I didn't say that. I said, "It's been over 3 years since Murray has been consistently good." I guess a 4-month stretch last year might be considered "consistently good," but his season average was still below .920 and he gave up over 3 goals per game in the playoffs. A team with Cup aspirations needs better goaltending.

Let's face it, Murray isn't athletic, so he relies on fundamentals and positioning. When the latter two aspects go haywire for whatever reason, he gets exposed pretty easily.
- Hockey66

I'm no goalie coach but I would rather have a goalie that relies on fundamentals and positioning over athleticism. As you age you lose your quickness, therefore you depend more on fundamentals, positioning and experience.

No one who averages 8 goals (or fewer) per season should ever be in the top six. Period. Simon has 14 goals in 135 career games. He has 0 goals in 12 career playoff games. I don't care how many secondary assists he gets playing with two generational centers and a top 10 winger in Guentzel.
- Hockey66

When this team is healthy, Simon is at best the fourth line RW. Rust, Kahun and Hornqvist are head and shoulders above the golden boy. Bjugstad and Tanev are also better options, except they are needed elsewhere.

Simon is having a career year this year, on pace for 38-39 points. I really don't think he can sustain that pace, but whatever. He had 28 last year. If given the chance both Lafferty and Noesen could do what Simon is doing and they are borderline NHLers.

The only real positive I can give Simon is-he does have heart. He works hard, he just isn't all that good.

I think Galchenyuk at some point should get another shot with Malkin. They looked great together in training camp and I know injuries at the beginning of the season limited that. I would still give it one more shot before we pull the plug on the Galchenyuk experiment (especially since he is still only 25). I agree with most. I think Jarry should get the start next game.


For Noesen he never really had elite skating speed while in WB and sometimes was a step behind most while skating. He actually just some how found himself in perfect position to get the puck and the shot on net for a goal time and time again. His shooting was above average and same with his offensive positioning. Again he won't wow you with his speed. He wasn't a strong defensive player and he did take dumb penalties. I am happy he had a goal in game one and hope he can continue to show off his offensive ability.


His previous scouting report from Sports illustrated
"The bigger the game, the better he plays. He plays big in the big games and there's not a lot of guys like that. (Noesen's) hands are phenomenal, he works on them constantly. His scoring and his playmaking are two areas that we rely on the most. He has a very high hockey I.Q. He wants to be in that pressure-cooker moment where he is relied upon. He actually looks forward to it. When the game is on the line, he wants to be involved. He is the ultimate competitor."

I think Galchenyuk at some point should get another shot with Malkin. They looked great together in training camp and I know injuries at the beginning of the season limited that. I would still give it one more shot before we pull the plug on the Galchenyuk experiment (especially since he is still only 25). I agree with most. I think Jarry should get the start next game.


For Noesen he never really had elite skating speed while in WB and sometimes was a step behind most while skating. He actually just some how found himself in perfect position to get the puck and the shot on net for a goal time and time again. His shooting was above average and same with his offensive positioning. Again he won't wow you with his speed. He wasn't a strong defensive player and he did take dumb penalties. I am happy he had a goal in game one and hope he can continue to show off his offensive ability.


His previous scouting report from Sports illustrated
"The bigger the game, the better he plays. He plays big in the big games and there's not a lot of guys like that. (Noesen's) hands are phenomenal, he works on them constantly. His scoring and his playmaking are two areas that we rely on the most. He has a very high hockey I.Q. He wants to be in that pressure-cooker moment where he is relied upon. He actually looks forward to it. When the game is on the line, he wants to be involved. He is the ultimate competitor."
- 123Kid

Thanks for the scouting report. I take it you live around WBS?

Galchenyuk’s goal pace since entering the league, all of which are per 82 games:
22 goal pace
19
23
30
20
16
15 - rookie season

Mr.Chairman, I yield back
- WSCTeton17

Ok I'll give you 2 goal scorer, with top PP time.

Last 3+ years he has 234 games and 57 goals. 32 are at ES and 25 are on the PP. He hasn't put up what I'd call good ES offensive numbers.

I agree about putting him back with Malkin once Crosby comes back, but I would have him up there now with Rust and Bjug out. That's just me. I can see an argument that it should be Kahun or Tanev, too. But no way should Simon be there.

I'm not a fan of offense-only players, but I wouldn't characterize Galch as "offense only." He works hard on defense and is willing to go into the dirty areas to get a puck (something Kessel never did).

He has averaged 20.7 goals per season in his career and he's usually right around there.

As far as his fit on the Pens, I think a 17 game sample is too small to draw any conclusions, especially as injury-riddled as the Pens have been. I'm not in love with Galch and would be totally fine if he gets traded, but he needs to be put in a position to succeed on a consistent basis to either help the team or increase his trade value. Banishing him to the 4th line and cutting his minutes ensures that he will not succeed, or at least not do what he does best, which is score.

As bad as you think he's been, he's still over .5 points per game.
- Hockey66

You go back to Simon in every post and I don't think Simon should be on the top line either and keep saying so.

