No because your NHL club is not a direct translation of 1 farm team. You have multiple picks scattered through multiple clubs....that doesn't mean it all comes together. If all of our best prospects all played for the Wolfpack, they would probably be pretty good. But ages are also different too.
- xcheckmajor

Good point. I wish they'd force picks to play in one place so you can tell what you have as a unit instead of as individuals. You could bring up lines instead of single players if needed.

Expecting you to stop is equally unlikely.
- Isles_since_6

Listen guy, you have a tendency to try to bait me into an argument. Whether I'm on another board having a civil discussion or even on the islanders board back before you guys petitioned to have me no longer post there when I'd be giving you guys credit and you pop in out of nowhere with a "nobody gives a (frank) what you have to say", you seem to really be on my Richard. Id appreciate it if you took your own advice and facked off in trying to converse with me in any way.

Good point. I wish they'd force picks to play in one place so you can tell what you have as a unit instead of as individuals. You could bring up lines instead of single players if needed.
- brienstel

Haha, that would make the lives of scouts and player development so much easier...picking the diamonds in the rough is part of the tricky process.

The Pens will be okay I think, they do have a good organization and they did put together a powerhouse before, they just need to retool. I think the biggest thing is not being afraid to proactive management. Look at Sather for example, never afraid of making a move that will improve the club. He moved Gomez, at the time was an 80pt. Ranger, the only one producing really. He moved Gaborik. He moved Callahan, Dubinsky. Sather doesn't let players run the organization, he gets value out his player or they are gone.

The Pens obviously aren't in the trenches, they are still a really good team. But it could be time for culture change and that starts with moving someone that has too much influence over the club. I don't know who would be better to move, Malkin or Crosby...I think Crosby would make the biggest return and biggest impact for culture change. Malkin may be ready to assume the role of best player on the Pens.

Edit: In all honesty, Crosby is arguably the best all around player in the world. He's just not getting it done for the Pens anymore. He would bring an incredible package to reboot the organization and immediately bring them depth. Malkin is giving you similar production Crosby anyway. You could probably get a Lindros like bounty for Crosby while he still has a good 7-8 years of great production left in him. A solid Dman, A solid Forward, 2 good young players and 2 draft picks. That is what Crosby could probably get you guys.

Haha, that would make the lives of scouts and player development so much easier...picking the diamonds in the rough is part of the tricky process.

The Pens will be okay I think, they do have a good organization and they did put together a powerhouse before, they just need to retool. I think the biggest thing is not being afraid to proactive management. Look at Sather for example, never afraid of making a move that will improve the club. He moved Gomez, at the time was an 80pt. Ranger, the only one producing really. He moved Gaborik. He moved Callahan, Dubinsky. Sather doesn't let players run the organization, he gets value out his player or they are gone.

The Pens obviously aren't in the trenches, they are still a really good team. But it could be time for culture change and that starts with moving someone that has too much influence over the club. I don't know who would be better to move, Malkin or Crosby...I think Crosby would make the biggest return and biggest impact for culture change. Malkin may be ready to assume the role of best player on the Pens.

Edit: In all honesty, Crosby is arguably the best all around player in the world. He's just not getting it done for the Pens anymore. He would bring an incredible package to reboot the organization and immediately bring them depth. Malkin is giving you similar production Crosby anyway. You could probably get a Lindros like bounty for Crosby while he still has a good 7-8 years of great production left in him. A solid Dman, A solid Forward, 2 good young players and 2 draft picks. That is what Crosby could probably get you guys.
- xcheckmajor

Ownership doesn't want to trade any of the core (Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Fleury) so for better or worse they are not going anywhere.

downie crosby hornqvist
Perron Malkin Comeau
Kunitz Sutter Bennett
Winnik lap spaling

Biggest change that has to happen before game two.

Listen guy, you have a tendency to try to bait me into an argument. Whether I'm on another board having a civil discussion or even on the islanders board back before you guys petitioned to have me no longer post there when I'd be giving you guys credit and you pop in out of nowhere with a "nobody gives a (frank) what you have to say", you seem to really be on my Richard. Id appreciate it if you took your own advice and facked off in trying to converse with me in any way.
- rangerdanger94

If this wasn't internet land I would fight you.

downie crosby hornqvist
Perron Malkin Comeau
Kunitz Sutter Bennett
Winnik lap spaling

Biggest change that has to happen before game two.
- Grinder47

Downie and Hornqvist only play RW.

Downie and Hornqvist only play RW.
- jfkst1

Didn't stop Bylsma with Neal and Iggy

Listen guy, you have a tendency to try to bait me into an argument. Whether I'm on another board having a civil discussion or even on the islanders board back before you guys petitioned to have me no longer post there when I'd be giving you guys credit and you pop in out of nowhere with a "nobody gives a (frank) what you have to say", you seem to really be on my Richard. Id appreciate it if you took your own advice and facked off in trying to converse with me in any way.
- rangerdanger94

Oh, I see, it's only okay when you dig at people. Noted.

