Pretty much... Lovejoy is far from the worst thing as a 1 year or less plug for the mid pairing. Luckily Clendening is looking good, so next year (and during the season too even), should nothing happen to Pouliot and or Dumo, you have those 3 to battle for the 2nd mid pairing spot with Cole.

Young D who can only get better... Just need to find a way to break Scud's kneecaps... or trade him. Either works.
- Guile

To me Lovejoy is a mediocre mid pairing D man or good bottom pairing guy. The fact that he's not a great fit in our system makes me unenthusiastic for him to play as our #4, but if the Maatta-Letang pairing is as good as its looking, worse things have happened than a slightly sub par second pairing. As long as they're serviceable enough to allow us to shelter whatever atrocious bottom pairing we end up having I'm cool with that. Our D core will be functional if we can do to our bottom pairing what we did to Dumoulin-Chorney in the playoffs. Obviously that pairing should have gotten wrecked but we were able to give them such favorable usage that they actually looked damn good.

The piece of paper under the record has a list of 'deterrents', listed on the NHL.

There is no such thing as a deterrent. Players will roll the dice to show how tough they are if there are guys that will drop the gloves on the opposing team, because they know they don't need to stand up & go toe to toe with them. The zebs will jump in now & grubs know that.

Believe it or not there are players that can play & can fight in the NHL - they just play a lot better than they fight. Dubinsky is a very good player & isn't afraid to drop the gloves. When was the last time an injury occurred due to a fight? Or even better, when was the last time a grub actually had the poop punched out of him because he did a grub thing & was held accountable by the opposing teams tough guy?

The piece of paper under the record has a list of 'deterrents', listed on the NHL.

There is no such thing as a deterrent. Players will roll the dice to show how tough they are if there are guys that will drop the gloves on the opposing team, because they know they don't need to stand up & go toe to toe with them. The zebs will jump in now & grubs know that.

Believe it or not there are players that can play & can fight in the NHL - they just play a lot better than they fight. Dubinsky is a very good player & isn't afraid to drop the gloves. When was the last time an injury occurred due to a fight? Or even better, when was the last time a grub actually had the poop punched out of him because he did a grub thing & was held accountable by the opposing teams tough guy?
- Aussiepenguin

You, sir, are very right. Tough guys don't do bo-didly to deter other players from taking runs. That's why if we're going to employ a tough guy, I'd rather it be someone like Dubinsky or Backas or Lucic or Chara (in his prime not the current shell) who will knock the crap out of scum like the Rinaldos of the world when the time comes, but can actually play hockey in the interim. Employing a thug like Rinaldo or Sestito to enforce the dumb poop "code" of "if you take a run at our star we'll take a run at yours" does nothing but propel the circle of violence that leads to injuries, and employing a clean tough guy like Glass or Engelland to enforce the equally dumb poop "code" of "if you hit our star, no matter whether its clean or dirty, you're gonna have to fight me" does nothing but discourage hitting if anything. Both are bad for hockey.

To me Lovejoy is a mediocre mid pairing D man or good bottom pairing guy. The fact that he's not a great fit in our system makes me unenthusiastic for him to play as our #4, but if the Maatta-Letang pairing is as good as its looking, worse things have happened than a slightly sub par second pairing. As long as they're serviceable enough to allow us to shelter whatever atrocious bottom pairing we end up having I'm cool with that. Our D core will be functional if we can do to our bottom pairing what we did to Dumoulin-Chorney in the playoffs. Obviously that pairing should have gotten wrecked but we were able to give them such favorable usage that they actually looked damn good.
- Victoro311

Growing pains... seems we are going to have them with Pouliot... did not expect them to be an issue in Dumoulin. But at least this is STILL better than having 3 of the top 4 injured

