What is Guentzel's time table?... initially it was 4-6 months correct?

I wouldn't rule him out for early May.... not likely but not impossible

Players dont have to be huge guys to check well and efficiently. They dont have to be huge guys to wear down the other team with the checks. I think people overlook how good and well the Pens check.

They are currently 2nd in the league in hits per 60 mins. 5th in total checks given.

I know this won't be a popular opinion, but give me Pierre McGuire 100 times out of 100 over that female announcer (forget her name) NBC sports has been using in his place.

Pierre can certainly be a know-it-all tool, but he is at least entertaining. And occasionally makes interesting points. The lady is extremely boring, does nothing but state the obvious, and brings nothing interesting to the table.

This sentiment is almost verbatim what people said prior to the the last two times the Pens ousted the Caps in the 2nd round. When the Caps finally beat the Pens it wasn't because of physicality. They simply played better than the Pens.
- Rinosaur

This Caps team is much more physical than those ones.

This Caps team is much more physical than those ones.
- Tojo.

I'm not really sure about that.

Hell, we’d be steamrolling teams right now even without Jake if our blue line wasn’t such a disaster yet again. At least this iteration of stupid blue line woes has nothing to do with bad moves and is just poopty injury luck that will hopefully get better.
- Victoro311

This is very true. What's sad is it can probably better if you move one single player down to the third pair.

I don't know that grit is completely intangible. Using the football analogy, Derrick Henry tangibly wears down defenses.

Just like physical forechecking wears down defenses and increases the likelihood of rushed decisions/turnovers.

To me, grit/physicality is a skill just like speed. If you are elite at it, it's a distinct advantage. The caveat being you still need to be well rounded. Speed - if you are elite at it with no other skills (Joe Vitale), it has no impact. Physicality - if you are elite at it with no other skills (John Scott), it has no impact.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I agree with this. Tanev is the perfect example. I think speed combined with physicality are tremendous attributes as long as the player isn't incompetent with the puck on his stick.

Random thought: Jarry saves our D about 5 times a game from taking hits.

Random thought...

I've made my feelings clear on Hornqvist. I'm happy when he's productive and creating havoc, but there are other parts of his game that drive me mental and those reasons have to be clear to the coaching stuff since he never lasts very long when moved up to the top-six. Plus, it's always just a matter of time before he's injured and leaving a void.

There would be elements to his play that would definitely be missed and while I still believe he's going to be the MAF of the Seattle draft, I would very much like the Pens to find a way to move him this off-season.

I don't know what will happen to Toffoli in VAN, but if he hits the market I'd want the Pens to sign him and move Hornqvist. Two very different players and while Toffoli doesn't bring the physical tenacity or net-front-chaos, I think his overall game is much better suited for this team than Hornqvist.

Zucker-Sid-Toffoli
Jake-Geno-Rust
Kahun-McCann-Simon
ZAR-Blueger-Tanev

If the Pens want to replace that tenacity they can do it on the back-end when they look to fill the 3rd pairing RD.
- Rinosaur

I'll agree and disagree. I think Horny is a luxury. $5.5M is too much for a cap strap team to pay a "4th line PP specialist" who's aging. But even though he has frustrating parts to his game, he still is continuing to score, and is still a part of our identity.

I won't be upset if they trade him but I wouldn't want Toffoli. Horny brings a unique ingredient that's hard to replace. If they used the money savings to sign Kreider, for instance, I'd be on-board. I don't know who else off the top of my head but point is I'd want another above-average net front type of player in his place.

I don’t think that’s a good comparison. Special teams is an actual phase of the game in football and is also a big indicator of a well coached team since it’s very detail oriented. Grit is purely an intangible like leadership. Special teams is much more comparable to something like team backchecking.
- Victoro311

I probably didn't comunicate that well.

Special teams in football is often sited as a 3rd phase equal to offense and defense. It's not, but it can tip a game.

Similarly I feel grit sometimes gets put on a level with scoring ability and possession. It's not, but again it can tilt a series if one team has an advantage and it's cloae to even otherwise.

