While I don't view AV as a fraud, I wonder when he is going to make the changes that need to be made. Maybe he just wants some continuity and wants to keep it together until Hayes gets back. Can they really think that Hayes will jump right in and boost that 2nd line? He's going to need some time. When and if Hayes gets up to speed, Brassard can center the 4th line. The 2nd defense pairing needs to be broken up. Last night Sanheim flat out stunk and Ristolainen is the epitome of mediocre and that's when he's at his best. When Ellis gets back, play Braun with Sanheim and Ristolainen with Yandle.
- MJL

I like Sanheim, though he was awful last night, but he can’t be paired with Risto, it’s a disaster. Agree with your pairings 100%. Honestly the more I see of Ristolainen, the more I want Fletcher gone. There is no defending that deal.

Reading the comments you'd think the team is 2-5-2 and not 5-2-2. I agree they haven't played great as a team thus far, but the results have been pretty good. When they get Hayes and Ellis back that will lengthen the lineup.

The good news is Hart looks like a different player. Outside of one game, he's been great.

Season is early, they can still improve and hopefully get back to the team they were in 2019-2020.
- PLindbergh31

Someone hacked into this account, didn’t they?

Sanheim's #s in the game. 31 shot attempts against. 18 shots on net against. 15 scoring chances against. 10 high danger chances against. Thank goodness Malkin and Crosby didn't play or it would've been a blood bath.
- MJL

He’s a big kid that we drafted high. We may have even tried to mold him into our number 1 defenseman if Provorov didn’t drop to us from heaven. There is a lot to be desired in Sanheim’s game and I could take him or leave him at this point.

Konecny is a useless liability in the defensive zone - his half-assed efforts of feebly swinging a stick as defenders receive the puck at the point is sort of comical. There's a reason Brassard was a PTO. Would love to see Lindblom finish, he's so desperately snake-bitten. Couturier needs to do some puck/passing practices my goodness or is the ice just crap in Pittsburgh?

I like Sanheim, though he was awful last night, but he can’t be paired with Risto, it’s a disaster. Agree with your pairings 100%. Honestly the more I see of Ristolainen, the more I want Fletcher gone. There is no defending that deal.
- BiggE

There isn't. I keep up hope thinking it's early but to this point, he is exactly what he was in Buffalo. Fletcher like other GM's see the raw physical skills and think they can "fix" him and coach him up but like you said. The hockey sense of a turnip.

Someone hacked into this account, didn’t they?
- corduroy

100%

Konecny is a useless liability in the defensive zone - his half-assed efforts of feebly swinging a stick as defenders receive the puck at the point is sort of comical. There's a reason Brassard was a PTO. Would love to see Lindblom finish, he's so desperately snake-bitten. Couturier needs to do some puck/passing practices my goodness or is the ice just crap in Pittsburgh?
- Pixote Andolini

That's overkill for Konecny. He actually played well overall last night. Brassard was not a PTO. He was signed outright in the off season. Couturier is having a strong year and has made a lot of plays with the puck.

While I don't view AV as a fraud, I wonder when he is going to make the changes that need to be made. Maybe he just wants some continuity and wants to keep it together until Hayes gets back. Can they really think that Hayes will jump right in and boost that 2nd line? He's going to need some time. When and if Hayes gets up to speed, Brassard can center the 4th line. The 2nd defense pairing needs to be broken up. Last night Sanheim flat out stunk and Ristolainen is the epitome of mediocrity and that's when he's at his best. When Ellis gets back, play Braun with Sanheim and Ristolainen with Yandle.
-MJL

Apparently according to you, When Risto is out there he must be able to cover all 5 opposing players at once, otherwise he is just the epitome of mediocrity. I'm sure it was his fault the Flyers lost in OT, because after all, Risto was on the ice, right?

Braun has no business being anywhere near the top 4, he needs to move back with Yandle, in fact I would do it right now, because Seeler is completely killing Yandle right now. I would sit Seeler at this point and bring up Zamula until Ellis comes back.

Someone hacked into this account, didn’t they?
- corduroy

lol i thought the same thing

Thoughts on breaking up D pairs when or if Ellis ever plays again.

Sanheim/Ellis
Provorov/Braun
Yandle/Risto

Braun might need to rotate a bit to not over play him with 2nd pair minutes. But he’s been pretty consistent this year in play.

I think we need better support on our top 2 pairings and having Provorov and Ellis separated and on ice would maybe help match up against other teams a bit better.

We can’t keep rolling out what we have now with bottom 4. Risto and Sanheim are just killing us together and Yandle has been Meh and best. But having them as 3rd pair might limit the ice time for both. It’s obvious what we have out there is not working right now.

If they continue to play this way overall even with the quality goaltending they're getting. Looking at this months schedule, they could be toast by the end of the month.
- MJL

Of that comes to pass, and they miss the playoffs at the bottom of the league, then you’d have to expect the coaching staff gets fired.

I like Sanheim, though he was awful last night, but he can’t be paired with Risto, it’s a disaster. Agree with your pairings 100%. Honestly the more I see of Ristolainen, the more I want Fletcher gone. There is no defending that deal.
- BiggE

Why? Give me specifics, not generalities. In last night's game, tell me specific examples of bad plays by Risto that demonstrates CF made a bad deal.

