Those guys had quick hands, not necessarily silky. Horny did too. By quick I mean you have your blade to the puck getting shot or pass off quick from a rebound or bounce. Hand eye coordination comes into it so a quick brain is part of it too.

When I think of silky hands I think of someone like Datsyuk or Kane.
- MattStrat

Datsyuk had the best hands I've ever seen. I think the Pens silkiest hands ever was Kovalev, I know this may trigger some but yea. Doesn't mean Kovalev was the best player because he's not.

Datsyuk had the best hands I've ever seen. I think the Pens silkiest hands ever was Kovalev, I know this may trigger some but yea. Doesn't mean Kovalev was the best player because he's not.
- 668710

Kovalev had ridiculous hands indeed.....Mario's were pretty damn silky too hahaha...

Kovalev had ridiculous hands indeed.....Mario's were pretty damn silky too hahaha...
- MattStrat

My top 5 Pens forwards (to no surprise)
1: Kovalev
2: Lemieux
3: Malkin
4: Crosby
5: Jagr

Edit: I say forwards because I wasn't old enough to truly watch Coffey

My top 5 Pens forwards (to no surprise)
1: Kovalev
2: Lemieux
3: Malkin
4: Crosby
5: Jagr

Edit: I say forwards because I wasn't old enough to truly watch Coffey
- 668710

Mario is easily 5th in that group you have listed.

He WAS the best option for that. The one thing that saved him when his legs started to go was his shot, but his hands turned to stone. I'd rather put Rust net front at this point.

And if his only contribution is to stand still in front of the net on PPs, then he shouldn't be in the lineup.
- jmatchett383

In a league where Power plays are artificially manufactured by the refs a PP guy is worth having in the lineup. But my main point is him not being an option for the pass the puck game and being big enough to actually block the goalies vision. D men just let you stand in front in the NHL now.

Datsyuk had the best hands I've ever seen. I think the Pens silkiest hands ever was Kovalev, I know this may trigger some but yea. Doesn't mean Kovalev was the best player because he's not.
- 668710

For the Pens, Kovalev is a good choice but I also might say Francis.

Best I've ever seen is probably Forsberg.

In a league where Power plays are artificially manufactured by the refs a PP guy is worth having in the lineup. But my main point is him not being an option for the pass the puck game and being big enough to actually block the goalies vision. D men just let you stand in front in the NHL now.
- Grinder47

If the "pass the puck game" eliminates the need for him to stand in front of the goalie, what is the point of having him stand in front of the goalie?

If the "pass the puck game" eliminates the need for him to stand in front of the goalie, what is the point of having him stand in front of the goalie?
- jmatchett383

We really trying to argue there’s not a benefit to having a competent net front guy?

I was just gifted VIP tickets to Alanis Morissette tonight hahaha. Outdoor concert about 10 min walk from my house... Weather is very nice today and tonight.... Think I'll sip a few brew, nibble on some shrooms and trot down for a look hahah.. I mean, why not? Hahah

Mario is easily 5th in that group you have listed.
- Feds91Stammer

Easily?... Take it easy, Feds....

If the "pass the puck game" eliminates the need for him to stand in front of the goalie, what is the point of having him stand in front of the goalie?
- jmatchett383

Used to feel that way with Hornqvist. Poor guy took a pounding while his teammates passed around looking for the perfect shot.

If they're going net front, just use Rackell or Rust or maybe Smith. Carter is not some kind of elite net front guy just because he's big. If that's the case, might as well use DOC.

We really trying to argue there’s not a benefit to having a competent net front guy?
- Feds91Stammer

Not at all, although I wouldn't classify current-day Carter as a "competent" net front guy. But Grinder seems to think that you need a net front guy in a system where a net front guy is not needed since all they do is pass and never shoot.


If the first unit is composed on Malkin, Crosby, EK, and one of Letang/Guentzel and you need a net front guy, give me Rust or Rakell over Carter. They at least still have hands.

Used to feel that way with Hornqvist. Poor guy took a pounding while his teammates passed around looking for the perfect shot.

If they're going net front, just use Rackell or Rust or maybe Smith. Carter is not some kind of elite net front guy just because he's big. If that's the case, might as well use DOC.
- Tojo.

I always thought DOC might develop into that for us.

Also, to respond to your earlier response to me; I'd love DOC to get that top 6 spot. It's not that far fetched. Hopefully he's had a good summer and puts together a great camp and pre season.

