Pens vs Sabres
- Thread starter canuckhal
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The Pens are in complete disarray and lacking confidence as a team right now. Even if they somehow sneak by the Sabres and get into the playoffs, its likely they get beat down and swept but the Rangers, Canadians, or whoever they would face. They haven't played well in over a month and actually over the past 2 months.
I want them to make the playoffs but basically the Pens
stink. Aside from the top stars (Malkin, Crosby, Letang) the team has a woeful lack of talent. The acquisitions they brought in have been terrible. Kunitz has disappeared. If he wasn't Crosby's buddy, he would have been sent on his way a long time ago - he's useless.
stink. Aside from the top stars (Malkin, Crosby, Letang) the team has a woeful lack of talent. The acquisitions they brought in have been terrible. Kunitz has disappeared. If he wasn't Crosby's buddy, he would have been sent on his way a long time ago - he's useless.
This is the end of the line
This group started fighting for a playoff spot back in 08 as a young team. Today, they're fighting for a playoff spot only to prolong death. Kinda like how you wear diapers when you're born, snd wear them when you die.
The spiral began with the loss of Jordan Staal, and then Matt Cooke.
This group started fighting for a playoff spot back in 08 as a young team. Today, they're fighting for a playoff spot only to prolong death. Kinda like how you wear diapers when you're born, snd wear them when you die.
The spiral began with the loss of Jordan Staal, and then Matt Cooke.
Since this is the NHL thread for tonight I would like to congratulate Casey Bailey for scoring a goal for the Leafs against the Canadians tonight. He was interviewed between periods and said he would be back at Penn State this week to visit friends!
I was a once a big time Pens fan, but my interest in them has waned.
I guess I could say that about most spectator sports. I would rather spend my time reading a good book than watching just about any sporting event. I was not always that way, so I won't be critical of anyone who still enjoys the games. To each his own.
I guess I could say that about most spectator sports. I would rather spend my time reading a good book than watching just about any sporting event. I was not always that way, so I won't be critical of anyone who still enjoys the games. To each his own.
No team that has lost 3 of top 4 D by mid March is going to contend...
The losses of Maata, Ehrhoff and Letang have basically neutered the puck moving capabilities of this D corps and the forward production are obviously feeling the effects. Throw in the loss of Dupuis and the team is a shell of the one that started the year 22-6-2. It's not for lack of effort. Too many guys playing too many minutes and these guys can't buy a goal on top of all of it.
It would certainly suck to miss the playoffs but the realist says this team can't go more than 5 games vs. the Rangers. Sometimes you have to go backward before you can go forward. Management and the cap mismanagement should take the heat for this collapse, not the players.
The losses of Maata, Ehrhoff and Letang have basically neutered the puck moving capabilities of this D corps and the forward production are obviously feeling the effects. Throw in the loss of Dupuis and the team is a shell of the one that started the year 22-6-2. It's not for lack of effort. Too many guys playing too many minutes and these guys can't buy a goal on top of all of it.
It would certainly suck to miss the playoffs but the realist says this team can't go more than 5 games vs. the Rangers. Sometimes you have to go backward before you can go forward. Management and the cap mismanagement should take the heat for this collapse, not the players.
Re: I was a once a big time Pens fan, but my interest in them has waned.
I'm a heavy spectator and my interest in the Penguins waned after Shero was fired. This might be the only game all season I actually planned to watch and I didn't get tuned in until after the 1st.
They messed up last night, but at least they got the 2 pts tonight.
Are the Boston Booins in the playoffs? Don't tell me they lost out to a bunch of goofy Senators. Who loses to to politicians?
This post was edited on 4/11 10:14 PM by Peetz Pool Boy
Are the Boston Booins in the playoffs? Don't tell me they lost out to a bunch of goofy Senators. Who loses to to politicians?
This post was edited on 4/11 10:14 PM by Peetz Pool Boy
as the best- informed and reasonable Pens fan , do you think they reduce
Payroll in the offseason (ie Malkin et al go elsewhere) or do you think they try to free-agent their way to mediocrity or perhaps success?
Payroll in the offseason (ie Malkin et al go elsewhere) or do you think they try to free-agent their way to mediocrity or perhaps success?
There will be a lot of overreacting but have to step back...
and look at big picture. The team as constructed in October-December was good enough to contend. If Maata, Ehrhoff and Letang are healthy, Pens are likely close to a 2 seed right now. You just can't underestimate how important that collection of talent is to driving the offense and how much playing with 5 D and the fatigue that brought on hurt them in the past 2-3 weeks.
