I actually disagree. Malkin himself hasn't looked as bad as Crosby and Malkin and Hornqvist have been playing better together than Crosby and Kessel have. Kunitz has been better than Perron though. It's pretty much a wash but I'd give the Sacko to Crosby and the first line.
- Victoro311

I'm not happy with anyone in the top 6 aside from Kessel. He's the only positive out there creating chances. Hornqvist is getting to the front of the net well, but I'm not seeing him forecheck/backcheck or win the puck battles like we're used to. What should be one of the NHL's best top 6 forward lineups is getting completely outplayed by the opponents and the bottom 6 of the Pens has shown more effort than they have. I'm willing to be patient on production because sometimes lulls in that happen. I have zero patience for the lack of effort and process those five (Crosby, Kunitz, Malkin, Hornqvist, Perron) have demonstrated so far.

Thought this was pretty funny;



Not directed at anyone but............

The D has been bad unless you like Fleury screened all the time and no transition to the offense and no possession. I have watched every game. But if you just look at the game report, commentary, or reviews (or box scores), then yeah, the defense looks fine. It's not. Not by a long shot. The D is well below average, just like I said it would be.
- thevelvetfog1

pierre maguire agrees with you, he was on radio here in Vancouver today and said the lack of quality defensemen on the pens means less opportunities in transition and less decent outlet passes to the forwards.

So, there seems to be a lot of anger at this board directed to the team and each other. Well, time will tell with the team. As far as each attacking each other....

I'm not happy with anyone in the top 6 aside from Kessel. He's the only positive out there creating chances. Hornqvist is getting to the front of the net well, but I'm not seeing him forecheck/backcheck or win the puck battles like we're used to. What should be one of the NHL's best top 6 forward lineups is getting completely outplayed by the opponents and the bottom 6 of the Pens has shown more effort than they have. I'm willing to be patient on production because sometimes lulls in that happen. I have zero patience for the lack of effort and process those five (Crosby, Kunitz, Malkin, Hornqvist, Perron) have demonstrated so far.
- jfkst1

That's my thing as well. That's why I didn't lose my cool until last night. Last night was just embarrassing.

So, there seems to be a lot of anger at this board directed to the team and each other. Well, time will tell with the team. As far as each attacking each other....
- powerhouse

I think you guys should redirect all your anger towards me. I can't think of anything overly insulting to say at the moment to draw the anger yet, but I'll figure something out.

I think you guys should redirect all your anger towards me. I can't think of anything overly insulting to say at the moment to draw the anger yet, but I'll figure something out.
- Isles_since_6

The Isles aren't getting the results they want, but they are playing hard. Same with CBJ. Pens aren't putting in a consistent effort which is what is so infuriating.

So, there seems to be a lot of anger at this board directed to the team and each other. Well, time will tell with the team. As far as each attacking each other....
- powerhouse

The Isles aren't getting the results they want, but they are playing hard. Same with CBJ. Pens aren't putting in a consistent effort which is what is so infuriating.
- jfkst1

we played okay against the hawks in game one, apparently crapped the bed in game 2 and then played well against the jets. I can live with that though.

I completely understand the frustration for fans of any team that doesn't seem to be giving an effort. That's worse than losing to watch.

pierre maguire agrees with you, he was on radio here in Vancouver today and said the lack of quality defensemen on the pens means less opportunities in transition and less decent outlet passes to the forwards.
- Isles_since_6

I've said last season our issues for offence were with the D - they just weren't scoring points of any kind except Tanger. Now this season being only 3 games old we have again Tanger being the only D man that has a point (very early on though). This season I think the D has been actively shooting but need to get points for the team to go forward.

So what I'm saying is that the issue was here last season, it's nothing new but this years version look to attack more so PM is just listing a known 'issue' to explain why Sid & Geno aren't firing - & I doubt PM will publicly criticise either of those 2. Pick on a believed weak link you can't go wrong - but picking on a controversial problem is ballsy. Is PM ballsy type of guy?

I've said last season our issues for offence were with the D - they just weren't scoring points of any kind except Tanger. Now this season being only 3 games old we have again Tanger being the only D man that has a point (very early on though). This season I think the D has been actively shooting but need to get points for the team to go forward.

