So... should we start making up pitiful trade rumors for Crosby/Malkin again? Or perhaps a package deal to ship out Sutter, Scuderi, and Martin to free up cap space for unrealistic trade targets?

Or ya know... just accept poop is gonna happen and then go insane over whatever lineup we have come the week before the playoffs. I can convince myself Adams on the 4th will win a Cup >_>
- Guile

Did you look this stuff up on Google??

So... should we start making up pitiful trade rumors for Crosby/Malkin again? Or perhaps a package deal to ship out Sutter, Scuderi, and Martin to free up cap space for unrealistic trade targets?

Or ya know... just accept poop is gonna happen and then go insane over whatever lineup we have come the week before the playoffs. I can convince myself Adams on the 4th will win a Cup >_>
- Guile

Sutter is the easiest piece to move and most logical at this point though. Not sure what else you could do.

Did you look this stuff up on Google??
- nbartley9

No, I used Ask Jeeves for that tidbit.

No, I used Ask Jeeves for that tidbit.
- Guile

isn't that like a Coca Cola employee drinking Pepsi Surge? #scandalous

isn't that like a Coca Cola employee drinking Pepsi Surge? #scandalous
- BulliesPhan87

Nah, its more like drinking RC Cola... its so irrelevant its like donating to charity.

So... should we start making up pitiful trade rumors for Crosby/Malkin again? Or perhaps a package deal to ship out Sutter, Scuderi, and Martin to free up cap space for unrealistic trade targets?

Or ya know... just accept poop is gonna happen and then go insane over whatever lineup we have come the week before the playoffs. I can convince myself Adams on the 4th will win a Cup >_>
- Guile

If your team is going to hit a rut during the season... and they ALL do... January is the time to git 'er duhn. Better now than in May/June, as we've all seen the Pens do WAY too many times.

If you ask me it has a lot to do with turnover, new systems, and personnel choices.

The top line has two left wings, the second line has to right wings. The third line and fourth line are 4th line and AHL lines. Geno and Comeau help push out the bad. Get Winnik or Bergy and you are in business.

Roll out with Perron - Sid - Horny
Kunitz - Malkin - Bennet
and whatever combo of the remaining we can get and I think you are fine.
- usethe1-2-2

Yeah. What's up with that? I thought we'd be done with the "square peg, round hole" coaching after Disco left. Just so annoying.

I still heap a sh*t ton of blame on Sutturd and his failure to put up any semblance of offensive output. Other than full/partial breakaways down the right side of the ice, he's useless.

If your team is going to hit a rut during the season... and they ALL do... January is the time to git 'er duhn. Better now than in May/June, as we've all seen the Pens do WAY too many times.
- skridscousin

That is a very fair point... however, do we even "need" to make any more moves? Still missing parts of the team.

Remember our very hot start, it was still strong after Dupes injury (ignoring the ~2 game shell shock from losing him). Then, everyone and their sister in law's half brother twice removed got injured.

I still say this team should be more than capable of a cup run if we can just get healthy.


edit: The only question mark is really on our defense in my mind. I have faith in the offense, and even our 4th line once healthy. The Defense does not have a real 2nd pairing right now due to Maatta being out, and resistance from HCMJ to move Despres out of the 3rd pairing until just recently. Scuds is going to be on the 3rd pairing no matter what, I've accepted that. But as much as a like Bortuzzo, he does NOT go with Scuds. Gotta get Dum or Pouliot on the 3rd pairing, Despres up on the 2nd pairing, and let Letang-Martin go to town.

That is a very fair point... however, do we even "need" to make any more moves? Still missing parts of the team.

Remember our very hot start, it was still strong after Dupes injury (ignoring the ~2 game shell shock from losing him). Then, everyone and their sister in law's half brother twice removed got injured.

I still say this team should be more than capable of a cup run if we can just get healthy.
- Guile

Agreed... alls we can do is hope they get healthy, as I too think this team has all the pieces, regardless of what RW says about our 4th line. How can one know what this team is capable of when every night, 2, 3, and 4 guys are out?

That is a very fair point... however, do we even "need" to make any more moves? Still missing parts of the team.

Remember our very hot start, it was still strong after Dupes injury (ignoring the ~2 game shell shock from losing him). Then, everyone and their sister in law's half brother twice removed got injured.

I still say this team should be more than capable of a cup run if we can just get healthy.
- Guile

Agreed... alls we can do is hope they get healthy, as I too think this team has all the pieces, regardless of what RW says about our 4th line. How can one know what this team is capable of when every night, 2, 3, and 4 guys are out?
- skridscousin

RW hasn't had a real 4th line to blog about in 2 months or so. He wasn't really down on them at the start of this season to my memory. He pointed out lack of scoring from them vs the top lines and powerplay... but they were driving possession and grinding. I was thinking they were just having bad "puck luck" early on for the most part goal wise.

You know what we need???



A little dancing geno!

