Dude, Arcobello is an ECHL type of player. He was a very good college player at Yale, but a dime a dozen type of player elsewhere. Sutter has sucked the last month, but don't be a fool. He towers over Arcobello as a player. It's not close either.
- Oneonta Penguin

Sutter has sucked his entire time with the Penguins except for one series where Neal and Jokinen carried him and he had a PDO of 103. In fact, this is his best season with the Pens for possession and production. And his cap hit is heinously high for being a mediocre 4th line center. But he does have the right pedigree, like a dog.

We don't know for sure but I don't think anybody would say it's a stretch that Sid has a lot of say in who his linemates are.
- icedog97

I don't think it's a stretch to say that any franchise player has a lot of say in who his linemates are.

Crosby is a creature of habit, and relies on predictability in his wings.

Tonight is the first game since November 16th, where MJ has had his full complement of forwards in the lineup. I don't have a problem with him giving Crosby what he wants for a stretch to see how it works.

If the top 6 isn't clicking in a couple of weeks, then he can always tinker then.

If weren't going to move players to slot in their proper spots there was really no reason to acquire Iginla. Once they did the Pens should've adjusted. Looks similar to this year as he's playing with 2 left wingers
- dbell646

There really wasn't a reason to acquire him in the first place. Our power play was ranked first in the NHL by a pretty good margin and at the time, there was no need for him.

Send him back to Czechoslovakia? I'm all in favor of that.
- hardnosed

Czechoslovakia hasn't been a country for almost 30 years, so are you sending him back in time?

Sutter has sucked his entire time with the Penguins except for one series where Neal and Jokinen carried him and he had a PDO of 103. In fact, this is his best season with the Pens for possession and production. And his cap hit is heinously high for being a mediocre 4th line center. But he does have the right pedigree, like a dog.
- jfkst1

Whatever you say champ. Anyone who thinks Arcobello is equal or better doesn't know hockey at all.

Duper plays Sids game...he gets him the puck.

You gotta keep the $9M guys happy so they produce at the $9M level.
- icedog97

That lends strength to the monstrosity point I made.

I asked this once long ago: what is the best way to maximize the production of Sid Crosby? Is it to see how many goals Pascal Dupuis could score as part of some experiment? I predicted that the result of such an experiment would be failure and pining over roads not taken. Which line was Dupuis on the summer of 2009?

Crosby could win the scoring race in the regular season with Peter Worrell and Michal Sivek on the wings. Once the line gets to a seven game series and a long-term strategy can be imposed, the tide goes out. And it did, and it will.

I hope Sid would that his legacy was one of team first and dramatic playoff success rather than demanding to play only within his comfort zone and end up only with (at this point) an equal collection of Art Ross trophies to that of his Russian teammate.

He's played 8 games? What is it to you that makes him look out of place? Wait are you Blysma?

The bigger point being, the Penguins have nearly the worst 3rd and 4th lines in the NHL. Addressing that via trade will take moving salary from an assumed area of strength. (Martin or erhoff)

You cannot win a cup with 2 lines.
- Sell My Monkey

Wow... pissy pissy little boy aren't ya? I point out the obvious in that no one believes Pouliot is NHL ready for a playoff run this season. And hes NOT.

Czechoslovakia hasn't been a country for almost 30 years, so are you sending him back in time?
- Dcoms

Brilliant use of the geopolitical correction..except the time frame is more like 20-25 years.

Whatever you say champ. Anyone who thinks Arcobello is equal or better doesn't know hockey at all.
- Oneonta Penguin

Name one useful thing 'Brody' Sutter does better than Arcobello. Arcobello is a better possession and production player over his career at a fraction of the price. But I guess being from hockey royalty is more important than outscoring the opposition.

Pittsburgh acquired him to keep him away from Boston. It's putting two and two together. It worked out well for Boston and poorly for us.
- Oneonta Penguin

Iggy chose Pittsburgh. A deal was in place with both teams. We all know what happened after that.

