C'mon, this team is making the playoffs.

How far they go depends on how they are playing, and right now that doesn't look good.

There is a lot of time left though.

Instead of breezing through the regular season, and having undefeated months like recent Pens teams, many of us wanted this team to face some adversity and maybe even go into the playoffs as an underdog.

Well, we got out wish, let's see what happens.
- rival22

If that's the case, I wish we could just have the simple injury-related adveristy instead of a healthy team that cant beat teams in our division, leadership issues, identity issues, powerplay issues, coaching issues, etc

Not frustrated in the least. In a weird way, I hope we don't make it. This franchise has made some tremendous blunders over the year in which we have traded quite a few assets for rentals that didn't amount to anything. There are few options down on the farm ... because of cap space we have to rely on what would be third line wingers on most teams to be scorers here.

Last night I saw a drive in Columbus and they aren't a playoff team. They were fast, they were pressuring ... they looked young and enthused. The same can't be said for our crew.

I hope is type of adversity makes the brass change its ways a bit. Take a different approach. Because clearly, it hasn't worked since we hoisted the Cup since 2009.
- Oneonta Penguin

The trouble with that is unless the Pens suffer major injuries before the deadline, retooling isn't going to happen. Martin and Ehrhoff, both of whom would immediately become the most coveted assets at the deadline, won't be moved. So if the team misses the postseason, they will also be missing their chances to acquire future assets which is a lose/lose proposal to me.

If that's the case, I wish we could just have the simple injury-related adveristy instead of a healthy team that cant beat teams in our division, leadership issues, identity issues, powerplay issues, coaching issues, etc
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Regular season injuries aren't really adversity. We've seen it before, all it breeds is the attitude that "once our guys are back, we can relax and every thing will be good."

The trouble with that is unless the Pens suffer major injuries before the deadline, retooling isn't going to happen. Martin and Ehrhoff, both of whom would immediately become the most coveted assets at the deadline, won't be moved. So if the team misses the postseason, they will also be missing their chances to acquire future assets which is a lose/lose proposal to me.
- jfkst1

There comes a point in time when a GM needs to look at reality instead of fantasy. This team doesn't have it to make it out of the first round unless Tampa is the opponent. We have few picks in this draft; we have little on the farm as in forward talent; we have few assets to deal and quite frankly don't seem to have the drive to do anything in the playoffs.

Maybe we should root for an injury then. Not a severe injury at all, but one that sidelines someone significant for two weeks. Hate to do that, but it might be for the better.

Not frustrated in the least. In a weird way, I hope we don't make it. This franchise has made some tremendous blunders over the year in which we have traded quite a few assets for rentals that didn't amount to anything. There are few options down on the farm ... because of cap space we have to rely on what would be third line wingers on most teams to be scorers here.

Last night I saw a drive in Columbus and they aren't a playoff team. They were fast, they were pressuring ... they looked young and enthused. The same can't be said for our crew.

I hope is type of adversity makes the brass change its ways a bit. Take a different approach. Because clearly, it hasn't worked since we hoisted the Cup since 2009.
- Oneonta Penguin

I think that there is some very backward thinking there. The goal should be to make the playoffs annually. You seem stuck in the rebuilding mentality. the brass changed their ways... they fired the coach and GM.

When you dump so much money into 4 players, the team composition suffers. So you end up plugging holes with, quoting Office Space, "no-talent a$$ clowns". So you better draft wisely ... and carefully.

But hey, as long as the Pens fill the seats year around, who cares, right? Plus the merchandise sales.
Wasn't there an article a few years back about Buccos Brass not caring about winning as long as they sell the hats, shirts, and fill the seats?

Sadly, Sid's and Geno's best years are behind them, in my opinion. I think me personally and probably the entire Pitt fandom are quite spoiled. Look at Mario and Jagr, they only hoisted 2 Cups and they dominated the play back then. Maybe 1 Cup is all that we are going to get/deserve with this bunch. Hell, I live in the DC area. OV the Great is fun to watch, but he doesn't have a Cup ... and probably won't, although this year it looks the most promising.

Brandon Dubinsky, Marc Staal, OV should never feel comfortable playing a game against Pittsburgh. Until that happens I don't think things change very much. The last time our team made an opposing star miserable was Bortz on Jagr. He ended up getting suspended and subsequently pounded by Too Too and hasn't played a physical game since.

There comes a point in time when a GM needs to look at reality instead of fantasy. This team doesn't have it to make it out of the first round unless Tampa is the opponent. We have few picks in this draft; we have little on the farm as in forward talent; we have few assets to deal and quite frankly don't seem to have the drive to do anything in the playoffs.

