I'll pencil in time with my shrink during my next session.
- Victoro311

Good comeback, we are good! I resent any difference between Canadians or Americans or Russians If you are kidding my apologies

So Fehr is saying JR talked to him about being a top 6 winger or 3C. I'd be interested to see him given a shot playing top line wing to dig the puck out of the corners and play in front of the net. If that happened to work out well, it just adds more skill down the roster:

Fehr-Crosby-Kessel
Perron-Malkin-Hornqvist
Kunitz-Bonino-Dupes
Plot-Sundqvist-Bennett

Probably not likely that he would work on the top line, but I feel like Fehr-Perron-Kunitz-Plot all can me switched in and out of lines to find what works best. That still leaves Wilson, Rust, Sheary, etc for depth/injury call ups. JR can crush the offseason if he can somehow move Scuderi and get another veteran D. It's been years since we've seen close to this much depth at forward.

Good comeback, we are good! I resent any difference between Canadians or Americans or Russians If you are kidding my apologies
- flyerdude17

Haha 100% kidding. Honestly, all joking aside I have a weird affinity to Russian players, not American ones.

Spinning off the blog headline that Pittsburgh finally "gets it"....thinking back to how the Pens were in on Panarin, Tikhonov, and Mike Reilly....combined with Kessel and Sutter moves, I really do like everything JR is doing. Aggressively pursuing free assets and targeting/shipping out players based on hockey abilities rather than intangibles.

Grit and Character was the worst concept ever for building a roster. JR and his minions are working in harmony and creating a team that fits the coaches system.

So Fehr is saying JR talked to him about being a top 6 winger or 3C. I'd be interested to see him given a shot playing top line wing to dig the puck out of the corners and play in front of the net. If that happened to work out well, it just adds more skill down the roster:

Fehr-Crosby-Kessel
Perron-Malkin-Hornqvist
Kunitz-Bonino-Dupes
Plot-Sundqvist-Bennett

Probably not likely that he would work on the top line, but I feel like Fehr-Perron-Kunitz-Plot all can me switched in and out of lines to find what works best. That still leaves Wilson, Rust, Sheary, etc for depth/injury call ups. JR can crush the offseason if he can somehow move Scuderi and get another veteran D. It's been years since we've seen close to this much depth at forward.
- mw630

Agree. So many interesting combinations. I still think Kuni will be playing with Sid until further notice........but what a great day for the Pens.

I see both Fehr and Bonino as 3Cs or top 9 wingers. I say let chemistry dictate who slots where. If I'm guessing I'd say Bonino ends up as 3C and Fehr ends up playing top 9 wing. If Sundqvist ends up not being ready for 4th line duties, then one of those two can take over at 4C. Likely Bonino.
- Victoro311

The nice thing is Bonino has played LW and Center. Fehr has played RW and center (and a little bit on LW). I believe Fehr is the better face off guy. So I could see Bonino and Fehr both playing on the 3rd line. Fehr may not be ready to start the season, so there will be time to work out the bottom lines (We know that coach MJ likes to switch up the lines "a lot" anyways).

Agree. So many interesting combinations. I still think Kuni will be playing with Sid until further notice........but what a great day for the Pens.
- madmike71

I'm with you, I think Kunitz still makes the most sense. Either way, as long as Kunitz/Fehr/Hornqvist are on 3 separate lines, we have 3 agitators that go to the dirty areas to get the puck and hopefully score some goals. Those are the types of players we've been missing.

The more I've watched Kessel highlights, the more I think he 100% has to play with Crosby. 1) He's got the top end speed to keep up with him 2) It seems like the majority of the goals he scores, he finds his way to the soft spot in the defense and they get him the puck with a clear shooting lane. Crosby is perfect for setting that up. 3) Kessel also almost always looks to shoot first, before passing. This team has been maddening the last 3 years refusing to take the open shot and looking for the perfect pass.

All of this will depend on them staying healthy, but man this is an exciting offseason.

So Fehr is saying JR talked to him about being a top 6 winger or 3C. I'd be interested to see him given a shot playing top line wing to dig the puck out of the corners and play in front of the net. If that happened to work out well, it just adds more skill down the roster:

Fehr-Crosby-Kessel
Perron-Malkin-Hornqvist
Kunitz-Bonino-Dupes
Plot-Sundqvist-Bennett

Probably not likely that he would work on the top line, but I feel like Fehr-Perron-Kunitz-Plot all can me switched in and out of lines to find what works best. That still leaves Wilson, Rust, Sheary, etc for depth/injury call ups. JR can crush the offseason if he can somehow move Scuderi and get another veteran D. It's been years since we've seen close to this much depth at forward.
- mw630

I would go with

Perron-Sid-Hornqvist
Plotnikov-Malkin-Kessel
Kunitz-Bonino-Dupuis
Sundqvist-Fehr-Bennett

but you raise a good point, the entire set of LW can be moved around. Bonino I feel has a better chance of playing in the top 6 at wing than Fehr. But all in all, a lot of flexibility and a ton of depth.

