My buddy is saying Drouin to Minny or stl today per sportsnet

Purely from a historical view, if that was in Australia there would be a pub just this side of the silo, & another one across the road!
- Aussiepenguin

There's one pub. No other businesses. There's only like 60 people in a 50 mile radius.

My buddy is saying Drouin to Minny or stl today per sportsnet
- nh4442

if they get drouin for dumba I will be mad. it means we could get him for pouliot

if they get drouin for dumba I will be mad. it means we could get him for pouliot
- martox

Unless Tampa wants Dumba and doesn't want Pouliot.

if they get drouin for dumba I will be mad. it means we could get him for pouliot
- martox

No it does not. Dumba is a safe choice between the two. Pouliot may have a higher ceiling but is way more of a risk considering Dumba has proven he is already good at the NHL level. Pouliot might not be at that place till next year or two. People on here seriously overrate Pouliot.

Thats not even taking into account that the Lightning are a win now team. Any win now team picks the guy thats good at the NHL level long before they pick the prospect that has faltered as of late.

So, you guys still like the Penguins' chances of making the playoffs? As I can see it, they need like a 5 or a 6-game (or even maybe more) winning streak to get into a comfortable position. I just don't see them going on such a streak. They have not shellacked anyone over the last 2 months.

I am not trying to be all doom & gloom, I am just looking at the current picture with 2 WC up for grabs and so many teams vying for those spots. CAR leapfrogged them yesterday, and PHI might be leapfrogging them soon as well. They continue giving up points (either by losing or winning in OT/SO). The only other team that is kind of lagging right now is NJ.

EDIT: I do realize that the playoff odds for the Penguins are higher than CAR, NJ, PHI, and OTT at the moment. But I have been ready to see a streak of wins for the Pens for quite some time, and it has not happened.

So, you guys still like the Penguins' chances of making the playoffs? As I can see it, they need like a 5 or a 6-game (or even maybe more) winning streak to get into a comfortable position. I just don't see them going on such a streak. They have not shellacked anyone over the last 2 months.

I am not trying to be all doom & gloom, I am just looking at the current picture with 2 WC up for grabs and so many teams vying for those spots. CAR leapfrogged them yesterday, and PHI might be leapfrogging them soon as well. They continue giving up points (either by losing or winning in OT/SO). The only other team that is kind of lagging right now is NJ.
- chimpira

Other than the game in Chicago, I think the Pens have dominated large parts of most of the games for the last couple of weeks. I think they're capable of going on a nice run. I'd love to say I expect it, but I can't either. It's maddening because so many of these guys have a good histories of scoring goals.

Honestly, I think it comes down to a coin flip. On the positive side, nearly every team in the East is flawed. The negative, so many of our players don't ever seem to come close to scoring goals.

So, you guys still like the Penguins' chances of making the playoffs? As I can see it, they need like a 5 or a 6-game (or even maybe more) winning streak to get into a comfortable position. I just don't see them going on such a streak. They have not shellacked anyone over the last 2 months.

I am not trying to be all doom & gloom, I am just looking at the current picture with 2 WC up for grabs and so many teams vying for those spots. CAR leapfrogged them yesterday, and PHI might be leapfrogging them soon as well. They continue giving up points (either by losing or winning in OT/SO). The only other team that is kind of lagging right now is NJ.
- chimpira

I like their chances, they are in tough for sure but as you said a five or six game win streak would help tremendously. They are playing a better, tougher game now. The special teams have improved and they actually still compete when they get behind. A number of good signs, now all we need is Kessel to start scoring from three feet away.

So, you guys still like the Penguins' chances of making the playoffs? As I can see it, they need like a 5 or a 6-game (or even maybe more) winning streak to get into a comfortable position. I just don't see them going on such a streak. They have not shellacked anyone over the last 2 months.

I am not trying to be all doom & gloom, I am just looking at the current picture with 2 WC up for grabs and so many teams vying for those spots. CAR leapfrogged them yesterday, and PHI might be leapfrogging them soon as well. They continue giving up points (either by losing or winning in OT/SO). The only other team that is kind of lagging right now is NJ.

EDIT: I do realize that the playoff odds for the Penguins are higher than CAR, NJ, PHI, and OTT at the moment. But I have been ready to see a streak of wins for the Pens for quite some time, and it has not happened.
- chimpira

How long has it been since they put 3 wins in a row together?

Financially they need to make the playoffs, but I think would be best they not this year. I think they can pull a streak together and get a WC spot, but the 1st round will be ugly. I would move Perron, Kuni, Lovejoy for what ever you can get. I would entertain moving Kessel at the draft. Hopefully Sprong, Sund can take role next year.

so many of our players don't ever seem to come close to scoring goals.
- madmike71

Right? I mean, what is going on? I know they are a small team, but are they out of shape? Kasparaitis was closer to 5'6" than his listed 5'11" but he was a beast. I don't see any beasts on the Penguins right now. They lose so many puck battles.

Also, where is the FWD depth? Neither Kunitz nor Perron should be in the TOP-6. Hornqvist means well but he can't carry the play at all (watch him dump just because that's all he can do) and has terrible hands. Kessel - I have NO CLUE what's going on there.

