Seriously though, if you're bought into the enigmatic disgruntled glory hog Russian narrative, there's a bigger chance that Grinder is your alt account than me. I will argue this point to death.
You may be surprised at this but I've never heard of any of these teams or the competition they play in. I knew there was a comp - somewhere, but really if it's not the NHL my interest is close to if in fact even zero!
Winter sport here is Rugby League - go the Rabbitohs!
Just saw where Sestito was called up from Wilkes Barre for today. - powerhouse
BB won't be playing with his injury they are putting him in cotton wool if I read the article on the Flyers game correctly - or they are 'managing' him.
Letang will probably sit don't you think? Hes an injury waiting to happen - 6ringslowe
He should. He's taken some nasty slashes to his hands/wrists recently that had me worried at the time but nothing came of it. Between those, his minutes and some of the hits hes taken I think DP should be in (not necessarily top pairing).
I expect the Flyers to come out strong in the first period. However I think we can hold the fort. - powerhouse
Even if Sid and Letang do not play, the Pens will give them everything they can handle. Those other lines have been formidable too. If It were up to me, Kunitz would be scratched too. He looks like he needs some rest.
We'll know soon enough, but is everyone here happy to throw Flower into the first playoff game if he doesn't play against the Flyers?? - Aussiepenguin
Yup..team defense has been strong..and murray has had his fair share of gaffs..even a subpar maf should be better than murray in the playoff atmosphere. ..but if murray has to play..at least its on home ice..
Its pretty simple. Malkin centers the third line then gets deadly assasin duty. Sneak him out on the fourth line, give him a shift with crosby, if the other team gets bottled up in there zone for an extended shift let Malkin take the first guy off. He would be more valuable than ever and get 20 min easy. I wouldnt be surprised if whoever he centers became more productice than the HBK line anyway.
Its pretty simple. Malkin centers the third line then gets deadly assasin duty. Sneak him out on the fourth line, give him a shift with crosby, if the other team gets bottled up in there zone for an extended shift let Malkin take the first guy off. He would be more valuable than ever and get 20 min easy. I wouldnt be surprised if whoever he centers became more productice than the HBK line anyway. - Grinder47
So were you just joking about all the Malkin is going to f up team chemistry bs the past few days? I can never tell with you.
He's a 28-year-old AHL lifer. Basically Dustin Jefrey. Pretty darn good at the minor level but isn't an NHL talent. Played his first NHL game last year for the Ders.
So were you just joking about all the Malkin is going to f up team chemistry bs the past few days? I can never tell with you. - Victoro311
Thats my goal. I think Malkin is a great hockey player and the line of thinking that the best playeers play together is tired and hurts teams more than it helps. Too many cheifs and not enough indians. Malkin needs to be the cheifs and needs to play with 2 indians.
Its pretty simple. Malkin centers the third line then gets deadly assasin duty. Sneak him out on the fourth line, give him a shift with crosby, if the other team gets bottled up in there zone for an extended shift let Malkin take the first guy off. He would be more valuable than ever and get 20 min easy. I wouldnt be surprised if whoever he centers became more productice than the HBK line anyway. - Grinder47
Yep. You could really mess with an opposing coach with Malkin and 5 interchangeable players, plus the option of playing him up or down. Put him with Sid for a shift. Put him with Kessel and Hags for a shift.
I've said it probably a million times in the last 7 years, but one of the strengths of the Penguins in 2009 was that they double shifted Malkin and Crosby on the 4th line a lot because they were playing with 7 defensemen due to the Gonchar injury. It made it nearly impossible for other teams to line match and it got everyone involved. Having Malkin in a fluid role would do the same thing, make line matching really difficult for the opposing coach.
Shoulda called up Biggs, McNeill, McGrath, Ruopp, Plachta, Seymour....
If cap constraints prevent all of them from appearing, at least call up as many of these deserving young players as possible and let them get some NHL experience against a team where they can fully display their "talents".
Seriously, how sad is it that the NHL has become a league where a playoff team feels the need to bench its top players ("giving them rest", my ass) so that they won't be the victims of a series of deliberate attempts to injure?
so they are gonna go back to pittsburgh gold during the playoffs - martox
I remember talking to Olli the other summer when his brother was over here and the Pens had an article on the both of them. We were discussing how we both loved the Black and Gold sweaters and he had mentioned he heard we were going to switch to them permanently this season but it never happened. I'm still holding out hope it can happen next season, which is the organizations anniversary.
