Also I believe they need to be 20 years of age to play in the AHL? And neither is 20.
- powerhouse

It's only 18, but what stops 95% of the guys from coming that early, is the CHL agreement. They can't come from the CHL to the AHL until they are 20 (or played 4 seasons I think in junior).

If we were healthy I would much rather see Martin-Ehroff Letang-Matta, or Letang-Martin Ehrhoff-Matta. Part of a hockey players job is to defend the other team, your not always going to have the puck to drive possession.

Also I believe they need to be 20 years of age to play in the AHL? And neither is 20.
- powerhouse

I don't think that's true. I think technically anybody over 18 can play there, it's just that with the NHL's agreements with other developmental leagues, you don't see it. It's something that needs to be reexamined. Some players have nothing to gain by returning to their junior league team but have to if they can't make the jump to the NHL. Hardly fair to the player or the team that drafted them. The only one that gains is the junior club.

Just watched the latest Dan Carcillo interview. Is it bad that I'm liking this scum bag more and more every day?

Just watched the latest Dan Carcillo interview. Is it bad that I'm liking this scum bag more and more every day?
- Victoro311

Yes. But you'll get over it next time he abuses an official.

you don't deserve Carcillo, you scum

Yes. But you'll get over it next time he abuses an official.
- JoeAvg

Man he nearly killed that official. This sport and its fans are getting so soft it makes me sick.

Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis
Hornqvist-Malkin-Kapanen
Downie-Sutter-Spaling
Comeau-Goc-Carcillo
Adams-Megna

Letang-Ehrhoff
Martin-Maatta
Despres-Bortuzzo(Dumoulin)
Scuderi

Fleury
Greiss

That bottom 6 looks a hell of a lot better than our bottom 6 last year.

The only thing people speak about when it comes to Letang is offense. There is a reason for this. When it come to defense he sucks. That is really dangerous for the team to put on the ice a defensemen who can't play defense. This showed in the third period last night and in most games that he plays in.

The only thing people speak about when it comes to Letang is offense. There is a reason for this. When it come to defense he sucks. That is really dangerous for the team to put on the ice a defensemen who can't play defense. This showed in the third period last night and in most games that he plays in.
- CentPaPensFan

Over seven million reasons why your opinion is wrong. Bad at D? Not accurate.

Over seven million reasons why your opinion is wrong. Bad at D? Not accurate.
- Topshelf Mountain

Yeah, he's not bad in his own zone. However, he does make some poor decisions. Made a couple last night. He needs to fix that part of his game.

The only thing people speak about when it comes to Letang is offense. There is a reason for this. When it come to defense he sucks. That is really dangerous for the team to put on the ice a defensemen who can't play defense. This showed in the third period last night and in most games that he plays in.
- CentPaPensFan

This is just a false statement all around.

This is just a false statement all around.
- usethe1-2-2

Yep. I would actually argue that he has been the Penguins' best defensive defenseman the past couple of seasons.

His issue has always been with the puck (decision making, forcing play), not without it.

This is just a false statement all around.
- usethe1-2-2

Im not quite so sure. Letang is a #3 d. It's better to play him against lesser competition so that his high risk is somewhat contained. This is troublesome. He's not as bad as, say, Sandis Ozolinsh but he's a player I would use to instance the point. Expectations of Letang fulfilling a #1 spot have and will continue to inspire rage.

Anyone see this thank you to Mario Lemieux via a corn maze? Pretty darn cool!

https://www.youtube.com/w...=UUwwPcPeeQSEUf1V91JaIlcg

Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis
Hornqvist-Malkin-Kapanen
Downie-Sutter-Spaling
Comeau-Goc-Carcillo
Adams-Megna

Letang-Ehrhoff
Martin-Maatta
Despres-Bortuzzo(Dumoulin)
Scuderi

Fleury
Greiss

That bottom 6 looks a hell of a lot better than our bottom 6 last year.
- cap1681

That team as a whole looks a hell of a lot better than last year. You're going to love Blake Comeau on your team. He works his ass off every shift, and is actually effective.

Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis
Hornqvist-Malkin-Kapanen
Downie-Sutter-Spaling
Comeau-Goc-Carcillo
Adams-Megna

Letang-Ehrhoff
Martin-Maatta
Despres-Bortuzzo(Dumoulin)
Scuderi

Fleury
Greiss

That bottom 6 looks a hell of a lot better than our bottom 6 last year.
- cap1681

Looks good to me. I like Kapanen with malkin and Hornqvist. Malkin can set the kid up (as he did with Neal) and horn is that hardnosed guy who will camp in front of the net and get into the dirty areas. Kapanen gets a role similar to Patrick Kane where he just needs to be a shifty player

This is just a false statement all around.
- usethe1-2-2

No, he isn't wrong. Kris Letang defensively is average. Defensively, he isn't an all-star caliber blueliner. The only reason he is up for the Norris every year (until he breaks down with an injury) is his offensive numbers. He might make north of 7 million, but he makes some very very poor decisions.

People that routinely overrate him make me scratch my head. I can name 15 better defensemen in this league without trying.

That team as a whole looks a hell of a lot better than last year. You're going to love Blake Comeau on your team. He works his ass off every shift, and is actually effective.
- PepinoPamplemousse

I can't say the Comeau signing really caused any reaction when the Pens signed him. But so far in the preseason, I really like what I've seen. Hustles, physical, and much better puck skills than I thought.

Short sample size but he sure has looked better than Spaling.

Im not quite so sure. Letang is a #3 d. It's better to play him against lesser competition so that his high risk is somewhat contained. This is troublesome. He's not as bad as, say, Sandis Ozolinsh but he's a player I would use to instance the point. Expectations of Letang fulfilling a #1 spot have and will continue to inspire rage.
- Johnny Wrath

If he is a #3, then I think your ideas of #1 and #2 defensemen are a bit inflated.

Looks good to me. I like Kapanen with malkin and Hornqvist. Malkin can set the kid up (as he did with Neal) and horn is that hardnosed guy who will camp in front of the net and get into the dirty areas. Kapanen gets a role similar to Patrick Kane where he just needs to be a shifty player
- drummer829

If Kap stays....when healthy....I'd go

Bennett-Sid-Hornqvist
Kunitz-Malkin-Kapanen
Dupuis-Sutter-Downie
Spaling-Goc-Comeau

Really want Kunitz back with Malkin. Not that he and Sid are a bad combo but Malkin needs to get back to 50 goals again and Kunitz helped bring out the best in him. And in general I just think that top line would be nasty.

If he is a #3, then I think your ideas of #1 and #2 defensemen are a bit inflated.
- rival22

Letang is quite simply our best two-way defenseman. Leave him with Ehrhoff for a full season and I think most would reconsidered that #3 mumbo jumbo.

No, he isn't wrong. Kris Letang defensively is average. Defensively, he isn't an all-star caliber blueliner. The only reason he is up for the Norris every year (until he breaks down with an injury) is his offensive numbers. He might make north of 7 million, but he makes some very very poor decisions.

People that routinely overrate him make me scratch my head. I can name 15 better defensemen in this league without trying.
- Oneonta Penguin

I have to disagree with you here. He is a solid defender in his own end he just isnt overly physical. When he gets the freedom to skate with the puck and control the game he is a great presence in the d zone. Bylsma had a system that forced longer passes, which resulted in turnovers. In my mind Kris Letang is a legit #1 option in this league and plays above average in every situation. His speed and heads up play helps takeaway a lot of the oppositions opportunities. When we saw him pair with Paul Martin last season we saw what Kris can do when not held back. I think this season will highlight how strong Kris is in all zones.

In the end, this system seems to suit Letang much better than Bylsma's. If he can skate with the puck and make plays based on what he sees, and not preset reads, I think that he'll be much more of a low risk player.

Offensive defensemen are always going to have some element of risk in their game. With the amount of time that they have the puck, that is just the nature of the job.

By the way, if you read the Eastern Conference preview on here the guy says Hornqvist doesn't play with enough grit. head slapper