Ryan Wilson: Time For A New Top Pairing Time For A New Top Pairing

I agree 100%. A change is needed to get someone with Letang who can also move the puck.

Matta-Letang
Cole-Dumoulin
Clendening/Scuds-Lovejoy

Would like to see this lineup be given a chance.

Do one of the advanced stats websites have a shot chart/heat map for the entire season.. I'm curious to where the majority of the shots are coming from. I know the Pens are giving up a ton of shots, but if a lot of them are perimeter, low percentage shots.. I don't see that as much of a problem.

when it comes down to it, the only way this team is going to go anywhere is if they trade a forward for a defenseman.

I don't care if they sell low on Perron, as long as they're buying low on someone else (obviously the dman would probably have to be a rental like Perron).

i don't care if they sell Kunitz for an old slow overpaid dman, as long as that dman can move the puck.

i don't care if they trade Beau, as long as it's for a cheap young guy with talent, although he'd probably have to have some warts like Beau.

There are many ways to make this work.

Ryan Wilson: Time For A New Top Pairing
Time For A New Top Pairing
- Ryan_Wilson

Yes. The sooner the better.

Do one of the advanced stats websites have a shot chart/heat map for the entire season.. I'm curious to where the majority of the shots are coming from. I know the Pens are giving up a ton of shots, but if a lot of them are perimeter, low percentage shots.. I don't see that as much of a problem.
- j.boyd919

War on Ice>Teams>Team Hextally
http://war-on-ice.com/hexteams.html

when it comes down to it, the only way this team is going to go anywhere is if they trade a forward for a defenseman.
- poopmouth

You guys must have Shero's phone number handy.

Call us. We'll make it happen!

when it comes down to it, the only way this team is going to go anywhere is if they trade a forward for a defenseman.

I don't care if they sell low on Perron, as long as they're buying low on someone else (obviously the dman would probably have to be a rental like Perron).

i don't care if they sell Kunitz for an old slow overpaid dman, as long as that dman can move the puck.

i don't care if they trade Beau, as long as it's for a cheap young guy with talent, although he'd probably have to have some warts like Beau.

There are many ways to make this work.
- poopmouth

I don't necessarily agree with that. Dumoulin is showing improvement this season. Maatta desperately needs to play better. Pouliot and Clendening are young and have potential. I think there is a possibility of having them improve a lot over the next 70 games. But they have to be given the chance first.

Do one of the advanced stats websites have a shot chart/heat map for the entire season.. I'm curious to where the majority of the shots are coming from. I know the Pens are giving up a ton of shots, but if a lot of them are perimeter, low percentage shots.. I don't see that as much of a problem.
- j.boyd919

http://war-on-ice.com/hexteams.html

I don't necessarily agree with that. Dumoulin is showing improvement this season. Maatta desperately needs to play better. Pouliot and Clendening are young and have potential. I think there is a possibility of having them improve a lot over the next 70 games. But they have to be given the chance first.
- jfkst1

Got this little blurb from Yohe on DK's site.


• The Penguins aren’t especially pleased with Derrick Pouliot. Oh, getting arrested wasn’t such a good thing, even if a citation for public intoxication isn’t exactly cause for removal from the organization. There are broader maturity concerns within the organization.

Aside from that, the Penguins simply aren’t pleased with how he has performed. There has been an assumption – I’ve made it in a couple of recent Q&A’s – that Pouliot would be with the Penguins sooner rather than later. Don’t forget, the plan in September was for Pouliot to start the season in the NHL.

But things have changed. The Penguins’ defensemen have far exceeded expectations and have stayed healthy through the season’s first month. Adam Clendening, the team’s No. 7 defenseman, is a player they like and yet he’s only seen game action once.

And then there is Pouliot. He’s had some good spurts in Wilkes-Barre but still isn’t playing defensively at the level the Penguins would like. Numerous people I’ve spoken to in recent days have told me that they think it would be best for Pouliot to spend the majority of the season in the AHL.

You guys must have Shero's phone number handy.

Call us. We'll make it happen!

Oh I'm sure its speed dial number one. Shero loves Scuds!

Got this little blurb from Yohe on DK's site.


• The Penguins aren’t especially pleased with Derrick Pouliot. Oh, getting arrested wasn’t such a good thing, even if a citation for public intoxication isn’t exactly cause for removal from the organization. There are broader maturity concerns within the organization.

Aside from that, the Penguins simply aren’t pleased with how he has performed. There has been an assumption – I’ve made it in a couple of recent Q&A’s – that Pouliot would be with the Penguins sooner rather than later. Don’t forget, the plan in September was for Pouliot to start the season in the NHL.

But things have changed. The Penguins’ defensemen have far exceeded expectations and have stayed healthy through the season’s first month. Adam Clendening, the team’s No. 7 defenseman, is a player they like and yet he’s only seen game action once.

