Didn't watch but I'm gonna go ahead and run off the assumption that if the score was 1-4 it wasn't good. I'm curious to know how Pouliot did with Letang more so than how our other two pairs did. Our second pairing didn't have NHL talents and our third pairing of Scuderi-Gonchar was, well, Scuderi-Gonchar.
- Victoro311

The Gonchar Scuds pair is probably the most intriguing just to see how it actually went. If they tanked badly then there's not much MJ could possibly say, I do realise he's not going to public ally put a line through them but he comes across as a guy that does try to be honest in his assessments. If you watch the other day he was asked about the WBS players & he was quite crafty in his replies not actually answering the questions asked & getting around saying they aren't good enough.

So it will be interesting once we see what he said.

The Gonchar Scuds pair is probably the most intriguing just to see how it actually went. If they tanked badly then there's not much MJ could possibly say, I do realise he's not going to public ally put a line through them but he comes across as a guy that does try to be honest in his assessments. If you watch the other day he was asked about the WBS players & he was quite crafty in his replies not actually answering the questions asked & getting around saying they aren't good enough.

So it will be interesting once we see what he said.
- Aussiepenguin

Scuds and Gonch together. I'm not sure if MJ was torturing them or the fan base.

Ok people, how did the D go against The Habs?

Can we put a red line through Gonchar definitively?
- Aussiepenguin

I watched most of the game last night. 3 players that really stood out to me were Sprong, Rust and Pouliet. Sprong and Rust in a positive way, Pouliot not so much. He mad some terrible passes and decisions. I can totally see him starting in the AHL this year.

Warsofsky looked decent to me. Bonino as well.

As a whole I actually thought the Pens held their own for long stretches of the game, especially considering the rosters.

Should also note the penalties....Pens took quite a few.

Should also note the penalties....Pens took quite a few.
- MattStrat

Penalties have been a huge problem from the first game. MJ said that was one thing he wanted resolved but so far they've done jack poop in resolving that, they start that way & doesn't matter who the D is we will be under pressure no matter what.

I watched most of the game last night. 3 players that really stood out to me were Sprong, Rust and Pouliet. Sprong and Rust in a positive way, Pouliot not so much. He mad some terrible passes and decisions. I can totally see him starting in the AHL this year.

Warsofsky looked decent to me. Bonino as well.

As a whole I actually thought the Pens held their own for long stretches of the game, especially considering the rosters.
- MattStrat

I listened to some of it & sounded like the WBS guys were really going at it hard. Nothing wrong with that!

Be interesting when they make the cuts who gets that last spot.

I listened to some of it & sounded like the WBS guys were really going at it hard. Nothing wrong with that!

Be interesting when they make the cuts who gets that last spot.
- Aussiepenguin

Yeah working real hard but cant score.....sounds familiar...

Yeah working real hard but cant score.....sounds familiar...
- MattStrat

Yes the ol 29er actually pointed out that fact. Said we've had hard working guys on the team but now need the players that will or able to take the next step. Hard work just isn't good enough anymore. He was referring to the WBS players who were playing well.

http://www.theplayerstrib...es-neal-predators-sniper/

Love him or hate him, this is a really interesting article. Makes me even more impressed with Sprong that he's already shown an ability to score at this level. Also I found the switching sides part extremely interesting. Moral of the story: you just don't know how switching sides will effect different players. James Neal was switched at the conclusion of his development as a prospect which gives me faith that you can teach an old dog new tricks. There is no down side to trying both the older dog (Hornqvist) and the young pup (Sprong) on their off wing for a few preseason games or a meaningless stretch at the beginning of the season. If Sprong is ready for a top six wing role, and someone pans out on their off wing, that opens up the possibility to trade Kunitz or Perron for top 4 d help

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/james-neal-predators-sniper/

Love him or hate him, this is a really interesting article. Makes me even more impressed with Sprong that he's already shown an ability to score at this level. Also I found the switching sides part extremely interesting. Moral of the story: you just don't know how switching sides will effect different players. James Neal was switched at the conclusion of his development as a prospect which gives me faith that you can teach an old dog new tricks. There is no down side to trying both the older dog (Hornqvist) and the young pup (Sprong) on their off wing for a few preseason games or a meaningless stretch at the beginning of the season. If Sprong is ready for a top six wing role, and someone pans out on their off wing, that opens up the possibility to trade Kunitz or Perron for top 4 d help
- Victoro311

Yohe has been raving about Sprong. Pouliot, not so much. Sounds like DP is playing his way off the roster. Clendening anyone?

Yohe has been raving about Sprong. Pouliot, not so much. Sounds like DP is playing his way off the roster. Clendening anyone?
- madmike71

I haven't seen enough of them play to make any real judgements. Pouliot in that limited time has looked the same to me as he did last year. Which is pretty uneven. He'll make a good play and a bad play on the same shift. He didn't do much in the rookie tournent but didn't make a bunch of mistakes either.

