I would like to second this. He looks great. As much as it pains me to say this... Jack Johnson doesn’t look terrible. He just looked better than his normal self which could still be bad.
- Brownsoldier

Man, and I thought I was the only who was thinking this too!

Man, and I thought I was the only who was thinking this too!
- Hodgedog

That's good to hear! I haven't been watching the scrimmage but I heard Marleau undressed him pretty good in a play.

Is Marleau looking ok?

That's good to hear! I haven't been watching the scrimmage but I heard Marleau undressed him pretty good in a play.

Is Marleau looking ok?
- Ben_66

Yes. He’s looked quite good actually.

I hate to say it but most everyone has looked good in camp besides Letang.

I like to keep that in mind. There was an assumption that Maatta would improve since he had such a good rookie year, but maybe it was just he adjusted faster than most defensemen but didn't have as high a ceiling. That was sort of his draft profile: high floor limited ceiling.

That and the injuries of course. He wasn't this slow as a rookie. Maatta can move the puck, has great hockey sense, and a strong work ethic, but that's all limited when people just skate past you.

I do think you give a good caution on Marino. He might not actually become a true #1 defenseman. So long as he maintains his current level though, should be a 2 or 3 for a long time.
- Tojo.

Maatta is a player that could not afford to "lose a step". Having his thyroid gland removed definitely played a role. I did a little reading on that when he first came back and didn't look like the same player. Yeah, we probably over-rated him a bit, but if he had better wheels, he'd still be a good player considering everything else with his game.

Marino on the other hand, he can skate well. Easily our 2nd best dman skater. Watching some of those old games the last few weeks and he's actually faster than I remembered. Reports out of camp say he looks really, really strong. One of the standouts. I agree.....pretty good chance he's solid 2 or 3 for a long time.

I hate to say it but most everyone has looked good in camp besides Letang.
- Rinosaur

Letang and Murray were the two name Yohe mentioned. If Letang struggles, hopefully Schultz can regain a little magic. Take some minutes away from tanger.

Letang and Murray were the two name Yohe mentioned. If Letang struggles, hopefully Schultz can regain a little magic. Take some minutes away from tanger.
- madmike71

Murray has been so so from the games I watched. I don’t think he’s looked bad, but he hasn’t looked very good. He made some impressive saves, but he’s just looked off.

Yes. He’s looked quite good actually.
- Rinosaur

I haven't watched any of the scrimmages, but it sounds like that 3rd line is gelling well. Could be a real x-factor.

Most analysis from outside Pittsburgh I've read still looks at them as top heavy up front. The Montreal writer at the Athletic certainly sees depth as Montreal's big advantage. The Pens 3rd and 4th lines should really surprise people.

I haven't watched any of the scrimmages, but it sounds like that 3rd line is gelling well. Could be a real x-factor.

Most analysis from outside Pittsburgh I've read still looks at them as top heavy up front. The Montreal writer at the Athletic certainly sees depth as Montreal's big advantage. The Pens 3rd and 4th lines should really surprise people.
- Tojo.

I think that’s a bunch of bull. The Pens depth is fierce. When you have Sid and Geno manning the top two lines they will always look too heavy by virtue of having two generational talents in your top two lines. Their 3rd and 4th lines are very good, especially the 4th.

I think that’s a bunch of bull. The Pens depth is fierce. When you have Sid and Geno manning the top two lines they will always look too heavy by virtue of having two generational talents in your top two lines. Their 3rd and 4th lines are very good, especially the 4th.
- Rinosaur

If Sheary and McCaan play well, the Pens will be really tough to beat. Honestly, McCaan is a huge lynch pin at 3C.

I heard McCann and Tanev fought in a scrimmage. That’s good news to hear.

I heard McCann and Tanev fought in a scrimmage. That’s good news to hear.
- Grinder47

Let's just hope Tanev doesn't turn into Craig Adams.

Let's just hope Tanev doesn't turn into Craig Adams.
- Hockey66

Why because Geno was being a wiener st practice? (frank) that. Get Geno fired up. It’s hockey fella.

Let's just hope Tanev doesn't turn into Craig Adams.
- Hockey66

I don't think he will and Sullivan doesn't stike me as the kind to even ask a player to be teachers pet. Bylsma was just as guilty as Adams for doing that, I wish Geno beat Bylsma's ass too. He should have been fired so much sooner, it was also Shero's demise here.

