The best news early in the season for me is that by my count Fleury has allowed 0 "soft goals".
- canadianpenfan

apparently the purple pills prescribed by his sports psych are are helping him be ready when the time is right.

Or we could have let them all play under their entry contracts sign crosby malkin fleury letang and trade toews.
- Genev21

Yup, thats what I meant by trading someone just like we had to do with Staal.

Either way Staal was a helluva player for us during his time here.

It worked out just fine for both the Blackhawks and Penguins
- Ryan_Wilson

Obviously but I don't think anyone is delusional enough to think staal is a better player so maybe with toews instead they win another cup before having to trade him.

apparently the purple pills prescribed by his sports psych are are helping him be ready when the time is right.
- akane13

Not to be a Debbie downer but its still the regular season. He usually pretty good during it. Obviously, it is great to see him doing good and I hope he continues but I still hold my breath during points of the game waiting for that soft goal.

Yup, thats what I meant by trading someone just like we had to do with Staal.

Either way Staal was a helluva player for us during his time here.
- kgrpitt

After seeing what we got for staal just think what toews would command.

My gut feeling is this is going to be a beating. The bad news is that's how I felt before Florida.
- canadianpenfan

Really a beating ur joking right just because dub sucks haha

Not to be a Debbie downer but its still the regular season. He usually pretty good during it. Obviously, it is great to see him doing good and I hope he continues but I still hold my breath during points of the game waiting for that soft goal.
- kgrpitt

no doubt. lets see if he wilts somewhere around game 84 again.

if the voices in his head are, indeed, quiet, so too is his game. so far he has looked quietly efficient. for the most part they've been good in front of him too.

Really a beating ur joking right just because dub sucks haha
- hallwillcrushu

Not to be a Debbie downer but its still the regular season. He usually pretty good during it. Obviously, it is great to see him doing good and I hope he continues but I still hold my breath during points of the game waiting for that soft goal.
- kgrpitt

Can we at least wait and worry about that in say...March?

Can we at least wait and worry about that in say...March?
- canadianpenfan

No?

I hate to hear about the torn muscle for Neal , hopefully they can turn it on tonite despite the injuries. Go Guins !
- Bradlee3

That does really suck. Well at least it happened at the beginning of the year and not the end of it. I don't know how long those type of injuries take to heal but obviously don't have him come back until he is entirely 100% healthy.

No?
- kgrpitt

Whatever floats your boat.

no doubt. lets see if he wilts somewhere around game 84 again.

if the voices in his head are, indeed, quiet, so too is his game. so far he has looked quietly efficient. for the most part they've been good in front of him too.
- akane13

Yeah, its seems like he is more calm and collected back there. He isn't flopping all over which obviously allows him to stay in position more often then not. Also, he looks to be having fun and joking/smiling alot so it lends to think he doesn't feel overwhelmed by the pressure.

Whatever floats your boat.
- canadianpenfan

Well, that thought about waiting till playoffs to fix known problems doesn't seem to equate to success so no sense in denial.

There is no way we could have fit Crosby, Malkin and Toews under the cap and still have been able to ice a competitive team.
- canadianpenfan

You gotta wonder how their careers change though... Staal played the season following the draft, and Toews went back to school for another year.

If Toews is groomed more as the third line center (behind Crosby & Malkin), does his career take off as fast as it did in Chicago? Maybe he develops a little slower offensively. His numbers at North Dakota weren't exactly mind boggling or the best on his team.

Both are very similar players defensively, and if Staal was basically thrusted in a top line center role, would he be along a little further offensively?

Can we at least wait and worry about that in say...March?
- canadianpenfan

It will be interesting to see how the long term backup situation works out. They weren't good as a team against Florida the other night but Z-backup looked a little shell-shocked.

You gotta wonder how their careers change though... Staal played the season following the draft, and Toews went back to school for another year.

If Toews is groomed more as the third line center (behind Crosby & Malkin), does his career take off as fast as it did in Chicago? Maybe he develops a little slower offensively. His numbers at North Dakota weren't exactly mind boggling or the best on his team.

Both are very similar players defensively, and if Staal was basically thrusted in a top line center role, would he be along a little further offensively?
- rival22

Since you bring it up, anyone have any second thoughts as to letting Staal play that 1st year instead of going back? There's a case to be made, although I doubt anyone here will go along with it.

It will be interesting to see how the long term backup situation works out. They weren't good as a team against Florida the other night but Z-backup looked a little shell-shocked.
- akane13

No he's not the answer yet. I think if Fleury plays well up to the deadline they will roll with him. If he shows signs of weakness they will deal for a suitable 1b.

I don't think management is as concerned about it as the fans.

I'm interested to see a Jokinen - Malkin - Kobasew line together for a few games.

Jokinen has the hockey smarts, and skill to play with Malkin, and the European outlook on the game should help. While Kobasew isn't the most skilled guy in the world, he can play that straight line, high speed forechecking/going to the net role.

- canadianpenfan

It should be a massacre. Not that I'm watching them, but all signs point to Edmonton being a mess.

And I know what it looks like when a team is a mess.

Since you bring it up, anyone have any second thoughts as to letting Staal play that 1st year instead of going back? There's a case to be made, although I doubt anyone here will go along with it.
- Deadstar

Its tough to say. Its still his best goal scoring season of his career and those 7 shorthanded goals to boot.

When the Pens had their picks there was a goalie worth taking 1st overall named Fleury. That hasn't been the case with the Oilers.

Also, the Jordan Staal VS Yakupov comparison isn't a very good one because the Oil were picking 1st and the Pens were picking 3rd.

Last, the Pens still sucked for awhile after drafting Crosby, Malkin, Fleury and Staal. The results in the early years with the kids were the same.
- Coburns_Nose

Staal was a second overall and they passed on Toews and Kessel. Also, the pens went to the playoffs in 2006 and the Stanley cup finals in '07. '06 was Malkin and Staal's rookie seasons. It was also only Crosby's second year. Therefore, Crosby only played for a non playoff team once. Malkin and Staal as Penguins, never.

I'm interested to see a Jokinen - Malkin - Kobasew line together for a few games.

Jokinen has the hockey smarts, and skill to play with Malkin, and the European outlook on the game should help. While Kobasew isn't the most skilled guy in the world, he can play that straight line, high speed forechecking/going to the net role.
- rival22

Kobasew has better hands than I originally gave him credit for though.

No he's not the answer yet. I think if Fleury plays well up to the deadline they will roll with him. If he shows signs of weakness they will deal for a suitable 1b.

I don't think management is as concerned about it as the fans.
- canadianpenfan

If that is the case I hope management is right. Not sure what they are using to convince them there is no concern.

Im pretty surprised Biron cleared waivers today.

hahahaha, Jeff Deslauriers tweeted this picture of Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond at what must be a WBS Pens golf outing: