Yeah definitely adds an interesting lineup debate. Not like we need anymore of those or anything
- Cptmjl

I'm thinking when Wahlstrom is healthy, our first line will be Zajac centering Leo and Ross Johnston, no?

I'm thinking when Wahlstrom is healthy, our first line will be Zajac centering Leo and Ross Johnston, no?
- JohnScammo

Any idea when game one is. Is there any chance that lee comes back in the playoffs.

- Cptmjl

Any idea when game one is. Is there any chance that lee comes back in the playoffs.
- Hockeyislife

This year's Pens reminds me a little of the Islanders of the late 80s. I remember the Isles had a good regular season, then played the "lowly Devils" in the first round of the playoffs...........and lost. It's tough to watch aging champions lose to an upstart team. Isles still had Potvin and Trottier on that team, but they weren't youngsters any more, and their young talent couldn't match the young talent on the Devils.
- JohnScammo

That’s a really interesting way of looking at it. I remember I was 11 and couldn’t wrap my feeble brain around the fact we lost to the Devils (you know, the Mickey Mouse organization) but what you wrote is an excellent comparison and thanks for the poopty memory

Any idea when game one is. Is there any chance that lee comes back in the playoffs.
- Hockeyislife

So…we’re not canning Lou? Not firing Trotz?

This year's Pens reminds me a little of the Islanders of the late 80s. I remember the Isles had a good regular season, then played the "lowly Devils" in the first round of the playoffs...........and lost. It's tough to watch aging champions lose to an upstart team. Isles still had Potvin and Trottier on that team, but they weren't youngsters any more, and their young talent couldn't match the young talent on the Devils.
- JohnScammo

I guess we could say “younger talent” but we’re an “old team” by NHL standards. I see it as more of a style or system that’s tough to match up against and you’ll see teams like the Rangers and Pens counter it with new personnel this upcoming season.

That’s a really interesting way of looking at it. I remember I was 11 and couldn’t wrap my feeble brain around the fact we lost to the Devils (you know, the Mickey Mouse organization) but what you wrote is an excellent comparison and thanks for the poopty memory
- potvin05

It definitely sucked watching that once great Isles team lose to the "crappy" Devils team. But that Devils team had just come under the management of some guy named Lamoriello, and they would soon become a contender and/or champs for many years. And Torrey realized he had to begin a rebuild.

I guess we could say “younger talent” but we’re an “old team” by NHL standards. I see it as more of a style or system that’s tough to match up against and you’ll see teams like the Rangers and Pens counter it with new personnel this upcoming season.
- Cptmjl

Fair enough. The Isles are hardly a young team. But Crosby and Malkin and Letang have been the bedrocks of that Penguins team for many years, and they are a bit older than the core of the Isles team. Also, I don't think the Penguins have any young talent to match guys like Barzal or Beauvillier.

I guess we could say “younger talent” but we’re an “old team” by NHL standards. I see it as more of a style or system that’s tough to match up against and you’ll see teams like the Rangers and Pens counter it with new personnel this upcoming season.
- Cptmjl

We are going to have to play Martin and Ross every game with teams like the Rangers and Pens looking to goon it up. Larry wants the Rangers to trade for Kadri.

Fair enough. The Isles are hardly a young team. But Crosby and Malkin and Letang have been the bedrocks of that Penguins team for many years, and they are a bit older than the core of the Isles team. Also, I don't think the Penguins have any young talent to match guys like Barzal or Beauvillier.
- JohnScammo

Going to be interesting to see if the Pens move Malkin and if Sullivan will be let go? Hextall did not hire him and losing in the 1st round 3 years in a row is tough.

Fair enough. The Isles are hardly a young team. But Crosby and Malkin and Letang have been the bedrocks of that Penguins team for many years, and they are a bit older than the core of the Isles team. Also, I don't think the Penguins have any young talent to match guys like Barzal or Beauvillier.
- JohnScammo

Guentzel, Kapanen, Tanev, and Rust are not bad players coupled with their core. We did a great job of keeping these guys to the perimeter and lessening their chances but the Pens have some good “younger” players as compared to us. We countered them really well and our guys got hot at the right time imo.

Going to be interesting to see if the Pens move Malkin and if Sullivan will be let go? Hextall did not hire him and losing in the 1st round 3 years in a row is tough.
- ses111

Last night, I noticed that some of the guys on the Penguins board wanted Sullivan replaced. The guy did coach them to back-to-back Stanley Cups, but then, what has he done for them lately?

It definitely sucked watching that once great Isles team lose to the "crappy" Devils team. But that Devils team had just come under the management of some guy named Lamoriello, and they would soon become a contender and/or champs for many years. And Torrey realized he had to begin a rebuild.
- JohnScammo

And then Don Maloney (frank)ed all that up.

Guentzel, Kapanen, Tanev, and Rust are not bad players coupled with their core. We did a great job of keeping these guys to the perimeter and lessening their chances but the Pens have some good “younger” players as compared to us. We countered them really well and our guys got hot at the right time imo.
- Cptmjl

Oh definitely. They're pretty good indeed. But I don't think they're quite on the same plane as Barzal........or even Beau who really seems to pick up his game when it counts the most.