Maybe we should root for an injury then. Not a severe injury at all, but one that sidelines someone significant for two weeks. Hate to do that, but it might be for the better.
- Oneonta Penguin

not every team has quality assets in the farm on all positions... pens happen to be set in goal and d... picked up a nice forward last year. this current team has ever been to the playoffs and you have no idea how they will perform when they get there

not every team has quality assets in the farm on all positions... pens happen to be set in goal and d... picked up a nice forward last year. this current team has ever been to the playoffs and you have no idea how they will perform when they get there
- ChrisMS

right...but the regular season tends to give us a glimpse at what we can expect, and it isnt looking good at least from my house

now granted in prior seasons the regular season domination obviously did not translate into playoff success

what would we think about kunitz, sutter, and dumo for bozak and either winnik or polak from toronto?

not every team has quality assets in the farm on all positions... pens happen to be set in goal and d... picked up a nice forward last year. this current team has ever been to the playoffs and you have no idea how they will perform when they get there
- ChrisMS

The big difference when XXX team suffers an injury, they can turn to the farm and bring up someone that projects on a first or second line, while Pittsburgh has to bring up Megna, or Ebbett. This is due to terrible decisions. Our forward collection is devoid of talent its not funny.

No, I have no idea how this team plays in the playoffs. However I do know this team matches up poorly versus five of the other playoff teams right now. The two I think we somewhat matchup with are coin flips.

We picked up a nice forward last year. BFD. He is no help to us now.

If there was a year to sell instead of buy, its this year. Too many problems to fix, not enough assets to send out ... unless you want to start forking over 2016 picks and that would be a colossal mistake.

Maybe this is all a trap! They are making other teams think that they will just steam roll the Pens. And then in the Playoffs - POW, RIGHT in the kisser!!

There comes a point in time when a GM needs to look at reality instead of fantasy. This team doesn't have it to make it out of the first round unless Tampa is the opponent. We have few picks in this draft; we have little on the farm as in forward talent; we have few assets to deal and quite frankly don't seem to have the drive to do anything in the playoffs.

Maybe we should root for an injury then. Not a severe injury at all, but one that sidelines someone significant for two weeks. Hate to do that, but it might be for the better.
- Oneonta Penguin

Man, get your head out of the oven.

This roster is better than last year's roster, and that team was 2 goals away from making the conference finals.

While playoff success has a lot to do with luck and matchups, it has a lot more to do with how the team is playing on April 1st than on February 20th.

Brandon Dubinsky, Marc Staal, OV should never feel comfortable playing a game against Pittsburgh. Until that happens I don't think things change very much. The last time our team made an opposing star miserable was Bortz on Jagr. He ended up getting suspended and subsequently pounded by Too Too and hasn't played a physical game since.
- madmike71

That's one major problem as I see it as well. Obstruction and harassment penalties aren't called anymore- so why aren't other teams' stars getting the same treatment Crosby and Malkin are? Of course, it doesn't help when you have the softest 3C in the game where you should have a physical shutdown threat.

I think that there is some very backward thinking there. The goal should be to make the playoffs annually. You seem stuck in the rebuilding mentality. the brass changed their ways... they fired the coach and GM.
- ChrisMS

Rebuild? If you want to call it that. I'm thinking more of a change in philosophy. This team needs one. It's not a Cup contending team. Anyone who believes this is delusional. We are closer to being a non-playoff team than a Cup contender. This team is flawed and doesn't have the drive to do much of anything. Last night's performance coupled with the games versus Washington and others are big indications of this.

Honest question, does anyone miss James Neal right now?
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Not even a little bit. This team actually has guys who go to the net, something that has been lacking for several years now.

Let's not forget the Pens have not beat a team higher than a #7 seed since they beat Ottawa (#5) in 2010. Contrary to popular belief, this team is not a powerhouse and hasn't been one for several years. They have digressed steadily since they won the cup and even with the number of moves made this year they are still just merely a good team that should make the playoffs. I like the direction management is taking them and I hope they do get hot and go a long way this spring but realistically getting to the Conference finals is a long shot.

Rebuild? If you want to call it that. I'm thinking more of a change in philosophy. This team needs one. It's not a Cup contending team. Anyone who believes this is delusional. We are closer to being a non-playoff team than a Cup contender. This team is flawed and doesn't have the drive to do much of anything. Last night's performance coupled with the games versus Washington and others are big indications of this.
- Oneonta Penguin

Maybe we can change the GM, entire coaching staff and a third of the roster this summer....

