While pouliot is still young he can fill a top 4 role and yes with maatta hurt our depth goes down but harrington and Dumoulin can fill the void here and there

Plus adding someone like Jagr /tlusty you can put guys in the normal places like comeau Downie Spaling in bottom 6
- nh4442

So you're cool with playing a guy with 7 games of NHL experience in your top 4 and having two other players with 7 and 14 NHL games, respectively, rounding out your bottom pair? Just so you can make the cap space to acquire some secondary scoring that, once healthy, you don't need?

Pens dont get Perron if Dupes is still healthy. Someone else would have had to leave. Sucks for Dupes but the Pens got younger and better up front with him out.

Pick where you want to be weak. Cant have a full roster with 87 and 71.

i dont think anyone can question malkin right now. with the linemates he's had, i think a lot of people expected him to lay down and just go through the motions. quite the opposite, he has absolutely been a force to watch.
- SuperHenderson13

And Crosby has picked it up over the last week. I really have no complaints about either of them.

I believe that you make your own luck, and I didn't like the Penguins' 3rd period against the Islanders from an effort standpoint, but there were multiple occasions this past weekend where the Penguins dominated play for a bit without scoring and then boom, fluky goal the other way.

No trade, no line change, no electric cattle prod will help when things are just going wrong. It happens over the course of the season, but this year it seems to always happen against teams the Penguins are jockeying for position against.

They are too much work lol.

Next time I will
- nh4442

No worries.

I'm one of those guys that if you precede a statement with "no offense" or "to be fair" you can say anything.......annnythiiiing.

Good point. First 20 or so games Comeau and Horny's work ethic were a breath of fresh air. 2 guys that were never given anything/know the only way they are in the NHL is because they play like that. Talk about 2 guys that looked refreshed and excited to get here. I think they're mentality will trickle down. Should be coming from the "C" and "A"'s however.
- stowerkraut

I agree. This is why we need at least Farnham up. Guy will take a bullet for anyone on the team. He's one of those borderline AHL/NHL players that will do anything it takes

I think Sekera is a more likely deadline acquisition for the Penguins than Tlusty.

So you're cool with playing a guy with 7 games of NHL experience in your top 4 and having two other players with 7 and 14 NHL games, respectively, rounding out your bottom pair? Just so you can make the cap space to acquire some secondary scoring that, once healthy, you don't need?
- jmatchett383

Thank you.

So you're cool with playing a guy with 7 games of NHL experience in your top 4 and having two other players with 7 and 14 NHL games, respectively, rounding out your bottom pair? Just so you can make the cap space to acquire some secondary scoring that, once healthy, you don't need?
- jmatchett383

They will never be healthy.

They will never be healthy.
- RAGSareDANGERus

It's a shame, really. They had some rough luck last year, and it hasn't been much better so far this year.

i think a lot of people have been worrying about things that will be fixed before the playoffs.

lets look at the past 3 or 4 years. at this point, the penguins regular season was over. they had the division all but wrapped up. the team was playing great, everyone thought that the Cup was ours, lets just skip the formalities. then the islanders, blue jackets, rangers, etc. come around in the playoffs and we learn quite the opposite.

this team struggling is a good thing. i hope they continue to struggle and i hope the islanders run away with the division. put the pressure and expectations on them like they've never had. let the penguins slide in on either the 2 or 3 spot in the division and just play their game. i'll take my chances with a healthy penguins team.

At least the Penguins aren't leading the league in man games lost this year. Still, 191 puts them 4th.

Rangers for comparison are at 54 man games lost.

Good point. First 20 or so games Comeau and Horny's work ethic were a breath of fresh air. 2 guys that were never given anything/know the only way they are in the NHL is because they play like that. Talk about 2 guys that looked refreshed and excited to get here. I think they're mentality will trickle down. Should be coming from the "C" and "A"'s however.
- stowerkraut

Totally agree! I'm just shocked that year after year we question where the leadership is on the team (that's about the only thing that hasn't changed in recent memory) and the toughness to handle the playoff grind. I've always assumed it was losing Talbot and Gill after the cup, but how can this team not be able to make the necessary gut-checks in house in the years since then? I loved the enthusiasm I've seen from Comeau, Hornquvist, and Downie but the rest of the team aside from Malkin just doesn't show that spark.

i dont think anyone can question malkin right now. with the linemates he's had, i think a lot of people expected him to lay down and just go through the motions. quite the opposite, he has absolutely been a force to watch.
- SuperHenderson13

In no way do I fault Malkin in the recent collapses, he's hustling more than ever now and while he's quieted a bit on the scoring front he's still giving the other teams fits! Too many mental lapses in the D-zone (familiar tune) and not enough grit at the boards.

I really thought bringing Tocchet in as an assistant would help spur some fight, maybe HCMJ should let him run a few practices, while letting some of the younger D play to add the enthusiasm. Everyone was feeding off of Farnham, Rust, Pouliot, etc. Let's see how they gel now before we forced to.

i think a lot of people have been worrying about things that will be fixed before the playoffs.

lets look at the past 3 or 4 years. at this point, the penguins regular season was over. they had the division all but wrapped up. the team was playing great, everyone thought that the Cup was ours, lets just skip the formalities. then the islanders, blue jackets, rangers, etc. come around in the playoffs and we learn quite the opposite.

this team struggling is a good thing. i hope they continue to struggle and i hope the islanders run away with the division. put the pressure and expectations on them like they've never had. let the penguins slide in on either the 2 or 3 spot in the division and just play their game. i'll take my chances with a healthy penguins team.
- SuperHenderson13

Once hornqvist returns, letang will likely break his arm. You can't just assume your team will be 100% healthy in April.

i think a lot of people have been worrying about things that will be fixed before the playoffs.

lets look at the past 3 or 4 years. at this point, the penguins regular season was over. they had the division all but wrapped up. the team was playing great, everyone thought that the Cup was ours, lets just skip the formalities. then the islanders, blue jackets, rangers, etc. come around in the playoffs and we learn quite the opposite.

this team struggling is a good thing. i hope they continue to struggle and i hope the islanders run away with the division. put the pressure and expectations on them like they've never had. let the penguins slide in on either the 2 or 3 spot in the division and just play their game. i'll take my chances with a healthy penguins team.
- SuperHenderson13

If I'm the Penguins, I want zero to do with the Rangers in the first round. Not saying they should fear any one opponent (maybe MAF's psyche), but given the choice, I'd take the wild card team.

