The only logical conclusion is that there are two types of grit and we have the wrong kind, because I see a good amount of grit out there but people keep female doging about how soft we are. I don't get it. Our softness has been an issue in years past but a lot of that was because our #gritness guys like Glass, Adams, Pyatt, and Vitalle sucked. Now that we have forwards that can actually play hockey comprising our bottom 6 and defensemen that aren't pylons people just assume that we're soft.
- Victoro311

I don't want a player there only to drop the gloves unless he's Brent Seabrook. The thing is if someone runs one of our players nothing happens - no physical retribution of any type. Now I'm talking retribution as in the next time their top line steps on the ice one of our D cleans the clock of one of them - bordering legal & there's plenty of examples out there where guys get crushed legally by a tough player laying on a big hit. We can't do that. Wait till we play the BJ's & Winipeg if they start playing that poopty grubby tough game, we will play the skill game & get hammered. There is no fear in our opposition for physical retribution & Im not talking this urban legend 'deterrent' player either. Hopefully Dumo gets more confidence & can lay big hits, Dinger the same, & Fehr putting some energy & pain into the opposition.

Skill alone won't win Stanley, there has to be some 'female genitalia' (as we like to call it in footy), involved excuse the French!

I'm not a big fan of Mark Madden, but he was all over this issue today. How the hell do you send down Sprong at this point when it's clear he can capably play in the NHL? This team needs all of the youthful exuberance it can get. Not to mention they cannot possibly rely on some of the "experienced" guys to stay healthy.
- madmike71

Health concerns aside, how can you send a guy who knows he can play and contribute in the NHL back to go play in a league with kids.

I don't want a player there only to drop the gloves unless he's Brent Seabrook. The thing is if someone runs one of our players nothing happens - no physical retribution of any type. Now I'm talking retribution as in the next time their top line steps on the ice one of our D cleans the clock of one of them - bordering legal & there's plenty of examples out there where guys get crushed legally by a tough player laying on a big hit. We can't do that. Wait till we play the BJ's & Winipeg if they start playing that poopty grubby tough game, we will play the skill game & get hammered. There is no fear in our opposition for physical retribution & Im not talking this urban legend 'deterrent' player either. Hopefully Dumo gets more confidence & can lay big hits, Dinger the same, & Fehr putting some energy & pain into the opposition.

Skill alone won't win Stanley, there has to be some 'female genitalia' (as we like to call it in footy), involved excuse the French!
- Aussiepenguin

Detroit is a good argument against this post.

Health concerns aside, how can you send a guy who knows he can play and contribute in the NHL back to go play in a league with kids.
- stackthepads

MJ mentioned bad habits, if DTM goes back to juniors those 'habits' will get worse. His best development will happen where he is without a doubt. Or send him to Europe to play against men.

Detroit is a good argument against this post.
- stackthepads

Detroit have poop bags in their team. Guys will put hits on & injure no less.

Edit: But they can play as well.

Detroit have poop bags in their team. Guys will put hits on & injure no less.
- Aussiepenguin

Who?
As much as I hate to admit it Detroit doesnt get caught up in the after whistle nonsense. They play whistle to whistle, in the playoffs the step it up a bit and finish every hit while still just skating away from the after the whistle pushing and shoving.
I was all aboard the Downie signing last year, but now all I want to see is everyone on our team just not getting involved in anything after the whistle. I want everyone on our team to just shut their mouth, put their heads down and out work the opponent. We have all the skill in the world but are so easily thrown off our game by a few cheap shots.

Who?
As much as I hate to admit it Detroit doesnt get caught up in the after whistle nonsense. They play whistle to whistle, in the playoffs the step it up a bit and finish every hit while still just skating away from the after the whistle pushing and shoving.
I was all aboard the Downie signing last year, but now all I want to see is everyone on our team just not getting involved in anything after the whistle. I want everyone on our team to just shut their mouth, put their heads down and out work the opponent. We have all the skill in the world but are so easily thrown off our game by a few cheap shots.
- stackthepads

Abdelkader is 1 that springs to mind, & not sure who it was that put the hit on Garrison last season that put him out for a few months. They are there, it's just everyone talks about the young guns & the skill of their old guys - they have the hard arses as well.

