My one final comment on this, and then I'll leave it alone until we see the KCD line in action again, is why then did the Perron-Crosby-Hornqvist line look so good last year when all three were healthy? Hornqvist and Crosby looked like they were hockey soul mates last season. What are we blaming that lack of chemistry on this season?
- Victoro311

Perron/Crosby/Hornqvist hasn't been a line this season, so we don't know that it wouldn't work again.

It's the flaw in the pairs idea that Johnston has espoused the last two years. Hockey isn't played in pairs. It's played with three. So you need three man fits, and you need those three men to get experience and familiarity playing with each other.

This is pretty on point. This is why I've refrained from giving Hornqvist flak on the level that some do, even though he is deserving of some criticism. Hornqvist isn't a skilled player. He's not particularly fast, he doesn't have an accurate shot, and he doesn't have the most touch on his pass. He is incredibly good at bull dogging in front of the net, though. But because of his afore mentioned weaknesses, he's a pretty useless player if the skill on his line isn't playing effectively. A sub par Crosby or Malkin will render Hornqvist useless, and that's basically what has happened.
- Victoro311

PH doesn't need to play top 6 even strength minutes. Holmstrom rarely did. He was on the PP though until he retired. Even when the Wings had Larionov, Wendell, Hull, &c. Robitaille. Screening. Why didn't the Penguins learn that in 2008 and use it every chance they got?

That's 2016 NHL hockey. Dubinsky x-checks your guy? Let him go to the box and put one on the board. That's much easier if their goalie cannot track the play.

A player can play 39 games and have it not count as one of their 7 years of service required for UFA.

9/10 games is to stay on an ELC, so they'll still need to deal with RFA/arbitration a year earlier. But they can avoid having him become a UFA at 24 by having him play less than 40 games this year.
- hardnosed

ty had completly forgot about the rfa/ufa stuff. thanks for reminding me still think it is sad to see sprong in the pressbox

ty had completly forgot about the rfa/ufa stuff. thanks for reminding me still think it is sad to see sprong in the pressbox
- martox

I just think if they weren't prepared to have Sprong get to UFA one year early, then they should have sent him back down.

The reason why they reunited KCD was to up Kunitz's trade value and ship him out to make room for Sprong in the top 6 at his off wing.

I just think if they weren't prepared to have Sprong get to UFA one year early, then they should have sent him back down.

The reason why they reunited KCD was to up Kunitz's trade value and ship him out to make room for Sprong in the top 6 at his off wing.
- Victoro311

or they already have a trade in place and is letting the fans and kunitz reminice and get rewarded the last 3 games as a penguin

also if mj gets kicked Rob fracker Scuderi will take over as coach

I am done with this team till the coach is gone. Hopefully its before Christmas
- Thorny

That would be a nice Christmas gift.

That would be a nice Christmas gift.
- acdc1206

he never said which year

Give the younger players a chance. Sprong, Sundqvist, and Pouliot.

Give the younger players a chance. Sprong, Sundqvist, and Pouliot.
- powerhouse

NEVER!!!!!! rotten old food taste better than new and fresh 5 star food

NEVER!!!!!! rotten old food taste better than new and fresh 5 star food
- martox

Some young blood around him just might be the thing Sid needs.

also if mj gets kicked Rob fracker Scuderi will take over as coach
- martox

Some young blood around him just might be the thing Sid needs.
- powerhouse

that is what I think too. just tried to copy mj thought process

that is what I think too. just tried to copy mj thought process
- martox

I figured. Hey, couldn't hurt at this point.

Rumpelstiltskin

I'm not sure what this means, and I was bored cause of the late start, but I felt it was interesting that in the last 14 seasons, the team leader in goals scored never won the Stanley Cup. Typically the teams that lead in goals in the regular season finish in the top 5 in points, but the Stanley Cup winner is usually a few rungs below. The really big exception has been the last two Kings team who dominated by not allowing any goals. The biggest key seems to be to have a top 5 team in both GF and GA. Simple enough, right?

Year, #1 in goals, Team Pts, Cup Winner, GF Rnk, GA Rnk
14-15 Lightning 5th Blackhawks 17th 2nd
13-14 Ducks 2nd Kings 26th 1st
12-13 Penguins 2nd Blackhawks 2nd 1st
11-12 Penguins 4th Kings 29th 2nd
10-11 Canucks 1st Bruins 5th 2nd
09-10 Capitals 1st Blackhawks 3rd 6th
08-09 Wings 3rd Penguins 6th 17th
07-08 Senators 12th Wings 3rd 1st
06-07 Sabres 1st Ducks 8th 7th
05-06 Senators 2nd Hurricanes 3rd 20th
04-05 NO SEASON N/A N/A N/A N/A
03-04 Senators 6th Lightning 3rd 11th
02-03 Wings 3rd Devils 14th 2nd
01-02 Canucks 13th Wings 2nd 4th
00-01 Devils 2nd Avalanche 4th 4th

Sorry for the formatting issues....

also if mj gets kicked Rob fracker Scuderi will take over as coach
- martox

Reggie Dunlop- player coach. Lol, he'd be logging 29 minutes a game and anchoring the PP.

What PH is is a specialist. He's a wonderful screen who can finish. He's not as good as Holmstrom or maybe Wayne Simmonds but he's really an amazing screen. It's something I have been desperately wanting for the Penguins in their current player phase. They have had shooters and passers, but no screen.

I get impatient with Gunner when he complains about Hornqvist not holding the puck long enough or making plays. He 'Just stands in front of the net'. Exactly.

I'll take 87, 71, and 81 against a goalie who cannot see sooner than I would take another perimeter shooter. What the Pens have now is a better fit on the PP with a right handed shooter and probably the second best screening forward in the NHL. It's really simple: use all of that talent to create a clear shooting lane, funnel the puck to the net, and stuff it in. Look back at the 50% PP from 2014-15 season and PH is always right there.
- Johnny Wrath

late getting back. but this times 1000. i personally love horns. i thought he and crosby would have some chemistry at even strength. maybe he isnt fast enough, or maybe crosby is just too difficult. whatever. the bottom line is that what you described should be the powerplay. every time. i know we discuss it and its flaws at great repetitive length, but it really shouldnt be that complicated.

i dont think ryan hates PH, but hes just not one of his pet players. id put him in that category for myself though. he doesnt have a huge toolbox, but the tools he has, he has in bunches.

What the Penguins need to do is stop bullpoopting and get a #1 defenseman right away. That would really help things a lot. Maybe not the PP; all that could really use aside from 87 not running things form the half wall. I wish 87 would position himself like Danny Briere used to around the net and score those classic poacher goals. That's hockey in 2016. Maybe trade for Marchand if 87 can't or won't do it.
- Johnny Wrath

again, i very much agree about the positioning on the powerplay.

and i am a letang fan, but he is not good at the powerplay, and it is a large enough sample where i feel comfortable saying that he never will be. he simply doesnt think the game well enough, and what the PP needs most is smart, effective, efficient placement rather than his supreme physical skills. i think he is a good player, but thats just never an area hes gonna excel in. hes never gonna be gonchar.

as to you acquire a number one D argument, im not even gonna get into whether letang is one or isnt. not that you said it is an easy task, but well, its not something i see as feasible.

How have the sharks been doing without Logan Couture?

anybody else up for the late game? love when they get on NBCSN for a late game.

anybody else up for the late game? love when they get on NBCSN for a late game.
- stayinthefnnet

Yo!

What a snipe!!!

Love the west coast late start.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBV7zjukkI0

kessel sucks. why did we trade for him

luck or not, that pass was the sickest thing ive ever seen bennett do on ice.