“He's actually dealt with injuries all year, and to his credit, he played through those during the regular season, but his playoff was not what it has been the last couple of years,” Rutherford said. “I know some of those things he dealt with caught up with him.”

It seems like those things caught up to him before the playoffs started.

Letang is fine. He is still the best defenseman on the team and will be for the foreseeable future. I think his problem is that he is often put in situations where he has to do too much. The offense was bad all season regarding puck possession and turned over the puck too quickly and readily, forcing him and the rest of the defense to be on the defensive too much. At the same time, the second and third pairings should ideally get a little more ice time to keep him fresher. With a little more support I expect he will have a bounce-back season next season.

I obviously do not like Tortarella at all but I like the statement he supposedly made to Ian Cole as CBJ was getting ready for the playoffs: "You're not Bobby Orr so just keep it simple." Letang is obviously much better than Cole but he still needs to simplify his game, relatively speaking.

Letang's biggest problem is his temper. Other teams tend to target him the most with cheapshots and dirty play and he retaliates the same way. When his temper boils over he mouths off to the refs more than anyone else on the team. It is difficult but he needs to try to dial this back a bit. Worst case, if the refs are not going to call things committed against him that they would committed against anyone else then he needs to selectively take dives. I would rather see him do this than take retaliatory penalties, if the refs are not going to call things that they should.

How so? They traded their 1st for Brassard, so how are they going to acquire a goon to protect Sid and Geno?
- jmatchett383

you can have gudas for one of those sandwiches with fries in them

you can have gudas for one of those sandwiches with fries in them
- bulet13

When Gudas isn't a idiot, he's not a bad hockey player.

When Gudas isn't a idiot, he's not a bad hockey player.
- j.boyd919

i would have agreed with you last year

idk what happened but he wasnt the same player this year. not even close

I thought you hated Malkin.
- Victoro311

Ever since he started getting pissed and going slightly unhinged at times he’s grown on me. Before he just took dumb lazy penalties, now he at least takes violent stupid penalties that are entertaining to watch.

When Gudas isn't a idiot, he's not a bad hockey player.
- j.boyd919

Gudas isn’t an idiot. He commits to hits and poop happens sometimes. I kind of thought the same about Wilson until the ZAR hit. I still highly doubt he premeditated taking his head off or even hitting him in the head, I mean if he was going to do that he would have picked a better target. Laughing at a player after you hurt them though isn’t hockey. No response from your teammates after a guy almost kills you isn’t hockey either though.

Any word on who was hurt with what in the postseason for us? Besides Malkin's obvious leg injury and something something Kessel?

Sid, winner of back to back Conn Smythe's prior to this year, Geno 4th in scoring in the NHL this year, Kessel 8th in scoring this year... You're right, as Brassard was brought in at the deadline, but Sheahan was brought it in like.. November/December. Again.. they scored the 3rd most goals as a team since Letang has been in the league. Yeah, they aren't as deep. Get real.
- j.boyd919

So, if they are so deep, where did that depth go in the playoffs? You said yourself later in this thread : Pens got zero depth scoring. That's pretty much what it comes down to.

Which begs the question, is depth really "depth" if it doesn't contribute and win games?

If that roster was "deep" in a true sense, the Caps would be playing golf.

How many of these guys were playing banged-up to the point that it effected their performance? If they were healthy, then I wouldn't call that depth.

So, if they are so deep, where did that depth go in the playoffs? You said yourself later in this thread : Pens got zero depth scoring. That's pretty much what it comes down to.

Which begs the question, is depth really "depth" if it doesn't contribute and win games?

If that roster was "deep" in a true sense, the Caps would be playing golf.

How many of these guys were playing banged-up to the point that it effected their performance? If they were healthy, then I wouldn't call that depth.
- GalacticStone

I agree with the depth being better or as good as last season, & also agree that the 'depth' wasn't as good as scoring than it has been in the past. Pens couldn't put the puck in the net when they had the opportunity to, that's all the players not just bottom 6 or D. Caps could & did. I think the Caps were better than the Pens (regardless of what any stat says), & the score board proves it.

Edit: After thinking about it, I'd say our depth wasn't as good this year than last.

Centre depth about even, but on the wing I'd put last season above this season. The D was better last season as well with Cole & Daley.

Some interesting articles on NHL.com about the team that 'will' change next season in an interview with JR.

And a really good 1 about Tanger with comments by him. 1 thing sticks in his mind he says, game 5 his mistake that led to Kusnetzov goal - which had (frank) all to do with carrying the puck. He made some pretty bad mistakes that led to goals. You cannot blame the goalie all the time if he is leaving his man open & that man eventually scores. Giving a 'general' statement about his play is not rational it's an easy way to try & defend him. He was bad (& good) at times & he admits it. He is determined to recover & he gives a really solid quote at the end of the article which leads me to believe he will come back better next season.

His ppg take a 0.17 dip come playoff time whereas Crosbys only dips 0.14
- Feds91Stammer

2 goals in his last 34 playoff games.

2 goals in his last 34 playoff games.
- madmike71

That's an 'actual' 'tangible' occurance. Analytics doesn't like that type of thing - it tends to get in the way of the opinion the formulae creates.

Sounds like the Old Man is confident Sprong will be a top 9 staple next season. If that's the case, we should cycle out some vet wingers and keep cost down by giving spots to Sprong, ZAR, and Simon.

I think I'm officially in favor of trading Sheary at this point. Sheary definitely doesn't a future as a top 6 mainstay on this team after we resigned Hornqvist. If that's the case, Simon has shown me enough that I don't mind cutting cost on Sheary and giving Simon his role.

