Pens aren't getting anything of significance for "Sutter +". Just aint....

If they want a player of significance in return, they are going to have to give up one.

If I see one more "trade Martin/Ehrhoff"

GMJR said he wants to acquire another dman, so trading one would be spinning his tires and downgrading significantly while barely upgrading elsewhere.

Paul Martin is our top pairing dman, and a damn good one. How many scoring chances did he break up yesterday? Also he's a big part of Letangs great play.

Ehrhoff has a NTC. He's our 3 dman and he's solid. Also very close to returning. You don't sign guys on 1 year deals and trade them halfway through the year. Let alone with a NTC. If you do, have fun trying to negotiate with the next FA.

Let's not be that dumb

I really don't get it??? 1. Whatever Craig Adams is ... he s a damn good penalty killer. 2. If the Pens don't win the cup it won't be a result of anything he does... Its ridiculous the guy actually played a good game today..
- Brianandr1

No, he isn't. He and his line failed to generate a single shot, A SINGLE SHOT. No matter how bad at this game you are for a professional, you still made it here by being better than others at this game and that included having offense in your game. To generate no scoring chances or shots for and allow that many against is a recipe for losing the puck battle. There is no other way around it.

In the playoffs the last thing I want to do is put out a line in overtime that can only, and I mean the only thing they can do, is skate "hard" enough and try "hard" enough to pin the opposition back while the others take a rest.
It's a four line league. I know they don't have the talent to score, that isn't what I am mad about. They should have the ability to generate chances though.

If I see one more "trade Martin/Ehrhoff"

GMJR said he wants to acquire another dman, so trading one would be spinning his tires and downgrading significantly while barely upgrading elsewhere.

Paul Martin is our top pairing dman, and a damn good one. How many scoring chances did he break up yesterday? Also he's a big part of Letangs great play.

Ehrhoff has a NTC. He's our 3 dman and he's solid. Also very close to returning. You don't sign guys on 1 year deals and trade them halfway through the year. Let alone with a NTC. If you do, have fun trying to negotiate with the next FA.

Let's not be that dumb
- znagle

Watching Bortuzzo yesterday was brutal. Against the talent and speed of the Isles, Rangers, Canadiens, and Caps he is going to be done for in a 7 game series. He can't keep up. He is still young enough to make an impact as a 7th guy this season, possibly a 6 next but not a starter for the playoffs.

Watching Bortuzzo yesterday was brutal. Against the talent and speed of the Isles, Rangers, Canadiens, and Caps he is going to be done for in a 7 game series. He can't keep up. He is still young enough to make an impact as a 7th guy this season, possibly a 6 next but not a starter for the playoffs.
- usethe1-2-2

Agreed. Once Hoff comes back, hopefully they will make the right decision and sit Bortz and play Pouliot with Scuderi. I've been saying all along I wanted DP with the first PP unit due to him always looking to put the puck on net. He's decent in his own end, great skater, great puck handler with a great hockey IQ. Best part about him is that he puts the puck on net with a great shot.

I think we need to put Bortz as the 7th dman come playoffs at least. But you know, he will play in front of DP because he is physical.

Agreed. Once Hoff comes back, hopefully they will make the right decision and sit Bortz and play Pouliot with Scuderi. I've been saying all along I wanted DP with the first PP unit due to him always looking to put the puck on net. He's decent in his own end, great skater, great puck handler with a great hockey IQ. Best part about him is that he puts the puck on net with a great shot.

I think we need to put Bortz as the 7th dman come playoffs at least. But you know, he will play in front of DP because he is physical.
- znagle

I think MJ has other plans. Pouliot is just far and above what I thought he would be already. He is aggressive in the defensive zone, always looking to get into the body early to make the play on the puck. Always looking, thinking, working so that the puck movement is never stationary. He is a coach Johnston product, no doubt about it.

Playing him or Despres with Hoff will be the answer. Both looked real good yesterday against a very good team.

Can I again bring to your attention the lack of scoring from our D?

Who scored for the Hawks?

Tough games require scoring from all parts of the ice & team - you cannot single out the 4th line continuously while our D go for zeros very often, or don't score as much as other good teams.
- Aussiepenguin

Most "good" teams D have between 20-25 goals from their D (chicago has 25). We have 22....while I never compared others teams 4th, our regular 4th line ( adama, sill and Lapierre) have 4 goals TOTAL !!!!!

Most "good" teams D have between 20-25 goals from their D (chicago has 25). We have 22....while I never compared others teams 4th, our regular 4th line ( adama, sill and Lapierre) have 4 goals TOTAL !!!!!
- willi

It's about the D generating chances and the last two weeks they have been doing a great job. As this team gets healthier you see MJ's system start to come full circle. The breakout, the cycle, the D shooting more, the center support on breakouts... It's pretty damn cool.

