I believe it was me who wanted to see Johnson-Blandisi-Lafferty during camp anyway. Called that one.

I think I’d wait more than a few games to see if they can play before trading legit nhl forwards away. Especially centers.
- Grinder47

I was going to say the exact same thing. I really like Rust and I hope he doesn't get traded, but he is way more likely to get traded based on the fact that he is a winger.

I definitely think we don't want to take back a forward in a trade, maybe a center, but I'd much rather find a competent replacement for JJ at 3LD.

I believe it was me who wanted to see Johnson-Blandisi-Lafferty during camp anyway. Called that one.
- Grinder47

Good call. Enjoy it while it lasts which should be about a week or so.

I don't know if anyone has mentioned it but now seeing that Johnson and Lafferty can play, maybe they should deal Bjugstad? He hasn't lived up to $4.1 million' cap hit. Plus, I think you could actually make a trade that doesn't needed any "sweetner" added.
- stevens87

I actually want to see Bjugstad as a winger when he comes back from injury. He put up career highs in Florida at wing yet only played it a few times here due to our need at center. I would love to see what he could do in the top 6 as a winger with Crosby or Malkin before I trade him away.

A few NYI reports have us tied to Ho-Sang, but report JR is trying to move a defenseman first before any other move happens.

I actually want to see Bjugstad as a winger when he comes back from injury. He put up career highs in Florida at wing yet only played it a few times here due to our need at center. I would love to see what he could do in the top 6 as a winger with Crosby or Malkin before I trade him away.
- 123Kid

I would rather see him at winger, too, but we are thin at center. Maybe that has changed with McCann seemingly a capable bottom six center and maybe one of Lafferty / A. Johnson / Blandisi at 4C with Blueger in the mix, too.

A few NYI reports have us tied to Ho-Sang, but report JR is trying to move a defenseman first before any other move happens.
- 123Kid

The two might not be mutually exclusive, but I don't think NYI wants a defenseman. NYI also has Hickey at LD who would be a decent JJ replacement. Maybe a sweetener with JJ could get us both. I'm sure they would take Bjug as they are thin at center. They are finding out the hard way that Brassard is completely cooked as a hockey player.

I would rather see him at winger, too, but we are thin at center. Maybe that has changed with McCann seemingly a capable bottom six center and maybe one of Lafferty / A. Johnson / Blandisi at 4C with Blueger in the mix, too.
- Hockey66

I was thinking McCann or Bluegar would take over. Much like I said with others though, I wouldn't mind Bjugstad or any of our current injured players being traded, but it would depend on what we received back from them. If Penguins traded Bjugstad just to trade him without seeing him in the top 6, we would have to be packaging him for someone like Taylor Hall (which I would love to see us make a trade for if he becomes available this year).

I only went back to the Pens' most recent Cup years, but the team that won the Stanley Cup hasn't been in the top of shot-attempt percentages in the playoffs at all. It's actually not even close (e.g., STL ~50%, WSH ~49%, '17 Pens ~46%, and '16 Pens ~51.5%). Can this guy stop carrying around Corsi like it's the Holy Freakin' Grail?? Not all shots are equal, and, despite the old cliche, some shots are in fact bad ideas. It's like no coach ever told players not to take weak wristshots from the outside.

It's an indirect measure, and it is subject the the incredible degree of variability that is inherent in a dynamic situation like an entire freaking game of hockey. Baseball is dominated by the pitcher-to-batter dimension. So it's easier to quantify events, because of that consistency. In stats, you have to code events to quantify them. Hockey hasn't been able to agree on common terms for coding events (e.g., giveaways, takeaways, high-danger scoring opportunities, or even shots!), so chill out with the metrics, because they haven't decided Cups like some people pretend they have. Advanced stats should include significance testing (which the new-age hockey stats haven't), and even then they are based on probabilities.
- pens_4ever

This!

Hughes looking like a potential bust isn’t helping.
- Rinosaur

Wow... on both statements... isn't it just a BIT early in the season yet ??

