Fair enough but you can see why people were confused.

It sounds like you are saying the Pens scraped into the playoffs and then went on to win. You were responding to Bloated not understanding why people think the Canucks can squeak into the playoffs and win.

The recipe was to acquire lots of forward depth and add one of the best scorers in the league. While the team struggled early on the recipe did make sense when team was formed and proved it by winning it all.

Was their comeback surprising? Yes but more surprising was the fact that the team struggled so mightily to begin with.

Did they have some young players step up in Murray, Dumoulin, Rust and Sheary? Certainly but I don't think those guys were the difference makers in that team's dominance. The second half of the season they showed they were arguably the best in the league without most those player having a big role.

Was Bonino/Kessel/Hagelin a dominant force that no one expected ? Yes, but they were also were also the 3rd line and Pit had the opportunity to play 3 lines with legit top line talent as part of it.
- belcherbd

All Pittsburg's win shows is that with favorable matchups (Rangers/Washington/Tampa Bay without Stamkos) and depth in your forward lineup you can make it to the Finals. Other than the Lightning series, the Penguins really did not have a series in the Eastern Conference where they were really in danger of potentially losing. What won them the Cup against the Sharks was the fact that they were almost more than a step faster than the Sharks and because their D was so mobile, the Sharks never did get their forecheck going properly.

That is never going to happen in the West, not now, not ever probably. To get to the Finals in the Pacific, you'd have to beat (right now mind you) one or two of LA, San Jose (who are still grasping at being contenders) and Anaheim (who admittedly are beginning to fall to earth) and possibly Calgary if they get their goaltending sorted. That's IF you manage to be 2nd or 3rd in the Pacific, if you're the WC, you're looking at facing the 1 or 2 seed on the road and if you manage to pull off the upset, having to do it again the next round. Even if you get past the second round, what would you have left for the Conference Finals? 3 straight series on the road, possibly all in the Central Division.

Contrast that to Pittsburg who only had the Finals where they played out of their own timezone, there's no comparison.

I know right . It's like Martha , Weird Al and Archie Bunker had a threesome and made a milkshake and named it Vantel.
- VANTEL

I know right . It's like Martha , Weird Al and Archie Bunker had a threesome and made a milkshake and named it Vantel.
- VANTEL

No offence, but I'll probably stick with chocolate or vanilla.

All Pittsburg's win shows is that with favorable matchups (Rangers/Washington/Tampa Bay without Stamkos) and depth in your forward lineup you can make it to the Finals. Other than the Lightning series, the Penguins really did not have a series in the Eastern Conference where they were really in danger of potentially losing. What won them the Cup against the Sharks was the fact that they were almost more than a step faster than the Sharks and because their D was so mobile, the Sharks never did get their forecheck going properly.

That is never going to happen in the West, not now, not ever probably. To get to the Finals in the Pacific, you'd have to beat (right now mind you) one or two of LA, San Jose (who are still grasping at being contenders) and Anaheim (who admittedly are beginning to fall to earth) and possibly Calgary if they get their goaltending sorted. That's IF you manage to be 2nd or 3rd in the Pacific, if you're the WC, you're looking at facing the 1 or 2 seed on the road and if you manage to pull off the upset, having to do it again the next round. Even if you get past the second round, what would you have left for the Conference Finals? 3 straight series on the road, possibly all in the Central Division.

Contrast that to Pittsburg who only had the Finals where they played out of their own timezone, there's no comparison.
- DariusKnight

I'm on board with the idea that the west is a harder conference but I think you are really selling some of those teams short if you think they were an easy ride.

I do think that their depth and health were big factors in their ability to win it all. Also that they were playing against a inexperienced team in the finals.

You're the Martha Stewart of HB.
- CubanBuffet

I know right . It's like Martha , Weird Al and Archie Bunker had a threesome and made a milkshake and named it Vantel.
- VANTEL

I'm not happy with this image.

Hope Solo suspended from US Soccer for 6 months.

I'm on board with the idea that the west is a harder conference but I think you are really selling some of those teams short if you think they were an easy ride.

I do think that their depth and health were big factors in their ability to win it all. Also that they were playing against a inexperienced team in the finals.
- belcherbd

The Rangers were highly overrated and Lundquist wasn't King Henrik any longer, and Washington historically has never matched up well against the Penguins and have never won a series against them. Tampa was their only real challenge and even then, without Stamkos, Tampa just didn't have the scoring depth to beat them. Let's face it, Pittsburg had a relatively easy ride to the Finals especially when you consider that they came out of the Finals with almost perfect health and that's rare in the modern era.

They did start slow, and there were a lot of questions but they then went on an incredible second half of the season. Ironically after a coach change.

Cue Dragon......
- belcherbd

yes....and I believe previous to that the last team to change a coach and then win the cup that same year was the PENS! W dan blysma.

interesting thing about sullivan was the previous year he was staff for the hawks cup win, which puts him with back to back cup wins with 2 different teams. In his post win interview he said he learned so much about coaching and winning from the hawks and credited the win with his new info he learned.

Gotta admit he sure turned it around after his embarrassment of a year here

Hopefully he plays a big part of fixing our crappy D. I also am okay with those Edler rumors out there.
- VanHockeyGuy

what edler rumors? No one on the insiders seem to be reporting anything of the sort. Only rumors seems to be here.....and here doesnt account for squat in the real world. Even insiders are only what 10-20% right

If we do keep Edler I hope he takes a step back and concentrates on his point production. The last couple of years he has had to do it all. If Tryamkin and Gudbrandson can take care of the shut down part of the game and let Edler concentrate on attacking.

