Ryan Wilson: Penguins will head to bubble with Sidney Crosby back as a full participant Penguins will head to bubble with Sidney Crosby back as a full participant

Im pretty stoked, y’all. I felt Laffert was doing great but looking at the lines.. who does he replace? Might have to wait for an injury.

Im pretty stoked, y’all. I felt Laffert was doing great but looking at the lines.. who does he replace? Might have to wait for an injury.
- Brownsoldier

Great problems to have.

I forgot to mention it yesterday, but Marino is the standout on defense. More than anyone else, he looked like the most calm and collected player, like he was the seasoned vet and this was all routine for him.

I forgot to mention it yesterday, but Marino is the standout on defense. More than anyone else, he looked like the most calm and collected player, like he was the seasoned vet and this was all routine for him.
- Rinosaur

I would like to second this. He looks great. As much as it pains me to say this... Jack Johnson doesn’t look terrible. He just looked better than his normal self which could still be bad.

JJ will be on the third pair so he shouldn't be exposed to much. Marino is the real deal.

Another thing too is Zucker has been able to fully recover from his injury. He didn't look right when he first came back. I think we'll get the full Zucker for these playoffs!

RE: Marino

I thought he looked poised and smart on the PP, some good keep in's as well.

When Sheary craps the bed, I'm hoping Hornie gets the call. Wouldn't mind seeing a little more from Erod. Apparently has looked good in this camp.

When Sheary craps the bed, I'm hoping Hornie gets the call. Wouldn't mind seeing a little more from Erod. Apparently has looked good in this camp.
- madmike71

C'mon haha, Sheary having a good run is only good for us. You only gotta watch him for one run, I doubt we sign him. I think he'll be able to find the soft spots with Sid and Jake out there commanding the attention.

When Sheary craps the bed, I'm hoping Hornie gets the call. Wouldn't mind seeing a little more from Erod. Apparently has looked good in this camp.
- madmike71

There’s a reason Hornqvist never lasts on Sid’s line.

C'mon haha, Sheary having a good run is only good for us. You only gotta watch him for one run, I doubt we sign him. I think he'll be able to find the soft spots with Sid and Jake out there commanding the attention.
- 668710

Oh....that's exactly why I'm rooting for him. I'm just extremely skeptical based on his 2 goals in his last 34 playoff games and his appalling defensive game.

There’s a reason Hornqvist never lasts on Sid’s line.
- Rinosaur

Yeah, I know this. Just not a whole lot of options.

Question for anyone... Would you hold Sid out of the Philly game? I would. Hell, I'd probably sit Malkin too. I'd say the same for Letang, but Yohe said he's looked rough in camp and that scrimmage last night did nothing to dispel that notion.

My only reservation about Malkin would be the need to get more time with Zucker.

Sorry to go a little off topic but I couldn’t be happier with more and more rumours coming out that dumb f***er Chayka is almost gonna get canned!!! Heard from my buddy that the league shut down would most likely save his job because of $$$ only but now that it’s back he is nowhere to be found. Been saying it since he got hired in here he’s horrendous fire his a** already!

Just turned on the Jays and Rays game and they have a crowd audio track going on in the broadcast. Pretty weird. Cameras are being sure not to show much of the stands.

Question for anyone... Would you hold Sid out of the Philly game? I would. Hell, I'd probably sit Malkin too. I'd say the same for Letang, but Yohe said he's looked rough in camp and that scrimmage last night did nothing to dispel that notion.

My only reservation about Malkin would be the need to get more time with Zucker.
- madmike71

I don't wanna comment in fear of jinxing.

I just realized I'm getting all fn weird and superstitious again... Playoffs must be close...

JJ will be on the third pair so he shouldn't be exposed to much. Marino is the real deal.
- 668710

Not saying you're wrong, but a lot of people on here called Maatta a top-20 defenseman in the league after his rookie season.

Just turned on the Jays and Rays game and they have a crowd audio track going on in the broadcast. Pretty weird. Cameras are being sure not to show much of the stands.
- MattStrat

Is it a hot take to be in favor of the fake noise? I’ve been watching the Prem/Bundesliga since they started back up and I thought the crowd noise sounded pretty natural and no different from a regular TV broadcast with a crowd. I just watched the Sixers’ first scrimmage back in action today and the broadcast had no artificial noise. It was eery...

Is it a hot take to be in favor of the fake noise? I’ve been watching the Prem/Bundesliga since they started back up and I thought the crowd noise sounded pretty natural and no different from a regular TV broadcast with a crowd. I just watched the Sixers’ first scrimmage back in action today and the broadcast had no artificial noise. It was eery...
- Victoro311

Interestingly, the Pirates/Indians exhibition games sounded pretty real. The "opener" tonight against the Cardinals was awful. I'm fine with the fake noise though.

They were talking on the radio today about fake computer generated crowds will be coming soon. Kind of silly IMO.

Not saying you're wrong, but a lot of people on here called Maatta a top-20 defenseman in the league after his rookie season.
- jmatchett383

Yea I know, I thought he'd be pretty good though. However he went through a lot so we'll never know what he could have been. Unfortunately happens to some players. And when I say real deal, barring any health issues or injuries I think he'll be a top 4 damn for us. I'm not claiming any Top 20 Damn in the league, though I'd love it if he did haha.

Not saying you're wrong, but a lot of people on here called Maatta a top-20 defenseman in the league after his rookie season.
- jmatchett383

IMO Maatta was never the same after the thyroid removal. Two major shoulder surgeries didn't help.

IMO Maatta was never the same after the thyroid removal. Two major shoulder surgeries didn't help.
- madmike71

It was a perfect storm of utter poop for Oli. A ton of major injuries and getting stuck with absolutely awful partners because, ironically, Sullivan had too much faith in him. We definitely did overrate him on here after he was good on the third pairing with a first pairing caliber defenseman in his prime his first season, but man he was absolutely incredible with Kris Letang his second season before injuries took him. What could have been if he weren’t derailed.

Interestingly, the Pirates/Indians exhibition games sounded pretty real. The "opener" tonight against the Cardinals was awful. I'm fine with the fake noise though.

They were talking on the radio today about fake computer generated crowds will be coming soon. Kind of silly IMO.
- madmike71

Saw that the NBA was gonna do that and I was wondering what the point was. The way sports games are shot you barely see the fans unless they cut to them. You don’t really notice the stadium is empty by looking at a tv broadcast

Not saying you're wrong, but a lot of people on here called Maatta a top-20 defenseman in the league after his rookie season.
- jmatchett383

I like to keep that in mind. There was an assumption that Maatta would improve since he had such a good rookie year, but maybe it was just he adjusted faster than most defensemen but didn't have as high a ceiling. That was sort of his draft profile: high floor limited ceiling.

That and the injuries of course. He wasn't this slow as a rookie. Maatta can move the puck, has great hockey sense, and a strong work ethic, but that's all limited when people just skate past you.

I do think you give a good caution on Marino. He might not actually become a true #1 defenseman. So long as he maintains his current level though, should be a 2 or 3 for a long time.