Award:


Funny how he calls Neal "Lazy" spot on.

How could I forget Messier?

Ovechkin just hit the 700 point plateau last night (before Malkin and Crosby).

Here is the PPG comparison with top players in the league and some of the greatest:

Gretzky - 1.92
Lemieux - 1.88
Crosby - 1.42
Forsberg - 1.25
Malkin - 1.23
Jagr - 1.22
Ovechkin - 1.21
Sakic - 1.19
LaFontaine - 1.17
Yzerman - 1.16
Lindros - 1.14
Bure - 1.11
Messier - 1.07
Selanne - 1.04
Stamkos - 1.04
Thornton - 1.00
Kariya - 1.00
Datsyuk - 0.98
Fedorov - 0.94
Recchi - 0.93
Zetterberg - 0.93
Getzlaf - 0.93
P.Kane - 0.93
St.Louis - 0.92
Hossa - 0.92
Modano - 0.91
Iginla - 0.90
E.Staal - 0.90
B.Richards - 0.90
Roenick - 0.89
Toews - 0.89
Tavares - 0.86
Giroux - 0.86
LeClair - 0.84
H.Sedin - 0.84
D.Sedin - 0.83
Nash - 0.82
Perry - 0.81


4 of the top 6 are Penguins = VERY SPOILED!!
- Orpik44

A pens player has the art Ross trophy like 55% of the time since 1989.

My personal list right now in order of untouchables:

1) Simon Despres
2) Scott Harrington
3) Joseph Morrow
4) Olli Maatta
5) Derrick Pouliot
6) Brian Dumoulin
7) Phillip Samuelsson
- Orpik44

I don't care what order you put those top 5 in, but I want to hang onto at least 4 of them. Pouliot would be one of them for sure though, so I guess I do care about the order.

Maatta would be my odd man out but would want something substantial back for him if he was dealt, I really have no issues hanging onto all 5 of them.

I don't care what order you put those top 5 in, but I want to hang onto at least 4 of them. Pouliot would be one of them for sure though, so I guess I do care about the order.

Maatta would be my odd man out but would want something substantial back for him if he was dealt, I really have no issues hanging onto all 5 of them.
- canadianpenfan

I would hold on to Maatta before Pouliot jut because he seems to be a better player overall + he's good friends with Scott H. which helps

Fleury sucks man...he can't handle the heat. If he was half as good as everyone thought he would be, the Pens would probably have another cup. He benefits from playing on a good team. Last year's playoffs he could not stop a beach ball...
Don't become like a Habs or Maple leafs fan that thinks their players are good when they're really not.
- panthers92

This = uniformed

I would hold on to Maatta before Pouliot jut because he seems to be a better player overall + he's good friends with Scott H. which helps
- Orpik44

Where in the heck do you get that from? Pouliot is a PPG defensemen and he's 19. He's got plenty of time to learn the defensive side of things and you don't part with raw talent like that.

I am in the minority and think Letang stays on an 8yr/52 mil contract. I obviously could be wrong, but that is just my gut feeling. If he does not agree to that in the off season, I think he is traded before the season starts.

It doesn't make any sense to trade him at the trade deadline next year. 1) You risk him injuring himself and not being able to be traded. 2) Assuming the Pens are playing well, you don't want to move a star mid season and ruin chemistry. 3) There is no way his trade value will be that much higher at the trade deadline than before the season starts. He has been nothing short of spectacular this year.

Here's to hoping that we get to watch him play in a Pens uniform for another 8 years

Where in the heck do you get that from? Pouliot is a PPG defensemen and he's 19. He's got plenty of time to learn the defensive side of things and you don't part with raw talent like that.
- canadianpenfan

So, how about Maatta?Is he an old talent?He's raw too and he's only 18 I like them both but if I had to choose, I'd pick the finn.

Edit: BTW, we'd be better off holding on to all of them..

So, how about Maatta?Is he an old talent?He's raw too and he's only 18 I like them both but if I had to choose, I'd pick the finn.

Edit: BTW, we'd be better off holding on to all of them..
- Orpik44

According to Tiops, he has them ranked as such...