More back door plays by Tanev and Edler to chip in on scoring. It would also be easier on his body/back to not be relied on for the big hits.
- VANTEL

yes....and I have said the same in the past. Edler can have a great year if he's not relied on for everything under the sun on D and can focus more on offense. Also if a better D system is utilized and he knows where he;'s expected to be.

There are many posters with extraordinary hindsight on here...The Penguins have a lot of skill but I personally don't know anyone that pegged them as a legit contender. There cup run illustrates that a lot of things need to go right in order to win 4 series. I don't believe anyone when they say they thought Pitts could win with that defense. I am still shocked.
- CanuckDon

remember that a great system of play can really make a huge difference. Pens had jacques Martin as D coach who is famous for stingy defense and the guy has a TON on nhl experience at doing that and was head coach several times as well.

Murray of course must be mentioned as well....his stellar play also was a difference maker.

You're the Martha Stewart of HB.
- CubanBuffet

more like red green of HB with his thriftyness. See him later with a duct taped wendys cup after it had formed a crack in it

You mean team USA's Brett Hull? I guess the fact that he was born in Belleville, Ontario and wore the red, white and blue.
- neem55

The guy's an american and has every right to represent the country that he chooses. big deal if he was born in Canada. doesn't mean jack...

i remember when Trottier started playing for Team USA and hockey Canada and other jokers tried to tell em' he couldn't. he told them to f* off.

Here is a list of the teams that I think at some point were playing to win the Mathews sweeps last year ( aka tanking) . I think teams tried but then realized Tor and EDm owned the basement.

Carolina
Vancouver
Calgary
Arizona
Habs
Buffalo
Colorado
NJq
Wpg
Columbus
EDm
Tor
1/3 of the league at some point last year was playing to lose. Another reason why I think this year we can move up a number of spots.

yes....and I believe previous to that the last team to change a coach and then win the cup that same year was the PENS! W dan blysma.

interesting thing about sullivan was the previous year he was staff for the hawks cup win, which puts him with back to back cup wins with 2 different teams. In his post win interview he said he learned so much about coaching and winning from the hawks and credited the win with his new info he learned.

Gotta admit he sure turned it around after his embarrassment of a year here
- SMBDragon

While I agree his system change a line combo change ( the bonino line ) were works of genius, I think he still had the players available to engage the system ...without the proper players it doesn't matter how good of a coach you are the team will fail ...insert Babcock joke now ....it's not like the pens strategy was all that complicated but just highly effective ...he had a questionable D core with a letang and a bunch of high skill and speedy forwards ...everytime their D got the puck it was flipped out to the wingers who had already fled the zone ...he utilized the speed while giving their D a very simple job

Here is a list of the teams that I think at some point were playing to win the Mathews sweeps last year ( aka tanking) . I think teams tried but then realized Tor and EDm owned the basement.

Carolina
Vancouver
Calgary
Arizona
Habs
Buffalo
Colorado
NJ
EDm
Tor
1/3 of the league at some point last year was playing to lose. Another reason why I think this year we can move up a number of spots.
- VANTEL

I think your list is bang on ...but I think from that list I see most of those teams not trying to tank at all this year so the competition to be better will be there until the deadline where the sellers become aparent and the lineups become weaker

I think your list is bang on ...but I think from that list I see most of those teams not trying to tank at all this year so the competition to be better will be there until the deadline where the sellers become aparent and the lineups become weaker
- Redmile247

Ido agree but I see new teams getting into that race like Detroit,Rangers Kings Bruins and a few surprises. I also think Columbus Tor and NJ will stay on that list.depends on the field of draftees.

- A_SteamingLombardi

At least that hit has nothing to do with his degenerative back injury.

The guy's an american and has every right to represent the country that he chooses. big deal if he was born in Canada. doesn't mean jack...

i remember when Trottier started playing for Team USA and hockey Canada and other jokers tried to tell em' he couldn't. he told them to f* off.
- kaptaan

I agree.

Fla send Bolland and Crouse to Arizona for second and third.

Florida is another team I see bottom 10 next year Ottawa also

Ido agree but I see new teams getting into that race like Detroit,Rangers Kings Bruins and a few surprises. I also think Columbus Tor and NJ will stay on that list.depends on the field of draftees.
- VANTEL

I can see those teams not being all that competitive playoffs wise but I don't see any of the first bunch tanking ...Detroit is due to miss the playoffs but they aren't tankers , Rangers are too good to tank, Kings as well , Bruins are an interesting thought but I still think they have enough to be fighting for playoffs all year

The Devils could go either way ...if Schnieder misses any length of time then your right, leafs should be down there with all the youth they will have, and the jackets are a bit of an enigma to me ...everyone thought they would be a potential new playoff team last year and they seemed to take a step back no forward

I think this year you will see a couple of tbe young core teams like Arizona, cgy, edm, buff, Colorado , Carolina, etc get in to the playoffs

Duncan Keith out for team Can Bouwmeister in.

Not that we care

Fla send Bolland and Crouse to Arizona for second and third.

Florida is another team I see bottom 10 next year Ottawa also
- VANTEL

Florida ? Their goaltending tendem is strong ...their forwards are crazy good ...the changeover in D could take a bit but their still a good D core ...I see zero change the panthers don't finish ahead of both the flames and Canucks

The sens I buy ...I see them as a potential playoff team if everything goes right ...but if not a lotto team

Love what the yotes are doing ...taking advantage of every teams cap mismanagement to get better

Duncan Keith out for team Can Bouwmeister in.

Not that we care
- VANTEL

Not that it matters ....you could replace everyone on that D core with the next guys down the list and they would still be stacked