I would much rather have Sutter at $2mil vs Staal at $6. Sutter has more pts this point in the season and has played with replaceable players. Seeing Staal in CAR now shows just how average he really was.
- sammy87

6 mil is outrageous for Staal, but the whole; same points thing you mentioned is the exact reason I hate stats, they don't tell the whole story. Staal was hard to play against Sutter is not. Have we even had a short handed goal since Staal left (sarcastic)? If we have, it certainly was no where near the kinds of opportunities we had with Staal. Also we had the best PK in the league with Staal in the line up, Sutter actually does an ok job on the PK. Its 5-5 that is the problem, they are a momentum killing line; which is the exact opposite of what a 3rd line should be.

Sutter is not here to be Staal's replacement, he is here to be a 3rd line center; and he has yet to do that well.

6 mil is outrageous for Staal, but the whole; same points thing you mentioned is the exact reason I hate stats, they don't tell the whole story. Staal was hard to play against Sutter is not. Have we even had a short handed goal since Staal left (sarcastic)? If we have, it certainly was no where near the kinds of opportunities we had with Staal. Also we had the best PK in the league with Staal in the line up, Sutter actually does an ok job on the PK. Its 5-5 that is the problem, they are a momentum killing line; which is the exact opposite of what a 3rd line should be.

Sutter is not here to be Staal's replacement, he is here to be a 3rd line center; and he has yet to do that well.
- nbartley9

He's playing way better defensively than Malkin and played with 2 4th line wingers for half the season. Also when we had staal, look at the other PKers we had. Sutter out on the PK with glass doesn't help much. Please tell me who you would rather have at the 3rd line center role at less than 2.5 mil per season. He's also on pace for 30-40 points this season. Not bad for a 3rd line guy with a defensive role

To be quite honest its getting to be pretty disturbing that all of you Kool-Aid drinking Pens fans see everything as "slumps" and "its ok it will come around". Its not and it wont, will we miss the playoffs? No. But I honestly would rather not even make the playoffs for a few years than to wallow in mediocrity, in order to fix the problems on this team and this organization. The problem with a lot of you guys are that you don't watch anything but Pens games, do you realize how much better other teams are? There is something wrong, its not a slump.

To be quite honest its getting to be pretty disturbing that all of you Kool-Aid drinking Pens fans see everything as "slumps" and "its ok it will come around". Its not and it wont, will we miss the playoffs? No. But I honestly would rather not even make the playoffs for a few years than to wallow in mediocrity, in order to fix the problems on this team and this organization. The problem with a lot of you guys are that you don't watch anything but Pens games, do you realize how much better other teams are? There is something wrong, its not a slump.
- nbartley9

The problem with you is that you don't watch the pens games. You act like the team needs a rebuild when it's only a few tweaks that need to be done. With the lowered cap, it really hurt the pens in keeping guys and signing important FAs. What changes do you want to see?

Pens kind of took your advice gunner and are shaking some things up.

Kunitz-Crosby-Bennett
Dupuis-Malkin-Neal
Jokinen-Sutter-Gibbons
Glass-Vitale-Adams

I think megna does deserve to be where gibbons is, but I guess we can't really say until we each him play. Dupuis should add some better forechecking to that 2nd line and jokinen will give sutter better offense. Interested to see how dupuis works with Malkin and Neal though

Anyone know where one could find the time of possession data that are used in the blogs previously? Also, familar with a site that breaks down the % where shots are taken on the ice?

6 mil is outrageous for Staal, but the whole; same points thing you mentioned is the exact reason I hate stats, they don't tell the whole story. Staal was hard to play against Sutter is not. Have we even had a short handed goal since Staal left (sarcastic)? If we have, it certainly was no where near the kinds of opportunities we had with Staal. Also we had the best PK in the league with Staal in the line up, Sutter actually does an ok job on the PK. Its 5-5 that is the problem, they are a momentum killing line; which is the exact opposite of what a 3rd line should be.

Sutter is not here to be Staal's replacement, he is here to be a 3rd line center; and he has yet to do that well.
- nbartley9

Personally I would take Jokes over both of them when you factor in the price. That being said I have never watched Sutter and thought we miss Staal.

Personally I would take Jokes over both of them when you factor in the price. That being said I have never watched Sutter and thought we miss Staal.
- sammy87

I agree, I wouldn't mind seeing Jussi play there either. Sutter would be a very serviceable 4th line center.

The insurmountable loss of Matt Cooke has been discussed, and obviously it's a major factor in the Pens horrendous downturn. The real root of the Penguins fall from grace, however, is obviously the absence of Tyler Kennedy. He was the keystone that held it together, the dynamo that powered the engine, the fruit bat who made them elite.

Honestly, I'll be surprised if the Pens ever make the playoffs again.

The insurmountable loss of Matt Cooke has been discussed, and obviously it's a major factor in the Pens horrendous downturn. The real root of the Penguins fall from grace, however, is obviously the absence of Tyler Kennedy. He was the keystone that held it together, the dynamo that powered the engine, the fruit bat who made them elite.

Honestly, I'll be surprised if the Pens ever make the playoffs again.
- BulliesPhan87

Finally someone talking sense.

12/19/13

Anyone else get kind of frustrated seeing Malkin lose draws while Jokinen is set up on his wing?

