Judging by his username, he might be having some serious internal conflicts.
- Nucker101

Or his username is promoting his favorite dating app?

Or his username is promoting his favorite dating app?
- Rinosaur

exactly

Lines from practice:

Jake-Sid-Horn
Hags-Geno-Kessel
Simon-Brassard-Rust
Cullen-Sheahan-Sprong
ZAR-Grant-Dea

Dumo/Letang
Oleksiak/Schultz
Maatta/Johnson
Riikola/Ruhwedel-Trotman

My guess is Sprong will be in and out of the lineup for either Grant or ZAR.

It's not an idiot Yinzer mentality when nearly every NFL team values the running back position the same way. These guys are replaceable. Most teams use tandems. Connor isn't the same talent as Bell, but he's more than adequate. Especially if they upgraded the back up RB.

I think the "idiot" comment belongs to Tomlin running every running back into the ground. On multiple occasions, Bell and (Connor this season) looked gassed late in games and they aren't nearly as effective.
- madmike71

I dunno how much of Bell (and Conner’s) success should be attributed to the offensive line. I think more than they’re getting credit for. I saw some stats recently that showed the backup RB stats compared to Bells and they really aren’t that far off.

Personally Bell is One of my favorite backs in the League to watch, that stutter and dancing at the line gives me anxiety but when he rips off an 8-20 yard scamper after dancing around its fun to watch. But production wise? I think they can suffice without him.

DESPRES wasn't bad imo. He actually got a pretty good deal in Anaheim after he left.
- Barnaby36

There are people that though the Pens should trade Letang because they thought Despress and DP looked soooooo amazing.

It would be funny if we find out that Bryz is drawing another paycheck from the Flyers by playing Gritty .

Lines from practice:

Jake-Sid-Horn
Hags-Geno-Kessel
Simon-Brassard-Rust
Cullen-Sheahan-Sprong
ZAR-Grant-Dea

Dumo/Letang
Oleksiak/Schultz
Maatta/Johnson
Riikola/Ruhwedel-Trotman

My guess is Sprong will be in and out of the lineup for either Grant or ZAR.
- Rinosaur

I'd like to see Sprong on that 3rd line with Brass and Rust, Brass is a pass first player and may help him start shooting.

I think Simon would do better in a grinding style.

I agree with you on Sprongs play of late. The coaches are in his head.

Football is for overweight slobs that don’t have enough work ethic to get off the couch in Sunday’s. It’s barely even a sport.
- Grinder47

Grinder , best poster in this thread.

exactly
- Nucker101

Nuckaaa, don't mess with my buddy Grinder, or i will stand for him! Capisce?

I'd like to see Sprong on that 3rd line with Brass and Rust, Brass is a pass first player and may help him start shooting.

I think Simon would do better in a grinding style.

I agree with you on Sprongs play of late. The coaches are in his head.
- Thorny87

The Pouliot process has begun. Just like Pouliot, I remember when Sprong first played in the pre-season after he was drafted; he flashed all kinds of skill and galloped around with confidence.

When HCMJ got his grips on the Pens, Sprong's play went to poop. Once sent back, we began to hear the "defensive issue" murmurs that grew once Sullivan took over. It feels to me like Sprong fate was sealed before he even had a chance. Sprong looked like a different player once making the jump to the AHL and not in a good way.

I'm not trying to go all conspiracy theory, but it's just the impression that I get. Sometimes organizations just mishandle young players and there seems to be an m.o. when it comes to players who are TOO offensively-minded.

EDIT: I also felt there's some kind of mindgame they're pulling. All we heard is he has to keep working on his defensive game over and over and over, then? They come out and say they just want him to play his game. That has to really confuse a young player trying to please the coaching staff.

The Pouliot process has begun. Just like Pouliot, I remember when Sprong first played in the pre-season after he was drafted; he flashed all kinds of skill and galloped around with confidence.

When HCMJ got his grips on the Pens, Sprong's play went to poop. Once sent back, we began to hear the "defensive issue" murmurs that grew once Sullivan took over. It feels to me like Sprong fate was sealed before he even had a chance. Sprong looked like a different player once making the jump to the AHL and not in a good way.

I'm not trying to go all conspiracy theory, but it's just the impression that I get. Sometimes organizations just mishandle young players and there seems to be an m.o. when it comes to players who are TOO offensively-minded.

EDIT: I also felt there's some kind of mindgame they're pulling. All we heard is he has to keep working on his defensive game over and over and over, then? They come out and say they just want him to play his game. That has to really confuse a young player trying to please the coaching staff.
- Rinosaur

They should be asking Sprong to watch Phil's game. Don't cheat, but don't sacrifice offense for mediocre D.

Sprong could learn about timing and spacing from one of the best in the game whom he most closely resembles on the team. The kid is a shooter, he should be playing as such.

They should be asking Sprong to watch Phil's game. Don't cheat, but don't sacrifice offense for mediocre D.

Sprong could learn about timing and spacing from one of the best in the game whom he most closely resembles on the team. The kid is a shooter, he should be playing as such.
- Thorny87

I agree and I think that's how he looked in his first stint after being drafted. My concern is that they've already gotten in his head to the point he's not sure what they want and might be too apprehensive about going back to that.

Grinder , best poster in this thread.



Nuckaaa, don't mess with my buddy Grinder, or i will stand for him! Capisce?


- VeryModernMan

Grinder is a moron. And YOU leave Nucker alone.

I'd like to see Sprong on that 3rd line with Brass and Rust, Brass is a pass first player and may help him start shooting.

I think Simon would do better in a grinding style.

I agree with you on Sprongs play of late. The coaches are in his head.
- Thorny87

I've been saying since last year that putting Sprong on the third line with Brassard is probably the sweat spot spot for him. But like people have been saying, I get the feeling Simon is a place holder for Sheahan and they'll stick him at that 3rd line LW once he gets back and use Cullen as an every night 4C.

On a related note, Mackey's saying that he gets the sense that the coaches love the Brassard-Rust pairing, so look to see that stay together. Reading between the lines, sounds like the plan is to roll Brassard at 3C (as they should).

Grinder is buddy.
- Gramps28

, the moron may sight between your ears though.

Can we get this sorry excuse of a hockey fan out as the resident pens blogger yet? Who the (frank) is Josh Allen. Football is for overweight slobs that don’t have enough work ethic to get off the couch in Sunday’s. It’s barely even a sport.
- Grinder47

Holy female dog tits, Batman. Calm down.