I know we always don't see eye-to-eye with our friendly neighborhood blogger, one RW.

But, for those of you who don't necessarily appreciate his work, I suggest you view Dee Karl's, what I will loosely term as a blog, Islanders post for today.

Seriously one of the dumbest things I've ever read.

How that person has Submit privileges to any public facing website is beyond me.
- 87_71_11_29

Thanks for that, I'm now dumber.

I know we always don't see eye-to-eye with our friendly neighborhood blogger, one RW.

But, for those of you who don't necessarily appreciate his work, I suggest you view Dee Karl's, what I will loosely term as a blog, Islanders post for today.

Seriously one of the dumbest things I've ever read.

How that person has Submit privileges to any public facing website is beyond me.
- 87_71_11_29

We are lucky here... Even if you don't agree with him, Ryan post just about daily and has a coherent opinion.

Some teams blogs are either done like once every couple weeks, have zero readers/commentors, or are of the quality of Dee's work.

We are lucky here... Even if you don't agree with him, Ryan post just about daily and has a coherent opinion.

Some teams blogs are either done like once every couple weeks, have zero readers/commentors, or are of the quality of Dee's work.
- rival22

True dat.

RW's posts spark conversation which, at the end of the day, is what they are designed to do.

Pretty sure that bonus does not go into his cap hit. I've never seen a cap hit change midseason before. I could be wrong though.
- j.boyd919

Bonuses count against the cap, but not until the following season if I am not mistaken. Cap hits do not change midseason.

Thanks for that, I'm now dumber.
- Topshelf Mountain

So now you tell me?



Seriously DK. WTF???

Absolutely, I will provide the tar.
- nbartley9

I'll stand by nbartley on this one. If the Penguins get Jagr, and he somehow becomes not the third best player to ever play the game of hockey, you can tar me as well.

I can't wait to see the power play once Hornqvist is healthy. It should be more lethal than it was at the beginning of the season. Hornqvist really makes it happen with his non-superficial-Kunitz screen. Does Kunitz lose his spot to Perron?

MAF probably would have gotten more games off had it not been for an atavistic plague of the mumps. Zatt Jeffkoff would give me pause, too. The clustered schedule and relatively short travel distances just ahead of the Penguins is a great opportunity for Greiss to start plenty of games and have MAF ready to go.

Do any Eastern teams look like a really bad match up for Pittsburgh?

Did you read? If you did you totally missed the point. He said that despite the fact that Arco has had the same general production as Flats it was due to his primarily offensive use, getting top 6 minutes, and having above league standard wingers. RW's point is that Arco was an underachiever in Edm and at no point hinted that he can take over 3C duties in the Berg.

I would love for Arco to prove me wrong. I like the guy and his general underdogness as an undersized forward. I just don't see how he's a better option than Rust who the organization apparently doesn't see as a better option than Adams, so I just don't see the point. I mean, I'm not mad. There is literally zero risk. I just don't expect him to make an impact.
- Victoro311

I've seen Arcobello play actually live. Solid college player at Yale. Please don't say he was an underachiever in Edmonton. He is an AHL player to me. Nothing more.

Ryan's narrative always jabs Sutter. Either someone has pictures of someone, or there is something else going on. Fact of the matter is, he said Marcobello's stats were on par with Sutter, therefore ...

His act gets old.

I can't wait to see the power play once Hornqvist is healthy. It should be more lethal than it was at the beginning of the season. Hornqvist really makes it happen with his non-superficial-Kunitz screen. Does Kunitz lose his spot to Perron?

MAF probably would have gotten more games off had it not been for an atavistic plague of the mumps. Zatt Jeffkoff would give me pause, too. The clustered schedule and relatively short travel distances just ahead of the Penguins is a great opportunity for Greiss to start plenty of games and have MAF ready to go.

Do any Eastern teams look like a really bad match up for Pittsburgh?
- Johnny Wrath

Interesting question.

Isles always give us trouble. They scare me most in the East. Put Halak on their team 2 yrs ago and we lose to them in round 1. We never play well in their building. MAF always struggle there as well. JT proving he's on 87's level. Hamonic getting inside 71's cranium. Clutterbuck and Martin vs Downie would be great theatre however!

Next up are the Rags just because of Hank. We always seemed to do well against him but for whatever reason, the past few seasons, we've struggled against that team. I think they're in our heads a bit.

Habs. We struggle w/Price. I think he alone could win that series for them. PK tends to get inside our team's heads. I think their speed would give us fits.

I, for one, would like to play a good team right out of the gate in round 1. That instance challenge seems to get a team into the playoff frame of mind right away. Pens, the past few years, seemed to have a false sense of security coming out of round 1.

I'm all for finishing 2nd in the Metro and getting either the Rags or Isles right away. May as well jump headfirst into the pool.

I can't wait to see the power play once Hornqvist is healthy. It should be more lethal than it was at the beginning of the season. Hornqvist really makes it happen with his non-superficial-Kunitz screen. Does Kunitz lose his spot to Perron?

