If everyone was healthy I’d like to see...

Guentzel-Sid-Horny
Pearson-Geno-Sprong
Simon-Brassard-Kessel
Rust-Sheahan-ZAR

Letang-Dumo
Maatta-Schultz
Oleksiak-Ruhwedel

Granted that won’t happen for a while with the Schultz injury but that’s what I’d like to see. Just let it play out.
- j.boyd919

I like those too. I dont think the absence of Schultz is being credited enough for this mess either. His RH'ness, skating out of zone, first pass and offensive touch absence has totally F'd with the back end and flow of the team in general.

I like those too. I dont think the absence of Schultz is being credited enough for this mess either. His RH'ness, skating out of zone, first pass and offensive touch absence has totally F'd with the back end and flow of the team in general.
- MattStrat

This team started the season playing attrocious hockey with a healthy Schultz and Brassard.

Is that financially feasible?
- Rinosaur

yep had like 210k to spare

This team started the season playing attrocious hockey with a healthy Schultz and Brassard.
- Rinosaur

This team started 6-1-2

This team started 6-1-2
- MattStrat

Let’s not ignore the process and only look at results. It was a good start record wise but watching the games, I think most could have seen that they weren’t playing well.

If everyone was healthy I’d like to see...

Guentzel-Sid-Horny
Pearson-Geno-Sprong
Simon-Brassard-Kessel
Rust-Sheahan-ZAR

Letang-Dumo
Maatta-Schultz
Oleksiak-Ruhwedel

Granted that won’t happen for a while with the Schultz injury but that’s what I’d like to see. Just let it play out.
- j.boyd919

Yeah that's about the best lineup we can do with the current players.

I've also liked the way ZAR has been playing for the most part.

Ruhwedel hasn’t been much better
- j.boyd919

Although to be fair, 5 of those goals he was paired with JJ hahahahaahah

Let’s not ignore the process and only look at results. It was a good start record wise but watching the games, I think most could have seen that they weren’t playing well.
- j.boyd919

Yeah it was a pretty unanimous female dog fest in here. No one was happy, and while I don't think anyone saw us having the worst record in the East, a lot of people knew that problems were around the corner.

Murray imitating Cam Ward's career arch is our single biggest problem I think, because that issue is permanent. Even if this season is lost, Schultz will eventually come back and our top 4 won't be a dumpster fire anymore. Bottom six forwards are pretty easy to tinker around. But elite goaltending doesn't grow on trees. Having our guy go from elite to sub-league average is a huge (frank)ing problem. I won't say its unfixable cus Murray' has a good cap hit which can be jettisoned if worst comes to worst, but Murray turning into a lemon is the last thing we need right now as all these other paper cuts start to pile up.

Let’s not ignore the process and only look at results. It was a good start record wise but watching the games, I think most could have seen that they weren’t playing well.
- j.boyd919

Precisely. It was unsustainable and eventually would have crashed. Maybe not as bad as it is now, but my money is on them still being on the outside looking in.

Are you guys all against having Phil on Sid's Line?

Are you guys all against having Phil on Sid's Line?
- Thorny87

I’d prefer to have Kessel with Brassard.

Are you guys all against having Phil on Sid's Line?
- Thorny87

I’m for whatever works and doesn’t make the Pens top-heavy.

If Simon-Brass-Rust can find mojo then do what you want with the top six.

I’d prefer to have Kessel with Brassard.
- j.boyd919

I can see that.

One thing I've been thinking about, and many have been talking about is the load up line. Like in Boston and Colorado. Sid Phil and Jake would be a pretty close comparable.

Right now we know the bottom 6 isn't gonna get much done. Maybe loading up is the answer.

I’m for whatever works and doesn’t make the Pens top-heavy.

If Simon-Brass-Rust can find mojo then do what you want with the top six.
- Rinosaur

We're already top heavy.

I can see that.

One thing I've been thinking about, and many have been talking about is the load up line. Like in Boston and Colorado. Sid Phil and Jake would be a pretty close comparable.

Right now we know the bottom 6 isn't gonna get much done. Maybe loading up is the answer.
- Thorny87

Well I think that’s the problem. We had a bottom 6 that had Cullen, Sheahan, Grant. Sheahan only really plays well when he’s got some decent skill next to him. Cullen is cooked. Grant isn’t an NHL player. Sprong doesn’t work with any of those guys because they’re bad and he doesn’t really create space on his own. I would think the Pens would be more dangerous when they spread the wealth. Although they have to do it correctly. I just don’t think they are putting the correct players in the lineup/positions to succeed.

Let’s not ignore the process and only look at results. It was a good start record wise but watching the games, I think most could have seen that they weren’t playing well.
- j.boyd919

I'm not and I know they werent playing buzzsaw-ish those games but the irony here is that they played very well and still lost a handful of the loses so far this season. That's a counterpoint here that no one is mentioning but me. They've lost 5 or 6 games they had no business losing. If they won those they're 1st in the division.

