I disagree. In the short amount of time they played together they owned 55% of the shot shares in the regular season and 68% of the shares in the playoffs and they generated solid solid scoring chances. I would love to see Sid and Phil together for an extended period of time.
- j.boyd919

Me too. Makes zero f'n sense for this not be a thing for periods of time in the season.

Yeah, where ever would you fit a guy who has one of the best wristshots in league, has excellent speed and is an elite passer?

I feel for the next team that as to struggle with a guy like that.
- Rinosaur

Getting slower which is an issue.

You'd think a guy like that would do well in a sheltered role with an elite center where he should focus on offense. But it's not creating an advantage because his defense negates his offense.

Getting slower which is an issue.

You'd think a guy like that would do well in a sheltered role with an elite center where he should focus on offense. But it's not creating an advantage because his defense negates his offense.
- Tojo.

Because he was the only top player on that team to struggle that year.

Letang is the second hardest worker on the team behind Sid. This is bullpoop.
- Victoro311

Letang may very well work as hard as Sid, but if he's not buying into the system, conditioning doesn't mean a darn thing.

I disagree. In the short amount of time they played together they owned 55% of the shot shares in the regular season and 68% of the shares in the playoffs and they generated solid solid scoring chances. I would love to see Sid and Phil together for an extended period of time.
- j.boyd919

You got me on the numbers there. Guess I'd say small sample and I (and likely Sullivan) distrust him against tougher matchups, but I admit I couldn't prove that and it probably deserved a longer look.

Because he was the only top player on that team to struggle that year.
- Rinosaur

It's a 3 year trend.

It's a 3 year trend.
- Tojo.

Dude, you really don’t know what you’re talking about.

It's a 3 year trend.
- Tojo.

Quit wasting time on here and find Deltondo's killer!

I disagree. In the short amount of time they played together they owned 55% of the shot shares in the regular season and 68% of the shares in the playoffs and they generated solid solid scoring chances. I would love to see Sid and Phil together for an extended period of time.
- j.boyd919

What percentage of these shifts started in the O zone? Probably almost all of them. Crosby also takes a healthy share of D zone shifts which isn’t maximizing Phil’s abilities

Dude, you really don’t know what you’re talking about.
- Rinosaur

Nope, can't help it if you can't look beyond point totals. He's been negative in xGF and any relative possession stat you want to look at.

Kessel scores points of the rush but gives them back because he can't drive possession due to his refusal to work at either end. And he's getting older and slower.

Letang may very well work as hard as Sid, but if he's not buying into the system, conditioning doesn't mean a darn thing.
- Cousinskrid

This is just not factual. Sullivan asks his dmen to pinch a ton. The problem this past season was the lack of coverage from the forwards.

Letang may very well work as hard as Sid, but if he's not buying into the system, conditioning doesn't mean a darn thing.
- Cousinskrid

There is zero evidence that Letang isn’t “buying in” besides him clapping back at reporters when they say he shouldn’t pinch as much (which is a clown move to begin with by the media). Rutherford and Sullivan have both said in the past that they don’t want Letang to change his game drastically and just wish he’d cut down on mistakes, which is a pretty standard thing to say. This is a weird narrative that you seem to have plucked out of the sky.

What percentage of these shifts started in the O zone? Probably almost all of them. Crosby also takes a healthy share of D zone shifts which isn’t maximizing Phil’s abilities
- WSCTeton17

It was about 81% OZ starts and less than 100 minutes. So like you said it would mean using Sid differently, but might have been worth exploring although Sid hardly struggled without Kessel.

Letang may very well work as hard as Sid, but if he's not buying into the system, conditioning doesn't mean a darn thing.
- Cousinskrid

I think Letang gets forced into free wheeling when the forwards don't come back for outlet passes. I don't think it's a discipline thing with him.

So... you post an article... for what? What was the point of your reply to me? There was nothing of significance in that article.
- j.boyd919

Kessel is a dog and you should want him gone.

Kessel is a dog and you should want him gone.
- Fountain-San

Indeed. We are dumb for not despising the rightful 2015 Conn Smythe winner and a PPG guy based on the words of media people who hate him because he doesn’t answer their questions.

I disagree. In the short amount of time they played together they owned 55% of the shot shares in the regular season and 68% of the shares in the playoffs and they generated solid solid scoring chances. I would love to see Sid and Phil together for an extended period of time.
- j.boyd919

Sid doesn't want to play with Phil and stylistically they don't match up. Crosby does best with guys who can win puck battles and go to the net. Kessel doesn't do those things.

If Crosby thought it was a good idea for them to play together, they would do it.

That article looked like it was written by a fan. Talking about issues with Phil because he refuses to stop drinking soda? Come on now lol
- Rinosaur

it's why an elite talent like him is about to bounced to his 4th team in 12 years. every coach hates him because doesn't buy in and is lazy as poop.

You got me on the numbers there. Guess I'd say small sample and I (and likely Sullivan) distrust him against tougher matchups, but I admit I couldn't prove that and it probably deserved a longer look.
- Tojo.

Of Sid paired with Kessel, what % of their starts are in the O zone? As a Penguin Phil religiously starts 65% of his shifts in the O zone. Crosby is down at 57%. Could be a factor. Maybe Sid just doesn’t like the dynamic he brings

Indeed. We are dumb for not despising the rightful 2015 Conn Smythe winner and a PPG guy based on the words of media people who hate him because he doesn’t answer their questions.
- Victoro311

(frank) the media. if you guys want to rebuild and get younger you need to move someone. and this is not a guy to set an example on how to be a pro.

(frank) the media. if you guys want to rebuild and get younger you need to move someone. and this is not a guy to set an example on how to be a pro.
- Fountain-San

(frank) the media. if you guys want to rebuild and get younger you need to move someone. and this is not a guy to set an example on how to be a pro.
- Fountain-San

I have no interest in doing what Detroit did and trying to rebuild while they’re aging stars kept them too competitive to do it properly. We should be going all in now until it’s clear beyond a shadow of a doubt that Crosby and Malkin don’t have it anymore and then they should have the option to retire in Pitt if they want to. Once they’re gone, then we can rebuild and start a new era.

- MattStrat

he's a dog dude

I have no interest in doing what Detroit did and trying to rebuild while they’re aging stars kept them too competitive to do it properly. We should be going all in now until it’s clear beyond a shadow of a doubt that Crosby and Malkin don’t have it anymore and then they should have the option to retire in Pitt if they want to. Once they’re gone, then we can rebuild and start a new era.
- Victoro311

good luck with that

good luck with that
- Fountain-San

It’s a hell of a lot smarter than thinking you can trade off a PPG asset now so that you can extend the Cup window into Sid and Malkin’s late 30s. There is no Cup window in a couple years regardless of any move we make.