The boston result is only as embarrassing if you didnt watch a second of it and looked at the 4-0 series.
- Deadstar

I watched most of the series and the result is embarrassing, no way around it. Honestly, it would be an embarrassing result if it was an 8 seed losing to a 1 seed with the lack of production, never leading in the series, etc.

Yeah...but the inability to score...to EVER lead in a game in the series...that's embarrassing.

This is not a men's senior hockey league team versus a college or AHL team.

This is the #1 seed in the NHL Eastern Conference.
- icedog97

And the Bruins aren't any other team in the Eastern Conference either. Someone find me a statistic about how much time the game was spent tied or a 1 goal game. I dont care how many histrionic pieces of junk Rossi and Kovacevic churn out daily. The team loaded up, but at the end of the day the Penguins and Bruins weren't far apart roster wise. Neither were they far apart in 3 of the games. It happens.

I feel like the perception of the team would be completely different had they not traded for those pieces at the deadline and still ended up with the same regular season point totals. Newsflash, those pieces didnt help us. It might have actually prevented us from getting a better result since they were clearly ineffective, yet Bylsma continued to play them due to their veteran presence.

Get younger.

What is wrong with people. This isn't the NBA where the best teams on paper basically are a lock to make the finals. This is the NHL playoffs. One of the toughest playoffs in sports. Just because you make a ton a deadline moves and have a 'stacked' team doesn't mean you are truly the best team. The Pens got to the conference final and lost to an amazing team in Boston and that's not good enough anymore?? Sad...

Sorry to see you go.

Morrow & Murray are too slow. The Hal gill 2 solution won't work in today's NHL.

Iginla will stay if there's a new coach who let's him play his usual position. No speed demon either, but this is the biggest area where Byslma messed up IMHO.

Yes, we should play younger players more. The solution isn't always going out and buying talent. Let's get some young talent on the ice.

Lots of talented coaches available. I think that will make Shero consider his options. If not, I'd suggest that Bylsma is safe.

What is wrong with people. This isn't the NBA where the best teams on paper basically are a lock to make the finals. This is the NHL playoffs. One of the toughest playoffs in sports. Just because you make a ton a deadline moves and have a 'stacked' team doesn't mean you are truly the best team. The Pens got to the conference final and lost to an amazing team in Boston and that's not good enough anymore?? Sad...
- CamUHandleIT

I think the issue is also the manner in which they've been eliminated in the playoffs (going down 3-0 to the Flyers/Bruins in consecutive playoff seasons). It isn't as though they've been losing Game 7 OT games.

And the Bruins aren't any other team in the Eastern Conference either. Someone find me a statistic about how much time the game was spent tied or a 1 goal game. I dont care how many histrionic pieces of junk Rossi and Kovacevic churn out daily. The team loaded up, but at the end of the day the Penguins and Bruins weren't far apart roster wise. Neither were they far apart in 3 of the games. It happens.

I feel like the perception of the team would be completely different had they not traded for those pieces at the deadline and still ended up with the same regular season point totals. Newsflash, those pieces didnt help us. It might have actually prevented us from getting a better result since they were clearly ineffective, yet Bylsma continued to play them due to their veteran presence.

Get younger.
- Deadstar

I agree, the Pens got older and slower at teh deadline. I still think Jussi was the best pick up of the 4.

I think the issue is also the manner in which they've been eliminated in the playoffs (going down 3-0 to the Flyers/Bruins in consecutive playoff seasons). It isn't as though they've been losing Game 7 OT games.
- MadCap2008

Yes...that's the issue.

The team is better than that...not saying it can't happen...but it sure seems like this team should be able to show more in these situations.

Its pretty simple, Ray Ferraro made Pierre Maguire eat his words. Ray was the only Debbie the Downer on trade day that wasn't all over the transactions whereas you know Pierre.

http://espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs/2013/story/_/id/9366486/why-officiating-changes-playoffs

Pretty good Burnside article, who is hit or miss.

Incidentally I watched a few games with a friend of mine who doesn't watch hockey really. Trying to explain why certain things were and werent a penalty was....impossible.
- Deadstar

Yeah, I totally agree. I can't stand the deteriorating standard of calls as the games/playoffs go on. It's maddening, and I don't know why that it's accepted as the way it always was and the way it will be.

