As Ryan pointed out a couple of blogs ago, Tanger has been better recently. That link I posted last blog had a lot more stats (youre a stats guy ), on Letangs play, & they weren't all that bad, some were pretty good to be honest. The article was a show of support for him. Also has Shultz as the only positive player for a stat (can't remember which 1), sort of implying he's the only player that's going ok.

Now you know a lot better than me, but what are the most serious things Tanger needs to get right straight away? If he gets things going will that get the team going - which is the bigger question?
- Aussiepenguin

Better goaltending, and better shooting percentages from other players while he's on the ice.

As Ryan pointed out a couple of blogs ago, Tanger has been better recently. That link I posted last blog had a lot more stats (youre a stats guy ), on Letangs play, & they weren't all that bad, some were pretty good to be honest. The article was a show of support for him. Also has Shultz as the only positive player for a stat (can't remember which 1), sort of implying he's the only player that's going ok.

Now you know a lot better than me, but what are the most serious things Tanger needs to get right straight away? If he gets things going will that get the team going - which is the bigger question?
- Aussiepenguin

Crisper passes and positioning. Letang is at his best when he’s aggressive but it’s almost like his brain is working a step behind its usual tick. The issues he’s having are all hockey IQ problems and not necessarily skill level issues that you tend to see when guys start to serious decline (see Dion Phaneuf).

But right now Letang rounding back into form isn’t the only thing we needed. Sh% needs to rebound (which is one of things most closely related to chance in hockey) and we need a more balanced attack up front. We’ve fixed the break out issue from last year for the most part so I’m not super worried about the blue line and we all know Murray is great so he’ll continue to bounce back, but right now I look at our line combos and they are very mediocre and I think it’s playing into us not being able to buy a goal. Bad line combos = bad chemistry = low goal totals. Can’t fully control sh% but there are obvious ways we can improve our line balance that should help matters.

If anyone else was playing as bad as Letang is, you would be burying them alive (ie Olli Maatta). If they are going to have to move out salary on a trade, he has the highest amount (outside of Sid & Malkin). And he will also probably attract the best package because of his perceived value. He has always been an overrated player. A good player, but not as great as fans want to make him out to be.

If anyone else was playing as bad as Letang is, you would be burying them alive (ie Olli Maatta). If they are going to have to move out salary on a trade, he has the highest amount (outside of Sid & Malkin). And he will also probably attract the best package because of his perceived value. He has always been an overrated player. A good player, but not as great as fans want to make him out to be.
- Zig44

The need to move out a big salary is overblown. Cole's 2M+ is all but gone. Hagelin makes 4M. That's plenty if you just want to dump salary.

Yeah, sometimes I think Ryan doesn't like the fact that the Pens won because what they did flew in face face of all the advanced stats that he hangs his hat on. Timely goals and great goaltending can still trump corsi, even in a tournament as long as the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Anyone who watched the Pens skate rings around the Rangers a few years ago but lose because Henrik stood on his head should know that. Possession is great, but scoring and denying goals is better.
- Emperor Filonius

They had some lucky moments like every single other cup winner. Star power, guile, grit and experience is how they won that cup. Reducing that to luck isn't remotely fair.

Speaking of Letang he is out for tonight's game with a LBI and is considered to be day to day.

If anyone else was playing as bad as Letang is, you would be burying them alive (ie Olli Maatta). If they are going to have to move out salary on a trade, he has the highest amount (outside of Sid & Malkin). And he will also probably attract the best package because of his perceived value. He has always been an overrated player. A good player, but not as great as fans want to make him out to be.
- Zig44

wut.

I heard Yohe on the fan a little while ago.... He said he knows for a fact that Sullivan is routinely berating the forwards for their lack of defensive effort. He's blaming them for the bulk of the odd man breaks.

Crisper passes and positioning. Letang is at his best when he’s aggressive but it’s almost like his brain is working a step behind its usual tick. The issues he’s having are all hockey IQ problems and not necessarily skill level issues that you tend to see when guys start to serious decline (see Dion Phaneuf).