I only went back to the Pens' most recent Cup years, but the team that won the Stanley Cup hasn't been in the top of shot-attempt percentages in the playoffs at all. It's actually not even close (e.g., STL ~50%, WSH ~49%, '17 Pens ~46%, and '16 Pens ~51.5%). Can this guy stop carrying around Corsi like it's the Holy Freakin' Grail?? Not all shots are equal, and, despite the old cliche, some shots are in fact bad ideas. It's like no coach ever told players not to take weak wristshots from the outside.

It's an indirect measure, and it is subject the the incredible degree of variability that is inherent in a dynamic situation like an entire freaking game of hockey. Baseball is dominated by the pitcher-to-batter dimension. So it's easier to quantify events, because of that consistency. In stats, you have to code events to quantify them. Hockey hasn't been able to agree on common terms for coding events (e.g., giveaways, takeaways, high-danger scoring opportunities, or even shots!), so chill out with the metrics, because they haven't decided Cups like some people pretend they have. Advanced stats should include significance testing (which the new-age hockey stats haven't), and even then they are based on probabilities.
- pens_4ever

1. If youre looking at 5v5 CF%, you don't know how to round...

2. you're inaccurately comparing CF% of teams that played different amounts of games and rounds. if you compared round by round, over the last 4 playoffs,id bet the your shot attempt % theory is also incorrect.

3. Nobody said its the end all be all or holy grail? But it is undoubtedly the best measure of possession. if you cannot concede that in hockey, if you have possession then the other team doesn't have possession and therefore you can possibly score while they cannot score, there is no reason to argue because youre just stubborn and refuse to attempt to find any alternate solution to better analyze the game.

4. and if you cannot admit that you would rather Crosby's line posses the puck 60% of the time rather than 53% of the time...youre just an bumhole.

Wow... on both statements... isn't it just a BIT early in the season yet ??
- Cousinskrid

Yeah, really. The kid wasn’t exactly picked by everyone to be the Calder candidate as his body isn’t ready, yet. Kakko was that guy.

Hughes is playing with a lot of AHL talent around him, and a Ruskie still figuring out the NHL game.

I mean, I hope he doesn’t crush us for the next 15+ years or so, but there’s no doubt the talent is there.

It might hamper Nico’s progression, but maybe he deserves a little time with a killer like Hall. Do something to spark him, not to mention give Hall a reason to want to stay.

Or don’t and flounder for the next few years. I’m cool with that.

Unfortunately some players have a scoring touch and some don’t. There’s plenty of players who have loads of tools and abilities that way above average, but just can’t light the lamp.
- Rinosaur

Ryan Getzlaf and Joe Thorton are the best examples. Great players with poopty scoring touch. I'm talking about allstars.

I believe it was me who wanted to see Johnson-Blandisi-Lafferty during camp anyway. Called that one.
- Grinder47

Blandisi blows tbh. He'd be the first one to go down to the AHL.

As for Bjugstad I like him and wouldn't trade him right now. Keep the guy. Kahun can go as the sweetner with Guds or Jacko.

The two might not be mutually exclusive, but I don't think NYI wants a defenseman. NYI also has Hickey at LD who would be a decent JJ replacement. Maybe a sweetener with JJ could get us both. I'm sure they would take Bjug as they are thin at center. They are finding out the hard way that Brassard is completely cooked as a hockey player.
- Hockey66

Nah. Not trading Bjugstad to the Islanders lol I didn't even know Brassard was playing for the Islanders. Geez. He's done...and so early in his career.

Yeah, really. The kid wasn’t exactly picked by everyone to be the Calder candidate as his body isn’t ready, yet. Kakko was that guy.

Hughes is playing with a lot of AHL talent around him, and a Ruskie still figuring out the NHL game.

I mean, I hope he doesn’t crush us for the next 15+ years or so, but there’s no doubt the talent is there.

It might hamper Nico’s progression, but maybe he deserves a little time with a killer like Hall. Do something to spark him, not to mention give Hall a reason to want to stay.