1)Maatta,
2)Pouliot,
3)Morrow,
4)Harrington,
5)Domoulin

Here's what he says about Maatta - "Maatta is regarded inside Penguin circles as the total package on the blueline in that he can do it all. Has great size for an 18 year old. Can play a shutdown role but also gives you offense and is evolving as an offensive player."

He did an article not too long ago that says that the Pens consider Pouliot and Maatta untouchable.

During that cup run he had Orpik, Gill and Scuderi blocking shots in front and keeping shots to the outside. He played solid, but not spectacular. The D in front of him that year bailed him out.
I don't understand why you keep defending him. He is very inconsistent and is the reason the Pens have been kicked out of the post-season ever since 2009.
- panthers92

Watch him every night, and you will understand why we defend him, and that last sentence couldn't be further from the truth.

According to Tiops, he has them ranked as such...

1)Maatta,
2)Pouliot,
3)Morrow,
4)Harrington,
5)Domoulin

Here's what he says about Maatta - "Maatta is regarded inside Penguin circles as the total package on the blueline in that he can do it all. Has great size for an 18 year old. Can play a shutdown role but also gives you offense and is evolving as an offensive player."

He did an article not too long ago that says that the Pens consider Pouliot and Maatta untouchable.
- madmike71

Just from what I've read, Domoulin, Despres and Maata have similar types of skills, as big, all around d men.

I would hold on to Maatta before Pouliot jut because he seems to be a better player overall + he's good friends with Scott H. which helps
- Orpik44

Have to agree with this. Pouliot is only useful IF Letang is traded and can run the PP. from what I understand his defensive game isn't as strong as Mattas and we need that. Morrow and even Despres can handle the 2nd PP unit. There really is no need for a offensive Dman if Letang stays. I think Shero grabbed him as insurance in case Letang doesn't stick around.

Fleury sucks man...he can't handle the heat. If he was half as good as everyone thought he would be, the Pens would probably have another cup. He benefits from playing on a good team. Last year's playoffs he could not stop a beach ball...
Don't become like a Habs or Maple leafs fan that thinks their players are good when they're really not.
- panthers92

I'll take a cup winner over a goalie with fancy stats anyday.

Anyone going to the weekend games?

Im on my way into Pitt for Rags Bruins Caps...

LETS GO PENS!

I'll take a cup winner over a goalie with fancy stats anyday.
- Ben37

Save percentage wins cups. Everyone knows that

Watch him every night, and you will understand why we defend him, and that last sentence couldn't be further from the truth.
- rival22

I always find it funny when fans from other teams come over and tell us how MAF sucks. You know they derive their opinion on a handful of highlights and the occasional national game. We who watch him night in and night out know this team only has a passing interest in playing defense (last few games excluded). Fact is, I'm confident that we would easily have 5 - 7 less wins if MAF wasn't great. He had a couple of rough games recently, but has been largely fantastic this year.

His career is following a similar path to Barrasso's. If either player played behind a team like NJ, they'd put up HOF numbers.

I'll take a cup winner over a goalie with fancy stats anyday.
- Ben37

ALL goalies struggle without decent defense. Look at Mike Smith this year, or even Jonathon Quick was struggling earlier. Fleury can make the big saves if needed when he has a good working defense in front of him, but no goalie can consistently handle a heavy workload behind a poor defense.

There's a reason Shero took Pouliot 8th and Maatta 22nd. There's also a reason Hockey Futures ranks Pouliot as our top prospect, ahead of even Despres. I'll leave it at that.

I'm just glad Shero makes the decisions for this team and not people that frequent this blog.

Just from what I've read, Domoulin, Despres and Maata have similar types of skills, as big, all around d men.
- rival22

Awessome to hear that. Who wouldn't want 3 Despres on your team? Big, can skate, skilled and can throw the body quite well.

Despres/Morrow/Maatta/Harrington/Dumoulin/Letang

How nice it would be.

Edit: Canadian, I like Pouliot but he just seems to be an offensive defenseman and we already have Letang. I'd be all for keeping him if 58 is traded this offseason.

Anyone going to the weekend games?

Im on my way into Pitt for Rags Bruins Caps...

LETS GO PENS!
- nelson911

Nice trip, have a great time.