Gotta think DeSmith's days are as Penguin are numbered.
- Rinosaur

Yea for sure. It's a shame but it's time to move on.

Who was the dude on here like a month ago that said E Rod only scores in blow outs so his point totals didn’t matter?
- Victoro311

That would be me. He's been one of our best players, no doubt. I don't know how long he can keep this up. Please don't wake him up.

For my next trick, I'm going to rag on ZAR. Did anyone tell Anchor-Reese the Pens wore black last night. If I didn't know any better I would have said he was playing for the team in white.

DeSmith looks like a lost cause.

That would be me. He's been one of our best players, no doubt. I don't know how long he can keep this up. Please don't wake him up.

For my next trick, I'm going to rag on ZAR. Did anyone tell Anchor-Reese the Pens wore black last night. If I didn't know any better I would have said he was playing for the team in white.

DeSmith looks like a lost cause.
- Thunderbolt

Haha trying the double trick here with Desmith too?!

Went and looked it up out of curiosity...Sid only has one and it was against Boston and one of my favorite ex-Pens, Andrew Ference. Some interesting stuff, Stevens only had 3, Tocchet had 4 in about a year and the Pens all time leader is Coffey with 5.
- Pags

Thanks for that. Like Vic, I thought Niskanen with Stars was one and could of swore it happened vs the Yotes too...must of dreamt it. I do remember watching the Boston/Ference one though now that you rejogged the memory.

Haha trying the double trick here with Desmith too?!
- 668710

No, as high as ERod's confidence is, DeSmith is the exact opposite. If the Pens entertain any thoughts of DeSmith helping out this year he needs to go to WBS and play his way out of his slump. If not, move him.

That would be me. He's been one of our best players, no doubt. I don't know how long he can keep this up. Please don't wake him up.

For my next trick, I'm going to rag on ZAR. Did anyone tell Anchor-Reese the Pens wore black last night. If I didn't know any better I would have said he was playing for the team in white.

DeSmith looks like a lost cause.
- Thunderbolt

DeSmith is done. Sully lost faith in him. When he gave up that goal right after we scored Sully made zero hesitation on doing the right thing despite another game tonight.

I'm not getting ahead of myself or have any illusions, but last night was IMO a bit of a statement game. The Pens may not be a top contender anymore, but they're still closer to being in the mix than not. Aside from a not great 2nd period, the Pens largely controlled that game and STL is no joke of a team.

I'm not getting ahead of myself or have any illusions, but last night was IMO a bit of a statement game. The Pens may not be a top contender anymore, but they're still closer to being in the mix than not. Aside from a not great 2nd period, the Pens largely controlled that game and STL is no joke of a team.
- Rinosaur

Sid looked 5 or 6 years younger after that busted nose.

Sid looked 5 or 6 years younger after that busted nose.
- MattStrat

I was honestly starting to worry about him a bit. Not sure if he has lingering effects from covid or if he's just finally slowing down. Something hasn't been right. Hopefully it's just the disruption to his summer and training camp.

Jake and now Rusty have been great and are making things a bit easier for him. Jake looks the best he has since the shoulder injury.

I was honestly starting to worry about him a bit. Not sure if he has lingering effects from covid or if he's just finally slowing down. Something hasn't been right. Hopefully it's just the disruption to his summer and training camp.

Jake and now Rusty have been great and are making things a bit easier for him. Jake looks the best he has since the shoulder injury.
- Thorny87

I think his overall game has slowed down the past few years, anyway. He's changed up his style and approach, but I wasn't worried about him as such, as he has proven to be still very effective. After a slow start coming off surgery with no offseason and the rest of league playing around 12 games when he returned, he's still a PPG player right now despite only having 2 points in his first 7 games haha.

Last night I think they (broadcast) said since November 4th he's 4th in league scoring.

I think his overall game has slowed down the past few years, anyway. He's changed up his style and approach, but I wasn't worried about him as such, as he has proven to be still very effective. After a slow start coming off surgery with no offseason and the rest of league playing around 12 games when he returned, he's still a PPG player right now despite only having 2 points in his first 7 games haha.

Last night I think they (broadcast) said since November 4th he's 4th in league scoring.
- MattStrat

I think a lot of that is having eRod and Jake and now Rust being red hot on his line. It's understandable he's slowing down with age. Happens to everyone, but something still just seems off about his play.

It was refreshing to see him attacking more after the little dust up.

No, as high as ERod's confidence is, DeSmith is the exact opposite. If the Pens entertain any thoughts of DeSmith helping out this year he needs to go to WBS and play his way out of his slump. If not, move him.
- Thunderbolt

I agree

I'm not getting ahead of myself or have any illusions, but last night was IMO a bit of a statement game. The Pens may not be a top contender anymore, but they're still closer to being in the mix than not. Aside from a not great 2nd period, the Pens largely controlled that game and STL is no joke of a team.
- Rinosaur

If Jarry plays like this in the playoffs we can absolutely contend. We didn't even have Geno, Carter or Zucker in last night. I know Zucker has had trouble scoring but he's been playing well and getting chances. I'm thinking a strong 3rd pair dman and a backup goalie and hope we're hot at the right time.

I think a lot of that is having eRod and Jake and now Rust being red hot on his line. It's understandable he's slowing down with age. Happens to everyone, but something still just seems off about his play.

It was refreshing to see him attacking more after the little dust up.
- Thorny87

Sid has 22 points in 20gp and I see Kap picking up the scoring when Geno returns. Seems they are setting up the lines based on last night to be:
Guentz-Sid-Rust
Hein-Geno-Kap
Zuck-Cart-Rod
ZAR-Blue-Mcginn

Rod can really be the driver on that third line, let Carter do his thing.

If Jarry plays like this in the playoffs we can absolutely contend. We didn't even have Geno, Carter or Zucker in last night. I know Zucker has had trouble scoring but he's been playing well and getting chances. I'm thinking a strong 3rd pair dman and a backup goalie and hope we're hot at the right time.
- 668710

My only concern for Jarry is burnout. Players need to experience playoff woes to learn and get better, so I'm personally not worried about last season. He's a different goalie this year, so you can see he's taken a step in his development. I think we forget last year was his first year as a starter and there's definitely a learning curve.

I feel for Zucker. He's really been playing so well on both ends of the ice and just not finding daylight, but IMO if the Pens can move him they should.

My only concern for Jarry is burnout. Players need to experience playoff woes to learn and get better, so I'm personally not worried about last season. He's a different goalie this year, so you can see he's taken a step in his development. I think we forget last year was his first year as a starter and there's definitely a learning curve.

I feel for Zucker. He's really been playing so well on both ends of the ice and just not finding daylight, but IMO if the Pens can move him they should.
- Rinosaur

Agreed, I don't wanna wait until the deadline for a backup or secondary goalie. And agree on Zucker.