I don't think he will and Sullivan doesn't stike me as the kind to even ask a player to be teachers pet. Bylsma was just as guilty as Adams for doing that, I wish Geno beat Bylsma's ass too. He should have been fired so much sooner, it was also Shero's demise here.
- 668710

Shero’s so weird to me. You’d think swinging trades would be the hardest part of the job as a GM, and he’s one of the best in the business at that, but he kind of sucks at everything else. The man will pull off a blockbuster and then sit on his hands and not fill out the bit pieces of the roster, and loves holding on to mediocre coaches.

Shero’s so weird to me. You’d think swinging trades would be the hardest part of the job as a GM, and he’s one of the best in the business at that, but he kind of sucks at everything else. The man will pull off a blockbuster and then sit on his hands and not fill out the bit pieces of the roster, and loves holding on to mediocre coaches.
- Victoro311

Never understood the loyalty thing to a crappy coach. Never.

Letang and Murray were the two name Yohe mentioned. If Letang struggles, hopefully Schultz can regain a little magic. Take some minutes away from tanger.
- madmike71

I am hoping Schultz can play solid. Hopefully he is finally healthy and ready to roll. I kind of wonder if Letang struggles during the playoffs, if they think about an upgrade on D this offseason. Schultz will walk. I think Marino has shown to be a solid pick up and should solidify our 2nd pairing for years to come.

I don't think he will and Sullivan doesn't stike me as the kind to even ask a player to be teachers pet. Bylsma was just as guilty as Adams for doing that, I wish Geno beat Bylsma's ass too. He should have been fired so much sooner, it was also Shero's demise here.
- 668710

Probably the most accurate post ever on HB.

Probably the most accurate post ever on HB.
- madmike71

Man imagine if we didn’t win our two cups and the legacy of the Sid and Geno Era ended up being Dan Bylsma’s ineptitude and a faded memory of 2009. Would have been one of the biggest wastes of talent in NHL history.

Man imagine if we didn’t win our two cups and the legacy of the Sid and Geno Era ended up being Dan Bylsma’s ineptitude and a faded memory of 2009. Would have been one of the biggest wastes of talent in NHL history.
- Victoro311

People were already saying that who figured their window had closed, so we have a good idea. Those 2 years changed them from playoff under-achievers to one of if not the most accomplished duos in the past couple decades. Nobody was arguing Sid as possibly a top 5 all time let alone Malkin infamously not a top 100.

Amazing in a pretty weak East that neither the Pens or Caps could break through for so long. I agree, a lot goes on Bylsma and Shero.

Man imagine if we didn’t win our two cups and the legacy of the Sid and Geno Era ended up being Dan Bylsma’s ineptitude and a faded memory of 2009. Would have been one of the biggest wastes of talent in NHL history.
- Victoro311

It was that crazy Flyers series when I realized Bylsma needed to go. No self control or discipline. Even if you look past his strategic failings, there's no excuse for not fixing the selfish discipline issues. He deserves a ton of credit for the 09 cup, but was largely horrid beyond that.

The blame would have rightly fallen on ownership if we only got one cup out of Sid and Geno. It was obvious Bylsma would never get them another one. It was telling when Burkle openly lamented about waiting a couple of years too long.

Poulin, Miletic, and D'Orio are the cuts.

I wanted Poulin in over Johnson, but can't say I'm too surprised. Johnson was with Lafferty and Angelo, 2 guys who were clearly in, and had a good showing.

Varone might have been the other possible cut, but as a natural center who spent the bulk of the previous season in the NHL he made sense with just 5 extra forwards and the possibility of covid sidelining multiple players at any time.

It was that crazy Flyers series when I realized Bylsma needed to go. No self control or discipline. Even if you look past his strategic failings, there's no excuse for not fixing the selfish discipline issues. He deserves a ton of credit for the 09 cup, but was largely horrid beyond that.

The blame would have rightly fallen on ownership if we only got one cup out of Sid and Geno. It was obvious Bylsma would never get them another one. It was telling when Burkle openly lamented about waiting a couple of years too long.
- madmike71

That was also Therrian's team after he put them on notice for being soff and not care.

That was also Therrian's team after he put them on notice for being soff and not care.
- Hockey66

I agree... I've always said Therrian was a big factor in that cup win even though he wasn't behind the bench when it happened. He instilled alot of D structure and D mindset but he's an a-hole and he wore thin on the players. Enter Disco who then takes the shackles off a bit but with them still having some of Therrian's D tendencies left and voila, 2009 cup.

I agree... I've always said Therrian was a big factor in that cup win even though he wasn't behind the bench when it happened. He instilled alot of D structure and D mindset but he's an a-hole and he wore thin on the players. Enter Disco who then takes the shackles off a bit but with them still having some of Therrian's D tendencies left and voila, 2009 cup.
- MattStrat

Yuuupp, combined they were an awesome coach.