Can we please give it a rest with the Pouliot non sense? The guy isn't even playing good hockey consistently in the AHL, he is not the answer to solving the problems in the NHL right now, if anything he makes matters worse. Let the kid have some time to learn how to play actual hockey then we can start discussing him being the almighty savior of the Pens 2015-2016 season.
- jaydogg1974

How do you know he isn't the answer if you don't at least try? Obviously what they have now isn't working in terms of shot suppression, or moving the puck forward... why wouldn't you try a player known for moving the puck? 8 points, +6 in 9 games in WBS? That's pretty solid to me. Sounds better than Ian Cole's 1 point, -9 in 14 games. It's not about him being the "almighty savior of the Pens 2015-2016 season" its about him being an adequate replacement to the terrible defensemen that are on the roster at the moment.

Can we please give it a rest with the Pouliot non sense? The guy isn't even playing good hockey consistently in the AHL, he is not the answer to solving the problems in the NHL right now, if anything he makes matters worse. Let the kid have some time to learn how to play actual hockey then we can start discussing him being the almighty savior of the Pens 2015-2016 season.
- jaydogg1974

I was definitely advocating for Pouliot not to be sent down after training camp, but I have to say now that I agree with you. We took our sweet time with Brian Dumoulin and now he's performing like a top 4 defenseman, and there were certainly moments where he looked like he'd bust. Maybe the same is in order for Pouliot. Not everyone can be an Olli Maatta.

Can we please give it a rest with the Pouliot non sense? The guy isn't even playing good hockey consistently in the AHL, he is not the answer to solving the problems in the NHL right now, if anything he makes matters worse. Let the kid have some time to learn how to play actual hockey then we can start discussing him being the almighty savior of the Pens 2015-2016 season.
- jaydogg1974

Yeah, it's better to keep using the same pairings that don't work than try something different...

Yeah, it's better to keep using the same pairings that don't work than try something different...
- jfkst1

Whatchoo mean? Isn't the saying.. If it doesn't work, don't fix it?

Yeah, it's better to keep using the same pairings that don't work than try something different...
- jfkst1

Bringing Pouliot up and trying out new pairings are not tied together. There are plenty of things we can try with existing personnel before bringing Pouliot up. Clendening can be played, Cole can be taken off the first pairing, etc...

wow...I cant blame them. Horny is struggling and Bennett deserves a chance at RW top 6. I'd like to see Sprong get a chance someday as well.

Thats a heck of a bottom 6 if Sid's line clicks.

(lines this morning)

Dupuis-Crosby-Bennett
Perron-Malkin-Kessel
Kunitz-Bonino-Hornqvist
Fehr-Cullen-Sprong/Plotnikov
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Looks like the D-pairings are status quo.

From the Penguins Official Twitter account:

Cole-Letang
Maatta/Clendening-Scuderi
Dumo-Lovejoy

Every pundit has called for the Letang-Cole pairing to be broken up. HCMJ stubbornness, idiocy, or all of the above?

wow...I cant blame them. Horny is struggling and Bennett deserves a chance at RW top 6. I'd like to see Sprong get a chance someday as well.

Thats a heck of a bottom 6 if Sid's line clicks.

(lines this morning)

Dupuis-Crosby-Bennett
Perron-Malkin-Kessel
Kunitz-Bonino-Hornqvist
Fehr-Cullen-Sprong/Plotnikov
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Penguins Inside scoop says that Sprong/Plotnikov are rotating in on the right side while the Penguins' official Twitter page says they're rotating in on the left.

Bringing Pouliot up and trying out new pairings are not tied together. There are plenty of things we can try with existing personnel before bringing Pouliot up. Clendening can be played, Cole can be taken off the first pairing, etc...
- Victoro311

True, but I wouldn't rule out a Pouliot try out either. Dumoulin/Maatta/Pouliot are the only options. Cole isn't working and it's not even close. If it were up to me the defensive pairings against MTR would be:
Maatta-Letang
Dumoulin-Lovejoy
Cole-Clendening

So, according to Ek, we are interested in Eric Staal. That would be a foolish move on our part.

Seriously as it gotten so bad that Hurricane fans are coming here to debunk mythical trade rumors that everyone knows will never happen? I get there isn't much to get excited about in Carolina during hockey season but don't come here and bring us down to your level.
- jaydogg1974

You're cute.

True, but I wouldn't rule out a Pouliot try out either. Dumoulin/Maatta/Pouliot are the only options. Cole isn't working and it's not even close. If it were up to me the defensive pairings against MTR would be:
Maatta-Letang
Dumoulin-Lovejoy
Cole-Clendening
- jfkst1

That's exactly what I'd do. Maatta could get his mojo back by being stuck with Letang, Dumo-Love have done an admirable job and I wouldn't touch that pairing even though Dumoulin has earned a crack at Letang's left way more than Maatta has, and I think Cole and Dinger would compliment each other very well. I think Cole is suited for a middle pairing role but Dumo and Lovejoy are playing too well to justify breaking them up or playing a Cole-Clendening pairing over them.


Still think it's funny/sad that Clendening played the game the Pens snapped their losing streak but now he can't get any games because Johnston likes the way the d is performing. If he was really taking a don't fix what ain't broke approach Scuderi would have never gotten back into the lineup.