Agreed... alls we can do is hope they get healthy, as I too think this team has all the pieces, regardless of what RW says about our 4th line. How can one know what this team is capable of when every night, 2, 3, and 4 guys are out?
- skridscousin

Craig Adams at 37? Zach Sill? They aren't part of a cup winning roster. They just aren't. You don't need a healthy roster to evaluate that. Lapierre Downie and Spaling could end up being your fourth line (or winnik if a trade is made) and that is cup quality.

Craig Adams at 37? Zach Sill? They aren't part of a cup winning roster. They just aren't. You don't need a healthy roster to evaluate that. Lapierre Downie and Spaling could end up being your fourth line (or winnik if a trade is made) and that is cup quality.
- usethe1-2-2

Sill will not be even in the Booth with this team healthy. Should this team get healthy, it will be Adams or Arco in the Booth.

Is there any way to add in a similiar chart mapping the teams corsi/fenwick during this time period?

I would like to know whether or not it is simply the case of head games, or if it is the team starting to suffer from poor depth and injury. Watching it seems like a combination, Fleury is trying to overwork positioning again; however, with team in some struggles recently, it could very well be that his regression was greatened by poor puck control and shot suppression.
- usethe1-2-2

This is a great question. Hopefully Ryan can give us an overlay of save % vs puck possession. I'd venture to say they will track closely, based on how the team and MAF have played the last 45 days or so.

Sill will not be even in the Booth with this team healthy. Should this team get healthy, it will be Adams or Arco in the Booth.
- Guile

That is most likely the case.

Can't wait to see Pouliot on this road trip. I'm hoping he gets some looks with Tanger, Despres, and Martin. I want to see what hes got

That is most likely the case.

Can't wait to see Pouliot on this road trip. I'm hoping he gets some looks with Tanger, Despres, and Martin. I want to see what hes got
- usethe1-2-2

I don't think Pouliot should go with Letang, in my opinion. 2 of the same type of players moreso, Letang and Letang 4 years ago, would possibly make too many openings.

Pouliot can go with Scuds for now, like Despres did... or Ehrhoff... need a more defensive minded defenseman with a puck moving rookie. Just my opinion.

RW hasn't had a real 4th line to blog about in 2 months or so. He wasn't really down on them at the start of this season to my memory. He pointed out lack of scoring from them vs the top lines and powerplay... but they were driving possession and grinding. I was thinking they were just having bad "puck luck" early on for the most part goal wise.
- Guile

I liked our healthy 4th line a lot at the very beginning. Comeau-Goc-Spaling were quite good. Too bad that's all done now... Traded Goc for Lapierre just because he couldn't produce with Sill and Adams who would probably be third liners on an AHL roster. Sorry. I know everyone here gets pissed off at RW's Goc love, but I'm firmly in his camp. Don't understand why we would make that downgrade when we have Downie, Bortz, and Despre on the team for our SOB factor. Even if Bortz gets scratched in the future, sit Despre and Perron down and tell them to get their sand paper on. They are clearly capable. Downie needs no conversation. We don't need a bottom 6 full of agitators.

Ehrhoff did not take the flight to EDM and will not play this week

Ehrhoff did not take the flight to EDM and will not play this week
- znagle

He has been very unfortunate health wise this season. Its a shame. I feel like he was just hitting his groove when he started getting this string of injuries. We need him around so we can see if he can mesh with one of the youngsters if none of them are capable of propping up Scuderi like Despre can. Our best case scenario is:

Letang-Martin
Despres-Hoff
Scuderi-Young Gun

But I'd hesitate to throw a youngster in with Scuderi like that.

This is a great question. Hopefully Ryan can give us an overlay of save % vs puck possession. I'd venture to say they will track closely, based on how the team and MAF have played the last 45 days or so.
- Emperor Filonius

My thoughts as well, although I want to see what broke first.

Sill will not be even in the Booth with this team healthy. Should this team get healthy, it will be Adams or Arco in the Booth.
- Guile

The Pens are trading for David Booth?...sorry couldn't help myself

I don't think Pouliot should go with Letang, in my opinion. 2 of the same type of players moreso, Letang and Letang 4 years ago, would possibly make too many openings.

Pouliot can go with Scuds for now, like Despres did... or Ehrhoff... need a more defensive minded defenseman with a puck moving rookie. Just my opinion.
- Guile

Letang is so strong now that it wouldn't bother me. His ability to get back into the play is good enough. I just don't want to see Pouliot be passive. I want to see him act in a way that is single minded and I want to see him do that extremely well.

No need to be the best all around guy, just generate offense.

He has been very unfortunate health wise this season. Its a shame. I feel like he was just hitting his groove when he started getting this string of injuries. We need him around so we can see if he can mesh with one of the youngsters if none of them are capable of propping up Scuderi like Despre can. Our best case scenario is:

Letang-Martin
Despres-Hoff
Scuderi-Young Gun

But I'd hesitate to throw a youngster in with Scuderi like that.
- Victoro311

Agreed. I think DP or BD would look good with him, IMO BD would look best. At least all Hoff might be a little cheaper to sign next year

double post