Good to see the defense change. I’m always a proponent of putting your best D men on the top two pairings and then shelter the ever loving (frank) out of the bottom pair, so obviously I endorse moving Pettersson up. Also like Sullivan’s willingness to bench Ceci, although it’s not apples and oranges to Johnson. Their contracts aren’t nearly in the same league. The guy that’s in the Johnson zone of definitely won’t get press boxed even if he deserves it because his contract is too big is Matheson. But at least Matheson is better than JMFJ.
- Victoro311

This is my concern though. Sully didn't shelter JJ one bit, so I don't have faith he'll start now.

I'm up 238-175 in HBSL.
- j.boyd919

Anyone in the "Belfour Division" ??? Thats where I am. "Bros Before Ahos"

Anyone in the "Belfour Division" ??? Thats where I am. "Bros Before Ahos"
- pens4life-66

Great (frank)ing name

There's a reason Lafferty is an unknown at 25. Half his goals last year came in his first week. I remember everyone clamoring for his in the playoffs too, and then we saw how that went.

Not that ERod is a great choice either, but at least he's broken 20 points a couple times. But neither one is the answer.
- Tojo.

I know he's not the answer, but if you're going to put a plug on the first line, at least put one in who will mix things up. As for the playoffs, Laff played a grand total of 7:40. Again, Laff has more potential than ERod who has reached his ceiling. Laff was on pace for 21+ points in his rookie season.

The fact that we're even talking about who is a better option between these two for the top line next to Sidney F'ing Crosby is a testament to how badly JR F'ed things up. This in a year when good players were going for cheap!

This is my concern though. Sully didn't shelter JJ one bit, so I don't have faith he'll start now.
- Rinosaur

And in that instance it was better to keep all the poop to one pairing that’s only on the ice for 1/3 of the game and have your d pairing be good 2/3 of the game than put Johnson with Marino on the second pairing and Pettersson on the third and have your defense be mediocre for 2/3 of the game because you decided to spread the poop around.

I'm up 238-175 in HBSL.
- j.boyd919

Currently down by like 5.

That f'n Rino got all up in my dome about the Oilers starters, I second guessed it and then switched to Jarry hahah

Anyone in the "Belfour Division" ??? Thats where I am. "Bros Before Ahos"
- pens4life-66

Modano division here. My team is Laines of Cocaine but the only other good team name in my division is "Who Shat in Kirks Bed" I definitely chuckled at that one.

Currently down by like 5.

That f'n Rino got all up in my dome about the Oilers starters, I second guessed it and then switched to Jarry hahah
- MattStrat

The funny part is, I look at the usernames of all the people in my division and none of them look familiar for poop. My division is always a bunch of lurkers. Like do they only come to HB to play fantasy? Seems weird.

I know he's not the answer, but if you're going to put a plug on the first line, at least put one in who will mix things up. As for the playoffs, Laff played a grand total of 7:40. Again, Laff has more potential than ERod who has reached his ceiling. Laff was on pace for 21+ points in his rookie season.

The fact that we're even talking about who is a better option between these two for the top line next to Sidney F'ing Crosby is a testament to how badly JR F'ed things up. This in a year when good players were going for cheap!
- Hockey66

Literally every beat writer said Erod looked like flaming dog poop in camp. They all raved about Lafs camp. I witnessed this myself in the black/gold game.

Agreed, we all know that Laf isn't the answer, but If I have a choice of flaming poop or someone else, I'm choosing someone else. That's my only point.

I'm pleased Sully is choosing to quickly fix his roster mistake after one game instead of waiting two weeks. Maybe there's hope for him yet.

Literally every beat writer said Erod looked like flaming dog poop in camp. They all raved about Lafs camp. I witnessed this myself in the black/gold game.

Agreed, we all know that Laf isn't the answer, but If I have a choice of flaming poop or someone else, I'm choosing someone else. That's my only point.

I'm pleased Sully is choosing to quickly fix his roster mistake after one game instead of waiting two weeks. Maybe there's hope for him yet.
- madmike71

I wonder how much the voice of change is sully or how much Martin and rierden have a say, at least with the defence. Maybe it really was martins say on keeping jj dressed seeing as soon as he went to nyr jj ended up there too.

Literally every beat writer said Erod looked like flaming dog poop in camp. They all raved about Lafs camp. I witnessed this myself in the black/gold game.

