The biggest controllable impediment to the NHL becoming more mainstream, is the lack of consistency in officiating. The NFL, for all it's officiating faults, at least tries to keep the game consistent whether it be the first snap in preseason or the last play in the SB. The NHL, directly violates any consistency and it is frustrating as a fan.
- jfkst1

And the NFL has realized that offense is what attracts people, and have adjusted the rules to accommodate (some times going overboard).

You watch a stretch in a game when it opens up and there are multiple end to end rushes... You can feel the energy rising in the building... Even on Twitter during a national game like that, hockey twitter is full of "what a fun game..." "this game is awesome..." etc...

Instead the league prefers slow, tough, sluggish hockey.

No, it's incredibly vital how you win (in the regular season) as much as it is whether you win or lose. Just stating that, if you play really well for 82 games, but lose them all by a goal, then are you really playing that well?
- jmatchett383

Non-playoff teams can strategically cancel the Penguins' attack, force them to the outside, and attack the net with great ease. Columbus probably would be in right now over Boston at the least were it not for injuries, but they brought their backup goalie into Pittsburgh confident of their strategy and walked out with a regulation W. Divisional teams who are very familiar with the Penguins know exactly how to beat them, and it is no longer reserved for the playoffs.

This is after a gut-check loss to DC.

Chris Stewart is the hero Pittsburgh deserves

Chris Stewart is the hero Pittsburgh deserves
- BulliesPhan87

But alas, hes not the one they need.

And the NFL has realized that offense is what attracts people, and have adjusted the rules to accommodate (some times going overboard).

You watch a stretch in a game when it opens up and there are multiple end to end rushes... You can feel the energy rising in the building... Even on Twitter during a national game like that, hockey twitter is full of "what a fun game..." "this game is awesome..." etc...

Instead the league prefers slow, tough, sluggish hockey.
- rival22

I tend to agree. But for the NHL, I'd rather they adjust the rules in favor of offense than defense. I think the league would be much more entertaining with IOC style officiating in NHL sized rinks. I also think having high level of obstruction is mutually exclusive in a league that bans fighting.

I dunno. I guess it's possible that Malkin's just totally lost all accuracy on his shot forever. That just isn't how things usually happen. But i guess it's possible.

Malkin and Crosby are probably past their peaks, but that doesn't mean that they are just going to go straight from what they were to just trash.
- poopmouth

Your last paragraph I disagree with. Crosby has missed significant time throughout his career and is 27. Lemieux won his second Cup at 27, and at 28 had the greateat season ever. Lemieux also missed significant time.

I'm not trying to compare the two as players, merely pointing out that Sids training will prolong his peak a few more years, at least to thirty. Many players still excell way after that.

Sids in some real bad funk right now. If the report from Seth R-something is accurate, hopefully everything comes to a boiling point today and the intensity and passion returns.

I love RW
- Guile

I'm more of a left winger fan. John LeClair 4ever!!!

Your last paragraph I disagree with. Crosby has missed significant time throughout his career and is 27. Lemieux won his second Cup at 27, and at 28 had the greateat season ever. Lemieux also missed significant time.

I'm not trying to compare the two as players, merely pointing out that Sids training will prolong his peak a few more years, at least to thirty. Many players still excell way after that.

Sids in some real bad funk right now. If the report from Seth R-something is accurate, hopefully everything comes to a boiling point today and the intensity and passion returns.
- Topshelf Mountain

Wayne Gretzky disagrees.

1985-86 Edmonton Oilers NHL 80 52 163 215

I'm more of a left winger fan. John LeClair 4ever!!!
- jmatchett383

Oh how I want to slap the sarcasm out of you for that bad joke

Your last paragraph I disagree with. Crosby has missed significant time throughout his career and is 27. Lemieux won his second Cup at 27, and at 28 had the greateat season ever. Lemieux also missed significant time.

I'm not trying to compare the two as players, merely pointing out that Sids training will prolong his peak a few more years, at least to thirty. Many players still excell way after that.

