Just here to say how amazing those Dumoulin and Maatta contracts are going to look in the next few years when you see the money getting thrown at D-men.

I know much is made of the Pens' defense contributing to their fall but I think offense and defense are both team responsibilities - not just the responsibilities of certain players. Regarding defense, the offense has to help out with better puck possession and not constantly turning over the puck 5 seconds after gaining possession. This puts the defense on the defensive constantly and burns them out. When you add in the less-than-optimal natural abilities of some of the lower pairing defensemen this adds to the importance of better puck possession.

Yeah I'm sure I missed guys. Its tough to put together a best of list and remember everyone in a 31 team league haha.
- Victoro311

Haha yeah, I mean theres the top tier like you said, and Letang is definitely in that next tier.

I know much is made of the Pens' defense contributing to their fall but I think offense and defense are both team responsibilities - not just the responsibilities of certain players. Regarding defense, the offense has to help out with better puck possession and not constantly turning over the puck 5 seconds after gaining possession. This puts the defense on the defensive constantly and burns them out. When you add in the less-than-optimal natural abilities of some of the lower pairing defensemen this adds to the importance of better puck possession.
- PghPens668771

I think the lack of scoring from the offense not named Sid/Jake contributed to the Pens fall WAY more than their defensive shortcomings.

Counter offer:
Hunwick/Sheary/Rowney

For

DeKeyser or Dailey.

Saves us some cap..and you bolster your pathetic lineup
- Barnaby36

Congrats on acquiring Danny DeKeyser

Just out of curiosity who are the clear cut better defensemen than Letang in the league?

1. Karlsson
2. Burns
3. Headman
4. Subban

After that we have a tier that includes Doughty, OEL, Giordano, Werenski, Jones, Faulk, McDonagh maybe Dougie Hamilton, and Letang.

How many of those guys are definitely better than Letang? I'd probably say that Faulk, McD, and Hamilton definitely are not. Werenski and Jones may be better eventually but aren't right now probably. Probably Doughty. OEL and Giordano are tossups.
- Victoro311

Replace Burns with Doughty imo

Just here to say how amazing those Dumoulin and Maatta contracts are going to look in the next few years when you see the money getting thrown at D-men.
- cap1681

Agree. People are throwing around is how the Pens will be in cap trouble down the road if they sign guys like Rust to 3M deals. 4 of their top 5 forwards and 3 of their top 4 defensemen are signed for at least 4 more years. Schultz has 2 years and isn't getting a big raise so his money will largely sign or replace him.

The only guys they really need to plan for are Jake and Murray. I'm not saying be reckless, but you can sign a couple more guys around them.

Haha yeah, I mean theres the top tier like you said, and Letang is definitely in that next tier.
- j.boyd919

That's why I really can't believe the Letang trade talk. You simply don't get rid of a top 10 defenseman because he's irresponsible at times. Malkin's penalties can be just as detrimental as Letang's pinches and only idiots advocate trading Malkin. Letang directly contributes to way more goals than he directly gives up. He simply did not cause 51 fast breaks that ended up in the net this season. And that's not even factoring in how great he is at getting the puck out of our own zone and driving play the other way, which indirectly prevents goals.

Agree. People are throwing around is how the Pens will be in cap trouble down the road if they sign guys like Rust to 3M deals. 4 of their top 5 forwards and 3 of their top 4 defensemen are signed for at least 4 more years. Schultz has 2 years and isn't getting a big raise so his money will largely sign or replace him.

The only guys they really need to plan for are Jake and Murray. I'm not saying be reckless, but you can sign a couple more guys around them.
- Tojo.

I think its mostly resentful fans of other teams that just assume we're gonna go the way of the Blackhawks, which is simply not a foregone conclusion due to how below market value Crosby, Malkin, and Kessel are cap hit wise for us. The only contract right now that can become a serious cap burden on us is Hornqvist if he turns into Brian Bickle at some point, but Horny doesn't have the same concussion history. We have so much cap flexibility.

