Throughout large sample size. Exactly. Not 7 games at the start of a season with like 9 new players on the roster and 3 coming back from crazy injury/surgeries/diseases.

What this team needs is some shuffling of lines....and time.
- MattStrat

Yep

WOW!!! So this team isn't soft enough? We are going to trade the one guy who works his tail off hits and goes to the net!!! To Funny!!!
- lloyd095

i think a lot of the thought is that it would have to be for a LW who does a lot of the same stuff

Yeah I understand that but it seems like an almost selling low kind of situation.
- Cptmjl

I think the point is that his value isn't going to be low due to this 7 game slump. He has a modified NTC and this is too early into the season. Not to mention, Pens acquired him a little over a year ago. I think Hornqvist would be one of the last Pens to be traded. That said, he and Maatta are the biggest disappointments for the team so far this season.

Comical, really.

I'd trade just about any other forward besides Malkin or Crosby before Horny.
- MattStrat

I mean, I agree. But what if the options were Kunitz for a 7th or Hornqvist for Shattenkirk

I was all for a Pouliot, Druin swap last season. Imagine if we pulled the Kessel coup and then made just one more move like that to set our LW position.
- Victoro311

If we would have nailed Drouin before Kessel, I'm not so sure we trade for him. I think we go for a Dman then.

I still think DP and Drouin will both have Olympic hockey type careers, so it really is a toss up.

I would never trade Hornqvist. My changes would start by putting a letter on his jersey. Followed by finding a couch capable of motivating these players.

First you say;

"Chris Kunitz, David Perron, and Patric Hornqvist have combined for one point this year. "

Then you say;

"Patric Hornqvist is the type of player that all 30 NHL general managers would talk about wanting on their team"

Why would any NHL GM's want a player you're calling a top 6 fwd who hasn't even registered a point yet this season? I don't think anyone is clamoring for Hornquist. Yeah it's not only about 6 or 7 games but if you look at who he's playing with at times I'm going to go with his value being MUCH lower than you suspect.
- Cptmjl

Yea and Crosby scored his 1st goal the other night too. I guess no interest there either. We run a stupid system with the stupidest PP. Hornqvist is very good and if he wasn't in a system where we take 40 shots from the blue line he might be able to do something in front of the net. Watch the games instead of reading a stat sheet!!!

Some shuffling of the lines today at #Pens practice:
9-87-72
61-71-81
14-13-41
57-7-11/24

now just swap plot (61) and sprong (41) then yay
- martox

I don't like Plotnikov at all. Poor skater and doesn't handle the puck well. He's physical and goes to the front of the net, but I don't see him as a top 6 winger at all.

Lines in practice this morning:

Dupuis-Crosby-Hornqvist
Plotnikov-Malkin-Kessel
Kunitz-Bonino-Sprong
Perron-Cullen-Rust

Fehr rotating in on top 6 as well.
- cap1681

Thank you (frank)ing Christ. Those lines look nice. Good game meshing as well. With Hornqvist and Dupuis on his line, Crosby will be forced to play selfish since he doesn't have a scorer to defer to. Dupuis will be matching Crosby's speed and digging out pucks while Hornqvist can get to the net and follow Sidney's shots.

No worries of Malkin deferring like Crosby did to Kessel from me. Makin's gonna Malkin. What he needs is space. Last night Geno was trying super hard but would just get ganged up on by the Stars and smother him because Perron and Hornqvist were simply not threats to score. Kessel will provide that. Let's see if Plotter can keep up. Kid played well when Bennett was on his line so I have some faith that the extra skill will allow him to shine. I think the problem before was a mixture of nerves and having Hornqvist on the same line doing the same thing because he was doing fine in preseason when he was playing relaxed.

Alright Kunitz, if you can't get it done with third line minutes then seriously, f you. Bonino's playmaking abilities should be able to effectively set Sprong up against weaker defensive competition which is where Kunitz will have a chance to redeem himself by playing physically against lesser players and supporting Sprong on the boards and in front of the net.