Even Scuderi is throwing the puck on net. He was just mad they had a D score and we didn't.

I think MJ has other plans. Pouliot is just far and above what I thought he would be already. He is aggressive in the defensive zone, always looking to get into the body early to make the play on the puck. Always looking, thinking, working so that the puck movement is never stationary. He is a coach Johnston product, no doubt about it.

Playing him or Despres with Hoff will be the answer. Both looked real good yesterday against a very good team.
- usethe1-2-2

Letang-Martin
Hoff-Despres
Scuderi-Pouliot
Bortz

Looks great to me. I agree that we need to use DP going forward. I've been saying this for a while but when Hoff comes back I really thing DP goes down. Unless Bortz is traded idk about keeping him scratched. Depends on what would get us more cap until the trade deadline. Most likely that will be sending DP down so we don't have to pay a scratched Bortz.

It's about the D generating chances and the last two weeks they have been doing a great job. As this team gets healthier you see MJ's system start to come full circle. The breakout, the cycle, the D shooting more, the center support on breakouts... It's pretty damn cool.

Even Scuderi is throwing the puck on net. He was just mad they had a D score and we didn't.
- usethe1-2-2

Speaking of Scuderi I haven't seen 1 comment on here about his brutal giveaway in the 2nd to Versteeg. I thought Scuderi played a alright game but a pass up the middle like that? And the part that bothers me is Scuderi was facing up ice the whole time . It wasn't like he turned and made that play

Letang-Martin
Hoff-Despres
Scuderi-Pouliot
Bortz

Looks great to me. I agree that we need to use DP going forward. I've been saying this for a while but when Hoff comes back I really thing DP goes down. Unless Bortz is traded idk about keeping him scratched. Depends on what would get us more cap until the trade deadline. Most likely that will be sending DP down so we don't have to pay a scratched Bortz.
- znagle

I keep Despres with Scuds. He's used to getting the occasional hand grenade and has the size and strength to shield the puck or skate it out of the zone. Got to admit, I didn't think Pouliot would progress at this rate, but he's doing much better in the D zone.

Bortz is struggling most games. Yikes!

Speaking of Scuderi I haven't seen 1 comment on here about his brutal giveaway in the 2nd to Versteeg. I thought Scuderi played a alright game but a pass up the middle like that? And the part that bothers me is Scuderi was facing up ice the whole time . It wasn't like he turned and made that play
- willi

Happens to everyone. It happened to the Blackhawks a few times as well. No harm no foul either way.

I really don't get it??? 1. Whatever Craig Adams is ... he s a damn good penalty killer. 2. If the Pens don't win the cup it won't be a result of anything he does... Its ridiculous the guy actually played a good game today..
- Brianandr1

Yeah wowy he's one effing guy on the pk that a lot of people play on. The turnovers in his own end were brilliant and I'm glad you think zero shots from that line is a good game.

Letang-Martin
Hoff-Despres
Scuderi-Pouliot
Bortz

Looks great to me. I agree that we need to use DP going forward. I've been saying this for a while but when Hoff comes back I really thing DP goes down. Unless Bortz is traded idk about keeping him scratched. Depends on what would get us more cap until the trade deadline. Most likely that will be sending DP down so we don't have to pay a scratched Bortz.
- znagle

You have to pay Bortuzzo anyway. Someone will be the 7th D and it won't be Pouliot. I don't see GMJR going out of his way to trade good youth for rentals. It makes no sense.
Pouliot might be young , but he is as good as half the rental D, if not better. Bortuzzo is about as good as Hannan

Can I again bring to your attention the lack of scoring from our D?

Who scored for the Hawks?

Tough games require scoring from all parts of the ice & team - you cannot single out the 4th line continuously while our D go for zeros very often, or don't score as much as other good teams.
- Aussiepenguin

Actually I have brought it up numerous times. It's basically been Letang with nothing from the others cept once in a blue moon. It actually feels like we're getting less from the blue line point wise this year if you leave tanger out of the equation

You have to pay Bortuzzo anyway. Someone will be the 7th D and it won't be Pouliot. I don't see GMJR going out of his way to trade good youth for rentals. It makes no sense.
Pouliot might be young , but he is as good as half the rental D, if not better. Bortuzzo is about as good as Hannan
- usethe1-2-2

Yeah that's what I'm saying, we have to pay Bortz anyway so we might as well play him. DP can go back down and save a little money. Then after the break we might as well bring him back up

Speaking of Scuderi I haven't seen 1 comment on here about his brutal giveaway in the 2nd to Versteeg. I thought Scuderi played a alright game but a pass up the middle like that? And the part that bothers me is Scuderi was facing up ice the whole time . It wasn't like he turned and made that play
- willi

I thought the game was a great litmus test and showed the players that are bad fits (or just bad players) for the team. Sutter, Scuderi, and Adams all had ugly defensive zone turnovers. Bortuzzo also lost the puck, but in his defense he was being pressured from a strong forecheck.

