Ryan Wilson: Sidney Crosby has surgery Sidney Crosby has surgery

Unfortunately we knew this.

The only hope is POJ pulls a Marino and the coaches have no choice but to play him over JJ.

Remind me again what you think the main area they need to address is?

Things like benching/burying/buying out JJ is a given and Sully isn't going anywhere so assume that he is going to butcher things. I just want to know what you think is the main position addition need.
- Hockey66

I might regret answering this but..

Goalie by far. Jarry will be asked to carry the load, yet the last time he played even 50 games was in 2014-15 for the Edmonton Oil Kings. Why? Because he has been wildly inconsistent for 5 years as a pro including this past one. And if he fails, can DeSmith carry the load? I'd much rather have Jarry be part of a tandem than the unquestioned starter (not with Murray though).

3rd pair defense. The hope is that POJ plays so well he forces out JJ. But even if he does are we comfortable at 3rd RD? Ruhwedel is about 30 and he's never been a top 6 before, yet we're asking him to either carry JJ or have play with a rookie. Will JJ just slide over to the right like he did with Pettersson because there's nobody there to strongly block him?

Both those roster issues worry me far more than Blueger and McCann at center.

Question: with how the Islanders are playing, it is quite obvious last year was not a fluke. So my question is... does this make you feel better, no different, or worse about the sweep in 2019 to the Islanders?

For me, it is somewhere between no different and better. It makes me feel a little worse because it is obvious the penguins are once again predictable and any good coach can lock down the Penguins on the transition and in the neutral zone. It makes me feel a little better because at least we lost to a team that is for real plus has taken out some good opponents this year.

I might regret answering this but..
- Tojo.

You surely will.

Question: with how the Islanders are playing, it is quite obvious last year was not a fluke. So my question is... does this make you feel better, no different, or worse about the sweep in 2019 to the Islanders?

For me, it is somewhere between no different and better. It makes me feel a little worse because it is obvious the penguins are once again predictable and any good coach can lock down the Penguins on the transition and in the neutral zone. It makes me feel a little better because at least we lost to a team that is for real plus has taken out some good opponents this year.
- SuperHenderson13

Completely indifferent. Success is very difficult to maintain and long playoff runs are hard to manage back to back. Look at how Washington and St. Louis also struggled this playoff. I think we knew the Isles were real, but our roster structure hasn't been ideal the past few seasons. It is what it is.

I dont think the pens would have beaten the isles or flyers. They play suffocating styles, finish their checks and are more disciplined. The pens D needs help. I hope that comes thru subtraction. Losing schultz and trading JJ (which will never happen) would be a good start. But there isnt the depth you would hope for in the minors because of the lack of picks due to trades.

The pens only have a 3rd, 4th and 5th round pick this year and a 2nd, 5th and two 7th round picks next year. He hasnt traded away any 2022 picks yet but.....its early

Question: with how the Islanders are playing, it is quite obvious last year was not a fluke. So my question is... does this make you feel better, no different, or worse about the sweep in 2019 to the Islanders?

For me, it is somewhere between no different and better. It makes me feel a little worse because it is obvious the penguins are once again predictable and any good coach can lock down the Penguins on the transition and in the neutral zone. It makes me feel a little better because at least we lost to a team that is for real plus has taken out some good opponents this year.
- SuperHenderson13

No different. We played like absolute poop these past two seasons that I think there are teams that didn’t make the playoffs that could have beaten us. Trotz is a magician and is getting incredible hockey out of a roster with almost no high end talent so congrats to them, but last year’s Islanders were not an impressive team and we should be dead ashamed of that sweep. They were a better team than this year’s Habs though, so not sure which outing was more embarrassing.

3rd pair defense. The hope is that POJ plays so well he forces out JJ. But even if he does are we comfortable at 3rd RD? Ruhwedel is about 30 and he's never been a top 6 before, yet we're asking him to either carry JJ or have play with a rookie. Will JJ just slide over to the right like he did with Pettersson because there's nobody there to strongly block him?

Both those roster issues worry me far more than Blueger and McCann at center.
- Tojo.

Heavily dependent on the rest of the moves JR makes, the Ruhwedel Extention to me confirms he's their 7th D and I have to imagine he brings in a veteran on the right side. Hard to imagine him wanting to rely on Ruhwedal/Maniscallo. God help us if JJ is moved to his offside...

Heavily dependent on the rest of the moves JR makes, the Ruhwedel Extention to me confirms he's their 7th D and I have to imagine he brings in a veteran on the right side. Hard to imagine him wanting to rely on Ruhwedal/Maniscallo. God help us if JJ is moved to his offside...
- abasin

Its going to be Cody Ceci for the right side. Book it.

Its going to be Cody Ceci for the right side. Book it.
- MattStrat

Fortunately I don't think it's likely the Pens can afford Ceci.

Question: with how the Islanders are playing, it is quite obvious last year was not a fluke. So my question is... does this make you feel better, no different, or worse about the sweep in 2019 to the Islanders?

For me, it is somewhere between no different and better. It makes me feel a little worse because it is obvious the penguins are once again predictable and any good coach can lock down the Penguins on the transition and in the neutral zone. It makes me feel a little better because at least we lost to a team that is for real plus has taken out some good opponents this year.
- SuperHenderson13

The main takeaway is the Pens either can't figure out the trap or won't do what they have to to beat it. They aren't making another run until they figure that out. Guys like Hags, Rust, and a younger Hornqvist were huge helps there before.

