I would. GMJR is not going to wave the flag and neither will the players or rest of management. Martin would bring a first rounder as well to a contender.
- znagle

I agree on both points

That OV goal was on Bennett. After Adams made a hit a lost his stick (unreal !!!) Bennett tried to make a play on the puck to get a rush. He should have chipped the puck out and got off the ice since he isn't a penalty killer
- willi

Bennett should have dumped when he had the chance. Letang shouldn't have gotten so far ahead in the play (Kuznetsov was behind him), Martin should have changed faster, Despres should have been ready for the change (go back and look at video and Despres isn't even holding his stick right side up). It takes a number of poor decisions all around for that breakaway to happen and that is exactly what happened.

I would. GMJR is not going to wave the flag and neither will the players or rest of management. Martin would bring a first rounder as well to a contender.
- znagle

Yeah I agree. But this mentality played a big role in Shero's firing I'd say. I said all last year that this team should think about the next 3-5 five years not this year. I think this year is the same. There's no cap room. We should do our best to set ourselves up for next year. Let the kids get some playoff experience.
Lower the expectations.

The boards be full today!

On the bright side...

1. Liked how the Pens got tons of traffic in front of Holtby
2. We played a pretty good game up until Kunitz and Letang penalties
3. Geno was flying.
4. Lap was more involved. Want more of that guy.
5. Letang survived the evening
6. MAF was good again. He's the team MVP and it isnt even close. I guess Greiss cant actually replace him with 1/3 the cap hit huh?

That OV goal was on Bennett. After Adams made a hit a lost his stick (unreal !!!) Bennett tried to make a play on the puck to get a rush. He should have chipped the puck out and got off the ice since he isn't a penalty killer
- willi

The OV goal was on Bennett? Look at the game tape. Letang jumping wide onto the neutral zone while on the PK, less than two remaining in the period. BB is 1-on-3. There is already an unchecked Caps forward in Kuznetsov behind Letang as he's flying the zone, and they're changing the PK unit.

So to recap, it's easy to see that either BB is going to be turned over or chip the puck into the zone, eliminating the need to jump into the play in both cases. BB had come out of the box, otherwise he would not have been out there. BB gets turned over, Kris Letang leaves a skill forward and the NHL's leading goal scorer unchecked in a tie game.

Yeah I agree. But this mentality played a big role in Shero's firing I'd say. I said all last year that this team should think about the next 3-5 five years not this year. I think this year is the same. There's no cap room. We should do our best to set ourselves up for next year. Let the kids get some playoff experience.
Lower the expectations.
- Danny_Devito

If the Pens moved out Martin and got back some of the picks they've sharted away, I wouldn't have a problem with that.

They wont do that however.

The Pens never had that mini-rebuild since 2009. After Chi won the Cup in 10, they retooled a bit, sacrificed a year or so, and were back in the thick of things better than ever. Perhaps Pens need to do that?

This win now or else is killing the franchise and stripping it of valuable assets.

If he doesn't make that slash the Pens might have killed off the PP too. That slash had zero possibly positive effect on the play. The team has ROUTINELY lost composure during the postseason and that was an example of why. It gave the best PP unit in the league a 5 on 3 with minutes to go in a tie game. It's as bad of a penalty as you can take. He also didn't have a great game overall either and bears at least some responsibility on Ovechkin's goal. Overall though, forward units weren't getting it done.

EDIT: 2nd best PP unit
- jfkst1

I would easily say that he had the best game of all penguins not named Fleury. On Ovi's goal, there was a lot of blame to go around. Bennett should have dumped it deep to kill the penalty, not try and be a hero and go 1 on 3... Letang was up ice because Depres was supposed to have the back end, but he jumped off.. because he thought Bennett was going to dump it.. sure Letang was out of position there, but he and 47 are only out of position because BB didn't clear the puck like he should have.

The boards be full today!

On the bright side...

1. Liked how the Pens got tons of traffic in front of Holtby
2. We played a pretty good game up until Kunitz and Letang penalties
3. Geno was flying.
4. Lap was more involved. Want more of that guy.
5. Letang survived the evening
6. MAF was good again. He's the team MVP and it isnt even close. I guess Greiss cant actually replace him with 1/3 the cap hit huh?
- 87_71_11_29

I take away another loss to a competent team. Look at the losses vs wins since Christmas. Its pretty glaring that the Pens such against top teams.

This team is showing the same signs for the last 4 years. The coaches have changed nothing and Johnston needs to settle his team down and not let them run out of hand. With the pens PK tanking, hopefully this shows MJ that scuderi and adams are not PK specialists

I would easily say that he had the best game of all penguins not named Fleury. On Ovi's goal, there was a lot of blame to go around. Bennett should have dumped it deep to kill the penalty, not try and be a hero and go 1 on 3... Letang was up ice because Depres was supposed to have the back end, but he jumped off.. because he thought Bennett was going to dump it.. sure Letang was out of position there, but he and 47 are only out of position because BB didn't clear the puck like he should have.
- j.boyd919

well said. Bennett's first instinct should have been dump the puck and get off

If the Pens moved out Martin and got back some of the picks they've sharted away, I wouldn't have a problem with that.

They wont do that however.

The Pens never had that mini-rebuild since 2009. After Chi won the Cup in 10, they retooled a bit, sacrificed a year or so, and were back in the thick of things better than ever. Perhaps Pens need to do that?

This win now or else is killing the franchise and stripping it of valuable assets.
- 87_71_11_29

I'd rather move Martin for promising prospects. It's not even about cap space. Asset management is crucial right now. If they think Ehrhoff won't sign then move him too. I have zero problem going into the playoffs with a bunch of kids on the blueline. We aren't winning the cup this year. Everyone knows it. We knew it last year. Same damning feeling.