Galchenyuk tries hard, he's just not good at the defensive side.

Galchenyuk doesn't play RW and Guentzel-Malkin-Galchenyuk would be an aweful line defensively that would keep Malkinand Guentzel stuck in their own zone more often.

Guentzel and Galchenyuk keeps getting tried and keeps failing. They have an xGF of 06.75% last night and scored their only goal when they took him off that line.

Galchenyuk won't play on Blueger's line because that's a defensive line.

So yeah, I'd play him 4th line and PP right now because I think that's the best way to win. In a few weeks, he can have another shot with Malkin, but I just don't think he's important enough to force up the line up.

Lafferty, Kahun, and Tanev are all at .5 ppg too while playing a lot of bottom 6 themselves, so they have other options on this team.

Thanks for the scouting report. I take it you live around WBS?
- Tojo.

I do. I live in Eastern PA. I get shipped around due to my job, but when I am in the area I will drive and see a game or 2 if I can

Or drink during the game like Chris Chelios did during the outdoor game when Babcock benched him.
- j.boyd919

(frank) that was a good episode. Usually the old wilkes-barre guys are the best ep's. but (frank) it just felt like Chelios was #inone 100% of the time.

Refreshing game... net should(!) belong to Jarry now, hope we continue that way - ARI is a hard nut due Kuemper.

I dont understand complaining about any forward that's part of a forward group that's decimated by injuries but as a group still playing a very solid excellent defensive brand of hockey resulting in the team winning, or banking points, more often than not. Simon is very good away from puck so that makes me not care as much about missed chances. He's an important piece of the forwards D-game. Also, as Boyd has pointed out numerous times his production is in line. I'm not sure his confidence is shook as its more he's a little snake bitten. He's confidently finding himself in great places with great chances and I see a lot of confidence when he's the one carrying the puck. Those two consecutive chances he botched with the wide open net? That's insane hahaha...he gets that situation 10 more times I think he buries a goal every time. On top of all of this he only takes up 750k of the cap!

Jarry should be the starter until he falters. I think Murray will rebound but for now he needs some time off for some soul searching.

You go back to Simon in every post and I don't think Simon should be on the top line either and keep saying so.

Galchenyuk tries hard, he's just not good at the defensive side.

Galchenyuk doesn't play RW and Guentzel-Malkin-Galchenyuk would be an aweful line defensively that would keep Malkinand Guentzel stuck in their own zone more often.

Guentzel and Galchenyuk keeps getting tried and keeps failing. They have an xGF of 06.75% last night and scored their only goal when they took him off that line.

Galchenyuk won't play on Blueger's line because that's a defensive line.

So yeah, I'd play him 4th line and PP right now because I think that's the best way to win. In a few weeks, he can have another shot with Malkin, but I just don't think he's important enough to force up the line up.

Lafferty, Kahun, and Tanev are all at .5 ppg too while playing a lot of bottom 6 themselves, so they have other options on this team.
- Tojo.

Agreed.

I do. I live in Eastern PA. I get shipped around due to my job, but when I am in the area I will drive and see a game or 2 if I can
- 123Kid

Cool, good to know when we start talking about WBS guys since most of us don't catch many games.

Refreshing game... net should(!) belong to Jarry now, hope we continue that way - ARI is a hard nut due Kuemper.
- VeryModernMan

Its a road back to back for them so maybe Kuemper doesnt start. It's also Phil's return so hopefully the Pens come out full throttle and dont let up.

(frank) that was a good episode. Usually the old wilkes-barre guys are the best ep's. but (frank) it just felt like Chelios was #inone 100% of the time.
- joecool2931

The Chelios one was good the Roenick one from a last year was hilarious too. That prank was epic.

How do you fit in on a new team by bouncing around lines constantly? He has played exactly 17 games and is over .5 points per game. So banish him to the 4th line and reduce his minutes? Has Simon earned top 6 over Galch? Galch has 7 years of consistent goal-scoring. Simon has 0. They are the same age. Galch has 128 goals, Simon has 14.
- Hockey66

You're going to get lambasted talking like that.

You go back to Simon in every post and I don't think Simon should be on the top line either and keep saying so.

Galchenyuk tries hard, he's just not good at the defensive side.

Galchenyuk doesn't play RW and Guentzel-Malkin-Galchenyuk would be an aweful line defensively that would keep Malkinand Guentzel stuck in their own zone more often.

Guentzel and Galchenyuk keeps getting tried and keeps failing. They have an xGF of 06.75% last night and scored their only goal when they took him off that line.

Galchenyuk won't play on Blueger's line because that's a defensive line.

So yeah, I'd play him 4th line and PP right now because I think that's the best way to win. In a few weeks, he can have another shot with Malkin, but I just don't think he's important enough to force up the line up.

Lafferty, Kahun, and Tanev are all at .5 ppg too while playing a lot of bottom 6 themselves, so they have other options on this team.
- Tojo.

