I'd do Sutter for berg + minor pick anyday.

Move Spaling to Center and we have a solid third line.
It would also free some cap space to add another bottom 6 piece.

But management probably like him for some unknown reason and they will trade Kunitz before Sutter...

If you thought that picture of GunnerStaal was funny, check out this one I found of Bartley

Same old, same old.

Pens have two world class talents. They have a couple of other good players. But, for the most part, this is an AHL roster on the 3rd and 4th lines. Talking about players like Winnik is clear evidence that some believe that upgrading the AHL quality of lines 3 and 4 might somehow make a difference.

Hard reality is the Pens are as good as most teams in the league because of their top talent. It allows them to compete tough every night of the regular season. But their competitiveness has declined since their Cup win.

It is naive to think that you can succeed in the playoffs going head to head against a good four line team.
- spatso

Um...pretty much spot on dude. Nice post.

I was just thinking this as well. You have to think they are going to move him when they can. I think this might be the icing on the cake


- znagle

$18 for a pizza and cheesy bread?

Damn!

Bennett is playing like despres did last year... Where's disco when you need him.

Move Sutter for picks to clear some cap space

Use picks/B level prospects to get Bergenheim and Winnik


Perron-Crosby-Hornqvist
Kunitz-Malkin-Bennett
Bergenheim-Spaling-Comeau
Winnik-Lappiere-Downie


4 very solid lines and an actual bottom 6 that could contribute
- gdsmack267

What this guy said...line combos can be whatever...

$18 for a pizza and cheesy bread?

Damn!
- 87_71_11_29

Anyone else see them moving him to buff out of spite / to send a message... Here you go pup... Wait another few years to taste the playoffs

What this guy said...line combos can be whatever...
- 87_71_11_29

Speaking of line combos...

Bioshock ‏@BioshockLGP 37m37 minutes ago

Rossi said something real interesting on Triblive radio. Said don't look for Hornqvist to be on top line anytime soon. 87 doesn't want it.

...

Said the reasoning for Crosby not wanting to play with Hornqvist is because he doesn't like net front guys and he can't skate fast enough.
..

Rossi further explained that Crosby's preferences is why Perron is on the RW now instead of the LW where he's most effective.

(its Rossi, but interesting nonetheless)

Speaking of line combos...

Bioshock ‏@BioshockLGP 37m37 minutes ago

Rossi said something real interesting on Triblive radio. Said don't look for Hornqvist to be on top line anytime soon. 87 doesn't want it.

...

Said the reasoning for Crosby not wanting to play with Hornqvist is because he doesn't like net front guys and he can't skate fast enough.
..

Rossi further explained that Crosby's preferences is why Perron is on the RW now instead of the LW where he's most effective.

(its Rossi, but interesting nonetheless)
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Also sounds familiar... Cough iginla cough

Speaking of line combos...

Bioshock ‏@BioshockLGP 37m37 minutes ago

Rossi said something real interesting on Triblive radio. Said don't look for Hornqvist to be on top line anytime soon. 87 doesn't want it.

...

Said the reasoning for Crosby not wanting to play with Hornqvist is because he doesn't like net front guys and he can't skate fast enough.
..

Rossi further explained that Crosby's preferences is why Perron is on the RW now instead of the LW where he's most effective.

(its Rossi, but interesting nonetheless)
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Then wtf has Kunitz been all these years but a netfront presence? Not so much this season for sure but that line was on fire. Rossi is such a poop head grease ball.

Bennett is playing like despres did last year... Where's disco when you need him.
- ChrisMS

MJ is a long term coach of younger players. A developer of talent, a molder of young minds. let's not act like Dan made Despres. You have just as much evidence to say he molded him into the man today as I have saying he held him back.

Speaking of line combos...

Bioshock ‏@BioshockLGP 37m37 minutes ago

Rossi said something real interesting on Triblive radio. Said don't look for Hornqvist to be on top line anytime soon. 87 doesn't want it.

...

Said the reasoning for Crosby not wanting to play with Hornqvist is because he doesn't like net front guys and he can't skate fast enough.
..

Rossi further explained that Crosby's preferences is why Perron is on the RW now instead of the LW where he's most effective.