Heavily dependent on the rest of the moves JR makes, the Ruhwedel Extention to me confirms he's their 7th D and I have to imagine he brings in a veteran on the right side. Hard to imagine him wanting to rely on Ruhwedal/Maniscallo. God help us if JJ is moved to his offside...
- abasin

I hope there's another move at RD.

Fortunately I don't think it's likely the Pens can afford Ceci.
- Rinosaur

I dont know man. He's probably not going to be a hot commodity and who knows what will happen for sure with contracts this offseason. Even if they cant afford him I'm not putting it past O'le Jimmy to find a way.

I hope there's another move at RD.
- Tojo.

Here's all the UFA RDs. THere's actually quite a few there I like.

I know Ive been saying JR will get Ceci...but I could see him wanting Gudas too.

EDIT: or Bogosian

https://www.capfriendly.c.../defense/all/desc/1/right

My Habs fans friends sharing Habs stories in my newsfeed...

EDIT: isnt Brisson Sid's agent?

https://theprovince.com/s...l8Z1cQ#Echobox=1598920753

Here's all the UFA RDs. THere's actually quite a few there I like.

I know Ive been saying JR will get Ceci...but I could see him wanting Gudas too.

EDIT: or Bogosian

https://www.capfriendly.c.../defense/all/desc/1/right
- MattStrat

Or Hamonic

I might regret answering this but..

Goalie by far. Jarry will be asked to carry the load, yet the last time he played even 50 games was in 2014-15 for the Edmonton Oil Kings. Why? Because he has been wildly inconsistent for 5 years as a pro including this past one. And if he fails, can DeSmith carry the load? I'd much rather have Jarry be part of a tandem than the unquestioned starter (not with Murray though).

3rd pair defense. The hope is that POJ plays so well he forces out JJ. But even if he does are we comfortable at 3rd RD? Ruhwedel is about 30 and he's never been a top 6 before, yet we're asking him to either carry JJ or have play with a rookie. Will JJ just slide over to the right like he did with Pettersson because there's nobody there to strongly block him?

Both those roster issues worry me far more than Blueger and McCann at center.
- Tojo.

Ok, thanks for answering. I disagree, but I respect your opinion. I think Jarry is good enough and there are a lot of good, probably cheap vets available to complete the tandem. As for 3rd pairing, I agree that it would be addition by subtraction as it relates to JJ, but it's another position that is pretty easy to fill. At least it's a hell of a lot easier than center and I don't think either Blueger or McCann are up to snuff at 3C. I do like McCann at LW and think he is pretty valuable there so I hope the Pens don't trade him as has been rumored.

Here's all the UFA RDs. THere's actually quite a few there I like.

I know Ive been saying JR will get Ceci...but I could see him wanting Gudas too.

EDIT: or Bogosian

https://www.capfriendly.c.../defense/all/desc/1/right
- MattStrat

Here is what might be a better link:

https://www.capfriendly.c...21/points/all/defense/ufa

It only lists UFAs (RFAs are excluded) and I didn't select "Handed" because there are some left-handed RDs like Brodie (and we might as well look at LDs while we're at it ;-). I also sorted by points because god our defense could use some scoring.

Question: with how the Islanders are playing, it is quite obvious last year was not a fluke. So my question is... does this make you feel better, no different, or worse about the sweep in 2019 to the Islanders?

For me, it is somewhere between no different and better. It makes me feel a little worse because it is obvious the penguins are once again predictable and any good coach can lock down the Penguins on the transition and in the neutral zone. It makes me feel a little better because at least we lost to a team that is for real plus has taken out some good opponents this year.
- SuperHenderson13

I feel pretty much like you do. Hopefully it highlights to Pens management what a good coach can do but I think they have their blinders on and Sully is their guy no matter what.

My Habs fans friends sharing Habs stories in my newsfeed...

EDIT: isnt Brisson Sid's agent?

https://theprovince.com/s...l8Z1cQ#Echobox=1598920753
- MattStrat

Brisson is like an NHL superagent I think. I think he handles a lot of major players.

The Habs blogger on the buzz also did a writeup on this today. I'm very curious what Domi is going to be moved for.

My Habs fans friends sharing Habs stories in my newsfeed...

EDIT: isnt Brisson Sid's agent?

https://theprovince.com/s...l8Z1cQ#Echobox=1598920753
- MattStrat

Did Domi get moved to winger on the Habs? That would be concerning.

Ok, thanks for answering. I disagree, but I respect your opinion. I think Jarry is good enough and there are a lot of good, probably cheap vets available to complete the tandem. As for 3rd pairing, I agree that it would be addition by subtraction as it relates to JJ, but it's another position that is pretty easy to fill. At least it's a hell of a lot easier than center.
- Hockey66

The thing is that D and goalie are much better this year in free agency so it would be easier to fix those areas. The center free agency is ass. They would somehow have to swing a trade for center which I'm ok with, however it may not happen, the other team has to accept the trade.

I think what our biggest need is, is irrelevant. As long as jj is on this team playing 20 minutes a night it doesn’t matter. He will sink any partner and any line he’s on.

I think jarry/desmith is a fine tandem. Ideal, no, but you can’t have it all. If your goalies are a bit inconsistent or a bit of an Unknow I think the main thing to help is a solid D. If we don’t address that it doesn’t matter. Jj sunk Geno, the new 3c is (frank)ed as long as he’s on the team. That’s the biggest need.

If jj was gone, I’d vote for a solid 3c who can drive a line and bring some offensive potential to the lineup to help with matchups. If we have 2 lines that can’t score they aren’t going to go far.