Farnham is more lightning rod than anything. He attracts attention, and it tended to work out in the Penguins' favor last year.
- hardnosed

He's an energy guy that does seem to generate positive penalty ratios. Has good mobility too. I like him a lot more than Sesito but I still don't want him doing much more than killing penalties.

Hockey is a very physical game as you know, skill will only get you so far but at 1 point or another, physicality will play it's role in who wins.
- Aussiepenguin

I'd love it if the puppy dogs and roses NHL of all speed and skill was the current reality, but it's not quite there yet.

I can't judge this team until they play a peskily physical opponent, or a team that traps them and forces them to win battles.

He's an energy guy that does seem to generate positive penalty ratios. Has good mobility too. I like him a lot more than Sesito but I still don't want him doing much more than killing penalties.
- jfkst1

You've been hypnotised by this untrue message about deterrents & enforcers. If you've read & understood my posts about this, I have said every time deterrents no longer exist - only a few keep pushing that they do. There is NO SUCH THING AS A DETERRENT. Having players that will hit & fight aren't always there to 'protect' players. If you have players that will play but step it up physically when needed then you have players teams, in my opinion, need. We don't. We have guys like Kuni that will hit but he's not going to do damage, he will become a pest - which has it's place as well (last seasons last game V Caps, they just kept hitting Ovi & it did put him off his game - great! ), but we need hard hitters that will tell the other team that the Pens aren't going to just let the bashing continue. They hit us we hit them, we don't have that, we are going to score PP goals!

You've been hypnotised by this untrue message about deterrents & enforcers. If you've read & understood my posts about this, I have said every time deterrents no longer exist - only a few keep pushing that they do. There is NO SUCH THING AS A DETERRENT. Having players that will hit & fight aren't always there to 'protect' players. If you have players that will play but step it up physically when needed then you have players teams, in my opinion, need. We don't. We have guys like Kuni that will hit but he's not going to do damage, he will become a pest - which has it's place as well (last seasons last game V Caps, they just kept hitting Ovi & it did put him off his game - great! ), but we need hard hitters that will tell the other team that the Pens aren't going to just let the bashing continue. They hit us we hit them, we don't have that, we are going to score PP goals!
- Aussiepenguin

Hitting is a random value. ANA outhit CHI 2:1 and still lost the series. WSH outhit NYR by a significant margin and lost their series as well. I'm fine with guys that are physical/can fight as long as they play well. I don't care about adding guys just because they can do those things well and can't play effectively.

You've been hypnotised by this untrue message about deterrents & enforcers. If you've read & understood my posts about this, I have said every time deterrents no longer exist - only a few keep pushing that they do. There is NO SUCH THING AS A DETERRENT. Having players that will hit & fight aren't always there to 'protect' players. If you have players that will play but step it up physically when needed then you have players teams, in my opinion, need. We don't. We have guys like Kuni that will hit but he's not going to do damage, he will become a pest - which has it's place as well (last seasons last game V Caps, they just kept hitting Ovi & it did put him off his game - great! ), but we need hard hitters that will tell the other team that the Pens aren't going to just let the bashing continue. They hit us we hit them, we don't have that, we are going to score PP goals!
- Aussiepenguin

don't shoot the messenger... TIOPS is reporting that Letang, Maatta, Cole, Scuderi and Dumo are locked into the top 5.... assuming the 6-7 will be Clendening and Lovejoy... I ve had my differences with some on this thread... but when I called Scuds serviceable 5-7 this is not what I had in mind..
Looks like:
Letang Cole
Maatta Scuds
Dumo Clens/Lovejoy

Hitting is a random value. ANA outhit CHI 2:1 and still lost the series. WSH outhit NYR by a significant margin and lost their series as well. I'm fine with guys that are physical/can fight as long as they play well. I don't care about adding guys just because they can do those things well and can't play effectively.
- jfkst1

Everyone can hit - well most everyone, I'm talking 'hitting' when it needs to be a hard aggressive contact. A very physical team which we will face & in my opinion will have difficulty with, uses hits as part of their play. I'm talking a revenge hit that puts a little extra into it & could possibly be when the target is in a vulnerable position (all legal of course ). The Seabrook hit where he got hit & when he hit Backes are great examples.

You are trying to analyse through numbers, which is not a valid reference with what I am talking about. Have a look at the sog of today's games, there are a few according to some that should have won today due to having more shots on goal - but they lost! Wow how did that happen? Sorry I'm being a little facetious.

I'd love it if the puppy dogs and roses NHL of all speed and skill was the current reality, but it's not quite there yet.

I can't judge this team until they play a peskily physical opponent, or a team that traps them and forces them to win battles.
- hardnosed

Spot-on. We're all plenty aware that there are 2 different seasons and 2 different (styles) of game in the NHL. ONe runs through April; the other through June. I think as the season unfolds, a good indicator of Pens playoff success will be determined by their Metro record. Specifically, against CBJ, WSH, NYI, and PHI (just because its PHI). These teams have decent size and can certainly play a heavy game + ramp-up the physicality. If Pgh has losing records against each opponent, I don't think that translates well to post season success. I wish the squad had more size.

I wish the squad had more size.
- out_of_market

Hopefully Fehr and Plotnikov play big, with more worries about Fehr playing up to his size.

Spot-on. We're all plenty aware that there are 2 different seasons and 2 different (styles) of game in the NHL. ONe runs through April; the other through June. I think as the season unfolds, a good indicator of Pens playoff success will be determined by their Metro record. Specifically, against CBJ, WSH, NYI, and PHI (just because its PHI). These teams have decent size and can certainly play a heavy game + ramp-up the physicality. If Pgh has losing records against each opponent, I don't think that translates well to post season success. I wish the squad had more size.
- out_of_market

But we are a 'skill' team that can play through a game that's physical - apparently.

