Think there are more issues than most bring up when breaking down the Penguins this season.
- MidnightMarauder

What are they?

For my money, I think the 2 for 1 Neal trade will help their depth, Ehrhoff replaces Niskanen, lost Orpik but will have Maatta for a full season.

It's hysterical, no need to worry about someone else's opinion. It's an entertainment piece.
- MidnightMarauder

Tell your boy Jihad Jim He looks like he is on the verge of a nervous breakdown because no one mentioned Ryan McD

No doubt, but are any of them greater than the rest of the division? I would argue not.
- usethe1-2-2

No but they aren't the automatic choice anymore. This division is actually pretty competitive other than perhaps Carolina and if Mason returns to his regular form in Philadelphia.

Every other team, flaws and all, should be good or above average. The playing field is more leveled in this division than it has been in years.

Funny thing is calling the Isles D a dumpster fire when they were middle of the pack in shots against. Goalie play is what killed this team last year. Is their D the strong point? No but its not as bad as most think. They get solid goalie play and they will surprise people

What are they?

For my money, I think the 2 for 1 Neal trade will help their depth, Ehrhoff replaces Niskanen, lost Orpik but will have Maatta for a full season.
- Snowblind

Spaling is overrated to borderline being a bad hockey player. Hornqvist is a good player but nowhere near as talented as Neal.

Defensively they should be okay but they are going to rely on some of their younger defensemen to play regular roles. That transition isn't always so smooth. Fleury is not the worst goalie in the league but he certainly isn't one of the best either. On a contract year the pressure is on for him to deliver.

If Crosby or Malkin are lost for any significant amount of time they are going to be extremely thin in the scoring department. So much of their offense relies on them and the wing position is not one of their stronger areas.

Kunitz is a year older, Dupuis is coming back from major knee surgery, Bennett is talented but not a sure thing to succeed this season.

Their depth, on the bottom two lines, is a little better than last season at forward but nothing to go crazy over either.

All things considered they are still a playoff bound hockey team. I just don't find them to be clearly better than the rest of the division.

Funny thing is calling the Isles D a dumpster fire when they were middle of the pack in shots against. Goalie play is what killed this team last year. Is their D the strong point? No but its not as bad as most think. They get solid goalie play and they will surprise people
- Vukota

The more I think about it the more I think the Islanders can really break some balls this season.

The more I think about it the more I think the Islanders can really break some balls this season.
- MidnightMarauder

They have to stay somewhat healthy on the Blue line. They have tons of depth up front. I would feel a little more comfortable if they got another D-man

No but they aren't the automatic choice anymore. This division is actually pretty competitive other than perhaps Carolina and if Mason returns to his regular form in Philadelphia.

Every other team, flaws and all, should be good or above average. The playing field is more leveled in this division than it has been in years.
- MidnightMarauder

I can definitely see why people are sick of the Pens always being chosen to win the division. But, they won the division by 13 points last year with far and away the most man games lost to injury and a dismal bottom 6. While their bottom 6 is still not great, it is much improved over last year. The loss of Niskanen is offset by the addition of Erhoff and the "loss" of Orpik is clearly addition by subtraction. Who knows how the Neal for Hornqvist/Spaling trade will work out, but the Pens have never had issues scoring goals. Giving up a few goals for more character and net presence could be just what they need. Or, it could blow up in their faces and Neal could score 40 again and make the trade look bad. No one knows Yet.

Columbus and NYI are the only real teams that improved this offseason, so I don't see how the Pens shouldn't be pre-season favorites to win the division. No one did enough to offset the 13 points that the Pens won the division by last year. In the end, it really doesn't matter. All that matters is the playoffs and who wins it all.

Every team has issues, the Pens biggest issues have been injuries the last few years. Hopefully they can stay healthy, even though Crosby and Malkin are banged up already.
- stevens87

I'd argue their issue was depth the last 3 years
and then injuries

I can definitely see why people are sick of the Pens always being chosen to win the division. But, they won the division by 13 points last year with far and away the most man games lost to injury and a dismal bottom 6. While their bottom 6 is still not great, it is much improved over last year. The loss of Niskanen is offset by the addition of Erhoff and the "loss" of Orpik is clearly addition by subtraction. Who knows how the Neal for Hornqvist/Spaling trade will work out, but the Pens have never had issues scoring goals. Giving up a few goals for more character and net presence could be just what they need. Or, it could blow up in their faces and Neal could score 40 again and make the trade look bad. No one knows Yet.

Columbus and NYI are the only real teams that improved this offseason, so I don't see how the Pens shouldn't be pre-season favorites to win the division. No one did enough to offset the 13 points that the Pens won the division by last year. In the end, it really doesn't matter. All that matters is the playoffs and who wins it all.
- mw630

If you look at it that way, it 13 pts really equals ~26 point swing because one team gets +2 while the Pens technically get -2 (really just no points) in divisional games

I'd argue their issue was depth the last 3 years
and then injuries
- Danformo

tomato tomato, either way it was rotten by May

They have to stay somewhat healthy on the Blue line. They have tons of depth up front. I would feel a little more comfortable if they got another D-man
- Vukota

That can be addressed via trade. Islanders have assets that other teams would want.

