I feel like I don't give enough credit to Crosby and Scuderi but I'd just be writing the same thing every day.
- Ryan_Wilson

Scuderi is playing even better than we could have hoped. Hopefully he is Bill Guerin 2.0 on D. It is going to be scary good with him and Letang on the top pairing.

What do you think about a Malkin, Crosby, Kunitz, Letang, Maatta on the top PP unit? I would like to see what Maatta can do with the top guys while Neal is out.

Scuderi is playing even better than we could have hoped. Hopefully he is Bill Guerin 2.0 on D. It is going to be scary good with him and Letang on the top pairing.

What do you think about a Malkin, Crosby, Kunitz, Letang, Maatta on the top PP unit? I would like to see what Maatta can do with the top guys while Neal is out.
- mw630

Until Letang comes back it'll probably still be Martin in his place and I'd assume that he would be out there even after Letang comes back, whether it's the 1st or 2nd group...but I'm all for giving Maatta a shot. His skating ability is top notch and he passes well. I think his shot should get some more opportunity as well. He was a part of the PP in London. Should be interesting.

With the exception of the Pens, this new Metropolitan Division is very "Southeast"-like so far. Pittsburgh might win this thing by 20+ points.

With the exception of the Pens, this new Metropolitan Division is very "Southeast"-like so far. Pittsburgh might win this thing by 20+ points.
- MadCap2008

The biggest surprise in this one is NYR struggles. I guess the much hated Torts wasn't so bad of a coach after all.


All, if Maatta gets hurt can he still be sent down or does he stay with the club and then we are forced to keep him in the big league? He just left practice with the trainer is why I ask.

The biggest surprise in this one is NYR struggles. I guess the much hated Torts wasn't so bad of a coach after all.
- kgrpitt

Yeah, I thought the Rangers would be solid. Honestly expected better of my Caps - still early, I suppose, but things aren't trending well so far.

Yeah, I thought the Rangers would be solid. Honestly expected better of my Caps - still early, I suppose, but things aren't trending well so far.
- MadCap2008

They'll be fine apparently they are getting Yakupov to play with good buddy Ovechkin.

The biggest surprise in this one is NYR struggles. I guess the much hated Torts wasn't so bad of a coach after all.


All, if Maatta gets hurt can he still be sent down or does he stay with the club and then we are forced to keep him in the big league? He just left practice with the trainer is why I ask.
- kgrpitt

Maatta returned 10 minutes later.

Maatta returned 10 minutes later.
- Ryan_Wilson

I saw that but the question still remains. If he gets hurt what happens? Can he be sent down or do we keep him? If we do keep him does it count against his 9 games?

They'll be fine apparently they are getting Yakupov to play with good buddy Ovechkin.
- Genev21

Yeah, saw Ek's latest Did Yakupov play last night ? He was benched for the game in DC.

I said this to Dejan last night on twitter and he basically attacked me. He always does that. Smug little (frank)er over twitter. He hasn't been shy about his love for Maatta. I pointed out he was a minus 2 and playing the puck instead of a stick on the goals. He didn't agree
- dbell646

Is Dejan generally well-liked in Pittsburgh ? I followed him a little and read some of his stuff during the Pirates playoff run - it sometimes felt like I was reading a fan blog instead of a guy who you'd hope would have some degree of objectivity.

I saw that but the question still remains. If he gets hurt what happens? Can he be sent down or do we keep him? If we do keep him does it count against his 9 games?
- kgrpitt

I imagine they would have to wait to send him down but the 9 games is 9 games played, not just 9 Penguin games.

I know they are showing Engelland to try to trade him. But seriously, he is awful. Trade him for a 6th or 7th and be done with it. Bortuzzo has played too well to be sitting out games. Maatta and Engelland have no chemistry at all.
- mw630

10 4. So true.

I imagine they would have to wait to send him down but the 9 games is 9 games played, not just 9 Penguin games.
- Ryan_Wilson

Correct... He's still be on the roster (or IR), but couldn't be reassigned until he's healthy. But like you said, it's 9 games played anyway.

Is Dejan generally well-liked in Pittsburgh ? I followed him a little and read some of his stuff during the Pirates playoff run - it sometimes felt like I was reading a fan blog instead of a guy who you'd hope would have some degree of objectivity.
- MadCap2008

Not sure about his overall image in Pittsburgh, but he's a columnist, so his stuff is more opinion than objectivity.

He can be a little much at times, but way back before it was popular, he was one of the few Pittsburgh newspaper guys who truly loved and cared about hockey, so I've always like him for that.

