Penguins: 8 guys 32 years or older.
The problem is not so much the age of the players as the ability of the player. Paul Coffey once said the best years of a hockey player are 27-31. As these players age and they lose their skills, they need to be replaced by better players. This is not happening, as evidenced by this article, the players who should be fighting to make this a better team are just not capable.
- Thunderbolt

All due respect to Mr. Coffey but the peak of a hockey player statistically is closer to 21-24 not 27-31.

I was wrong yesterday boys today is the day we get a new gm

All due respect to Mr. Coffey but the peak of a hockey player statistically is closer to 21-24 not 27-31.
- Ryan_Wilson

I do think this has changed somewhat in the last 10 years.

I also think it can sometimes be misleading...those damn statistics.

A specific case (yes I know, VERY small sample size) that matches your argument is Mike Modano. Career highs in goals and points at 23-24...but clearly a better all round player at 26/27 thru 31/32. Don't think those advanced stats were available during that time...but the 'eye' test was pretty conclusive.

BTW...on the Tocchet front...

I have seen him quite a few times in the last month or so. He works out at the the same gym I go to (when he is in town) and I also saw him in a local Starbucks and another bar/restaurant.

Based on the different people I saw him with...it would not surprise me if those discussions had something to do with the coaching opportunity that may/may not be opening up in Pittsburgh.

All due respect to Mr. Coffey but the peak of a hockey player statistically is closer to 21-24 not 27-31.
- Ryan_Wilson

His thought process was these were the years you had the best mix of speed and experience. I believe that forwards peak quicker than defensemen. I would want my forwards to be much younger than my defense. I can definitely live with d-men in their early 30's but forwards would have to be exceptional past 30 (Jagr).

His thought process was these were the years you had the best mix of speed and experience. I believe that forwards peak quicker than defensemen. I would want my forwards to be much younger than my defense. I can definitely live with d-men in their early 30's but forwards would have to be exceptional past 30 (Jagr).
- Thunderbolt

Your exactly right, because that's the exact time when D-men peak. This blog is way to overly stat obsessed, and it shows with lack of understanding the game as a whole opposed to thinking we have a good team on paper. You will just have to get to the point of accepting it, get ready to enjoy a lot of Gibbons and Megna love.

BTW...on the Tocchet front...

I have seen him quite a few times in the last month or so. He works out at the the same gym I go to (when he is in town) and I also saw him in a local Starbucks and another bar/restaurant.

Based on the different people I saw him with...it would not surprise me if those discussions had something to do with the coaching opportunity that may/may not be opening up in Pittsburgh.
- icedog97

I remember thinking it was kind of strange he moved to Pittsburgh. He's not doing local TV/Radio. Actually, I think he's doing something for Comcrap and Flyers. Maybe he has other business concerns here.

Tocchet doesn't seem like a good coach

Tocchet doesn't seem like a good coach
- Deadstar

That's exactly it, it doesn't matter; we just need a new body that will be a ra-ra type of head coach that will rile up the troops. Bylsma was an AHL turd when we hired him and he won the Cup, that's the exact same type of situation we are in now. We just need anyone new, and it will work, GM is not quite the same deal; that very easily can be f'd up.

That's exactly it, it doesn't matter; we just need a new body that will be a ra-ra type of head coach that will rile up the troops. Bylsma was an AHL turd when we hired him and he won the Cup, that's the exact same type of situation we are in now. We just need anyone new, and it will work, GM is not quite the same deal; that very easily can be f'd up.
- nbartley9

Interesting viewpoint to take considering people screamed about Bylsma and his lack of adjustments and supposed line matching his last 4 years here.

Interesting viewpoint to take considering people screamed about Bylsma and his lack of adjustments and supposed line matching his last 4 years here.
- Deadstar

Yeah and the absolute first one was me, from day ONE. MT's time was up here that's for sure, but from the first day Bylsma was our coach I called him out for being total garbage. No one can take that from me, I used to get ripped apart left and right for screaming that Bylsma was crap. Now everyone has jumped on.

Tocchet doesn't seem like a good coach
- Deadstar

I'd be nervous about him getting the job. It's not like he has a long or good track record, but those teams he's been involved with weren't very good. I'd be more interested in him if he had been coaching recently.....somewhere....anywhere....

Not a lot of good candidates out there with much NHL experience. Maybe they dip into the AHL....

So, we have by Sunday to sign Clark Seymour and Oskar Sundqvist or they go back into the draft. It's imperative Sundqvist is signed due to the shortage of forwards.