Actually, 11 of those 12 guys could potentially play in the top 6!

edit: Right handers - 5..... left handers - 7 ...good balance

Well, we did make a big breakthrough last time, what with discovering your traumatic childhood video game exposure. Let me know when you're available for another session, we'll get you through this turbulent time.
- BulliesPhan87

You're just sour that I'm not a Flyers fan right now

I would go with

Perron-Sid-Hornqvist
Plotnikov-Malkin-Kessel
Kunitz-Bonino-Dupuis
Sundqvist-Fehr-Bennett

but you raise a good point, the entire set of LW can be moved around. Bonino I feel has a better chance of playing in the top 6 at wing than Fehr. But all in all, a lot of flexibility and a ton of depth.

Actually, 11 of those 12 guys could potentially play in the top 6!

edit: Right handers - 5..... left handers - 7 ...good balance
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Just think, if we didn't have Scuderi we would have no debilitating contracts on this team, we'd have Franson, and there would be no visible holes on the roster. Our defense wouldn't be elite, but it'd be talented and our forward depth (what the hell?) and goaltending would be able to pick up the slack. I really, really like this team

Clendenning has 23 goals and 100 assists for 123 points in 196 AHL games bub
- j0e Th0rnton

You're a visitor so you don't know but we don't tolerate that type of language in our blog! Keep it to socially acceptable standards & you'll be sweet mate!

Just think, if we didn't have Scuderi we would have no debilitating contracts on this team, we'd have Franson, and there would be no visible holes on the roster. Our defense wouldn't be elite, but it'd be talented and our forward depth (what the hell?) and goaltending would be able to pick up the slack. I really, really like this team
- Victoro311

Still a huge question mark on our D. They will need a year together before we can win anything in my opinion, but with the changes JR has made, I am hoping that the team can stay together & not to keep having to turn over players - play together & get some cohesion & then watch this team explode.

As Matchette points out there is still too many D up, so it appears JR may have another move to make (probably/definitely looking at Scuds but whether or not that's going to happen???? ).

I didn't know everyone though Sutter sucked so bad. I remember when he was on Carolina wearing the "A" at like 20 years old

I didn't know everyone though Sutter sucked so bad. I remember when he was on Carolina wearing the "A" at like 20 years old
- Springsteen

You only have to look at 'any' of Ryan's blogs & the comments that follow to see the unabated hatred a lot here have of Sutter - doesn't matter what the blog is about it always without fail got to trading/giving away/injurying/killing Sutter & his 3.3m cap hit.

Still a huge question mark on our D. They will need a year together before we can win anything in my opinion, but with the changes JR has made, I am hoping that the team can stay together & not to keep having to turn over players - play together & get some cohesion & then watch this team explode.

As Matchette points out there is still too many D up, so it appears JR may have another move to make (probably/definitely looking at Scuds but whether or not that's going to happen???? ).
- Aussiepenguin

Big Q's on D for sure this coming season. That's why I wish there was some way to unload Scuderi and sign Franson. A D core of Letang, Maatta, Pouliot, Franson, Dumoulin, and Cole with Lovejoy as your 7th guy isn't amazing (would be in a few years) but it could definitely get the job done on a team as talented up front and in net as ours.

Penguins getting better

Flyers signing Sean Couturier for $4.33M a year for 6 years.

I wondered why all the Flyers fans left our blog. They know they would get laughed out of here with that waste of money.

Sean Couturier is only 22, but he hasn't had more than 15 goals and 39 points in a season.

Gotta hand it to Pitts...some nice work this off-season. I think one of the best off-seasons of anyone. To make the trade for Kessell and not give up Derek Pouliiout (sp) while not taking on entire salary was a solid move. The moves today are just icing on the cake.

I am not a Pens fan, but when the Pens are doing well everyone around the city is so much nicer so I do like them doing well.

I didn't know everyone though Sutter sucked so bad. I remember when he was on Carolina wearing the "A" at like 20 years old
- Springsteen

Beyond his abhorrent fancy stats, he disappears for long stretches. I used to buy into the argument that he had crappy line-mates, but I gave up on him this year. He consistently loses puck battles......he never comes away with the puck. Never!

Credit where credit is due. He was a pretty good player the last two playoffs....and he was occasionally "clutch".

Penguins getting better

Flyers signing Sean Couturier for $4.4M a year for 6 years.

I wondered why all the Flyers fans left our blog. They know they would get laughed out of here with that waste of money.

Sean Couturier is only 22, but he hasn't had more than 15 goals and 39 points in a season.
- so_buzz11

To be fair, though, who has Sean Couturier had to play with? The Flyers don't have much in the way of forwards after their top 6.

EDIT: Never mind. Forgot he mostly played in the top 6 last year. Still, that contract could work out if the Flyers got more talent.