Or don’t and flounder for the next few years. I’m cool with that.
- Hesh_

How's Nolan Patrick doing so far? Nico Hischier was the real deal in his draft. Too bad for the Flyers.

Then Simon should never leave the first line with those stats. I also expect more than eight goals out of the Golden boy.
- Thunderbolt

See thats where we differ, i don't care if he scores a single goal or all the goals. What i care about is crosby having the puck more, and that i can guarantee will happen with Simon on his line.

My only problem with him is that he has no scoring touch. Sure he put one in last night. You put any nhl caliber player with Sid for that many games and they have more.
- Grinder47

was supposed to say "isn't a possession gold mine". but i agree with you 100%. I am not a fan of simon, i think hes vanilla and can't score. But he keeps the puck better than anyone on our team not named crosby, and by last years stats alone, better than crosby. So if you put him bottom six, he helps them keep the puck, but none of them can score. at least if he plays top six he can help keep the puck so that someone else can score.

Ryan Getzlaf and Joe Thorton are the best examples. Great players with poopty scoring touch. I'm talking about allstars.
- Barnaby36

Except those guys are centers who are expected to facilitate instead of just scoring goals. Even still, they were in the 25-35 goal range which is hardly paltry. A winger without a scoring touch is much harder to justify.

See thats where we differ, i don't care if he scores a single goal or all the goals. What i care about is crosby having the puck more, and that i can guarantee will happen with Simon on his line.
- joecool2931

Simon is a facilitator. His hockey IQ is pretty good and knows where to play and be effective on his line. I really like how they are playing no matter what people say about him not scoring much. The 1st line is ROLLING!

Simon is a facilitator. His hockey IQ is pretty good and knows where to play and be effective on his line. I really like how they are playing no matter what people say about him not scoring much. The 1st line is ROLLING!
- Barnaby36

I'm indifferent on SImon. If Crosby and GUtz can put up 30+ and Simon only puts up 10 and the line is dominant then who cares. I don't think the Pens can afford to flank 87 with 2 40g scorers.

THe Pens need to dump one of JJ or Gubs and need a better mid pairing Dman, not sure what the other needs are at this point other than cap relief when healthy.

Wow... on both statements... isn't it just a BIT early in the season yet ??
- Cousinskrid

"Potential" bust was the key word you overlooked, but no, I don't think it's early to be concerned for a player who has touted by some as another generational talent.

He has zero points through six games and playing the third line. I'm not saying he won't come around or maybe just isn't ready, but he's also not showing many positives.

I watched a few Devils games to see him play and he honestly looks like a child out there.

"Potential" bust was the key word you overlooked, but no, I don't think it's early to be concerned for a player who has touted by some as another generational talent.

He has zero points through six games and playing the third line. I'm not saying he won't come around or maybe just isn't ready, but he's also not showing many positives.

I watched a few Devils games to see him play and he honestly looks like a child out there.
- Rinosaur

I didnt want to just assume because he was so small and frail looking he might not make a big immediate impact, because well, there's plenty of very small effective players in the NHL...but I think I was right to assume that.

Devils have to be careful how they manage this guy. I think despite his production he should be in the top 6. Give him Hall as a winger some games and give him some confidence. Hall will produce with anyone.

I didnt want to just assume because he was so small and frail looking he might not make a big immediate impact, because well, there's plenty of very small effective players in the NHL...but I think I was right to assume that.

Devils have to be careful how they manage this guy. I think despite his production he should be in the top 6. Give him Hall as a winger some games and give him some confidence. Hall will produce with anyone.
- MattStrat

Absolutely. Set him up for success, give him confidence. Put him on a 3rd line role won't help him at all.

Funny how a guy like Gaudreau went 104th overall in 2011. He's got a lot of skill and is a true 1st line C. How could the scouts just write him off because of his size?

Absolutely. Set him up for success, give him confidence. Put him on a 3rd line role won't help him at all.

Funny how a guy like Gaudreau went 104th overall in 2011. He's got a lot of skill and is a true 1st line C. How could the scouts just write him off because of his size?
- Barnaby36

You know he plays wing, right?