You, sir, are very right. Tough guys don't do bo-didly to deter other players from taking runs. That's why if we're going to employ a tough guy, I'd rather it be someone like Dubinsky or Backas or Lucic or Chara (in his prime not the current shell) who will knock the crap out of scum like the Rinaldos of the world when the time comes, but can actually play hockey in the interim. Employing a thug like Rinaldo or Sestito to enforce the dumb poop "code" of "if you take a run at our star we'll take a run at yours" does nothing but propel the circle of violence that leads to injuries, and employing a clean tough guy like Glass or Engelland to enforce the equally dumb poop "code" of "if you hit our star, no matter whether its clean or dirty, you're gonna have to fight me" does nothing but discourage hitting if anything. Both are bad for hockey.
- Victoro311

I'm not saying don't have guys that will fight on the roster I'm just saying there is no such thing as a deterrent. I've said this before, I'd rather have the tough guy run the other teams star into the ground although Dubinsky is a good player, Sestito should have hunted him more than just go & pick a fight. Dubinsky will fight but is also very smart in what he does. Next game the plan should just be harass the poop out of Dubinsky the way they did Ovi in last seasons final game against the Caps. Wait for the grub to do something stupid!


Edit: I will bet that if Dubinsky is being harassed he will run Sid straight into the boards - guarantee it! I think he would do,what I am saying, as I believe it's the smart thing to do. If a team is afraid their star will get hurt they will avoid ruffling feathers. We still should run the (frank)er though!

I'm not saying don't have guys that will fight on the roster I'm just saying there is no such thing as a deterrent. I've said this before, I'd rather have the tough guy run the other teams star into the ground although Dubinsky is a good player, Sestito should have hunted him more than just go & pick a fight. Dubinsky will fight but is also very smart in what he does. Next game the plan should just be harass the poop out of Dubinsky the way they did Ovi in last seasons final game against the Caps. Wait for the grub to do something stupid!
- Aussiepenguin

SO what you're saying is... we need Matt Cooke from about 5 years ago again

Loved the cookie monster

SO what you're saying is... we need Matt Cooke from about 5 years ago again

Loved the cookie monster
- Guile

Yes not sure id go to the Cooke extreme but someone that won't try & blow a knee & just knock the shyte out of a player would be acceptable. That hit on Seabrook by the Ducks D man that was on the main thread yesterday would be a fine example.

little off topic but.....how bout them Bills.

And I realize our blogger likes them as well. But they have been my team way b4 he started writing here.

Look pretty darn good this year. Even im that loss agianst the patriots.

little off topic but.....how bout them Bills.

And I realize our blogger likes them as well. But they have been my team way b4 he started writing here.

Look pretty darn good this year. Even im that loss agianst the patriots.
- pensfan024

I had them beating the Pats that game. They really look quite good. Still not sold on T Mobile. If they had a real quarterback back there and a 100% Shady they'd be in business.

Just a comment on MJ & Pouliot. Looks like a really good move by MJ giving DP a bit of a kick up the arse publicly. Looks like DP might have started to believe the hype about himself & needs some adjustment. Still don't think he will star the season in the 6 though for a couple of reasons already mentioned about waivers & needing to lift his game.

As I've said before I hope Clendening gets his look & Dumo will be there also.

Love to see Sprong get a look in the NHL for a few as well but if he plays 4 minutes a game will that help him? Or would you risk him playing 10 - 15 if the bottom six will be evenly played? Has he made any errors that were a liability to GA? Also I hope Sundy gets a guernsey on 3rd line as I said yesterday.

Just a comment on MJ & Pouliot. Looks like a really good move by MJ giving DP a bit of a kick up the arse publicly. Looks like DP might have started to believe the hype about himself & needs some adjustment. Still don't think he will star the season in the 6 though for a couple of reasons already mentioned about waivers & needing to lift his game.

As I've said before I hope Clendening gets his look & Dumo will be there also.