That's my concern against Washington. I did not like how we responded when they started running around. We can beat them, but not if they can impose their will physically like they did last game we played them.

I agree with this. Tanev is the perfect example. I think speed combined with physicality are tremendous attributes as long as the player isn't incompetent with the puck on his stick.

Random thought: Jarry saves our D about 5 times a game from taking hits.
- madmike71

That's a good point.

I'm not really sure about that.
- Rinosaur

Hathaway, Gudas, and Dillon added this year.

Dumo skating.....I'm not sure anybody mentioned this. Trotman called up.

Got this from DeFabo:

Through the first 45 games of the season – 28 of which were played without Sid – the Penguins had converted on 18.9% of their power-play chances. But since Crosby returned returned from sports hernia surgery on Jan. 14, the Penguins have gone 13-for-42 (31%) in the last 13 games.

Dumo skating.....I'm not sure anybody mentioned this. Trotman called up.
- madmike71

Which probably means a d-man was injured last night...

I probably didn't comunicate that well.

Special teams in football is often sited as a 3rd phase equal to offense and defense. It's not, but it can tip a game.

Similarly I feel grit sometimes gets put on a level with scoring ability and possession. It's not, but again it can tilt a series if one team has an advantage and it's cloae to even otherwise.

That's my concern against Washington. I did not like how we responded when they started running around. We can beat them, but not if they can impose their will physically like they did last game we played them.
- Tojo.

Ah I get what you’re saying now. Sure.

This is very true. What's sad is it can probably better if you move one single player down to the third pair.
- Rinosaur

Yeah I’m not gonna get too into it because just because Riikola has had a lot of success this season in an Uber sheltered role doesn’t mean he’d be any good on the top pairing with Letang, but I do think he’s earned a look given that Johnson is a known bad commodity. No good options, but there’s something else we can try for sure.

I agree with this. Tanev is the perfect example. I think speed combined with physicality are tremendous attributes as long as the player isn't incompetent with the puck on his stick.

Random thought: Jarry saves our D about 5 times a game from taking hits.
- madmike71

All of this^^

If the Goalies have matching stats heading into the playoffs I really hope Sully gives Jarry a chance to show what he's got. He moves the puck so well and it will help against the heavier teams.

Got this from DeFabo:

Through the first 45 games of the season – 28 of which were played without Sid – the Penguins had converted on 18.9% of their power-play chances. But since Crosby returned returned from sports hernia surgery on Jan. 14, the Penguins have gone 13-for-42 (31%) in the last 13 games.
- Tojo.

Last night was like playing a team that had never killed penalties before and didn't know who Sidney Crosby was, lol.

I don't think Sid or Geno hurt the PP by themselves but when they're both out there they do tend to over complicate and try too many seam passes that just aren't there.

No I don't think they should be on separate PP's.

Seeing all the different fans in agreement is hilarious. Go read the comments.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH5Lc0ZoJn8

Seeing all the different fans in agreement is hilarious. Go read the comments.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH5Lc0ZoJn8
- nateca44

"Doing the lords work"

Seeing all the different fans in agreement is hilarious. Go read the comments.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH5Lc0ZoJn8
- nateca44

It is quite shocking to not see any Bruins defenders there

Seeing all the different fans in agreement is hilarious. Go read the comments.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH5Lc0ZoJn8
- nateca44

hahaha the comments are gold.

It is quite shocking to not see any Bruins defenders there
- Guile

Ya, I actually read a few from Bruins fans saying he deserved it.

Molinari is reporting that Dumoulin is back on the ice..

And Zach Trotman recalled from.W/B

And Marino placed on IR (finally)

Edit, sorry Madmike, missed your post...

Last night was like playing a team that had never killed penalties before and didn't know who Sidney Crosby was, lol.

I don't think Sid or Geno hurt the PP by themselves but when they're both out there they do tend to over complicate and try too many seam passes that just aren't there.

No I don't think they should be on separate PP's.
- Thorny87

Agree that might be the worst defensive structure I've seen since the last time we played the Leafs. All 5 goals featured a wide open man in front of the net. The Pens basically scored all 3 PP goals the same way and yeah, how do you let Crosby get a tap in?