Yeah and the absolute first one was me, from day ONE. MT's time was up here that's for sure, but from the first day Bylsma was our coach I called him out for being total garbage. No one can take that from me, I used to get ripped apart left and right for screaming that Bylsma was crap. Now everyone has jumped on.
- nbartley9

Tocchet isn't exactly a tactical genius.

I'd be nervous about him getting the job. It's not like he has a long or good track record, but those teams he's been involved with weren't very good. I'd be more interested in him if he had been coaching recently.....somewhere....anywhere....

Not a lot of good candidates out there with much NHL experience. Maybe they dip into the AHL....
- madmike71

Bouchet would be a scary coach. A man with a scar like that would make me nervous. I'd do whatever he says

Tocchet isn't exactly a tactical genius.
- Deadstar

I honestly don't think that this team needs one, at this point anyways. They just need someone that is going to hold them accountable and not try to be their buddy.

So, we have by Sunday to sign Clark Seymour and Oskar Sundqvist or they go back into the draft. It's imperative Sundqvist is signed due to the shortage of forwards.
- Oneonta Penguin

Very interesting observation, I like it.

I honestly don't think that this team needs one, at this point anyways. They just need someone that is going to hold them accountable and not try to be their buddy.
- nbartley9

Tochet commands their respect as soon as he walks in the room. He also isn't afraid to let them know when they suck. XO's can be handled by an assistant. I like Tochet personally. Face it any coach is going to win games with this team someone just needs to keep them hungry

Bouchet would be a scary coach. A man with a scar like that would make me nervous. I'd do whatever he says
- dbell646

I'm not sure what's scarier... The 1-3-1 or his scar. I'm leaning towards the 1-3-1.

Tocchet commands their respect as soon as he walks in the room. He also isn't afraid to let them know when they suck. XO's can be handled by an assistant. I like Tochet personally. Face it any coach is going to win games with this team someone just needs to keep them hungry
- dbell646

Ding and the boy wins a cigar!

I'm not sure what's scarier... The 1-3-1 or his scar. I'm leaning towards the 1-3-1.
- madmike71

I can't see us playing that. He'd have to adjust or the samething that happened in Tampa would happen here

Ding and the boy wins a cigar!
- nbartley9

Hopefully it's a cuban

Interesting viewpoint to take considering people screamed about Bylsma and his lack of adjustments and supposed line matching his last 4 years here.
- Deadstar

Yeah...I'm not sure what I think about Tocchet as coach. I do know this, the best coaches get the most out of their players as often as possible. I know that sounds kind of 'common sense'...but lots of times it's a coach/player chemistry thing...and it only has the right balance for so long.

Look at Oates in Washington. I don't know if Oates is a bad coach or not...but given what happened in Washington with Boudreau...and then with Oates...it's starting to look more and more like the Caps situation is player based.

Sure, the consensus around the NHL might be that Babcock could coach any team (he's got all the skills necessary)...but some part of that is how players respond to him. He has that respect factor (with probably most players) and all coaches need to earn it and keep it with their team at some point. There are few coaches...IMO...that have that kind of widespread respect and knowledge and skillset.

Look at Vigneault...ousted in Vancouver...in the finals this year. Is he a better coach this year? He's probably doing 95-99% of the same things he did in Vancouver...but right now he has an inspired team and they are playing well. Maybe he was part of that inspiration...or maybe Torts had/has become such a 'bad' coach (Vancouver certainly didn't respond to him) that anybody going into NYR would have gotten more out of them.

Back to Tocchet...if he comes in and gets the team to improve in those areas they seem to be lacking in (3rd and 4th line player quality aside...since that's largely the GMs job)...maybe he is the right guy...at least for a period of time. Maybe they say...here...we think we are probably gonna pursue Babcock next year...take a shot this year (1 year contract?) and we might keep you around --- if not, maybe it opens up opportunities for you somewhere else the year after.

Could they consider the GM spot for Tocchet...gm/coach for a year...then gm next year as they pursue Babcock?

If only Laviolette hadn't signed with the Predators...We'd have signed him already

Tochet commands their respect as soon as he walks in the room. He also isn't afraid to let them know when they suck. XO's can be handled by an assistant. I like Tochet personally. Face it any coach is going to win games with this team someone just needs to keep them hungry
- dbell646

There needs to be a guy the commands the respect of players in the room and one that shows emotion. DB never once showed any emotion whatsoever.