Ryan Wilson: Ron Hextall and Mike Sullivan need to figure out this depth scoring thing Ron Hextall and Mike Sullivan need to figure out this depth scoring thing

ZAR & Kap need to go, I would let Boyle take his spot on the 4th line.

My lines would look something like this:

Guentzel-Crosby-Erod
Heinen-Malkin-Rust
Zucker(when Healthy)-Carter-????
McGinn-Blueger-Boyle

Go get someone for 3rd line, shouldn't cost too much.

As long as you're stubborn and put one of your better players in a fourth line role and try to fit weaker players into top six roles you're only asking for headaches. I know it's never going to happen but:

Guentzel-Crosby-ERod
Heinen-Malkin-Rust
McGinn-Blueger-Carter
ZAR/Simon-Boyle-Simon/Kapanen

Boyle is a set 'em and forget 'em 4C. ERod gets the plum assignment everyone is pining for. Malkin gets a solid two way forward. McGinn gets to play his proper position. McGinn-Blueger-Carter line can still carry the heavy defensive load plus they will score the occasional goal. The Boyle line can get advantageous match ups.

**Long Post Warning***

Depth saved this team early in the season. Depth is the reason this team is sitting where they are in the standings. People talk about the Pens peaking too soon. I don't think the Pens as a team peaked too soon because major parts of this team are still playing awesome hockey.

IMO the depth peaked too soon. Context is necessary when talking about depth and your bottom six...

Carter 13G/30P in 52 games.
Heinen 12G/23P in 52 games.
ERod 15G/35P in 58 games.
McGinn 11G/17P in 55 games.

Just looking at that snap shot, those are very respectable points totals for bottom six with 1/3 of the season left. For some of those guys, that's close what you'd expect for an entire season. If today was game 82 and you saw Carter with 40/45 points at this team's 3C you'd feel good. If you saw Heinen with 30 points and 15 goals, you'd feel good. If this was ERod's final point total, you'd feel great. If McGinn wound up with 25 points, you'd feel ok given the type of player he is.

These are the point totals you expect from your bottom six. If they continued their original pace without regression they wouldn't be bottom six players, they'd be middle-six/2nd players. IMO it's fair to expect to only add about another 8 to 10 points these players over the course of 20ish games. The problem, as I stated earlier, is that they lumped up these points far too early instead of spreading this out over time and it puts the Pens in a tough spot.

If realistically you can only expect around another five goals per player's mentioned, which in reality is good and that's not enough, then how do you address that? How many changes do you ACTUALLY need to make?

How was it? I've heard good things so far.

Also, the game wasn't bad. The first period was, as per usual. Beating Tampa and getting a point from Carolina were good. Losing to Florida sucks, but when the Pens turned up their game they were able to compete. What this at least shows me is what while the Pens aren't quite at the level of CAR or FLA, they're not far off. While I'm still not expecting much from Hextall, I think this team is a one or two roster additions away from being able to legitimately have a chance of being either of those teams in a playoff series.
- Rinosaur

I thought it was awesome. It's like.. 1 part horror, 2 parts crime thriller, 1 part comic book movie.

It's a very different Batman flick and Paul Dano steals the entire movie. He was incredible.

I feel like DC finally figured out how to "compete" with Marvel, instead of going for the dumb campy Marvel type movies, they are leaning heavy into the gritty/drama type movies and it's 100% working.

I thought it was awesome. It's like.. 1 part horror, 2 parts crime thriller, 1 part comic book movie.

It's a very different Batman flick and Paul Dano steals the entire movie. He was incredible.

I feel like DC finally figured out how to "compete" with Marvel, instead of going for the dumb campy Marvel type movies, they are leaning heavy into the gritty/drama type movies and it's 100% working.
- j.boyd919

Nice and yeah, I've been fan of Dano for a while. Dude is an incredible actor. I'm excited to see it.

I don't know that DC has figured anything out. Aside from the Affleck Batman, they've always won with the Batman movies. The Michael Keaton ones were great, The Christian Bale ones were great and it sounds like this is great. I'll admit the Director's Cut of Justice League was a very good movie, but overall I think DC just doesn't bring what Marvel does.

I thought Wonder Woman was weak. I thought Aquaman was weak. Suicide Squad (both of them) were really weak. Their movies just look like cartoons to me and it's hard take them seriously. I will say I loved Man of Steel and Shazaam.

Truth be told, Zucker was supposed to be a Top 6 figure and a 25-30 goal scorer for us but he can't do anything hurt.

Kapanen has no excuses.

Hoping for a JT Miller, Boeser, Gallagher, Konecny, Bertuzzi, Rakell type of addition to our roster.

PO Joseph or Poulin are most likely gone..

