Smart move. Trade the one forward in Patric Hornqvist that actually works his ass off every night.
- icemab254

Yeah I had that same thought. Everyone is ragging on Duper too but the fact is with that guy we play better than we do without him and he seems to be one of the players we have who plays with heart.

TL;DR We suck at everything.
- thickman1178

That's 8 pages of this blog and 1000s of all the other ones in the last few years pretty much summarized right there. Goaltending has been a bright spot, though. Who knew that Fleury can be counted on from time to time?!

No one? Come on, people with hockey knowledge know when our goalie turns away 51 out of 52 shots, it's not because the skaters have been challenging the opposition. I want to see the stats for the O/N/D zone %s the Pens have - but to the best of my recollection, most if not all the games are played in our end. And our pylons can't skate and handle the puck worth a damn. Because they are ... well ... pylons.
- chimpira

Plenty of people were more than happy on this board to claim the Pens were just preventing dangerous shots by allowing more attempts from the perimeter. Defending more often than not is a losing strategy. Eventually it always catches up with the team.

That's 8 pages of this blog and 1000s of all the other ones in the last few years pretty much summarized right there. Goaltending has been a bright spot, though. Who knew that Fleury can be counted on from time to time?!
- chimpira

Good point. Goaltending has come around and been solid, excluding Zatkoffs self goal the other night. Now if only we could get everything to work at the same damn time.

This is what I imagine:
The team is randomly split into two groups. One group takes shots from the blue line and the other half collapse down and block shots. Once they recover the puck they throw it off the boards. No direct passes between players are allowed. Halfway through the practice Johnston blows the whistle and they switch spots.
- jfkst1

Not even joking this made me spit a mint out of my mouth laughing because it's exactly what I was thinking, and I could picture it!

I asked this the last time you mentioned Pouliot playing outstanding hockey and don't recall you ever answering so I'll ask again, how many WBS games have you actually watched? I ask because my guess is that you haven't seen any and are basing your opinion off of the scoresheet and bias. By all accounts from those that watch them on a nightly basis. even though Pouliot is racking up the points he is playing average hockey at best and isn't dominating as he should be at that level. Using that same rational there should be no way they bench Scuderi because with 4pts and +8 he's arguably the 2nd best defenseman on the Pens roster.

Also there is a HUGE difference between the AHL and the NHL, saying that an NHL team should be studying what an AHL team is doing is just plan lunacy. Hell The Mid State Mustangs have won back to back National Championships at the 18u Tier 2 level, maybe Pens management should take the trip to Altoona and study what they are doing. Or even better, Quaker Valley is right here in Pittsburgh and has been to 4-5 straight State Championships, they would even have to travel far to study what they are doing and I'm sure Kevin Quinn(who also coaches for their amateur program) would gladly except a spot on the staff to help out.
- jaydogg1974

Come on man you know there is a huge difference between the AHL and a bunch of bush leages. The AHL is the training ground for the NHL all that crap you are talking about wont see one of their players graduate to anywhere near the NHL so that is a stupid analogy. Theresa less difference between the AHL and NHL as you think. Yeah I have seen them play and Pouliot looks bored and unchallenged. He needs NHL time and a chance to figure it out.

Good point. Goaltending has come around and been solid, excluding Zatkoffs self goal the other night. Now if only we could get everything to work at the same damn time.
- thickman1178

Hey at least it wasn't a goal from half-ice like the TOR goalie let in.

lol mj put himself on the point at the power play... now taking passes from sid and malkin taking shots

lol mj put himself on the point at the power play... now taking passes from sid and malkin taking shots
- martox

You got like a webcam stashed in the practice facility or what?

You got like a webcam stashed in the practice facility or what?
- chimpira

Reporters attend the practices and live tweet.

Reporters attend the practices and live tweet.
- jfkst1

yup

You got like a webcam stashed in the practice facility or what?
- chimpira

no but not a bad idea though

Reporters attend the practices and live tweet.
- jfkst1

Like with carrier pigeons to the newspaper printing presses?

There is no fixing this team without breaking up the "core". At this point I would be happy to part with Crosby and Letang and get a bunch of young, big, hungry guys that are not afraid to bang their bodies and can take a game over. It sucks to say/write it, but I am pretty convinced that the team won't go anywhere with Sid/Tanger on the roster ... no matter how many Corsi graphs you show me.
- chimpira

Good, great don't watch them any more. It should be one less person on here writing the same b!tch quote in the same order. But the thing is it won't. You will still write essential the same garbage in the same order 3 more times or more before the next game and then you will watch that game and the dependent upon that game you will either write the big b!tch comment or the I told ya so these guys are awesome comment. It just depends on the outcome of the game which way you guys will flip back to.

