.....and since the Penguins go to the power-play more than any other team, HOLY SMOKES THATS A LOT OF GOALS!!!!

They couldn't buy a penalty last year.

@DarrenDreger 1 minute ago
Penguins are happy with Phil Kessel. Worked with @GaryRobertsHPT this summer. Lost 13 lbs.


- usethe1-2-2

Penguins top two lines are going to be lights out if healthy. A motivated Phill Kessel with either Crosby or Malkin, could be a nightly highlight reel.

The Flyers' PP is textbook. Can the Pens trade for Mullen and ditch Tocchet?

.....and since the Penguins go to the power-play more than any other team, HOLY SMOKES THATS A LOT OF GOALS!!!!
- Charlie Conway

Pittsburgh had the most PIM awarded to it - they drew the most penalties. The problem is that they took the second most penalties in the NHL (second only to WPG) and finished 30th in differential at +134. This doesn't break down into all of the stupid things Steve Downie did and dissect the PIMs, it just shows that Pittsburgh found itself in out of control games more than any other team. That needs to stop right away.

I can't find video but Gary Roberts was down on the ice until he saw a stretcher coming. At that point he skated off with help from a few teammates. It doesn't take that long to reduct a bone and cast the leg; totally feasible that he could have been in the gym that night.
- Johnny Wrath

Well then my memory sucks....and that's completely badass!

As a Leaf fan I will miss Phil, but we are not even close to being a contender. He can easily help Pittsburg become a serious cup threat. He is a magnificent complimentary piece to go with Crosby or Malkin. Hope you guys have a great season.

As a Leaf fan I will miss Phil, but we are not even close to being a contender. He can easily help Pittsburg become a serious cup threat. He is a magnificent complimentary piece to go with Crosby or Malkin. Hope you guys have a great season.
- Canhockeyfan

Aw shucks, thanks.

I think Phil will have at least two really good looks at the net every game. If he lights it up on the power play I don't think 45 goals is too high a ceiling.

Aw shucks, thanks.

I think Phil will have at least two really good looks at the net every game. If he lights it up on the power play I don't think 45 goals is too high a ceiling.
- Johnny Wrath

Your powerplay is going to be Philthy.

Did you see what I did there? Did you see it?

But seriously, I'm going to love to watch it. He's got an incredibly quick release, and his passing skills under-rated.

Be prepared for a lot of PP goals where the goalie checks the open man, and the red light comes on.

Hear today that Phil has been working out with Gary Roberts and has lost 13 lbs The Michelin man is now Gumby

Hear today that Phil has been working out with Gary Roberts and has lost 13 lbs The Michelin man is now Gumby
- holeinone

Since he's been remarkably healthy, now he'll get hurt within 2 weeks. All of that extra blubber was padding.

I heard it's Heatley.
- Byfuglien Ate Me

Yeah, I'm going to make a point to watch some Penguins games long enough to see a few of their PPs. Kessel can just clean beat goalies from ridiculous places with that shot. Him with Sid and Malkin could be a nightmare for teams.

So for a guy that's never played, it looks like there are 3 main men - 81, 58/51 & 71, working the ice on the outside. Then 72 & Sir Sid in net waiting for the pass??

Is that formation defended by a player going 1 x 1 with the 3 outside pressuring them & a 'floater' around the net helping the goalie?

If so seems pretty simple to defend in principle to moi. Especially against sides like the Jets (who busted our PP last season), who are physically intimidating & very mobile. Just seems like hard PKers will defend that pretty easily especially if the guys on the outside can't shoot because of the pressure of their man on man defenders. 72 & Sir Sid won't see the puck?

So for a guy that's never played, it looks like there are 3 main men - 81, 58/51 & 71, working the ice on the outside. Then 72 & Sir Sid in net waiting for the pass??

Is that formation defended by a player going 1 x 1 with the 3 outside pressuring them & a 'floater' around the net helping the goalie?

If so seems pretty simple to defend in principle to moi. Especially against sides like the Jets (who busted our PP last season), who are physically intimidating & very mobile. Just seems like hard PKers will defend that pretty easily especially if the guys on the outside can't shoot because of the pressure of their man on man defenders. 72 & Sir Sid won't see the puck?
- Aussiepenguin

More complicated then that. It will rotate to overload to one side or the other as needed. Plus, the off side winger can shift between the circles and the low man takes his place. It's very fluid.

So for a guy that's never played, it looks like there are 3 main men - 81, 58/51 & 71, working the ice on the outside. Then 72 & Sir Sid in net waiting for the pass??

Is that formation defended by a player going 1 x 1 with the 3 outside pressuring them & a 'floater' around the net helping the goalie?

If so seems pretty simple to defend in principle to moi. Especially against sides like the Jets (who busted our PP last season), who are physically intimidating & very mobile. Just seems like hard PKers will defend that pretty easily especially if the guys on the outside can't shoot because of the pressure of their man on man defenders. 72 & Sir Sid won't see the puck?
- Aussiepenguin

Any pp can be dismantled if you put on the correct pressure....it is as simple as that. you pressure the guys on the walls and points to pass instead of shoot and you end up with a pp that passes all the time, shoots once or twice, losses the puck and then tries to do it again... sound familiar??

I would like the pens to set up the pp with the points maintaining the puck then 1 or 2 quick passes and shoot. le the guys down low get the rebound. I don't like how the pens force the puck down low so Sid can eat up 30-40 secs trying to skate around someone behind the net... they need to stop looking for the highlight goal and just shoot the puck.