(its Rossi, but interesting nonetheless)
- YouMeAndDupuis9

If this were indeed true, someone in that organization needs to sit down with Mr. Sid and say.. "Sid, we've tried it your way the past few seasons without much luck. Lets try it our way."

I think Horny is actually the perfect linemate for 87. Just go to the net and cleanup the garbage.

Plus, I think 87 needs to simplify his game, not try and do the tic-tac-toe perfect play BS.

Speaking of line combos...

Bioshock ‏@BioshockLGP 37m37 minutes ago

Rossi said something real interesting on Triblive radio. Said don't look for Hornqvist to be on top line anytime soon. 87 doesn't want it.

...

Said the reasoning for Crosby not wanting to play with Hornqvist is because he doesn't like net front guys and he can't skate fast enough.
..

Rossi further explained that Crosby's preferences is why Perron is on the RW now instead of the LW where he's most effective.

(its Rossi, but interesting nonetheless)
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Rossi is a clown. Biased, unprofessional, a petty little person.
With that said, it wouldn't shock me if this were true. Sid is too damn particular about his linemates sometimes.

Speaking of line combos...

Bioshock ‏@BioshockLGP 37m37 minutes ago

Rossi said something real interesting on Triblive radio. Said don't look for Hornqvist to be on top line anytime soon. 87 doesn't want it.

...

Said the reasoning for Crosby not wanting to play with Hornqvist is because he doesn't like net front guys and he can't skate fast enough.
..

Rossi further explained that Crosby's preferences is why Perron is on the RW now instead of the LW where he's most effective.

(its Rossi, but interesting nonetheless)
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I don't believe too much of this for a few reasons. One, it's Rossi, so there's that. Two, because I really don't think Crosby is that big of a control freak, at least I hope not. Would a second straight coach put their own neck on the line by not doing what they feel is best just to keep Crosby happy?

If there is any truth to this whatsoever, then I think I am done with Crosby. If he has that much control over this team, then they will never win another cup. If the Pens are more concerned with his comfort level then doing what is best for the team then that is pathetic. Again, I don't believe it to be true, so hopefully this is not the case.

$18 for a pizza and cheesy bread?

Damn!
- 87_71_11_29

where I got that picture from someone said the same thing

MJ is a long term coach of younger players. A developer of talent, a molder of young minds. let's not act like Dan made Despres. You have just as much evidence to say he molded him into the man today as I have saying he held him back.
- usethe1-2-2

An argument can be made for both... but the results point to it having had worked. I also point to detroit, my model developing organizationan, and how the players in the minors are usually well past ready before cracking the team... and upset by it too. when they finally get the call they are chomping at the bit. seems to have worked well for them. do it with bb and dp and sh. injuries are forcing our hand now... but I really hope they dont blow those gentlemans development by rushing it. some time in the box and in the ahl playoffs did wonders for despres. MJ has yet to prove he is what you described him as as a l coach. one can develop kids into prospects and not have the ability to develop prospects into nhlers. not saying he cant.. but he has to prove it. (his benching of BB is a good start)

I read some comments about the Pens being an AHL team after the top line talent and while I get the argument, I disagree

You have Crosby, Malkin and Letang...all skilled stars and def top end talent

Fleury is somewhere between those guys and the next group...or maybe in with the next group.

After that you have Perron, Hornqvist, Kunitz, Bennett (yikes...maybe not in this group), Martin, Ehrhoff, Maatta...none of which are super stars but all are above average talent for sure.

Then you have the rest of the guys...all above AHL level except for those like Sill and Adams who we know are at the bottom.

We constantly say the Pens need more top end talent and my thought is...as it almost always has been...we don't get enough out of our top 3 guys when it counts the most.

You may say that's crazy...but I will point to $25.5M worth of reasons why those 3 need to be better and it doesn't always have to be on the scoresheet.

Look at the team this year and tell me who has been the most consistent player given what you expect out of them...night in and night out

Who would you pick? Would it be one of those top 3? (Letang maybe??)

Would it be a guy from that second group? Like maybe Hornqvist (excluding injury time)

Or would it be someone not mentioned...like Downie?

I'm saying expected value versus actual return...

If this were indeed true, someone in that organization needs to sit down with Mr. Sid and say.. "Sid, we've tried it your way the past few seasons without much luck. Lets try it our way."

