Also, I think it bears mentioning that the Penguins essentially lost the series on special teams. Giving up 12PP goals on 23 chances & 2 SH goals really masks how well the Pens were 5v5 against the Flyers for most of the series.
- s0rcerer1984

Agreed again. The PK was shamefully bad, especially considering they set a personal franchise best success rate during the regular season (albeit the Flyers had a PP in EVERY game they played reg. season and playoffs).

The Pens should NOT trade Malkin or Staal. Our 3 centre approach is very effective. We just need a back-up goalie to take the load off of Flower and an upgrade on D for a physical, puck-mover. Flower just looked tired and frustrated in the playoffs, a back-up keeps him fresher physically and mentally. Another D-man and the lynching of Martin makes a big difference. As for Sully, I am all for keeping him if it is on a dicounted and cheap deal.

PP can be rolled as two units, over-staying their ice time and playing Crosby on the point really did not help.

PP1: Kuni (net-front presence) Malkin (half-boards), Neal (for his shot), Letang, either Niskanen or another D-man.

PP2: Staal or Duper at the net (other along the hash marks), Sid at the half-wall. (Acquired D-man here) and either Niskanen/another D or Sully if he stays.

I am not worried about our PK.

We do however need someone like maybe a Wideman or a Suter though in the spot that Martin is sitting in, then bringing up Despres and keeping Niskanen. That would make our D look much better to me.

And to people calling the end of the world here, we just need to tweak the line-up, not destroy it. Remember those playoff exits Detroit had after the two trips to the finals in 97, 98? They had a few fail years and won in 02 making some modifications, but not overhauls to the roster. I think we are in a similar position

The Pens should NOT trade Malkin or Staal. Our 3 centre approach is very effective. We just need a back-up goalie to take the load off of Flower and an upgrade on D for a physical, puck-mover. Flower just looked tired and frustrated in the playoffs, a back-up keeps him fresher physically and mentally. Another D-man and the lynching of Martin makes a big difference. As for Sully, I am all for keeping him if it is on a dicounted and cheap deal.

PP can be rolled as two units, over-staying their ice time and playing Crosby on the point really did not help.

PP1: Kuni (net-front presence) Malkin (half-boards), Neal (for his shot), Letang, either Niskanen or another D-man.

PP2: Staal or Duper at the net (other along the hash marks), Sid at the half-wall. (Acquired D-man here) and either Niskanen/another D or Sully if he stays.

I am not worried about our PK.

We do however need someone like maybe a Wideman or a Suter though in the spot that Martin is sitting in, then bringing up Despres and keeping Niskanen. That would make our D look much better to me.

And to people calling the end of the world here, we just need to tweak the line-up, not destroy it. Remember those playoff exits Detroit had after the two trips to the finals in 97, 98? They had a few fail years and won in 02 making some modifications, but not overhauls to the roster. I think we are in a similar position
- ikyan

The 2 PP unit thing makes complete sense in a perfect world, but both units will never see equal time. It doesnt happen at the HS, College, Jr, or professional level. Sid and Geno will have to make it work together on unit 1 if you want them to play together for the long term. Put Sid down low like Parise in NJ.

You'll find that I dont have much interest in entertaining ideas that are 100% fiction based.
- Gunner Staal

Fair enough. I firmly believe that moving forward trading Malkin is not a terrible idea. Having said that, I would also consider the Staal move if it got us Weber in the end too. I think our short comings are ultimately on the blue line. We need to be bigger, meaner and just flat out better in front of our own net.

But maybe something simple on D will fix everything? There is a reason I'm not an NHL GM afterall. LOL Maybe just dumping Martin any way we can and signing Gill back as a UFA could do us wonders?

The Pens should NOT trade Malkin or Staal. Our 3 centre approach is very effective. We just need a back-up goalie to take the load off of Flower and an upgrade on D for a physical, puck-mover. Flower just looked tired and frustrated in the playoffs, a back-up keeps him fresher physically and mentally. Another D-man and the lynching of Martin makes a big difference. As for Sully, I am all for keeping him if it is on a dicounted and cheap deal.

PP can be rolled as two units, over-staying their ice time and playing Crosby on the point really did not help.

PP1: Kuni (net-front presence) Malkin (half-boards), Neal (for his shot), Letang, either Niskanen or another D-man.

PP2: Staal or Duper at the net (other along the hash marks), Sid at the half-wall. (Acquired D-man here) and either Niskanen/another D or Sully if he stays.

I am not worried about our PK.

We do however need someone like maybe a Wideman or a Suter though in the spot that Martin is sitting in, then bringing up Despres and keeping Niskanen. That would make our D look much better to me.