I agree, I wouldn't mind seeing Jussi play there either. Sutter would be a very serviceable 4th line center.
- nbartley9

I still think between, Crosby, Malkin, Sutter, Vitale, Jokes, Pens have the best centers in the league, arguably.

Cooke? Come on! His last 2 years he added nothing more than anyone else. He didn't fight, couldn't hit, he was a very solid 3rd line player. Nothing more.

Anyone know where one could find the time of possession data that are used in the blogs previously? Also, familar with a site that breaks down the % where shots are taken on the ice?
- kgrpitt

There is a new site this year extraskater.com which I use for the Fenclose% and EVSV%. The extra skater site is also where I get the possession charts from. Its a very nice site.

stats.hockeyanalysis.com is what I use when comparing the players against one another (IE yesterday's blog).

behindthenet.ca also provides data.

I still think between, Crosby, Malkin, Sutter, Vitale, Jokes, Pens have the best centers in the league, arguably.

Cooke? Come on! His last 2 years he added nothing more than anyone else. He didn't fight, couldn't hit, he was a very solid 3rd line player. Nothing more.
- sammy87

I said good day sir!!!!!

Pens kind of took your advice gunner and are shaking some things up.

Kunitz-Crosby-Bennett
Dupuis-Malkin-Neal
Jokinen-Sutter-Gibbons
Glass-Vitale-Adams

I think megna does deserve to be where gibbons is, but I guess we can't really say until we each him play. Dupuis should add some better forechecking to that 2nd line and jokinen will give sutter better offense. Interested to see how dupuis works with Malkin and Neal though
- drummer829

Surprised this blog hasn't exploded with the news of the 5"7 Gibbons getting called up. I'll give him a chance but I think he is more of the same. Has 15 assists and 22 pts in 15 games so I'll at least watch the guy play before I say anything else.

6 mil is outrageous for Staal, but the whole; same points thing you mentioned is the exact reason I hate stats, they don't tell the whole story. Staal was hard to play against Sutter is not. Have we even had a short handed goal since Staal left (sarcastic)? If we have, it certainly was no where near the kinds of opportunities we had with Staal. Also we had the best PK in the league with Staal in the line up, Sutter actually does an ok job on the PK. Its 5-5 that is the problem, they are a momentum killing line; which is the exact opposite of what a 3rd line should be.

Sutter is not here to be Staal's replacement, he is here to be a 3rd line center; and he has yet to do that well.
- nbartley9

sutter is doing fine in his third line role... he isn't staal... he wasnt the 2nd overall pick and will not now or ever be the quality third line center staal was. but sutter isnt the problem on the third line.

I still think between, Crosby, Malkin, Sutter, Vitale, Jokes, Pens have the best centers in the league, arguably.

Cooke? Come on! His last 2 years he added nothing more than anyone else. He didn't fight, couldn't hit, he was a very solid 3rd line player. Nothing more.
- sammy87

How dare you besmirch the most prolific career third line grinder in the league. Without Matt Cooke a team might have to employ someone else...

sutter is doing fine in his third line role... he isn't staal... he wasnt the 2nd overall pick and will not now or ever be the quality third line center staal was. but sutter isnt the problem on the third line.
- ChrisMS

And Staal mite be the problem with Carolina's 2nd line

Surprised this blog hasn't exploded with the news of the 5"7 Gibbons getting called up. I'll give him a chance but I think he is more of the same. Has 15 assists and 22 pts in 15 games so I'll at least watch the guy play before I say anything else.
- dbell646

I would have rather seen Megna. Gibbons reminds me of guys like Omark or Connor. Effective in the AHL, but will never be anything to an NHL team.

How dare you besmirch the most prolific career third line grinder in the league. Without Matt Cooke a team might have to employ someone else...
- Ben37

I think Bartley is completely insane but I'd like that 3rd line a lot more with Cooke on it. Not at his current price tag so I guess you get what you pay for right?

What has Kostopoulos looked like in Wilkes Barre this year? Actual NHL experience a bigger body then Gibbons and if I recall correctly wasn't he a little fiesty?

I think Bartley is completely insane but I'd like that 3rd line a lot more with Cooke on it. Not at his current price tag so I guess you get what you pay for right?
- dbell646

That's it right there... we all would like to have Matt Cooke back, but at who's expense?

I think Bartley is completely insane but I'd like that 3rd line a lot more with Cooke on it. Not at his current price tag so I guess you get what you pay for right?
- dbell646

I tend to agree. He is a very effective third liner, but paying him $2.5M is a little batty. Especially when Ryan Jones in Edmonton is basically the same thing, except he doesn't have the history of stupidity.

Nice to see someone put some research and statistics into what I've been saying about Letang all along.

Great potential, but horrible execution on the ice.

Maybe a haircut would help him to see those guys around the net that need covered? Just a thought.

I would have rather seen Megna. Gibbons reminds me of guys like Omark or Connor. Effective in the AHL, but will never be anything to an NHL team.
- Ben37

I agree with you to an extent, but the kid is all heart and has been since he got here in WBS. He deserves his chance to prove whether or not he belongs and I would rather find that out now as Shero is sorting the team out rather than at a critical juncture where he has to fill in for an injured player.