That's why I really can't believe the Letang trade talk. You simply don't get rid of a top 10 defenseman because he's irresponsible at times. Malkin's penalties can be just as detrimental as Letang's pinches and only idiots advocate trading Malkin. Letang directly contributes to way more goals than he directly gives up. He simply did not cause 51 fast breaks that ended up in the net this season. And that's not even factoring in how great he is at getting the puck out of our own zone and driving play the other way, which indirectly prevents goals.
- Victoro311

That dummy that wanted to trade for Larsson and Pujjajarvi was hysterical. Like get the (frank) outta here. Pens already have 2 Larsson's in Maatta and Dumo. They're both probably better than him.

That's why I really can't believe the Letang trade talk. You simply don't get rid of a top 10 defenseman because he's irresponsible at times. Malkin's penalties can be just as detrimental as Letang's pinches and only idiots advocate trading Malkin. Letang directly contributes to way more goals than he directly gives up. He simply did not cause 51 fast breaks that ended up in the net this season. And that's not even factoring in how great he is at getting the puck out of our own zone and driving play the other way, which indirectly prevents goals.
- Victoro311

Malkin for Larkin straight up.

Is it just me, but i really loved ZAR on the topline before he got injured/demoted. didnt he have a nice goalstreak?

Just catching up on some articles and this from Yohe stuck out and honestly I hadn't heard it before:


The decision to acquire Reaves came from above Rutherford and Sullivan, as the Penguins front office became so irritated by the treatment Sidney Crosby received during the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs that it decided landing hockey’s baddest man was the correct move. Sullivan never had a particular use for Reaves. While the coach is all for protecting his stars, he’s also a massive proponent of the speed game and the “just play” mentality. Reaves doesn’t believe in “just playing.” He likes to fight, likes to talk trash to the opposing bench and, in general, enjoys practicing the behavior that Sullivan detests.

Rutherford has gotten the blame but if I read that right Yohe is saying this wasn't his choice either.

Is it just me, but i really loved ZAR on the topline before he got injured/demoted. didnt he have a nice goalstreak?
- sicknature71

4 games. But it's going to be tough to get that LW spot next to Sid back from Guentzel, and their kind of loaded on the right side with Kessel, Hornqvist, and Sprong all RW only. Think he starts 4th line and waits for an injury. I like him as well, team is just deep.

Just catching up on some articles and this from Yohe stuck out and honestly I hadn't heard it before:


The decision to acquire Reaves came from above Rutherford and Sullivan, as the Penguins front office became so irritated by the treatment Sidney Crosby received during the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs that it decided landing hockey’s baddest man was the correct move. Sullivan never had a particular use for Reaves. While the coach is all for protecting his stars, he’s also a massive proponent of the speed game and the “just play” mentality. Reaves doesn’t believe in “just playing.” He likes to fight, likes to talk trash to the opposing bench and, in general, enjoys practicing the behavior that Sullivan detests.

Rutherford has gotten the blame but if I read that right Yohe is saying this wasn't his choice either.
- Tojo.

I generally like our ownership group (obviously Mario is a hero), but an owner stepping in and forcing his GM's hand on personnel decisions almost always ends in disaster. This better not happen again.

Also, lolz at Reaves being hockey's baddest guy. Reaves is a code guy. He's a hard hitter, but hitting is part of the game. He's not the kind of guy that will go run stars if guys are taking liberties on Crosby and Malkin. Those are Matt Cookes, Tom Wilsons, and Brandon Dubinskys of the world. Code guys like Reaves and Parros have been completely castrated by the instigator penalty because the goons that actually run guys never answer the bell when enforcers ask to dance. If that's what the FO wanted, they really missed the mark.

4 games. But it's going to be tough to get that LW spot next to Sid back from Guentzel, and their kind of loaded on the right side with Kessel, Hornqvist, and Sprong all RW only. Think he starts 4th line and waits for an injury. I like him as well, team is just deep.
- Tojo.

