Not at all saying Kap can’t work with time. Just saying that time hasn’t been key for Sid’s best wingers.
- Victoro311

It's a valid point. I don't really remember the first few games with some of those guys. Certainly Hossa was instant chemistry.

Just saying it's hard to judge anything from a few games. Especially when most were against the Islanders. The idiot coach needs to realize that.

It's a valid point. I don't really remember the first few games with some of those guys. Certainly Hossa was instant chemistry.

Just saying it's hard to judge anything from a few games. Especially when most were against the Islanders. The idiot coach needs to realize that.
- madmike71

Man if Hossa would have stayed...

He sure did. He doesn't seem to be a good match with Sid though. He looked second best with Geno and the best with Blueger IMO.
- 668710

Kapanen is weird in that he looks so great in transition but lost when the cycling game starts at either end of the ice.

I'd keep Guentz-Geno-Rust together as well. They could run McCann-Sid-Kap for now. They would need to make a trade though.
- 668710

I don't want to just leave Sid with nothing either. This has always been the "issue" with having two top centers. It's hard to surround them both with two top wings in a cap system when you aren't getting them from your farm system consistently.

I don't want to just leave Sid with nothing either. This has always been the "issue" with having two top centers. It's hard to surround them both with two top wings in a cap system when you aren't getting them from your farm system consistently.
- Tojo.

Can flip Kap and Rust then. I like Kap better with Geno anyways haha.

Kapanen is weird in that he looks so great in transition but lost when the cycling game starts at either end of the ice.
- Tojo.

I second this observation. If he could use his speed and quickness like guys such as Hags and Tanev do in pursuing the puck or have the awareness like Guentzel does to find the soft spots (or just plain cycle), he would be pretty damn good. I watch him without the puck and yeah, he does look lost (or controller unplugged) quite often. He is still just 24 so maybe he can still be coached up and/or puts it together. Good to see him have some emotion this game. Good to see it in everyone else, too, frankly.

Idk.... No camp for Kap. What did they play.....like 3 games together? Mostly against the NY sludge. Besides... What are the options? Nobody else is walking through that door.

Just wait til Erod is back. You'll be begging for Kap on the 1st line.
- madmike71

Sid with Jake and Tanev all the time would kill. This team needs another scoring winger and three more Tanevs

Sid with Jake and Tanev all the time would kill. This team needs another scoring winger and three more Tanevs
- Grinder47

Yes Tanev with Sid and Jake would kill any offensive output.

Sid with Jake and Tanev all the time would kill. This team needs another scoring winger and three more Tanevs
- Grinder47

very truculent

Idk.... No camp for Kap. What did they play.....like 3 games together? Mostly against the NY sludge. Besides... What are the options? Nobody else is walking through that door.

Just wait til Erod is back. You'll be begging for Kap on the 1st line.
- madmike71

I dont even mind Erod at all, just dont want him in top 6 much. I think he could, and will, improve the bottom 6.

I dont even mind Erod at all, just dont want him in top 6 much. I think he could, and will, improve the bottom 6.
- MattStrat

What does he do exactly? He doesn't score, he doesn't hit, he doesn't drive or facilitate offense. I don't think his defense is anything special. We need to get rid of these vanilla plugs. I'd rather see a WBS guy get a chance or some secret weapon Hexy has up his sleeve.

What does he do exactly? He doesn't score, he doesn't hit, he doesn't drive or facilitate offense. I don't think his defense is anything special. We need to get rid of these vanilla plugs. I'd rather see a WBS guy get a chance or some secret weapon Hexy has up his sleeve.
- Hockey66

Most things better than Laff, Jank, O'Connor or Scev. Brings a good effort every night and to my eyes pretty good on the boards.

I dont see any in WBS as better but would obviously love a weapon up Hex's sleeve...

Now while I dont think Sully is that into analytics, perhaps (probably not) Mr. Ventura was chirping about him staying in the top 6 for these reasons...or maybe Sully could see it wasnt as bad as some fans thought it was...

EDIT: that pic cuts off before HDSC%...its 67.74%

Most things better than Laff, Jank, O'Connor or Scev. Brings a good effort every night and to my eyes pretty good on the boards.

I dont see any in WBS as better but would obviously love a weapon up Hex's sleeve...

Now while I dont think Sully is that into analytics, perhaps (probably not) Mr. Ventura was chirping about him staying in the top 6 for these reasons...or maybe Sully could see it wasnt as bad as some fans thought it was...

EDIT: that pic cuts off before HDSC%...its 67.74%




- MattStrat

It was bad. He got one lucky goal off his skate in 6 games and absolutely nothing else. Who do you think was responsible for that 67.74% number? Crosby and Guentzel or ERod? He is the epitome of a passenger but has no hands.

In a way, I hope Sully does put him back up there so he'll get fired faster.

When we have Guentzel, McCann, Rust and Kap, there is absolutely no reason to have a marginal NHL player dragging down Crosby.

