Just a thought. I do believe Richards would flourish with Crosby's "leading by example" style + Dupuis/Sutter playing together (they seem to have a lot of chemistry) with Malkin.

I have no doubt we'd be a better team even though Richards contract is a bit inflated.
- Barnaby36

I think Sutter has shown he has the speed and shot to be a winger at this level and I think he would make a good winger with Geno. I'm just not sure the investment in Richards would be worth it considering he has so much term left on that contract.

That's why I think a move for a guy like Glencross could be a nice cost effective move.

Kunitz Crosby Hornqvist/Bennett
Glencross Malkin Hornqvist/Bennett
Dupuis Sutter Downie
Spaling Goc Comeau

He is ufa in June, but with the cap set to remain the same, that could be a blessing.

You can be critical that he isn't physical, but he does his job at a level that critique just seems petty. It's like when people complain Crosby didn't have a point in the last game. He is bound to go a few games without a point.

If Martin were a lesser defender, in that his positioning and stickwork were halved, then he would have to be physical, but in all reality physicallity isn't needed when you are still shutting people down.
- usethe1-2-2

I think that comes to the front at playoff time where his lack of physicality, for whatever reason, becomes more prominent. I recall him struggling a bit in the CBus series with their physical pressure and forecheck.

Certainly not calling him scared in the playoffs but he certainly doesn't look like he prefers that type of game. He appears timid at times in April and May.

Has any team he has ever played on gone far in the playoffs? None of his Devil teams made it to the Finals right?

Pass on Richards.

I think that comes to the front at playoff time where his lack of physicality, for whatever reason, becomes more prominent. I recall him struggling a bit in the CBus series with their physical pressure and forecheck.

Certainly not calling him scared in the playoffs but he certainly doesn't look like he prefers that type of game. He appears timid at times in April and May.

Has any team he has ever played on gone far in the playoffs? None of his Devil teams made it to the Finals right?
- 87_71_11_29

I thought he had a good series against CBJ, probably our best defender. Letang stepped it up half way through that series and was killer from then on.

What about Ehrhoff? I don't remember much from his run with Vancouver other than he just dominated with the puck. I can't say I remember him stepping up physically at all, but he still did well.

I thought he had a good series against CBJ, probably our best defender. Letang stepped it up half way through that series and was killer from then on.

What about Ehrhoff? I don't remember much from his run with Vancouver other than he just dominated with the puck. I can't say I remember him stepping up physically at all, but he still did well.
- usethe1-2-2

Martin, Ehroff, Scuds, are not really physical at all. I think it's a huge weakness the Pens have had on D the last playoff years.

Martin, Ehroff, Scuds, are not really physical at all. I think it's a huge weakness the Pens have had on D the last playoff years.
- sammy87

Agree. However I think that's a trait that isn't just limited to our defense. Our forwards have trouble forcing their will when things get tight. Playoff hockey, at least in the last several years, is very tight checking "in your face" hockey. This team doesn't handle that well at either end of the ice.

Agree. However I think that's a trait that isn't just limited to our defense. Our forwards have trouble forcing their will when things get tight. Playoff hockey, at least in the last several years, is very tight checking "in your face" hockey. This team doesn't handle that well at either end of the ice.
- madmike71

I think that is the easy assumption about our team, but I think it is the fact that we just were not a good possession team the past 4 years.

We are not the smallest team in the league, but we certainly play like it when we are chasing pucks up and down the ice for stretch passes and dump ins. It is easy to say other teams are boxing us out with physicallity when in reality they are just controlling the puck better. Turnovers have a lot to do with that as well.

Do they need more physicallity? It wouldn't hurt, but when you are able to control the puck, you are able to control the game flow more than being just physical.

Martin, Ehroff, Scuds, are not really physical at all. I think it's a huge weakness the Pens have had on D the last playoff years.
- sammy87

I think the defensive weakness lies in the immobility and lack of balance to the roster, more so than the physicallity. Orpik was a poor poor puck possession player, the eye test proved that. Niskanen, while he did have a great season, benefited greatly from playing a ton of minutes with the top 2 lines.
Scuds is as predictable as it gets and teams actually shift away from him because they know he won't skate or shoot.
Then you had fill in guys like Eaton and Douglas Murray who couldn't skate for beans... I mean, if Brian Rafalski and Nick Lidstrom could hold off the physical Perry-Getzlaf-Ryan line from 09 without being physical, then why does Paul Martin have to be Scott Stevens?

Pittsburgh Penguins ‏@penguins 2m2 minutes ago
#Pens lines at practice: Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis, Spaling-Malkin-Hornqvist, Bennett-Sutter-Downie, Comeau/Sill-Goc-Adams

Looks like the old Crosby line is back together.

The Bennett-Sutter-Downie line was a Johnston favorite in camp.

Malkin gets a winger upgrade on the right side, Spaling is a bit of a downgrade from Dupuis, but he's worth a look there. All he really needs to do is play well defensively and forecheck.