This team is showing the same signs for the last 4 years. The coaches have changed nothing and Johnston needs to settle his team down and not let them run out of hand. With the pens PK tanking, hopefully this shows MJ that scuderi and adams are not PK specialists
- drummer829

Or Sutter. But yeah, I'm tired of hearing about how being "good" on the PK, is some highly coveted skill set that is worthy of overpayment or a roster spot. Fleury has also posted higher than average save percentages on the PK in his career so that is another reason to not overvalue the PKers.

I'd rather move Martin for promising prospects. It's not even about cap space. Asset management is crucial right now. If they think Ehrhoff won't sign then move him too. I have zero problem going into the playoffs with a bunch of kids on the blueline. We aren't winning the cup this year. Everyone knows it. We knew it last year. Same damning feeling.
- Danny_Devito

Ehrhoff won't be moved... NMC and he just had a kid. I don't know why this needs to be said in every thread, people should know this by now.

We aren't winning the cup this year. Everyone knows it. We knew it last year. Same damning feeling.
- Danny_Devito

I felt that way around this time in 2009.

Pretty sure Kings fans felt that way last year, and probably a couple of years ago, too.

Anything can happen in the playoffs.

I'd rather move Martin for promising prospects. It's not even about cap space. Asset management is crucial right now. If they think Ehrhoff won't sign then move him too. I have zero problem going into the playoffs with a bunch of kids on the blueline. We aren't winning the cup this year. Everyone knows it. We knew it last year. Same damning feeling.
- Danny_Devito

Wouldn't hate anything you propose here.

Or Sutter. But yeah, I'm tired of hearing about how being "good" on the PK, is some highly coveted skill set that is worthy of overpayment or a roster spot. Fleury has also posted higher than average save percentages on the PK in his career so that is another reason to not overvalue the PKers.
- jfkst1

The best thing that could happen to this team is the PK starts to suck. Our good PK this season was the only thing keeping Adams on the roster.

Every PP goal against is a step closer to scratching Old Adams

I felt that way around this time in 2009.

Pretty sure Kings fans felt that way last year, and probably a couple of years ago, too.

Anything can happen in the playoffs.
- hardnosed

This 100%. Last year at this time the Bruins and Blues looked dominant. Both were done by the 2nd round.

I'd rather move Martin for promising prospects. It's not even about cap space. Asset management is crucial right now. If they think Ehrhoff won't sign then move him too. I have zero problem going into the playoffs with a bunch of kids on the blueline. We aren't winning the cup this year. Everyone knows it. We knew it last year. Same damning feeling.
- Danny_Devito

Completely disagree. How do you know they aren't winning the cup? There is no telling what will happen between now and playoffs. They could easily right the ship. The pens have 2 of the best players in the world and some solid players beyond that, if you're going to mail it in on the season, just go follow a different team. There is absolutely no reason to ship Paul Martin who is one of the pens best defenensemen for "assets" who might never pan out. No one saw the kings winning 3 straight game 7s on the road... or climbing back in the first round vs. San Jose. Things can be fixed by the time the playoffs roll around. At least they make these games entertaining. I'd rather see them deal with some adversity than coast through the regular season as division winners and poop the bed again.

Oh, okay. 'Any given Sunday! Any given Sunday!' Is that what we're saying now?

That OV goal was on Bennett. After Adams made a hit a lost his stick (unreal !!!) Bennett tried to make a play on the puck to get a rush. He should have chipped the puck out and got off the ice since he isn't a penalty killer
- willi

I can't blame that whole play on Bennett. He was trying to make a play, which if he could have got the damn puck under control he would have had a breakaway. It was a bad change by Adams and Martin too. You have to be sure the puck is deep before you change.

Ehrhoff won't be moved... NMC and he just had a kid. I don't know why this needs to be said in every thread, people should know this by now.
- Guile

Of course he won't.

I think it should happen. Which basically means it couldn't happen.
Pens management has all the hockey smarts and knows better than everybody

This team is showing the same signs for the last 4 years. The coaches have changed nothing and Johnston needs to settle his team down and not let them run out of hand. With the pens PK tanking, hopefully this shows MJ that scuderi and adams are not PK specialists
- drummer829

our PK is 6th in league. Sure they've gave up a few lately but overall they've been good....

Completely disagree. How do you know they aren't winning the cup? There is no telling what will happen between now and playoffs. They could easily right the ship. The pens have 2 of the best players in the world and some solid players beyond that, if you're going to mail it in on the season, just go follow a different team. There is absolutely no reason to ship Paul Martin who is one of the pens best defenensemen for "assets" who might never pan out. No one saw the kings winning 3 straight game 7s on the road... or climbing back in the first round vs. San Jose. Things can be fixed by the time the playoffs roll around. At least they make these games entertaining. I'd rather see them deal with some adversity than coast through the regular season as division winners and poop the bed again.
- j.boyd919

NEWS FLASH.
Paul Martin isn't going to pan out past this year.

Is it just me or is the NHL almost back to the trap/deadpuck era of clutch, grab, defense-first, boring ass hockey?

Completely disagree. How do you know they aren't winning the cup? There is no telling what will happen between now and playoffs. They could easily right the ship. The pens have 2 of the best players in the world and some solid players beyond that, if you're going to mail it in on the season, just go follow a different team. There is absolutely no reason to ship Paul Martin who is one of the pens best defenensemen for "assets" who might never pan out. No one saw the kings winning 3 straight game 7s on the road... or climbing back in the first round vs. San Jose. Things can be fixed by the time the playoffs roll around. At least they make these games entertaining. I'd rather see them deal with some adversity than coast through the regular season as division winners and poop the bed again.
- j.boyd919

All true.

Was just saying if they did ship PM out, I'd understand it. Wasn't saying they should do it.