Some things cant be explained.
- MattStrat

The Despres trade. Now that one can't be explained.

Dumoulin* f'd up a vowel. I obviously dont know anything about the Pens players because of this.
- MattStrat

n00b, it's Dewmalin

n00b, it's Dewmalin
- jmatchett383

They didn't pay too much. It can be argued whether he was a good fit, but the package the Pens gave up was pretty cheap IMO. Hell, even the pick is lottery protected.
- madmike71

The lottery pick is nice, but if Kap turns into a 2/3 line F and Harrington into a NHL Dmen there goes more of the prospects for a guy who can't put up 25 goals? Id also argue that the Pens could have gotten Oshie and a top 4 Dman for less than what they paid to get Kessel.

The lottery pick is nice, but if Kap turns into a 2/3 line F and Harrington into a NHL Dmen there goes more of the prospects for a guy who can't put up 25 goals? Id also argue that the Pens could have gotten Oshie and a top 4 Dman for less than what they paid to get Kessel.
- sammy87

hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate and hate some more

That can't be possible. This is almost a billion dollar organization. With scouts, with video recordings.
- chimpira

I'm sure they knew.

Crosby's bread and butter is speed through the neutral zone. Kessel's game was always about speed through the neutral zone. It seemed an obvious fit.

Wonder if it's been hard for Phil to adjust to having somebody to actually play with. He's had to carry the puck into the zone himself every single play and create his own chances for years. Having someone else who wants the puck on their stick is probably taking a lot to get used to.

They didn't pay too much. It can be argued whether he was a good fit, but the package the Pens gave up was pretty cheap IMO. Hell, even the pick is lottery protected.
- madmike71

Yeah the pick being protected sucks big time. But I'm happy with the return we got.

I'm sure they knew.

Crosby's bread and butter is speed through the neutral zone. Kessel's game was always about speed through the neutral zone. It seemed an obvious fit.

Wonder if it's been hard for Phil to adjust to having somebody to actually play with. He's had to carry the puck into the zone himself every single play and create his own chances for years. Having someone else who wants the puck on their stick is probably taking a lot to get used to.
- BINGO!

I think that was a valid excuse for the first 10 games or so.

The lottery pick is nice, but if Kap turns into a 2/3 line F and Harrington into a NHL Dmen there goes more of the prospects for a guy who can't put up 25 goals? Id also argue that the Pens could have gotten Oshie and a top 4 Dman for less than what they paid to get Kessel.
- sammy87

Nah.

I think that was a valid excuse for the first 10 games or so.
- jmatchett383

Fair point.

I'm sure they knew.

Crosby's bread and butter is speed through the neutral zone. Kessel's game was always about speed through the neutral zone. It seemed an obvious fit.

Wonder if it's been hard for Phil to adjust to having somebody to actually play with. He's had to carry the puck into the zone himself every single play and create his own chances for years. Having someone else who wants the puck on their stick is probably taking a lot to get used to.
- BINGO!

I honestly think they're too concerned about each other when on the ice together. They dont just do what they're good at. Kessel was used to carrying his line.

I'm sure they knew.

Crosby's bread and butter is speed through the neutral zone. Kessel's game was always about speed through the neutral zone. It seemed an obvious fit.

Wonder if it's been hard for Phil to adjust to having somebody to actually play with. He's had to carry the puck into the zone himself every single play and create his own chances for years. Having someone else who wants the puck on their stick is probably taking a lot to get used to.
- BINGO!

This is a very good point. Other than a handful of core players, this roster has been completely turned over the last two years. It's not easy finding instant chemistry.

This is actually one of the few things that keeps me from throwing in the towel. If you go back and look at teams (regardless of sport) that have had major upheaval, you'll find they tend to struggle out of the gate. Three coaches in three years. No line is the same and no D pairing is the same. It's a Frankenteam for the most part this year.