I think Horny is actually the perfect linemate for 87. Just go to the net and cleanup the garbage.

Plus, I think 87 needs to simplify his game, not try and do the tic-tac-toe perfect play BS.
- 87_71_11_29

Fully agree. The reason Rossi's story sounds like BS is because Sid's best hockey this season has been with Hornqvist at RW.....unquestionably. Furthermore, I don't see how Kuni is considered a better skater at this point in his career.

Hornqvist is relentless. You'd think Sid would benefit greatly from that type of player.

If this were indeed true, someone in that organization needs to sit down with Mr. Sid and say.. "Sid, we've tried it your way the past few seasons without much luck. Lets try it our way."

I think Horny is actually the perfect linemate for 87. Just go to the net and cleanup the garbage.

Plus, I think 87 needs to simplify his game, not try and do the tic-tac-toe perfect play BS.
- 87_71_11_29

then sidney will smile his little crooked grin and say to that person... "thats nice, now let me tell you how this really is gonna go." I'm not a fan of Rossi, though he is better than some of the junk out there (cough kovakovic) but if this is roughly accurate it just continues to prove that while sid may be the most rounded out player in hockey... his leadership skills are abysmal. Maybe signs, not just this, point to this being the case

An argument can be made for both... but the results point to it having had worked. I also point to detroit, my model developing organizationan, and how the players in the minors are usually well past ready before cracking the team... and upset by it too. when they finally get the call they are chomping at the bit. seems to have worked well for them. do it with bb and dp and sh. injuries are forcing our hand now... but I really hope they dont blow those gentlemans development by rushing it. some time in the box and in the ahl playoffs did wonders for despres. MJ has yet to prove he is what you described him as as a l coach. one can develop kids into prospects and not have the ability to develop prospects into nhlers. not saying he cant.. but he has to prove it. (his benching of BB is a good start)
- ChrisMS

The results point to Despres doing well after he left.

MJ has been here for 50 odd games, not sure what you want but Dan couldn't develop talent for 5 years.

then sidney will smile his little crooked grin and say to that person... "thats nice, now let me tell you how this really is gonna go." I'm not a fan of Rossi, though he is better than some of the junk out there (cough kovakovic) but if this is roughly accurate it just continues to prove that while sid may be the most rounded out player in hockey... his leadership skills are abysmal. Maybe signs, not just this, point to this being the case
- ChrisMS

Playoff bound every season with a bad bottom six and poor goaltending, but yah it was his leadership...

Don't know what to think about those Sid comments.
I think Sid and Horn played their best hockey of the season together, doesnt make a lot of sense...

bye bye kane

JAGRBOMBS!

Rossi is a clown. Biased, unprofessional, a petty little person.
With that said, it wouldn't shock me if this were true. Sid is too damn particular about his linemates sometimes.
- usethe1-2-2

I thought Horny and Sid clicked pretty well early in the season. Seemed like a perfect fit to me.

Lets break this down though. Everyone is saying this is Rossi being Rossi. But....

1. Sid still, after 9 seasons, cant figure out how to play with Malkin.
2. Sid didn't mesh immediately with Hossa (took about 10 games or so). And, they never really clicked.
3. Couldn't mesh at all with Sykora.
4. Sid didn't mesh at all with James Neal. Neal can skate. Great shot. No reason why that shouldn't have worked on paper.
5. Sid didn't mesh with Iginla. Seemed like a perfect match.
6. Now, apparently, Sid cant play with Horny? Once again, no reason on paper why this shouldn't work. Guerin wasn't a fast guy and he clicked pretty well with him.

Meanwhile, Malkin...

1. Won the Playoff MVP with Feds and Talbot riding shotgun.
2. Meshed immediately with Staal during Staal's rookie year in which he put up 29 goals.
3. Meshed immediately with Sykora and Malone.
4. Crushed it with Neal.
5. Crushing it this season with a revolving door of linemates including Kunitz, Horny, Spaling, Sutter, Arco..Doesn't matter. 71's producing.

Hmm...just sayin.....

Evander Kane out 4-6 months with shoulder surgery!

http://www.tsn.ca/kane-se...y-out-4-6-months-1.201312