Heinen is going to play somewhere. I think he's capable of playing his off side also. Sullivan likes to use speed on his right side and I have no idea how fast Heinen can skate. So that's a wait and see.

Of course that line up is a best case scenario as there will be injuries. I look for both Malkin and Carter to miss significant time in a full season.
- Thunderbolt

Aside from 17-18 season carter has been pretty healthy the last decade.

He's been scoring at that rate the last four years. Last season he was at .35ppg which is good for about 28 points, the season before was a down year for about a 20 point pace and the two before that he put up 30 and 26.
- Rinosaur

Eh, that's still just one year four years ago. Not much different from ZAR really who had a .33 ppg last year and a 30 point pace 3 years ago. Which isn't particularly good, just neither is McGinn. Not enough that I think Sully will pick him to play with Blueger over ZAR given how often he's paired them together.

Eh, that's still just one year four years ago. Not much different from ZAR really who had a .33 ppg last year and a 30 point pace 3 years ago. Which isn't particularly good, just neither is McGinn. Not enough that I think Sully will pick him to play with Blueger over ZAR given how often he's paired them together.
- Tojo.

Yeah, but I said "around" 30 points, so I'm sticking to my original assessment since that's what he's been putting up.

I'll be surprised if ZAR and Blueger aren't on the 3rd line together. Sully has turned to that defense first 3rd line a lot the past couple seasons when injuries hit.

And how much more offense would McGinn or Heinen offer anyways?
- Tojo.

I mean now that McCann is gone we're gonna have to see what Blueger does in a more offensive role honestly.

Eh, that's still just one year four years ago. Not much different from ZAR really who had a .33 ppg last year and a 30 point pace 3 years ago. Which isn't particularly good, just neither is McGinn. Not enough that I think Sully will pick him to play with Blueger over ZAR given how often he's paired them together.
- Tojo.

What should be done is seeing what Blue can do offensively. McGinn will replace Tanev but no one to replace McCann. The most likely candidate is probably Blueger. ZAR is going to do his thing regardless of his center he's got that high defensive IQ. Wasn't the big hit to that 4th line was when ZAR was out? If so then the key to the defensive 4th line will still be there. Hey if Blue doesn't work out on the third line for offense we know where to put him.

What should be done is seeing what Blue can do offensively. McGinn will replace Tanev but no one to replace McCann. The most likely candidate is probably Blueger. ZAR is going to do his thing regardless of his center he's got that high defensive IQ. Wasn't the big hit to that 4th line was when ZAR was out? If so then the key to the defensive 4th line will still be there. Hey if Blue doesn't work out on the third line for offense we know where to put him.
- 668710

I don't think any combination of McGinn, ZAR, and Heinen is going to show what Blueger can do offensively. So I'd just as soon stick with a formula that has worked well the past couple years in the regular season.

If we had better offensive wings for the third line, I might feel differently, but these guys aren't much different then ZAR offensively.

Right now, I just want to keep from falling too far down in the standings with Malkin out.

I don't think any combination of McGinn, ZAR, and Heinen is going to show what Blueger can do offensively. So I'd just as soon stick with a formula that has worked well the past couple years in the regular season.

If we had better offensive wings for the third line, I might feel differently, but these guys aren't much different then ZAR offensively.

Right now, I just want to keep from falling too far down in the standings with Malkin out.
- Tojo.

I think we're just on different wave lengths, I might have missed what you said. I'm saying when Geno is back. I'd like to see Blueger center Carter IF we can, as in someone else is able to take 4c. And we will find out if someone else can take the 4c duties at the very beginning.

I think we're just on different wave lengths, I might have missed what you said. I'm saying when Geno is back. I'd like to see Blueger center Carter IF we can, as in someone else is able to take 4c. And we will find out if someone else can take the 4c duties at the very beginning.
- 668710

I was specifically quoting this:

Actually with Geno out to start the year:
Guentz-Sid-Rust
Zuck-Cart-Kap
Mcginn-Blue-Heinen
ZAR-Boyle/Simon-Rod
- 668710

We will see if we have a 4C as you say. Maybe see if where out prospects are at as well or if Heinen can rediscover his earlier offensive touch.

I'm not ready to worry about the roster when Geno returns yet. We'll have camp and a month or two of game action by then to see what we have.

Pens have a decent regular season and lose to the Islanders in the first round.
- Grinder47

My bold prediction is that the Pens miss the playoffs!! Igor is about cooked and Crysby can't do it all by himself. Carter will be interested in about half the games and it appears that Hextall was asleep at the switch this off season as usual!

I was specifically quoting this:


We will see if we have a 4C as you say. Maybe see if where out prospects are at as well or if Heinen can rediscover his earlier offensive touch.

I'm not ready to worry about the roster when Geno returns yet. We'll have camp and a month or two of game action by then to see what we have.
- Tojo.

Gotcha, in that case yea ZAR can go with Blue.

My bold prediction is that the Pens miss the playoffs!! Igor is about cooked and Crysby can't do it all by himself. Carter will be interested in about half the games and it appears that Hextall was asleep at the switch this off season as usual!

- Phillywhiteout

It's definitely a possibility, but lower since the Rangers, Flyers and Hurricanes completely blew their off-season.