But right now Letang rounding back into form isn’t the only thing we needed. Sh% needs to rebound (which is one of things most closely related to chance in hockey) and we need a more balanced attack up front. We’ve fixed the break out issue from last year for the most part so I’m not super worried about the blue line and we all know Murray is great so he’ll continue to bounce back, but right now I look at our line combos and they are very mediocre and I think it’s playing into us not being able to buy a goal. Bad line combos = bad chemistry = low goal totals. Can’t fully control sh% but there are obvious ways we can improve our line balance that should help matters.
- Victoro311

Not picking a fight, but our 'pdo' is not good but will return. So if that is luck why do we need to change the lines? Scoring should return. Plus we are getting enough chances on goal, to me everything appears to be slower giving teams time to adjust.

Crisper passes and positioning. Letang is at his best when he’s aggressive but it’s almost like his brain is working a step behind its usual tick. The issues he’s having are all hockey IQ problems and not necessarily skill level issues that you tend to see when guys start to serious decline (see Dion Phaneuf).

But right now Letang rounding back into form isn’t the only thing we needed. Sh% needs to rebound (which is one of things most closely related to chance in hockey) and we need a more balanced attack up front. We’ve fixed the break out issue from last year for the most part so I’m not super worried about the blue line and we all know Murray is great so he’ll continue to bounce back, but right now I look at our line combos and they are very mediocre and I think it’s playing into us not being able to buy a goal. Bad line combos = bad chemistry = low goal totals. Can’t fully control sh% but there are obvious ways we can improve our line balance that should help matters.
- Victoro311

I think the whole team is suffering from this. When dmen make those kind of mistakes it gets ugly quickly.

I heard Yohe on the fan a little while ago.... He said he knows for a fact that Sullivan is routinely berating the forwards for their lack of defensive effort. He's blaming them for the bulk of the odd man breaks.
- madmike71

He’d be correct. That aggressive puck support game is what’s missing.

Not a great start. Too many blind passes upb the boards.

He’d be correct. That aggressive puck support game is what’s missing.
- Rinosaur

Agreed. Letangs problems will start to evaporate when the rest of the skaters find their legs. I'm convinced of this. It's also possible (maybe even probable) it won't happen this year.

Is horny wearing the A due to Letang getting traded or hurt?

Not picking a fight, but our 'pdo' is not good but will return. So if that is luck why do we need to change the lines? Scoring should return. Plus we are getting enough chances on goal, to me everything appears to be slower giving teams time to adjust.
- Aussiepenguin

I don't necessarily disagree that we're not nearly as bad of a team as we've appeared and if our sh% were higher, we'd all have our concerns but be a lot calmer than we are now. But I really don't like our line combos. Our fourth line is awful, but I'm resigned to that. I care more so that in the top 9, we are running lines that have two of Hagelin, Rust, or Hornqvist far too often. Those three should be on separate lines at all times. Putting two of those three together nullifies an entire unit because there's just not enough skill/ability to carry the puck up and create. When you completely kill one of the top 3 lines and the 4th line is a non factor, that puts way too much pressure on the remaining two. I think that makes us easier to scheme against, and I also think its factoring into our low sh%. Guys are feeling the pressure and gripping their sticks to hard.

Is horny wearing the A due to Letang getting traded or hurt?
- Reverend Killtaker

Hurt

F Murray

Most players were passing it to Cbusnot black Jersies on that first goal. Heads up asses.

F Murray
- Reverend Killtaker

That was Letang's fault.

honestly... at this point I think fleury was the wrong person to be sent to vegas

That was Letang's fault.
- madmike71

so glad he's getting traded after the game.

Our play in our own end has got to improve if we are going to be competitive.

F Murray Part Deux

Holeinone, are you choking on your ignorance yet?

Again, poor coverage and this time goaltending as well in our own zone. It never ends with this group.

honestly... at this point I think fleury was the wrong person to be sent to vegas

- martox

He was always the wrong person to lose in that locker room for many reasons. MM would have been extremely valuable on the trade market and maf could have been covered and a player like hags would have been selected by vegas. There is no reason to have both jarry and Murray and should never have been in a position to only have those two left.