Love to see Sprong get a look in the NHL for a few as well but if he plays 4 minutes a game will that help him? Or would you risk him playing 10 - 15 if the bottom six will be evenly played? Has he made any errors that were a liability to GA? Also I hope Sundy gets a guernsey on 3rd line as I said yesterday.
- Aussiepenguin

On Sprong... how does his Junior's contract work in regards to the NHL? I know he cannot go to the AHL, and he can only opt out of the juniors team if he makes the NHL team. So, lets say we have him as the extra man in the press box... and then, whatever, we send him down to bring up an "enforcer" for lets say games against Philly and the Islanders. Can we in this scenario, send him to the AHL and call him back up later, or does he have to go to the other club, and then hes locked there?

I believe Reverend something is one of our AHL/prospect gurus? You around man?

You, sir, are very right. Tough guys don't do bo-didly to deter other players from taking runs. That's why if we're going to employ a tough guy, I'd rather it be someone like Dubinsky or Backas or Lucic or Chara (in his prime not the current shell) who will knock the crap out of scum like the Rinaldos of the world when the time comes, but can actually play hockey in the interim. Employing a thug like Rinaldo or Sestito to enforce the dumb poop "code" of "if you take a run at our star we'll take a run at yours" does nothing but propel the circle of violence that leads to injuries, and employing a clean tough guy like Glass or Engelland to enforce the equally dumb poop "code" of "if you hit our star, no matter whether its clean or dirty, you're gonna have to fight me" does nothing but discourage hitting if anything. Both are bad for hockey.
- Victoro311

I think people forget how fast NHL hockey is. The notion that tough guys run around methodically playing some kind of mind game with everyone else on the ice is just stupid. They are going to make their runs and charges regardless. The best way to crack down on that is to make sure it happens far less, with fines, suspensions, coaching, etc

I think people forget how fast NHL hockey is. The notion that tough guys run around methodically playing some kind of mind game with everyone else on the ice is just stupid. They are going to make their runs and charges regardless. The best way to crack down on that is to make sure it happens far less, with fines, suspensions, coaching, etc
- Blackstrom2

No disagreements here. Pathetic officiating has created the illusion that mindless gorillas are needed in this game. Half the reasons why season and career ending injuries are so wide spread.

On Sprong... how does his Junior's contract work in regards to the NHL? I know he cannot go to the AHL, and he can only opt out of the juniors team if he makes the NHL team. So, lets say we have him as the extra man in the press box... and then, whatever, we send him down to bring up an "enforcer" for lets say games against Philly and the Islanders. Can we in this scenario, send him to the AHL and call him back up later, or does he have to go to the other club, and then hes locked there?

I believe Reverend something is one of our AHL/prospect gurus? You around man?
- Guile

I was always under the impression that the AHL is completely out of the question but he can be called up and down from the juniors. I may very well be wrong though and once he hits the juniors he's locked. In any event, the AHL is out.

I think it's Cole and Dumo, Lovejoy and Scuds/Pouliot. No way Gonch and Scuds will ever play in the same pairing.
- madmike71

I'm also on the Cole and Dumo team. I'm the biggest Pouliot fan there is but if he needs to back down to WBS for half the season to get his crap together then that is what needs to be done. The only problem is Cole and Dumo are both lefties and Lovejoy and Clendening are both righties. So I don't know how to make that work. Lovejoy can't play 2nd pairing.

I'm also on the Cole and Dumo team. I'm the biggest Pouliot fan there is but if he needs to back down to WBS for half the season to get his crap together then that is what needs to be done. The only problem is Cole and Dumo are both lefties and Lovejoy and Clendening are both righties. So I don't know how to make that work. Lovejoy can't play 2nd pairing.
- Dcoms

Cole can play the right side.

Just a comment on MJ & Pouliot. Looks like a really good move by MJ giving DP a bit of a kick up the arse publicly. Looks like DP might have started to believe the hype about himself & needs some adjustment. Still don't think he will star the season in the 6 though for a couple of reasons already mentioned about waivers & needing to lift his game.

As I've said before I hope Clendening gets his look & Dumo will be there also.

