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

While I agree with screening the goalie and playing in front of the net, I think there are multiple reasons for our playoff failures in recent years. The neutral zone has been a disaster for this team every spring and Dan never had a plan to address it. The way to beat Dan's system was to trap/clog up the middle of the ice and wait for turnovers. It was predictable as it was brutal.

I recently heard an interview....(can't remember who I think it was Letang), but he said one of the reasons for MAF's better numbers and the defense as a whole was the puck support on the breakouts. Now when there's a turnover, they have bodies around to recover.

huh, I didn't think hockey pads gave that much poise. Maybe he's wearing the wolf ring.
- BulliesPhan87

I'm pretty sure he uses a rusted iron ring for his purposes.

I'm pretty sure he uses a rusted iron ring for his purposes.
- Johnny Wrath

probably helps with the bad ice (and blighttown, obvs)

\[T]/

While I agree with screening the goalie and playing in front of the net, I think there are multiple reasons for our playoff failures in recent years. The neutral zone has been a disaster for this team every spring and Dan never had a plan to address it. The way to beat Dan's system was to trap/clog up the middle of the ice and wait for turnovers. It was predictable as it was brutal.

I recently heard an interview....(can't remember who I think it was Letang), but he said one of the reasons for MAF's better numbers and the defense as a whole was the puck support on the breakouts. Now when there's a turnover, they have bodies around to recover.
- madmike71

Dan held that it was okay to have an unreasonably large gap between forwards and defenders. He held that stretch passing was the only way to break out. He held that defenders clustering to the puck in the defensive zone was going to be the way to reinvent the wheel. I always credited him for being bold, not unlike Guy Boucher, but it really just didn't work. The fruits of Dan's schemes were Mike Cammalleri scoring on bang-bang plays, unguarded, right in front of the net. That's probably why he's still unemployed, dreaming of mustache rituals and the elimination of the offensive blue line.

probably helps with the bad ice (and blighttown, obvs)

\
- BulliesPhan87[T]/

Don't you speak of Nassau Memorial C like that! There were as many as six good years there!

Don't you speak of Nassau Memorial C like that! There were as many as six good years there!
- Johnny Wrath

nice

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.
- Johnny Wrath

I disagree on Martin. He is needed for a cup run. What would you rather have, a Stanley cup or a late round 1st round pick in next years draft that will take a few years to develop if at all? Give me the cup, are we building our team to win a cup when Sid and Geno are in the last year of their contract? We have a very good team when healthy and have a great chance at the cup now.

Edit: We would have to then play one of the rookies through out the playoffs. Pass on that as well, they aren't ready

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.
- Johnny Wrath

Wouldn't a hopefully long successful playoff run do more for Martin than anything? Lou would likely pay him, but why would he spend his last few good years with a rebuild?

I disagree on Martin. He is needed for a cup run. What would you rather have, a Stanley cup or a late round 1st round pick in next years draft that will take a few years to develop if at all? Give me the cup, are we building our team to win a cup when Sid and Geno are in the last year of their contract? We have a very good team when healthy and have a great chance at the cup now.

Edit: We would have to then play one of the rookies through out the playoffs. Pass on that as well, they aren't ready
- znagle

I get that Martin is a good player, but what i don't understand is the extreme one side or another on how the Penguins can't win a Cup without Martin.

I disagree on Martin. He is needed for a cup run. What would you rather have, a Stanley cup or a late round 1st round pick in next years draft that will take a few years to develop if at all? Give me the cup, are we building our team to win a cup when Sid and Geno are in the last year of their contract? We have a very good team when healthy and have a great chance at the cup now.

Edit: We would have to then play one of the rookies through out the playoffs. Pass on that as well, they aren't ready
- znagle

Good points and well said!

Please capitalize Cup, it's like Mom and Dad, they may not need to be capitalized but they should be. Apologies in advance for being a tool, it's just you repeatedly said it and it distracted me from my Soap.

I get that Martin is a good player, but what i don't understand is the extreme one side or another on how the Penguins can't win a Cup without Martin.
- cap1681

Martin is leagues above any of our prospects, and if you say we wouldn't miss a beat you're kidding yourself. We have a much better chance with Martin than with a prospect

Letang-Martin
Hoff-Bortz
Scuderi-Despres

You're saying you'd be okay with with what's below rather than the one above?

Letang-??? (prospect coming up, would not play here)
Hoff-Bortz
Scuderi-Despres

Good points and well said!

Please capitalize Cup, it's like Mom and Dad, they may not need to be capitalized but they should be. Apologies in advance for being a tool, it's just you repeatedly said it and it distracted me from my Soap.
- Topshelf Mountain

Martin is leagues above any of our prospects, and if you say we wouldn't miss a beat you're kidding yourself. We have a much better chance with Martin than with a prospect

Letang-Martin
Hoff-Bortz
Scuderi-Despres

You're saying you'd be okay with with what's below rather than the one above?

Letang-??? (prospect coming up, would not play here)
Hoff-Bortz
Scuderi-Despres
- znagle

I distinctly said 'could play sheltered minutes' and 'exposed to playoffs'. You have a ??? on the top pairing. So no, I'm not okay with what you're proposing.

The Penguins aren't trading Martin, end of story.