Who?
As much as I hate to admit it Detroit doesnt get caught up in the after whistle nonsense. They play whistle to whistle, in the playoffs the step it up a bit and finish every hit while still just skating away from the after the whistle pushing and shoving.
I was all aboard the Downie signing last year, but now all I want to see is everyone on our team just not getting involved in anything after the whistle. I want everyone on our team to just shut their mouth, put their heads down and out work the opponent. We have all the skill in the world but are so easily thrown off our game by a few cheap shots.
- stackthepads

You're confused as to what I'm saying. I'm not wanting poop tactics & grubby play. I want guys that will be able to flatten anyone that gives us trouble.

Example, I saw Seabrook put a late hit on Perry then the very next chance he got 1 of the Ducks D (can't remember who it was), absolutely crushed Seabrook. He was asleep before he started the decent! That's what I'm talking about. I don't want to see a scrum after every play - that's crap.







Have we got anyone that will do this?

You're confused as to what I'm saying. I'm not wanting poop tactics & grubby play. I want guys that will be able to flatten anyone that gives us trouble.

Example, I saw Seabrook put a late hit on Perry then the very next chance he got 1 of the Ducks D (can't remember who it was), absolutely crushed Seabrook. He was asleep before he started the decent! That's what I'm talking about. I don't want to see a scrum after every play - that's crap.
- Aussiepenguin

I get what you want, I'd love to have a Shea Webber or a Dustin Byfuglien on the back end aswell but there arent that many of those players around.
Besides I think alot of our problems stem from us getting caught up trying to get revenge for the cheap shots.
We really REALLY need to get out PP sh!t figured out because it is the best way for us to get revenge, we just dont have the team makeup to get into physical showdowns with people.

You're confused as to what I'm saying. I'm not wanting poop tactics & grubby play. I want guys that will be able to flatten anyone that gives us trouble.

Example, I saw Seabrook put a late hit on Perry then the very next chance he got 1 of the Ducks D (can't remember who it was), absolutely crushed Seabrook. He was asleep before he started the decent! That's what I'm talking about. I don't want to see a scrum after every play - that's crap.







Have we got anyone that will do this?



- Aussiepenguin

Well we have this guy...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_Cr2--5u6Y

I'd be dangling Scuderi to CBJ right now, they're in real trouble on the back end.
- stackthepads

CBJ's defense is terrible (which I predicted before the season started) but Scuderi would only make them worse.

I get what you want, I'd love to have a Shea Webber or a Dustin Byfuglien on the back end aswell but there arent that many of those players around.
Besides I think alot of our problems stem from us getting caught up trying to get revenge for the cheap shots.
We really REALLY need to get out PP sh!t figured out because it is the best way for us to get revenge, we just dont have the team makeup to get into physical showdowns with people.
- stackthepads

The thing as well, teams will try extra hard to put poop on us because of the talent we have - (frank) around with Sid & Geno & the Pens lose. It's an easy game plan, we aren't like other team that have lower end talent spread out greater throughout, we shouldn't be thinking like other teams. As long as 2 of the best players in the world reside in a Pens uniform, then certain teams will use certain tactics against us. Others will just play without the poop then it's skill v skill & hope our skill wins. When it doesn't it wouldn't be a bad card have to play that a D man crushes a skill player from the opposing skill team.

I knew this argument was going to get brought up again soon at some point. I don't understand how our boys can lay out nice, solid hits all game and people still think we need more #gritness. Its like if we don't have one ineffective player who can't skate who's sole job is to facilitate staged fights then we're a soft team. We're really not. The team we put together and the system that we run is not conducive to the bruiser style game that Anaheim and Winnipeg play, but we are still playing quite physically considering the finesse style game that we play. We fight on the boards, we shove people off pucks, and if someone leaves themselves vulnerable we punish them. What more do you want? To change our entire style of play to something that's not well suited for our current roster? We are certainly less soft this year so far in four games than we've been in years past.