The fourth line is going to need to produce. I think Perron is getting a raw deal. He's doing the right things and playing emotional, physical hockey, but the shots aren't going in for him and I think a lot of that is because he, Malkin, and Hornqvist simply didn't click. Then he makes one bad turnover and gets sent to the fourth line. I think Kunitz, Scuderi, and God honestly Crosby are more deserving of punishment right now than Perron. I'd like to see him redeem himself on the fourth and reunite the Perron-Crosby-Hornqvist line that was so effective while everyone was healthy.

I mean, I agree. But what if the options were Kunitz for a 7th or Hornqvist for Shattenkirk
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Well you'd certainly entertain the thought for sure...but I dont think that's a reality.

I think very highly of Yzerman and the TBL as a whole. I predicted them and DAL in the finals this season and entirely agree that they are setup to be a strong team for years to come. Callahan, Filppula, Carle are the three they should want to move IMO. Garrison is a quality dman. Bishop should be moved once it is proven he can be replaced.
- jfkst1

Yeah he's done a ridiculously good job setting them up to be competitive for years. Erne, Deangelo, Vasilevskiy just to name a few that will essentially replace some of those guys. I agree Callahan should go... I am nothe really a fan of his contract. I feel like it might be difficult to move. I just don't want to see Killorn, Kuch, Palat, or Johnson go. I do like Garrison a lot. Probably one of his more under the radar moves.. but the guys got a cannon of a shot. It's been a lot of fun watching them play the last few years.

Comical, really.

I'd trade just about any other forward besides Malkin or Crosby before Horny.
- MattStrat

I think Ryan played hockey really soft and has some pent up anger against anyone who doesn't!!!

How's Phat Phil Kessel working out for you so far?

Yea and Crosby scored his 1st goal the other night too. I guess no interest there either. We run a stupid system with the stupidest PP. Hornqvist is very good and if he wasn't in a system where we take 40 shots from the blue line he might be able to do something in front of the net. Watch the games instead of reading a stat sheet!!!
- lloyd095

Not bashing Hornqvist. I've seen him play I know what kind of player he is I like him but trading him when he's not exactly lighting it up probably isn't the best idea. The fact that most of you find his season disappointing thus far might tell you his value may not exactly net you guys the return you're looking for. Using Crosby as an analogy is kind of silly.

Lose 3 in a row - sky is falling
Win 3 in a row - all is well
Lose 1 in a row - sky is falling

How's Phat Phil Kessel working out for you so far?
- EugenesAxe

One of our best most consistent players.

How's Phat Phil Kessel working out for you so far?
- EugenesAxe

Kessel has looked fine in my opinion. The rest of the forwards on the other hand

Lose 3 in a row - sky is falling
Win 3 in a row - all is well
Lose 1 in a row - sky is falling
- jmatchett383

That's hockey buzz for you.

One of our best most consistent players.
- madmike71

I think Malkin and Kessel deserve each other. They're two guys that have consistently wanted it and given it their all every night and actually found ways to produce. It's time they join forces and dominate.

I think the point is that his value isn't going to be low due to this 7 game slump. He has a modified NTC and this is too early into the season. Not to mention, Pens acquired him a little over a year ago. I think Hornqvist would be one of the last Pens to be traded. That said, he and Maatta are the biggest disappointments for the team so far this season.
- jfkst1

2 situations that have been cause by coaching decisions.

Malkin and Hornqvist just don't seem to mesh well together, and Maatta has had an anchor around his waist most of the time.

I think Ryan played hockey really soft and has some pent up anger against anyone who doesn't!!!
- lloyd095

Hes definatley more capable of a hockey player than Craig Addams and Tanner Glass.

Lose 3 in a row - sky is falling
Win 3 in a row - all is well
Lose 1 in a row - sky is falling
- jmatchett383

The problem is they weren't exaactly great in any of the wins. Florida game was the best, but just a 40 minute effort.

How's Phat Phil Kessel working out for you so far?
- EugenesAxe

Kessel has really impressed me. For all the stigma that he was a cherry picking, purely offensive player, he has really shown that, though not physical, he plays pretty well in his own end, and plays a complete 200 ft game.

Moving one of your better F's and keeping Dupes and Kuni is stupid. Neither of those guys should be top 6 options at this point or even on the roster.

Again, if 87, 71 and 81 arent scoring you have far worse problems than just moving a RW. Something bigger needs to happen to stop the ship from sinking.

i really hope Pittsburgh makes the playoffs so we can keep that 1st rounder