Agreed, we all know that Laf isn't the answer, but If I have a choice of flaming poop or someone else, I'm choosing someone else. That's my only point.

I'm pleased Sully is choosing to quickly fix his roster mistake after one game instead of waiting two weeks. Maybe there's hope for him yet.
- madmike71

Sully knows he's on the hot seat, they fired all the coaches but him... So he's up next. He's not wasting time and will hopefully start the best players.

I wonder how much the voice of change is sully or how much Martin and rierden have a say, at least with the defence. Maybe it really was martins say on keeping jj dressed seeing as soon as he went to nyr jj ended up there too.
- 10inchTerror

Martin controlled all of the defense while he was here, roster decisions for D, that was confirmed a few times I believe. Hopefully with Rierden coming back, he doesn’t have as much say and Sully takes the reins and makes adjustments where he can.

And in that instance it was better to keep all the poop to one pairing that’s only on the ice for 1/3 of the game and have your d pairing be good 2/3 of the game than put Johnson with Marino on the second pairing and Pettersson on the third and have your defense be mediocre for 2/3 of the game because you decided to spread the poop around.
- Victoro311

Jack Johnson makes any situation different.

Currently down by like 5.

That f'n Rino got all up in my dome about the Oilers starters, I second guessed it and then switched to Jarry hahah
- MattStrat

Hahahah! I was simply asking which one was the starter. I honestly didn't know.

Martin controlled all of the defense while he was here, roster decisions for D, that was confirmed a few times I believe. Hopefully with Rierden coming back, he doesn’t have as much say and Sully takes the reins and makes adjustments where he can.
- j.boyd919

Man.... My opinion of JM just dropped through the floor. I never knew that. Kind of shocking actually. I can't see a head coach ever ceding that much control to an assistant. I guess when you win cups together, it buys a lot of leash.

Chad is the answer are you kidding me.....i thought we weren’t panicking . when are we firing this HCMS. We know what chad can do .....same as what EROD brings us. Nothing !!!! There is a reason why we can sign them for league min. They stink! Somebody said it before we are wasting arguably 2 of top 5 generational players their time with 4 line players that can clear waivers at minimum salary cap hit!

I would just make Blueger play wing with Sid. Give the forth line 4 minutes until Kap gets here.

Been a Crosby fan since he came into the league but Rutherford has depleted the team. Roster today is nowhere near good enough to compete in that division.

You have Washington, Philly, NYR, NYI, Boston and a surging Buffalo team. Pittsburgh is going to need to beat 2 of them to get in. Would hate to see Sid not make it but I don't think this looks good.

At one point there will be hard decision of what to do with Letang, Malkin and possibly Sid but Rutherford is not the guy to make those decisions.
- willey101

Joke? That team is terrible.

I would just make Blueger play wing with Sid. Give the forth line 4 minutes until Kap gets here.
- Grinder47

That's actually a good idea, I didn't even think of doing that. Makes sense, it's the beginning of the season, roll 3 lines for a couple games.

Chad is the answer are you kidding me.....i thought we weren’t panicking . when are we firing this HCMS. We know what chad can do .....same as what EROD brings us. Nothing !!!! There is a reason why we can sign them for league min. They stink! Somebody said it before we are wasting arguably 2 of top 5 generational players their time with 4 line players that can clear waivers at minimum salary cap hit!
- Malkin

Ruh is better than Ceci

Ruh is better than Ceci
- 668710

Yup

Joke? That team is terrible.
- Cptmjl

I wouldn't be so quick there. They're going to light it up this year. I mean, they'll let up a poop ton of goals, but they are going to score a ton as well. They were fun to watch last night.

I would just make Blueger play wing with Sid. Give the forth line 4 minutes until Kap gets here.
- Grinder47

Don't hold your breath on this. In the last two years, Sullivan has tried every player on the roster in the top six except for Blueger.

Free Blueger!

Don't hold your breath on this. In the last two years, Sullivan has tried every player on the roster in the top six except for Blueger.

Free Blueger!
- Thunderbolt

To piggy back on this: Natural Stat Trick has Crosby and Blueger playing eight and a half minutes together in 5v5 situations. They have scored four goals. If that isn't reason enough to take a flyer, then there really isn't much else to say.

(Did you see what I did there?)

Edit: That is over the last two years.

Wtf. Drop the gloves Lafferty you slug.