HCMS did an excellent time keeping the forwards time down last night. Forward with most TOI was Sid with 17:13. Will help tonight.

Rusty has 14G 12A in 50 GP this year. After that awful start that's pretty great. Somehow his shooting % is 3% higher than his career norm though.

Simon has 21 points in 43 games. He had 12 in 33. Dude is only getting better.

He has great vision and playmaking instincts, solid defensive ability, good skater and now the production is starting to follow.

I could see him Bjug becoming a Guerin like winger for Sid. McCann and Blueger are the 3C and 4C
- YouMeAndDupuis9

When MCann shows any sign of being a 3C here we can revisit this conversation. Till then Bjugstad looks like the answer

I'm curious how Simon will handle the playoffs. I think he's a solid player for his price but I just feel like something is missing. I'd prefer him on the third line but I guess we'll see.
- 668710

I'm not really sure what's missing, he's producing as a top 6 winger with no PP time. Pretty sure it's all there. Not like the playoffs are a different game anyway. It's still hockey.

So tell me, which one is Simon and which one is Landeskog

So tell me, which one is Simon and which one is Landeskog


- Rinosaur

Charts don’t tell the whole story nerd. Watch the game. You gotta see their hustle. Make sure they try hard and their feet move a lot.

So tell me, which one is Simon and which one is Landeskog


- Rinosaur

Left is Simon

Charts don’t tell the whole story nerd. Watch the game. You gotta see their hustle. Make sure they try hard and their feet move a lot.
- j.boyd919

Well I guess I got learnt.

Oh, you ever watch Channel Zero?

Left is Simon
- Guile

Very good, Guile!

Very good, Guile!
- Rinosaur

Nah, I showed his chart about 3 weeks ago.

Well I guess I got learnt.

Oh, you ever watch Channel Zero?
- Rinosaur

Nah. Hahaha. Always forget about it.

Charts don’t tell the whole story nerd. Watch the game. You gotta see their hustle. Make sure they try hard and their feet move a lot.
- j.boyd919

Except these players do hustle and try hard all over the ice....They definitely don't tell the whole story but it's a good bet that if all the stats, both O and D alike, are in the blue they are players that hustle/battle in all zones. In this case both players are exactly that.

Lots of examples of players with blue in one and red in the other...overall they're not going to help their team win as much as complete 2 way guys that are all blue.

Hockey is a sport that hard work can triumph skill. You see it alot with top seeds being knocked out/underdogs winning playoffs rounds. Last year the Pens team on paper was arguably better than the back to back teams that won... And the Caps on paper were the worst they'd been in years. They had more gas and out battled, especially in last 2 games. Took the series.

So tell me, which one is Simon and which one is Landeskog


- Rinosaur

One's got 7 goals and 21 points and one's got 29 goals with 54 points. I mean, I love the SKATR Comparison tool, but Landeskog is a much better player.

HCMS did an excellent time keeping the forwards time down last night. Forward with most TOI was Sid with 17:13. Will help tonight.
- MattStrat

Where did you see this? Sid played over 21 and Phil, PHIL played almost 20. I thought he did a really good job of sheltering the new guys and leaning on his go-to’s

Rusty has 14G 12A in 50 GP this year. After that awful start that's pretty great. Somehow his shooting % is 3% higher than his career norm though.
- Thorny87

I’m sure someone can look it up, but most of his goals/scoring chances are either driving to the net and trying to tuck it in or he’s trying to pick corners so his actual shots on net (how they judge sh%) are typically bar in or missing the net

Charts don’t tell the whole story nerd. Watch the game. You gotta see their hustle. Make sure they try hard and their feet move a lot.
- j.boyd919

"Charts don’t tell the whole story nerd" Ironic... that is just Ironic...

Simon has 21 points in 43 games. He had 12 in 33. Dude is only getting better.

He has great vision and playmaking instincts, solid defensive ability, good skater and now the production is starting to follow.
- Rinosaur

And he’s signed for another season so I’m not sure why people were talking about his future contract. A lot of that offense is also the product of playing with Sid/Geno. James Neal hasn’t exactly been the same player since leaving Pitt. Hornqvist wouldn’t be producing like he does if he wasn’t playing with star centers while in his 30’s

He’s absolutely worth his contract, which was solid by GMJR, but I’m not thinking $3MM until we see how this season/playoffs ends. He got some playoff experience last year so maybe, just maybe he pulls a Guentzel and breaks up when the chips are down

"Charts don’t tell the whole story nerd" Ironic... that is just Ironic...
- martox

the fact that this went over your head is (frank)ing awesome.

the fact that this went over your head is (frank)ing awesome.
- Blackstrom2

I mean I know that is the joke. just thought that was a really well made one.