And to people calling the end of the world here, we just need to tweak the line-up, not destroy it. Remember those playoff exits Detroit had after the two trips to the finals in 97, 98? They had a few fail years and won in 02 making some modifications, but not overhauls to the roster. I think we are in a similar position
- ikyan

what defensive player can we get though? the asking price for the bigger names would be way too high. It will be very interesting to see what the pens do over the next 2-3 years with prospects developing and contracts needing to be negotiated

Fair enough. I firmly believe that moving forward trading Malkin is not a terrible idea. Having said that, I would also consider the Staal move if it got us Weber in the end too. I think our short comings are ultimately on the blue line. We need to be bigger, meaner and just flat out better in front of our own net.

But maybe something simple on D will fix everything? There is a reason I'm not an NHL GM afterall. LOL Maybe just dumping Martin any way we can and signing Gill back as a UFA could do us wonders?
- taleisyreXIII

Even just dumping Martin and bringing up despres, and then wait til the deadline to see who is available and what the prices are

The 2 PP unit thing makes complete sense in a perfect world, but both units will never see equal time. It doesnt happen at the HS, College, Jr, or professional level. Sid and Geno will have to make it work together on unit 1 if you want them to play together for the long term. Put Sid down low like Parise in NJ.
- Gunner Staal

Sid may have the best and most accurate shot on the team though. He doesnt need the one-timer like Malkin. So throw Sid over on the left. But we need two D-men. We need a Big shot from back there.

Even just dumping Martin and bringing up despres, and then wait til the deadline to see who is available and what the prices are
- drummer829

The shot blocking, and size of a Gill would be most welcome. He was very good in our run for the cup. Despres is going to be amazing. But not a D first kinda guy.

edit...I also dont love deadline moves. I like the team to have most big pieces in place all year, esp on the blueline.

Sid may have the best and most accurate shot on the team though. He doesnt need the one-timer like Malkin. So throw Sid over on the left. But we need two D-men. We need a Big shot from back there.
- taleisyreXIII

Both Neal and Malkin shoot better than Sid, one timer or not. I dont want Crosby anywhere on the left hand side. I want him on his off wing down low.

Both Neal and Malkin shoot better than Sid, one timer or not. I dont want Crosby anywhere on the left hand side. I want him on his off wing down low.
- Gunner Staal

Neal is a one trick pony I hate to say it. I do not even want him on the PP unit, unless he can do a better job than Kunitz in front of the net. Sid's wrister is unreal and he can do a lot more than just a hard wrist shot top shelf. Him floating the left and gettin the cross seam pass to geno for the one-timer is what i want to see. Geno needs to be the trigger man and it has to be force fed to his brain to stop playin catch with Sid down low all the time. The cute lil unselffish crap needs to stop. That is why i want Sid far away from Geno on the PP. He is fantastic down low too, but its about the mindset of Geno on the PP. It needs to change.

Neal is a one trick pony I hate to say it. I do not even want him on the PP unit, unless he can do a better job than Kunitz in front of the net. Sid's wrister is unreal and he can do a lot more than just a hard wrist shot top shelf. Him floating the left and gettin the cross seam pass to geno for the one-timer is what i want to see. Geno needs to be the trigger man and it has to be force fed to his brain to stop playin catch with Sid down low all the time. The cute lil unselffish crap needs to stop. That is why i want Sid far away from Geno on the PP. He is fantastic down low too, but its about the mindset of Geno on the PP. It needs to change.
- taleisyreXIII

If his one trick is burying goals, then I'm quite ok with it.

If his one trick is burying goals, then I'm quite ok with it.
- rival22

One trick ponies on the PP lead to blocked shots and oddman rushes the other way...from what I've seen. If the defence knows all your going to do all the time is shoot, it wont work. Ask Ovi!

edit--Anyways I out...been fun for the day!!

If his one trick is burying goals, then I'm quite ok with it.
- rival22

Same here. Sounds like he would rather have Neal only score 15 goals.

Neal is a one trick pony I hate to say it. I do not even want him on the PP unit, unless he can do a better job than Kunitz in front of the net. Sid's wrister is unreal and he can do a lot more than just a hard wrist shot top shelf. Him floating the left and gettin the cross seam pass to geno for the one-timer is what i want to see. Geno needs to be the trigger man and it has to be force fed to his brain to stop playin catch with Sid down low all the time. The cute lil unselffish crap needs to stop. That is why i want Sid far away from Geno on the PP. He is fantastic down low too, but its about the mindset of Geno on the PP. It needs to change.
- taleisyreXIII

Personally I think your assessment of Neal is grossly off.