Love to see Sprong get a look in the NHL for a few as well but if he plays 4 minutes a game will that help him? Or would you risk him playing 10 - 15 if the bottom six will be evenly played? Has he made any errors that were a liability to GA? Also I hope Sundy gets a guernsey on 3rd line as I said yesterday.
- Aussiepenguin

Actually Sprong looks like a vet. There was a point in the second period when the Pens finally started getting there act together. Sprong crashed the crease looking for a rebound but Bob hung onto the puck for a whistle. Jack Johnson cross checked Sprong in the back to get him out of the crease and Sprong turned around at popped Johnson in the face. His glove was on and he missed slightly but he showed he was not going to take that $hit. I really liked that.

On Sprong... how does his Junior's contract work in regards to the NHL? I know he cannot go to the AHL, and he can only opt out of the juniors team if he makes the NHL team. So, lets say we have him as the extra man in the press box... and then, whatever, we send him down to bring up an "enforcer" for lets say games against Philly and the Islanders. Can we in this scenario, send him to the AHL and call him back up later, or does he have to go to the other club, and then hes locked there?

I believe Reverend something is one of our AHL/prospect gurus? You around man?
- Guile

No you can't send him to the AHL for any reason. He has to be on the NHL roster or he has to go back to Charlottetown. What I don't know is if he can go play in the Swiss pro league instead of going back the the CHL? It might be better competition to play against grown men and get stronger. It's obviously a waste to send him to the CHL just to dominate it.

I was always under the impression that the AHL is completely out of the question but he can be called up and down from the juniors. I may very well be wrong though and once he hits the juniors he's locked. In any event, the AHL is out.
- Victoro311

No, once he goes to the CHL he has to stay until that team is eliminated from the CHL playoffs.

I'm also on the Cole and Dumo team. I'm the biggest Pouliot fan there is but if he needs to back down to WBS for half the season to get his crap together then that is what needs to be done. The only problem is Cole and Dumo are both lefties and Lovejoy and Clendening are both righties. So I don't know how to make that work. Lovejoy can't play 2nd pairing.
- Dcoms

I don't like the two righty's together either, but I hate the thought of Lovejob in the 2nd pairing as well.

I know people are going to flip out, but I think the third pairing will be Lovejoy and Scuds. That sounds scary just typing it.

Actually Sprong looks like a vet. There was a point in the second period when the Pens finally started getting there act together. Sprong crashed the crease looking for a rebound but Bob hung onto the puck for a whistle. Jack Johnson cross checked Sprong in the back to get him out of the crease and Sprong turned around at popped Johnson in the face. His glove was on and he missed slightly but he showed he was not going to take that $hit. I really liked that.
- Dcoms

I would have lost my poop if I had been watching the game. I've never liked Jack Johnson. I can't wait to see Danny Sprong in a Pens' sweater full time. I feel so much better about him than I did about Kasperi Kapanen.

I don't like the two righty's together either, but I hate the thought of Lovejob in the 2nd pairing as well.

I know people are going to flip out, but I think the third pairing will be Lovejoy and Scuds. That sounds scary just typing it.
- madmike71

Maybe during the Bylsma era, but Professor Johnson is too smart to play two defensemen that don't fit in his system together on the same pairing unless he plans on giving that pairing zero icetime and basically roll out four d. If Scuderi is playing regular games its because Lovejoy is in a top 4 spot.

Beating that dead horse a little more... Should have just bought out Scuds and traded Kunitz for cap room to add a D.

Beating that dead horse a little more... Should have just bought out Scuds and traded Kunitz for cap room to add a D.
- madmike71

Oh (frank) now you did it! Enter kuni and scuds supporters..

Has the pens sent made any cuts yet?

Beating that dead horse a little more... Should have just bought out Scuds and traded Kunitz for cap room to add a D.
- madmike71

Kunitz is having a strong camp and is looking awesome with Sid and kessel. At that cap hit, I'm not moving him unless he looks terrible for a consistent amount of time. If guys lik fleischman can get mid round picks, an underperforming Kunitz could still land a 2nd at the deadline.

I'd send scuderi down to the minors and let dumo, clendening,
And pouliot fight for the bottom pairing spots. It looks like lovejoy-Cole could be a 2nd pairing