Guys like Dumo & Dinger need to step up their physical games & use their size, which I'm hoping will come after they settle into the NHL tempo. Tanger just needs to be Tanger & Maatta who I hope stays healthy can also step his development up by developing a more physical presence in his play.

In the F, well Perron plays above his weight when he wants to, Kuni, & Duper. BB just needs to concentrate on hockey, Fehr hopefully brings 'something' because according to the Nucks fans Boner needs some Viagra - he's softer than Sutter.

Hopefully Fehr and Plotnikov play big, with more worries about Fehr playing up to his size.
- hardnosed

Under the just because category.. speaking of Russians playing-up/ big. Shout-out for Vlad Konstantinov. The old COL-DET rivalry was massively entertaining.

But we are a 'skill' team that can play through a game that's physical - apparently.

Guys like Dumo & Dinger need to step up their physical games & use their size, which I'm hoping will come after they settle into the NHL tempo. Tanger just needs to be Tanger & Maatta who I hope stays healthy can also step his development up by developing a more physical presence in his play.

In the F, well Perron plays above his weight when he wants to, Kuni, & Duper. BB just needs to concentrate on hockey, Fehr hopefully brings 'something' because according to the Nucks fans Boner needs some Viagra - he's softer than Sutter.
- Aussiepenguin

My concern (over the skill game) is that they play pond hockey all season, rack-up massive reliance on PP success, ignore 5v5 fundamentals, and get bounced in the playoffs because of the different style of play.

Wash, rinse, repeat...

Hopefully, skill doesnt translate to one-dimensional.

My concern (over the skill game) is that they play pond hockey all season, rack-up massive reliance on PP success, ignore 5v5 fundamentals, and get bounced in the playoffs because of the different style of play.

Wash, rinse, repeat...

Hopefully, skill doesnt translate to one-dimensional.
- out_of_market

I have nothing against the skill of this team this season - it's great. What I'm afraid of is teams like the BJ's, Caps & to a lesser extent Islanders, playing a physical game that is there to intimidate - people don't understand the is a difference with a physical game & a physically intimidating game. I've never played hockey but have played a physical contact game & know well the difference. If the BJ's for example start targeting players with cheap shots & aren't penalised then I don't think we can beat them as their tactics will nullify the advantage we have. I won't even talk about the Flyers.

The top teams currently have both skill & a physical character that can dictate a game. Tampa, Hawks, Ducks, Rags (though I don't rate them this season but their defence is solid) & LA who I think will be back this season. Winnipeg plays a tough hard game as well. We have skill.

If teams are penalised for illegal or questionable play then I think we may go OK - if we can stay out of the box as well - but that's the question, can we convert the PP chances?? In the playoffs last season the team seemed to tighten up although the Rags didn't resort to anything questionable because they had no fear, but hopefully by then our big guys will be playing more physical.

don't shoot the messenger... TIOPS is reporting that Letang, Maatta, Cole, Scuderi and Dumo are locked into the top 5.... assuming the 6-7 will be Clendening and Lovejoy... I ve had my differences with some on this thread... but when I called Scuds serviceable 5-7 this is not what I had in mind..
Looks like:
Letang Cole
Maatta Scuds
Dumo Clens/Lovejoy
- Brianandr1

If Scuderi is top four we are in big trouble. Hopefully when the speed of the game picks up here in the regular season Johnston sees that and adjusts. Until then-no lead is safe.

If Scuderi is top four we are in big trouble. Hopefully when the speed of the game picks up here in the regular season Johnston sees that and adjusts. Until then-no lead is safe.
- Thunderbolt

if scuderi is there at all we are in big trouble

FYI- pens are obviously not looking to trade Perron. They just sent him a jersey for his little baby to wear with the number 57 on it.

Oh and about the scuds thing.......I just threw up in my mouth a little.

don't shoot the messenger... TIOPS is reporting that Letang, Maatta, Cole, Scuderi and Dumo are locked into the top 5.... assuming the 6-7 will be Clendening and Lovejoy... I ve had my differences with some on this thread... but when I called Scuds serviceable 5-7 this is not what I had in mind..
Looks like:
Letang Cole
Maatta Scuds
Dumo Clens/Lovejoy
- Brianandr1

Al Jazeera might be more credible than TIOPS. That is saying something.

farnham have taken the number 1 center job from crosby cuz energy

I'm not super worried. I have faith the d will shake it's self out. No way Scuderi sticks in the top 4 and Magic Mike was impressed with Dinger so I really can't see him not playing. At some point Farnham will go bye bye. We just need to tolerate him for a while. At least these things better happen. After last night the Pens are all I have left...

I'm not super worried. I have faith the d will shake it's self out. No way Scuderi sticks in the top 4 and Magic Mike was impressed with Dinger so I really can't see him not playing. At some point Farnham will go bye bye. We just need to tolerate him for a while. At least these things better happen. After last night the Pens are all I have left...
- Victoro311

Did the hunchback leave the building?

Saturday @ 10:17 AM ET
Kuni sid kessel
Plot geno horn
Perron Bonino sprong
BB Cullen dupes

Looks good to me. Even tho I think Perron should be 1st line RW over kuni. It is good for kuni trade value to earn some points and show he still has it []

I'd be curious as to what you've seen to suggest that Perron should be the 1st line LW over Kunitz? The Kunitz-Crosby-Kessel line has been very strong throughout the preseason while the Perron-Crosby-Kessel line was very underwhelming when it was used. Are you basing that opinion on any tangle information or are you just working off of the names of the players?