Ryan Wilson: Jeff Carter is better than your team's trade deadline pickup Jeff Carter is better than your trade deadline pickup

First!

So Taylor who?

Looks like Carter is turning into an amazing addition that's giving them a legit 3rd scoring line.
- Tojo.

Because of the re-emergence of McCann and a surprise in Gaudreau, the Pens had a lot of different ways they could have addressed their needs: winger for Geno, upgrade at 3C, upgrade 3rd line wing, etc..., and there were a lot of x-factors like where does McCann go when Geno returns, what do you do with Zucker, etc...

Ultimately this was a great choice to this point and if Zucker continues to find his game, it will look even better.

I also don't think can mention enough how huge Gaudreau has been. I really haven't followed him at all. I don't know what his story has been, why he's been in the AHL, but man, if he can keep this up he is a HUGE steal.

I'm bumping this because RW touched on what I was talking about. The versatility the Pens have right now is pretty astounding. They really can create so many different looks. I honestly don't remember when they had this many players who can bounce to so many different positions and lines.

You're welcome pens fans.carts is a true gamer,and plays the game well in all zones.he is so versatile as he can play center,wing,PP,PK.
Glad to see carts healthy again,been a rough couple of yrs for him with hip issues and he finally got surgeries to correct the problems and has been skating like carts of old.gl to him,he will not disappoint in playoffs.

Anyone see Kap give Carter a big hug on the bench after the final horn went last night? Love seeing poop like that. Gives hints of a healthy close knit locker room. Carter seems to of been a seamless fit both on and off the ice.

Eddie O is a chump. Boring and arrogant to say the least. Will not watch that hack

Very encouraged by the scoring up and down the lineup. In reference to Malkin, the puck handling concerns me most on the PP. Boston is dynamic on the PK and Malkin is probably the worst forward they could possibly have on the point, he is horrendous at any kind of defensive coverage. SH goals are a killer and its looking likely we are going to see Pens/Bruins in the 1st round.

Where's Feds to bring us all back down to earth?

Biron, who can't pronounce the "th" sound, and says "dat" instead of "that"??????

He'd make for an EXCELLENT broadcaster.

Where's Feds to bring us all back down to earth?
- MattStrat

Carter sucks.

Happy? lol

The title of this post is laughable. Talk about recency bias, homerist journalism

Carter sucks.

Happy? lol
- Rinosaur

hahaha you would need to go further than that....PDO, sh!tty division, etc

hahaha you would need to go further than that....PDO, sh!tty division, etc
- MattStrat

That usually comes into play when you ask why said player or team sucks. lol

I dunno man Jani Hakkanpaa has been pretty fun.

Biron, who can't pronounce the "th" sound, and says "dat" instead of "that"??????

He'd make for an EXCELLENT broadcaster.
- gregman98

Relax, Biron and his French accent aren't getting anywhere near a national microphone.

Anyone see Kap give Carter a big hug on the bench after the final horn went last night? Love seeing poop like that. Gives hints of a healthy close knit locker room. Carter seems to of been a seamless fit both on and off the ice.
- MattStrat

I saw part of inside the room last night and it was showing Carter in his first practice already going over some details on faceoff plays and such with McCann. Think he'll be a nice addition there as well as on the ice.

Because of the re-emergence of McCann and a surprise in Gaudreau, the Pens had a lot of different ways they could have addressed their needs: winger for Geno, upgrade at 3C, upgrade 3rd line wing, etc..., and there were a lot of x-factors like where does McCann go when Geno returns, what do you do with Zucker, etc...

Ultimately this was a great choice to this point and if Zucker continues to find his game, it will look even better.

I also don't think can mention enough how huge Gaudreau has been. I really haven't followed him at all. I don't know what his story has been, why he's been in the AHL, but man, if he can keep this up he is a HUGE steal.

I'm bumping this because RW touched on what I was talking about. The versatility the Pens have right now is pretty astounding. They really can create so many different looks. I honestly don't remember when they had this many players who can bounce to so many different positions and lines.
- Rinosaur

Random post game radio bit from Steigy last night was that it was Talbot who pushed Gaudreau to sign with Pittsburgh. They need to get that man a new contract.

It's a really deep group. You could make the argument they have 8 possible top 6 players right now, an elite shutdown checking line, and a couple useful depth guys in ERod and Gaudreau battling for the last spot.

Hopefully our defense returns to where it was at a couple weeks ago. We're aren't getting out of the first round if we don't. Boston or the Islanders aren't going to let us fire at will on their back up goaltenders.

Biron, who can't pronounce the "th" sound, and says "dat" instead of "that"??????

He'd make for an EXCELLENT broadcaster.
- gregman98

Beyond RJ the Sabres broadcast is one of the worst to listen to..

Random post game radio bit from Steigy last night was that it was Talbot who pushed Gaudreau to sign with Pittsburgh. They need to get that man a new contract.

It's a really deep group. You could make the argument they have 8 possible top 6 players right now, an elite shutdown checking line, and a couple useful depth guys in ERod and Gaudreau battling for the last spot.
- Tojo.

I've made it no secret how I feel about ERod and while I've warmed to him a bit, IMO it's obvious that Gaudreau is the better player. He's just much stronger on both ends of the ice and his awareness is wayyy better than ERod. He seems to think/react faster.

While I don't think he'll reach the same kind of point production, but we may have a Dupuis-lite situation with Gaudreau.

Hopefully our defense returns to where it was at a couple weeks ago. We're aren't getting out of the first round if we don't. Boston or the Islanders aren't going to let us fire at will on their back up goaltenders.
- Thunderbolt

I think Friedman has looked better since his initial return, but yeah, the Pens are missing the transition game from MM and it's obvious. It also trickles down to the other pairs on how they're utilized.

I've made it no secret how I feel about ERod and while I've warmed to him a bit, IMO it's obvious that Gaudreau is the better player. He's just much stronger on both ends of the ice and his awareness is wayyy better than ERod. He seems to think/react faster.

While I don't think he'll reach the same kind of point production, but we may have a Dupuis-lite situation with Gaudreau.
- Rinosaur

I remember Gaudreau being a little pain in the a$$ in the 2017 cup final. Very surprised he didnt just stay up in the big show this whole time, especially seeing him play like he has for Pens.

I saw part of inside the room last night and it was showing Carter in his first practice already going over some details on faceoff plays and such with McCann. Think he'll be a nice addition there as well as on the ice.
- Tojo.

It seems so.

I remember Gaudreau being a little pain in the a$$ in the 2017 cup final. Very surprised he didnt just stay up in the big show this whole time, especially seeing him play like he has for Pens.
- MattStrat

I'm just super curious about his road thus far. Like what are we not seeing? His production the two years in NSH after that cup are pitiful, but we also don't know how he was used in that lineup. Maybe it's just a case of being a late bloomer.

Obviously it's still a super small sample size, but he hasn't skipped a beat since returning from injury.

I'm just super curious about his road thus far. Like what are we not seeing? His production the two years in NSH after that cup are pitiful, but we also don't know how he was used in that lineup. Maybe it's just a case of being a late bloomer.

Obviously it's still a super small sample size, but he hasn't skipped a beat since returning from injury.
- Rinosaur

Yeah to go from 3 goals in a cup final to only 3 in his next 75 games over two seasons is a bit of a drop haha. 0.5ppg clip with Pens this season though.