Who do you think draws more national TV attention? The NHL made face of the league, MVP, friendly, good with the press, fans, ladies etc....Or a goofy looking Russian that cant speak English well? Pens will always have more national attention because of 87, not 71. That lines Lemieux's and Burlkes pockets.
- sammy87

Exactly why they'll be here for a long time.

Well, let's all take a step back as well.

The Penguins are what, 2 points out of being first place in their division, with a host of bad luck due to injuries? They're still one hell of a good team. They could very easily get knocked out early, and they could also conceivably get to the SCF or win the whole damn thing.

Just trying to open up some creative thinking if the trend continues.
- jmatchett383

i understand haha in know way was i directly blaming you for my bad mood as well.

but ill say this. i know a loss is technically a loss is technically a loss. but, when watching it. they are not all created equal to me. i have no qualms with bowing out after a valiant fight in which you simply are just bested. but lately, that hasnt been the case. at all.

and this year, even during the regular season, 87 and 71 arent exactly inspiring a lot of confidence for me.

"I have a dream, that one day, Penguins fans won't have to argue about who to trade between Malkin and Crosby."

- Martin Luther King Jr.
August 28, 1963
- znagle

I once wrote out most of that speech where the precepts were changed to the three California teams offer sheeting each other.

Derrick Pouliot has the same kind of fat face Drew Doughty has. I think that implies that he'll be a dynamic defender in the same light.

Exactly why they'll be here for a long time.
- znagle

If they didn't have Malkin, the Crosby jersey sales would have increased by the number of current Malkin jersey sales.

I once wrote out most of that speech where the precepts were changed to the three California teams offer sheeting each other.

Derrick Pouliot has the same kind of fat face Drew Doughty has. I think that implies that he'll be a dynamic defender in the same light.
- Johnny Wrath

he does, doesnt he?

The thing about 'as long as they have Sid and Geno' is that they don't play well together, and they play very individualistic games. They try gamebreaker stuff when the pressure is on. The book is out on them. Maybe Perron and Hornqvist help to change the dynamic a bit, but I still don't think the Penguins are a 'team' to be feared.
- Johnny Wrath

The thing I love about Perron and Hornqvist (even Comeau to an extent) they are pests. I can see Perron annoying the hell out of every team we've played so far. Hornqvist is all hustle. Comeau lays some occasional big hits, and yes Kunitz still does hit people now and then. I think it's a completely different dynamic that what we've had in the past and more conducive to the gritty, in your face style of playoff hockey.

In terms of being a team the opposition fears, that's where the bottom 6 is sub-par.

If they didn't have Malkin, the Crosby jersey sales would have increased by the number of current Malkin jersey sales.
- jmatchett383

imagine if they didnt have Zach Sill?

Crosby dictating on and off the ice and his self entitlement. What are you basing that on??? Rob Rossi articles ?
- willi

Negative. Why is Sid a pilon on the right hash on the PP? Why does Johnston not put Horny with Perron and Sid? Cause that's how Sid wants it.

imagine if they didnt have Zach Sill?
- stayinthefnnet

Man, those 2 jerseys his mom and dad bought are what's keeping this team out of Kansas City.

They can't move Crosby for more than on-ice reasons. He is the face of the team and league, and is an NHL marketing person's dream.

The thing is that the current thinking is, "Any time we have Crosby and Malkin, we have a chance to win." While that's true, it becomes less and less believable as the team has one premature exit after another. At some point, maybe you have to step back and seriously consider going in another direction. Like I said though it would be a very, VERY hard choice.
- jmatchett383

You can't win a championship off of 2 players, so that concieved notion of "Any time we have Crosby and Malkin, we have a chance to win." is only the starting point. You have to surround them with other good players. You can't just put whoever around them and think they will win. But since 2009 they haven't been able to find the right people to surround them with. I think most people agree that our supporting cast for the past 5 years hasn't been very good. This year it is better, still not optimal, but better. Winning a Stanley Cup is very difficult. Just because two other organizations have been able to win 2 of them each in recent years, some people think that it should be easy for the Pens to have more than one so far under this core. Look how good that Red Wings team was that won in 2008. They haven't won another one since then either. The biggest difference between Pittsburgh and Chicago/LA isn't the fact that the Pens have a high priced 2 headed monster in Crosby and Malkin, but that the Penguins have not done a good job developing cheap talent to go with those 2 whereas LA and Chicago have both been excellent at that.

I guess it's different because you have 2009. As a long-suffering Flyers fan (or, imagine a Toronto fan), I will gladly trade 15 years of 0 wins and a full roster overhaul of all ECHL-level players for 1 Stanley Cup.
- jmatchett383

The Pens have become the new Red Wings. During the 90's Wings were so dominate and had such great teams that the expectation was the conference final. I went to several regular season Wings games, and no body was into the game, very corporate. The attitude was the real season starts in APril, this is just pre season boring hockey. Thats where the Pens are now. So many expectations, so much talent, only problem is they arent getting good results and they arent losing hard fought playoff series to teh Avs or Sharks. Instead they are getting circles skated around them by the Isles, CBJ, Rags, its getting annoying. The real season has just become a massive letdown every year.

If they didn't have Malkin, the Crosby jersey sales would have increased by the number of current Malkin jersey sales.
- jmatchett383

All I'm saying is that if the NHL had rigged the Crosby draft, the destination would have been NY. The League would have benefited a lot more. If one of those two are ever traded, I think the Rangers make it super political.