Downie and Hornqvist only play RW.
- jfkst1

"only" so... they can never play left wing, and this is a fact?

"only" so... they can never play left wing, and this is a fact?
- Guile

Maybe it's in their contract or molecular composition. LW = VERBOTTEN.

"only" so... they can never play left wing, and this is a fact?
- Guile

I don't think they'll spontaneously combust if you put them at left wing, but I don't think they'd be effective there either.

Didn't stop Bylsma with Neal and Iggy
- chimpira

His lineup decisions in that postseason should have gotten him fired.

Oh, I see, it's only okay when you dig at people. Noted.
- Isles_since_6

No you're just a hypocrite. You go around acting all high and mighty calling me a troll and then turn around and try to bait me into a fight.

"only" so... they can never play left wing, and this is a fact?
- Guile

Some players can play either wing with no issue. Others take up to a season to really adjust like Ovi a couple seasons ago. I remember Gaborik was moved to his off wing and never adjusted at all and was moved back.

His lineup decisions in that postseason should have gotten him fired.
- jfkst1

Agreed. Switching a 500 goal scorer to his off wing was idiotic

Some players can play either wing with no issue. Others take up to a season to really adjust like Ovi a couple seasons ago. I remember Gaborik was moved to his off wing and never adjusted at all and was moved back.
- rangerdanger94

Yep, hence my sarcasm. He doesn't know if either can swap wings, was just a dismissive statement without thought.

Yep, hence my sarcasm. He doesn't know if either can swap wings, was just a dismissive statement without thought.
- Guile

Hornqvist has never played LW in his career and Downie has said he prefers RW. Comeau is the only one on the team that can interchange fluidly without a noticeably difference in the data.

Want to know why? You can't ice a full team with 25mil + tied up between three players. ESPECIALLY when we have no players on ELC deals that can make a difference, and are bare bones on draft picks.

We're stuck, either keep trading picks for rental type of guys and pray that works or trade one of the core for a nice return and pray that works.
- znagle

You're so wrong it hurts. They absolutely can ice a full team with 25 mil between three players. We just need guys like Perron and Kunitz to produce and we need to be healthy. We haven't been afforded either of those things as of late.

I do agree that ELC would help a lot, but our drafting is absolute crap.

There still will be holes. Guys who get paid 2-3 million will produce at pay rate. We will still depend on 87 and 71 to carry the team for the most part. Any guys like Hornqvist cost assets to get. We don't have much assets available for them. We've traded them all for guys we thought would be good. This has been happening for years and only gets tougher now that Letang makes 7 as well.

Scuds, Spaling (overpaid by 1), Hoff was not needed, Kunitz produces to his pay. Not sure there's much money to spend on our holes there without making one somewhere else.
- znagle

Well, duh. Of course there will be holes. Unless youre going to try to fill your entire roster with 15 goal scorers, each of whom make 2-3 mil each, that's the way it is. You want talent, you have to pay for it.

No you're just a hypocrite. You go around acting all high and mighty calling me a troll and then turn around and try to bait me into a fight.
- rangerdanger94

Imagine going through two years of that.

That's about how long you've been posting on the isles board, right?

We can b*tch all day about the inability to draft young forwards. But we need to shift our focus on trades, and FA signings to get younger. And most of all, trust the young players we already have...
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Why would we trust the young players we have? We have to WIN NOW! That means we trade them away for "experience" and "grit". We don't have time for that "Developing talent" nonsense.

.............http://www.thehockeynews....crosby-for-the-no-1-pick/





The Hockey News Folks!

Hockey players have different levels of play.

Playoff time is when you up your game, give a little more effort, hit a little harder, skate a little faster, and give your A game.

Players tend to play differently during the regular season.

Except one, Sidney Crosby.

Sid is a crazy, superstitious, perfectionist. He plays every regular season game at a higher level than anyone else; which is Sid's max and best effort; Sid does not have another level because he has maxed out his ability. That ability is still better than anyone else, but when all of these other players up their games for the playoffs, Sid looks like he doesn't. When in fact his game is always at the top of his ability. Sid will never dominate in the playoffs like he does in the regular season, end of story.

This doesn't mean Sid cant catch fire, because he can.

We will win this series

F mystery meat on a stick in times square
- nbartley9

Bro... mystery meat on a stick is so damn good. Youre missing out.

I don't think Crosby or Malkin are dirty players. They have high compete levels, especially in the playoffs. Do they do the little ticky-tacky stuff, like giving a guy an extra shove or going down a little easier to sell a call. Sure. But almost every player is doing that on every team in the playoffs.

Downie, Lapierre and Kunitz though - those guys I worry about going over the line...
- SMSB

I wouldn't worry about Kunitz. He likes to rile people up. Lappy I think is more talk than action, but I know his past has some "Cook-esque" moments. Downie doesn't even know a line exists. That guy is just a flat out idiot. The sad part is he has actual talent that's wasted in the box.