How old was Guerin when he stopped being as effective? I see players like him and then think...Malkin was a superior player. I'd like to think he can drive play for a long time.
- nateca444

Guerin retired at 39 which was impressive as he played a fairy heavy style of game.

Difference between Guerin and malkin though, aside from malkin being a significantly more skilled player, was that Guerin only missed a total of 20 games in his aged 33-39 seasons.

Guerin was effective until he retired.
- Rinosaur

He was setup for success playing on a team with 2 elite studs coming into their prime to drive play for him. Sid and Geno don’t have that benefit.

He was setup for success playing on a team with 2 elite studs coming into their prime to drive play for him. Sid and Geno don’t have that benefit.
- Feds91Stammer

So, Sid and Geno can't make good players great around them anymore? Just curious, should we look for a number 1 center, move side and group to 2 and 3rd lines?

So, Sid and Geno can't make good players great around them anymore? Just curious, should we look for a number 1 center, move side and group to 2 and 3rd lines?
- nateca444

Ask yourself this. When was the last time Sid and Geno were playing in the 2nd round?

They aren’t what they used to be and the discussion is about potential decline in play/production.

Ask yourself this. When was the last time Sid and Geno were playing in the 2nd round?

They aren’t what they used to be and the discussion is about potential decline in play/production.
- Feds91Stammer

Ask yourself, did they just win the division? If it wasn't for a poopty goalie, wouldn't they be in the 2nd round?

Define steadily declining.

I'd love to see how seasons with:
1.16 ppg
1.26 ppg
1.06 ppg
1.35 ppg
.85 ppg

is a "steady decline."

Blows my mind that people think Geno is high 3C-Low 2C levelwhen in reality he's producing at a low 1C level as a 2C.
- j.boyd919

Only an idiot would think that really. Somebody with no knowledge of the game or a hater (there are quite a few tbh).

Ask yourself, did they just win the division? If it wasn't for a poopty goalie, wouldn't they be in the 2nd round?
- nateca444

Enjoy the division title banner tbey PDOd their way to. And they aren’t in the 2nd round.

Enjoy the division title banner tbey PDOd their way to. And they aren’t in the 2nd round.
- Feds91Stammer

Great rebuttal.

So, Sid and Geno can't make good players great around them anymore? Just curious, should we look for a number 1 center, move side and group to 2 and 3rd lines?
- nateca444

If you can get a 1C you do it.

Ask yourself, did they just win the division? If it wasn't for a poopty goalie, wouldn't they be in the 2nd round?
- nateca444

No.

If you can get a 1C you do it.
- 10inchTerror

They probably can't.

If you want to have a dominant top line in the playoffs you almost have to play Sid and Geno together.

No.
- Blackstrom2

I don’t know. I’m not really a super homer, but yeah they probably are.

But the larger point remains. You look at the Colorado vegas series. They wouldn’t belong on that ice. Tampa would literally nuke them. I wouldn’t take them over Carolina either. They may have made it an interesting series with Boston. Bottom line, I think they deserved a slightly better fate than what they had, but they are definitely a step below the elite crust. That’s to be expected though. Sucks they lost, but they overall had a pulse. Some years they didnt. I respect this team. Aging just sucks. Sports are cyclical. Fresh blood eventually finds a way.

Ask yourself, did they just win the division? If it wasn't for a poopty goalie, wouldn't they be in the 2nd round?
- nateca444

Crosby and Malkin combined for 1 ES goal in the playoffs. It's not like they were dominant forces like they used to be.

They probably can't.

If you want to have a dominant top line in the playoffs you almost have to play Sid and Geno together.
- Tojo.

Seems thats the way a lot of teams go

Jake Sid Geno

Pastrnak Bergeron Marchand

Landeskog Mackinnon Raantanen

Stone Stevenson Pacioretty

Seems thats the way a lot of teams go

Jake Sid Geno

Pastrnak Bergeron Marchand

Landeskog Mackinnon Raantanen

Stone Stevenson Pacioretty
- TheGame316

I hear you. But not being a smart ass. The puck is in the corner. Who on that line goes and wins it? Consistently. Could Crosby? Sure more times than not I’m sure, but is that what you want the 35 year old center doing? It’s tough.