I'll bet Malkin wouldn't mind playing in Detroit if Babcock is still there.

The Penguins still managed to get a lot of national attention when Sid was injured for all that time.

I would also say that Malkin's NHL resumee is greater than Sid's. I would take a Conn Smythe over a Rocket Richard trophy 1:1.
- Johnny Wrath

So you'd take Justin Williams career over Crosby's?

The thing I love about Perron and Hornqvist (even Comeau to an extent) they are pests. I can see Perron annoying the hell out of every team we've played so far. Hornqvist is all hustle. Comeau lays some occasional big hits, and yes Kunitz still does hit people now and then. I think it's a completely different dynamic that what we've had in the past and more conducive to the gritty, in your face style of playoff hockey.

In terms of being a team the opposition fears, that's where the bottom 6 is sub-par.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

if maatta and dupuis were healthy, this would be the most complete pens team in years.

no, i dont think letang is in the weber category. but, add a healthy maatta to this defensive lineup, and i think it is solid enough top to bottom to win. the wingers would be there, top to bottom, as well.

Crosby dictating on and off the ice and his self entitlement. What are you basing that on??? Rob Rossi articles ?
- willi

There are a lot of disturbing signs out there about this... his choice of linemates for years now for example. How bad it is is open for debate... but to dismiss this out of hand would be foolish. great player... but only time pens won a cup the vocal leader was guerin. coincidence?

All I'm saying is that if the NHL had rigged the Crosby draft, the destination would have been NY. The League would have benefited a lot more. If one of those two are ever traded, I think the Rangers make it super political.

I'll bet Malkin wouldn't mind playing in Detroit if Babcock is still there.
- Johnny Wrath

it shouldnt have had to come to this. and i still dont think it is necessarily plausible.

but give that man literally anything he wants to see if he will go to the organization. anything.

I guess it's different because you have 2009. As a long-suffering Flyers fan (or, imagine a Toronto fan), I will gladly trade 15 years of 0 wins and a full roster overhaul of all ECHL-level players for 1 Stanley Cup.
- jmatchett383

No doubt... but, no offense, you haven't had a crsoby, jagr, Mario, Malkin either. Talking about trading them when they still have several years of generational hockey left in them is a shame. I can see it both ways, but (caveat) so long as they remain COMPETITIVE I'll be ok watching and enjoying

if maatta and dupuis were healthy, this would be the most complete pens team in years.

no, i dont think letang is in the weber category. but, add a healthy maatta to this defensive lineup, and i think it is solid enough top to bottom to win. the wingers would be there, top to bottom, as well.
- stayinthefnnet

Not really, Perron would not be on the team if Dupes is healthy.

Well, what about moving him out West to Phoenix for (in the offseason) Hanzal, Boedker, OEL, and Max Domi? Assuming Phoenix would do it.
- jmatchett383

Geno trade fantasies are fun and all, but so pointless. Maybe when Geno is 34 or in the last year of his contract or something.

There are a lot of disturbing signs out there about this... his choice of linemates for years now for example. How bad it is is open for debate... but to dismiss this out of hand would be foolish. great player... but only time pens won a cup the vocal leader was guerin. coincidence?
- ChrisMS

My impression is that Guerin would give Sid poop all the time and it allowed the team to come out from the shell a bit. I really can't say how Sid handles the locker room except to point out that he won a Mark Messier leadership award, a sure indication that things are heading in the wrong direction.

Sid's line mates? It does seem like Sid considers the locker room a menu and selects who surrounds him. I don't like it but if it had worked until now, nobody would be saying anything.

There are a lot of disturbing signs out there about this... his choice of linemates for years now for example. How bad it is is open for debate... but to dismiss this out of hand would be foolish. great player... but only time pens won a cup the vocal leader was guerin. coincidence?
- ChrisMS

Thank you.... well said.

My definition of a captain just isn't always Sid. I always think back to the last Olympic year when Backes fought every Canadian superstar/captain in the league. That was my definition.

NOT SAYING SID SHOULD FIGHT... just wish he would take a backseat to management/coaches and focus on his game. And when his game is under-achieving be the vocal leader that rises your team.

Not mailing anything in either... were in a race and will be playing mid-April. I fully believe they are a piece or 2 from becoming "elite" and am fully confident it will work out. And we can take this thing down by the river and party all summer and such..

I just didn't want 8 pages of "Winnik would fit, but what Sutter package could we do for him..."
- jmatchett383

That's why I brought up Filppula yesterday. No one agreed on a deal but at least it wasn't more Winnik talk.

Negative. Why is Sid a pilon on the right hash on the PP? Why does Johnston not put Horny with Perron and Sid? Cause that's how Sid wants it.
- stowerkraut

When Hornquist was out theSid , kunitz and Perron line looked very good. So why break it up? And why not give Malkin a scoring winger ( hornqvist)? As far as the PP. They're top 10 in the league.

Not really, Perron would not be on the team if Dupes is healthy.
- sammy87

true. that is something i pointed out in an earlier post.

If they didn't have Malkin, the Crosby jersey sales would have increased by the number of current Malkin jersey sales.
- jmatchett383

Many people have both, but I see what you're getting at.