Ryan Wilson: Penguins Need To Shake Up The Lines, Letang Needs To Pick It Up Penguins are in the midst of a slump, mild changes could provide spark to get out of it.

I will take those lines anyday!!

Something needs to change. Im not saying trading players or firing coaches. .. yet

Other teams are easily finding ways to stop the penguins forecheck and breakout...

also the pp still needs work... i cant believe pens are ranked 6th with like a 22%

a viable back-up goaltender wouldn't hurt the cause either.

Was at game last night and not sure if I agree with Bennett on first line just yet. During third period he got pretty good with his head down and it appeared to shake him a bit. Had this been the old Devils (Stevens,Niedemayer, White, etc..), he would have left on a stretcher. I'm not questioning his skills, I question his size and physical ability to take that beating in front of the net against a top defensive pairing.
As for Letang, I would talk to Buffalo about a trade for Miller. That would solve two problems, get rid of a liability and sure-up another(Fleury). Maybe Shero works his trade magic in that deal and gets a sleeper secondary scorer( like Cody Hodgson.). This should be enough of a message to players. If this doesn't work, Bylsma has to go because it means he can't get these guys going anymore.

Was at game last night and not sure if I agree with Bennett on first line just yet. During third period he got pretty good with his head down and it appeared to shake him a bit. Had this been the old Devils (Stevens,Niedemayer, White, etc..), he would have left on a stretcher. I'm not questioning his skills, I question his size and physical ability to take that beating in front of the net against a top defensive pairing.
As for Letang, I would talk to Buffalo about a trade for Miller. That would solve two problems, get rid of a liability and sure-up another(Fleury). Maybe Shero works his trade magic in that deal and gets a sleeper secondary scorer( like Cody Hodgson.). This should be enough of a message to players. If this doesn't work, Bylsma has to go because it means he can't get these guys going anymore.
- DaveG73

Hodgson is the worst defensive center in hockey.

http://www.wgr550.com/pag...7039#.Unov1JjOJwg.twitter

Shero isn't trading Letang away when the centerpiece coming back is a UFA.

Was at game last night and not sure if I agree with Bennett on first line just yet. During third period he got pretty good with his head down and it appeared to shake him a bit. Had this been the old Devils (Stevens,Niedemayer, White, etc..), he would have left on a stretcher. I'm not questioning his skills, I question his size and physical ability to take that beating in front of the net against a top defensive pairing.
As for Letang, I would talk to Buffalo about a trade for Miller. That would solve two problems, get rid of a liability and sure-up another(Fleury). Maybe Shero works his trade magic in that deal and gets a sleeper secondary scorer( like Cody Hodgson.). This should be enough of a message to players. If this doesn't work, Bylsma has to go because it means he can't get these guys going anymore.
- DaveG73

Your idea with Buffalo has so much fail to it. If you trade Letang, one young NHL ready player, a top prospect and a high pick. Why trade him for a pending free agent and another center who sucks defensively?

I like the idea of shuffling lines but I see a little different.

kunitz, crosby, dupuis
malkin, jokinen, neal
bennett, sutter, d'agostini
glass, adams, vitale

jokinen was wicked at center last year with good linemates... and maybe having malkin on the wing helps him start shooting the puck more. I would give a guy with a history off scoring goals, matt d, a couple more games to shake off the rust.

The Pens offensive issues don't worry me too much right now. When you have the talent they have upfront, the goals are going to come. The biggest concern for me is that they basically have two 4th lines playing each game. D'Agostini shouldn't be on the team, and Kobasew isn't much better. They need to work some size/nastiness into the 3rd line. Come playoff time, they really need a line that can grind it out in the offensive end and get under the other team's skin. The guys they have now don't fit that mold.

I've wanted those lines for a while now I always said Malkin benefits much more than Crosby by having Kinitz. Crosby can make anyone good.

Stars claimed Jeffrey on waivers

Stars claimed Jeffrey on waivers
- Deadstar

wtf!! when was he put on waivers and why didnt they try to get a 6th or 7th for him....

watch him break out in Dallas...

wtf!! when was he put on waivers and why didnt they try to get a 6th or 7th for him....

watch him break out in Dallas...
- nh4442

Because no one would give up a 6th or 7th for him.

