I understand that the team is in transition, but if Hornquist or Malkin aren't skating, there is little scoring ability on the ice. Sorry, but Crosby isn't the player he once was. Little help on defense also for Flower. Look for them to get swept in the first round.
Pens look like a throw-back to pre-Mario days
- Thread starter Nittany123
- Start date
Sid has never been able to carry the team w/out Geno...
He may still be the best overall player any time he steps on the ice, but he's not the beast Malkin is when both crank their game up. For a team that needs scoring, they need 71 a lot more than 87, but are going no where w/out both. It's worth noting the team was 8-1-1 in the last 10 games both Malkin and Crosby were healthy.
Missing Hornqvist and Kunitz fading into mediocrity does not help one bit either.
Trying to be fair to Sid because effort and drive is not his problem and you could never accuse him of being lazy. Fact is, scoring is down across the league, which leads to an entirely different discussion on how the game has lapsed back into pre lockout issues, and this has a much greater impact on a player like Crosby too.
He may still be the best overall player any time he steps on the ice, but he's not the beast Malkin is when both crank their game up. For a team that needs scoring, they need 71 a lot more than 87, but are going no where w/out both. It's worth noting the team was 8-1-1 in the last 10 games both Malkin and Crosby were healthy.
Missing Hornqvist and Kunitz fading into mediocrity does not help one bit either.
Trying to be fair to Sid because effort and drive is not his problem and you could never accuse him of being lazy. Fact is, scoring is down across the league, which leads to an entirely different discussion on how the game has lapsed back into pre lockout issues, and this has a much greater impact on a player like Crosby too.
Re: Sid has never been able to carry the team w/out Geno...
That is really the difference in 87 and 71.
71 can carry the team without 87. When he wants to be the best player on the ice he almost always is. If he had 87's drive no player would be in the discussion about who is the best.
That is really the difference in 87 and 71.
71 can carry the team without 87. When he wants to be the best player on the ice he almost always is. If he had 87's drive no player would be in the discussion about who is the best.
I don't think drive is Malkin's issue at all....
He's haunted by a Euro stereotype that has never really been a mark of his game.
Both struggle when they try to do too much. With Sid, it's the overpassing of the puck and not shooting more. With Geno, it's almost like he's over-reliant on his own abilities to the point he thinks he has to beat 2 or 3 guys by himself...works fine against weak D but not the top when he's more vulnerable to the turnover. With this team and the way they're being defended, Malkin is a much bigger threat at full throttle.
While I'm not entirely optimistic this team can make a run, I have never been less interested in the regular season result and somewhere in the back of the players minds they know it's not about what they do now.
He's haunted by a Euro stereotype that has never really been a mark of his game.
Both struggle when they try to do too much. With Sid, it's the overpassing of the puck and not shooting more. With Geno, it's almost like he's over-reliant on his own abilities to the point he thinks he has to beat 2 or 3 guys by himself...works fine against weak D but not the top when he's more vulnerable to the turnover. With this team and the way they're being defended, Malkin is a much bigger threat at full throttle.
While I'm not entirely optimistic this team can make a run, I have never been less interested in the regular season result and somewhere in the back of the players minds they know it's not about what they do now.
Re: I don't think drive is Malkin's issue at all....
I think Sid's lack of size is hurting him with the way the game is being called these days. Geno can fight through some of the interference that the league just doesn't want to enforce anymore. Having said that 87 is still at or near the top in scoring which is way down. The NHL is tough to watch at this point and they don't seem to care.
I think Sid's lack of size is hurting him with the way the game is being called these days. Geno can fight through some of the interference that the league just doesn't want to enforce anymore. Having said that 87 is still at or near the top in scoring which is way down. The NHL is tough to watch at this point and they don't seem to care.
Call the game the way it should be.....eliminate interference,
holding, etc. and Sid would have better stats. That said, Sid has never been Mario. No one can pick up that mantle. But, like Mario said long ago, the NHL is a garage league set up to benefit the muckers and grinders and handcuff the skill players.
holding, etc. and Sid would have better stats. That said, Sid has never been Mario. No one can pick up that mantle. But, like Mario said long ago, the NHL is a garage league set up to benefit the muckers and grinders and handcuff the skill players.
Mario the owner is still around and responsible. He fired the GM and Coach, which always is a sign that there are players who are bigger than they deserve to be. It may happen again this summer if Babcock gets what he wants. Who knows if that is a solution or not, or what owner is willing to succumb to his demands and insatiable ego? May or may not be Mario.
