Trade Malkin for the huge haul and build a solid 4 line team around crosby. Not even being sarcastic.
- FlyersSteve118

dont think youre being sarcastic at all dude. there definitely is merit to that statement, and im sure a logical approach can be made under that agenda.

but to me, acknowledging that is vastly different than questioning signing him to that deal in the first place.

I'd love to see Shero and Bylsma survive.
- Jsaquella

Shero, probably, but I just can't see how Bylsma survives this. I just can't see how he survives this.

Dupuis and Kunitz were fine wingers for Crosby. Dupuis was injured. That played a major role in Pitt having to play poopty linemates with Crosby all season.

I dont believe Malkin was overpaid. He's a top 5 player in the NHL. Teams would kill to have him.
- PhillySportsGuy

Also, their blueline was light years better then the last couple of years. Gonchar and Orpik worked very well together. Gill and Scuderi were the gritty, shutdown pair. They might have more skill and skating now, but have lost some edge and grit on the backend.

Hey is that raptor wearing a pens jersey?
- PhillaBully

I'm just a realist. The Pens are flawed, but they did finish with the 2nd best record in the east.

What hurt them was getting next to no production from the bottom six or Letang all season.

They also need to adjust their style of play. They rely to heavily on skill. Thats why they get beat in the playoffs. They need to learn to be more structured and outwork the other team. They have too much individualism on their team.

Fluery had his struggles over that period too. The roster looks decent on paper. Good mix of skill and grit. I like to think that their ass clown antics just come back to bite them. What goes around comes around.
- rockychocbill

i dont even think that was it this series.

this game went EXACTLY as i thought it would. well except for the empty netter. but it did. they outshot them by like 20. hank was unreal.

their real (frank) up was game 6.

Shero, probably, but I just can't see how Bylsma survives this. I just can't see how he survives this.
- AllInForFlyers

5 years removed from the cup. a lot of playoff failure since then. window is closing.

Never forget.

I'm just a realist. The Pens are flawed, but they did finish with the 2nd best record in the east.

What hurt them was getting next to no production from the bottom six or Letang all season.

They also need to adjust their style of play. They rely to heavily on skill. Thats why they get beat in the playoffs. They need to learn to be more structured and outwork the other team. They have too much individualism on their team.
- PhillySportsGuy

all valid points my friend.

i really do think the loss of dupuis was a killer.

that being said though, that sword cuts two ways. duper is a decent player, but when losing a 30 something year old fringe top six winger hurts that bad, you have organizational problems.

great. i used to like him.
- hammarby31

5 years removed from the cup. a lot of playoff failure since then. window is closing.
- hammarby31

eh. i mean yes and no.

as long as they have crosby and malkin healthy for the next 5 years or so, they will make the playoffs.

but once there, it will likely be more of the same.

Penguins might have the same issues as the Flyers. Defense wins championships, but in the Penguins case, they think Crosby wins championships. Rangers are better defensively then both teams. A lot better.

Shero, probably, but I just can't see how Bylsma survives this. I just can't see how he survives this.
- AllInForFlyers

Fingers crossed they both have their jobs next season so the Pens can crash and burn again.

i dont even think that was it this series.

this game went EXACTLY as i thought it would. well except for the empty netter. but it did. they outshot them by like 20. hank was unreal.

their real (frank) up was game 6.
- stayinthefnnet

i don't think he was unreal. a lot of pucks just find their way into him and he has tremendous support around him. once again, the pens were always on the wrong side of the loose puck, a stick away, a stride away, a bounce away. that last one that deflected and just hit him. he didn't know where it was.

he didn't face a single oddman rush in this game that i can think of. not one backdoor play, not one reaction save on a deflection. not one blast through a screen that hit the net. nothing.

dont think youre being sarcastic at all dude. there definitely is merit to that statement, and im sure a logical approach can be made under that agenda.

but to me, acknowledging that is vastly different than questioning signing him to that deal in the first place.
- stayinthefnnet

Oh yeah his deal isn't all that bad. It's just paying two 30+ aging super stars almost 20mil is going to be crippling. The only thing is if crosby has any more issues sure to concussions it looks hideous.

Penguins might have the same issues as the Flyers. Defense wins championships. The Rangers are better defensively then both teams. A lot better.
- SuperSchennBros

yep. it's a full on, 5 man attack/blocking defense.

They can start by trading Crosby. I goal in his last 18 playoff games. Moore and Co. did a fantastic job on him, just like the Flyers did a couple ago.

Toews is the best captain in the league right now.
- rockychocbill

They won't, and clearly you understand why, but I'd seriously consider it.

For the same reason you consider moving Malkin -- the return would be significant, and sometimes, players just need a change.

Crosby didn't even look like he wants to be on the ice. He has that thousand-yard stare, like Mike Richards had in 2012. Like he's just...worn out.

i dont even think that was it this series.

this game went EXACTLY as i thought it would. well except for the empty netter. but it did. they outshot them by like 20. hank was unreal.

their real (frank) up was game 6.
- stayinthefnnet

Right. Game 6. With Crosby attacking somebody from behind again. I was waiting for the punch to the nut sack, but he got lazy and went with the multiple cross check.

eh. i mean yes and no.

as long as they have crosby and malkin healthy for the next 5 years or so, they will make the playoffs.

but once there, it will likely be more of the same.
- stayinthefnnet

that's what i mean by window.

Fluery had his struggles over that period too. The roster looks decent on paper. Good mix of skill and grit. I like to think that their ass clown antics just come back to bite them. What goes around comes around.
- rockychocbill

Fleury has been really shaky, but the team D, discipline and resiliency have all been issues. they coast to division titles, and never seem able to really turn it back on in the playoffs. If you bang them and hit them, they get frustrated and take really awful penalties and do stupid stuff.

I still think the biggest issue is the coach. Bylsma doesn't do a whole lot for me. He routinely gets out coached in the playoffs.

yep. it's a full on, 5 man attack/blocking defense.
- hammarby31

In Pittsburgh's case, they think Crosby wins championships.

Penguins might have the same issues as the Flyers. Defense wins championships, but in the Penguins case, they think Crosby wins championships. Rangers are better defensively then both teams. A lot better.
- SuperSchennBros

Rangers block more shots than any team I think. Boyle had more tonight than some teams had all season.

all valid points my friend.

i really do think the loss of dupuis was a killer.

that being said though, that sword cuts two ways. duper is a decent player, but when losing a 30 something year old fringe top six winger hurts that bad, you have organizational problems.
- stayinthefnnet

They have depth issues.

Getting nothing from Letang was a real killer too. Martin and Niskanen are both good players, but Letang is a special player when he's on his game.

Never forget.


- flyer_nutter

clearly macdonald's fault.

Right. Game 6. With Crosby attacking somebody from behind again. I was waiting for the punch to the nut sack, but he got lazy and went with the multiple cross check.
- rockychocbill

thats okay. he more than received his own to the back of the head to no call whatsoever

olde tyme hawkey

Fleury has been really shaky, but the team D, discipline and resiliency have all been issues. they coast to division titles, and never seem able to really turn it back on in the playoffs. If you bang them and hit them, they get frustrated and take really awful penalties and do stupid stuff.

I still think the biggest issue is the coach. Bylsma doesn't do a whole lot for me. He routinely gets out coached in the playoffs.
- Jsaquella

I gotta believe if they replace Bylsma, it will be a candidate with previous coaching experience. I thought Trotz was certain to go to the Craps, but I'm starting to wonder if he ends up in Pittsburgh.