That Caps team last year was as balanced as it gets. There was no weakness in that lineup. They were definitely a great skating team too. The Preds were another very great skating and fast team.

EIDT: Orpik might be looked at as a weakness...
- MattStrat

Caps were deep, but I saw them as a team that played heavy more than fast. Both teams had some fast players, but didn't see it as a team wide strength that could match the Pens. Just my opinion though.

Orpik certainly fits that exploit the weak defender idea. That's where I think they can attack Tampa. In fact Girardi is a 2nd pair guy for them with Coburn the 3rd RD. (Granted they can do the same to us).

Game day b!tches!

I'm more of a match-up guy myself. Pens for instance can exploit a team that's top heavy and weak at 3rd pair defensemen. Seem to struggle more with teams that can match them in speed. So while Caps are the better team, I'd rather play them than the Devils.

Blessing for the Pens last year is while they played good teams, they didn't have to face an elite skating team. The heavy teams don't care well against them.
- Tojo.

It's interesting because I think the Pens can handle either style, I just think this season we've lacked commitment to team defense and it gets exploited by really fast teams. The neutral zone has been a sore spot all season along with the blue line turnovers and bad gaps. All that stuff is easily correctable by an experienced team.

It's interesting because I think the Pens can handle either style, I just think this season we've lacked commitment to team defense and it gets exploited by really fast teams. The neutral zone has been a sore spot all season along with the blue line turnovers and bad gaps. All that stuff is easily correctable by an experienced team.
- madmike71

Good observation. I agree they can handle anyone, but faster teams are more likely to exploit them.

It's interesting because I think the Pens can handle either style, I just think this season we've lacked commitment to team defense and it gets exploited by really fast teams. The neutral zone has been a sore spot all season along with the blue line turnovers and bad gaps. All that stuff is easily correctable by an experienced team.
- madmike71

Probably the biggest need for improvement team wise is needed here. Pens D has started backing into the circles against faster teams and with a half ass'd backcheck that's a big problem.

Interesting read below...

I always like reading up on Bellerive. He and ZAR are the kind of moves that make it perfectly fine to trade away first round picks.


https://www.pensburgh.com...social&utm_source=twitter


Also, this should be our next target. Dylan Sikura. Teammate of ZAR. Questionable to sign with Chicago. Top 6 potential.

https://www.secondcityhoc...tern-nhl-free-agency-2018

They won it all last year in spite of their defense. This year I think the defense is worse. I was hoping they would upgrade the D at the TDL. Instead it got weaker with the loss of Cole. More than a little concerned.

They won it all last year in spite of their defense. This year I think the defense is worse. I was hoping they would upgrade the D at the TDL. Instead it got weaker with the loss of Cole. More than a little concerned.
- all-pgh

I dont agree. Especially when you consider that Maatta and Daley limped into the playoffs barely playing the months that lead up to playoffs. Maatta one game (last game of year) I think. No Letang at all.

They won it all last year in spite of their defense. This year I think the defense is worse. I was hoping they would upgrade the D at the TDL. Instead it got weaker with the loss of Cole. More than a little concerned.
- all-pgh

If you think Cole > Letang... please gtfo

I dont agree. Especially when you consider that Maatta and Daley limped into the playoffs barely playing the months that lead up to playoffs. Maatta one game (last game of year) I think. No Letang at all.
- MattStrat

I don't think they're worse either (Maatta having a good bounce back year) but I can see why people have concerns. The weaknesses seem to be caused by lack of awareness/support more than anything.

What's killing me is the lack of effort by the forwards when it comes to the back check. I'm sure they'll clean it up when the games become more important but it'd be nice to see it soon.

I don't think they're worse either (Maatta having a good bounce back year) but I can see why people have concerns. The weaknesses seem to be caused by lack of awareness/support more than anything.

What's killing me is the lack of effort by the forwards when it comes to the back check. I'm sure they'll clean it up when the games become more important but it'd be nice to see it soon.
- Thorny87

Oh I too have concerns hahah...not going to deny that. I really didnt think they were making it past first round without Letang last year.

THe forards a re a huge part of the D...and when the games are must win you see more effort from them.

Interesting read below...