I would also like them to slow it down at times, it is very easy to step around a guy and shoot if both their legs are together trying to block a shot..even if it is a quick pass for someone else to shoot real quick..

Any pp can be dismantled if you put on the correct pressure....it is as simple as that. you pressure the guys on the walls and points to pass instead of shoot and you end up with a pp that passes all the time, shoots once or twice, losses the puck and then tries to do it again... sound familiar??

I would like the pens to set up the pp with the points maintaining the puck then 1 or 2 quick passes and shoot. le the guys down low get the rebound. I don't like how the pens force the puck down low so Sid can eat up 30-40 secs trying to skate around someone behind the net... they need to stop looking for the highlight goal and just shoot the puck.

I would also like them to slow it down at times, it is very easy to step around a guy and shoot if both their legs are together trying to block a shot..even if it is a quick pass for someone else to shoot real quick..
- nh4442

So a player going in behind the net is not good? I would think that he would be the joker having an opportunity either side of the net to pass or go the wrap around goal??

I can also see having a player between the dots causing trouble & having a D man on him leaving more room around the hash marks to move pass or shoot.

More complicated then that. It will rotate to overload to one side or the other as needed. Plus, the off side winger can shift between the circles and the low man takes his place. It's very fluid.
- cranktheradio

It just seems the 3 D marking the outside form a wall that will restrict the passing/shooting lanes, & in so not getting good passes or shots on goal.

It just seems the 3 D marking the outside form a wall that will restrict the passing/shooting lanes, & in so not getting good passes or shots on goal.
- Aussiepenguin

If they play too tight to the 3 high players then they go low with the puck to make them shift. This will open up one of the walls or the point with some quick movement. Plus, if Sid is one of the 2 low players he'll disrupt the diamond as soon as he touches it.

If they play too tight to the 3 high players then they go low with the puck to make them shift. This will open up one of the walls or the point with some quick movement. Plus, if Sid is one of the 2 low players he'll disrupt the diamond as soon as he touches it.
- cranktheradio

But this is the thing that I see, the outside guys will be pressured & not able to get clear passes. If Sid gets anything he will have to work hard but will have the floater on him. I don't get it because I've never played/experienced it, but from a logical point I can see a lot of interference corrupting the play. Add the physical element & it's Kaos.

But this is the thing that I see, the outside guys will be pressured & not able to get clear passes. If Sid gets anything he will have to work hard but will have the floater on him. I don't get it because I've never played/experienced it, but from a logical point I can see a lot of interference corrupting the play. Add the physical element & it's Kaos.
- Aussiepenguin

In theory you're correct as to how the diamond style PK would work. However, once on the ice they'll have to shift like a zone defense in basketball. Malkin and Kessel will also be sliding up high at times and towards the center ice. I've played for many years, and as a defender you're head is constantly on a swivel. Too aggressive and the PP guys can skate past you. This setup wouldn't work for every team, but with the Pens having 5 great shots and 4 great playmakers on the ice it could work perfectly.

Remember, When that puck goes to Kessel Crosby can slide into the slot bringing the high defender low for a pass back to Letang creating a shot and chaos.

PP1 - Sid, malkin, kessel, horn, letang
PP2 - Kunitz, Perron, bonino, Pouliot, maatta

I like those 2 units

I believe Kessel will affect 5 on 5. It's his shot, quick release and power combined. But, I've said it before, The PP will improve by leaps and bounds. Drooling at the prospect!

If you trot out the same exact strategy power play after power play no matter what adjustments the penalty kill makes, eventually you get figured out.

At the beginning of last year, teams sat back. And the Penguins responded by scoring dirty goals.

Then teams started to chase more, apply more pressure. And the Penguins didn't adjust.

The PP needs to be more variable. In fact, the team as a whole needs to be more variable.

The same staid "do what we do" approach to adjustments was passed from Bylsma to Johnston.

If you trot out the same exact strategy power play after power play no matter what adjustments the penalty kill makes, eventually you get figured out.

At the beginning of last year, teams sat back. And the Penguins responded by scoring dirty goals.

Then teams started to chase more, apply more pressure. And the Penguins didn't adjust.

The PP needs to be more variable. In fact, the team as a whole needs to be more variable.

The same staid "do what we do" approach to adjustments was passed from Bylsma to Johnston.
- hardnosed

There's some truth to what you're saying, but many nights they had chances to get pucks on net (just like earlier in the season) and they continued to defer and look for the perfect play.

Edit: It's funny, Yohe just did an article on the Pens PP. Here's a couple of excerpts.

Tocchet sounds interested in balancing the power play, so that Crosby and Malkin aren’t monopolizing the puck. This might, in reality, make them less predictable and more dangerous.

“One thing I really like about Phil is that he shoots the puck,” Tocchet said. “He’s not the kind of guy who is going to over-pass. When he’s coming off the half wall, I want him to shoot it. And that’s exactly what he does.”

They also prefer that Kessel displays an impulsive nature with the puck. The coaching staff often becomes frustrated when Letang refuses to shoot, instead forcing passes to Crosby and Malkin, both of whom can be demanding.

If you trot out the same exact strategy power play after power play no matter what adjustments the penalty kill makes, eventually you get figured out.

At the beginning of last year, teams sat back. And the Penguins responded by scoring dirty goals.

Then teams started to chase more, apply more pressure. And the Penguins didn't adjust.

The PP needs to be more variable. In fact, the team as a whole needs to be more variable.

The same staid "do what we do" approach to adjustments was passed from Bylsma to Johnston.
- hardnosed

- we need PP plan B & C as well! A few more penalties thrown in the mix will help as well!