"Let the players decide the game" is such bullshlt... it's more like let the slower, less talented players decide the game. Would you rather see Patrick Kane fly through the neutral zone and be open for a scoring chance coming down the slot, or have some hack like Colin Fraser mug him in the neutral zone so he never gets to the zone on time for the rush?

It also leads to such embarrassing embellishment as well, players trying to make the foul look bad enough to call in a certain situation.

Yeah, I totally agree. I can't stand the deteriorating standard of calls as the games/playoffs go on. It's maddening, and I don't know why that it's accepted as the way it always was and the way it will be.

"Let the players decide the game" is such bullshlt... it's more like let the slower, less talented players decide the game. Would you rather see Patrick Kane fly through the neutral zone and be open for a scoring chance coming down the slot, or have some hack like Colin Fraser mug him in the neutral zone so he never gets to the zone on time for the rush?

It also leads to such embarrassing embellishment as well, players trying to make the foul look bad enough to call in a certain situation.
- rival22

My only knock on the article was the Super Bowl happened to end this year on a "let the players decide the game" pass interference call. Always tough to draw parallels to another sport. But the basic point of the article works.

@highheelshockey: Dumping Letang | - http://t.co/gih4WR5NkI

@highheelshockey: Dumping Letang | - http://t.co/gih4WR5NkI
- HopintheCordoba

Move Letang to forward huh?

Yeah, I totally agree. I can't stand the deteriorating standard of calls as the games/playoffs go on. It's maddening, and I don't know why that it's accepted as the way it always was and the way it will be.

"Let the players decide the game" is such bullshlt... it's more like let the slower, less talented players decide the game. Would you rather see Patrick Kane fly through the neutral zone and be open for a scoring chance coming down the slot, or have some hack like Colin Fraser mug him in the neutral zone so he never gets to the zone on time for the rush?

It also leads to such embarrassing embellishment as well, players trying to make the foul look bad enough to call in a certain situation.
- rival22

agreed. slower, less talented players are always the ones advocating that standard of play. no one considers that when a player takes a penalty and it's called that the players are actually still deciding the game. one player decided to commit a penalty, therefore he's still deciding the game. don't female dog because the official actually called it.

Move Letang to forward huh?
- sammy87

I've got to admit the thought has briefly crossed my mind. It'd never happen. I don't know if he'd be great at it. He pinches all the time on the forecheck and the puck gets behind him. Then again, at least there'd be a defenseman around the area to defend against that...


In a more likely scenario...Shero laughs at him and moves him so he can get into the 1st round of the draft again

@highheelshockey: Dumping Letang | - http://t.co/gih4WR5NkI
- HopintheCordoba

I... um... oh. Well, it was certainly an interesting read.

I... um... oh. Well, it was certainly an interesting read.
- BulliesPhan87

I thought so

@NHLexpertpicks: #Canucks have had ongoing discussions with John Tortorella. He appears to be one of the front runners to replace Alain Vigneault.

Upside - we won't have to hear too much whining about our team

Downside - we won't get to laugh at his antics as much because of the bigger time difference

Yes...that's the issue.

The team is better than that...not saying it can't happen...but it sure seems like this team should be able to show more in these situations.
- icedog97

I understand that but it's not like it was to the Devils. They got swept, OK fine, it sucks but there's no way a coach as good as Bylsma should be fired for having a successful season. It's the playoffs, s*** happens

Move Letang to forward huh?
- sammy87

Man, was that stupid.

And it seem like her big problem with him is that he gets deep in the zone. That is one thing that I don't have a problem with. In the Pens system, 99% of the time a forward is covering the point, and often Letang's skating is so good, he gets back anyway.

Sometimes his pinches are ill advised, but that comes with the territory with any offensive defensemen. The problem is that he will try lazy cross ice passes from in deep, or bank if off a defender's shin pads and it goes the other way. This is no different than the plays he sometimes makes when he stays at the point.

Man, was that stupid.

And it seem like her big problem with him is that he gets deep in the zone. That is one thing that I don't have a problem with. In the Pens system, 99% of the time a forward is covering the point, and often Letang's skating is so good, he gets back anyway.

