Ryan Wilson: Good News On The Brian Dumoulin Front? Good News On The Brian Dumoulin Front?

This may be the most satisfying week of hockey I've watched the pens play in years. Wins against the Rags, Isles, Flyers and Caps with some of them being blow outs, can't ask for much more right now. Cullen looks to possibly be Billy Guerin 2.0

So saw this on Twitter. Will HCMS try to slot BB in if he is ready to go? I know he can bring something to the team for the 20 mins he is healthy and not hurt but man this team is clicking. We already know sunds is out when Geno gets back but does sunds sit when BB is back?

Wow is this team fun to watch.

Wow is this team fun to watch.
- cap1681

Especially when each win increases the chances of a 1st rounder.

So saw this on Twitter. Will HCMS try to slot BB in if he is ready to go? I know he can bring something to the team for the 20 mins he is healthy and not hurt but man this team is clicking. We already know sunds is out when Geno gets back but does sunds sit when BB is back?
- nh4442

With Malkin out, I think it will be Sheary coming out and Sundqvist staying in. His defensive play has been solid and MS seems to like to have the extra centers. I honestly don't know that I'd break the chemistry right now to get BB back in.

Especially when each win increases the chances of a 1st rounder.
- As_I_See_It

I think you guys are at like 85% chance now that you'll get our first rounder. Would take a huge collapse to fall all the way out.

So saw this on Twitter. Will HCMS try to slot BB in if he is ready to go? I know he can bring something to the team for the 20 mins he is healthy and not hurt but man this team is clicking. We already know sunds is out when Geno gets back but does sunds sit when BB is back?
- nh4442

BB needs to sit the rest of the year. He doesn't add a single thing.

I think you guys are at like 85% chance now that you'll get our first rounder. Would take a huge collapse to fall all the way out.
- mw630

A bigger collapse than you think!

With today's W vs. The Caps, PIT has a 98.7% chance of making the playoffs.

Malkin who?

A bigger collapse than you think!

With today's W vs. The Caps, PIT has a 98.7% chance of making the playoffs.

Malkin who?
- As_I_See_It

#TradeMalkin #MalkinShould'veBeenCaptainInNovember #HoldOn,Don'tTradeCrosbyAfterAll

I miss all the people bashing Crosby and saying Malkin should've been the captain. We need Malkin back, but man this team is flying right now.

Quotes not working but I agree with mw360...what a satisfying week of hockey.

The amount of goals weve scored 5 on 5 is surprising, especially considering the Malkin injury.

But I am genuinely stunned by the quality of our defensive game. We gave up 35 shots the last two games combined(!). For a team considered to have a bunch of number 5 defenseman. Plus, noted bad defensive players like Kessel, Daley, and Schultz... I am impressed with the team commitment to two way hockey.

BB needs to sit the rest of the year. He doesn't add a single thing.
- Oneonta Penguin

Meh, inserting BB for Sundqvist is going to wreck this sweet chemistry we have going. But he should sit against the Caps....Beau would have died tonight.

...and we should never listen to you again after your incessant bashing of Schultz before even giving him a chance

the speed is smothering.

for his cap hit, i wish hags could score a few more. but man. he is EVERYWHERE. between him and rust. they are just never not around the puck.

Meh, inserting BB for Sundqvist is going to wreck this sweet chemistry we have going. But he should sit against the Caps....Beau would have died tonight.

...and we should never listen to you again after your incessant bashing of Schultz before even giving him a chance
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Justin Schultz did nothing in Edmonton to even think he had a chance to be rehabbed. There is reason to believe you could have done better and I'm not sure you can skate at all. He sucked in Edmonton. Good for Justin. He has done well.

I would have played BB tonight so we don't have to have this conversation ever again. He would have been done for good after tonight. It's laughable to those who think BB serves a purpose now.

Man, Kuhnhackl looked great that game and seems to be producing at a good clip. Nice to see another German start establishing himself in the league!

the speed is smothering.

for his cap hit, i wish hags could score a few more. but man. he is EVERYWHERE. between him and rust. they are just never not around the puck.
- stayinthefnnet

Yep. This is the best team D we've played since 09. I can't ever remember our PK totally punking the Flyers and Caps power play like this.

I'm fine with Kuhnhackl and Rust on this team moving forward. They should start every game. Unlucky we lost Wilson but Sheary is just as capable if not a better player. We'll see.

Our D has been good. Real good. Schultz and Daley have been great additions.

Just for laughs........so to speak. I couldn't leave this as the last comment on the previous blog!

According to Trotz it will be business as usual unless a guy is nicked up. Caps have great depth so the minutes have been spread out well all year except for Niskanen who's had his minutes upped considerably with Orpik out 2 months and now Carlson out a month. Recently the fourth line was getting more minutes than the 3rd line which is why you see the lines shuffled with Beagle on 1st line and Williams on 3rd. Just trying to keep guys or their toes. And I caution the thread starter that numbers are very deceiving. Caps have been on cruise control since Jan, as evidenced by allowing the 1st goal in 17 of their last 23 games. However, last 2 games have been their best in a long time. If you think this is a PP team only you will be in for a rude awakening in a month
- bondraovie

They say he who laughs last laughs longest...............

