They might be NHL ready, but where do they fall exactly? Are they bottom pairing? Ehroff and Martin are top pairing Dmen, thats not easily replaceable for a young rookie Dman.
- sammy87

Second pairing. Pittsburgh has an assumed top pairing in Letang and Maatta. Despres and Bortuzzo can play harder minutes than a Harrington or a Dumoulin.

If the fans are concerned about rookie mistakes from the D, I must unfortunately confess that Rob Scuderi could always step in...

Does Stalberg not strike you as the kind of guy that could play with Sutter? Think about it, Sutter needs moderately talented wings to function properly, so keeping Bennett on that line is almost essential as much as we would like BB to play in the top 6. Bring in Stalberg, a solid hockey player who has just found himself in bad situations throughout his career, and that opens the door to move Bennett up + gives us an extra body who could potential move up if BB or anyone else goes down with injury again.

Bennett-Crosby-Hornqvist
Kunitz-Malkin-Comeau
Downie-Sutter-Stalberg
Spaling-Goc-Klinkhammer

Looks pretty damn good to me, and that's without the trade that we all know is coming and Duper coming back. Come playoff it could all look like this:

Trade-Crosby-Hornqvist
Kunitz-Malkin-Bennett
Dupuis-Sutter-Stalberg
Downie-Goc-Comeau

That's (frank)ing deep guys.
- Victoro311

I agree. Stalberg off waivers, tlusty in a trade, stanley cup comes home.

Because it's abysmal asset management. Pittsburgh has how many NHL ready D? Are they going to neglect their talent pool even further by delaying their defenders' NHL careers and by forfeiting future draft assets?
- Johnny Wrath

it really isn't an asset management issue, not when you're trying to win a cup this year

it really isn't an asset management issue, not when you're trying to win a cup this year
- BulliesPhan87

The dichotomy of that issue is that there are people out there that think Pittsburgh is a Stanley Cup contender.

The dichotomy of that issue is that there are people out there that think Pittsburgh is a Stanley Cup contender.
- Johnny Wrath

They ought to be. If they aren't, why bother hanging on to Crosby and Malkin? Tear it down!

The dichotomy of that issue is that there are people out there that think Pittsburgh is a Stanley Cup contender.
- Johnny Wrath

The Penguins are a Stanley Cup contender...

The dichotomy of that issue is that there are people out there that think Pittsburgh is a Stanley Cup contender.
- Johnny Wrath

I don't know what is worse, the use of dichotomy on a HB board or that you don't see the Pens as a Stanley Cup contender.

They ought to be. If they aren't, why bother hanging on to Crosby and Malkin? Tear it down!
- BulliesPhan87

You keep those two and build around them, or rather they should have. The Penguins needed a complete overhaul after that loss to the Bruins. They chose instead to stay with Fleury, Letang, Kunitz, Dupuis, Rob Scuderi again, and Dan Bylsma after going all-in like few teams have gone all-in in the cap era. It only took a few games to see that there was nothing to the Penguins beyond the game-breaking capabilities of 87 and 71.

It's almost too late to develop a competitive team around the big two while they're in their prime. The D are all either rookies or in their second year. By their 3rd year, Pittsburgh should have their D slotting and systems down, have drafted and developed one or two top nine forwards, and discovered what MAF is about in the playoffs.

The dichotomy of that issue is that there are people out there that think Pittsburgh is a Stanley Cup contender.
- Johnny Wrath

Who in the East is a better contender at this point?

The dichotomy of that issue is that there are people out there that think Pittsburgh is a Stanley Cup contender.
- Johnny Wrath

Is this the procedure to permanently eliminate erections?

I have actually heard that anyone in the history of the world that has used that word has never properly used one anyways.....

Who in the East is a better contender at this point?
- rival22

Pittsburgh would have a very poor showing against the Habs, the Lightning, the Bruins, the Rangers, and the Red Wings. Pittsburgh won't have Ottawa to defeat this season. Maybe Pittsburgh could beat Toronto if MAF averages a .905%. Pittsburgh would certainly lose to the Islanders.

What's all this about Greek words and erections?

The Penguins are a Stanley Cup contender...
- j.boyd919

We are a contender as is when healthy.. add some more small tweaks and we're a lock

Pittsburgh would have a very poor showing against the Habs, the Lightning, the Bruins, the Rangers, and the Red Wings. Pittsburgh won't have Ottawa to defeat this season. Maybe Pittsburgh could beat Toronto if MAF averages a .905%. Pittsburgh would certainly lose to the Islanders.

What's all this about Greek words and erections?
- Johnny Wrath

Hmm, despite possession this season and Fleury's even strenght save % actually being better this season as opposed to the past? I think you are too jaded from past relationships to see how good the one you currently have is.