Sids in some real bad funk right now. If the report from Seth R-something is accurate, hopefully everything comes to a boiling point today and the intensity and passion returns.
- Topshelf Mountain

I think 27 is a pretty realistic age for an athlete to *start* slowing down a little bit. they're probably at 99% now, 98% next year and will probably be above 90% into their mid 30s. after that it probably accelerates a little bit.

when i said past their peak, i definitely didn't mean that they were past it in significant terms

Oh how I want to slap the sarcasm out of you for that bad joke
- Guile

I think "bad" is an understatement.

But every time I see someone say "RW" on here, I do immediately think "Right Wing" first.

If you hate RW's blog so much, you do have other things you can read. Or just dont read it and go to the comments.

Hows your blog coming along anyway?
- thickman1178

Go directly to the comments! It immediately eliminates a spike in blood pressure and an unnecessary shot of Jack.

It does show up in fancy stats. He's awesome at suppressing shots against.

But if he fails and gets scored on, he's got nothing to try and get that goal back.
- walshy66

Soooo about the condescending tone that I referred to yesterday is on great display in this one. haha

Your dude was great last night though! Only reason we were still in the game after the first.

Agreed on RW... he often writes of the Pen's bottom 6 as if they have no business even being in the NHL. Every team has an 'Adams', and very few teams have a Crosby, if any. Adams has his name on the Cup... twice? I mentioned team chemistry and good luck yesterday in my response to RW's blog, two things the Pens seem to be lacking that is NOT captured in all the fancy new statistics.
- skridscousin

PDO is largely viewed as a measure of "luck."

Agreed on RW... he often writes of the Pen's bottom 6 as if they have no business even being in the NHL. Every team has an 'Adams', and very few teams have a Crosby, if any. Adams has his name on the Cup... twice? I mentioned team chemistry and good luck yesterday in my response to RW's blog, two things the Pens seem to be lacking that is NOT captured in all the fancy new statistics.
- skridscousin

I agree in general, but I don't see how Adams' Cup wins are relevant. Henri Richard has his name on the Stanley Cup more than any other person ever, but I don't think he'd perform too well on the 4th line today.

I think "bad" is an understatement.

But every time I see someone say "RW" on here, I do immediately think "Right Wing" first.
- jmatchett383

Maybe we should use R.W. to differentiate from the position,

Wayne Gretzky disagrees.

1985-86 Edmonton Oilers NHL 80 52 163 215
- jmatchett383

Lemieux was on pace for 218 points while taking 22 games off for cancer and radiation. Also won the scoring title by twelve!

Same blog regurgitated differently. Just because Sutter and his bottom 6 brethren suck (and they do, whether you give Sutter the "eye test" or not) doesn't mean Crosby and Malkin aren't playing poorly right now.

"The people who think Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang are the problem don't matter. Don't listen to them. They are stupid, so incredibly stupid."

No Ryan, you are ridiculous in these statements. You need a reality check. When you are paying 35% of the cap space on these three players, they better produce numbers.

You can throw out your ridiculous "fancy stats" on 87 all you want. But, he has not produced jack poop really. It comes down to production and his production isn't good recently. I think 87 certainly deserves some blame considering he DOESN'T SHOOT anymore. You don't shoot, you don't score. Not rocket science. Maybe people should stop listening to you because ...

Lemieux was on pace for 218 points while taking 22 games off for cancer and radiation. Also won the scoring title by twelve!
- Topshelf Mountain

No, they only played 80 games back then. Lemieux was on pace for 213. In an 82-game schedule, Gretzky was on pace for 220.

Also, on pace or not, he still only put up 160 (which was amazing).

I think 27 is a pretty realistic age for an athlete to *start* slowing down a little bit. they're probably at 99% now, 98% next year and will probably be above 90% into their mid 30s. after that it probably accelerates a little bit.

when i said past their peak, i definitely didn't mean that they were past it in significant terms
- poopmouth

Ahhh, gotcha. Agree with this assessment. The teams in a funk, same goes for Crosby. He's playing hard but looks frustrated and is making horrendous passes. Hopefully it comes to a head today.