I distinctly said 'could play sheltered minutes' and 'exposed to playoffs'. You have a ??? on the top pairing. So no, I'm not okay with what you're proposing.
- Johnny Wrath

Give me your defensive pairs if Martin gets traded. I was getting my point across that we will be using Bortuzzo, Scuderi, Despres and a prospect as bottom four defense men. You cannot be serious if you say you are confident with that lineup come playoffs.

We need Martin, he won't be traded end of story

The Penguins aren't trading Martin, end of story.
- hardnosed

Losing Maatta for the year makes it extremely unlikely, granted. Did you know that Maatta and Martin both have 9 points despite Martin playing 14 more games?

I was responding to how Pittsburgh could get Jaromir out of New Jersey and fit him under the cap.

Martin is leagues above any of our prospects, and if you say we wouldn't miss a beat you're kidding yourself. We have a much better chance with Martin than with a prospect

Letang-Martin
Hoff-Bortz
Scuderi-Despres

You're saying you'd be okay with with what's below rather than the one above?

Letang-??? (prospect coming up, would not play here)
Hoff-Bortz
Scuderi-Despres
- znagle

I was just talking about how some people talk about him like he's Nick Lindstrom, and the Penguins have no chance unless he is in the lineup. Does he make our defense as a whole better, yes. But the drop-off isn't as drastic as some think.

Beau Bennett's fan page has linked RW's blog on him. Dunno if Beau manages this himself, but I just chuckled seeing it.

https://www.facebook.com/...t19/posts/388405704654749

I was responding to how Pittsburgh could get Jaromir out of New Jersey and fit him under the cap.
- Johnny Wrath

And they're also not trading for Jagr, end of story.

I was just talking about how some people talk about him like he's Nick Lindstrom, and the Penguins have no chance unless he is in the lineup. Does he make our defense as a whole better, yes. But the drop-off isn't as drastic as some think.
- cap1681

The drop off to rookies who don't know whether to cry or wind their wristwatch half the time? It's severe right now.

The rookies are just trying to swim. They're currently incapable of forcing play, making informed and instinctive decisions, or defending against grown men.

Will they get there? Sure, with an entire season under their belt next year. But none of them can adequately replace the calming overall play of Martin right now.

I was just talking about how some people talk about him like he's Nick Lindstrom, and the Penguins have no chance unless he is in the lineup. Does he make our defense as a whole better, yes. But the drop-off isn't as drastic as some think.
- cap1681

Lidstrom.

Give me your defensive pairs if Martin gets traded. I was getting my point across that we will be using Bortuzzo, Scuderi, Despres and a prospect as bottom four defense men. You cannot be serious if you say you are confident with that lineup come playoffs.

We need Martin, he won't be traded end of story
- znagle

Certainly. In my potential deal, Jaromir would replace and knock Blake Comeau down to 3rd line status and promote the 6th D.

Letang - Despres
Brotuzzo - Ehrhoff
Scuderi - Puliot

Pouliot played 7 games, finishing with 3 points and was +1. Dumoulin had a goal and was +2 in 8 games; Harrington was pointless and was a -8 through 6 games. That's the order in which I would graduate the D.

The scoring and the power play would be a better upgrade than the 6th defender would be a downgrade.

Side note... and really a douche thing to ask... Pekka Rinne is injurred, and seemingly not for long. I think its pretty obvious right now he is the Vezina favorite and there is no #2 that can even catch him. How much of an absence would be needed for his lead to be lost due to missed games? I see Fleury as in the top 3 after Rinne so I am curious.

Only example I have is the year Letang didn't win the Norris due to missed games. I still think that he deserved the win with the same (or was it 1 less) points and near the same +- with 10 less games. Means he was better on average, but history shows the voting goes for those who don't miss games.

The drop off to rookies who don't know whether to cry or wind their wristwatch half the time? It's severe right now.

The rookies are just trying to swim. They're currently incapable of forcing play, making informed and instinctive decisions, or defending against grown men.

Will they get there? Sure, with an entire season under their belt next year. But none of them can adequately replace the calming overall play of Martin right now.
- hardnosed

You know I was just typing this and accidentally backed out of it. Bravo.

The drop off is immense from PM to the prospects. Even Ruth calls them that, and that's what they are. They've play 7-10 NHL games and it's clear they aren't ready to take over full time yet. Come playoff hockey? That's a whole different beast in itself.

Another point, what if Letang or Hoff go down before the playoffs after we trade Martin? Two rookies in for the playoffs?... It's all about having depth throughout the team and we currently have that with our offense, defense and goalies. Trading our second best dman for a pick is out of the question

Certainly. In my potential deal, Jaromir would replace and knock Blake Comeau down to 3rd line status and promote the 6th D.

Letang - Despres
Brotuzzo - Ehrhoff
Scuderi - Puliot

Pouliot played 7 games, finishing with 3 points and was +1. Dumoulin had a goal and was +2 in 8 games; Harrington was pointless and was a -8 through 6 games. That's the order in which I would graduate the D.

The scoring and the power play would be a better upgrade than the 6th defender would be a downgrade.
- Johnny Wrath

I believe due to JR/HCMJ's comments, that Dumoulin would be up over Puliot for the time being. So that would be my only swap in your pairings.