Is Dejan generally well-liked in Pittsburgh ? I followed him a little and read some of his stuff during the Pirates playoff run - it sometimes felt like I was reading a fan blog instead of a guy who you'd hope would have some degree of objectivity.
- MadCap2008

Yeah I would say so. I've met him a couple times and usually read his stuff. You have to keep in mind that while he is generally fair he is also a Pittsburgher that grew up loving black and gold. I think that comes out every once in awhile but people relate to that. He isn't a national columnist so that's fine by me.

As for those that thought fluery could have played better , it's hard to make a save with Malkin sitting on top of you !! As far as I'm concerned Sutter has played poorly so far in the season , he needs to step it up or ship out !

Haven't posted in a while, but a few thoughts on the Pens season so far.

First, given the number of injuries (Letang, Neal, Bennett, Volkoun) I'm surprised the Pens are as good as they are at 5-1-0. Malkin's line hasn't been on fire, but with Neal out that is to be somewhat expected. Luckily, Sid's line is picking the slack and how. If Neal-Malkin-Jokinen can pick up where they left off in the preseason when Neal gets back the O is going to be scary good.

Second, i've been pleasantly surprised by the 3rd and 4th lines. Kobasew-Sutter-Bennett has looked good and Glass-Vitale-Adams has looked even better. I'm loving Sutter more and more every day. Can't believe we got Sutter, Pouliet, & Dumoulin from Car for 1-yr of Staal.

Third, I love Maatta, but the kid has got to go back to Juniors at the 9-gm mark for two reasons. First, he looks good now, but after an 82-game season he physically isn't going to be in any shape for the Playoffs. The greatest number of games he has played in a season is 58-gms in the OHL; 82-gms in the NHL plus playoffs is just too much to ask of a 19yr old. Second, when Letang comes back someone has got to be moved & Maatta does so without the Pens losing an asset. You don't touch the Top-4, Niskanen and Bortuzzo are both younger potential pieces that can be retained for next year, & Engelland is a solid #7 Dman who can fight. Maatta is just the odd man out.

Fourth, anyone have any info on how Despres is playing in WBS? His stats are 3gms, 0G 1A, & a +/2 of +6.

10 4. So true.
- powerhouse

Not a fan of fighting in the NHL, but given that the days of carrying a heavy-weight like Laraque or Godard seem to be over Engelland is a solid #7 Dman that can also throw down with the best of them. He won't play come playoff time, but if a game is expected to get chippy or out of control then I like having Engellad on the ice to drop the gloves here and there while also playing 10 sheltered min.

I imagine they would have to wait to send him down but the 9 games is 9 games played, not just 9 Penguin games.
- Ryan_Wilson

Thanks. That is what I figured but wasn't sure if there was different rules from the AHL rules or not.

Not a fan of fighting in the NHL, but given that the days of carrying a heavy-weight like Laraque or Godard seem to be over Engelland is a solid #7 Dman that can also throw down with the best of them. He won't play come playoff time, but if a game is expected to get chippy or out of control then I like having Engellad on the ice to drop the gloves here and there while also playing 10 sheltered min.
- s0rcerer1984

I just like him because he's the perfect #7 guy... He's cheap, fill a role if needed (fighting), and is enough of a pro that he will keep working and be ready to play.

You don't want a guy like Dumoulin or Despres wasting away in the pressbox 50 nights.

As for those that thought fluery could have played better , it's hard to make a save with Malkin sitting on top of you !! As far as I'm concerned Sutter has played poorly so far in the season , he needs to step it up or ship out !
- Bradlee3

Sutter has been pretty good so far. 3 points in 6 games, has only been on the ice for 2 even strength goals (pretty good considering he is normally playing against a teams top line) and is winning 58% of his faceoffs.

Yeah, saw Ek's latest Did Yakupov play last night ? He was benched for the game in DC.
- MadCap2008

He actually played pissed off last night and had some good moments. I think Edmonton does need to deal him though to get some other assets of NEED. That said ... why is it Philly is always a place of heavy interest for every player potentially on the move? This is a bad matchup here. Edmonton would want Coburn for starters and Philly can't afford to part with their best Dman.

Pretty cool gesture by Cooke.

http://espn.go.com/blog/n...eta-i-can-help-you-change

Pretty cool gesture by Cooke.

http://espn.go.com/blog/n...eta-i-can-help-you-change
- canadianpenfan

Very good guy indeed.

Pretty cool gesture by Cooke.

http://espn.go.com/blog/n...eta-i-can-help-you-change
- canadianpenfan

12/19/13