They have played so much hockey the past 4 seasons haha really meaningful hard fought hockey too. Still though, even if they hit some stumbles the last month, they are Kings of the East is my mind until someone else represents the east in the finals. Making it there 3 years in a row is bonkers. I dont think they get there again this year but Ive been wrong before haha.
- MattStrat

The impressive thing about Tampa is their longevity. They came within a game of beating us in 2016 in the ECF and lost in 7 against Washington in 2018 ECF. Could've been in the Finals in 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, and now in 2023.

Bonkers.

Im worried we will see a Boston vs Rangers ECF (hoping a team like Carolina pulls it off).

The impressive thing about Tampa is their longevity. They came within a game of beating us in 2016 in the ECF and lost in 7 against Washington in 2018 ECF. Could've been in the Finals in 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, and now in 2023.

Bonkers.

Im worried we will see a Boston vs Rangers ECF (hoping a team like Carolina pulls it off).
- SuperHenderson13

I'm not sure Carolina has the firepower to do it. And J.Staal has fallen off a cliff as the season has gone on. Whenever Aho doesn't have his superman cape on it's pretty dire.

I'm not sure Carolina has the firepower to do it. And J.Staal has fallen off a cliff as the season has gone on. Whenever Aho doesn't have his superman cape on it's pretty dire.
- BINGO!

yea and losing svech make it seem that much tougher. I think he had a down year , probably because of lingering knee issues though.

canes certainly have a better chance than the pens though! Even if the pens make it theyre getting swept most likely

I'm not sure Carolina has the firepower to do it. And J.Staal has fallen off a cliff as the season has gone on. Whenever Aho doesn't have his superman cape on it's pretty dire.
- BINGO!

That's my worry. Injury bug hit you guys unfortunately.

The Penguins actually arent as out of Bedard watch as I thought. We would need to be the 11th worst team to have a 3% chance at him. We are ahead on points but also on games played. If we lose those games and drop off point wise, we could make a run at that spot.

I'm not sure Carolina has the firepower to do it. And J.Staal has fallen off a cliff as the season has gone on. Whenever Aho doesn't have his superman cape on it's pretty dire.
- BINGO!

I thought their trades this year were so meh. They had the assets to pull off trades and just... didn't really improve that much. My knock on CAR in recent years has been their lack of finishing and I feel like they didn't do anything to remedy that, aside from getting Patches, but he's out all season so there goes that

Alright I was drunk in Philly for St Paddy’s all weekend. What did I miss?

yea and losing svech make it seem that much tougher. I think he had a down year , probably because of lingering knee issues though.

canes certainly have a better chance than the pens though! Even if the pens make it theyre getting swept most likely
- JLT168

Yeah they're really going to need Seth Jarvis to figure out whatever the (frank) his deal is going forward if they're going to have any hope. he's been a non-factor for the most part of late.

Alright I was drunk in Philly for St Paddy’s all weekend. What did I miss?
- Victoro311

Pettersson is week to week and on LTIR
Petry is day to day
Kulikov is week to week
Rutta is week to week
Pens recalled Fedun (who?)

Pens got demolished by the Rags

Dumo and Ruhwedel are now the 2nd pairing lol woof.

Pettersson is week to week and on LTIR
Petry is day to day
Kulikov is week to week
Rutta is week to week
Pens recalled Fedun (who?)

Pens got demolished by the Rags

Dumo and Ruhwedel are now the 2nd pairing lol woof.
- j.boyd919

Rock on.

Alright I was drunk in Philly for St Paddy’s all weekend. What did I miss?
- Victoro311

Now I know why the Pens had the weekend they had...

We talk about how old this team is and its a problem often....but just look at the top 5 oldest teams in the league....3 cup contenders in it and the Bruins are 7th oldest haha. Its not age, its roster construct plus stubborn coaching.


- MattStrat

We're younger than I thought.

Pittsburgh, Colorado and who's the third?

We're younger than I thought.

Pittsburgh, Colorado and who's the third?
- Thunderbolt

Third what? Contender? Pens weren't included in my 3 contenders in 5 oldest teams. Avs, Bolts and Canes.

Pettersson is week to week and on LTIR
Petry is day to day
Kulikov is week to week
Rutta is week to week
Pens recalled Fedun (who?)

Pens got demolished by the Rags

Dumo and Ruhwedel are now the 2nd pairing lol woof.
- j.boyd919

Fvck I didnt know Petts was week to week....knew he left the last game but didnt see anything since. Can't even call up Smith. This is really, really bad hahaha...they might not make it in.

The Penguins actually arent as out of Bedard watch as I thought. We would need to be the 11th worst team to have a 3% chance at him. We are ahead on points but also on games played. If we lose those games and drop off point wise, we could make a run at that spot.
- SuperHenderson13

Maybe we can rig the draft again?

The Penguins actually arent as out of Bedard watch as I thought. We would need to be the 11th worst team to have a 3% chance at him. We are ahead on points but also on games played. If we lose those games and drop off point wise, we could make a run at that spot.
- SuperHenderson13

I predicted this before the season. Goaltending would sink us and we will be good enough to not get a shot at Bedard but not close to good enough to compete for the cup. It's purgatory. We will ride out the rest of the big 3's years being maybe good enough to make the playoffs but not good enough to win a series unless they make wholesale changes.

I wish we could still tank bad enough to get down to the 11th pick but I don't think we can get down that far. Heck, even if we were lucky and got into the top 5, there will be some really good players available.

Third what? Contender? Pens weren't included in my 3 contenders in 5 oldest teams. Avs, Bolts and Canes.
- MattStrat

Oh, ye of little faith.

Honestly, the Pens are in over their heads. I knew who you were talking about, I just couldn't come to grips with the most optimistic man on this board not picking Pittsburgh.

we have only 1 more win than the ottowa senators, that should tell anyone all they need to know about the penguins this season and moving forward. next year the sens will probably have a better record. yikes

essentially we are like the sens when they knocked us out that very first year we made the playoffs. except the sens had a good/strong team then and we do not. yikes...

we have only 1 more win than the ottowa senators, that should tell anyone all they need to know about the penguins this season and moving forward. next year the sens will probably have a better record. yikes

essentially we are like the sens when they knocked us out that very first year we made the playoffs. except the sens had a good/strong team then and we do not. yikes...
- JLT168

No, we are like the Red Wings that the Lightning knocked out in the first round like 3 years in a row lol. Been calling that trajectory for like 3 years now.

I’m guessing Carter and Dumo aren’t available to the media, or do reporters just not ask them anything?

Oh, ye of little faith.

Honestly, the Pens are in over their heads. I knew who you were talking about, I just couldn't come to grips with the most optimistic man on this board not picking Pittsburgh.
- Thunderbolt

Hahahah I've never once thought or called them a contender this season though.

I’m guessing Carter and Dumo aren’t available to the media, or do reporters just not ask them anything?
- Grinder47

Great question.

No, we are like the Red Wings that the Lightning knocked out in the first round like 3 years in a row lol. Been calling that trajectory for like 3 years now.
- j.boyd919

Crazy you could do that over two completely different management teams, especially when pretty much everyone agrees that with different player choices and signings, this team could actually hang with the top teams.

It's also crazy to think, despite all the shortcomings we complain about, this team was top 5 in league standings when the calender turned 2023.

Crazy you could do that over two completely different management teams, especially when all pretty much everyone agrees that with different player choices and signings, this team could actually hang with the top teams.

It's also crazy to think, despite all the shortcomings we complain about, this team was top 5 in league standings when the calender turned 2023.
- MattStrat

Goaltending both before and after

Goaltending both before and after
- Thorny87

Yup.