You touched on something there -- when Crosby has been into it, like he was out west, they look totally different. I think Malkin has been more consistent, maybe not every single night, but more frequently

Crosby's got a lot of miles on him, though. He might be at the age where you gotta give him someone on his line to do some of that heavy lifting defensively. Look at how Giroux responded with Couturier.

Obviously, I'm not saying that Crosby needs to move to wing. I don't believe that. Two different players. But Crosby maybe can't be the hardest working guy on that line in all three zones every single night, anymore
- AllInForFlyers

Yeah, he’s become a much more two way driven player and it takes its toll. They just don’t have that kind of player to put there. Even bringing the puck up at even strength it’s a difficulty. If letang isn’t out there, it usually means most of the effort is spent simply trying to regain possession after a dump into the corner.

Sullivan’s personal decisions are irritating too. You missed the Simmonds debate, but that’s basically the same for hornqvist. If he isn’t on the ice with Crosby or Malkin he’s virtually useless. Cullen is a respected vet but he’s caving them in.

It’s always gonna be tough and every team has holes. Putting giroux with coots in that manner has worked the exact wonders for giroux like you said, but now the flyers are constantly chasing that third line center role. It becomes robbing Peter to pay Paul. They don’t have a Kunitz from six years ago on the roster.

I know they have their own internal budgetary requirements, but them going after panarin hard would be huge for them.
- stayinthefnnet

Have to know where he wants to play first, though -- CLB can't get him signed and nobody can quite pin down where he wants to go. He sounds like he has a spot or two picked out, but nobody can quite tell where

Have to know where he wants to play first, though -- CLB can't get him signed and nobody can quite pin down where he wants to go. He sounds like he has a spot or two picked out, but nobody can quite tell where
- AllInForFlyers

Oh yeah. In my hypothetical him signing there sort of implied that he would want to play there haha

Oh yeah. In my hypothetical him signing there sort of implied that he would want to play there haha
- stayinthefnnet

They're leading the division right now, are probably talented enough to win it.

If you're them and you're still first or second, even third, in the division come TDL, what do you do?

Do you let him walk for nothing? Bob, too? If you haven't signed either? Especially with Panarin basically telling you last summer that he wasn't gonna sign with you, though he was polite and professional about it?

On the bright side ...

Sitting in back yard watching Sens pummel the PENS...

Guys, it's okay.

We just need the players to execute better. That's all.

Guys, it's okay.

We just need the players to execute better. That's all.
- jmatchett383

They'll sort it out one of these years.

Guys, it's okay.

We just need the players to execute better. That's all.
- jmatchett383

I agree.

Guys, it's okay.

We just need the players to execute better. That's all.
- jmatchett383

They'll sort it out one of these years.
- hereticpride

Yes, I mean, a 3+ year sample size just isn't enough.

They're leading the division right now, are probably talented enough to win it.

If you're them and you're still first or second, even third, in the division come TDL, what do you do?

Do you let him walk for nothing? Bob, too? If you haven't signed either? Especially with Panarin basically telling you last summer that he wasn't gonna sign with you, though he was polite and professional about it?
- AllInForFlyers

That’s tough. That fan base needs a good run, but the idea of losing both of those pieces for absolutely nothing is the type of thing that can set a franchise back years.

Yikes

This whooping the Pens are taking tonight is the kind of beating that should set off every alarm in Pittsburgh -- the kind where a young, fast, inexperienced team realizes that the older, experienced, slower team isn't to be feared any longer

The PK is now at 68.6%. That’s beyond pathetic, it’s a (frank)ing embarrassment. If Lappy was the classy guy all the writers and players claim, he’d (frank)ing resign. He has to go, I don’t care who the PKers are, or the goalie or whatever, there is no excuse for this. None.

“Jimmy Butler can’t play defense”
-2Real

The PK is now at 68.6%. That’s beyond pathetic, it’s a (frank)ing embarrassment. If Lappy was the classy guy all the writers and players claim, he’d (frank)ing resign. He has to go, I don’t care who the PKers are, or the goalie or whatever, there is no excuse for this. None.
- BiggE

68.6%

Wow! And that is with a 20 game sample size.

Sigh

68.6%

Wow! And that is with a 20 game sample size.

Sigh
- ggunky

20 PP goals against in 20 games.

JVR playing well, get him around the puck.

Yes, I mean, a 3+ year sample size just isn't enough.
- johndewar

To be fair this team is completely different. Problem is the same but its due to lack of experience instead of lack of skill

“Jimmy Butler can’t play defense”
-2Real
- StepfordSam

Hahaa

Yikes

This whooping the Pens are taking tonight is the kind of beating that should set off every alarm in Pittsburgh -- the kind where a young, fast, inexperienced team realizes that the older, experienced, slower team isn't to be feared any longer
- AllInForFlyers

They shouldn’t be feared. They’re trash. Hopefully missing the playoffs wakes them up. They need some embarrassment top to bottom.

So earlier there was a big debate about Bob or not to Bob. So instead of Bob what about Quick? Kings could be looking at rebuilding. It will come with a cost. Probably a D prospect not yet in the league, I would assume a goalie and a draft pick goes back as well

To be fair this team is completely different. Problem is the same but its due to lack of experience instead of lack of skill
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

There is a lot more going on with this team than lack of experience. The mistakes in the game today were committed by veteran players. Not the young guys.

John Boruk, the hockey expert writes this in an article about Carter Hart.


"Compounding the myriad of changes is that Hart is now cashing big paychecks in the first year of his entry-level deal that pays him roughly $750,000 bi-weekly over the course of a six-month season after receiving a mere monthly allowance at the junior level."

So earlier there was a big debate about Bob or not to Bob. So instead of Bob what about Quick? Kings could be looking at rebuilding. It will come with a cost. Probably a D prospect not yet in the league, I would assume a goalie and a draft pick goes back as well
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

That is not crazy

There is a lot more going on with this team than lack of experience. The mistakes in the game today were committed by veteran players. Not the young guys.
- MJL

Some vets are making mistakes but guys like Amac and Simmonds wont be around past this season.

In this game I can name several young players mistakes just on the goals alone.

Goal #1 - Hagg loses position of his man on a give and go

Goal #2 - There is a lot of blame to go around but at the end of the day Erne skates right through AMac and Konecny then passes to a guy Ghost left wide open. Its a shot Pickard should have had.

Goal #3 Provorov blows his coverage on Point

Goal #4 - Not much anyone can do on 5-3 but first Penalty was on Konecny for a late hit that was thrown in retaliation to a slash.

Goal #5 Another PPG on a Giroux slash. Still dont feel the call was legit. Goal was on several players. Some might say Amac should have had point but a TB player was in the slot just walking in, AMac had to step up on the guy. Hagg didnt get back to cover him and there was a Flyer player that I couldnt see up by the blue line jerking himself off by himself.

As you can see there is plenty of young players making mistakes. Not all the mistakes but a lot of em