And then Don Maloney (frank)ed all that up.
- potvin05

He gets my vote for worst GM in Islanders history. Milbury 2nd and Snow 3rd.

Last night, I noticed that some of the guys on the Penguins board wanted Sullivan replaced. The guy did coach them to back-to-back Stanley Cups, but then, what has he done for them lately?
- JohnScammo

Really hard to blame Sullivan for the series loss. It's easier getting rid of the coach though and a new management team makes it interesting.

Last night, I noticed that some of the guys on the Penguins board wanted Sullivan replaced. The guy did coach them to back-to-back Stanley Cups, but then, what has he done for them lately?
- JohnScammo

I know a lot of those Penguins posters still want to build around their main three guys but the truth of the matter is they’re old now.

Letang is not a top pairing defenseman anymore. He’s still good, but his grittiness is his biggest asset now. He’s not the all-around player he used to be.

Malkin is…really slow. I don’t know how much his injuries play into that but he’s as slow as molasses. He’s still a force and he still has a heavy shot, but he can’t skate anymore. I watched Bailey’s goal like 10 times, someone explain to me the effort Malkin made to keep that puck in the zone. Even his breakaway last night, he looked like a guy running in sand.

Crosby…I don’t know. He’s still a great player but he’s not the World Class player he was. And, it looks as though we have figured him out. He’s still relatively fast but he’s lost a step. He’s not the guy anymore, he needs another stud on his line at this point in his career to stay close to the top.

Pittsburgh’s best player was Carter. Easily, in my mind. He was a constant threat and his shot release is still incredibly quick. Their 4th line was pesky too. Tanev is good at what he does. Rust is a nice, complementary player too. I give Zucker a ton of credit for playing through that ankle injury. I don’t think so highly of Guentzil though.

They have a lot of rough decisions to make but I don’t think firing Sullivan is one of them.

I know a lot of those Penguins posters still want to build around their main three guys but the truth of the matter is they’re old now.

Letang is not a top pairing defenseman anymore. He’s still good, but his grittiness is his biggest asset now. He’s not the all-around player he used to be.

Malkin is…really slow. I don’t know how much his injuries play into that but he’s as slow as molasses. He’s still a force and he still has a heavy shot, but he can’t skate anymore. I watched Bailey’s goal like 10 times, someone explain to me the effort Malkin made to keep that puck in the zone. Even his breakaway last night, he looked like a guy running in sand.

Crosby…I don’t know. He’s still a great player but he’s not the World Class player he was. And, it looks as though we have figured him out. He’s still relatively fast but he’s lost a step. He’s not the guy anymore, he needs another stud on his line at this point in his career to stay close to the top.

Pittsburgh’s best player was Carter. Easily, in my mind. He was a constant threat and his shot release is still incredibly quick. Their 4th line was pesky too. Tanev is good at what he does. Rust is a nice, complementary player too. I give Zucker a ton of credit for playing through that ankle injury. I don’t think so highly of Guentzil though.

They have a lot of rough decisions to make but I don’t think firing Sullivan is one of them.
- potvin05

I agree with your assessment of the Penguins, and would add that they need to stabilize their goaltending. Jarry isn't terrible, but I would prefer him as a back-up.

I agree with your assessment of the Penguins, and would add that they need to stabilize their goaltending. Jarry isn't terrible, but I would prefer him as a back-up.
- JohnScammo

Oh, I didn’t mention the goalie situation because that’s an obvious issue. I just think they’re putting a lot of unecessary blame on the coach when they need to look at some of the players a little more honestly.

Oh, I didn’t mention the goalie situation because that’s an obvious issue. I just think they’re putting a lot of unecessary blame on the coach when they need to look at some of the players a little more honestly.
- potvin05

Oh yeah, of course. And as ses suggested, it's easier to replace a coach than to begin a major rebuild, so replacing the coach is what GMs tend to do.

What happened to all the Pens fans that were hanging around here after game 3?

Oh yeah, of course. And as ses suggested, it's easier to replace a coach than to begin a major rebuild, so replacing the coach is what GMs tend to do.
- JohnScammo

I get it. It’s a really hard train of thought to possess when you’re constantly in the playoffs with guys who’s sweaters are gonna be hung in the rafters a week after they retire. You’re emotionally invested in these types of players. They may never see a talent the likes of Sid ever again. And, to have a Malkin next to him for over a decade? That’s nuts.

But, as you alluded to in that ‘88 series…I think they’re done. Three straight first round losses for a franchise like them should be a gigantic red flag especially when your 3 best players are on the wrong side of 35.

Plus, throw in the fact they have a new GM, a GM that didn’t construct most of the roster, and the fact there’s an expansion draft, this is a time for them to rebuild and possibly not have to go through what the Rangers or Devils had/still having to go through. There’s no way Crosby is going anywhere, he shouldn’t, but if I’m Hextall I’m definitely listening to offers on the other 2 and I’m using Guentzel and his relatively decent contract to get a goalie.

What happened to all the Pens fans that were hanging around here after game 3?
- Vukota

Vast majority of the pens fans on here now are pretty cool imo. Back in the day they were horrible. Remember that Bartley guy? Holy (frank)ing crap that guy was a douche bag.