I think "bad" is an understatement.

But every time I see someone say "RW" on here, I do immediately think "Right Wing" first.
- jmatchett383

Glad I'm not the only one

Major problem is still the defense. Bortuzzo and Scuderi on two pairings means if a team can forecheck youre going to be hemmed in more than not. Redundant in their inability to move the puck.

"The people who think Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang are the problem don't matter. Don't listen to them. They are stupid, so incredibly stupid." -RW

Ryan, please send me your address so I can mail you a copy of this:



Your content is often compelling and instructive, if you weren't such a jagoff in terms of the condescending, insulting method of your delivery, maybe people might have more respect for your hard work. Just my $.02, but your delivery makes a lot of people want to tune you out, myself included.

I happen to agree the Pens absolutely need better players in the bottom 6 to take the pressure off the stars, *but* to completely absolve 87/71/58 of the blame is incredibly myopic on your part. Here's why: The bottom 6 guys don't play on the powerplay, the STARS DO. This is a team that because of the noted shortcomings in its construction, NEEDS to score powerplay goals to win. You can show all the HERO/Corsi/Fenwick graphs and number you want, and you would be correct in the stance that Crosby and Malkin are driving possession and are playing well at even strength. That's great, but at some point you need to score goals too, and there is a DIRECT correlation to the Penguins success early in the year record-wise and their success on the PP. Since the PP has fallen off the cliff, they have been incredibly mediocre in terms of record. Bottom line is they are playing good hockey 5 on 5 for the most part, and losing on the play of special teams, ESPECIALLY the PP. If the Pens cash in and score a powerplay goal in any of the last 3 games, they likely win ALL 3 and we are talking about how they are turning the corner. This is where your stars are supposed to shine. And by the way, if your powerplay is a threat, it keeps the other teams honest in terms of taking liberties too.

I don't think by any means that the Pens struggles is ALL the fault of the stars, but based on the failure of the PP they have at least a significant amount of culpability and they should not be given a pass.

I guess this stance makes me incredibly stupid. So be it.
- Emperor Filonius

I support this post!

"The people who think Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang are the problem don't matter. Don't listen to them. They are stupid, so incredibly stupid." -RW

Ryan, please send me your address so I can mail you a copy of this:



Your content is often compelling and instructive, if you weren't such a jagoff in terms of the condescending, insulting method of your delivery, maybe people might have more respect for your hard work. Just my $.02, but your delivery makes a lot of people want to tune you out, myself included.

I happen to agree the Pens absolutely need better players in the bottom 6 to take the pressure off the stars, *but* to completely absolve 87/71/58 of the blame is incredibly myopic on your part. Here's why: The bottom 6 guys don't play on the powerplay, the STARS DO. This is a team that because of the noted shortcomings in its construction, NEEDS to score powerplay goals to win. You can show all the HERO/Corsi/Fenwick graphs and number you want, and you would be correct in the stance that Crosby and Malkin are driving possession and are playing well at even strength. That's great, but at some point you need to score goals too, and there is a DIRECT correlation to the Penguins success early in the year record-wise and their success on the PP. Since the PP has fallen off the cliff, they have been incredibly mediocre in terms of record. Bottom line is they are playing good hockey 5 on 5 for the most part, and losing on the play of special teams, ESPECIALLY the PP. If the Pens cash in and score a powerplay goal in any of the last 3 games, they likely win ALL 3 and we are talking about how they are turning the corner. This is where your stars are supposed to shine. And by the way, if your powerplay is a threat, it keeps the other teams honest in terms of taking liberties too.

I don't think by any means that the Pens struggles is ALL the fault of the stars, but based on the failure of the PP they have at least a significant amount of culpability and they should not be given a pass.

I guess this stance makes me incredibly stupid. So be it.
- Emperor Filonius

One of your best pieces IMO. RW needs some help really when it comes to seriously looking at the shortcomings. Blame the third and fourth lines, but give your stars the pass when they are collecting 35% of the cap space. It's laughable really.