That's exactly what I'd do. Maatta could get his mojo back by being stuck with Letang, Dumo-Love have done an admirable job and I wouldn't touch that pairing even though Dumoulin has earned a crack at Letang's left way more than Maatta has, and I think Cole and Dinger would compliment each other very well. I think Cole is suited for a middle pairing role but Dumo and Lovejoy are playing too well to justify breaking them up or playing a Cole-Clendening pairing over them.


Still think it's funny/sad that Clendening played the game the Pens snapped their losing streak but now he can't get any games because Johnston likes the way the d is performing. If he was really taking a don't fix what ain't broke approach Scuderi would have never gotten back into the lineup.
- Victoro311

With the current available personnel, those should be the pairings for EVERY game, not just MTL.

That's exactly what I'd do. Maatta could get his mojo back by being stuck with Letang, Dumo-Love have done an admirable job and I wouldn't touch that pairing even though Dumoulin has earned a crack at Letang's left way more than Maatta has, and I think Cole and Dinger would compliment each other very well. I think Cole is suited for a middle pairing role but Dumo and Lovejoy are playing too well to justify breaking them up or playing a Cole-Clendening pairing over them.


Still think it's funny/sad that Clendening played the game the Pens snapped their losing streak but now he can't get any games because Johnston likes the way the d is performing. If he was really taking a don't fix what ain't broke approach Scuderi would have never gotten back into the lineup.
- Victoro311

Clendening wasn't good in the game and frankly Scuderi hasn't been that bad at ES (though he's been unimaginably horrible on the PK). I'd say fixing Letang's pairing is more important than fixing Crosby's forward line.

Clendening wasn't good in the game and frankly Scuderi hasn't been that bad at ES (though he's been unimaginable horrible on the PK). I'd say fixing Letang's pairing is more important than fixing Crosby's forward line.
- jfkst1

From the pairings in today's practice, it doesn't appear that they are "fixing" the Letang-Cole pairing in the sense we want it to be. It seems that this pairing is "fixed" as in "will not change" ... Tanger is going to have another heart attack soon if this keeps going ... not to mention the cost of all the broken sticks.

While I don't think the Staal trade has any truth to it I guess one thing to keep in mind is because Staal is UFA any salary retained would only be for this season. So the Canes could retain up to 50% I believe.

From the pairings in today's practice, it doesn't appear that they are "fixing" the Letang-Cole pairing in the sense we want it to be. It seems that this pairing is "fixed" as in "will not change" ... Tanger is going to have another heart attack soon if this keeps going ... not to mention the cost of all the broken sticks.
- chimpira

I don't understand how an NHL coach with a fully functioning brain can think the Cole-Letang pairing is working. He clearly knows something has to change with Crosby's line and is making changes there (rightfully so IMO).

I don't understand how an NHL coach with a fully functioning brain can think the Cole-Letang pairing is working. He clearly knows something has to change with Crosby's line and is making changes there (rightfully so IMO).
- jfkst1

Wait, who is this "NHL coach with a fully functioning brain" you're referring to???

Wait, who is this "NHL coach with a fully functioning brain" you're referring to???
- chimpira

Joel Quenneville? Maaaaaaybe Paul Maurice? That's about the extent of it.

Wait, who is this "NHL coach with a fully functioning brain" you're referring to???
- chimpira

Babcock, Sutter, Yeo, Laviolette are some other coaches that I think put their players in positions to maximize their strengths. Johnston isn't doing that right now and that is a huge failure on his part. I know everyone will point to their record, but that could be done with most any team given the goaltending they are getting.

Babcock, Sutter, Yeo, Laviolette are some coaches that I think put their players in positions to succeed. Johnston isn't doing that right now and that is a huge failure on his part. I know everyone will point to their record, but that could be done with most any team given the goaltending they are getting.
- jfkst1

That is my point. Johnston is out of his element and should be sent to AHL.

That is my point. Johnston is out of his element and should be sent to AHL.
- chimpira

Why do you always make everything about Nam?

Why do you always make everything about Nam?
- Victoro311

Well, there isn't a literal connection, Dude.

The man in the black pajamas, Dude. Worthy (frank)in' adversary.

Why do you always make everything about Nam?
- Victoro311

Vietnam?!?!

I was definitely advocating for Pouliot not to be sent down after training camp, but I have to say now that I agree with you. We took our sweet time with Brian Dumoulin and now he's performing like a top 4 defenseman, and there were certainly moments where he looked like he'd bust. Maybe the same is in order for Pouliot. Not everyone can be an Olli Maatta.
- Victoro311

Pouliott, Tangradi, BB, Pesenson, Caputi.....Theres a new one every year. Bring this guy up, he deserves it bla bla bla, Rossi said he was good. Never mind the fact that the GM's and coaching staff disagree and even in the limited NHL experience, they fail to show they are unprepared for whatever level the fans are calling for.

Im not a fan of MJ, I think he's in way over his head but DP even if he played at Dumos' level at this point won't make a difference in the effort or level of play the entire roster is putting out on the ice.

That is my point. Johnston is out of his element and should be sent to AHL.
- chimpira

I don't know about that, but he definitely needs to get some of his players going. Way too many passengers on the team right now including Crosby and Letang.