Last night's game I think did the best job of exposing one of the Pens' biggest weaknesses and that's defenseman who know how to defend in front of their own net. I think our dmen do a great job in transitional defense and have gotten better at keeping teams to the perimeter.... GOTTEN BETTER, not great at it, but they're getting better.

The last issue is knowing how to defend once players actually get in/around Jarry. I honestly don't know if this is a strategy issue, personnel issue or a mix of both, but I think this is something that needs to be addressed in addition to improving the forward group.
- Rinosaur

D should be fine once healthy imo

Dumo - Letang
Pettersson - Marino
MM - Ceci

Did the Flames act quickly to snag Sutter fearing Hexy wanted him?
- Hockey66

I think that move Keeps Sam Bennet on the Flames

Well it sucks that the blue line is a weakness because we have a billion NHL defensemen at this point and can’t afford to spend assets to bolster a position that’s a depth strength.
- Victoro311

Only one part of it is a weakness. Again, I'm not sure if this is a coaching/strategy issue or a personnel issue. I'm also not sure if it's just an all-around team issue. They all just seem to lose their bearings once players get in close.

Anytime you can get a guy with a -100 goal differential at 5v5 you do whatever it takes to get him.
- Feds91Stammer

Even the team who eventually wins the cup will have several holes in their team. Getting gudbranson or even an elite version of his style of play won’t make Pitt serious contenders but a big crease clearing dman- or 2 is clearly the pens biggest need as 3/4’s of the games there is an opposing player left completely alone in the crease. Last night at one point philly had 2 players alone in the crease and of course they were scored on.

If they even hope to make the playoffs either they need some physical stay at home D to clear the crease or a new defensive system that the players are buying into.

Either the coaches need to go
Their system needs to go
Or some players need to go

And that’s just to make the playoffs, not to win anything.

Only one part of it is a weakness. Again, I'm not sure if this is a coaching/strategy issue or a personnel issue. I'm also not sure if it's just an all-around team issue. They all just seem to lose their bearings once players get in close.
- Rinosaur

Dumo out forces all the guys into roles they cannot handle.

The fact is all the D depth is 3rd pair or fringe #4 guys.

Only one part of it is a weakness. Again, I'm not sure if this is a coaching/strategy issue or a personnel issue. I'm also not sure if it's just an all-around team issue. They all just seem to lose their bearings once players get in close.
- Rinosaur

I think it’s way more of a coaching/scheme thing. Like yeah, sure, if we’re concerned with crease clearing we shouldn’t have committed to a Matheson-type given the personnel we already have, but thems the ropes and I don’t think that our current personnel are inherently as bad as they have been and protecting the crease. This can be addressed by shifting focus in the coaches’ war room.

Even the team who eventually wins the cup will have several holes in their team. Getting gudbranson or even an elite version of his style of play won’t make Pitt serious contenders but a big crease clearing dman- or 2 is clearly the pens biggest need as 3/4’s of the games there is an opposing player left completely alone in the crease. Last night at one point philly had 2 players alone in the crease and of course they were scored on.

If they even hope to make the playoffs either they need some physical stay at home D to clear the crease or a new defensive system that the players are buying into.

Either the coaches need to go
Their system needs to go
Or some players need to go

And that’s just to make the playoffs, not to win anything.
- 10inchTerror

What exactly is an elite version of Gudbranson?

I think it’s way more of a coaching/scheme thing. Like yeah, sure, if we’re concerned with crease clearing we shouldn’t have committed to a Matheson-type given the personnel we already have, but thems the ropes and I don’t think that our current personnel are inherently as bad as they have been and protecting the crease. This can be addressed by shifting focus in the coaches’ war room.
- Victoro311

Yeah, which goes back to my original feelings that you start with a coaching change first before major roster moves. I hate this buzz phrase, but I really do think Sully has "lost the room." We see flashes of this team buying in, but it's clearly not sustainable.

I think a fresh vision and implementation with a new coach would give them a better idea of what are the real weak spots in the lineup.

What exactly is an elite version of Gudbranson?
- Feds91Stammer

Just saying if there was one.

