their actually mad at Tochett and plan on sending his crush out to send tochett a message. isnt that how it works? Punish a scrub to send a message to the big boys?
- ChrisMS

Yeah, hiring Tocceht was a ... gamble.

I agree Downie isn't the problem. Sure he takes some dumb penalties but Pitt knew what they were getting. He has stood up for teammates this season and many times fought guys out of his weight class. And that doesn't go unnoticed by teammates
- willi

yup... he has definately made the other teams players think twice about cheap shotting the pens star players... I think they look at the PIM stats and pee their pants before they get ready to play the pens...

Why would you want to punch this ?

- chimpira

He stinks but I don't have as high of hatred for him as some. It starts with 87/71 for me. They're not dominating like they should be. however I only care about the playoffs.

A Martin trade to Anaheim just makes sense right now. They were searching for D help, and then with the Vatanen injury, they have serious holes. If you could pry one of their young wingers away from them in a trade, i would do that in a heartbeat. Most people in here feel that the Penguins have no chance in the playoffs anyways, so might as well get younger, let the kids get some valuable playoff experience, and dont lose Martin for nothing.

Other trade targets...

Jamie McGinn. 2.9 cap hit. 26, LW. Signed through next year. Avs need D desperately. Perhaps McGinn+ for Despres.

Charlie Coyle. Big body. Young. Cheap. Scores some. Min could use some scoring punch at C. Sutter for Coyle.

Kyle Chipchura for a low pick.

Yeah, hiring Tocceht was a ... gamble.
- chimpira

It's an interesting dynamic... If the staff is down on Downie for penalites, then that is somewhat on Tocchet... And the power play stinks, and that is Tocchet's area as well.

If the season ends badly, Tocchet could be the easy scapegoat... But... He's Mario's guy, and was basically forced on Johnston by ownership.

It's an interesting dynamic... If the staff is down on Downie for penalites, then that is somewhat on Tocchet... And the power play stinks, and that is Tocchet's area as well.

If the season ends badly, Tocchet could be the easy scapegoat... But... He's Mario's guy, and was basically forced on Johnston by ownership.
- rival22

another case of ownership sticking their noses where they dont belong...

they have every right to do so, but so far its been generally a bad thing.

Yeah, hiring Tocceht was a ... gamble.
- chimpira

I wonder if he has money on how many shots crosby can pass up on the PP during the season

yup... he has definately made the other teams players think twice about cheap shotting the pens star players... I think they look at the PIM stats and pee their pants before they get ready to play the pens...
- ChrisMS

Nope but he has 10 goals for dirt cheap and will run someone on the other team without hesitation. I'd extend him personally

Nope but he has 10 goals for dirt cheap and will run someone on the other team without hesitation. I'd extend him personally
- dbell646

running someone from the other team is a negative... stupid penalies are a negative. I'll take the 10 goals... from someone that doesnt play like an selfish a-hole. if he could be moved as part of a deal for a better winger the pens NEED to make it happen. Top 5 reasons pens are losing so much.... 1. crosby/malkin not playing up to snuff, 2. PP, 3. no backup goalie, 4. crosby dictating the lines to his terms, and 5. Steve Downie

Other trade targets...

Jamie McGinn. 2.9 cap hit. 26, LW. Signed through next year. Avs need D desperately. Perhaps McGinn+ for Despres.

Charlie Coyle. Big body. Young. Cheap. Scores some. Min could use some scoring punch at C. Sutter for Coyle.

Kyle Chipchura for a low pick.
- 87_71_11_29

Mcginn is hurt. Shoulder I believe. Minnesota loves Coyle they resigned him for 5 years so I think he's off the table. Chipchura would be better than nothing...you can throw Mcclement into that list

Mcginn is hurt. Shoulder I believe. Minnesota loves Coyle they resigned him for 5 years so I think he's off the table. Chipchura would be better than nothing...you can throw Mcclement into that list
- willi

McClement for a 4th.

Yeah, I wasn't counting Gibbons' two goals in that total. 5 from Sutter, 2 from Stempniak, 1 from Adams, 1 from Bennett.

And in terms of regular season productivity, Sutter is far ahead of where he was last year. 26 points in 81 games last regular season, 21 points in 55 games so far this year. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Sutter finishes strong and has another strong playoff season this year.
- hardnosed

I wasn't sure who you were counting Stempniak or Gibbons, either way it didn't really matter. They each had a goal playing with Crosby and a goal playing off of the top line. Gibbons 2nd was on the PK and Stempniak's 2nd was with Bennett and Goc.