MAF probably would have gotten more games off had it not been for an atavistic plague of the mumps. Zatt Jeffkoff would give me pause, too. The clustered schedule and relatively short travel distances just ahead of the Penguins is a great opportunity for Greiss to start plenty of games and have MAF ready to go.

Do any Eastern teams look like a really bad match up for Pittsburgh?
- Johnny Wrath

Not sure about "really bad match up", but a 7 game series with the Islanders would be cause for concern. They were close 2 years ago with an incompetent goalie.

I'll stand by nbartley on this one. If the Penguins get Jagr, and he somehow becomes not the third best player to ever play the game of hockey, you can tar me as well.
- Kineada

Jager is a special player and will go down as a top 15 player all time... but the Pens will not bring him in this year. They have good chemistry and their is no way they would sacrifice this. I'm so confident that I will buy a case of Schlitz for everyone on this thread if they do.

Pretty sure that bonus does not go into his cap hit. I've never seen a cap hit change midseason before. I could be wrong though.
- j.boyd919

Bonus money can be applied to next years cap if there isn't room during the current season.

Ex: Detroit with Daniel Alfredsson.

Interesting question.

Isles always give us trouble. They scare me most in the East. Put Halak on their team 2 yrs ago and we lose to them in round 1. We never play well in their building. MAF always struggle there as well. JT proving he's on 87's level. Hamonic getting inside 71's cranium. Clutterbuck and Martin vs Downie would be great theatre however!

Next up are the Rags just because of Hank. We always seemed to do well against him but for whatever reason, the past few seasons, we've struggled against that team. I think they're in our heads a bit.

Habs. We struggle w/Price. I think he alone could win that series for them. PK tends to get inside our team's heads. I think their speed would give us fits.

I, for one, would like to play a good team right out of the gate in round 1. That instance challenge seems to get a team into the playoff frame of mind right away. Pens, the past few years, seemed to have a false sense of security coming out of round 1.

I'm all for finishing 2nd in the Metro and getting either the Rags or Isles right away. May as well jump headfirst into the pool.
- 87_71_11_29

I don't think it will be possible to get the Islanders in the first round. NY Rangers or Boston much more likely. It's possible to end up playing Florida or even Detroit.

It really did seem like Pittsburgh (under Bylsma) ran into a hot goalie every year in the playoffs. The big secret which Pittsburgh so miserably failed to learn while playing Detroit twice in the Cup Finals was that screening a goalie makes it harder for them to stop pucks. Hornqvist is the solution; a poised screen. Look back at the beginning of the season when the Penguins' PP was annihilating everyone and you'll see the same thing in front of the net.

Montreal and Washington make me nervous; Pittsburgh should avoid playing track meet hockey.

The Islanders are what they are; I hope Pittsburgh would finally deal with their chippy and aggressive style by possessing the puck and allowing them to run around, out of sync and out of position. Screen Halak and fire shots for rebounds.

I'll stand by nbartley on this one. If the Penguins get Jagr, and he somehow becomes not the third best player to ever play the game of hockey, you can tar me as well.
- Kineada

Again, what do plan on giving up for this rental??

Again, what do plan on giving up for this rental??
- all-pgh

Paul Martin back to New Jersey for Jaromir Jagr. Martin would likely re-sign; Jagr less likely. Therefore a conditional pick (4th, 3rd, whatever) to New Jersey if Jagr re-signs.

Paul Martin back to New Jersey for Jaromir Jagr. Martin would likely re-sign; Jagr less likely. Therefore a conditional pick (4th, 3rd, whatever) to New Jersey if Jagr re-signs.
- Johnny Wrath

A. That is a severe over payment
B. Martin will not waive for a basement team

Bonus money can be applied to next years cap if there isn't room during the current season.

Ex: Detroit with Daniel Alfredsson.
- Feds91Stammer

Ok, so I was half right, I guess I have just never seen when someones changed mid-season before. I was unaware of Jagr's bonus potential, so yeah either way whether it counts this year or next year, he is no longer an option whatsoever.

I don't think it will be possible to get the Islanders in the first round. NY Rangers or Boston much more likely. It's possible to end up playing Florida or even Detroit.

It really did seem like Pittsburgh (under Bylsma) ran into a hot goalie every year in the playoffs. The big secret which Pittsburgh so miserably failed to learn while playing Detroit twice in the Cup Finals was that screening a goalie makes it harder for them to stop pucks. Hornqvist is the solution; a poised screen. Look back at the beginning of the season when the Penguins' PP was annihilating everyone and you'll see the same thing in front of the net.

Montreal and Washington make me nervous; Pittsburgh should avoid playing track meet hockey.

The Islanders are what they are; I hope Pittsburgh would finally deal with their chippy and aggressive style by possessing the puck and allowing them to run around, out of sync and out of position. Screen Halak and fire shots for rebounds.
- Johnny Wrath

Good post.