You keep those two and build around them, or rather they should have. The Penguins needed a complete overhaul after that loss to the Bruins. They chose instead to stay with Fleury, Letang, Kunitz, Dupuis, Rob Scuderi again, and Dan Bylsma after going all-in like few teams have gone all-in in the cap era. It only took a few games to see that there was nothing to the Penguins beyond the game-breaking capabilities of 87 and 71.

It's almost too late to develop a competitive team around the big two while they're in their prime. The D are all either rookies or in their second year. By their 3rd year, Pittsburgh should have their D slotting and systems down, have drafted and developed one or two top nine forwards, and discovered what MAF is about in the playoffs.
- Johnny Wrath

So what do you suggest we do? Move everyone on the team not named crosby or malkin? Use pieces we get to draft players and pick up some third liners in free agency? Sounds great where do I sign up to gouge my eyes out with a ballpoint pen?

Why couldn't the jets have just taken scuderi

Pittsburgh would have a very poor showing against the Habs, the Lightning, the Bruins, the Rangers, and the Red Wings. Pittsburgh won't have Ottawa to defeat this season. Maybe Pittsburgh could beat Toronto if MAF averages a .905%. Pittsburgh would certainly lose to the Islanders.

What's all this about Greek words and erections?
- Johnny Wrath

Disagree, I think any of the above series would be extremely exciting to watch, as well as competitive.

Hmm, despite possession this season and Fleury's even strenght save % actually being better this season as opposed to the past? I think you are too jaded from past relationships to see how good the one you currently have is.
- usethe1-2-2

.891
.899
.834
.883
.915

Those are the playoff save% MAF has posted since 09. He has 2 playoff series wins in that time, one against Ottawa in 2010 and once against Columbus last season. Pittsburgh finished first or second in the regular season in each of those seasons. There is nothing unusual about this season in the same respect.

.891
.899
.834
.883
.915

Those are the playoff save% MAF has posted since 09. He has 2 playoff series wins in that time, one against Ottawa in 2010 and once against Columbus last season. Pittsburgh finished first or second in the regular season in each of those seasons. There is nothing unusual about this season in the same respect.
- Johnny Wrath

You're forgetting that MAF is not the only player on the ice. Yes, he has made a few bad plays. Look at our system from then. It left flower out to dry constantly. Our defense is much improved this year, as well as the HCMJs system. It's night and day. It's no coincidence we are where we are in the standings even with a banged up team and that MAF is posting vezina numbers

.891
.899
.834
.883
.915

Those are the playoff save% MAF has posted since 09. He has 2 playoff series wins in that time, one against Ottawa in 2010 and once against Columbus last season. Pittsburgh finished first or second in the regular season in each of those seasons. There is nothing unusual about this season in the same respect.
- Johnny Wrath

I disagree again, there is something completely different about this season. A completely new system. I agree that Fleury has had his faults, but I don't think its a fair assessment to say they are not contenders, the past is the past, and the Pens are playing in a new system so I believe judging them on their past deficiencies is unfair judgement, especially with an updated roster.

I disagree again, there is something completely different about this season. A completely new system. I agree that Fleury has had his faults, but I don't think its a fair assessment to say they are not contenders, the past is the past, and the Pens are playing in a new system so I believe judging them on their past deficiencies is unfair judgement, especially with an updated roster.
- j.boyd919

Seems like we wrote pretty much the same thing. This will be a great year for penguins hockey, especially once we come back from injuries and possibly add a few small pieces.

Yes, it's too bad there haven't been any examples of the Penguins posting great regular season stats despite being ridiculously injury plagued before being demoralized in the playoffs in recent memory.

Yes, it's too bad there haven't been any examples of the Penguins posting great regular season stats despite being ridiculously injury plagued before being demoralized in the playoffs in recent memory.
- Johnny Wrath

You forgot the part about a whole new system installed under new coaches. I will take MJ over DB any day. DB couldn't coach his way to the ocean from the beach

I just never understood masochistic sports fans... Watching sports is supposed to be enjoyable. If you don't enjoy watching a team or are certain that the outcome will be bad, why invest so much time and energy into watching/following that team?

Life is too short...

I just never understood masochistic sports fans... Watching sports is supposed to be enjoyable. If you don't enjoy watching a team or are certain that the outcome will be bad, why invest so much time and energy into watching/following that team?

Life is too short...
- rival22

Seriously.. we can armchair GM all we like, but at the end of the day all we can do is watch and drink beer. Nothing is in our hands except enjoyment of the sport and team

I just never understood masochistic sports fans... Watching sports is supposed to be enjoyable. If you don't enjoy watching a team or are certain that the outcome will be bad, why invest so much time and energy into watching/following that team?

Life is too short...
- rival22

If we aren't miserable we are nothing.