Yeah, there's a lot of those overpayments that add up (Hunwick, JJ, Tanev) that can mean the difference between retaining a good player or not. Of course, a lot of this relates back to the Pens' lack of defensive prospects that can be adequate or better 3rd pairing for cheap. Speaking of which, I'm excited to see how POJ progresses and hopefully supplants you know who.
- Hockey66

I don't put Tanev in that overpayment category. I feel he will be a great bottom 6 guy for years to come. Plus that line always looks to give 110% out there every shift

I think even with the win, we need to switch up the lines. Zucker and Sheary looked pretty good complementing each others speed. I think Marleau on any other line scores a goal by now in the series.

I think even with the win, we need to switch up the lines. Zucker and Sheary looked pretty good complementing each others speed. I think Marleau on any other line scores a goal by now in the series.
- 123Kid

I think they can keep everything as-is. They didn’t change their game-plan much aside from putting Horn on the PP. They need to get in Price’s face more. They were a tad better about it, but they need more of it.

I don't put Tanev in that overpayment category. I feel he will be a great bottom 6 guy for years to come. Plus that line always looks to give 110% out there every shift
- 123Kid

Well, 4th liners who don't score are a dime a dozen. There isn't that much difference between Tanev and guys like ERod, Lafferty, etc. who can fulfill that role for much cheaper. Tanev is about to turn 29, so for a guy whose game is predicated on speed and hitting, his contract will probably become a sore spot sooner than later. Right now he's a luxury that could probably be better spent elsewhere in the lineup.

Well, 4th liners who don't score are a dime a dozen. There isn't that much difference between Tanev and guys like ERod, Lafferty, etc. who can fulfill that role for much cheaper. Tanev is about to turn 29, so for a guy whose game is predicated on speed and hitting, his contract will probably become a sore spot sooner than later. Right now he's a luxury that could probably be better spent elsewhere in the lineup.
- Hockey66

I actually think Tanev is the key to that line and a bit of a unique player on the forecheck. ZAR and Blueger are largely playing off the initial pressure he creates.

I do agree the contract is likely to be a problem at some point, but for now it's money well spent IMO. Really, that line is a shutdown 3rd line and overall it's cheap for now.

How much ice time?
- Thorny87

About 7 minutes as a line.

I think even with the win, we need to switch up the lines. Zucker and Sheary looked pretty good complementing each others speed. I think Marleau on any other line scores a goal by now in the series.
- 123Kid

What's funny is for all the talk of Sheary holding the top 6 back, I don't think they've scored an ES goal without him on the ice. Combined with the PP, that's a lot of concerns.

Hope to get something from Malkin next game. I do think the PP is on the right track. Not sure how they didn't bury a rebound, but 2 of the 3 PPs with the full unit generated a lot of chances.

That third period last night was alarming to me. It was as disjointed of a period as I saw all year and they won because of goaltending and finding one hole to hit. Goals like that, while exciting, are not going to propel them past this Habs team. I know plenty felt this should be an easier series for the Pens, but I said from the beginning there will be nothing easy about this team.

What happened in the third period will not fly against any of the teams they will face if they make out of this round. I honestly don't care about the PP catching fire, but if they don't find a way to get in the face of goalies more and generate more high danger chances they will be dead in the water.

What's funny is for all the talk of Sheary holding the top 6 back, I don't think they've scored an ES goal without him on the ice. Combined with the PP, that's a lot of concerns.

Hope to get something from Malkin next game. I do think the PP is on the right track. Not sure how they didn't bury a rebound, but 2 of the 3 PPs with the full unit generated a lot of chances.
- Tojo.

I always felt the criticism of Sheary was overblown. Yes, it's frustrating when he can't drive home some of those chances, but he does so many good little things to help transition end-to-end which was apparent on both goals last night. He is the third wheel on that line and I think he's doing his job well.

I actually think Tanev is the key to that line and a bit of a unique player on the forecheck. ZAR and Blueger are largely playing off the initial pressure he creates.

I do agree the contract is likely to be a problem at some point, but for now it's money well spent IMO. Really, that line is a shutdown 3rd line and overall it's cheap for now.
- Tojo.

Fair enough. Personally, I would rather have spent the money on a RW for Sid. I just don't see the value in paying a 4th liner (or 3rd pairing D) over about $2M max. I don't think the gap between them and the next guy is ever significant enough and they don't play enough to justify consuming that much of the cap. But, what's done is done. I like Tanev, I just think he's a luxury on a perennial cap-strapped team with other more pressing needs (maybe throw 3C into the "need" category now).

What's funny is for all the talk of Sheary holding the top 6 back, I don't think they've scored an ES goal without him on the ice. Combined with the PP, that's a lot of concerns.

Hope to get something from Malkin next game. I do think the PP is on the right track. Not sure how they didn't bury a rebound, but 2 of the 3 PPs with the full unit generated a lot of chances.
- Tojo.

They haven't, but two of those goals were the brilliance of Crosby (I'm still not sure how he got the secondary assist on the first goal last night). I think he is still holding back the top 6, but you're right, Malkin needs to step up.

I think we could have just not signed Hunwick (who we had to give Sheary away just to get rid of, and then give away Kahun to reaquire - good gawd) and we'd have been fine
- TheGame316

Oh damn please never speak of Hunwick again lol we still deal with JJ.

They haven't, but two of those goals were the brilliance of Crosby (I'm still not sure how he got the secondary assist on the first goal last night). I think he is still holding back the top 6, but you're right, Malkin needs to step up.
- Hockey66

Malkin looks like Frustrated/Sulking Malkin. He looks tentative out there instead of having that confident gallop.