Good, great don't watch them any more. It should be one less person on here writing the same b!tch quote in the same order. But the thing is it won't. You will still write essential the same garbage in the same order 3 more times or more before the next game and then you will watch that game and the dependent upon that game you will either write the big b!tch comment or the I told ya so these guys are awesome comment. It just depends on the outcome of the game which way you guys will flip back to.
- dcoms77

Jeebus. Tell me you enjoy the poop show that is on the ice right now?! Or have been for the last 2-3 years? You know what, after the Saturday's game I have vowed to stop watching. What's the point of watching the same poop game in and game out? This team is poop. But don't group me with people who flip flop based on every game. I have been paying and watching hockey probably longer than you have been alive. So when I see poop, I call it poop.

When you think they are putting a good product out there again, please let me know (Private Message maybe?) so I can start watching again. Please?

One thing is for sure, when the Pens are losing there's a lot more posts on RW's blogs. I think that's because in general more people are negative these days. Just want to female dog about things.

Not quite at the 1/4 mark of the season yet. They're 3 games above .500 and 3 points up on the final playoff spot. I'm not wearing a thick set of Vegas gold and black glasses, I can see the problems. I can see long stretches of poop play BUT I can also see great stretches of play. I can see them dominate at times and not just against lesser teams. Consistency and 60 minutes of hard work are what's missing.

There really is a lot of time to right this ship. Think about it.

One thing is for sure, when the Pens are losing there's a lot more posts on RW's blogs. I think that's because in general more people are negative these days. Just want to female dog about things.

Not quite at the 1/4 mark of the season yet. They're 3 games above .500 and 3 points up on the final playoff spot. I'm not wearing a thick set of Vegas gold and black glasses, I can see the problems. I can see long stretches of poop play BUT I can also see great stretches of play. I can see them dominate at times and not just against lesser teams. Consistency and 60 minutes of hard work are what's missing.

There really is a lot of time to right this ship. Think about it.
- MattStrat

It's not the record. It's the effort/execution. Pens had a bad record near the end of last season but most everyone knew the team was trying hard and they just didn't have the players due to injuries. Now the team process looks subpar even when they do win. Seriously, how many games do you think the Pens have clearly outplayed their opponents? I'd say 4 games this year.

One thing is for sure, when the Pens are losing there's a lot more posts on RW's blogs. I think that's because in general more people are negative these days. Just want to female dog about things.

Not quite at the 1/4 mark of the season yet. They're 3 games above .500 and 3 points up on the final playoff spot. I'm not wearing a thick set of Vegas gold and black glasses, I can see the problems. I can see long stretches of poop play BUT I can also see great stretches of play. I can see them dominate at times and not just against lesser teams. Consistency and 60 minutes of hard work are what's missing.

There really is a lot of time to right this ship. Think about it.
- MattStrat

You're half correct. The rest is people like me that are stupid enough to argue with the negative only people.

But today so far it's only been what I'd consider constructive discussion on what we believe needs to be done.

It's not the record. It's the effort/execution. Pens had a bad record at the end of last season but everyone knew the team was trying hard and they just didn't have the players due to injuries. Now the team process looks subpar even when they do win. Seriously, how many games do you think the Pens have clearly outplayed their opponents? I'd say 4 games this year.
- jfkst1

Whole games, I'd say your 4 game assessment is pretty close. I meant more so within a game. Shot against totals and possession have been worrisome for the most part but I do see positives in a lot of the games too.

Pittsburghs modern analysis of players is working out great. Hockey is not won with charts and graphs. Sorry.

You're half correct. The rest is people like me that are stupid enough to argue with the negative only people.

But today so far it's only been what I'd consider constructive discussion on what we believe needs to be done.
- Zac_O

I think the Pens have the personnel to do damage. I truly believe that. Why they are not executing better and working harder is beyond me. There will be a coaching change if they are around .500 in the New Year, if not before.

Pittsburghs modern analysis of players is working out great. Hockey is not won with charts and graphs. Sorry.
- Newgod77

Yeah, modern analysis sure hasn't worked for LAK or CHI...

I think the Pens have the personnel to do damage. I truly believe that. Why they are not executing better and working harder is beyond me. There will be a coaching change if they are around .500 in the New Year, if not before.
- MattStrat

I agree with you but they can't wait that long. This division is gonna leave them way behind if they are still .500 at the end of December. I think Johnston has until the end of November to show improvement in the process and at least stay in a WC spot. If Pens are still getting outplayed and relying on the goalie to keep them in games, I will be full on board to get rid of him.

Crosby apparently said the team is frustrated but not mad at each other. Didn't Malkin say they were mad at each other 2 days ago?

I get tired of the "we need a puck moving defenseman" argument.

The problem is that the team does not...and has not...matched the compete level of many of their opponents over the last two years.

It's not as noticeable during the regular season on a night in and out basis but it clearly is in the playoffs.

Malkin said everything you need to know..."We are mad at eachother and not working hard"

It shows.

The main offensive objective is to score goals. But you'd have a tough time convincing just about anybody that watches this team that the Penguin's are truly trying to do that.

I see a team trying to get good shots.

I know...you need to shoot to score...but there is a difference in mentality between a team trying to get good shots and a team trying to score goals.
- icedog97

No hockey player prioritizes "good shots" over scoring goals.