I hear you. But not being a smart ass. The puck is in the corner. Who on that line goes and wins it? Consistently. Could Crosby? Sure more times than not I’m sure, but is that what you want the 35 year old center doing? It’s tough.
- stayinthefnnet

Who gets it now? Rust?

Bummer about Malkin, probably wont look anything like himself until 2022...

Watched that whole Isles and B's game last night and that looked a lot more like the Isles from 2019. Props to them for tying that series up and that's quite the goalie tandem they have, if they keep that play up with one of those guys in net they're dispatching the B's

I think Hextalls goal should be to acquire players to take some pressure off the core. I think he did well with adding Carter who is taking time away from Crosby and Malkin to allow them to have 3 lines who can play and split time on the ice. I think they need to do the same with Letang. I know we have Marino and Ceci who did that well this season, but I think it would be wise to try and free up cap space and take a shot at a better D this offseason. This philosophy I believe is why Hextall wants to get bigger with his wingers for Geno and Crosby as well. To allow his wingers to grind and do the board work and go to the tough areas.

Crosby and Malkin combined for 1 ES goal in the playoffs. It's not like they were dominant forces like they used to be.
- Tojo.

How about Matthews and Marner, 23 and 24 years old, these playoffs or the last 4? Basically another two regular season studs, who haven't produced much in playoffs in same time frame, but on opposite ends of the age spectrum. Should we think they will never ever produce in playoffs?

It's a small sample for production in one series. One playoff doesn't really relate to the ones before, especially if only one round is being played. So many different variables and factors at play each year. Geno didnt even play the first two games and required knee surgery a week later, so he wasn't even healthy....he had 5 points in 4 games 2 of which at EV. Its a real fine line whether you produce or not, I think of Sids deflection that Sorokin just got his toe on outside the blue paint in game 1, a fluke save, or Sids cross bar in the first minute of game 6's third period...or Geno missing on the breakaway in game 6.

One of our best players in this last Isles series, at almost a point per game, with 4 goals 3 of which EV and who's not a better player than Sid or Geno at this point, was 36. Letang, same age as Sid, was a point per game 4 of which at EV.

Enjoy the division title banner tbey PDOd their way to. And they aren’t in the 2nd round.
- Feds91Stammer

Every single playoff team did. 16 of top 18 PDO teams made the playoffs.

I hear you. But not being a smart ass. The puck is in the corner. Who on that line goes and wins it? Consistently. Could Crosby? Sure more times than not I’m sure, but is that what you want the 35 year old center doing? It’s tough.
- stayinthefnnet

Wut

How about Matthews and Marner, 23 and 24 years old, these playoffs or the last 4? Basically another two regular season studs, who haven't produced much in playoffs in same time frame, but on opposite ends of the age spectrum. Should we think they will never ever produce in playoffs?

It's a small sample for production in one series. One playoff doesn't really relate to the ones before, especially if only one round is being played. So many different variables and factors at play each year. Geno didnt even play the first two games and required knee surgery a week later, so he wasn't even healthy....he had 5 points in 4 games 2 of which at EV. Its a real fine line whether you produce or not, I think of Sids deflection that Sorokin just got his toe on outside the blue paint in game 1, a fluke save, or Sids cross bar in the first minute of game 6's third period...or Geno missing on the breakaway in game 6.

One of our best players in this last Isles series, at almost a point per game, with 4 goals 3 of which EV and who's not a better player than Sid or Geno at this point, was 36. Letang, same age as Sid, was a point per game 4 of which at EV.
- MattStrat

Still in the denial stage lmao

Still in the denial stage lmao
- Feds91Stammer

You have a great chance of being right, Feds, the Pens won't win another one. I'm certainly not in denial of that. To say Sid and Geno can't produce in playoffs at their age is a stretch though and I gave supporting ideas and stats/facts to back that.

They probably can't.

If you want to have a dominant top line in the playoffs you almost have to play Sid and Geno together.
- Tojo.

I’m aware they can’t. It’s hard for any team to find one. I’m just saying that, in any situation, if you can add a 1C you do it.

Who gets it now? Rust?
- TheGame316

Haha good point.