One's got 7 goals and 21 points and one's got 29 goals with 54 points. I mean, I love the SKATR Comparison tool, but Landeskog is a much better player.
- madmike71

I think you're missing the point. Yes, Landeskog is the better player and I wouldn't argue that even for a second. It's to show that Simon has all abilities to make him a top-six player.

And he’s signed for another season so I’m not sure why people were talking about his future contract. A lot of that offense is also the product of playing with Sid/Geno. James Neal hasn’t exactly been the same player since leaving Pitt. Hornqvist wouldn’t be producing like he does if he wasn’t playing with star centers while in his 30’s

He’s absolutely worth his contract, which was solid by GMJR, but I’m not thinking $3MM until we see how this season/playoffs ends. He got some playoff experience last year so maybe, just maybe he pulls a Guentzel and breaks up when the chips are down
- WSCTeton17

A) James Neal has been very much the same player he was until this season's tail-off. James Neal was always inconsistent and would score a bulk of goals in one part of the season.

B) Yes, Simon has likely gotten a bulk of his points in the top-six, but he's also produced in the bottom six. This idea that a player really isn't that good or worthy of top-six money because they only produce next to top talent is a farse.

I've said this before, but not every player can just become gold next to Sid or Geno. It takes a level abilities and capabilities to handle how fast Sid and Geno think the game. If it was so easy the Pens would have never had issues finding wingers for them.

C) I was never arguing what Simon will be worth. I will say that he's on a similar trajectory as Rust was when he came in.

Simon's production has increased from last year and if he takes another leap next season then there's no reason why he wouldn't be a $3Mish a year player.

I'm not really sure what's missing, he's producing as a top 6 winger with no PP time. Pretty sure it's all there. Not like the playoffs are a different game anyway. It's still hockey.
- j.boyd919

It’s encouraging that he’s been producing with 3rd line minutes but with the cap going up and us already cutting off some of these higher cap hit forwards and Cullen leaving, I think any top 6 winger in Pitt should be producing regularly at a 50 point pace

Right now he’s 7th in Pens in Pts/gm excluding Bjugstad (who still might produce more while playing on the RBK line) and Blueger who has only played 2 games. His current pace would’ve put him 8th last season and 9th the year before. So in Pitt I would say his production is middle 6 which aligns with his usage/TOI. Definitely has been meshing in the top 6 for a while now and deserves a long look, but we also have seen the rise and fall of players in the top/middle 6. Call me RW, but I want to see a larger sample size before talking his next contract.

I also disagree that the playoffs are “just hockey.” I’m not the kind of guy to put it up on a huge pedistool but for whatever reason a, b, c players always disappear in the playoffs and x, y, z players always seem to elevate

Except these players do hustle and try hard all over the ice....They definitely don't tell the whole story but it's a good bet that if all the stats, both O and D alike, are in the blue they are players that hustle/battle in all zones. In this case both players are exactly that.

Lots of examples of players with blue in one and red in the other...overall they're not going to help their team win as much as complete 2 way guys that are all blue.

Hockey is a sport that hard work can triumph skill. You see it alot with top seeds being knocked out/underdogs winning playoffs rounds. Last year the Pens team on paper was arguably better than the back to back teams that won... And the Caps on paper were the worst they'd been in years. They had more gas and out battled, especially in last 2 games. Took the series.
- MattStrat

Hard work and battle level are awful cliches in sports. Pens were not the better team. Caps were the higher skilled team. Pens were a two player team, they weren’t even top heavy, they had two players going off. Caps had balanced scoring through the whole playoffs. They didn’t have more gas or battle level, they were just better.

One's got 7 goals and 21 points and one's got 29 goals with 54 points. I mean, I love the SKATR Comparison tool, but Landeskog is a much better player.
- madmike71

Exactly, I mean I like Simon but is he ready right now with Sid. This would be the "missing". He has the potential but doesn't seem to be this year. But he may turn that corner, you never know.