I'd agree here. Although if Sprong makes the team and starts to sputter halfway into the season, can he be sent do to the AHL? Or would he have to be scratched?

Part of me thinks having Rust up and Plot out served 2 purposes. To see if Rust could handle a bottom 6 role and to give Plot a rest.
- Pens_Burgh

Junior. Just that his ecl kicks in

Having options should never scare you. The kids speed and shot are NHL ready. He sees the ice very well and hasn't been a defensive liabilty I can think of 4 or 5 guys I'd rather have him in over.
- dbell646

It's not the options. It's the possibility that he gets into a slump and they are stuck with him. Because there's nothing to do if he is playing bad. They'd have to keep playing him after the 9 games. Scratching him would stunt his growth.

I'd agree here. Although if Sprong makes the team and starts to sputter halfway into the season, can he be sent do to the AHL? Or would he have to be scratched?

Part of me thinks having Rust up and Plot out served 2 purposes. To see if Rust could handle a bottom 6 role and to give Plot a rest.

Nope. He would have to be scratched. He's not AHL eligible.

Junior. Just that his ecl kicks in
- martox

Oh, so you can still send them back to juniors even after the 9 gameS? It just knocks a year off his ELC?

It's not the options. It's the possibility that he gets into a slump and they are stuck with him. Because there's nothing to do if he is playing bad. They'd have to keep playing him after the 9 games. Scratching him would stunt his growth.
- Zac_O

Well every player goes into a slump at some point during the season. You let him play his way out of it. I don't know much about the kid other then he appears to work his ass off so I can't imagine he would be an issue. You ice your best team and he is one of our top 12 forwards without a doubt.

I'd agree here. Although if Sprong makes the team and starts to sputter halfway into the season, can he be sent do to the AHL? Or would he have to be scratched?

.
- Pens_Burgh

I was thinking about this too. Im pretty sure he cannot play in the AHL. We could send him back to the Q though. Only thing that is really affected once he plays a 10th game is that it burns a year of the ELC.

ANd in my opinion, who cares. Being in win now mode, the team does a lot more damaging things to the future than let a talented young kid play.

Really don't see the benefit for anyone sending Sprong back to junior.

Listening to HCMJ's comments about him needing to work on his play away from the puck, it's hard to see that on TV. Maybe he does need to work on that like most young players. But, is he really going to improve that area of his game in junior? He'd the the best player on his team, and likely leaned on to push the offense more so than the defense there anyway.

He'd be better of being brought along this year in a bottom six role, and you'd have him to plug in to the top six in case of injuries or whatever.

The Pens forward depth in their organization is better than it has been in recent years, but they still don't have true skill guys in WB/S. I'd much rather have Sprong on the NHL roster to fill a top six spot if needed, than have to plug Brian Rust or whomever in there for a few games.
- rival22

The benefit is that they'd have him on an ELC for him when he is 19-22 in 2016-18 instead of 18-21 in 2015-17. If one believes the forward crop is sufficiently deep this year, then delaying his timetable *might* be the right call.

that said, i think the benefits of keeping him probably outweigh the benefit of sending him back.

He's one of the top 12 forwards in the organization and deserves to stay, even if it'll make the 2018 team like 3% worse.

The benefit is that they'd have him on an ELC for him when he is 19-22 in 2016-18 instead of 18-21 in 2015-17. If one believes the forward crop is sufficiently deep this year, then delaying his timetable *might* be the right call.

that said, i think the benefits of keeping him probably outweigh the benefit of sending him back.

He's one of the top 12 forwards in the organization and deserves to stay, even if it'll make the 2018 team like 3% worse.
- poopmouth

Plus dont forget the benefit of having a forward group that is "too" deep. IF Sprong continues to play well like this, I'd take a hard look at the market for Chris Kunitz.

Junior. Just that his ecl kicks in
- martox

Well that sucks. I see him being sent down unless he continues to put up some points. I'd love to have him up, but with getting Dupuis and Fehr back, along with BB and Plot we don't really have a spot for him unless we move someone else.

Jesus I just realized that's 4 forwards already

Anyways, I think that Rust/Porter/Wilson/etc can move up just fine to take over the bottom 6 injury holes.

Fully healthy lines:

Sprong-Crosby-Hornqvist
Perron-Malkin-Kessel
Kunitz-Bonino-Dupuis
Fehr-Cullen-Bennett
Plotnikov

Thoughts?