**Long Post Warning***

Depth saved this team early in the season. Depth is the reason this team is sitting where they are in the standings. People talk about the Pens peaking too soon. I don't think the Pens as a team peaked too soon because major parts of this team are still playing awesome hockey.

IMO the depth peaked too soon. Context is necessary when talking about depth and your bottom six...

Carter 13G/30P in 52 games.
Heinen 12G/23P in 52 games.
ERod 15G/35P in 58 games.
McGinn 11G/17P in 55 games.

Just looking at that snap shot, those are very respectable points totals for bottom six with 1/3 of the season left. For some of those guys, that's close what you'd expect for an entire season. If today was game 82 and you saw Carter with 40/45 points at this team's 3C you'd feel good. If you saw Heinen with 30 points and 15 goals, you'd feel good. If this was ERod's final point total, you'd feel great. If McGinn wound up with 25 points, you'd feel ok given the type of player he is.

These are the point totals you expect from your bottom six. If they continued their original pace without regression they wouldn't be bottom six players, they'd be middle-six/2nd players. IMO it's fair to expect to only add about another 8 to 10 points these players over the course of 20ish games. The problem, as I stated earlier, is that they lumped up these points far too early instead of spreading this out over time and it puts the Pens in a tough spot.

If realistically you can only expect around another five goals per player's mentioned, which in reality is good and that's not enough, then how do you address that? How many changes do you ACTUALLY need to make?
- Rinosaur

Pens peaked too early. lol

Pens peaked too early. lol
- j.boyd919

Jarry is still playing awesome.
DeSmith is playing better.
Sid, Jake, Rust, Geno, Letang, Pettersson, Marino, Matheson and Ruwhedel are still playing awesome.

The depth peaked too early and Zucker and Kapanen failed to produce what they needed to. To expect anything more than 3 to 4 goals from each of those depth guys is just unrealistic, but that's not a knock against them because when you wind up looking at their totals when the season is done, you'd think the Pens had scoring up and down the lineup.

Nice and yeah, I've been fan of Dano for a while. Dude is an incredible actor. I'm excited to see it.

I don't know that DC has figured anything out. Aside from the Affleck Batman, they've always won with the Batman movies. The Michael Keaton ones were great, The Christian Bale ones were great and it sounds like this is great. I'll admit the Director's Cut of Justice League was a very good movie, but overall I think DC just doesn't bring what Marvel does.

I thought Wonder Woman was weak. I thought Aquaman was weak. Suicide Squad (both of them) were really weak. Their movies just look like cartoons to me and it's hard take them seriously. I will say I loved Man of Steel and Shazaam.
- Rinosaur

Joker was incredible
The Batman was great and set the table for future movies
The new Suicide Squad got great reviews from critics and audiences
Shazam was really good
Peacemaker TV series is getting great reviews
They are creating an Arkham Asylum TV show based on "The Batman" universe
And a Penguin spinoff with Colin Ferril

But yeah you're right, batman usually does well.

Joker was incredible
The Batman was great and set the table for future movies
The new Suicide Squad got great reviews from critics and audiences
Shazam was really good
Peacemaker TV series is getting great reviews
They are creating an Arkham Asylum TV show based on "The Batman" universe
And a Penguin spinoff with Colin Ferril

But yeah you're right, batman usually does well.
- j.boyd919

Ah yeah, I forgot about Joker because it didn't even feel like a comic book movie to me, that was an INCREDIBLE movie.

I know the new SS got great reviews, but personally, I thought it was mediocre and silly. I haven't seen Peacemaker, but I also didn't like the new SS, but I should probably give a shot.

Pens peaked too early. lol
- j.boyd919

Well we kinda needed the depth scoring to peak at the beginning, it's what kept us a float. Rod needs to go to the first line now and Rust bumped with Geno to at least see if we're good in our top 6. Then go form there.

Truth be told, Zucker was supposed to be a Top 6 figure and a 25-30 goal scorer for us but he can't do anything hurt.

Kapanen has no excuses.

Hoping for a JT Miller, Boeser, Gallagher, Konecny, Bertuzzi, Rakell type of addition to our roster.

PO Joseph or Poulin are most likely gone..
- Barnaby36

Zucker and Kapanen's cap hit equals Sids 8.7. (frank) I'd love for both of them to be gone and us have one good top 6 guy replace that for this year. They are both gonna have to be gone to keep Rusty. Geno really does have to take a cut or we're (frank)ed next year.

Edit: One of Math or Petts needs moved as well.

Ah yeah, I forgot about Joker because it didn't even feel like a comic book movie to me, that was an INCREDIBLE movie.

I know the new SS got great reviews, but personally, I thought it was mediocre and silly. I haven't seen Peacemaker, but I also didn't like the new SS, but I should probably give a shot.
- Rinosaur

Yeah I like the gritty/noir-like departure from the usual comic book flicks where they are more grounded in reality, but that's also the "batman" universe for the most part. Not a lot of "superhero abilities" until they start bringing in the other DC characters.