Guentzel can play both sides, but right now I think the configuration of our top 6 should be as follows:

Guentzel-Crosby-Hornqvist
Hagelin/Rust-Malkin-Kessel

ZAR has a decent amount of promise. I don't think he'll ever be a top 6 guy, but he displayed the potential to play up during injury. Start him off on the 4th line and move him up as injuries begin to inevitably pile up.

Guentzel can play both sides, but right now I think the configuration of our top 6 should be as follows:

Guentzel-Crosby-Hornqvist
Hagelin/Rust-Malkin-Kessel

ZAR has a decent amount of promise. I don't think he'll ever be a top 6 guy, but he displayed the potential to play up during injury. Start him off on the 4th line and move him up as injuries begin to inevitably pile up.
- Victoro311

I wanna give Brassard and Kessel a legit shot at developing some chemistry next year, I think a camp and a healthy Brassard and healthy Kessel will go a long way to. Unless Sully wants to give Kessel to Geno and Sprong to Brassard to limit Sprong's minutes off the bat.

Guentzel-Crosby-Hornqvist
Hagelin-Malkin-Kessel
Rust-Brassard-Sprong

or

Guentzel-Crosby-Hornqvist
Hagelin-Malkin-Sprong
Rust-Brassard-Kessel

would be my top 9.

I wanna give Brassard and Kessel a legit shot at developing some chemistry next year, I think a camp and a healthy Brassard and healthy Kessel will go a long way to. Unless Sully wants to give Kessel to Geno and Sprong to Brassard to limit Sprong's minutes off the bat.

Guentzel-Crosby-Hornqvist
Hagelin-Malkin-Kessel
Rust-Brassard-Sprong

or

Guentzel-Crosby-Hornqvist
Hagelin-Malkin-Sprong
Rust-Brassard-Kessel

would be my top 9.
- j.boyd919

I think one of the benefits of having a 3C like Brassard who has a top 6 quality offensive game is the ability to ease Sprong in. The argument for throwing Sprong into the top 6 off the bat is because he simply won't succeed with grinders like Sheahan, but by putting him with Brassard you get the best of both worlds. You limit his minutes and let him adjust while still giving him enough skill to succeed.

Guentzel can play both sides, but right now I think the configuration of our top 6 should be as follows:

Guentzel-Crosby-Hornqvist
Hagelin/Rust-Malkin-Kessel

ZAR has a decent amount of promise. I don't think he'll ever be a top 6 guy, but he displayed the potential to play up during injury. Start him off on the 4th line and move him up as injuries begin to inevitably pile up.
- Victoro311

Sure, they could move Guentzel over, it's more the 3 RWs that will dictate the line-up. I wish one could play the left.

I wanna give Brassard and Kessel a legit shot at developing some chemistry next year, I think a camp and a healthy Brassard and healthy Kessel will go a long way to. Unless Sully wants to give Kessel to Geno and Sprong to Brassard to limit Sprong's minutes off the bat.

Guentzel-Crosby-Hornqvist
Hagelin-Malkin-Kessel
Rust-Brassard-Sprong

or

Guentzel-Crosby-Hornqvist
Hagelin-Malkin-Sprong
Rust-Brassard-Kessel

would be my top 9.
- j.boyd919

Either way they have a skilled RW to play next to both Malkin and Brassard with a good glue guy in Hags and Rust on the other side. I wish they could experiment with combos like:

Guentzel-Crosby-Hornqvist
Hags-Malkin-Rust

which both had some great results this year, but that would make Sprong a 4th liner.

Pittsburgh media is after Kessel again lol (frank)ing donkeys.

Hey look I'm trying to have a discussion and you still choose to be an ass. Good job bud.
- Feds91Stammer

Your previous comments on many occasions make you the ass & I am not interested in what's you have to comment - especially when responding to my comment which I ask you don't, bud.