At least the Penguins aren't leading the league in man games lost this year. Still, 191 puts them 4th.

Rangers for comparison are at 54 man games lost.
- hardnosed

We've been unusually healthy this year. In the playoffs last year too. I just get the feeling were due for an injury come April

Once hornqvist returns, letang will likely break his arm. You can't just assume your team will be 100% healthy in April.
- RAGSareDANGERus

It's okay if they miss Letang. They'll just trade Martin for picks and put Scuderi on the top pair and fill out the bottom-4 with guys with a combined 28 games of NHL experience.

I really thought bringing Tocchet in as an assistant would help spur some fight, maybe HCMJ should let him run a few practices, while letting some of the younger D play to add the enthusiasm. Everyone was feeding off of Farnham, Rust, Pouliot, etc. Let's see how they gel now before we forced to.
- iworkatinitech

thats why i wanted guys like farnham and rust to stick around. having those young guys is a big deal IMO. those guys will do anything to stick around in the NHL and will play at 100% no matter what and i think that rubs off on the other guys. all i know is that seeing that is a lot better than watching adams and sill skating circles all night.

If I'm the Penguins, I want zero to do with the Rangers in the first round. Not saying they should fear any one opponent (maybe MAF's psyche), but given the choice, I'd take the wild card team.
- jmatchett383

As a Rangers fan I'm dreaming of a first round matchup against the Penguins.

We've been unusually healthy this year. In the playoffs last year too. I just get the feeling were due for an injury come April
- RAGSareDANGERus

It's been a long, long time since Mr. Betts met Mr. Brashear.

thats why i wanted guys like farnham and rust to stick around. having those young guys is a big deal IMO. those guys will do anything to stick around in the NHL and will play at 100% no matter what and i think that rubs off on the other guys. all i know is that seeing that is a lot better than watching adams and sill skating circles all night.
- SuperHenderson13

Adams has nothing to worry about. He's the locker room tattle tale and used to have coffee with management, and still probably does. God I hate Adams

If I'm the Penguins, I want zero to do with the Rangers in the first round. Not saying they should fear any one opponent (maybe MAF's psyche), but given the choice, I'd take the wild card team.
- jmatchett383

i dont want the islanders or rangers, their speed and depth would kill us. i would feel fine about the capitals.

but the islanders and whatever team wins in the atlantic had better hope the bruins can get into the 2 or 3 spot in the division because i'd want no part of playing them in the first round.

i think a lot of people have been worrying about things that will be fixed before the playoffs.

lets look at the past 3 or 4 years. at this point, the penguins regular season was over. they had the division all but wrapped up. the team was playing great, everyone thought that the Cup was ours, lets just skip the formalities. then the islanders, blue jackets, rangers, etc. come around in the playoffs and we learn quite the opposite.

this team struggling is a good thing. i hope they continue to struggle and i hope the islanders run away with the division. put the pressure and expectations on them like they've never had. let the penguins slide in on either the 2 or 3 spot in the division and just play their game. i'll take my chances with a healthy penguins team.
- SuperHenderson13

It's really tough to say which is better, clinching early and getting to rest or being in a fight til the end and hit the playoffs already playing playoff hockey. Both scenarios have resulted in Cups recently for teams.

But the one thing I do agree with is that home ice advantage means nothing for this team. HCMJ isn't going to spend much time on matchups anyway. The Penguins' crowd is inconsistent in their volume. Great when rolling, dead quiet when struggling except for the sporadic lonely airhorn.

And having home ice advantage puts pressure on the favorite that the Penguins don't seem to do well with. It's either win two at home and build a false sense of security when it's off to the other barn, or lose a game at home and go into panic mode.

As a Rangers fan I'm dreaming of a first round matchup against the Penguins.
- RAGSareDANGERus

if we had hornqvist and comeau back, and assuming no one on our team gets hit by a bus or has the mumps, it would be a really fun playoff series.

It's really tough to say which is better, clinching early and getting to rest or being in a fight til the end and hit the playoffs already playing playoff hockey. Both scenarios have resulted in Cups recently for teams.

But the one thing I do agree with is that home ice advantage means nothing for this team. HCMJ isn't going to spend much time on matchups anyway. The Penguins' crowd is inconsistent in their volume. Great when rolling, dead quiet when struggling except for the sporadic lonely airhorn.

And having home ice advantage puts pressure on the favorite that the Penguins don't seem to do well with. It's either win two at home and build a false sense of security when it's off to the other barn, or lose a game at home and go into panic mode.
- hardnosed

penguin home crowds suck. i miss the mellon arena and that playoff environment. penguins fans are too entitled now.

Once hornqvist returns, letang will likely break his arm. You can't just assume your team will be 100% healthy in April.
- RAGSareDANGERus

And the Rangers probably can't expect to be mostly healthy all season long aside from a couple of weeks early in the season when they were missing defenseman.