Plus dont forget the benefit of having a forward group that is "too" deep. IF Sprong continues to play well like this, I'd take a hard look at the market for Chris Kunitz.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

can't imagine that market is too robust. but clearing the cap space that space would be huge for the deadline.

I dont think anyone would disagree that the kunitz cap space would be better utilized on a decent rental defenseman who fits the MJ system.

Alex Goligoski comes to mind. But the Stars will not be sellers :/.

without kunitz still leaves them with...

Sprong - Sid - Kessel
Perron - Geno - Hornqvist
Dupuis - Bonino - Fehr
Plotnikov - Cullen - Bennett.

holy smokes.

I was thinking about this too. Im pretty sure he cannot play in the AHL. We could send him back to the Q though. Only thing that is really affected once he plays a 10th game is that it burns a year of the ELC.

ANd in my opinion, who cares. Being in win now mode, the team does a lot more damaging things to the future than let a talented young kid play.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Sprong can only play in juniors or the NHL. He cannot play in the AHL until he is 20.
My biggest concern with keeping him in that the Pens are loaded on RWs and need LWs. Kessel, Hornqvist, Bennett, Fehr all prefer or exclusively play RW over LW. If Sprong can play LW it would help out a lot because outside of getting major injuries, it's going to be hard to get him enough playing time.

Crosby, Kunitz and Kessel need to quit being cute. If I was the head coach I would pull that line aside and give them the instructions of that if they are inside of the tops of the circles with the puck Crosby is either shooting or passing, Kessl is just shooting, and Kunitz is going to the net. If Kunitz has the puck just put it towards the net too. No more cute 3 player pass plays. Put the puck towards the net. 4 games into the season and one point from that line is not acceptable.

The whole situation with him scares me. He isn't really needed once Duper and Fehr are ready. But can he learn in the juniors? Maybe a trade is made to make room for him.
- Zac_O

Does that even matter with this team lol?

Once Duper and Fehr are ready, 2-3 other forwards will be hurt.

Does that even matter with this team lol?

Once Duper and Fehr are ready, 2-3 other forwards will be hurt.
- rival22

fair point.

or should i say... Fehr point

#jokes

I hope they have the ballz to keep scuderi benched and keep sprong up.

With how Beau and sprong have been playin. Ferh and Dupius coming back. We might be pretty good this year.

Does that even matter with this team lol?

Once Duper and Fehr are ready, 2-3 other forwards will be hurt.
- rival22

That's a good point. The optimist in me likes to forget the pens are always down at least a few guys.

I get that it's only 4 games into the season, but all the talk about Kessel being a 1 dimensional player seems to be just that, talk. Yes, he is not physical, but he is very good with his stick breaking up plays, both on the forecheck and in his own zone. On several occasions, when the puck has been in the Pens end, i've seen him down below the goal line trying to get the puck moved out of there.

Plot needs a rest after three games ?
I think even Gonch would've made it this far !

Report says Bennett on ir

I get that it's only 4 games into the season, but all the talk about Kessel being a 1 dimensional player seems to be just that, talk. Yes, he is not physical, but he is very good with his stick breaking up plays, both on the forecheck and in his own zone. On several occasions, when the puck has been in the Pens end, i've seen him down below the goal line trying to get the puck moved out of there.
- cap1681

Yup I have been pleasantly surprised with him.

I get that it's only 4 games into the season, but all the talk about Kessel being a 1 dimensional player seems to be just that, talk. Yes, he is not physical, but he is very good with his stick breaking up plays, both on the forecheck and in his own zone. On several occasions, when the puck has been in the Pens end, i've seen him down below the goal line trying to get the puck moved out of there.
- cap1681

I have yet to see a single instance where Kessel is a defensive liability. He's not physical, but he's been effective puck battling in the corners and shows good effort backchecking. He has shown some issues with puck management in the neutral zone, but nothing bad. Frankly, he's been far better all-around than Kunitz and Crosby. Both of whom have been very disappointing this season. Worst four game sample I've ever seen out of Crosby.

It was like a breath of fresh air not seeing Scuderi out there.

Report says Bennett on ir
- dbell646

god damn.

this is borderline heartbreaking

I have yet to see a single instance where Kessel is a defensive liability. He's not physical, but he's been effective puck battling in the corners and shows good effort backchecking. He has shown some issues with puck management in the neutral zone, but nothing bad. Frankly, he's been far better all-around than Kunitz and Crosby. Both of whom have been very disappointing this season. Worst four game sample I've ever seen out of Crosby.
- jfkst1

I think the puck management in the neutral zone stems from still building up chemistry with his teammates.