It's definitely a possibility, but lower since the Rangers, Flyers and Hurricanes completely blew their off-season.
- 668710

How did the Flyers blow their off season?

How did the Flyers blow their off season?
- Phillywhiteout

Risto blows and Ellis is ok. Atkinson I've always liked but you got rid of Voracek for him and Giroux loves Nickelback.

Risto blows and Ellis is ok. Atkinson I've always liked but you got rid of Voracek for him and Giroux loves Nickelback.
- 668710

Risto was bad in Buffalo and the jury is still out how he will perform against lower tier players on the other team. He plays a physical style though and the Flyers definitely needed to get tougher on the backend. I think you are selling Ellis short and I'd much rather have Atkinson than Voracek! The Flyers got rid of a bunch of softies(Voracek,Ghost and Patrick) and brought in character players that were badly needed. Can't wait for that first time when Risto lays out Crysby!! Not thrilled with everything they did in the off season(signing of Jones comes to mind), but at least they won't be the softest team in the league this year.

Can't wait for that first time when Risto lays out Crysby!!
- Phillywhiteout

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll6mp-0Ij0A

I agree with your post, Flyers offseason was pretty ok.

Risto was bad in Buffalo and the jury is still out how he will perform against lower tier players on the other team. He plays a physical style though and the Flyers definitely needed to get tougher on the backend. I think you are selling Ellis short and I'd much rather have Atkinson than Voracek! The Flyers got rid of a bunch of softies(Voracek,Ghost and Patrick) and brought in character players that were badly needed. Can't wait for that first time when Risto lays out Crysby!! Not thrilled with everything they did in the off season(signing of Jones comes to mind), but at least they won't be the softest team in the league this year.
- Phillywhiteout

Risto blows and has never shut down Sid. And Ellis has always played with really good Dmen in Nashville. He'll bring some offense. Atkinson I do like.

What should be done is seeing what Blue can do offensively. McGinn will replace Tanev but no one to replace McCann. The most likely candidate is probably Blueger. ZAR is going to do his thing regardless of his center he's got that high defensive IQ. Wasn't the big hit to that 4th line was when ZAR was out? If so then the key to the defensive 4th line will still be there. Hey if Blue doesn't work out on the third line for offense we know where to put him.
- 668710

No that fourth line sucked without Tanev.

Risto was bad in Buffalo and the jury is still out how he will perform against lower tier players on the other team. He plays a physical style though and the Flyers definitely needed to get tougher on the backend. I think you are selling Ellis short and I'd much rather have Atkinson than Voracek! The Flyers got rid of a bunch of softies(Voracek,Ghost and Patrick) and brought in character players that were badly needed. Can't wait for that first time when Risto lays out Crysby!! Not thrilled with everything they did in the off season(signing of Jones comes to mind), but at least they won't be the softest team in the league this year.
- Phillywhiteout

I guess the battle of Pennsylvania is over then… for softest team that is.

I actually just started watching right now.

Nobody wants to remove fighting. The idea was just make it a smaller part of the game and open up to more scoring and guess what, the game did grow from where it was pre-lockout.
- Rinosaur

Well, it's proven that the last thing Americans want to see if 2 men beating each other up. Horrible way to grow a business.

https://www.bloodyelbow.c...-record-including-revenue




Edit: Not saying we need to see more of Riley Cote vs. Eric Goddard nightly, but to say that most Americans didn't enjoy seeing a hockey fight is just silly.

I guess the battle of Pennsylvania is over then… for softest team that is.
- 10inchTerror

I was actually referring to the Flyers being the softest team in the league last year. Not that the Pens were very hard to play against either.

Can't wait for that first time when Risto lays out Crysby!!
- Phillywhiteout

- jmatchett383

Oh, have fun with it and lighten up. Thanks!

Oh, have fun with it and lighten up. Thanks!

- Phillywhiteout

It's just dumb at this point. Yeah, when the kid was 18 and got leveled by Derian Hatcher, he whined like...well, like an 18 year old kid. Since then, he's only gone on to become one of the top-10 players of all-time and become one of the best leaders int he game.

It's just dumb at this point. Yeah, when the kid was 18 and got leveled by Derian Hatcher, he whined like...well, like an 18 year old kid. Since then, he's only gone on to become one of the top-10 players of all-time and become one of the best leaders int he game.
- jmatchett383

No shyte sherlock. And the first time Risto levels Crysby in Philly the place will still go nuts. I've often said if he had the same achievements in Philly they would already have a statue up in his honor, but that doesn't mean that we can't have fun with the rivalry and you know Risto will take a shot at him to endear himself to the Philly faithful. As I said, try to lighten up a bit. Thanks again!

No shyte sherlock. And the first time Risto levels Crysby in Philly the place will still go nuts. I've often said if he had the same achievements in Philly they would already have a statue up in his honor, but that doesn't mean that we can't have fun with the rivalry and you know Risto will take a shot at him to endear himself to the Philly faithful. As I said, try to lighten up a bit. Thanks again!
- Phillywhiteout

Oh hell yes, and I'll be cheering along with them. I was at the Hatcher game in 2005 and went wild. I was at Game 3 and 6 in 2012 and went wild. He was an instant villain from his first game in Philly and he basically single-handedly reignited a dead rivalry (at least on the Philly side).

But calling him "Crysby" at this stage in the game is just childish and unoriginal.