I haven't seen enough of them play to make any real judgements. Pouliot in that limited time has looked the same to me as he did last year. Which is pretty uneven. He'll make a good play and a bad play on the same shift. He didn't do much in the rookie tournent but didn't make a bunch of mistakes either.
- jfkst1

The state of the Defense is quite concerning. Doesn't seem to be any reliability besides Letang, Maata, Cole, Lovejoy. And the top two guys are a bit fragile after all the concussions and surgeries.

I haven't seen enough of them play to make any real judgements. Pouliot in that limited time has looked the same to me as he did last year. Which is pretty uneven. He'll make a good play and a bad play on the same shift. He didn't do much in the rookie tournent but didn't make a bunch of mistakes either.
- jfkst1

It's hard to judge these guys because they're not playing with and against full rosters of NHL players.

Just by reading into MJ comments about those two, he's really pleased with Sprong...maybe even surprised. It's the opposite for Pouliot. Started the year by citing a couple of flaws in his game and really hasn't offered much praise at all.

We knew he was "uneven" last year, but for me personally, I'd was hoping to see less of that.

Not impressed with PK last night. Pretty terrible.

It's hard to judge these guys because they're not playing with and against full rosters of NHL players.

Just by reading into MJ comments about those two, he's really pleased with Sprong...maybe even surprised. It's the opposite for Pouliot. Started the year by citing a couple of flaws in his game and really hasn't offered much praise at all.

We knew he was "uneven" last year, but for me personally, I'd was hoping to see less of that.
- madmike71

Well he was injured and not sure how long he has been skating.

The state of the Defense is quite concerning. Doesn't seem to be any reliability besides Letang, Maata, Cole, Lovejoy. And the top two guys are a bit fragile after all the concussions and surgeries.
- chimpira

I half-expected a combo of those four to be the top two pairings to start the season. Obviously it's not ideal, but Cole and Lovejoy could be a solid defensive pairing that can absorb a lot of the tougher deployments.

It's hard to judge these guys because they're not playing with and against full rosters of NHL players.

Just by reading into MJ comments about those two, he's really pleased with Sprong...maybe even surprised. It's the opposite for Pouliot. Started the year by citing a couple of flaws in his game and really hasn't offered much praise at all.

We knew he was "uneven" last year, but for me personally, I'd was hoping to see less of that.
- madmike71

Yeah as a top 10 pick, I expect Pouliot to be a difference maker on the ice. Especially when they passed up Forsberg, an already elite winger, for him. His numbers weren't bad last year, but they weren't great either. He needs to show some improvement. It's all mental with him IMO.

Not impressed with PK last night. Pretty terrible.
- powerhouse

Even when we had the PK and Shot Suppression Specialist and a 2-time Stanley Cup Champion, Bobert "The Scud Missile" Scuderi??

Even when we had the PK and Shot Suppression Specialist and a 2-time Stanley Cup Champion, Bobert "The Scud Missile" Scuderi??
- chimpira

If he could morph into a shooter tutor he would be more effective.

Yeah as a top 10 pick, I expect Pouliot to be a difference maker on the ice. Especially when they passed up Forsberg, an already elite winger, for him. His numbers weren't bad last year, but they weren't great either. He needs to show some improvement. It's all mental with him IMO.
- jfkst1

When MJ made those comments early about his "first step" needing to be quicker, I thought that was a red flag. It seems he's thinking and not reacting fast enough. That's exactly what I see, he's just slow to react especially in the D zone. The hands and vision is there, but NHL players will exploit his slow reaction time.

Yohe has been raving about Sprong. Pouliot, not so much. Sounds like DP is playing his way off the roster. Clendening anyone?
- madmike71

Clendening has shown me enough to warrant some time up here.

As for Pouliot, he looks like he needs time in the AHL. It's not hard to see. He also is waiver exempt so why not send him down? It will help his development and no one said we can't call him up in January if he is killing it.

Also, with Clendening, he has a good outlet pass and heads up skating style that MJ likes. I wouldn't be surprised to see him get time up here to start the season.

When MJ made those comments early about his "first step" needing to be quicker, I thought that was a red flag. It seems he's thinking and not reacting fast enough. That's exactly what I see, he's just slow to react especially in the D zone. The hands and vision is there, but NHL players will exploit his slow reaction time.
- madmike71

For years Pouliot was so far above everyone in his skating ability he never had to be the aggressor. Now he does and it's very unnatural. A stint in the AHL should be a good thing for him.

How do you guys see Fleury doing this year, and as a result the Pens finishing in the East? Do you think the D will hold up and he'll put up decent regular season numbers?

I saw the comments by the guy above, I'm asking genuinely.

Are we talking about letting Pouliot develop more in the AHL? Hmmm seems just a few weeks ago I was told how bad of an idea that was when I said it.

For years Pouliot was so far above everyone in his skating ability he never had to be the aggressor. Now he does and it's very unnatural. A stint in the AHL should be a good thing for him.
- usethe1-2-2

I'm skeptical he'll learn much at the AHL level. He was already dominant there last year. Ideally they could put Lovejoy and Pouliot together on the 3rd pairing. But I'll probably end up being Scuderi "mentoring" him.