1)Ceci has been the most consistent and the most pleasant surprise.
2)Matheson has played well but has had few bad games.
3)Marino has been asked to elevate his game, he has been steady. A bit underwhelming.
4)Letang has been up and down. He has started to play much better lately.
5)Joseph started off fantastic and has cooled off.
6)Pettersson is the most inconsistent.
- Thunderbolt

I think it's a little unfair to say POJ cooled off without some context. He was playing with Letang and respectably held his own, but is clearly not ready for first pairing duty.

This is true. However I don’t think anyone thought he would be Crosby’s mainstay winger when acquired. I’m all for giving Malkin the better wingers. Crosby is flat out abetter hickey player than Malkin and quite frankly is better at playing with middle six wingers.
- Grinder47

Oh yeah I totally agree.

Those 2 (Ceci and Matheson) could have possibly already saved the pens season. Overall pretty much everybody agrees they have been at worst 2 of the top 4 pens dmen and most see Ceci as the best so far. With the injuries the pens had without those 2 playing that well and Jarry having a very tough start it could have been easily 6-8 less points. Less extent for Matheson as a point can be made Hornqvist would have helped the forwards.

Hard to justify saying Ceci has been “sheltered” as a couple games ago he was averaging over 18 minutes a game and it doesn’t appear when they are at home throwing him out intentionally (last change) when the other team has a 1st or 2nd line out there.
Matheson I believe leads the pens defence in highest D zone start %

Simon on waivers... GET HIM BACK!

Simon on waivers... GET HIM BACK!
- Rinosaur

Not gonna lie.. that's a good idea imo.

Pens Inside Scoop
@PensInsideScoop
·
14m
Brian Dumoulin, who has missed the last 14 games with a lower-body injury, is on the ice for Pens practice in a regular jersey.

poop's about to get real interesting.

Not gonna lie.. that's a good idea imo.
- j.boyd919

Yup. As frustrating as his lack of scoring touch is, I think he just fits this team quite well

Not gonna lie.. that's a good idea imo.
- j.boyd919

Thoughts and prayers for MadMike

Simon on waivers... GET HIM BACK!
- Rinosaur

9 games played, 0 goals, 0 assists, 0 pim
I hope they don't pick him up. GMJR most certainly would have.

Yup. As frustrating as his lack of scoring touch is, I think he just fits this team quite well
- Rinosaur

He’s simply much better than anyone on the fourth line and frankly that’s all I care about

This is true. However I don’t think anyone thought he would be Crosby’s mainstay winger when acquired. I’m all for giving Malkin the better wingers. Crosby is flat out abetter hickey player than Malkin and quite frankly is better at playing with middle six wingers.
- Grinder47

Malkin should always be viewed as the "Scoring Line 1" option with the best options on his wings. I've always thought Sid should play the "Toews" role here with the complimentary wingers and should be matched up against the other teams top line, whereas Malkin should be matched against other teams 3rd and 4th lines

Sid shuts down other teams SC1/SC2 while providing offense and Malkin beats up the other teams 3rd and 4th lines with elite wingers seems a recipe for success

He’s simply much better than anyone on the fourth line and frankly that’s all I care about
- Victoro311

He's equally as worthless.

He's equally as worthless.
- BeefCoon

https://twitter.com/Ineff.../1367160485607530502?s=20

That would be incorrect. He's definitely not worthless. He's easily better than Jank/Scevour/O Conner/insert grocery stick here.

poop's about to get real interesting.
- Rinosaur

Is it?

Is it?
- Feds91Stammer

Sure it is. We have 14 forwards and 9 defensemen who need to clear waivers.

Malkin should always be viewed as the "Scoring Line 1" option with the best options on his wings. I've always thought Sid should play the "Toews" role here with the complimentary wingers and should be matched up against the other teams top line, whereas Malkin should be matched against other teams 3rd and 4th lines

Sid shuts down other teams SC1/SC2 while providing offense and Malkin beats up the other teams 3rd and 4th lines with elite wingers seems a recipe for success
- TheGame316

Crosby has always played that role when they lack a checking line in the top 3. Even when Cullen was good, his line played limited minutes so Crosby's line still had a lot of tough ones. Only time it's been different is with Staal and lately Blueger.

Thoughts and prayers for MadMike
- Victoro311

I’m fine with Simon. As long as he stays in the bottom 6. I always liked him as a versatile player who could jump up if needed. I just don’t want to see him on the 1st line when there are better options.

Don’t think he plays long pants hockey so probably not going to happen.

Grinder is the guy you need to convince.

I’m fine with Simon. As long as he stays in the bottom 6. I always liked him as a versatile player who could jump up if needed. I just don’t want to see him on the 1st line when there are better options.

Don’t think he plays long pants hockey so probably not going to happen.

Grinder is the guy you need to convince.
- madmike71

My B. I always assume the anti-Sheary and anti-Simon people are the same people.

Is it?
- Feds91Stammer

Yup.

Simon on waivers... GET HIM BACK!
- Rinosaur

Playoff lineup:


Simon-Crosby-Rodrigues
Guentzel-Malkin-Rust
Zucker-McCann- Kapanen
ZAR-Blueger-Tanev

Forwards solved!!!

My B. I always assume the anti-Sheary and anti-Simon people are the same people.
- Victoro311

If I were convinced Sheary would be viewed solely as a bottom 6 player, I wouldn’t hate him so much.

Playoff lineup:


Simon-Crosby-Rodrigues
Guentzel-Malkin-Rust
Zucker-McCann- Kapanen
ZAR-Blueger-Tanev

Forwards solved!!!



- awtr

This would absolutely happen.

Sure it is. We have 14 forwards and 9 defensemen who need to clear waivers.
- Tojo.

Most of which are bums. Don’t see what’s so interesting.

Most of which are bums. Don’t see what’s so interesting.
- Feds91Stammer

Dumo
Pettersson
Matheson
POJ
Rikkola

That's a lot of LD's. Something will have to give.

Pens Inside Scoop@PensInsideScoop·18m
Now onto special teams work...

PP1) Letang, Malkin, Kapanen, Guentzel, Rust
PP2) Matheson, Marino, McCann, Angello, Rodrigues

LMAO Rodrigues on the second PP. He's going to be with Sid.