A part of me wants the Penguins to have a bad year and miss the playoffs... just to win the draft lottery and draft that Lafreniere kid #1. The butthurt would be unreal.
- SuperHenderson13

I've been thinking the same. Maybe be in position #12 or #13 and win. The entertainment value would be off-the-charts.

It was Scott Hartnell.
- burgh4life87

I kind of miss the Ginger Poodle. I'll never forget when Kunitz gave him a frosty top up-close and personal.

The problem with that low rating over the last 5+ years is that was totally wrong. So our system was rated low but produced a 40 goal scorer in Guentzel and a top 10 goalie in Murray who plays top 5 level for very long stretches when healthy. How many systems added players like that over the past few years from players not drafted in the 1st round? Also plenty of other players added from the system over those 5 years. Plus Rutherford has done a great job of adding young talented players like Pettersson, McCann, Schultz, and others over his tenure while still going for it each year. Gone are the Shero days trading high picks for rentals.

Most of Rutherford’s deals are for players with term 27 or younger. The whole team around the core is young. Hornqvist is the only forward around the core that is not 27 or younger. Both goalies are young and only JJ is not in his 20’s on defense. So we surrounded our aging 3 core players with a young supporting cast while still adding to the prospect depth.

I believe this year’s prospect group is much better than last years but we go from 23 to 28th ranked. I like this year’s group better.
- MalkinCrosby

Good points. The number of players on this roster in their mid-20s is striking.

I thought Addison had to play one more year of juniors.

For a guy who values production, I'm surprised RW isn't a little higher on Legare. Being 3rd in goals and 8th in points in the Q during his draft year is pretty impressive.

Finally get a prospect blog and it's basically screw all the prospects besides Addison and Bellerive (who I like as a potential 3C)
- Tojo.

I would love if Bellerive were able to play 3C (or even 4C) sooner than later. I think it would open up the possibilities of roster movement immensely. As it is, we have Bjug, who is probably a better winger, and Blueger, who is still unproven, as our bottom 6 centers. Not ideal, especially considering Bjug hasn't been the picture of health over his career. We have a couple of guys in Galch and McCann who could fill-in in a pinch, but anything longer-term would be problematic.

Bellerive is 20 now, so the next couple of years are probably make-or-break for him, and he is the oldest legit forward prospect other than Almeida.

I would love if Bellerive were able to play 3C (or even 4C) sooner than later. I think it would open up the possibilities of roster movement immensely. As it is, we have Bjug, who is probably a better winger, and Blueger, who is still unproven, as our bottom 6 centers. Not ideal, especially considering Bjug hasn't been the picture of health over his career. We have a couple of guys in Galch and McCann who could fill-in in a pinch, but anything longer-term would be problematic.

Bellerive is 20 now, so the next couple of years are probably make-or-break for him, and he is the oldest legit forward prospect other than Almeida.
- Hockey66

Bellerive looked like a potential 2C before the fire. I'm really interested to see what he does in WBS now that he's healthy. Seems to have the type of well-rounded game that will get him to the pros: skating, skill, defense, character, etc. Just a question of how high his ceiling is.

The problem with that low rating over the last 5+ years is that was totally wrong. So our system was rated low but produced a 40 goal scorer in Guentzel and a top 10 goalie in Murray who plays top 5 level for very long stretches when healthy. How many systems added players like that over the past few years from players not drafted in the 1st round? Also plenty of other players added from the system over those 5 years. Plus Rutherford has done a great job of adding young talented players like Pettersson, McCann, Schultz, and others over his tenure while still going for it each year. Gone are the Shero days trading high picks for rentals.

Most of Rutherford’s deals are for players with term 27 or younger. The whole team around the core is young. Hornqvist is the only forward around the core that is not 27 or younger. Both goalies are young and only JJ is not in his 20’s on defense. So we surrounded our aging 3 core players with a young supporting cast while still adding to the prospect depth.

I believe this year’s prospect group is much better than last years but we go from 23 to 28th ranked. I like this year’s group better.
- MalkinCrosby

That's why you ask questions about why a guy is ranked where he is and what he needs to answer.

Goalies are generally a crap shoot an in Murray's case he did nothing the 2 years after he was drafted and all of a sudden when he turned pro everything clicked.

Guentzel is the rare skill guy whose game translates better at ES than on the PP. While he didn't put up crazy numbers, his game was likely to translate better than lots of guys who rack up points on the PP but have trouble adjusting to not being a top option in the pros (Sprong). Although anyone who says they saw 30 goals is probably lying.

And every now and then, you get the odd player like Rust who shows no offensive upside an I decent in the NHL. Pens really benefitted from some late bloomers.

That's why you ask questions about why a guy is ranked where he is and what he needs to answer.

Goalies are generally a crap shoot an in Murray's case he did nothing the 2 years after he was drafted and all of a sudden when he turned pro everything clicked.

Guentzel is the rare skill guy whose game translates better at ES than on the PP. While he didn't put up crazy numbers, his game was likely to translate better than lots of guys who rack up points on the PP but have trouble adjusting to not being a top option in the pros (Sprong). Although anyone who says they saw 30 goals is probably lying.

