But where do you put him? Do you want to give up Pouliot+ for a guy who's gonna play on the 3rd line? Is that worth it?
- jmatchett383

You are talking to someone who didn't see the value of trading what it would take to get him. With the way our cap situation is and the way our defense could see a mass exodus in the next two years (Orpik, Niskanen, Engelland, and maybe Despres this year and Martin next year), we are going to need to keep our top D prospects (Pouliot, Harrington, Dumoulin) to fill in for those holes. This is what happens when you have a situation where 37% of the cap space is filled on three players.


Have no idea where he would be put ... with Sid, or third line with no wingers whatsoever.

100% bs, they played the way they played because of the fear of golfing 2 days later, to say it was St.Louis mothers death is totally insane. To even suggest that it made St.Louis himself play any different is also insane.

Over/under on how many times they mention it tonight +/- 5000, any takers? I will take over.
- nbartley9

Which is mentioned more ... Rags inspired play due to MSL's mother passing, or Doc saying the word Careened?

Which is mentioned more ... Rags inspired play due to MSL's mother passing, or Doc saying the word Careened?
- Oneonta Penguin

HAHA now that's funny, and also impossible to predict.

The core of this team needs a big shake up regardless of tonight's outcome. A part of me actually wants a loss to have a greater chance of change that will improve our future.

Neal, Letang, and Fleury are the core pieces that need to be moved
Kunitz should be moved if the right deal is there.
The bottom 6 needs a complete redo (Bennett, Glass, Adams, Pyatt, etc need to go)
Would keep Sutter as 3c since his elevated play late this year
Let Orpik walk, re-sign Niskanen
Fire Bylsma and Shero
- Pens871

That doesn't seem like an over reaction at all...

That doesn't seem like an over reaction at all...
- rival22

I was surprised to see Bennett listed in there. Why are we firing and trading everyone before the season is over?

100% bs, they played the way they played because of the fear of golfing 2 days later, to say it was St.Louis mothers death is totally insane. To even suggest that it made St.Louis himself play any different is also insane.

Over/under on how many times they mention it tonight +/- 5000, any takers? I will take over.
- nbartley9

So you are saying that playing with the memory of your 2-day dead mother is not a cause of inspiration? Really?
Over the course of my (negligible) career, I remember one game in particular where we played against a guy whose girlfriend had just died. He was an absolute terror. I think he burned us for 6 goals and was like a truck running through people.

But I'm sure the 2 things were not related. We know hockey players are robots, and that emotions from off-ice events never come into play.

I was surprised to see Bennett listed in there. Why are we firing and trading everyone before the season is over?
- dbell646

Because the sky has fallen.

I was surprised to see Bennett listed in there. Why are we firing and trading everyone before the season is over?
- dbell646

I wasn't. While he played sort of two years for my alma mater, I just don't see him being the forward people envision. I think people get caught up with him too much as he is the ONLY farm system candidate that can possibly serve as a long term solution to our lack of forwards in the system. The fact he is the best and its not a close competition is troubling.

Is everyone writing their doom and gloom statements so they can do their "I Told you so's" later.... There is one more game to play!!!

So... since the Pens lost two in a row, gut the team, fire the coach, sacrifice a few goats to pagan Gods, and trade whatever survived. Thats about the jist of the last 300 posts right? Oh, and probably a few Crosby insults, can't forget those.

Is everyone writing their doom and gloom statements so they can do their "I Told you so's" later.... There is one more game to play!!!
- nelson911

So you're saying they're going to lose? Is this your "I told you so" statement?

So... since the Pens lost two in a row, gut the team, fire the coach, sacrifice a few goats to pagan Gods, and trade whatever survived. Thats about the jist of the last 300 posts right? Oh, and probably a few Crosby insults, can't forget those.
- Guile

Wait...are you saying they shouldn't sacrifice a few goats to Pagan Gods? Because I think that should be a requisite action.

Wait...are you saying they shouldn't sacrifice a few goats to Pagan Gods? Because I think that should be a requisite action.
- jmatchett383

Only if they are albino goats. Need some special poop to suffice for these boards here.

Is everyone writing their doom and gloom statements so they can do their "I Told you so's" later.... There is one more game to play!!!
- nelson911

People are going off of some pretty damming history to draw a conclusion. Game 7s in recent years have not been kind; we play poopty, uninspired hockey in the play-offs at home and we have played poopty uninspired hockey the last two games. We will know all we need to know about our team in the first 5-7 minutes tonight if they have a chance to win. If the compete level and the work ethic mirrors the start of game 5 and 6 ... turn off the TV.

Only if they are albino goats. Need some special poop to suffice for these boards here.
- Guile

Fool, you can't sacrifice albino goats. They are favored by Odin. Those who sacrifice his chosen goats will never reach Valhalla.