Konecny is a useless liability in the defensive zone - his half-assed efforts of feebly swinging a stick as defenders receive the puck at the point is sort of comical. There's a reason Brassard was a PTO. Would love to see Lindblom finish, he's so desperately snake-bitten. Couturier needs to do some puck/passing practices my goodness or is the ice just crap in Pittsburgh?
- Pixote Andolini

I think the same with TK, was totally on board with trading him for Reinhart last year. Most people didnt like that suggestion because TK is younger. But im done with him. He can get his points, but we need someone who can keep some possession.

Someone hacked into this account, didn’t they?
- corduroy

I had to re read. I felt the same way.

Thoughts on breaking up D pairs when or if Ellis ever plays again.

Sanheim/Ellis
Provorov/Braun
Yandle/Risto

Braun might need to rotate a bit to not over play him with 2nd pair minutes. But he’s been pretty consistent this year in play.

I think we need better support on our top 2 pairings and having Provorov and Ellis separated and on ice would maybe help match up against other teams a bit better.

We can’t keep rolling out what we have now with bottom 4. Risto and Sanheim are just killing us together and Yandle has been Meh and best. But having them as 3rd pair might limit the ice time for both. It’s obvious what we have out there is not working right now.
- Buzzo

You want Sanheim playing 20+ minutes a night??

Apparently according to you, When Risto is out there he must be able to cover all 5 opposing players at once, otherwise he is just the epitome of mediocrity. I'm sure it was his fault the Flyers lost in OT, because after all, Risto was on the ice, right?

Braun has no business being anywhere near the top 4, he needs to move back with Yandle, in fact I would do it right now, because Seeler is completely killing Yandle right now. I would sit Seeler at this point and bring up Zamula until Ellis comes back.
- jd250

Braun has actually been pretty decent this year. He is by far not our main issue back there.

Braun has actually been pretty decent this year. He is by far not our main issue back there.
- Buzzo

He’s been fine imo even though we’ve had to move him up in the lineup.

Apparently according to you, When Risto is out there he must be able to cover all 5 opposing players at once, otherwise he is just the epitome of mediocrity. I'm sure it was his fault the Flyers lost in OT, because after all, Risto was on the ice, right?


- jd250

No, Risolainen was not to blame on the OT goal. I would gladly accept Ristolainen just playing his position to a high level and make some impact on the game.

Braun has no business being anywhere near the top 4, he needs to move back with Yandle, in fact I would do it right now, because Seeler is completely killing Yandle right now. I would sit Seeler at this point and bring up Zamula until Ellis comes back.
- jd250

Braun is better than Ristolainen so if Braun has no business in the top 4, neither does Ristolainen. Relative to ability and pedigree, Seeler is playing on a level with Ristolainen. He's a 7th defenseman who is giving it all he has.

You want Sanheim playing 20+ minutes a night??
- jd250

He may actually be suited better with Ellis by his side. Why not see how it works out? It can’t be worse having him with Risto playing 18-20 right now.

Konecny is a useless liability in the defensive zone - his half-assed efforts of feebly swinging a stick as defenders receive the puck at the point is sort of comical. There's a reason Brassard was a PTO. Would love to see Lindblom finish, he's so desperately snake-bitten. Couturier needs to do some puck/passing practices my goodness or is the ice just crap in Pittsburgh?
- Pixote Andolini

Lindblom is not snake-bitten, he just can't finish. I don't know if its confidence or what, but he has not demonstrated in over a year that he can finish. Coots was fighting the puck last night, no doubt about it, it was just a bad game for him. Regarding TK, I really don't care what he does defensively, that is not what we need him for. TK is a top line winger, I wanting driving offense and scoring goals, and so far this year he is doing that.

I dont know if Brassard is a changed man now or not but I see some of you suggesting he ends up in bottom 6, with some saying 4th line. He was a little female dog in Pittsburgh when he didnt get top 6 mins. We were all so excited to get him for 3C but he sooked about that deployment and moped around the ice when he wasn't in top 6. It was very disappointing, especially given the load of assets we sent the Sens for him.

Also, I picked up Hayes up in Yahoo Fantasy and stashed him on IR. You guys confident he will find himself in the top 6 sooner than later? how about PP time? 1st or 2nd unit?

He may actually be suited better with Ellis by his side. Why not see how it works out? It can’t be worse having him with Risto playing 18-20 right now.
- Buzzo

In the 3rd last night we briefly saw Provey and Risto together, I think that would be a great pairing. Maybe then Ellis with Sanheim is your 2nd pairing for a bit, but the idea of moving Risto to the 3rd pairing is ridiculous, the guy is playing well out there from what I see, and apparently what Bmeltzer sees also.

Braun is better than Ristolainen so if Braun has no business in the top 4, neither does Ristolainen. Relative to ability and pedigree, Seeler is playing on a level with Ristolainen. He's a 7th defenseman who is giving it all he has.
- MJL

Risto is playing as bad as Seeler .... Do you realize how ridiculous you sound right now?

He’s a big kid that we drafted high. We may have even tried to mold him into our number 1 defenseman if Provorov didn’t drop to us from heaven. There is a lot to be desired in Sanheim’s game and I could take him or leave him at this point.
- SuperSchennBros

He is a weak defender and not strong on the puck, and though he is trying recently to get involved in the offense, its just not equating to any value for the team. But first and foremost, we need to get Seeler out of the lineup.

Why? Give me specifics, not generalities. In last night's game, tell me specific examples of bad plays by Risto that demonstrates CF made a bad deal.
- jd250

If you can’t see with your own eyes how awful he is then nothing I say will convince you.