And the whole everyone having each other's backs and protecting our stars is a locker room thing. We don't need Glass or Engo on this team, we just need everyone to sack up and take pride. Guys like Cole, Sergei Plotnikov, Fehr, and Dumoulin should be able to handle making sure no one has foul play with any of our boys, whether it be Crosby or Cullen, it's just a matter of getting them in that mind set.
- Victoro311

Having someone step in and make sure our stars don't die, is not the same thing as having a goon.

Don't need a goon, Neil isn't a goon.

I want someone that can clear the crease, make a big hit in the neutral zone, and beat the eyeballs out of someone if they decide to knowingly board Kessel like what happened last night in Dallas.

Teammates standing up for other teammates builds a bond within that locker room, guys like when they know that their teammates have their back.

Unless someone is going to pick up Farnham and throw him at Neil if he decides to beat Geno into oblivion last night no one on our team stops that from happening.

We will get muscle on this team it's inevitable, like it or not we will have a tough top 4 Dman by the deadline. Toughness doesn't nessarily mean throw hands. Orpik was tough, And he couldn't fight.

F panzy hockey

Well we have this guy...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_Cr2--5u6Y
- stackthepads

CBJ's defense is terrible (which I predicted before the season started) but Scuderi would only make them worse.
- jfkst1

Thats the beauty of it jfkst1...

CBJ's defense is terrible (which I predicted before the season started) but Scuderi would only make them worse.
- jfkst1

Not if we can hard sell that defensive leadership and PK crap

You're confused as to what I'm saying. I'm not wanting poop tactics & grubby play. I want guys that will be able to flatten anyone that gives us trouble.

Example, I saw Seabrook put a late hit on Perry then the very next chance he got 1 of the Ducks D (can't remember who it was), absolutely crushed Seabrook. He was asleep before he started the decent! That's what I'm talking about. I don't want to see a scrum after every play - that's crap.


Have we got anyone that will do this?



- Aussiepenguin

Love this

Not if we can hard sell that defensive leadership and PK crap
- Guile

at 0-5 now, they're probably done

Having someone step in and make sure our stars don't die, is not the same thing as having a goon.

I want someone that can clear the crease, make a big hit in the neutral zone,

F panzy hockey
- freeBartley

Think this one hits your mark! W. Mitchell brings the hammer!




https://youtu.be/RLbLiGXqHIA

insomnia post! really tired of being up this late the last two weeks X_X

So the Ducks lost again last night and Despres only had 9 mins ice time...

...think they'd be winning more if BB gave the second coming of Lidstrom more ice time?

BB injury doesn't change anything for DTM - MJ talking riddles now! Not calling him a 'junior' player, won't get any top 6 action but is impressing with his play. Hasn't let anyone down, will learn what he needs to learn in the NHL?? WTF? Is he staying or what MJ?

Playing young D because they need to play, even with mistakes they can only learn by playing in the NHL!! Sooooooooo, does Scuds sit again or not?? Listening to that sounds like Dinger 'should' get another game???

What time do they announce the team (not that's it's going to keep me up but I'd like to know )???

#keepdingerin&scudspickingsplintersoutofhisbuttmjcausehejustcantgetenough

You're confused as to what I'm saying. I'm not wanting poop tactics & grubby play. I want guys that will be able to flatten anyone that gives us trouble.

Example, I saw Seabrook put a late hit on Perry then the very next chance he got 1 of the Ducks D (can't remember who it was), absolutely crushed Seabrook. He was asleep before he started the decent! That's what I'm talking about. I don't want to see a scrum after every play - that's crap.







Have we got anyone that will do this?



- Aussiepenguin

Fall to the ice hurt? Yeah BB!

Think this one hits your mark! W. Mitchell brings the hammer!




https://youtu.be/RLbLiGXqHIA
- out_of_market

That was Doughty