I was surprised to see Bennett listed in there. Why are we firing and trading everyone before the season is over?
- dbell646

And Kunitz... top 6 forwards for under $4 mil cap hits are a dime a dozen.

I'm not against a roster shakeup if the Pens lose tonight, but man... these proposed wholesale roster blowups are a bit much.

In the past 8 seasons, the Pens have made the playoffs and finished 1st or 2nd in their division each year. Granted, we all want more playoff success, but be careful what you wish for. The margin to improve is very small, but the margin to get worse is much bigger.

Something tells me that if there are big changes, and the team struggles, the same people calling for heads now will be complaining about the moves that were made.

That doesn't seem like an over reaction at all...
- rival22

I do not see it as an overreaction. This team needs a MAJOR overhaul.

People are going off of some pretty damming history to draw a conclusion. Game 7s in recent years have not been kind; we play poopty, uninspired hockey in the play-offs at home and we have played poopty uninspired hockey the last two games. We will know all we need to know about our team in the first 5-7 minutes tonight.
- Oneonta Penguin

Unless I am mistaken, The Ranger's history against the Pens is not winning the series against them... Goes both ways, and I will believe in the Pittsburgh tradition of all the sports teams making games as frustrating as possible for the fans

I do not see it as an overreaction. This team needs a MAJOR overhaul.
- Pens871

TRADE CROSBY!!!

Fool, you can't sacrifice albino goats. They are favored by Odin. Those who sacrifice his chosen goats will never reach Valhalla.
- jmatchett383

Unless you are sacrificing to the rivals of Odin, such crudeness to him would merit much favor from his enemies.

And Kunitz... top 6 forwards for under $4 mil cap hits are a dime a dozen.

I'm not against a roster shakeup if the Pens lose tonight, but man... these proposed wholesale roster blowups are a bit much.

In the past 8 seasons, the Pens have made the playoffs and finished 1st or 2nd in their division each year. Granted, we all want more playoff success, but be careful what you wish for. The margin to improve is very small, but the margin to get worse is much bigger.

Something tells me that if there are big changes, and the team struggles, the same people calling for heads now will be complaining about the moves that were made.
- rival22

I'm not going to disagree with much of your post at all. Yep, trades could worsen us alot more than make us better. That said, this franchise is supposedly not only built to play great hockey in the regular season but the play-offs. Our ownership has given management the financial resources to go for the Cup. This isn't a Dallas, or a Phoenix, or Winnipeg budget. When you have two of the top five players in the world on the same roster, the goals and desires from fans are astronomical.

If another uninspired, uninterested effort tonight happens, just like games 5 and 6, changes have to occur. If you want to change the culture, just allowing Orpik, Stempy, Engo, Jokinen walk doesn't work.

And Kunitz... top 6 forwards for under $4 mil cap hits are a dime a dozen.

I'm not against a roster shakeup if the Pens lose tonight, but man... these proposed wholesale roster blowups are a bit much.

In the past 8 seasons, the Pens have made the playoffs and finished 1st or 2nd in their division each year. Granted, we all want more playoff success, but be careful what you wish for. The margin to improve is very small, but the margin to get worse is much bigger.

Something tells me that if there are big changes, and the team struggles, the same people calling for heads now will be complaining about the moves that were made.
- rival22

I quit reading those proposals as soon as I see the words "trade Malkin". Lunacy.

Unless you are sacrificing to the rivals of Odin, such crudeness to him would merit much favor from his enemies.
- Guile

But who would you sacrifice to who would bring you greater favor than Odin himself?

So you are saying that playing with the memory of your 2-day dead mother is not a cause of inspiration? Really?
Over the course of my (negligible) career, I remember one game in particular where we played against a guy whose girlfriend had just died. He was an absolute terror. I think he burned us for 6 goals and was like a truck running through people.

But I'm sure the 2 things were not related. We know hockey players are robots, and that emotions from off-ice events never come into play.
- jmatchett383

Inspiration is one thing, magically making him a better hockey player is another, "I've seen a lot of strange stuff, but I've never seen anything to make me believe there's one all-powerful Force controlling everything".

She died and its sad, but it has not a single thing to do with the Rangers winning those 2 games. Not a single thing, its a cool story that it "sparked and inspired" the Rags to play better, but at this point its just annoying to hear about.

Inspiration is one thing, magically making him a better hockey player is another, "I've seen a lot of strange stuff, but I've never seen anything to make me believe there's one all-powerful Force controlling everything".

She died and its sad, but it has not a single thing to do with the Rangers winning those 2 games. Not a single thing, its a cool story that it "sparked and inspired" the Rags to play better, but at this point its just annoying to hear about.
- nbartley9

Inspiration will usually cause you to play better. There's no magic involved.