......well just for now......

Especially when each win increases the chances of a 1st rounder.
- As_I_See_It

dont know what youre so happy about.

looked like for a while, we'd sneak in and get killed 1st round. now it looks like we could actually do some damage

@Barnaby: I keep going back and forth on Wilson and I think I finally know why. He's the best goal scorer out of the Wilks Barre Five, but when he's not hot in the goal scoring department, he's the worst defensively and on the boards. If you told me next season that we were going to pick up a few UFAs and there'd only be two roster spots for the WBS guys, I'd have Rust as my shoo in, but then I'd have to think long and hard when picking between Sheary and Wilson. Do I go for the goal scoring capability, or the tenacious grinding?

Justin Schultz did nothing in Edmonton to even think he had a chance to be rehabbed. There is reason to believe you could have done better and I'm not sure you can skate at all. He sucked in Edmonton. Good for Justin. He has done well.

I would have played BB tonight so we don't have to have this conversation ever again. He would have been done for good after tonight. It's laughable to those who think BB serves a purpose now.
- Oneonta Penguin

I mean I get it, but that's where you have to think outside the box. It's easy to say "player X sucked last year" so "player X sucks and will never have success in any role". Or "this prospect is 24 years old and not a full time NHLer so he will never be good". It's not always black and white based on past performance.

He was getting huge minutes without any real development in a toxic environment...there was at least a genuine possibility that playing on a bottom pairing, new scenery, and a fitting system could make him a serviceable player. I just think it was stubborn for you to say he was awful, will never be good, and a waste of a pick.

Hey, we could have spent that 3rd rounder on Mike Weber...

@Barnaby: I keep going back and forth on Wilson and I think I finally know why. He's the best goal scorer out of the Wilks Barre Five, but when he's not hot in the goal scoring department, he's the worst defensively and on the boards. If you told me next season that we were going to pick up a few UFAs and there'd only be two roster spots for the WBS guys, I'd have Rust as my shoo in, but then I'd have to think long and hard when picking between Sheary and Wilson. Do I go for the goal scoring capability, or the tenacious grinding?
- Victoro311

I think Wilson is a better player than Sheary personally. Sheary brings the speed, but Wilson can snipe and actually packs a decent punch as a checker. So Wilson, imo, brings elements that may be lacking in the bottom 6.

It'd be quite hard to grade them from best to worst, but if I had to grade them in terms of usefulness, I'd probably say

Rust
Wilson
Sheary
Kuhnhackl
Simon
Sundqvist
Porter

kane hurt. 16 points in 11 games and da art ross is yours sid
- martox

Concussion protocol...I dont think any word is official yet. He could be out for a while or could be back tomorrow....

maybe Sid could pass him anyway if they stop blowing the whistle when the puck is still loose

dont know what youre so happy about.

looked like for a while, we'd sneak in and get killed 1st round. now it looks like we could actually do some damage
- SuperHenderson13

"Don't know what you're so happy about?"

The 1st is all but a guarantee and received two solid prospects in Kapanen (especially him) and Harrington... While you only got Kessel.

How's he worked out for ya? He only has 21 goals and will barely clear 50 points. Kessel doesn't hit, doesn't block shots, has zero grit, takes a poop load of low percentage shots, disappears for numerous games at a time, doesn't backcheck, frequently caught out of position, is a temperamental suck, not a leader and HAS ZERO HEART! Basically, he's the last guy you want in the playoffs

PIT can't win the division and whoever they end up with (likely BOS, TB, NYR or NYI) won't exactly be a cakewalk.

So yeah, I have plenty to be happy about. Enjoy Kessel... He will cost the Pens, trust me.

"Don't know what you're so happy about?"

The 1st is all but a guarantee and received two solid prospects in Kapanen (especially him) and Harrington... While you only got Kessel.

How's he worked out for ya? He only has 21 goals and will barely clear 50 points. Kessel doesn't hit, doesn't block shots, has zero grit, takes a poop load of low percentage shots, disappears for numerous games at a time, doesn't backcheck, frequently caught out of position, is a temperamental suck, not a leader and HAS ZERO HEART! Basically, he's the last guy you want in the playoffs

PIT can't win the division and whoever they end up with (likely BOS, TB, NYR or NYI) won't exactly be a cakewalk.

So yeah, I have plenty to be happy about. Enjoy Kessel... He will cost the Pens, trust me.
- As_I_See_It

enjoy sucking. you got our worst real defensemen prospect we had, you got a fin (skilled) with major confidence issues. and you got a first that leaf will all but surely ruin. enjoy the dumpster. kessel has been fine. not good not bad. he backchecks!