So what I'm saying is that the issue was here last season, it's nothing new but this years version look to attack more so PM is just listing a known 'issue' to explain why Sid & Geno aren't firing - & I doubt PM will publicly criticise either of those 2. Pick on a believed weak link you can't go wrong - but picking on a controversial problem is ballsy. Is PM ballsy type of guy?
- Aussiepenguin

PM is a monster!

I get what you're saying and mostly agree, although I do think your defense is downgraded from last years and that's also going to have an impact, although I was expecting it to have more of an impact in defensive coverage.

I think you guys should redirect all your anger towards me. I can't think of anything overly insulting to say at the moment to draw the anger yet, but I'll figure something out.
- Isles_since_6

Just tell us how great Scudsmuffin has played & quote his Corsi as being one of the best in the team! That will get us going!

PM is a monster!

I get what you're saying and mostly agree, although I do think your defense is downgraded from last years and that's also going to have an impact, although I was expecting it to have more of an impact in defensive coverage.
- Isles_since_6

That's the thing. We are giving our young guys the opportunity this year & it's sink or swim for them for a few months before changes are made if necessary. But they are going ok, but they are the easy target for commentators that are afraid of saying Sid & Geno are not playing well. Blame the rookie D because everyone knows it's a rookie D & it's plausible for it to be the weakness - where up till now it's held it's own.

Just tell us how great Scudsmuffin has played & quote his Corsi as being one of the best in the team! That will get us going!
- Aussiepenguin

Scuderi at ES has been a hell of a lot better than Scuderi on the PK.

That's the thing. We are giving our young guys the opportunity this year & it's sink or swim for them for a few months before changes are made if necessary. But they are going ok, but they are the easy target for commentators that are afraid of saying Sid & Geno are not playing well. Blame the rookie D because everyone knows it's a rookie D & it's plausible for it to be the weakness - where up till now it's held it's own.
- Aussiepenguin

I didn't see pouliot this year, was he sent down to play top pairing minutes in the ahl or was he struggling in preseason? or both I guess?

I didn't see pouliot this year, was he sent down to play top pairing minutes in the ahl or was he struggling in preseason? or both I guess?
- Isles_since_6

Mostly both. Though compared to Scuderi he's Bobby Orr.

Mostly both. Though compared to Scuderi he's Bobby Orr.
- jfkst1

We have Brian strait so I know what you mean.

To echo the headline, the last time the Pens were this bad with this kind of payroll was Sid's rookie year.

The valid reason then was most of that payroll was wrapped up in aging stars. Ziggy Palffy was a joke. John LeClair was a shadow of what he once was. And The Magnificent One....well, he was still nearly a point-per-game guy at 40+, a bad hip, a bad back (still) and heart arrhythmia. But he's basically God on skates, so that's that.

The point is, this team has no excuse to not be scoring. Sure, the blue line looks like poop, but they ought to be scoring. I've never been so frustrated with this team as the last half dozen playoffs and the first three turds they left on the ice so far this year.

To echo the headline, the last time the Pens were this bad with this kind of payroll was Sid's rookie year.

The valid reason then was most of that payroll was wrapped up in aging stars. Ziggy Palffy was a joke. John LeClair was a shadow of what he once was. And The Magnificent One....well, he was still nearly a point-per-game guy at 40+, a bad hip, a bad back (still) and heart arrhythmia. But he's basically God on skates, so that's that.

The point is, this team has no excuse to not be scoring. Sure, the blue line looks like poop, but they ought to be scoring. I've never been so frustrated with this team as the last half dozen playoffs and the first three turds they left on the ice so far this year.
- jphiggins

every time I watch an nhl highlight on youtube I'm stuck watching that crosby/mckinnon tim horton's commercial with them working the drive thru. If someone could add O'Reilly hammering the building in a classic truck to that clip I'd enjoy it a lot more.

Just think.....this time tomoro we will be watching g the Pens lose.