Cox is a sucker if he believes that Downie would be moved. The 4th line actually looked good yesterday and he was the main reason for that. Also Sutter is getting worse and worse every single game.



WWJJD


F Sutter

Cox is a sucker if he believes that Downie would be moved. The 4th line actually looked good yesterday and he was the main reason for that. Also Sutter is getting worse and worse every single game.



WWJJD


F Sutter
- nbartley9

That fourth line looked absolutely terrible. Downie was the only one who looked like he could play. Lappy looks like he can keep up. Adams looks like $h!t

I like downie, but god were they bad yesterday. They need another body down low to help them out.

Yeah that's what I'm saying, we have to pay Bortz anyway so we might as well play him. DP can go back down and save a little money. Then after the break we might as well bring him back up
- znagle

Yah, I wouldn't play him over Pouliot just because we have to pay him. Screw that. Pouliot needs to play at this level and the only thing that should stop that is himself. If he somehow regresses, then you send him down. If not, then he should play.

Yah, I wouldn't play him over Pouliot just because we have to pay him. Screw that. Pouliot needs to play at this level and the only thing that should stop that is himself. If he somehow regresses, then you send him down. If not, then he should play.
- usethe1-2-2

I agree with this, just saying it will cost us more money if we keep DP up until the trade deadline. It's only about 2 weeks, but any money saved will help out. After that, Pouliot should be a regular.

That fourth line looked absolutely terrible. Downie was the only one who looked like he could play. Lappy looks like he can keep up. Adams looks like $h!t

I like downie, but god were they bad yesterday. They need another body down low to help them out.
- usethe1-2-2

Wow I totally disagree, they contained the Shaw line 2 times in the 3rd; and made them pay the price physically the entire shift. Our 4th line was actually effective, Adams was still bouncing off people but I thought they looked good especially in the 3rd.

Speaking of Scuderi I haven't seen 1 comment on here about his brutal giveaway in the 2nd to Versteeg. I thought Scuderi played a alright game but a pass up the middle like that? And the part that bothers me is Scuderi was facing up ice the whole time . It wasn't like he turned and made that play
- willi

The only reason I do not mention him anymore is because I see him as the least likely to be scratched/benched/demoted/moved for a bag of pucks. In terms of least movable to most probable I see it as

Scuderi > Sutter > Adams > Sill

The two things that I dislike seeing in our games the most were A) having Adams and Sill in the lineup at the same time. Especially because Rust and Farnham bring more speed, agitation and drive to play in the nhl than those two. Then B) having Scuderi and Bortuzzo in the lineup at the same time (both 6th to 7th Dmen at best).

Well with a healthy roster Sills ass is out of the game. I can accept having one of the two on the roster, and there is still hope we can bring in one more guy to move him out of the lineup but it's improbable because at least one roster player would have to go out to make room for any additions anyways, which means no moving guys down the depth chart.

Anyways I think we'll be stuck with Scuds until his contract is up. I just don't see a buyout happening because he is not as big of a dumpster fire as last season. Bortuzzo isn't going anywhere because he is what he is, a cheap 7th D who can be tolerated in small doses. Then he makes his obligatory bad drop off his skates to block a shot while the other team laughs and skates around him.

Hell unless we fail spectacularly or Sutter has a bad playoff performance I could see him back next season as well.

Wow I totally disagree, they contained the Shaw line 2 times in the 3rd; and made them pay the price physically the entire shift. Our 4th line was actually effective, Adams was still bouncing off people but I thought they looked good especially in the 3rd.
- nbartley9

you may be right. At no point did our 4th line gets stuck in there own zone for an entire shift like normal. Also at no point did MJ have to waste a timeout on the 4th line after an icing. But Adams? It's like he uses a rubber blade. Once that puck touches his stick it starts to bounce all over the place

Wow I totally disagree, they contained the Shaw line 2 times in the 3rd; and made them pay the price physically the entire shift. Our 4th line was actually effective, Adams was still bouncing off people but I thought they looked good especially in the 3rd.
- nbartley9

Yah, they were chasing them around and being physical, but they never "contained" anything and they never once got a shot off, nor a shot attempt. I need to see the 4th line generate chances, I don't expect them to score, but they need to be able to control the puck better and generate a scoring chance.
I'm not comfortable in a playoff overtime sending out a line that is just going to survive.