Beyond his abhorrent fancy stats, he disappears for long stretches. I used to buy into the argument that he had crappy line-mates, but I gave up on him this year. He consistently loses puck battles......he never comes away with the puck. Never!

Credit where credit is due. He was a pretty good player the last two playoffs....and he was occasionally "clutch".
- madmike71

Well then. It looks like you made off pretty well

Well then. It looks like you made off pretty well
- Springsteen

I think the reason people are so elated is because we got (probably) a better player back at a much cheaper cap hit, plus we get Fehr who, in my eyes, is a much better player. Two players for nearly the same cap hit as Sutter. Not to mention Sutter only has one year left on his contract. Old Ruth hit it out of the park today.

Because there's been too many feel good vibes going around and Sammy and OP aren't around to remind us we still suck, I thought I'd share this possibly negative implication these moves may have had.

Since Fehr and Bonino will both be on the 2016-2017 roster, and Fehr a year after that even, do you think this will affect our ability to retain Bleuger? There's already little reason for him not to test free agency after his senior season and now there's a log jam at C with Crosby, Malkin, Fehr, Bonino, and Sundqvist all looking to take spots. Fehr, Bonino, and Sundqvist can all play wing, as can Bleuger, so perhaps he can still se a spot for himself on our roster wither at C or LW, but if we're thinking in terms of the 2016-2017 season when Bleuger would be turning pro, Kunitz, Dupuis, and Bonino are all still on the books, making the roster spots scarce.

Obviously this is pretty irrelevant since Bleuger could still be a non-factor in the NHL, but just something to keep tabs on moving forward.

I'm with you, I think Kunitz still makes the most sense. Either way, as long as Kunitz/Fehr/Hornqvist are on 3 separate lines, we have 3 agitators that go to the dirty areas to get the puck and hopefully score some goals. Those are the types of players we've been missing.

The more I've watched Kessel highlights, the more I think he 100% has to play with Crosby. 1) He's got the top end speed to keep up with him 2) It seems like the majority of the goals he scores, he finds his way to the soft spot in the defense and they get him the puck with a clear shooting lane. Crosby is perfect for setting that up. 3) Kessel also almost always looks to shoot first, before passing. This team has been maddening the last 3 years refusing to take the open shot and looking for the perfect pass.

All of this will depend on them staying healthy, but man this is an exciting offseason.
- mw630

I know I'll take heat for this but I'd love to give Duper a chance on the top line if his legs come back to where they were pre injuries. Dupuis-Crosby- Kessel would enter the zone with so much speed it'd be insane. A second line of Perron- Malkin- Hornqvist would be nice as well as they all play that rope a dope, turn back and regroup style of offense. Duper does the dirty work on line 1, Horny on 2. Allowing the other 2 to weave their magic.

Dupuis- Crosby- Kessel
Perron- Malkin- Hornqvist
Kunitz- Bonino- Bennett
Plotnikov- Fehr- Sheary/Wilson/Sundqvist/Rust


That is a DEEP offense.

Because there's been too many feel good vibes going around and Sammy and OP aren't around to remind us we still suck, I thought I'd share this possibly negative implication these moves may have had.

Since Fehr and Bonino will both be on the 2016-2017 roster, and Fehr a year after that even, do you think this will affect our ability to retain Bleuger? There's already little reason for him not to test free agency after his senior season and now there's a log jam at C with Crosby, Malkin, Fehr, Bonino, and Sundqvist all looking to take spots. Fehr, Bonino, and Sundqvist can all play wing, as can Bleuger, so perhaps he can still se a spot for himself on our roster wither at C or LW, but if we're thinking in terms of the 2016-2017 season when Bleuger would be turning pro, Kunitz, Dupuis, and Bonino are all still on the books, making the roster spots scarce.

Obviously this is pretty irrelevant since Bleuger could still be a non-factor in the NHL, but just something to keep tabs on moving forward.
- Victoro311

Bonino can play LW and Fehr can play RW (maybe LW also) as well as center. This is why I like players like this - they give the team flexibility. You have 2 "centers" on a line and you can "cheat" on face-offs and win more face-offs. Who knows, you could have this in our bottom 6 in 2 years:
Bonino - Fehr - Bennett
Sundqvist - Bleuger - Wilson

Bonino can play LW and Fehr can play RW (maybe LW also) as well as center. This is why I like players like this - they give the team flexibility. You have 2 "centers" on a line and you can "cheat" on face-offs and win more face-offs. Who says you could have this in our bottom 6 in 2 years:
Bonino - Fehr - Bennett
Sundqvist - Bleuger - Wilson
- so_buzz11

That's an insane bottom 6. Basically two third lines. I'm not saying there's no place for Bleuger, because there definitely is if he plays up to his potential and seizes the opportunity. Just saying he may want to go to a situation where he thinks he can play a more favorable/prominent role right away. I've always liked Bleuger. Hope he stays loyal to the organization that drafted him, but honestly, he owes us nothing at the end of the day.