One of the subtle reasons, I believe, why we always seemed to run into the "hot goalie" was indeed that we never got ugly goals. That's why I was so glad to see Neal get shipped out of town for Horny. That's why Neal always struggled in the playoffs. Those pretty sniper type goals he scored in the regular season never occurred in the playoffs with the tighter checking and higher emphasis on shot blocking. Took a switch in GM's for us to finally realize that.

I agree with you on Horny. I cant wait to see that dude in the playoffs.

My ideal playoff PP:

Letang on point. Sid down low. Perron on right wall firing one-timers from Letang. Malkin on left wall firing one timers from Letang. Hornys big ass in front of the net.

Perfect balance of net presence, puck retrieval, skill, righty/lefty.

Paul Martin back to New Jersey for Jaromir Jagr. Martin would likely re-sign; Jagr less likely. Therefore a conditional pick (4th, 3rd, whatever) to New Jersey if Jagr re-signs.
- Johnny Wrath

Wow! That's all I got, just wow!

Ok, so I was half right, I guess I have just never seen when someones changed mid-season before. I was unaware of Jagr's bonus potential, so yeah either way whether it counts this year or next year, he is no longer an option whatsoever.
- PensFan1103

Dan Cleary this year because Holland is a fool had a 1.5m salary and a 1m bonus if he plays 10 games. Due to the space Detroit has they will most likely apply the bonus to this years cap.

Paul Martin back to New Jersey for Jaromir Jagr. Martin would likely re-sign; Jagr less likely. Therefore a conditional pick (4th, 3rd, whatever) to New Jersey if Jagr re-signs.
- Johnny Wrath

Wow... Severe overpayment by the Pens, yet it does absolutely nothing to help the Devils. Martin isn't resigning there to play the last few productive years of his career in that mess.

And even if Jagr was traded here, he isn't resigning here. He will go where the most money is, and that won't be here.

Dan Cleary this year because Holland is a fool had a 1.5m salary and a 1m bonus if he plays 10 games. Due to the space Detroit has they will most likely apply the bonus to this years cap.
- Feds91Stammer

Also I believe the bonus would be applied to the team's cap that he earns it with. So in Jagr's case I don't believe it would be an issue for Pit.

I don't think it will be possible to get the Islanders in the first round. NY Rangers or Boston much more likely. It's possible to end up playing Florida or even Detroit.

It really did seem like Pittsburgh (under Bylsma) ran into a hot goalie every year in the playoffs. The big secret which Pittsburgh so miserably failed to learn while playing Detroit twice in the Cup Finals was that screening a goalie makes it harder for them to stop pucks. Hornqvist is the solution; a poised screen. Look back at the beginning of the season when the Penguins' PP was annihilating everyone and you'll see the same thing in front of the net.

Montreal and Washington make me nervous; Pittsburgh should avoid playing track meet hockey.

The Islanders are what they are; I hope Pittsburgh would finally deal with their chippy and aggressive style by possessing the puck and allowing them to run around, out of sync and out of position. Screen Halak and fire shots for rebounds.
- Johnny Wrath

huh, I didn't think hockey pads gave that much poise. Maybe he's wearing the wolf ring.

I can't wait to see the power play once Hornqvist is healthy. It should be more lethal than it was at the beginning of the season. Hornqvist really makes it happen with his non-superficial-Kunitz screen. Does Kunitz lose his spot to Perron?

MAF probably would have gotten more games off had it not been for an atavistic plague of the mumps. Zatt Jeffkoff would give me pause, too. The clustered schedule and relatively short travel distances just ahead of the Penguins is a great opportunity for Greiss to start plenty of games and have MAF ready to go.

Do any Eastern teams look like a really bad match up for Pittsburgh?
- Johnny Wrath

Yes, I've been calling for Perron to take kunitz's spot. Moving him down isn't about his play but Perron's shot and it'll make the second unit even better. And tbh I have my worries about the islanders and Montreal even though we've handled them well in some games. Isles because of their speed and Montreal just because price can steal a game. I worry of the Rangers a tad less, probably because I would like rematch. I like our odds vs Tampa and Washington even though I've seen none of their games and they are on fire right now. Our new coaches and systems give me a lot more confidence and flower too of course. If we can get back to playing well as a whole team like we did at the beginning of the season, playing team D and limiting those shots I'd like our chances even more with this depth.

A. That is a severe over payment
B. Martin will not waive for a basement team
- znagle

I think Paul Mart would waive for the Devils. He'll be 34 and it's his last chance to ink a big deal for himself. Uncle Lou is a very loyal man.

As far as keeping Martin for a playoff run, I don't think he's really that much better than Despres. It really is time to expose younger players to playoff games. One of any of the Pens' young D could play sheltered minutes.

Finally, he's missed 81 of the last 172 games, playing in just 91. That's a full season of injury time since the last lockout. Not only should Pittsburgh not entertain re-signing him; they should absolutely get anything and everything they can get for him this season - even if it means paying more to a division rival to push the Penguins' scoring depth to levels we haven't seen for twenty years.