Malkin looks like Frustrated/Sulking Malkin. He looks tentative out there instead of having that confident gallop.
- Rinosaur

Shows how worthless scrimmages are for evaluating anything. That was the most impressive line of the pre-playoffs. Still think it’s probable that if we stay in it long enough that line will show up. It’s had moments.

Well, 4th liners who don't score are a dime a dozen. There isn't that much difference between Tanev and guys like ERod, Lafferty, etc. who can fulfill that role for much cheaper. Tanev is about to turn 29, so for a guy whose game is predicated on speed and hitting, his contract will probably become a sore spot sooner than later. Right now he's a luxury that could probably be better spent elsewhere in the lineup.
- Hockey66

spittin' the truf here my friend

That third period last night was alarming to me. It was as disjointed of a period as I saw all year and they won because of goaltending and finding one hole to hit. Goals like that, while exciting, are not going to propel them past this Habs team. I know plenty felt this should be an easier series for the Pens, but I said from the beginning there will be nothing easy about this team.

What happened in the third period will not fly against any of the teams they will face if they make out of this round. I honestly don't care about the PP catching fire, but if they don't find a way to get in the face of goalies more and generate more high danger chances they will be dead in the water.
- Rinosaur

Habs switched up their forecheck again applying pressure while creating openings for the counterattack. It's a dangerous game for them but with the Pens playing conservative trying to protect the lead it was effective. They won't play like that unless they are behind because Pens used that aggressiveness against them in the first of game one so they had to switch a more conservative one.

Really a good job by Julien to know when to switch things up, but Sully is finding ways to counter. I'm enjoying the chess match between them.

I always felt the criticism of Sheary was overblown. Yes, it's frustrating when he can't drive home some of those chances, but he does so many good little things to help transition end-to-end which was apparent on both goals last night. He is the third wheel on that line and I think he's doing his job well.
- Rinosaur

Ideally, Sheary is a 3rd liner who bumps up. The calls to bench him were overblown. They just don't have a true option, but I guess that's normal in a cap world.

Tojo...certainly want to give Murray credit for last nights effort. He played like the guy the Pens need in net to go on a deep run.

Fair enough. Personally, I would rather have spent the money on a RW for Sid. I just don't see the value in paying a 4th liner (or 3rd pairing D) over about $2M max. I don't think the gap between them and the next guy is ever significant enough and they don't play enough to justify consuming that much of the cap. But, what's done is done. I like Tanev, I just think he's a luxury on a perennial cap-strapped team with other more pressing needs (maybe throw 3C into the "need" category now).
- Hockey66

If they wanted to save money, they could just make the Blueger line the 3rd line and use those cheaper guys as a 4th line. That's what they actually are so I don't consider him a 4th liner.

In a bubble is 3.5M for a 3rd line wing with limited offense an overpay? Probably a little. But since I think he's the key to a 5.25M shutdown line that wouldn't work if you switched the parts, I can live with it for now.

I actually think Tanev is the key to that line and a bit of a unique player on the forecheck. ZAR and Blueger are largely playing off the initial pressure he creates.

I do agree the contract is likely to be a problem at some point, but for now it's money well spent IMO. Really, that line is a shutdown 3rd line and overall it's cheap for now.
- Tojo.

Honestly I think ZAR is the key to that line. When he was injured that line wasn’t the same.

They haven't, but two of those goals were the brilliance of Crosby (I'm still not sure how he got the secondary assist on the first goal last night). I think he is still holding back the top 6, but you're right, Malkin needs to step up.
- Hockey66

I really think they (frank)ed up by taking Guentzel and putting him back with Sid. I really wanted to see Zucker-Sid-Sheary and Guentzel-Geno-Rust.

Habs switched up their forecheck again applying pressure while creating openings for the counterattack. It's a dangerous game for them but with the Pens playing conservative trying to protect the lead it was effective. They won't play like that unless they are behind because Pens used that aggressiveness against them in the first of game one so they had to switch a more conservative one.

Really a good job by Julien to know when to switch things up, but Sully is finding ways to counter. I'm enjoying the chess match between them.
- Tojo.

That’s what I appreciated about Sully in the cup runs. His willingness to change on a period to period basis. I felt that we didn’t see those adjustments the last few years.

That’s what I appreciated about Sully in the cup runs. His willingness to change on a period to period basis. I felt that we didn’t see those adjustments the last few years.
- j.boyd919

I don't think we had the chance to. 2018 we were just so flat and Letang was having a bad year coming off injury. This team just does not do well when Letang is out or playing poorly (yes I know the 2017 Cup happened, good luck getting Sid, Geno, and Guentzel all shooting above 17% at the same time again). Then last year our defense was a complete disaster and we got offed in 4 games. To be fair, Sully deserves a lot of criticism for last year. There was one meaningful adjustment to be made in benching Johnson and he abandoned it after game 1 because Maatta let up an ugly goal. This year's team has a lot more potential than the previous two seasons. If Sullivan drops the ball with this team and can't make it to a competitive Round 2, I will be a lot more upset than I was the past two years.

Shows how worthless scrimmages are for evaluating anything. That was the most impressive line of the pre-playoffs. Still think it’s probable that if we stay in it long enough that line will show up. It’s had moments.
- Victoro311

I don't doubt Geno will find his way if they advance and it's not as if that line hasn't been good. He's just not himself at the moment.

I really think they (frank)ed up by taking Guentzel and putting him back with Sid. I really wanted to see Zucker-Sid-Sheary and Guentzel-Geno-Rust.
- j.boyd919

I came here to post that Id swap Jake and Jason in the top 6. It seems I'm not the only one that thinks this...