I thought it was awesome. It's like.. 1 part horror, 2 parts crime thriller, 1 part comic book movie.

It's a very different Batman flick and Paul Dano steals the entire movie. He was incredible.

I feel like DC finally figured out how to "compete" with Marvel, instead of going for the dumb campy Marvel type movies, they are leaning heavy into the gritty/drama type movies and it's 100% working.

I thought it was an amazing movie. I hate comic book movies and marvel movies in general, with rare exceptions. Find them too cookie-cutter and childish at times. Liked that this was a dark/crime thriller and a batman/gordon buddy cop. Run time was long but I didn't really realize it cuz the story kept me engaged.

I thought it was an amazing movie. I hate comic book movies and marvel movies in general, with rare exceptions. Find them too cookie-cutter and childish at times. Liked that this was a dark/crime thriller and a batman/gordon buddy cop. Run time was long but I didn't really realize it cuz the story kept me engaged.
- DeflatedPucks

I'm the same way, I don't like any Marvel Movies except Deadpool.

I'm the same way, I don't like any Marvel Movies except Deadpool.
- j.boyd919

I think the Marvel movies are pretty awesome as a whole. There were definitely some stinkers, but I thought the Avenger movies, Deadpool, Guardians of the Galaxy and the Thor movies were pretty damn good.

I think the Marvel movies are pretty awesome as a whole. There were definitely some stinkers, but I thought the Avenger movies, Deadpool, Guardians of the Galaxy and the Thor movies were pretty damn good.
- Rinosaur

Yeah I get the appeal to the masses, they just aren't my flavor. The newest Spider-Man was pretty cool though with the multiverse.

Truth be told, Zucker was supposed to be a Top 6 figure and a 25-30 goal scorer for us but he can't do anything hurt.

Kapanen has no excuses.

Hoping for a JT Miller, Boeser, Gallagher, Konecny, Bertuzzi, Rakell type of addition to our roster.

PO Joseph or Poulin are most likely gone..
- Barnaby36

Don’t have remotely enough assets for Bertuzzi

Rodriguez and Heinen were playing at God level for a few months, that wasn't sustainable. Seems like Carter has taken a plunge as well.

Also, I'm not saying Malkin's returned ruined the mystic chemistry of the team. I'm not saying he shouldn't be playing, and anyone who says otherwise is blinded by stupidity.

All that being said, his return did seem to coincide with the play of several others taking a nosedive (not saying his first game back, just in that short time period). Maybe there's a little less pressure on the gas pedal when you get an "elite" guy back. Maybe some resentment that your TOI goes down suddenly? Maybe it's all just a coincidence, I truly don't know.

Truth be told, Zucker was supposed to be a Top 6 figure and a 25-30 goal scorer for us but he can't do anything hurt.

Kapanen has no excuses.

Hoping for a JT Miller, Boeser, Gallagher, Konecny, Bertuzzi, Rakell type of addition to our roster.

PO Joseph or Poulin are most likely gone..
- Barnaby36

Pens don't have the assets (that they'd be willing to trade) for any of those players.

The Pens need to be targeting the Crouses and Jarnkrok's of the NHL.

The Pens need to be targeting the Crouses and Jarnkrok's of the NHL.
- Rinosaur

Definitely need more players in the mold of Heinen, Kapenan, Carter and Mcginn.

Expanding the top of the roster with more bottom 6 guys is definitely the way to go lol.

Top 6 RW
Backup tendie
Vet/Depth LD

should be priority.

Definitely need more players in the mold of Heinen, Kapenan, Carter and Mcginn.

Expanding the top of the roster with more bottom 6 guys is definitely the way to go lol.
- j.boyd919

Yeah honestly I have absolutely zero reservations about gassing our poopty cupboard on someone that can move the needle but at this stage in the Sid/Geno era I am not willing to throw poop at the wall by shuffling deck chairs with depth players and seeing what sticks. Keep the assets and see what they can be turned into later.

Definitely need more players in the mold of Heinen, Kapenan, Carter and Mcginn.

Expanding the top of the roster with more bottom 6 guys is definitely the way to go lol.

Top 6 RW
Backup tendie
Vet/Depth LD

should be priority.
- j.boyd919

I agree with you, but the reality of what the Pens can offer doesn't help their case for obtaining a top 6 RW. That said, if we can get players who are simply producing better than Kap and/or Zucker would help.

Our prospects are sub-par
Kap's value is in the trash
Our 1st will be a bottom ten pick.

Not the most attractive pieces to help get a top six winger, so I'd be happy at least bringing in player who produce more than our current players.