I don’t think Simon should be on the top line but I also don’t believe it’s as big a deal as everyone makes it out to be. A guy making 750K scoring ~39 points in a top 6 role is exactly what you want on a team to allow your coach to have fine chemistry on other lines.

I didn’t even reference fancy stats you (frank)ing retard. You’re so (frank)ing dense. Still the same old donkey.
- j.boyd919

"When someone doesn't say something I like, I just say they're dense and insult the person. I do this because I am adept am communicating like an adult. Everyone should heed my glorious opinions."

Dude, you really need to chill out with thinking you're so much better than everyone else in the world. You're wrong about stuff every day too. Set your ego down, and stop treating everyone like they're crap and your word is gospel.

"When someone doesn't say something I like, I just say they're dense and insult the person. I do this because I am adept am communicating like an adult. Everyone should heed my glorious opinions."

Dude, you really need to chill out with thinking you're so much better than everyone else in the world. You're wrong about stuff every day too. Set your ego down, and stop treating everyone like they're crap and your word is gospel.
- pens_4ever

Lol ok hero.

Lol ok hero.
- j.boyd919

At least I'm not here calling people retards. Funny story: I watched the boards for months before I ever posted anything. I didn't want to give my phone number to another website, but I just like to hear people b.s. about hockey. For months I watched and thought to myself, "This j.boyd guy is a freaking jerk to everyone that he talks to. He seriously thinks he knows all."

Needless to say, you haven't disappointed. You remain one of the most pretentious jerks that comes on here. I'm no hero, but anyone can call a spade a spade. The guy disagrees with you. It's not that your point is so profound that he can't understand it, so stop overusing the word "dense". It's that he disagrees. No need to call him a "retard" because you can't think of any other way to describe an opinion that doesn't see eye to eye with yours.

At least I'm not here calling people retards. Funny story: I watched the boards for months before I ever posted anything. I didn't want to give my phone number to another website, but I just like to hear people b.s. about hockey. For months I watched and thought to myself, "This j.boyd guy is a freaking jerk to everyone that he talks to. He seriously thinks he knows all."

Needless to say, you haven't disappointed. You remain one of the most pretentious jerks that comes on here. I'm no hero, but anyone can call a spade a spade. The guy disagrees with you. It's not that your point is so profound that he can't understand it, so stop overusing the word "dense". It's that he disagrees. No need to call him a "retard" because you can't think of any other way to describe an opinion that doesn't see eye to eye with yours.
- pens_4ever

Nah. Sammy is a retard. Has been for years.

Cool, good to know when we start talking about WBS guys since most of us don't catch many games.
- Tojo.

If you need any info I will try to chime in where I can. My friend is also the Strength coach for WBS. I sometimes am able to get the extra little behind the scene details when I can.

I don’t think Jake-Geno-Galch would be worse than Jake-Geno-Simon

People keep talking about Galchenyuks defensive issues but Simon is the one who hasn’t been breaking the puck out well lately. Dude doesn’t even make him available as an outlet! Galchenyuk has been making himself available often, on both wings, and often times advances the puck forward with a nice pass. My issue with him has been his turnovers lately

At least I'm not here calling people retards. Funny story: I watched the boards for months before I ever posted anything. I didn't want to give my phone number to another website, but I just like to hear people b.s. about hockey. For months I watched and thought to myself, "This j.boyd guy is a freaking jerk to everyone that he talks to. He seriously thinks he knows all."

Needless to say, you haven't disappointed. You remain one of the most pretentious jerks that comes on here. I'm no hero, but anyone can call a spade a spade. The guy disagrees with you. It's not that your point is so profound that he can't understand it, so stop overusing the word "dense". It's that he disagrees. No need to call him a "retard" because you can't think of any other way to describe an opinion that doesn't see eye to eye with yours.
- pens_4ever

You consider this an opinion?: "Simon has good fancy stats which are all that matter. The only thing the eye test says about Simon is that he can't score a point blank goal on an empty net but that's not really relevant in modern hockey."

Thats not an opinion man...its backhanded passive aggressive crap bait to stir up sh!t. If you actually consider it an opinion and nothing else, do you really think whats said here is right?

RW will have your back on this tomorrow
- 10inchTerror

It was a joke

I don’t think Jake-Geno-Galch would be worse than Jake-Geno-Simon

People keep talking about Galchenyuks defensive issues but Simon is the one who hasn’t been breaking the puck out well lately. Dude doesn’t even make him available as an outlet! Galchenyuk has been making himself available often, on both wings, and often times advances the puck forward with a nice pass. My issue with him has been his turnovers lately
- WSCTeton17

He seems a little gun-shy with Sully benching him for 9 minutes of playing time on a lot of nights. I disagree with the way he's been managed, but the most glaring thing I see is him blowing assignments on the forecheck and backcheck. I think this is something that is really pissing off the coach. But this isn't like Sprong; this guy has proven NHL pedigree. If we're going to trade him, then we need to force feed him some top line minutes to increase his value. If we're not, then we're wasting a perennial 20-goal scorer on an expiring contract.