I really feel strongly that Maatta needs to be with Letang. Let Dumo strengthen another pair.

Riikola’s game most resembles Letang IMO, so I’d do:

Maatta/Letang
Dumo/Riikola
Oleksiak/JJ
- Rinosaur

Yeah we can’t really mix and match top 4 defenseman with schultz gone now, so put your best four guys on the top two pairing and then shelter the ever living poop out of the bottom pairing. Gotta pump the breaks on Riikola a bit after a crazy good preseason but I feel more comfortable with him on the second pairing than Oleksiak or Johnson.

I’m 50/50 with you on Dumo. Is he a number 1 on his own? No, but I think he’s more than a complimentary player. There are times he’s risen to the occasion in Letangs absence.
- Rinosaur

Just to reiterate, the Penguins won a Stanley Cup with (frank)ing Ron Hainsey on their top pair and without Kris Letang. I don't think you'd want to go 82 games and the full playoffs with that being the case, but there are worse options out there than Maatta and Dumo playing on the top pair that have worked.

I’m 50/50 with you on Dumo. Is he a number 1 on his own? No, but I think he’s more than a complimentary player. There are times he’s risen to the occasion in Letangs absence.
- Rinosaur

Risen to the occasion in a small sample size with Ron Hainsey where their numbers as a pair were not very good. They lived in their own zone. Did it work for that playoffs? Yep but I definitely don’t think it’s something I’d bang in being successful over 82+. I think Dumo is solid but I don’t think he’s capable of propping a pairing up and making a pairing offensively dangerous.

Risen to the occasion in a small sample size with Ron Hainsey where their numbers as a pair were not very good. They lived in their own zone. Did it work for that playoffs? Yep but I definitely don’t think it’s something I’d bang in being successful over 82+. I think Dumo is solid but I don’t think he’s capable of propping a pairing up and making a pairing offensively dangerous.
- j.boyd919

JINX!

Schultz had surgery... Out 4 months with fracture.
- MattStrat

I honestly was expecting a season ending injury, so 4 months is better than I thought

Risen to the occasion in a small sample size with Ron Hainsey where their numbers as a pair were not very good. They lived in their own zone. Did it work for that playoffs? Yep but I definitely don’t think it’s something I’d bang in being successful over 82+. I think Dumo is solid but I don’t think he’s capable of propping a pairing up and making a pairing offensively dangerous.
- j.boyd919

Offensively dangerous? No, I agree, but he can help someone more offensive minded to play their game while picking up the defensive slack.

Offensively dangerous? No, I agree, but he can help someone more offensive minded to play their game while picking up the defensive slack.
- Rinosaur

That’s the problem is I don’t think we have anyone offensively minded lol

I’m 50/50 with you on Dumo. Is he a number 1 on his own? No, but I think he’s more than a complimentary player. There are times he’s risen to the occasion in Letangs absence.
- Rinosaur

I admire players like Dumo because they can play above their abilities effectively. In a perfect world, Dumo is a very good #4. Unfortunately, we don't have a legit #2 so Dumo is the next best thing. It's one of the reasons I liked Cole. Guy is probably a decent 5 or even 6, but he was capable of jumping up when needed.

My concern with Maatta is I don't think he's capable of handling more minutes along side Letang and I worry about his slow feet becoming a problem as Letang jumps into the play. That's where you notice Dumo. Dumo has decent enough wheels to cover up for Letang's higher risk game. God help them if the puck is turned over high and Maatta get's caught leaning (which has been a problem so far this season).

I'll offer one caveat, if our forwards get their heads out of the assess and start playing a more complete two way game, Maatta would probably be OK with Letang. Unfortunately, I haven't seen that type of relentless game from the Penguins so far.

I honestly was expecting a season ending injury, so 4 months is better than I thought
- Rinosaur

Yeah, so he'll be back a few weeks before, or right around, trade deadline.. It will be like a free no losing of assets top 4 pick up haha.

That’s the problem is I don’t think we have anyone offensively minded lol
- j.boyd919

Jack Johnson

*backs away slowly*

Plekanec grabs Shultz from behind and slams him with nothing that resembles a body check when the puck is long gone. Then the Pens “Just play”. That’s what’s wrong with this roster construction.