Sometimes his pinches are ill advised, but that comes with the territory with any offensive defensemen. The problem is that he will try lazy cross ice passes from in deep, or bank if off a defender's shin pads and it goes the other way. This is no different than the plays he sometimes makes when he stays at the point.
- rival22

I think it's more of a joke solution to paying him $7-$8million that is being speculated. I know the writer well enough that she isn't serious about that. The trade possibility is the focus even if it didn't seem that way.

I understand that but it's not like it was to the Devils. They got swept, OK fine, it sucks but there's no way a coach as good as Bylsma should be fired for having a successful season. It's the playoffs, s*** happens
- CamUHandleIT

If he's fired it'll be for stubbornness against Boston. Not re-arranging the PP which went 0-17. Also, not playing people like Despres or Bennett over TK or Engelland. Those are the kind of things that would have a factor in him being tossed out. They didn't get in the crease or in Rask's face. They were too passive at times despite out hitting the Bruins. I don't fully agree one way or the other if he's fired but I know this...it has 0 to do with the regular season. It has to do with a team getting by NYI then throttling OTT at times then falling off the map in every way but in the net against BOS. Saying he properly used Iginla? I just can't understand that. These guys get paid to analyze things and that has to include their own play. He cut Iginla in half out there. The RW was obvious to everyone. The left side on the PP was obvious to everyone. He ignored it.

If they win a game or 2 it'd be easier to agree. They barely showed up for half of it. When the were there nothing could be generated. Not once did I see him trying anything aggressive to break down their slot clogging defense. If he's fired that's a big part of it.

@Proteautype: A Mike Gillis/John Tortorella GM/coach combination in Vancouver would set new land speed records for going from zero-to-sour.

If he's fired it'll be for stubbornness against Boston. Not re-arranging the PP which went 0-17. Also, not playing people like Despres or Bennett over TK or Engelland. Those are the kind of things that would have a factor in him being tossed out. They didn't get in the crease or in Rask's face. They were too passive at times despite out hitting the Bruins. I don't fully agree one way or the other if he's fired but I know this...it has 0 to do with the regular season. It has to do with a team getting by NYI then throttling OTT at times then falling off the map in every way but in the net against BOS. Saying he properly used Iginla? I just can't understand that. These guys get paid to analyze things and that has to include their own play. He cut Iginla in half out there. The RW was obvious to everyone. The left side on the PP was obvious to everyone. He ignored it.

If they win a game or 2 it'd be easier to agree. They barely showed up for half of it. When the were there nothing could be generated. Not once did I see him trying anything aggressive to break down their slot clogging defense. If he's fired that's a big part of it.
- HopintheCordoba

Possible reasons for choking against Bruins:

1) Coaching
2) Bad Luck
3) Not enough talent
4) Talent sufficient or exceptional but as a whole doesn't fit one system well
5) Injury
6) Sickness
7) Bad Matchup against opposition
8) Opposition is just better
9) Bad Officials
10) Other

I can't honestly rank these, but my guess is that Boston, in its systems and with its talent, executed better than the Pens with their talent in their system. More discipline. Some luck I guess with Pens hitting posts.

In summary, don't see the coach as the glaring issue.

In this salary cap era, teams need to focus on their core and get players to surround the core and fit the system. We'll see what happens.

Cheers!

Da Man

Possible reasons for choking against Bruins:

1) Coaching
2) Bad Luck
3) Not enough talent
4) Talent sufficient or exceptional but as a whole doesn't fit one system well
5) Injury
6) Sickness
7) Bad Matchup against opposition
8) Opposition is just better
9) Bad Officials
10) Other

I can't honestly rank these, but my guess is that Boston, in its systems and with its talent, executed better than the Pens with their talent in their system. More discipline. Some luck I guess with Pens hitting posts.

In summary, don't see the coach as the glaring issue.

In this salary cap era, teams need to focus on their core and get players to surround the core and fit the system. We'll see what happens.

Cheers!

Da Man
- Daman

Don't take what I said as a slight against Boston in any way. They played a hell of a series. I just feel that Bylsma glaringly ignored better ways of attacking them. He probably keeps his job but loses part of his staff. Meloche is already leaving as coach and going into scouting. My point is that Shero put together a pretty good team. Bylsma aligned them poorly and didn't correct his system. THAT is a COACHING issue.

@PensInitiative: NEW POST: Thoughts on Fleury by @mikeknerr67 http://t.co/X4VViWc9v0 #pens #letsgopens