His career having risk at this point is fair to say. That shoulder is becoming an issue.

Unathletic is a daft statement though.
- Guile

I thought I read that it wasn't related to the last injury or injuries...perhaps it was Letang.

I thought I read that it wasn't related to the last injury or injuries...perhaps it was Letang.
- MattStrat

The pens organization doesnt actuslly have to disclose if it was related, or tell the truth on that matter. It would be in their best interest to say it wasnt if it was for any possible trades involving him in the future.

Absolutely. With the right partner (Kristopher), Maatta is a serviceable top 4 dman and the star of every pens christmas parody video. He has foot speed and mobility issues, but with the right partner he can remain invisible (in a good way). Thankfully the TDL has passed, although he will have a struggle earning his keep from HCMS.
- DeflatedPucks

Ryan Wilson is absolutely correct though with defense pairings. If the organization really believes that Dumo is that good, let him play 2nd pairing duty with Schultz and Maatta can play with Letang. Sometimes I really wonder what Sullivan is up to because a lot of his deficiencies as a coach come down to common sense.

The pens organization doesnt actuslly have to disclose if it was related, or tell the truth on that matter. It would be in their best interest to say it wasnt if it was for any possible trades involving him in the future.
- Guile

Doesn't matter. He is soft and unathletic. Need to move him for some grit.

5 on 5 this season, when Crosby is on the ice the pens have outscored their opponent 73-33.

When Crosby is on the bench 5 on 5, the pens have been outscored 84-92

The pens organization doesnt actuslly have to disclose if it was related, or tell the truth on that matter. It would be in their best interest to say it wasnt if it was for any possible trades involving him in the future.
- Guile

Yeah I know that. The injury reporting has become almost laughable in recent history.

Doesn't matter. He is soft and unathletic. Need to move him for some grit.
- Feds91Stammer

Actually my point was that they should spend the rest of the year and off-season getting him healthy and stronger.

Investing time and effort into his well-being and development so he can be a longer term, better player for the team has nothing to do with trading him for grit.

But go ahead and try to create a stupid argument out of it.

5 on 5 this season, when Crosby is on the ice the pens have outscored their opponent 73-33.

When Crosby is on the bench 5 on 5, the pens have been outscored 84-92
- jchst22

He is crazy good. I honestly think he should be winning the Selke AND the Hart this year. If all goes well hopefully the Conn Smythe too!

Actually my point was that they should spend the rest of the year and off-season getting him healthy and stronger.

Investing time and effort into his well-being and development so he can be a longer term, better player for the team has nothing to do with trading him for grit.

But go ahead and try to create a stupid argument out of it.
- MacPatty

Okay sweetie.

He is crazy good. I honestly think he should be winning the Selke AND the Hart this year. If all goes well hopefully the Conn Smythe too!
- MacPatty

Actually my point was that they should spend the rest of the year and off-season getting him healthy and stronger.

Investing time and effort into his well-being and development so he can be a longer term, better player for the team has nothing to do with trading him for grit.

But go ahead and try to create a stupid argument out of it.
- MacPatty

?

What do you suppose they could do that would make him, or any other player for that matter, handle slamming a shoulder into the boards awkwardly better?

Doesn't matter. He is soft and unathletic. Need to move him for some grit.
- Feds91Stammer

Like Ryan Reeves... tough, but on defense.

?

What do you suppose they could do that would make him, or any other player for that matter, handle slamming a shoulder into the boards awkwardly better?
- MattStrat

obviously shoulder workouts

Actually my point was that they should spend the rest of the year and off-season getting him healthy and stronger.

Investing time and effort into his well-being and development so he can be a longer term, better player for the team has nothing to do with trading him for grit.

But go ahead and try to create a stupid argument out of it.
- MacPatty

You created the stupid argument on your own.

The only logic here would be comparable to the season he missed most of the off season due to injury, and him being a step slower showed most of that season. But you cannot plan to avoid having an injury that extends through the offseason.

He is crazy good. I honestly think he should be winning the Selke AND the Hart this year. If all goes well hopefully the Conn Smythe too!
- MacPatty

Kucherov is having a historically good season. Giving anyone else the Hart would be highway robbery. There hasn’t been a more valuable player in this league than Kuch this season.

Kucherov is having a historically good season. Giving anyone else the Hart would be highway robbery. There hasn’t been a more valuable player in this league than Kuch this season.
- Victoro311

So you would give the Hart to a guy that would be 13th in the league in points if you took all his goals away?

So you would give the Hart to a guy that would be 13th in the league in points if you took all his goals away?
- Feds91Stammer

Lol

?

What do you suppose they could do that would make him, or any other player for that matter, handle slamming a shoulder into the boards awkwardly better?
- MattStrat

Go through a rehab program with a shoulder expert like Eric Cressey and maybe put on a bit of muscle. You can't 100% prevent an injury, hockey is too violent, but you can let your body heal and build it up stronger.

It's not a fluke that he has had issues with the same shoulder, including surgery, on 3 separate occasions. This is done in other sports all of the time and it can definitely extend a players career.

Kucherov is having a historically good season. Giving anyone else the Hart would be highway robbery. There hasn’t been a more valuable player in this league than Kuch this season.
- Victoro311

No doubt he is having an outstanding season. But he is on a loaded team and if you look at even strength scoring, Sid is right there with him.

When you consider just how much Crosby has been carrying the team, he should be right there with Kucherov if Sid continues on this pace the rest of the season.

Go through a rehab program with a shoulder expert like Eric Cressey and maybe put on a bit of muscle. You can't 100% prevent an injury, hockey is too violent, but you can let your body heal and build it up stronger.

It's not a fluke that he has had issues with the same shoulder, including surgery, on 3 separate occasions. This is done in other sports all of the time and it can definitely extend a players career.
- MacPatty

It's some what of a fluke the way he hit the boards two times though.

You also assume that a professional sports organization didnt put him through a rehab program with qualified individuals....and I'm not sure why.

No doubt he is having an outstanding season. But he is on a loaded team and if you look at even strength scoring, Sid is right there with him.

When you consider just how much Crosby has been carrying the team, he should be right there with Kucherov if Sid continues on this pace the rest of the season.
- MacPatty

So you count Kucherov's supporting cast as a knock on production. What about Crosby playing with Jake?

It's some what of a fluke the way he hit the boards two times though.

You also assume that a professional sports organization didnt put him through a rehab program with qualified individuals....and I'm not sure why.
- MattStrat

You are trying to reason with someone that does not care about logic.

It's some what of a fluke the way he hit the boards two times though.

You also assume that a professional sports organization didnt put him through a rehab program with qualified individuals....and I'm not sure why.
- MattStrat

maybe he should give frank thomas a call

Obviously Guentzal is comfortable playing either wing or Center. You guys are more acknowledged on hockey than I am, but the question I'm asking is, can he play RW at the same level as LW or higher? Does he look good on the right side?

Obviously Guentzal is comfortable playing either wing or Center. You guys are more acknowledged on hockey than I am, but the question I'm asking is, can he play RW at the same level as LW or higher? Does he look good on the right side?
- nateca44

I'm sure he's more comfortable on his natural side, but I don't really notice any drop off when Guentzel plays the right side. I'm sure its there but for all purposes he's the same player on his off side. He's definitely not Iginla who went down a whole skill level on his offside.