I always like reading up on Bellerive. He and ZAR are the kind of moves that make it perfectly fine to trade away first round picks.


https://www.pensburgh.com...social&utm_source=twitter


Also, this should be our next target. Dylan Sikura. Teammate of ZAR. Questionable to sign with Chicago. Top 6 potential.

https://www.secondcityhoc...tern-nhl-free-agency-2018
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Thanks for the read. Still can't believe Bellerive went undrafted. I like him more then anyone we've actually drafted since..... wow may be Sprong if not Gustavsson.

Sikura I think everyone wants and we should absolutely try to sign him. Is he expected to be a center as a pro? That might be a tough sell with our depth chart.

I dont agree. Especially when you consider that Maatta and Daley limped into the playoffs barely playing the months that lead up to playoffs. Maatta one game (last game of year) I think. No Letang at all.
- MattStrat

I agree. The D is better over all. They're not the stiffest group, but Maatta's skating has been way better. Letang has regained his form for the most part. I wouldn't say he's the same player before the neck problem, but he's much better than Hainsey. This D core will need the help of the forwards if they're going to get anywhere this season.

Hunwick and Oleksiak are a terrible match and I think that's the biggest problem. It goes beyond each player individually. Those players should NEVER play together. JR might be kicking himself he didn't add a steady "stay at home" guy if we lose a couple of dmen to injury.

I agree. The D is better over all. They're not the stiffest group, but Maatta's skating has been way better. Letang has regained his form for the most part. I wouldn't say he's the same player before the neck problem, but he's much better than Hainsey. This D core will need the help of the forwards if they're going to get anywhere this season.

Hunwick and Oleksiak are a terrible match and I think that's the biggest problem. It goes beyond each player individually. Those players should NEVER play together. JR might be kicking himself he didn't add a steady "stay at home" guy if we lose a couple of dmen to injury.
- madmike71

Or just find the space to keep Cole and give OTT back their 3rd which is better then what the Sens got for Cole.

If you think Cole > Letang... please gtfo
- Guile

Where did I say that? My point is that Cole was a warrior last year. Schultz stepped up and replaced Letang pretty well last year. Who do you have doing the job Cole did last year. Big rig has been looking lost lately. And Id take Hainsey over Hunwick any day.
Plus its not Murray/Fleury anymore. Id say we're worse off defensively.

Where did I say that? My point is that Cole was a warrior last year. Schultz stepped up and replaced Letang pretty well last year. Who do you have doing the job Cole did last year. Big rig has been looking lost lately. And Id take Hainsey over Hunwick any day.
Plus its not Murray/Fleury anymore. Id say we're worse off defensively.
- all-pgh

You said the defense is worse... well, what is the difference between this year and last? No Cole, Daley, or Hainsey... Letang is back, Maatta is healthy.

No one wanted Daley or Hainsey back, so that is not a loss. Cole is a loss, no debating that, but Letang is now back.

So... main differences is, no Cole, and Letang is back.

Where did I say that? My point is that Cole was a warrior last year. Schultz stepped up and replaced Letang pretty well last year. Who do you have doing the job Cole did last year. Big rig has been looking lost lately. And Id take Hainsey over Hunwick any day.
Plus its not Murray/Fleury anymore. Id say we're worse off defensively.
- all-pgh

Schultz didn’t replace Letang all that well. We couldn’t execute a proper break out to save our lives that playoffs. Without our goalies doing their best brick will impersonation and our stars putting the team on their backs we don’t win last year. Our defense was a friggen mess.

You said the defense is worse... well, what is the difference between this year and last? No Cole, Daley, or Hainsey... Letang is back, Maatta is healthy.

No one wanted Daley or Hainsey back, so that is not a loss. Cole is a loss, no debating that, but Letang is now back.

So... main differences is, no Cole, and Letang is back.
- Guile

Not sure if you can comprehend this but it is possible to have the same players and still be worse.

Schultz didn’t replace Letang all that well. We couldn’t execute a proper break out to save our lives that playoffs. Without our goalies doing their best brick will impersonation and our stars putting the team on their backs we don’t win last year. Our defense was a friggen mess.
- Victoro311

Yeah it was extremely hard to watch haha....how many clearing dumps out of D-zone off the glass do you figure we witnessed? Id say O'le Hainsey did close to 200 himself.