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.
- Willaged

You wont get any beef from me. (shocker given my username) But I've actually said the same thing before. If Duper plays like he did at the start of last year, a big IF, he's the perfect 3rd wheel to Sid and Kessel.

Its funny, im so accustomed to a poopty 3rd line and even pooptier fourth line that I dont want to "waste" Fehr and Plotnikov on the 4th line. I forgot what depth looks like.

hypothetical, now that we have Bonino/Fehr to center the 3rd line...would any of you changed your stance on Semin at $1M? He could be a good 3rd line RW with a good center.

I agree I would not have wanted him with Sutter..

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.
- Victoro311

You want a checking line:
Sundqvist - Fehr - Plotnikov
You want a scoring line:
Sheary - Bleuger - Bennett
The Pens are just so much better. I'm sure Bleuger is pulling a Mike Reilly trick, but he will have another year to see how the Pens progress, and you never know he may want to stay with the Stanley Cup Winners (next year)!

hypothetical, now that we have Bonino/Fehr to center the 3rd line...would any of you changed your stance on Semin at $1M? He could be a good 3rd line RW with a good center.

I agree I would not have wanted him with Sutter..
- YouMeAndDupuis9

We can talk about line combos all day long but I think at the end of the day when the season starts we're gonna see a lot of shuffling. We have so many options available that it would be stupid not to. That way we keep things from getting stagnant as they always do and what combos would work best for the playoffs.

As for Semin I actually want him less now. We just don't need him. I'd rather have the cap wiggle room.

We can talk about line combos all day long but I think at the end of the day when the season starts we're gonna see a lot of shuffling. We have so many options available that it would be stupid not to. That way we keep things from getting stagnant as they always do and what combos would work best for the playoffs.

As for Semin I actually want him less now. We just don't need him. I'd rather have the cap wiggle room.
- Victoro311

well considering he already signed in Montreal... i dont think you have anything to worry about.

but i agree with you. this team is solid from top to bottom not just on 1-D players who cant do anything else besides score. they are actually a very solid and deep team on both sides of the ice.

very excited for the season.

The rest of the league is shaking in their boots right now

We can talk about line combos all day long but I think at the end of the day when the season starts we're gonna see a lot of shuffling. We have so many options available that it would be stupid not to. That way we keep things from getting stagnant as they always do and what combos would work best for the playoffs.

As for Semin I actually want him less now. We just don't need him. I'd rather have the cap wiggle room.
- Victoro311

Coach MJ has to love all these possibilities. I could see him doing something different like Perron on the 3rd line just to spread out the talent.

And agree on Semin. I really wanted him pre Kessel, but with that RH sniper role filled I didn't see as good of a fit and we don't want an unmotivated Semin. Nice fit for Montreal though.

Since I'm a greedy (frank) and can't be happy with the toys I have now I'm pouting hard about the Scuderi-Franson situation. Having one last gaping hole in our line up hurts even worse when we're as close as we are.

hypothetical, now that we have Bonino/Fehr to center the 3rd line...would any of you changed your stance on Semin at $1M? He could be a good 3rd line RW with a good center.

I agree I would not have wanted him with Sutter..
- YouMeAndDupuis9

No the pens did exactly what I hoped they would do and should of. Alex Semin may have lit it up with Malkin.... May have. No guarantee, any other spot and I just wouldn't want him. Fehr actually produces in a lesser capacity, so he was the best pickup. Semin fits in fine in Mtl cause of their lack of wingers.

Lets just wait to do lines combos okay


lets just pray scuds is moved or sent packing to ahl and someone picks him up lol

- Guile

Hahahaha. This hit me pretty good.

You wont get any beef from me. (shocker given my username) But I've actually said the same thing before. If Duper plays like he did at the start of last year, a big IF, he's the perfect 3rd wheel to Sid and Kessel.

Its funny, im so accustomed to a poopty 3rd line and even pooptier fourth line that I dont want to "waste" Fehr and Plotnikov on the 4th line. I forgot what depth looks like.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Dupuis is so overlooked for Crosbys line... He was the guy that always went and got the puck for 87. Skill isn't there but they have 81+87 on his line. I think its a good mix and look forward to seeing it work.

Very rarely chime in here, but so happy to come home from a miserable surgery to this news. It's been quite a few years since I was this anxious for a season to start. Might be the meds, but I just can't recall the last time I thought the Pens went into a season with such a complete set of forwards top to bottom...I know it had to start with 199x

Are there any gentleman's clubs in oc nj?

The rest of the league is shaking in their boots right now
- vertigo1061

The Pens will be just like CBJ, stacked in the forward lineup and weak defensively. It might work if they stay healthy.

The Pens will be just like CBJ, stacked in the forward lineup and weak defensively. It might work if they stay healthy.
- jfkst1

I maintain that we have the second best defense in the Met behind the Rags.

I maintain that we have the second best defense in the Met behind the Rags.
- Victoro311

I'd say we're pretty even with the Islanders for second. I think Letang, when healthy, is the best out of the group. But Islanders have more quality defenseman than we do currently - but it's pretty close. If JR can make one more miracle and unload Scuderi to free up cap to sign another veteran D, I think we have the second best.

Holy Lord and great balls of fire!!!

My faith in this organization has been restored!!!

So, depth in the forward ranks. Not sure what to do with my hands right now
- usethe1-2-2

Exactly.

+1

I maintain that we have the second best defense in the Met behind the Rags.
- Victoro311

We'll see. They are a wild card. Depends on health and player development.

Michael Augello retweeted

Aaron Eggerichs @aaroneggs4
Breaking News: Inside source from the Twins-Pirates game (Matt Cooke himself) says Matt Cooke is heading back to Pittsburgh @Buccigross

We'll see. They are a wild card. Depends on health and player development.
- jfkst1

First month gonna be rough then the boys will get it figured out. Have faith, its July.

Michael Augello retweeted

Aaron Eggerichs @aaroneggs4
Breaking News: Inside source from the Twins-Pirates game (Matt Cooke himself) says Matt Cooke is heading back to Pittsburgh @Buccigross
- Fruitcakenipple

WUT?

Michael Augello retweeted

Aaron Eggerichs @aaroneggs4
Breaking News: Inside source from the Twins-Pirates game (Matt Cooke himself) says Matt Cooke is heading back to Pittsburgh @Buccigross
- Fruitcakenipple

Now I'm depressed that Barts is no longer with us.

That said, bringing Cooke back is a mistake. He's got nothing left in the tank. That roster spot would be better served being given to a WBS guy

MJ has to love the options he has now. The first few weeks will surely have new combos every game. Now maybe I've missed someone else saying this, but the best part of this 4 solid scoring lines with no offensive black holes is being able to move around Sid or Geno or double shift them. They will be with quality wingers no matter where they move down to and it will actually be effective to do so if we need to get them away from a bad match-up. I mean if Kunitz and Dupuis are the third line wingers we can sneak Crosby down while the other team's bottom D pairing is out etc.