Having said that, the organization has made its share of dumb personnel moves. Shero left Rutherford with bad contracts on Scuderi and Adams for starters. Rutherford has overspent on 3rd and 4th liners, and his trades mid season (while great on paper) have fizzled in production. The only one of those deals I'd want back is Despres for Lovejoy. Peron is a legit top 6. Winnick is a solid 3rd line role player and Cole for Bortuzzo has been an upgrade. Injuries lately to Malkin and Hornqvist/Comeau before that have had these lines shuffled to no end. Several of these guys are not playing in a role intended for them. That's life with injuries.
Even after the Rangers dispatch of the Pens in 5, the WORST thing they could do is think unloading 87 or 71 is somehow going to be a fix for what's ailed them. You don't get rid of talents like that and you'd never be able to get back a reasonable return unless you could somehow get Tampa to give you Stamkos.
The off season should focus on:
1 - Top 6 forwards returning:
Crosby, Malkin, Hornqvist (who has been excellent!), Peron, Kunitz
-Don't touch this group. This is still a legit elite set of top forwards. Not sure if Duper returns or not but Keep this group together, maybe pencil in Kapinen too.
2 - buy out Scuderi. The net impact on cap space would allow them to
give those minutes to a young D (Harrington) ready to step in
3 -
find some way to trade Sutter and Spaling. You may take a hit on return
but both of these guys are replacable for much less than what they're
making. Even if you're getting higher draft picks, they need to recoup
some of what they've given up the past several years on deadline deals.
On the blueline, if you're able to buy out Scuds, you will have Maata back to join Letang, Pouliot and Cole (he's an RFA that i"d definitely keep). Need to bring in Harrington and probably add a D with more muscle if you can. Doumolin is an option and Lovejoy still has a year left, although he's one right now that they may want to drop for draft picks unless they feel a clean slate next year will revive him (he's been nothing short of awful).
There's only so much they can do in terms of adding within the confines of the cap but their biggest returns in a trade are NOT players they should be parting with.
and look at big picture. The team as constructed in October-December was good enough to contend. If Maata, Ehrhoff and Letang are healthy, Pens are likely close to a 2 seed right now. You just can't underestimate how important that collection of talent is to driving the offense and how much playing with 5 D and the fatigue that brought on hurt them in the past 2-3 weeks.
Having said that, the organization has made its share of dumb personnel moves. Shero left Rutherford with bad contracts on Scuderi and Adams for starters. Rutherford has overspent on 3rd and 4th liners, and his trades mid season (while great on paper) have fizzled in production. The only one of those deals I'd want back is Despres for Lovejoy. Peron is a legit top 6. Winnick is a solid 3rd line role player and Cole for Bortuzzo has been an upgrade. Injuries lately to Malkin and Hornqvist/Comeau before that have had these lines shuffled to no end. Several of these guys are not playing in a role intended for them. That's life with injuries.
Even after the Rangers dispatch of the Pens in 5, the WORST thing they could do is think unloading 87 or 71 is somehow going to be a fix for what's ailed them. You don't get rid of talents like that and you'd never be able to get back a reasonable return unless you could somehow get Tampa to give you Stamkos.
The off season should focus on:
1 - Top 6 forwards returning:
Crosby, Malkin, Hornqvist (who has been excellent!), Peron, Kunitz
-Don't touch this group. This is still a legit elite set of top forwards. Not sure if Duper returns or not but Keep this group together, maybe pencil in Kapinen too.
2 - buy out Scuderi. The net impact on cap space would allow them to
give those minutes to a young D (Harrington) ready to step in
3 -
find some way to trade Sutter and Spaling. You may take a hit on return
but both of these guys are replacable for much less than what they're
making. Even if you're getting higher draft picks, they need to recoup
some of what they've given up the past several years on deadline deals.
On the blueline, if you're able to buy out Scuds, you will have Maata back to join Letang, Pouliot and Cole (he's an RFA that i"d definitely keep). Need to bring in Harrington and probably add a D with more muscle if you can. Doumolin is an option and Lovejoy still has a year left, although he's one right now that they may want to drop for draft picks unless they feel a clean slate next year will revive him (he's been nothing short of awful).
There's only so much they can do in terms of adding within the confines of the cap but their biggest returns in a trade are NOT players they should be parting with.
Re: I was a once a big time Pens fan, but my interest in them has waned.
Both of you are NOT fans....you're observers.
Both of you are NOT fans....you're observers.
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