I am just out of ideas. Just seems a complete disaster as far as the FWDs go. And we thought the DEF was going to be the problem. They have been holding OPP to 2-3 GPG. And our high-powered offense has been laying goose eggs.

So how's Kessel doing for you guys?

Other than the game in Chicago, I think the Pens have dominated large parts of most of the games for the last couple of weeks. I think they're capable of going on a nice run. I'd love to say I expect it, but I can't either. It's maddening because so many of these guys have a good histories of scoring goals.

Honestly, I think it comes down to a coin flip. On the positive side, nearly every team in the East is flawed. The negative, so many of our players don't ever seem to come close to scoring goals.
- madmike71

Put it this way... Carolina has to go 20-12-5 to reach 92 points and have about a 60% shot at the playoffs.

Pittsburgh has to go 21-15-4 for the same odds.

Which do you think is more likely?

So how's Kessel doing for you guys?
- domi_legend

Fantastic. He is really the life of the locker room. Have you seen his interviews? That guy is a HOOT. So much character, so much charisma!

And his stats! Come on! $6.8mil is a bargain for 12 goals!! That's like $560K/goal.

So how's Kessel doing for you guys?
- domi_legend

Kessel is playing ok, much better defensively than we were led to believe. I really can't count how many times he has been within five feet of an empty net and shot it two feet wide.

He is nowhere near the problem child we were warned about.

Put it this way... Carolina has to go 20-12-5 to reach 92 points and have about a 60% shot at the playoffs.

Pittsburgh has to go 21-15-4 for the same odds.

Which do you think is more likely?
- BINGO!

CAR has won 4 in a row. They beat STL. Really beat them. They are on the up-and-up right now. Same with PHI.

PENS - win one here and there, drop 2, lose one in OT. The beat goes on.

Fantastic. He is really the life of the locker room. Have you seen his interviews? That guy is a HOOT. So much character, so much charisma!

And his stats! Come on! $6.8mil is a bargain for 12 goals!! That's like $560K/goal.
- chimpira

Gold.

Kessel is playing ok, much better defensively than we were led to believe. I really can't count how many times he has been within five feet of an empty net and shot it two feet wide.

He is nowhere near the problem child we were warned about.
- Thunderbolt

Has he really improved defensively? The stats tend to disagree. Do you think he's an overall benefit to your team, even if he only gets 20 goals? IMO, if he doesn't get at the very least 30 goals, he's hurting your team because his overall game is weak and lazy.

Has he really improved defensively? The stats tend to disagree. Do you think he's an overall benefit to your team, even if he only gets 20 goals? IMO, if he doesn't get at least 30 goals, he's hurting your team because his overall game is weak and lazy.
- domi_legend

Also, not sure how many times he has gone offsides for no reason whatsoever. I bet he has a contract/bonus clause to go offsides at least 5 times/game.

So how's Kessel doing for you guys?
- domi_legend

Good how's that 1st pick we gave you

Wow, just found out tonight that Erik Cole's career definitely has dwindled...I had to play against him in my Adult League tonight...
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Did you guys miss this comment? This was shocking to me lol. NHL to Adult League in 1 year??

Right? I mean, what is going on? I know they are a small team, but are they out of shape? Kasparaitis was closer to 5'6" than his listed 5'11" but he was a beast. I don't see any beasts on the Penguins right now. They lose so many puck battles.

Also, where is the FWD depth? Neither Kunitz nor Perron should be in the TOP-6. Hornqvist means well but he can't carry the play at all (watch him dump just because that's all he can do) and has terrible hands. Kessel - I have NO CLUE what's going on there.

I am just out of ideas. Just seems a complete disaster as far as the FWDs go. And we thought the DEF was going to be the problem. They have been holding OPP to 2-3 GPG. And our high-powered offense has been laying goose eggs.
- chimpira

We all knew Kunitz was showing his age, but I don't get Perron, Kessel and Hornqvist. Crosby slumped through the first two months, but he's been almost completely back to form under the new coach.

To me the season comes down to Perron, Kessel and Hornqvist literally butchering grade A scoring chances all season. Those 3 players have let the team down.

Good how's that 1st pick we gave you
- nh4442

We'll see if we get it. You guys are gonna have a hard time making the playoffs with Kessel on your team. But I'd be alright with two 2nds as well. And I'm really liking how Kapanen and Harrington are developing, they definitely have a future with us.

Also, not sure how many times he has gone offsides for no reason whatsoever. I bet he has a contract/bonus clause to go offsides at least 5 times/game.
- chimpira

Did you guys miss this comment? This was shocking to me lol. NHL to Adult League in 1 year??
- YouMeAndDupuis9

What comment? I didn't see any comment about you playing against Erik Cole in your adult league.

We all knew Kunitz was showing his age, but I don't get Perron, Kessel and Hornqvist. Crosby slumped through the first two months, but he's been almost completely back to form under the new coach.

To me the season comes down to Perron, Kessel and Hornqvist literally butchering grade A scoring chances all season. Those 3 players have let the team down.
- madmike71

Is the lack of scoring all that is bothering you about Kessel? What about lack of forcheck / backcheck. I know that isnt part of his game (which is why I was happy to see him gone) but if he isn't scoring, he should be doing something else to make up for it.