We should cut bait on Kuhnhackl. No need to give him a ~1 mil contract when we have ZAR on ELC.

In a perfect world we lose Kuhnhackl and trade Sheary for a defenseman. Be interesting if trading Hagelin without getting any contract back would give us enough cap space to make a run at Kane. My wet dream lineup would be:

Guentzel-Crosby-Hornqvist
Kane-Malkin-Kessel
Rust-Brassard-Sprong
ZAR-Sheahan-Simon

That's an 'actual' 'tangible' occurance. Analytics doesn't like that type of thing - it tends to get in the way of the opinion the formulae creates.
- Aussiepenguin

It would seem to be more than a trend.

Anyone who wants to trade Tanger is a fool, plain and simple. But he did play like crap. Everytime there was an odd man break it was because of a bad Tanger pinch or turnover. I could see it happening once, maybe twice. But you cant expect to win championships or go deep into the playoffs making the same stupid mistakes over and over and over, and Letang did just that.

IMO, he deserves a good portion of the blame, but its not his fault Murray was up and down or that nobody could score aside from our first line. It wasnt his fault Kessel and Geno seemed to be playing hurt or that Brassard really didnt pan out like people thought he would.

TL;DR: Tanger is by no means the only reason we lost, but his play stood out as very bad and the mistakes he continuously made should have been corrected.

Sounds like the Old Man is confident Sprong will be a top 9 staple next season. If that's the case, we should cycle out some vet wingers and keep cost down by giving spots to Sprong, ZAR, and Simon.

I think I'm officially in favor of trading Sheary at this point. Sheary definitely doesn't a future as a top 6 mainstay on this team after we resigned Hornqvist. If that's the case, Simon has shown me enough that I don't mind cutting cost on Sheary and giving Simon his role.

We should cut bait on Kuhnhackl. No need to give him a ~1 mil contract when we have ZAR on ELC.

In a perfect world we lose Kuhnhackl and trade Sheary for a defenseman. Be interesting if trading Hagelin without getting any contract back would give us enough cap space to make a run at Kane. My wet dream lineup would be:

Guentzel-Crosby-Hornqvist
Kane-Malkin-Kessel
Rust-Brassard-Sprong
ZAR-Sheahan-Simon
- Victoro311

Guentzal, Sid, Hornie
Rust, Malkin, Kessel
ZAR, Brass, Sprong
Pouliot, Sheahan, Comeau

I want to add a little size on wing and I'd like to have those players be capable of moving up and down the lineup a bit. Both BP and Comeau move pretty well for bigger players.

Agree about Kuhnhackl. Dime a dozen player. No need to keep him around.

Anyone who wants to trade Tanger is a fool, plain and simple. But he did play like crap. Everytime there was an odd man break it was because of a bad Tanger pinch or turnover. I could see it happening once, maybe twice. But you cant expect to win championships or go deep into the playoffs making the same stupid mistakes over and over and over, and Letang did just that.

IMO, he deserves a good portion of the blame, but its not his fault Murray was up and down or that nobody could score aside from our first line. It wasnt his fault Kessel and Geno seemed to be playing hurt or that Brassard really didnt pan out like people thought he would.

TL;DR: Tanger is by no means the only reason we lost, but his play stood out as very bad and the mistakes he continuously made should have been corrected.
- thickman1178

JR should have traded Letang for Karlson at the deadline, thrown in another 1st rounded and kept Cole.

Guentzal, Sid, Hornie
Rust, Malkin, Kessel
ZAR, Brass, Sprong
Pouliot, Sheahan, Comeau

I want to add a little size on wing and I'd like to have those players be capable of moving up and down the lineup a bit. Both BP and Comeau move pretty well for bigger players.

Agree about Kuhnhackl. Dime a dozen player. No need to keep him around.
- madmike71

Eh. Would rather just keep Hagelin at that point.

JR should have traded Letang for Karlson at the deadline, thrown in another 1st rounded and kept Cole.
- Guile

Now we are talking!

After JRs comments about the team and Sprong becoming a regular, I think we’ll definitely see a few current wingers traded. Sheary and hagelin are the first to come to mind. Sprong, ZAR, and Simon will most likely be starters with cheap contracts. Hunwick could be bought out to save a few bucks for next year (can’t see him being traded unless a ton of salary is retained)

So, if they are so deep, where did that depth go in the playoffs? You said yourself later in this thread : Pens got zero depth scoring. That's pretty much what it comes down to.

Which begs the question, is depth really "depth" if it doesn't contribute and win games?

If that roster was "deep" in a true sense, the Caps would be playing golf.

How many of these guys were playing banged-up to the point that it effected their performance? If they were healthy, then I wouldn't call that depth.
- GalacticStone

The same place all that depth went in in "deep roster" years you speak of at the beginning of Letang's career (except for '09). You can keep on going bud, but you're not going to find a silver lining in that big hole you're digging.

So, if they are so deep, where did that depth go in the playoffs? You said yourself later in this thread : Pens got zero depth scoring. That's pretty much what it comes down to.

Which begs the question, is depth really "depth" if it doesn't contribute and win games?

If that roster was "deep" in a true sense, the Caps would be playing golf.

How many of these guys were playing banged-up to the point that it effected their performance? If they were healthy, then I wouldn't call that depth.
- GalacticStone

Random variance is a real thing.

When does the eye test supercede the advanced stats?

Anyone think it's likely another team extends a generous offer sheet to Sprong that forces GMJR into a tough decision this summer?