I think the defensive weakness lies in the immobility and lack of balance to the roster, more so than the physicallity. Orpik was a poor poor puck possession player, the eye test proved that. Niskanen, while he did have a great season, benefited greatly from playing a ton of minutes with the top 2 lines.
Scuds is as predictable as it gets and teams actually shift away from him because they know he won't skate or shoot.
Then you had fill in guys like Eaton and Douglas Murray who couldn't skate for beans... I mean, if Brian Rafalski and Nick Lidstrom could hold off the physical Perry-Getzlaf-Ryan line from 09 without being physical, then why does Paul Martin have to be Scott Stevens?
- usethe1-2-2

Martin isnt remotely close to the level of Lidstrom, maybe Rafalski but most likely not. I dont think Martin needs to be a physical d man, but it would be nice if the Pens had a very good dman that was also physical. Letang can be from time to time, but I cringe every time he plays the body. Despress could be that guy.

Pittsburgh Penguins ‏@penguins 2m2 minutes ago
#Pens lines at practice: Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis, Spaling-Malkin-Hornqvist, Bennett-Sutter-Downie, Comeau/Sill-Goc-Adams

Looks like the old Crosby line is back together.

The Bennett-Sutter-Downie line was a Johnston favorite in camp.

Malkin gets a winger upgrade on the right side, Spaling is a bit of a downgrade from Dupuis, but he's worth a look there. All he really needs to do is play well defensively and forecheck.
- rival22

Malkin gets an upgrade, Crosby gets a downgrade. Why on Earth would you break up that 1st line?

Malkin gets an upgrade, Crosby gets a downgrade. Why on Earth would you break up that 1st line?
- sammy87

14 games in, Johnston seems to have a good baseline on the team, I'm fine with some experimenting.

Martin isnt remotely close to the level of Lidstrom, maybe Rafalski but most likely not. I dont think Martin needs to be a physical d man, but it would be nice if the Pens had a very good dman that was also physical. Letang can be from time to time, but I cringe every time he plays the body. Despress could be that guy.
- sammy87

I wasn't comparing them on the same level, just in terms of style of play. You don't have to be physical to have success. That was my point. Certainly not to ever compare Martin to a top 3 defender of all time.

14 games in, Johnston seems to have a good baseline on the team, I'm fine with some experimenting.
- rival22

Yeah, absolutely. They have to get Malkin's line going at even strength. As Bennett gets more games under his belt, I'd like to see him at RW in the top 6.

Puck possession = Stanley Cup.

For (frank)s sake why is dupes on the top line... (frank)ing bullpoop... He is not a top 6 guy right now.. amd why is spaling on malkins line

For (frank)s sake why is dupes on the top line... (frank)ing bullpoop... He is not a top 6 guy right now.. amd why is spaling on malkins line
- nh4442

Experimenting, most likely. This is the time of year to do it.

Malkin gets an upgrade, Crosby gets a downgrade. Why on Earth would you break up that 1st line?
- sammy87

Because Geno isn't as good as people think he is, is way over paid and needs the best winger on the team on his line.

Experimenting, most likely. This is the time of year to do it.
- powerhouse

Than they shouldn't have sent kap amd sund to europe. They should have tried them out for 9 games.. they are an improvement on dupes.on top line and spaling on 2nd..

That line didn't do poop against nyr... and that line isnt the same as 2-3 yrs ago. When are people going to realize this...

Bad move by MJ

For (frank)s sake why is dupes on the top line... (frank)ing bullpoop... He is not a top 6 guy right now.. amd why is spaling on malkins line
- nh4442

I heard Johnston is doing it just to piss you off.

It is great how fast Maatta is coming back, and how he's handled the situation. And this is not to take anything away from him (and I hope it doesn't come out wrong), but I don't get how in awe people seem to be about it. How did they expect him to react? Sit in the corner with his head down and cry for a month?

It's a scary diagnosis, but 20 year olds typically feel invincible, add on top of that a pro athlete, he probably thinks nothing can stop him. I know I would have a different reaction to that diagnosis at 20 than I would today at 40 with kids. If the doctors told 20 year old me I'd have it removed and be fine, then I'd probably have it removed and be fine.

Because Geno isn't as good as people think he is, is way over paid and needs the best winger on the team on his line.
- Grinder47

Dupes on Crosby's line= Dupes proving he is top 6 till hes 80 on this board.

Dupes on Malkins line= Malkin needs a better linemate, trade Letang, 1st, Maata to find a player that knows how to skate.

trade Letang, 1st, Maata to find a player that knows how to skate.
- sammy87

Glad you're not the GM.

I would like to see Kunitz with Geno and Crosby with Horny.

My Ideal top 6 would be:
Trade - Crosby - Horny
Kuni - Malkin - Bennet

Glad you're not the GM.
- JoeAvg

JokeOverYourHead.jpg