This is a very good point. Other than a handful of core players, this roster has been completely turned over the last two years. It's not easy finding instant chemistry.

This is actually one of the few things that keeps me from throwing in the towel. If you go back and look at teams (regardless of sport) that have had major upheaval, you'll find they tend to struggle out of the gate. Three coaches in three years. No line is the same and no D pairing is the same. It's a Frankenteam for the most part this year.
- madmike71

When the Hurricanes hired Bill Peters, it took them the better part of 5 months to finally get used to his system and start putting together some wins.

Right now, the Penguins are going through something similar to a training camp with Sullivan. They'll need a bit of time to adjust to that. Chemistry is going to be all up in the air for a little while.

This is a very good point. Other than a handful of core players, this roster has been completely turned over the last two years. It's not easy finding instant chemistry.

This is actually one of the few things that keeps me from throwing in the towel. If you go back and look at teams (regardless of sport) that have had major upheaval, you'll find they tend to struggle out of the gate. Three coaches in three years. No line is the same and no D pairing is the same. It's a Frankenteam for the most part this year.
- madmike71

So, in other words a horribly-run organization, right? It has to be on the Ownership for allowing Shero to do what he did and some of what Rutherford did. This isn't the AZ Coyotes; this is a team with 2 of the highest paid FWDs in the world. SMH

So, in other words a horribly-run organization, right? It has to be on the Ownership for allowing Shero to do what he did and some of what Rutherford did. This isn't the AZ Coyotes; this is a team with 2 of the highest paid FWDs in the world. SMH
- chimpira

Rutherford was kind of mandated to do what he did. It's why he's there at all.

Shero at least had the option of looking big picture and long term, he just didn't.

Rutherford was kind of mandated to do what he did. It's why he's there at all.

Shero at least had the option of looking big picture and long term, he just didn't.
- BINGO!

Despres for Lovejoy was mandated? That is neither looking at the big picture nor long term.

So, in other words a horribly-run organization, right? It has to be on the Ownership for allowing Shero to do what he did and some of what Rutherford did. This isn't the AZ Coyotes; this is a team with 2 of the highest paid FWDs in the world. SMH
- chimpira

They could be run like the Pirates owners... would you guys rather have that? At least the Pens spend to the cap every year ATTEMPTING to put together a contender, year in and year out.

Despres for Lovejoy was mandated? That is neither looking at the big picture nor long term.
- chimpira

....That's what I'm saying. Rutherford was brought in to go all in to win the cup. That's it, that's all.

They could be run like the Pirates owners... would you guys rather have that? At least the Pens spend to the cap every year ATTEMPTING to put together a contender, year in and year out.
- j.boyd919

That almost never works for anybody.

Who else does it?

NYR, Phillie, The Leafs (formerly)... Yeah, that's been a great plan.

....That's what I'm saying. Rutherford was brought in to go all in to win the cup. That's it, that's all.
- BINGO!

This is exactly right. The Despres move was idiotic, but really that was the only personnel change that got people upset.

You could also say he mangled his first coach hire too. I didn't understand hiring an older guy out of juniors.

Also... Ruth inherited a team with hardly ANY youth and a depleted minor league system. I still blame Ray Shero for the condition of the team.

That almost never works for anybody.

Who else does it?

NYR, Phillie, The Leafs (formerly)... Yeah, that's been a great plan.
- BINGO!

Oh I wasn't saying it works, I was just saying at least they try.

This is exactly right. The Despres move was idiotic, but really that was the only personnel change that got people upset.

You could also say he mangled his first coach hire too. I didn't understand hiring an older guy out of juniors.

Also... Ruth inherited a team with hardly ANY youth and a depleted minor league system. I still blame Ray Shero for the condition of the team.
- madmike71

To me, he was handed a Chrysler 300 and was asked to turn it into a Lamborghini.

He's managed to make it into a Corvette, which is very admirable, but there's so few assets left that he can't really step it up one more level.