Man, get your head out of the oven.

This roster is better than last year's roster, and that team was 2 goals away from making the conference finals.

While playoff success has a lot to do with luck and matchups, it has a lot more to do with how the team is playing on April 1st than on February 20th.
- rival22

LOL ... better roster than last year and yet we are sitting in the SEVENTH playoff spot. If that doesn't tell you something, I don't know what does. Don't give me the injury excuse bs either. We have had them the last three years and managed to be a top three seed each year. This isn't a good team.

Face facts here ... we don't matchup with five of the playoff teams at all in the East. The likelihood of positive outcomes in April isn't good.

Maybe we can change the GM, entire coaching staff and a third of the roster this summer....
- rival22

I don't think you comprehend where I'm going with it. It's not that hard to figure out either.

It's about making sound and smart moves. It's about putting together a product that can compete short and long term and not continue to fork over valuable assets for bullpoop rentals that flop. It's about drafting and development. Other teams can do it and have done it. Pittsburgh on the other hand can't help itself. It repeatedly trades first, second, third, prospects away for wastes and are left with a bunch of third and fourth line guys as your in case of injury happen callups.

I get sick and tired of the we have to go "all in" every year because 87 and 71 are on the roster. That isn't a smart move in cases like this year where there are more flaws on the roster and we have little cap room and little to deal.

It's blatantly obvious teams love to play against the Pens. Think about that.

It's blatantly obvious teams love to play against the Pens. Think about that.
- madmike71

Exactly ... because they are so very easy to play against. I see non playoff teams harder to play against than this.

Exactly ... because they are so very easy to play against. I see non playoff teams harder to play against than this.
- Oneonta Penguin

All I could think about last night watching this team was Iron Mike and his "soff" rant.

The big difference when XXX team suffers an injury, they can turn to the farm and bring up someone that projects on a first or second line, while Pittsburgh has to bring up Megna, or Ebbett. This is due to terrible decisions. Our forward collection is devoid of talent its not funny.

No, I have no idea how this team plays in the playoffs. However I do know this team matches up poorly versus five of the other playoff teams right now. The two I think we somewhat matchup with are coin flips.

We picked up a nice forward last year. BFD. He is no help to us now.

If there was a year to sell instead of buy, its this year. Too many problems to fix, not enough assets to send out ... unless you want to start forking over 2016 picks and that would be a colossal mistake.
- Oneonta Penguin

Previous post you raving about the CBJ youth and enthusiasm buy they are on the outside looking into the playoffs. And why? Injuries. Why couldn't they fill there injury holes? I don't think our depth/prospects are the deepest in the league buy we also aren't the worst.

I saw a tweet last night something along the lines of the difference between the Penguins and a team like the Blue Jackets is that Brian Gibbons is playing in the AHL right now.

We have too many highly-paid and way overpaid players. Holes are filled either with rookies or AHL-ers.

The only constant & a breath of fresh air this season has been MAF. Give him the "C". He doesn't deserve the $hit that is going on in front of his crease more often than not.

Not even a little bit. This team actually has guys who go to the net, something that has been lacking for several years now.


- Thunderbolt

I know that's exactly what we needed in theory....but we still aren't scoring.

I live in Atlantic City, I used to live in Pittsburgh; that's my home town. We have a nickname in ATLANTIC CITY for MAF its, " cheese puff"; it snot just me that calls him that. Its also the guy that looks back at me in the bathroom when I brush my teeth, we high five and naked ass bump. I make a lot of money though, bring your money to Atlantic City; I will gladly give it to my mother and sister and they will work for you!! Im not really sure what they do but one thing I do know is that they both call MAF "Afro Puff"; its not just them though there is a homeless guy that lives in ATLANTIC CITY he likes to bet on hockey games when he finds enough change in the street to place a bet, he also calls MAF that. Sometime when I paint my face black and run around like an Indian in ATLANTIC CITY I call MAF "Puff Daddy" that's just to mix it up a bit; but its not only me that calls him that its also the strange bugs that live in my underwear. I LIVE IN ATLANTIC CITY, but I used to live in Pittsburgh my home town, I am 86 years old, I can really assess hockey very well; I technically cant see the TV per say but I know its there. I call MAF " Puff the Magic Dragon" Its not only me that calls him that. I live in ATLANTIC CITY, did I mention I live in ATLANTIC CITY; its not only me that calls it that; people actually thought it was a good idea because its a CITY by the ATLANTIC.



F SUTTER
- nbartley9

I am late to the party, but man, I hope everyone else found this as funny as I did. well done Bartley.