I was just gifted VIP tickets to Alanis Morissette tonight hahaha. Outdoor concert about 10 min walk from my house... Weather is very nice today and tonight.... Think I'll sip a few brew, nibble on some shrooms and trot down for a look hahah.. I mean, why not? Hahah
- MattStrat

Haha that’s awesome. You Aughta Know being about David Coulier makes me laugh every time. The mental image of Alanis Morissette sucking off Uncle Joey in a movie theatre is hilarious

Haha that’s awesome. You Aughta Know being about David Coulier makes me laugh every time. The mental image of Alanis Morissette sucking off Uncle Joey in a movie theatre is hilarious
- Victoro311

Did he have...wood?

Haha that’s awesome. You Aughta Know being about David Coulier makes me laugh every time. The mental image of Alanis Morissette sucking off Uncle Joey in a movie theatre is hilarious
- Victoro311

Hahahah I know, it's crazy.

Mario is easily 5th in that group you have listed.
- Feds91Stammer

Honestly after Kovalev you could rank the 4 of them in any order and I wouldn't complain.

Used to feel that way with Hornqvist. Poor guy took a pounding while his teammates passed around looking for the perfect shot.

If they're going net front, just use Rackell or Rust or maybe Smith. Carter is not some kind of elite net front guy just because he's big. If that's the case, might as well use DOC.
- Tojo.

Yea haha, Gonchar was the best guy at the point for us because he would actually shoot and get it through, makes having a net front actually worth it. Now we will wait and see what EK does. Hopefully he's good at getting those shots through.

Easily?... Take it easy, Feds....
- MattStrat

Yes if we are talking about puck handling and dangles.

Yea haha, Gonchar was the best guy at the point for us because he would actually shoot and get it through, makes having a net front actually worth it. Now we will wait and see what EK does. Hopefully he's good at getting those shots through.
- 668710

That's overlooked quite a bit. You don't need a Shea Weber or Zdeno Chara slapper if you can thread it through a 5-person screen. Chris Pronger was the best I ever saw at that, I can't remember his point shots ever being blocked up high.

Not at all, although I wouldn't classify current-day Carter as a "competent" net front guy. But Grinder seems to think that you need a net front guy in a system where a net front guy is not needed since all they do is pass and never shoot.


If the first unit is composed on Malkin, Crosby, EK, and one of Letang/Guentzel and you need a net front guy, give me Rust or Rakell over Carter. They at least still have hands.
- jmatchett383

Do you watch the Pens power play? They literally just cycle the puck at the top of the circles for a minute 45 then make a cross ice pass that doesn’t work. Guentzel always leaves the net to go join the cycle. Having a guy that won’t leave the front of the net to become another option to cycle the puck too is addition by subtraction. This pp doesn’t need more hands or skill or shots. It needs simplified and pucks to the net. Wayne Simmonds did it in Philly.

Do you watch the Pens power play? They literally just cycle the puck at the top of the circles for a minute 45 then make a cross ice pass that doesn’t work. Guentzel always leaves the net to go join the cycle. Having a guy that won’t leave the front of the net to become another option to cycle the puck too is addition by subtraction. This pp doesn’t need more hands or skill or shots. It needs simplified and pucks to the net. Wayne Simmonds did it in Philly.
- Grinder47

Again, if you're saying that their system doesn't require a net front presence, then what is the point of playing a guy whose only value is being a net-front presence?

If all they're going to do is cycle the puck, and they can't connect on a cross-ice pass, what is the point of having someone in front of the net, let alone one whose hands are encased in cement?

Luv to b talking about Jeff Carter on August 18th, the year of our Lord 2023.

Luv to b talking about Jeff Carter on August 18th, the year of our Lord 2023.
- Victoro311

Honestly, there are worse players you could play than Jeff Carter; just look at half of the Flyers' roster.

That's overlooked quite a bit. You don't need a Shea Weber or Zdeno Chara slapper if you can thread it through a 5-person screen. Chris Pronger was the best I ever saw at that, I can't remember his point shots ever being blocked up high.
- jmatchett383

Yea exactly, Gonch probably shot it about 88 but that (frank)er was accurate. And yea my big eye opener to Pronger being that good at shooting it was when he was with Edmonton on that cup run. Having Big Al Mac and Niedermayer as teammates would take the bulk of the shots.