I dont really care how a team wins at the end of a day as long as they win.

Well I think that’s the problem. We had a bottom 6 that had Cullen, Sheahan, Grant. Sheahan only really plays well when he’s got some decent skill next to him. Cullen is cooked. Grant isn’t an NHL player. Sprong doesn’t work with any of those guys because they’re bad and he doesn’t really create space on his own. I would think the Pens would be more dangerous when they spread the wealth. Although they have to do it correctly. I just don’t think they are putting the correct players in the lineup/positions to succeed.
- j.boyd919

I'd like to see Phil with Sid without Jake too. If we're worried about spreading the wealth let Geno have Jake for a bit. Jake hasn't exactly been killing it. Maybe he'd benefit from a switch up too. I can understand the spreading of wealth but so far it hasn't really worked. If Brass truly is as good as many believe can he not run a competent 3rd line with Rust and Simon?

I'm not and I know they werent playing buzzsaw-ish those games but the irony here is that they played very well and still lost a handful of the loses so far this season. That's a counterpoint here that no one is mentioning but me. They've lost 5 or 6 games they had no business losing. If they won those they're 1st in the division.

I dont really care how a team wins at the end of a day as long as they win.
- MattStrat

Completely ignoring wins/losses... you’re a bigger eye test/effort kinda guy then me would you say that you like the way the Pens have looked throughout the season? Watching them game in and game out, do you think they’ve been a good hockey team?

Personally, I don’t. I see many problems up and down the lineup. Yeah they’ve had a few games they outplayed the other team and lost but I would say that they’ve had more games where they don’t look good than games where they do.

I’m also of the same mindset of it doesn’t matter how you get the job done, but I would much rather see a team play a sustainable brand of hockey and I just don’t see that happening with the Pens. They’re too Jekyll and Hyde.

I'd like to see Phil with Sid without Jake too. If we're worried about spreading the wealth let Geno have Jake for a bit. Jake hasn't exactly been killing it. Maybe he'd benefit from a switch up too. I can understand the spreading of wealth but so far it hasn't really worked. If Brass truly is as good as many believe can he not run a competent 3rd line with Rust and Simon?
- Thorny87

I’d prefer to have goal scorers on every line. Rust isn’t a goal scorer and neither is Simon, in my eyes. I think G has been fine. He’s got like 12 points in 18 games. Not evertyone on the Pens can be a ppg player hahah. I think Brass is good but I still don’t want him to play with scraps. Simon has been decent this year with Sid, I’ll give him that.

We're already top heavy.
- Thorny87

Then I guess you answered your own question lol

I’d prefer to have goal scorers on every line. Rust isn’t a goal scorer and neither is Simon, in my eyes. I think G has been fine. He’s got like 12 points in 18 games. Not evertyone on the Pens can be a ppg player hahah. I think Brass is good but I still don’t want him to play with scraps. Simon has been decent this year with Sid, I’ll give him that.
- j.boyd919

I think Simon has been super underrated by this fanbase for a while now and shouldn't be looked as an anchor on a line. He's a solid complimentary player. If you're relying on him to be a scoring winger, you're gonna get burnt, but if you're getting good center play and the line already has a scoring winger like Phil or G on it, then Simon is gonna do fine.

I think Simon has been super underrated by this fanbase for a while now and shouldn't be looked as an anchor on a line. He's a solid complimentary player. If you're relying on him to be a scoring winger, you're gonna get burnt, but if you're getting good center play and the line already has a scoring winger like Phil or G on it, then Simon is gonna do fine.
- Victoro311

Yep. I agree. I think he’s been fine this year. He’s quiet though. Nothing flashy. His 10 points have been quiet imo.

Hate to say it, after proving me wrong a few seasons but ND rust has looked like dog poop this season. Got paid and now he ain’t worth the money he’s making. Hopefully he snaps out of whatever funk he’s in. Not saying he’s the problem but he’s a part of it.

I’d prefer to have goal scorers on every line. Rust isn’t a goal scorer and neither is Simon, in my eyes. I think G has been fine. He’s got like 12 points in 18 games. Not evertyone on the Pens can be a ppg player hahah. I think Brass is good but I still don’t want him to play with scraps. Simon has been decent this year with Sid, I’ll give him that.
- j.boyd919

So Sid can play with "scraps" against other teams top lines but not Brass against other third lines.

Dom has 10 pts in 18.

Yep. I agree. I think he’s been fine this year. He’s quiet though. Nothing flashy. His 10 points have been quiet imo.

Hate to say it, after proving me wrong a few seasons but ND rust has looked like dog poop this season. Got paid and now he ain’t worth the money he’s making. Hopefully he snaps out of whatever funk he’s in. Not saying he’s the problem but he’s a part of it.
- j.boyd919

He’s a 2nd half guy me thinks.