How come no one is talking about Chad Ruhwedel? I know he plays a quiet game, but I haven't seen one mention of him cracking the lineup. Now that Schultz is out and people are questioning Maatta and Johnson's abilities, how are Ruhwedel's chances of getting into a few games? I know he's not flashy, but he's been serviceable in the past when called upon.

Jack Johnson

*backs away slowly*
- jmatchett383

Do you know, is there anything wrong with Provolov? I thought I got a steal in my fantasy draft but he so far has no points and a -3. Consider that Radko Gudas has 4 points and is +2. Double

Do you know, is there anything wrong with Provolov? I thought I got a steal in my fantasy draft but he so far has no points and a -3. Consider that Radko Gudas has 4 points and is +2. Double
- stevens87

Speculation is an injury that they won't tell anyone about.

Speculation is an injury that they won't tell anyone about.
- dragonoffrost

Well that would make sense considering NHL teams never give out info on injuries.

Thanks!

Like others said, I was fully expecting this to be season-ending, so I'm glad to hear it's only 4 months. This puts more pressure on JJ, which is good because he either rises to the challenge of earning his contract or falls flat and should be an easy decision for a buy-out this off-season if not earlier.

I don't understand why there's all this hate for OM...yes his speed is questionable but he's always reminded me of a slightly more offensive (and yes slower) version of Dumo. I think keep it Letang/Dumo, Riikola/OM (not saying Riikola is the greatest we have but his strengths remind me of JS), and then JJ/JO...that 3rd pairing might suck but it's what we got. In a perfect world I'd sit JJ or JO and put in CRuw...that would give you one offensively minded D on each pair (I have seen ZERO offensive upside from JJ to date).

Schultz officially out four months after getting his broken ankle surgically repaired. Pretty bad, but not worst case scenario.

Plekanec grabs Shultz from behind and slams him with nothing that resembles a body check when the puck is long gone. Then the Pens “Just play”. That’s what’s wrong with this roster construction.
- Grinder47

Or the refs call a penalty because it is a penalty and players learn and don’t do stupid poop like that.

How come no one is talking about Chad Ruhwedel? I know he plays a quiet game, but I haven't seen one mention of him cracking the lineup. Now that Schultz is out and people are questioning Maatta and Johnson's abilities, how are Ruhwedel's chances of getting into a few games? I know he's not flashy, but he's been serviceable in the past when called upon.
- simethos

I would have preferred Ruhwedel to JJ.

Or the refs call a penalty because it is a penalty and players learn and don’t do stupid poop like that.
- j.boyd919

Totally extreme case, but were you totally psyched when Rinaldo got a 5-minute major and 8-game suspension for boarding Letang and injuring him? You know, the refs made the call, and clearly Rinaldo was going to learn to never do anything like that again. Or would you have preferred that one of the Penguins did more than yell, "Hey, that wasn't very nice. Please don't do that again."

I'm not advocating the days of dressing knuckle draggers who have no skill outside of punching someone. But the team, as a whole, should have each other's backs where they don't let things like happen and just let the refs deal with it either.

Totally extreme case, but were you totally psyched when Rinaldo got a 5-minute major and 8-game suspension for boarding Letang and injuring him? You know, the refs made the call, and clearly Rinaldo was going to learn to never do anything like that again. Or would you have preferred that one of the Penguins did more than yell, "Hey, that wasn't very nice. Please don't do that again."

I'm not advocating the days of dressing knuckle draggers who have no skill outside of punching someone. But the team, as a whole, should have each other's backs where they don't let things like happen and just let the refs deal with it either.
- jmatchett383

I believe the NHL made the right call in suspending him and giving him five and a game. I think that if things were called correctly and consistently you would see last if the douche baggery. I would have preferred that the Penguins made them pay on the ensuing 5 minute major and won the game and made Philly pay in that sense over someone going and fighting a useless goon.

It's Justin Faulk time, boys.

Lets make the trade.

It's Justin Faulk time, boys.

Lets make the trade.
- BINGO!

Hahaha what do you want for Faulk?

Hahaha what do you want for Faulk?
- j.boyd919

Jarry.

Jarry.
- BINGO!

Interesting, very interesting indeed...