Yeah, which goes back to my original feelings that you start with a coaching change first before major roster moves. I hate this buzz phrase, but I really do think Sully has "lost the room." We see flashes of this team buying in, but it's clearly not sustainable.

I think a fresh vision and implementation with a new coach would give them a better idea of what are the real weak spots in the lineup.
- Rinosaur

I agree. Players have to be tuning the coaches out based on inconsistent type of play. And even if they are listening the pp, pk, and defence are all a joke. Coaching change needs to happen for all 3.

Just saying if there was one.
- 10inchTerror

I mean it’s impossible to be elite and suck at the same time right?

What exactly is an elite version of Gudbranson?
- Feds91Stammer

Prime Chara?

Yeah, which goes back to my original feelings that you start with a coaching change first before major roster moves. I hate this buzz phrase, but I really do think Sully has "lost the room." We see flashes of this team buying in, but it's clearly not sustainable.

I think a fresh vision and implementation with a new coach would give them a better idea of what are the real weak spots in the lineup.
- Rinosaur

Average to below average teams are inconsistent because they aren’t that good. It’s not because they aren’t buying into the coaching.

Prime Chara?
- Victoro311

But he didn’t suck so he doesn’t fit the Gudbranson archetype

But he didn’t suck so he doesn’t fit the Gudbranson archetype
- Feds91Stammer

Sucking/not sucking is not an archetype. Sprong sucked, but he had an archetype. Like a Patty Kane if he was about a billion times worse.

Average to below average teams are inconsistent because they aren’t that good. It’s not because they aren’t buying into the coaching.
- Feds91Stammer

Be nice... we are in the beginning stages of the five stages of grief.

D should be fine once healthy imo

Dumo - Letang
Pettersson - Marino
MM - Ceci
- Feds91Stammer

Lol this is your way to show how you dislike Matheson

Dumoulin-Letang
Matheson-Marino
Pettersson-Ceci

And right now I’d be looking a way to move Pettersson + for a Top 6 forward

Lol this is your way to show how you dislike Matheson

Dumoulin-Letang
Matheson-Marino
Pettersson-Ceci

And right now I’d be looking a way to move Pettersson + for a Top 6 forward
- Barnaby36

I think all permutations of Matheson/Pettersson-Marino/Ceci pairings have been effective this season so I don’t think the configuration of the bottom 2 pairings matters all that much as long as everyone’s on their natural side.

Lol this is your way to show how you dislike Matheson

Dumoulin-Letang
Matheson-Marino
Pettersson-Ceci

And right now I’d be looking a way to move Pettersson + for a Top 6 forward
- Barnaby36

Matheson and Marino is literally one of if not the worst d pairs this season. Matheson sucks and he’s destroying Marino.

Average to below average teams are inconsistent because they aren’t that good. It’s not because they aren’t buying into the coaching.
- Feds91Stammer

I guess this is where you and I differ. While I'm not diluting myself by thinking this is top contender, I do believe the possibility, if the right changes are made, that the Pens could realistically make a deep run.

Who is more likely to win a playoff series first. Detroit or Pittsburgh?

Its Pittsburgh, but only because we havent bottomed out yet and as long as 87 and 71 are still playing there is the possibility one or both could will them to an upset win.
Problem is Detroit is probably closer to competing for a Cup if you believe they have already bottomed out--Pens are early on in their downward spiral

Who is more likely to win a playoff series first. Detroit or Pittsburgh?

Its Pittsburgh, but only because we havent bottomed out yet and as long as 87 and 71 are still playing there is the possibility one or both could will them to an upset win.
Problem is Detroit is probably closer to competing for a Cup if you believe they have already bottomed out--Pens are early on in their downward spiral

I think all permutations of Matheson/Pettersson-Marino/Ceci pairings have been effective this season so I don’t think the configuration of the bottom 2 pairings matters all that much as long as everyone’s on their natural side.
- Victoro311

Matheson Marino is like a 41% xGF so it definitely matters.

Matheson Marino is like a 41% xGF so it definitely matters.
- Feds91Stammer

For some reason I thought I saw somewhere that they were very effective

I think that move Keeps Sam Bennet on the Flames
- Beatnic57

Hopefully because Bennett sucks ass.