He does that then he loses respect because he's not that type of guy from what I've seen. He's started in the pressers about guys needing to do more, & if he needs to then he will probably start naming names - as other coaches have done & will do. He just looks like a controlled guy that tries to get the message across through discussion & patience - ah (frank) that let's see some (frank)ing face slapping!


- Aussiepenguin

He does not look controlled to me. He looks like a guy happy to get paid and putting in the minimum effort to keep being paid. This silent and mythological thing is stupid and isn't and hasn't worked.

I know its easy to point at Johnston but the reality is there is only so much he can do. There is no way Johnston is looking at the Arizon game and saying yeah thats my system, they were all over the place.
Montreal is the top team in the east right now, I actually think we played a pretty good game against a team whose been playing the same system for years with very few personel changes backed up by the best goalie in the league. We were in that game the whole way.
The problem as every is pointing out is the top six, eventually thats going to get figured out and these three losses are just going to be three losses.
Personally I think putting Kessel with Malkin will fix the top six. I said it in the last blog, Crosby is a grinder and needs to play with other grinding players, Team Canada has proven that Crosby does not elevate the play of top end players.
Hornqvist with Sid
Kessel with Malkin
- stackthepads

Agree with this, and your comment got me thinking a bit. I'm not sure about needing to play with other grinders exactly, but I think he needs to play with guys that play a predictable style so he can be the unpredictable playmaker. Sid is at his best in high energy situations--the rush, puck possession in the corner and behind the net, etc which I think sparks the grinder comment--and this situations don't give him much time to read what his linemates are up to. They need to be fast, simple and predictable, Dupuis from a few years ago might be the prototypical ideal linemate for him.

OTOH, I feel like when Crosby is on a line with other skilled playmakers, he has a look like he's trying to herd cats. He makes blind passes to no one (but he was supposed to be there!) or undercuts his own skill to play a simpler style to accommodate the other playmaker. I think that's what's going on right now with him and Kessel, Sid is trying to figure out how to play on a line with another elite playmaker. I don't know if he'll be able to adapt, it might take half a season to get there, and I'm not sure the results would be much more spectacular than putting him with Perron/Kunitz/Dupuis and Horny.

Those are just antics, the heavy handed coach is a dinosaur, people dont respond to that kind of leadership anymore, especially when its a bluff. Whats he going to do bench the top six?
Mike Yeo got lucky that his hissy fit coincided with the team getting a goalie that got hot as all hell.
Patrick Roy loses his head on a regular basis and Colorado isnt very good and they have loads of talent.
- stackthepads

The "strong silent" thing he thinks is so cool to keep doing is an antic also. I'm not saying he needs to lose his mind once a week. But if there is ever a time to do it 0-3 is the time.

The "strong silent" thing he thinks is so cool to keep doing is an antic also. I'm not saying he needs to lose his mind once a week. But if there is ever a time to do it 0-3 is the time.
- Zac_O

So what you're saying is that you want him to lose the plot in front of the camera? Show the whole world he's pissed?

Now as we don't know what happens behind closed doors, if he has his manner with the team then goes out & loses his cookie in front of the camera for us to see, how will that go down with his players?

Some coaches are just patient low profile characters that don't mess their hair up. He might kick the esky in the room but that may be it. I think his expression of that "wtf" look is him keeping himself from throwing himself onto the ice. Keeping it all inside. He probably goes home & weeps uncontrollably.

So whare saying is that you want him to lose the plot in front of the camera? Show the whole world he's pissed?

Now as we don't know what happens behind closed doors, if he has his manner with the team then goes out & loses his cookie in front of the camera for us to see, how will that go down with his players?

Some coaches are just patient low profile characters that don't mess their hair up. He might kick the esky in the room but that may be it. I think his expression of that "wtf" look is him keeping himself from throwing himself onto the ice. Keeping it all inside. He probably goes home & weeps uncontrollably.
- Aussiepenguin

again not saying he needs to go full bore every time. Just show that he cares on the bench. It'll make him much more liked. When a bad call happens be slightly mad looking. But no he looks like he is thinking "oh well I'll still be paid". I want him to work out and stay as the coach long term. Mostly because the team is set for his system.