And then there is Pouliot. He’s had some good spurts in Wilkes-Barre but still isn’t playing defensively at the level the Penguins would like. Numerous people I’ve spoken to in recent days have told me that they think it would be best for Pouliot to spend the majority of the season in the AHL.
- madmike71

Appreciate it. If the coaches and FO think this defense is sound they are getting mesmerized by the goaltending. They are very limited in contributing offensively, aren't great defensively, and show little chemistry playing together other than maybe the Dumo-Lovejoy pairing.

I don't necessarily agree with that. Dumoulin is showing improvement this season. Maatta desperately needs to play better. Pouliot and Clendening are young and have potential. I think there is a possibility of having them improve a lot over the next 70 games. But they have to be given the chance first.
- jfkst1

Sure. There's definitely no reason to panic. I'm definitely in favor of seeing how things are going right before the trade deadline instead of making a panic move now.

War on Ice>Teams>Team Hextally
http://war-on-ice.com/hexteams.html
- jfkst1

Muchos gracias my man

The 58+28 combo is definitely not shut-down caliber. Actually, neither of the 3 parings is claiming this title.



http://hockeyviz.com/img/...ry-1516-PIT-letankr87.png

With the emergence of Colton parayko... And all the injuries the blues have up front... I wonder if shattenkirk could be acquired from the blues...

Appreciate it. If the coaches and FO think this defense is sound they are getting mesmerized by the goaltending. They are very limited in contributing offensively, aren't great defensively, and show little chemistry playing together other than maybe the Dumo-Lovejoy pairing.
- jfkst1

Agree. I think the interesting point is the Pens might keep Pouliot in the AHL for most of the year. So, no help coming from the Baby Pens in that department.

Yeah, Cole is what he is, a 3rd pairing Dman along with Lovejoy, and Scuds. Dumo has been playing pretty well. Id say he's the #2 Dman so far this yr. That said, the teams success has been on MAF's shoulders.

Yeah, Cole is what he is, a 3rd pairing Dman along with Lovejoy, and Scuds. Dumo has been playing pretty well. Id say he's the #2 Dman so far this yr. That said, the teams success has been on MAF's shoulders.
- sammy87

Cole is better suited at 2nd pair not third. He only looks this bad right now because its a bad matchup for him to be with letang. Put him with someone he can hang with on the second line and he'll do fine. Just like Lovejoy. So many people hate him but he's a decent 2nd pairing guy.

when it comes down to it, the only way this team is going to go anywhere is if they trade a forward for a defenseman.

I don't care if they sell low on Perron, as long as they're buying low on someone else (obviously the dman would probably have to be a rental like Perron).

i don't care if they sell Kunitz for an old slow overpaid dman, as long as that dman can move the puck.

i don't care if they trade Beau, as long as it's for a cheap young guy with talent, although he'd probably have to have some warts like Beau.

There are many ways to make this work.
- poopmouth

If the pens trade for a d-man it almost has to be a rental. Unless pouliot doesn't turn out to be a NHL player. Also any trade to add defense without moving a d-man or two would leave pouliot in the AHL all year. I highly doubt the pens want that.

With the emergence of Colton parayko... And all the injuries the blues have up front... I wonder if shattenkirk could be acquired from the blues...
- Kunit

Probably but not to us. With the emergence of Brian Dumoulin, Derek Pouliot has become pretty expendable if the plan is to trade for a RD. If a package of Kunitz, Pouliot and a second/third could net us Kevin Shattenkirk I don't think we hesitate. We shed a contract that we really need to shed, and Shattenkirk is what we hope Pouliot will become: an Olympic caliber PMD. He's also on a good contract for the next two seasons. However we can stop our pipe dream here because that package, while actually decent, can probably get out done. The prospect may not match ours, but the pick and roster player I have to imagine would be better. But then again, this is the organization that basically faded TJ Oshie for Troy Brower straight up, so who knows.

Cole is better suited at 2nd pair not third. He only looks this bad right now because its a bad matchup for him to be with letang. Put him with someone he can hang with on the second line and he'll do fine. Just like Lovejoy. So many people hate him but he's a decent 2nd pairing guy.
- Zac_O

I dont hate Cole, I'm just not going to pretend he's something he's not. Same with Lovejoy.

Maata to me looks like a guy who is trying to find his way after some pretty major health issues. It may take him quite a while to round into form, but I'd definitely bump him up. He's supposed to be your top pairing guy, so play him there and live with the results for a while. Cole is fine, but he's just not top pairing material. I'd really love him on the bottom pair if we could find another competent solution for the 1-4 mix. Oh by the way, Letang needs to play better too.

Dammit Kunit. Now you've got me fantasizing of a d core of the future including The Shat.

Maatta-Letang
Dumoulin-Shattenkirk
Cole-Clendening

Why did you put that in my head

You would be amazed if you got rid of that rusty old anchor Sucderi. He is the link that makes this D group weak. Get rid of him and everybody gets and looks better.