I think that 3rd line could go different ways...but yes...those top 2 work for sure

We sit here and say HELL YES

Then the question is, if it doesn't happen, why?

The other issue is PP time...you know Jags wants some

I'm very convinced this team needs to balance the PP across 2 units and play the way Tocchet is asking them to (which they seem to be avoiding)...

If they did that and split the time up evenly...everybody could (potentially) be happy

Ah...perfect worlds just don't exist you know
- icedog97

Since the start of the year I've felt we should split into two pp's, not just ramp up one and then throw a mediocre pp out there vs their second unit

Since the start of the year I've felt we should split into two pp's, not just ramp up one and then throw a mediocre pp out there vs their second unit
- znagle

Splitting 87 and 71 up would be exactly what I would want if I was coaching against the Penguins. Even though in, what, nine years they haven't shown much chemistry together it's still much more difficult to cover both of them with 4 players. The idea of the power play is not to exhibit depth.

Splitting 87 and 71 up would be exactly what I would want if I was coaching against the Penguins. Even though in, what, nine years they haven't shown much chemistry together it's still much more difficult to cover both of them with 4 players. The idea of the power play is not to exhibit depth.
- Johnny Wrath

Well that would be fine if they continued to play the whole pp or at least 1:30 of it. Now the first line plays half with 87/71 staying out a little longer.

IMHO, the Pens have attempted to get "tougher" with the recent Lapierre addition, when they should be getting "grittier". There is a difference. Gritty players stand up for their teammates when challenged and deliver punishing, but usually legal hits. Grit, combined with decent puck skills and skating, gives you players that win battles in the corner and along the wall....which if Ryan were here would say drives possession. Stats be damned, I never saw that from Goc, but Comeau brings that and he won't be back a moment too soon. I would not be opposed to trading Bennett if we could get a reliable 3rd line wing who brings size, grit, tenacity, a hard forecheck, and the ability to pot about 15 goals a year. This team is sorely lacking that kind of guy.

Splitting 87 and 71 up would be exactly what I would want if I was coaching against the Penguins. Even though in, what, nine years they haven't shown much chemistry together it's still much more difficult to cover both of them with 4 players. The idea of the power play is not to exhibit depth.
- Johnny Wrath

But if you added Jagr, you would have enough players that can hold the puck and move it to have two good power play units.

Rutherford should send Sutter to Arizona for Arcobello. Sutter's so bad it would still be a good move.
- jfkst1

ARI claiming Arcobello could be a precursor to trading Vermette/Hanzal..

#jagrwatch back on!


Add #tlustywatch and #winnikwatch to the list

It's the kind of deal where you're there with your kid pointing out a player on the field when a guy six rows up yells: "My girl says you were lookin at her. You got a problem?!". His girl is invariably dressed like Sindel.

California is a very diverse State. There are plenty of places that wouldn't feel out of place in the third world, but there is much between that and Pier 39.
- Johnny Wrath

Who the hell is Sindel??

#JagrWatch?

I love the time leading up to the deadline...but

I. cant. take. any. more. Jagr. talk.

Would anyone trade Bennett for M. Foligno?

I love the time leading up to the deadline...but

I. cant. take. any. more. Jagr. talk.

Would anyone trade Bennett for M. Foligno?
- YouMeAndDupuis9

If we aren't going to play Bennett I'd do it.

Who the hell is Sindel??
- Dcoms

Mortal Kombat reference.

ARI claiming Arcobello could be a precursor to trading Vermette/Hanzal..
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Maybe GMJR spoke with their Gm and they picked Arc to replace one of them and Vermette gets traded away. Then Sutter + then goes to Arizona for Hanzal

I love the time leading up to the deadline...but

I. cant. take. any. more. Jagr. talk.

Would anyone trade Bennett for M. Foligno?
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I would but I'm not sure if Buffalo would

POTD, mostly because of the use of the word MONSTROSITY; one of my personal favorites.


anyone second this?
- nbartley9

BS!!! Palmer had it two hours ago with a monstrosity of a trade. No seconds for you.