Because no one would give up a 6th or 7th for him.
- Ben37

well does that mean megna or someone will get called up? noone is ready to come back from IR correct?

well does that mean megna or someone will get called up? noone is ready to come back from IR correct?
- nh4442

Hopefully it means they are bringing Despres up. Hes been tearing up the scoresheet in WBS

Hopefully it means they are bringing Despres up. Hes been tearing up the scoresheet in WBS
- Deadstar

DB hates despres and wont play him even if he is up... it will be

3-58
44-7
2-41/5

even when scudes comes back, engels will be moved to forward and burtuzzo will sit out...

despres is stuck in wb/s until DB is gone, or until next yr when martin and orpik contracts are done and they dont re-up

I am with Gunner and think Megna should be up to help out the 3rd line... bennett needs to be up with sid and jussi down with sutter

The last time this team felt like it was a mess like this in the regular season was 09... Right before MT got canned.

Second thought, anyone else feel like letang has regressed in parts Of his game every year since HCDB? I know last year was norris potential but,... Shortened season. How much longer do you talk about kris' potential Before it shows up consistently?

The last time this team felt like it was a mess like this in the regular season was 09... Right before MT got canned.

Second thought, anyone else feel like letang has regressed in parts Of his game every year since HCDB? I know last year was norris potential but,... Shortened season. How much longer do you talk about kris' potential Before it shows up consistently?
- saintjust21

the same amount that we talk about fleury being consistent and not sketchy.... and the same amount of time we talk about fleury not being ready for playoffs...

The last time this team felt like it was a mess like this in the regular season was 09... Right before MT got canned.

Second thought, anyone else feel like letang has regressed in parts Of his game every year since HCDB? I know last year was norris potential but,... Shortened season. How much longer do you talk about kris' potential Before it shows up consistently?
- saintjust21

It it Bylsma or is it the fact that he is no longer on the bottom pairing seeing easier matchups? Because when they won it all he was the 6th d man.

After Gonchar left he has had to inherit those kind of minutes.

The last time this team felt like it was a mess like this in the regular season was 09... Right before MT got canned.

Second thought, anyone else feel like letang has regressed in parts Of his game every year since HCDB? I know last year was norris potential but,... Shortened season. How much longer do you talk about kris' potential Before it shows up consistently?
- saintjust21

That team was in danger of missing the playoffs. Long way to go before thats a possibility

[quote=ChrisMS]I like the idea of shuffling lines but I see a little different.

kunitz, crosby, dupuis
malkin, jokinen, neal
bennett, sutter, d'agostini
glass, adams, vitale

I agree with these lines the most. I think joki is an awesome player and him and malkin seem to have a good chemistry goin on. the first line was the best in hockey last year, I don't think we need to change that up just yet. I would sit d'ago and put in megna.

just remember, we cant win them all. I don't think there needs to be any drastic changes yet. we have been getting tons of chances. the hockey gods are not with us right meow. our time will come. if we still look this bad for a solid month, then look out.

While its way to early to start to panic, it has been frustrating watchin malkin struggle and watching our depth lines not chip in. martin has been less noticable this year... and to address moving bennett up... shaking things up is a good idea but he certainly hasn't done more than anyone on the top 6 to say he's earned his spot on the top 6 either. In fact the 3rd line has seemed almost invisible to me. glass has been hitting everything in sight. letang is scoring again and fun to watch but he needs to remember whos on the IR. We have some time yet but if we dont play some above 500 hockey soon....

wtf!! when was he put on waivers and why didnt they try to get a 6th or 7th for him....

watch him break out in Dallas...
- nh4442

Healthy scratches normally don't command much in return. Jeffrey wasn't worth a pick. He can't play for the Pens with our third and fourth lines ... that should tell you how much value he really has - zero.

Healthy scratches normally don't command much in return. Jeffrey wasn't worth a pick. He can't play for the Pens with our third and fourth lines ... that should tell you how much value he really has - zero.
- Oneonta Penguin

I'm just glad I never have to watch him sloth his way around the ice anymore. Addition by subtraction. I feel bad for the guy because he's not been the same guy since his knee injury.

On another note. It's only one game, but Vitale is the better option over Sill.

Glad Jeffrey finally got out.... Maybe he'll get a better opportunity there, and maybe he'll actually capitalize of his opportunities there.