Sutter is hard to judge because he played a decent amount on the 2nd line both last year in the playoffs and this year playing with Malkin for a little bit. His numbers get a little escalated in those times. One thing we can probably be sure of is that barring an injury, he will probably not be getting any 2nd line time this playoffs, so I just don't expect that same level of productivity whether he raises his level or not.

running someone from the other team is a negative... stupid penalies are a negative. I'll take the 10 goals... from someone that doesnt play like an selfish a-hole. if he could be moved as part of a deal for a better winger the pens NEED to make it happen. Top 5 reasons pens are losing so much.... 1. crosby/malkin not playing up to snuff, 2. PP, 3. no backup goalie, 4. crosby dictating the lines to his terms, and 5. Steve Downie
- ChrisMS

You were probably whining last year about needing toughness this guy has it. Letang takes a slashing penalty while short that's dumb at least Downie dropped someone. If we are looking for grit and secondary scoring you don't send him out. Guess we have different views on what selfishness is.

If the Penguins are moving Despres, they need to get back a young, top 6 winger with a few years of control. You don't trade young, up and coming d-men for a rental. He hasn't even touched his best hockey yet, and has been on an upward trend ever since he's been given the opportunity to play everyday.

If the Penguins are moving Despres, they need to get back a young, top 6 winger with a few years of control. You don't trade young, up and coming d-men for a rental. He hasn't even touched his best hockey yet, and has been on an upward trend ever since he's been given the opportunity to play everyday.
- cap1681

Leaves a pretty big hole next season you'd have 3 guys gone from this years blue line

yup... he has definately made the other teams players think twice about cheap shotting the pens star players... I think they look at the PIM stats and pee their pants before they get ready to play the pens...
- ChrisMS

Did I say anything about scaring the other team? I said he stands up for teammates and that goes along way for team chemistry.

What's the thing I am hearing about trading Downie. Something about how the management is upset with his late game penalties. Is this for real? Out of all the players they should be upset about, Downie is nowhere close on that list, if you ask me.
- chimpira

Actually from what I read, it wasn't even the penalties they were mad at, they think he can be producing more. I have been rather happy with his production. So I don't understand that opinion, but I'm just repeating what Molinari wrote yesterday based off his conversation with GMJR.

Leaves a pretty big hole next season you'd have 3 guys gone from this years blue line
- dbell646

McClement for a 4th.
- BINGO!

I was thinking more like Ebbett or P-L L Leblond

If the Penguins are moving Despres, they need to get back a young, top 6 winger with a few years of control. You don't trade young, up and coming d-men for a rental. He hasn't even touched his best hockey yet, and has been on an upward trend ever since he's been given the opportunity to play everyday.
- cap1681

Yeah.. Despres is a legit middle pairing defensemen who is controlled for a few more years. You don't give that up for a rental.

"Mr. Rutherford is absolutely correct. When the Chicago Blackhawks won their last Stanley Cup in 2013 Jonathan Toews had 3 goals in 23 playoff games. Nobody cares or mentions that because the Blackhawks had a proper roster."

Thanks Ryan, I have been saying the above for the past two years. Toews was just awful in the 2013 playoffs but since the Blackhawks were so balanced they could overcome his pathetic scoring. Unfortunately, when Crosby and Malkin were awful against Boston and Crosby against NYR the Pens did not have the depth to overcome that. It is time this team gets more balance but I'm not sure that they will be able to do that because they will have to trade a high priced player either 71 or 58 (They won't trade 87) in the off season. You may not get fair market value but you will get cap space.

Leaves a pretty big hole next season you'd have 3 guys gone from this years blue line
- dbell646

Never said i liked the idea. Just seeing people put his name into the trade chatter, and saying that if people are hellbent on trading him, at minimum, you need to get a young top 6 winger. I personally think it would be a mistake to trade him at all. He is trending to be a legitimate top 4 d-man who is comfortable in both ends. Plus you can't teach his size.

Yeah.. Despres is a legit middle pairing defensemen who is controlled for a few more years. You don't give that up for a rental.
- rival22

He has potential to be more than that as well.

You were probably whining last year about needing toughness this guy has it. Letang takes a slashing penalty while short that's dumb at least Downie dropped someone. If we are looking for grit and secondary scoring you don't send him out. Guess we have different views on what selfishness is.
- dbell646

I never thought the team lacked toughness... it could use a solid creaseclearer, polak maybe, but no downies / cookes / etc. At least downie dropped someone? He took a penalty late in the third with a tie game! How could anyone think thats a good thing? Downie doesnt do that for the team... selfish selfish selfish