I'd argue their issue was depth the last 3 years
and then injuries
- Danformo

I agree. At least during the playoffs. Have to be able to roll 4 lines. I think this is where we surprised people last year, and I give a ton of credit to AV who loves having 4 capable lines, unlike Torts.

That can be addressed via trade. Islanders have assets that other teams would want.
- MidnightMarauder

Streit and AMac for Tavares!!!

Somehow, Snow could get it done.

That can be addressed via trade. Islanders have assets that other teams would want.
- MidnightMarauder

True but I cringe when Snow is working the phones

True but I cringe when Snow is working the phones
- Vukota

He's the hockey version of the Phillies' Ruben Amaro Junior. He was handed a good roster with some pretty good prospects, and has made it a laughingstock of the league.

True but I cringe when Snow is working the phones
- Vukota

As you damn well should.

Calling it right now!

Rangers
Pens
Flyers
Isles
Caps
Devils
Jackets
Canes

Flyers WILL make the playoffs. I guarantee it. Funny fact is my opinion will be discounted because I'm a fan but someone who doesn't watch the team and know how skilled the young players really are obviously gets the benefit of the doubt on their opinions. Just like Last season despite the slow start I said Flyers will get their $h*t together and they did. There is a lot of skill on this team and while the D aint the best it is still underrated by people.

Calling it right now!

Rangers
Pens
Flyers
Isles
Caps
Devils
Jackets
Canes

Flyers WILL make the playoffs. I guarantee it. Funny fact is my opinion will be discounted because I'm a fan but someone who doesn't watch the team and know how skilled the young players really are obviously gets the benefit of the doubt on their opinions. Just like Last season despite the slow start I said Flyers will get their $h*t together and they did. There is a lot of skill on this team and while the D aint the best it is still underrated by people.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

I think that the Flyers will be better than the Capitals and the Canes. Depending on a ton of factors (besides injuries), the Flyers, Devils, Blue Jackets, Rangers, and Islanders will battle for the 2-6 spot. Pittsburgh will take the division.

He's the hockey version of the Phillies' Ruben Amaro Junior. He was handed a good roster with some pretty good prospects, and has made it a laughingstock of the league.
- jmatchett383

Except that Snow was handed a bare roster and prospect pool and actually has done a good job building it up granted it takes losing to that

Calling it right now!

Rangers
Pens
Flyers
Isles
Caps
Devils
Jackets
Canes

Flyers WILL make the playoffs. I guarantee it. Funny fact is my opinion will be discounted because I'm a fan but someone who doesn't watch the team and know how skilled the young players really are obviously gets the benefit of the doubt on their opinions. Just like Last season despite the slow start I said Flyers will get their $h*t together and they did. There is a lot of skill on this team and while the D aint the best it is still underrated by people.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

The Jackets in 7th?

Except that Snow was handed a bare roster and prospect pool and actually has done a good job building it up granted it takes losing to that
- Vukota

I think his drafting has been, at best, suspect. Although Ryan Pulock was a fantastic pick. He's been the GM since 2006. They've made the playoffs twice in those 8 seasons, winning a grand total of 3 playoff games. When is this fantastic prospect pool going to pay off?

Edit: The drating of Tavares is exempt from his record, as that was a gimme.

The Jackets in 7th?
- mw630

No Johansen. I don't a deal being done and as usual Horton is injured.

EDIT: Datsyuk out 4-5 Weeks now as well. Seems like Datsyuk is having a hard time staying healthy these days. Wings may have trouble in Atlantic

I think his drafting has been, at best, suspect. Although Ryan Pulock was a fantastic pick. He's been the GM since 2006. They've made the playoffs twice in those 8 seasons, winning a grand total of 3 playoff games. When is this fantastic prospect pool going to pay off?

Edit: The drating of Tavares is exempt from his record, as that was a gimme.
- jmatchett383

I don't know man last year I believe they had one of the top 5 prospect pools in the league. I'm not saying Snow is a good GM don't get me wrong but you look at the prospects and I don't know how you can say its been suspect at best. Dehaan, Lee, Strome, Nelson, Reinhart, Pulock, Pokka,Pelech, Pedan, mayfield, Dal Colle, Ho-Sang etc etc...

To answer your second question I think you will start to see it very soon. Problem has not been the kids drafted its surrounding those kids with good NHL'ers which I think changed this offseason. I don't blame people for being skeptical of the isles but I think they are going to surprise a lot of people this year

I don't know man last year I believe they had one of the top 5 prospect pools in the league. I'm not saying Snow is a good GM don't get me wrong but you look at the prospects and I don't know how you can say its been suspect at best. Dehaan, Lee, Strome, Nelson, Reinhart, Pulock, Pokka,Pelech, Pedan, mayfield, Dal Colle, Ho-Sang etc etc...

To answer your second question I think you will start to see it very soon. Problem has not been the kids drafted its surrounding those kids with good NHL'ers which I think changed this offseason. I don't blame people for being skeptical of the isles but I think they are going to surprise a lot of people this year
- Vukota

Surprise like, wow I just won the lottery. Or surprise like, I thought I farted and I accidentally poop myself.