Ryan Wilson: Weird lineup choices Weird lineup choices

Guentzel Crosby Hornqvist
Hagelin Malkin Sprong
Rust Sheahan Kessel
Aston-Reese Cullen Simon

Is what I would like to see, Sprong's best shift of the season was with Geno, and if he's expected to be Phil "light" I don't understand why it's never considered, why does everybody want him with Sid when everybody seems to flourish on Malkin's line.

Sprong is terrible at hockey. They need to find out if he can just be a slot shooter for Malkin and Crosby or if its just time to move on.

Sullivan, who has proven to be one of the NHL's more competent coaches despite his warts through three seasons, is looking completely lost right now. These combos are exquisitely dumb.

Sullivan, who has proven to be one of the NHL's more competent coaches despite his warts through three seasons, is looking completely lost right now. These combos are exquisitely dumb.
- Victoro311

DEFCON 5 right now

Sprong is terrible at hockey. They need to find out if he can just be a slot shooter for Malkin and Crosby or if its just time to move on.
- eNDSo

Yeah I don't know if hes terrible but put him in the top 6 for a week. If it doesn't workout ship him out for another need.

Cullen, sadly to say, needs to not play any more. That 4th line is just a hole in the earth.

Sprong also needs a few games with Malkin or Sid, and if that doesn't produce anything, then they need to trade him. No more Richarding around with it all. Enough is enough.

Criticize line ups but then but then demotes Simon to "find out about Sprong".....classic RW

Sprong has gotten multiple opportunities with Sid and Geno, you know why you don't remember them? BECAUSE HE SUCKS! [/mr. plinkett]

Sprong's ceiling is a 3rd line scoring winger if he can ever figure out how to play a 200ft game, I think the past 3 yrs have borne that out.

I get that Sprong has not earned his ice time. But has their been four wingers who have held him down and deserve to be ahead of him?

I get that Sprong has not earned his ice time. But has their been four wingers who have held him down and deserve to be ahead of him?
- Thunderbolt

Do you believe that even if he improves he will be someone who will create profound change?

The problems with this team are far deeper than Sprong.

Do you believe that even if he improves he will be someone who will create profound change?

The problems with this team are far deeper than Sprong.
- Rinosaur

He is not going to move the needle anymore than anyone else. I just don't understand how Rust, Hagelin and Simon deserved the promotion (or in Hagelin's case a lack of demotion) while Sprong gets benched. I can't figure out how playing Brassard out of position is a better idea, or even a good idea for that matter.

I say if Sprong is really that bad then just cut him, let him be somebody else's problem.

Just like Bylsma. Each coach has their group of core guys. Guys they trust, right or wrong. Sprong is not one of them.

Criticize line ups but then but then demotes Simon to "find out about Sprong".....classic RW

Sprong has gotten multiple opportunities with Sid and Geno, you know why you don't remember them? BECAUSE HE SUCKS!
- Murphy_Dump[/mr. plinkett]

Sprong's ceiling is a 3rd line scoring winger if he can ever figure out how to play a 200ft game, I think the past 3 yrs have borne that out.

Please explain to me what the great Simon has done that you can't switch Sprong and Simon's spots? And I remember when Sprong had a very nice game with Sid last year and A good shift with Geno the other day. I've seen Sprong backcheck. IDK why there's so much hate for Sprong and all this love for Simon. I guess that's what makes me hate Simon.

I get that Sprong has not earned his ice time. But has their been four wingers who have held him down and deserve to be ahead of him?
- Thunderbolt

Yeah exactly, give Sprong his chance and drop Simon. It's like Simon is Jagr or something.

Cullen, sadly to say, needs to not play any more. That 4th line is just a hole in the earth.

Sprong also needs a few games with Malkin or Sid, and if that doesn't produce anything, then they need to trade him. No more Richarding around with it all. Enough is enough.
- simethos

I'm hoping Rutherford has the stones to have the "R" talk with Cullen. Tell him they will be sending him down unless he retires. Offer him a consulting position to fulfill the contract. Cullen should do the right thing at this point because the Penguins have been very good to him.

DEFCON 5 right now
- Rinosaur

Don't want to be hitting any big red buttons, but, like, the (frank) is going on right now? Obviously losing Schultz is really (frank)ing with our mojo, but this is actively bad coaching.

Don't want to be hitting any big red buttons, but, like, the (frank) is going on right now? Obviously losing Schultz is really (frank)ing with our mojo, but this is actively bad coaching.
- Victoro311

Sid on the 2nd PP unit? I mean, wow.

Any guesses to which team shows up tonight? I have no clue.

Sid on the 2nd PP unit? I mean, wow.
- Rinosaur

That's going to last about 1 period.

Thinking about recent prospects with the Pens.
How is DP doing in VAN?

Despress never had a career.
Sundquist is playing in STL now.

Sprong getting like 6 mins TOI isn't going to show much.

That's going to last about 1 period.
- madmike71

It shouldn’t last one second.

It shouldn’t last one second.
- Rinosaur

Meh.... There's too much of an over-reaction to these changes. I wish I could blame the coach for our recent slide. He's just throwing sh*t at the wall to see what sticks. This roster is incomplete at best as the bottom 6 can't score.....at all.

Also, it's no surprise to me that Kessel is off Geno's line. Sullivan has long maintained he wants all 3 stars on separate lines. He believe's that Kessel and Geno get into over-passing ruts and no one shoots. As soon as Geno and Kessel went stale he broke them up. They'll be reunited at some point.

I think the Guentzal demotion is nothing more than a wakeup call. He's been pretty invisible.

Here's what I hate..... Rust on the first line and Hornie not on the first line. Although Hornie with Malkin is good too. The team needs to focus on getting shots and playing closer to the net. Too much east/west.

ZAR is in for Grant what i expected, and Wilson for Sprong... but what i really feared is that the JMomomomomomoFJ-Tanger pairing comes true with Ruhwedel being in for Riikola: https://mobile.twitter.co...60322978196529153/photo/1

First game of the season with Wes "I Hate The Penguins" McCauley as one of the refs.

Certainly doesn't look like they're amped up for this game. Same skating in mud.