Not just Niskanen but Orpik too. Orpik for as slow as he is is still a good defenseman that can eat up 20 minutes a night.
- rangerdanger94

I just don't think you can win in the league without having a good defense core. When you spend all of your money upfront, and you don't have one guy on the backline that could even remotely be considered a lockdown defender, how are you going to protect leads in the playoffs? They have crazy, sick talent upfront, two of the Top 5 players in the World, and supposedly an all-world sniper. But, the one guy they are paying a ton of money on D, is not only fragile, but isn't really that good playing defense.

That is the team they constructed. That is the team that they constructed within the NHL as exists. But, instead of attempting to construct a team that has a better chance of winning in the NHL, as it exists, we have to change the rules to shape to the team the Pens have.

How about this? Go out an get a couple of good defensemen. You know guys that block shots and make it hard for the forwards. That may be a good idea.

I just don't think you can win in the league without having a good defense core. When you spend all of your money upfront, and you don't have one guy on the backline that could even remotely be considered a lockdown defender, how are you going to protect leads in the playoffs? They have crazy, sick talent upfront, two of the Top 5 players in the World, and supposedly an all-world sniper. But, the one guy they are paying a ton of money on D, is not only fragile, but isn't really that good playing defense.

That is the team they constructed. That is the team that they constructed within the NHL as exists. But, instead of attempting to construct a team that has a better chance of winning in the NHL, as it exists, we have to change the rules to shape to the team the Pens have.

How about this? Go out an get a couple of good defensemen. You know guys that block shots and make it hard for the forwards. That may be a good idea.
- Pete V

Nah, it's just easier to make it against the rules.

I just don't think you can win in the league without having a good defense core. When you spend all of your money upfront, and you don't have one guy on the backline that could even remotely be considered a lockdown defender, how are you going to protect leads in the playoffs? They have crazy, sick talent upfront, two of the Top 5 players in the World, and supposedly an all-world sniper. But, the one guy they are paying a ton of money on D, is not only fragile, but isn't really that good playing defense.

That is the team they constructed. That is the team that they constructed within the NHL as exists. But, instead of attempting to construct a team that has a better chance of winning in the NHL, as it exists, we have to change the rules to shape to the team the Pens have.

How about this? Go out an get a couple of good defensemen. You know guys that block shots and make it hard for the forwards. That may be a good idea.
- Pete V

agreed. Defense wins championships....in all sports. Just look at this years Super Bowl

agreed. Defense wins championships....in all sports. Just look at this years Super Bowl
- rangerdanger94

Yea except for the NBA...Warriors will score 130 a night

Yea except for the NBA...Warriors will score 130 a night
- TPC

Warriors are also the most defensively efficient team in the league tho

And another thing, there is such a thing as playing a good road game.

When you go on the road, play against a hot team, are missing your two best players outside of Hank, you don't try to run and gun with that team. You play solid hockey. You battle. You block shots. You get a few big saves from your goaltender. You try to score first and protect the lead. This isn't crazy stuff. This is how you win in the NHL when you are shorthanded and on the road.

I just don't think you can win in the league without having a good defense core. When you spend all of your money upfront, and you don't have one guy on the backline that could even remotely be considered a lockdown defender, how are you going to protect leads in the playoffs? They have crazy, sick talent upfront, two of the Top 5 players in the World, and supposedly an all-world sniper. But, the one guy they are paying a ton of money on D, is not only fragile, but isn't really that good playing defense.

That is the team they constructed. That is the team that they constructed within the NHL as exists. But, instead of attempting to construct a team that has a better chance of winning in the NHL, as it exists, we have to change the rules to shape to the team the Pens have.

How about this? Go out an get a couple of good defensemen. You know guys that block shots and make it hard for the forwards. That may be a good idea.
- Pete V

It seems as though the Pens management have lost sight of a good defense enables a good offense. Last few years have really shown that. If Pitt gets a few good D by the deadline they will be a force. Lets hope they stand pat.

And another thing, there is such a thing as playing a good road game.

When you go on the road, play against a hot team, are missing your two best players outside of Hank, you don't try to run and gun with that team. You play solid hockey. You battle. You block shots. You get a few big saves from your goaltender. You try to score first and protect the lead. This isn't crazy stuff. This is how you win in the NHL when you are shorthanded and on the road.
- Pete V

Yea but Pitt was missing Malkin and Trevor franking Daley yesterday. We've never beat Pitt when Malkin was healthy apparently!

It's comical that some of them are ripping on Yandle now too. McDonagh goes down and we have a number 1 dman in Yandle ready to step right up on a $2.5M cap hit and somehow that's a bad thing

Who needs depth I guess?

Yea but Pitt was missing Malkin and Trevor franking Daley yesterday. We've never beat Pitt when Malkin was healthy apparently!

It's comical that some of them are ripping on Yandle now too. McDonagh goes down and we have a number 1 dman in Yandle ready to step right up on a $2.5M cap hit and somehow that's a bad thing

Who needs depth I guess?
- rangerdanger94

Just popped over there. Have you ever known a Pens fan to be a gracious loser? Except for one guy on that thread, they all whine like Crysby. Must be something in the water.