Personally I think your assessment of Neal is grossly off.
- Gunner Staal

Yep, agreed. And people stop talking about trading Malkin. I mean WTF are you people talking about?

Yep, agreed. And people stop talking about trading Malkin. I mean WTF are you people talking about?
- powerhouse

This blog is impossible to read lately, everybody has gone nuts.

This blog is impossible to read lately, everybody has gone nuts.
- canadianpenfan

And to make it all worse, you have that flyers fan always posting obnoxious animated pictures that slow down the page. Unreadable, imho.

And to make it all worse, you have that flyers fan always posting obnoxious animated pictures that slow down the page. Unreadable, imho.
- BulliesPhan87

That's cool because I just post in your blog now anyway. Your misery is funner than mine, at least to me.

Yep, agreed. And people stop talking about trading Malkin. I mean WTF are you people talking about?
- powerhouse

I traded Malkin for Eberle and a 1st. I don't regret it.

been busy and havent seen much on here lately, but my god. i love talking about any possibilities but now somehow james neal has become a culprit? the guy hit 40 and provides a lot of bang for a goal scorer. for all the crap the powerplay has had the past 2 years, we get someone who is a sniper on the powerplay and so we should take him off? i agree, neal will never be a great scorer without a good center, but we have 2 of the best. he is going to be a core member of this team for the long haul, and that is a good thing. tweaks do need to be made to this team, but neal definitely is part of the solution and not the problem

I traded Malkin for Eberle and a 1st. I don't regret it.
- Ben37

malkin demanded at least 11 million. So i signed him and traded him for toews and sharp

been busy and havent seen much on here lately, but my god. i love talking about any possibilities but now somehow james neal has become a culprit? the guy hit 40 and provides a lot of bang for a goal scorer. for all the crap the powerplay has had the past 2 years, we get someone who is a sniper on the powerplay and so we should take him off? i agree, neal will never be a great scorer without a good center, but we have 2 of the best. he is going to be a core member of this team for the long haul, and that is a good thing. tweaks do need to be made to this team, but neal definitely is part of the solution and not the problem
- stayinthefnnet

So Neal HAS to be on the PP for you...so who sits? The best player in the game, Sid? The next best player in the game, Malkin? Neal is wasted as a net front guy because he needs to shoot, that is all he can do. Kunitz also is amazing there. The One D-man at the back KILLED us. TOO many shorties. I am sorry but I will never ever ever believe that SID effing CROSBY should be on the SECOND PP unit!! Neal and Staalsy if we have him can come out for the 30 seconds at the end. Plus you want an offensive threat for AFTER the PP if you don't score!!

Further more, to back up my point about trading Malkin. We will not be able to afford his ass in a few years with all the contracts we have. Why not get a ton of good talent and upgrade our D now while we can!!

malkin demanded at least 11 million. So i signed him and traded him for toews and sharp
- drummer829

I had RNH want 13 million for 1 year. So I traded him and went with Alex Galchenyuk as my #1 center. It was in like year 10 of a Be A Gm though.

So Neal HAS to be on the PP for you...so who sits? The best player in the game, Sid? The next best player in the game, Malkin? Neal is wasted as a net front guy because he needs to shoot, that is all he can do. Kunitz also is amazing there. The One D-man at the back KILLED us. TOO many shorties. I am sorry but I will never ever ever believe that SID effing CROSBY should be on the SECOND PP unit!! Neal and Staalsy if we have him can come out for the 30 seconds at the end. Plus you want an offensive threat for AFTER the PP if you don't score!!

Further more, to back up my point about trading Malkin. We will not be able to afford his ass in a few years with all the contracts we have. Why not get a ton of good talent and upgrade our D now while we can!!
- taleisyreXIII

the fact that he shot so much was exactly what this powerplay was missing for so long. everyone else gets cute and fancy, but he would rifle it. i just think that kind of mentality needs to be out there. as far as the quality of his shot, if he has someone feeding him it is pretty damn good. If malkin and sid need to be on the same line, then so be it. but whatever line is out there cannot be out there for the full two minutes every time. i realize the time will never be equal, but by the end they are so gassed they are a liability, not to mention unable to take a regular shift for the next 8 minutes. letang can run the point on one unit. im fine with niskanen back there too. sully has shown he can run it with letang. id be fine with despres next year back there too. staal is proving worthy of powerplay time too. malkin crosby neal staal and kunitz all do need to see time, its just a matter of the coaches making it work

the previous discussion about who sits on the PP is interesting. I'll make only one observations. The PP unit clicked at a very high level among the best in the league until Sid came back, at which point it failed with regularity and gave up lots of shorthanded chances. Too many cooks in the kitchen.