And every now and then, you get the odd player like Rust who shows no offensive upside an I decent in the NHL. Pens really benefitted from some late bloomer.
- Tojo.

I saw offensive upside in rust.

I saw offensive upside in rust.
- Victoro311

I still do as well. I hope he finds a spot with a chance to pot some 5v5 goals. I always thought he’d look great in Edmonton but truth be told he’d look good on a lot of teams

The problem with that low rating over the last 5+ years is that was totally wrong. So our system was rated low but produced a 40 goal scorer in Guentzel and a top 10 goalie in Murray who plays top 5 level for very long stretches when healthy. How many systems added players like that over the past few years from players not drafted in the 1st round? Also plenty of other players added from the system over those 5 years. Plus Rutherford has done a great job of adding young talented players like Pettersson, McCann, Schultz, and others over his tenure while still going for it each year. Gone are the Shero days trading high picks for rentals.

Most of Rutherford’s deals are for players with term 27 or younger. The whole team around the core is young. Hornqvist is the only forward around the core that is not 27 or younger. Both goalies are young and only JJ is not in his 20’s on defense. So we surrounded our aging 3 core players with a young supporting cast while still adding to the prospect depth.

I believe this year’s prospect group is much better than last years but we go from 23 to 28th ranked. I like this year’s group better.
- MalkinCrosby

The prospect pipeline rating isn't based on the roster, it's based on prospects and very young players. It isn't trying to do any of the things you're talking about re: the team getting younger in general. Most other teams have better prospect pools than ours. That's a fact.

I kind of miss the Ginger Poodle. I'll never forget when Kunitz gave him a frosty top up-close and personal.
- Hockey66

You mean the time in 2012 when the refs were holding Hartnell down on the ice and Kunitz kept hitting him? That's the kind of bush league cowardish stuff you'd expect from a Flyers goon, not one of those respectable Penguins players.

I think Kunitz was a very good player and deserved all of the accolades he was given in Pittsburgh. But he wasn't exactly a choir boy himself and had no problem using his stick when no one would see it, and got much braver when the refs showed up. Still, damn good player.

The prospect pipeline rating isn't based on the roster, it's based on prospects and very young players. It isn't trying to do any of the things you're talking about re: the team getting younger in general. Most other teams have better prospect pools than ours. That's a fact.
- cygnus41

Exactly. Like RW said, it's expected that a team that goes all-in for a decade+ will have a pretty bad system. Guentzel and Murray were the kind of steals a team like the Pens need.

Who was the person mentioning the Coughlin's Law place about a week ago?

Finally tried it.. holy (frank) the service is trash and both dinners were messed up. Manager there is a freaking moron.

You mean the time in 2012 when the refs were holding Hartnell down on the ice and Kunitz kept hitting him? That's the kind of bush league cowardish stuff you'd expect from a Flyers goon, not one of those respectable Penguins players.

I think Kunitz was a very good player and deserved all of the accolades he was given in Pittsburgh. But he wasn't exactly a choir boy himself and had no problem using his stick when no one would see it, and got much braver when the refs showed up. Still, damn good player.
- jmatchett383

jmatch I see you're biased towards this Kunitz hate. One incident was enough for you to judge the player. Kunitz had always been a straight up guy. I guess everyone wants to beat the $hit out of Hartnell. He was a dirty mofo.

Who was the person mentioning the Coughlin's Law place about a week ago?

Finally tried it.. holy (frank) the service is trash and both dinners were messed up. Manager there is a freaking moron.
- Guile

lol bad experience all around

jmatch I see you're biased towards this Kunitz hate. One incident was enough for you to judge the player. Kunitz had always been a straight up guy. I guess everyone wants to beat the $hit out of Hartnell. He was a dirty mofo.
- Barnaby36

It wasn't that one incident. The hit on Timonen, the fact that he WOULDN'T fight Hartnell after that hit until the refs were there, and just being an all-around pest.

I have no problem calling Flyers players out. Hartnell was dirty as hell. Rinaldo was a scumbag. The Flyers have a checkered past and I'll never say it's unwarranted. At the same time, Kunitz was as sneaky dirty as they come. I don't HATE him, I just think he was a dirty player. Immensely talented though.

Oh, and Hartnell lost his fair share of fights, has nothing to do with it. Repeatedly smashing a dude's face while he's held down on the ice by the refs is another story.

lol bad experience all around
- Barnaby36

Gonna be worse when I out up the review for burnt burger, cold brisket, waitress who flicked BlackBerry colored liquor on my shirt then laughed, and moron manager who possibly just did a line of coke.

Shilo bakery however, still quite delicious when you go there after a poop dining experience.

The hit on Timonen was a perfectly clean hit. As far as hits go, nothing was more dirty than Bobby Clarke slashing and breaking the ankle of kharlamov in the Summit series. All because Canada couldnt beat them fairly on the ice. Why is Clarke so revered to this day in Philly?

The league has a hard on for the Pens. Don’t work in 10-20 yrs they will be given another legend. After having Lemieux and Jagr they didn’t deserve to get both Malkin and Crosby. Malkin fine. It we all know the post lock out draft was rigged to get Crosby to the Pens so that they wouldn’t be sold and moved.