Yea but Pitt was missing Malkin and Trevor franking Daley yesterday. We've never beat Pitt when Malkin was healthy apparently!

It's comical that some of them are ripping on Yandle now too. McDonagh goes down and we have a number 1 dman in Yandle ready to step right up on a $2.5M cap hit and somehow that's a bad thing

Who needs depth I guess?
- rangerdanger94

I mentioned the other day that there are ways to keep Yandle, and trade another player who could bring back what you would get for Yandle and maybe even more.

I am fine with a defense core of McDonagh, Girardi, Staal, Yandle, Klein and McIlrath for the next few years, even given some struggles that some of them have had this year.

And with Buchnevich coming, and what you can get for certain players that become expendable if you re-sign Yandle, that really might not be a bad option.

I mentioned the other day that there are ways to keep Yandle, and trade another player who could bring back what you would get for Yandle and maybe even more.

I am fine with a defense core of McDonagh, Girardi, Staal, Yandle, Klein and McIlrath for the next few years, even given some struggles that some of them have had this year.

And with Buchnevich coming, and what you can get for certain players that become expendable if you re-sign Yandle, that really might not be a bad option.
- Pete V

You are trading Skjei then?

You are trading Skjei then?
- TPC

PeteV was the original Skjei fan club member.

You are trading Skjei then?
- TPC

You don't have to ship him. You can keep him for depth for another year or 2. As we've seen, injuries occur every year.

Someone agrees with me...
http://newyork.cbslocal.c...rk-rangers-sean-hartnett/

Morning

PeteV was the original Skjei fan club member.
- mdw7413

I still am. I think he is an excellent young prospect. But, if I want to try to win soon, which I do, and I could re-sign Yandle (which I am not sure of), I don't think it is crazy to try to turn Skjei and Kreider into Drouin and a 2nd or something like that. That is just a reallocation of potential from defense to offense. What is Kreider going to get paid next year? Are we looking at the mid $3 million range?

I guess what I am saying is that trading Yandle is not the only way to recoup prospects that you lost in that trade. You can trade other guys. It all comes down to which direction the Rangers want to go.

I still am. I think he is an excellent young prospect. But, if I want to try to win soon, which I do, and I could re-sign Yandle (which I am not sure of), I don't think it is crazy to try to turn Skjei and Kreider into Drouin and a 2nd or something like that. That is just a reallocation of potential from defense to offense. What is Kreider going to get paid next year? Are we looking at the mid $3 million range?

I guess what I am saying is that trading Yandle is not the only way to recoup prospects that you lost in that trade. You can trade other guys. It all comes down to which direction the Rangers want to go.
- Pete V

Its going to be interesting. Depending how long McDonagh is out. The report yesterday that someone posted about UFA rentals arent going to be worth much at all. Biggest thing, how much is Yandle looking for and term? I would not be lying if I said I would be slightly worried having that much money tied up in the back end.

I still am. I think he is an excellent young prospect. But, if I want to try to win soon, which I do, and I could re-sign Yandle (which I am not sure of), I don't think it is crazy to try to turn Skjei and Kreider into Drouin and a 2nd or something like that. That is just a reallocation of potential from defense to offense. What is Kreider going to get paid next year? Are we looking at the mid $3 million range?

I guess what I am saying is that trading Yandle is not the only way to recoup prospects that you lost in that trade. You can trade other guys. It all comes down to which direction the Rangers want to go.
- Pete V

Good post, for a slow fella

Its going to be interesting. Depending how long McDonagh is out. The report yesterday that someone posted about UFA rentals arent going to be worth much at all. Biggest thing, how much is Yandle looking for and term? I would not be lying if I said I would be slightly worried having that much money tied up in the back end.
- mdw7413

definitely paying attention at 12 noon for who picks up Ehrhoff

Good post, for a slow fella
- eichiefs9

Thakn yu!

definitely paying attention at 12 noon for who picks up Ehrhoff
- jimbro83

If the Rangers aren't interested that will be some good news I think.

Thakn yu!
- Pete V

Its going to be interesting. Depending how long McDonagh is out. The report yesterday that someone posted about UFA rentals arent going to be worth much at all. Biggest thing, how much is Yandle looking for and term? I would not be lying if I said I would be slightly worried having that much money tied up in the back end.
- mdw7413

You would have about $26 million tied up on your top 6. That's not ideal, but certainly not terrible.

You would have about $26 million tied up on your top 6. That's not ideal, but certainly not terrible.
- Pete V

Yandle is great to have when he's able to play in a top 4 role. But when McDonagh returns, he will likely shift back to his previous role and I'm not sure his 6.5M+ cap hit in that role is beneficial with Skjei in the pipeline. We can move a forward like Kreider to make room as you said, but do we really need that many defensemen making 4.7M+? It still doesn't make sense to me.

definitely paying attention at 12 noon for who picks up Ehrhoff
- jimbro83

You want him?