On a side note, I thought Friedman had a good first game with the Pens and I thought Currie looked good on the PK and didn't look out of place otherwise.

It was bad. He got one lucky goal off his skate in 6 games and absolutely nothing else. Who do you think was responsible for that 67.74% number? Crosby and Guentzel or ERod? He is the epitome of a passenger but has no hands.

In a way, I hope Sully does put him back up there so he'll get fired faster.

When we have Guentzel, McCann, Rust and Kap, there is absolutely no reason to have a marginal NHL player dragging down Crosby.
- Hockey66

Nah, it wasnt THAT bad, but like I said at the time he didnt show enough to deserve to be on the top line and I still think that. My original post was about him being an improvement to bottom 6, even if marginally, and I'll stand by that.

Yeah the one he tried to do a redirect pass from skate to the front of net for Sid and it went it. It was a really quick heads up play that luckily went in but if what he intended had happened then Sid might of buried it anyway. Might of.

Nah, it wasnt THAT bad, but like I said at the time he didnt show enough to deserve to be on the top line and I still think that. My original post was about him being an improvement to bottom 6, even if marginally, and I'll stand by that.

Yeah the one he tried to do a redirect pass from skate to the front of net for Sid and it went it. It was a really quick heads up play that luckily went in but if what he intended had happened then Sid might of buried it anyway. Might of.
- MattStrat

I remember a lot of bad plays and thinking, holy poop why is this guy on the top line?!

There's a reason no other team wanted him for league minimum. Buffalo didn't even want him back. Buffalo!

I remember a lot of bad plays and thinking, holy poop why is this guy on the top line?!

There's a reason no other team wanted him for league minimum. Buffalo didn't even want him back. Buffalo!
- Hockey66

Buffalo... and their history of great roster decisions, who are once again looking like trash...

He signed with Pens very quickly when free agency opened. A lot of players scrambled for cheap contracts on the first day probably out of fear of no employment in such uncertain times.

I dont even mind Erod at all, just dont want him in top 6 much. I think he could, and will, improve the bottom 6.
- MattStrat

I mind him completely. I honestly think he's completely useless. He just has no real defining ability. He's vanilla with some speed.

I mind him completely. I honestly think he's completely useless. He just has no real defining ability. He's vanilla with some speed.
- Rinosaur

hahaha well, you used to say ZAR was useless too...

Again, I think he's better than most getting a sweater in the bottom 6, especially currently.

hahaha well, you used to say ZAR was useless too...

Again, I think he's better than most getting a sweater in the bottom 6, especially currently.
- MattStrat

I'm still not the biggest ZAR fan, but I think he's looked the best he's looked since becoming a Pen. I'll give him that. I at least would admit ZAR was good defensively. What drove me insane was that he skated and shot in slow motion, but if he got slotted next to Geno he'd all of a sudden learn to skate.

What do you think Erod does well?

I'm still not the biggest ZAR fan, but I think he's looked the best he's looked since becoming a Pen. I'll give him that. I at least would admit ZAR was good defensively. What drove me insane was that he skated and shot in slow motion, but if he got slotted next to Geno he'd all of a sudden learn to skate.

What do you think Erod does well?
- Rinosaur

Nothing that well. Have never said he does anything that well.

I do like his hustle/battle level and board play.

Once again, and for the last time, he's better than a handful of guys that have been being deployed the last 5 or 6 weeks in the bottom 6.

Nothing that well. Have never said he does anything that well.

I do like his hustle/battle level and board play.

Once again, and for the last time, he's better than a handful of guys that have been being deployed the last 5 or 6 weeks in the bottom 6.
- MattStrat

Yes, obviously we want this out of every player, but Erod just produces no real results. He's not exactly good defensively, nor does he really drive any offense. IMO he really just does nothing but look like he's trying hard.

Anyone can say what they will about Simon (I only use him because everyone seems to compare the two), but he was good forechecker, created turnovers, actually drove offense and had serious puck skills. He may not have scored enough, but he made things possible for other players on the ice. Erod does none of that IMO.

I mind him completely. I honestly think he's completely useless. He just has no real defining ability. He's vanilla with some speed.
- Rinosaur

We’re comparing a ton of useless players. Yea he’s the least useless out of the 4th line plugs we have, but he’s still useless

Yes, obviously we want this out of every player, but Erod just produces no real results. He's not exactly good defensively, nor does he really drive any offense. IMO he really just does nothing but look like he's trying hard.

Anyone can say what they will about Simon (I only use him because everyone seems to compare the two), but he was good forechecker, created turnovers, actually drove offense. He may not have scored enough, but he made things possible for other players on the ice. Erod does none of that IMO.
- Rinosaur

Simon wasnt that good after the first season he was with Sid a lot..and he barely produced anything when his underlying were good...then they werent good and he was producing even less. Now he's a healthy scratch most nights with 0 G's and A's in 9 games.

We’re comparing a ton of useless players. Yea he’s the least useless out of the 4th line plugs we have, but he’s still useless
- Victoro311

hahaha fair enough