John Toperzer: Can moving James Neal to the power-play point work? Coach Bylsma shakes up the man advantage during camp Monday

First. Galchenyuk for Calder trophy.

First. Galchenyuk for Calder trophy.
- MrData

Your cool...

Anyways I saw Bennett is practicing on Malkins line today. Here's to him making a good impression. I'd love to see us gain a top 6 forward from our prospect pool rather than trade.

Your cool...

Anyways I saw Bennett is practicing on Malkins line today. Here's to him making a good impression. I'd love to see us gain a top 6 forward from our prospect pool rather than trade.
- drummer829

That'd be ideal. Thanks for the update, I was headed their but not feeling up-to-snuff.

First. Galchenyuk for Calder trophy.
- MrData

So are the Habs drafting MacKinnon or Jones?

I'd rather have Malkin at the point with Crosby, Neal and Kunitz working down low.

That'd be ideal. Thanks for the update, I was headed there but not feeling up-to-snuff.
- the-mitch-wilsons

Think Dallas would hang up the phone instantly if Shero called about Benn?

After the last deal with Dallas, I don't see how Nieuwendyk can even begin a conversation with Shero.

Also, slpit up the PP into 2 solid units. Keep Neal in the slot where he belongs.

So are the Habs drafting MacKinnon or Jones?

I'd rather have Malkin at the point with Crosby, Neal and Kunitz working down low.
- Ben37

I have the same opinion about that. Malkin can shoot hard from the point. That's why I'd choose him over Crosby on that specific position.

Think Dallas would hang up the phone instantly if Shero called about Benn?

After the last deal with Dallas, I don't see how Nieuwendyk can even begin a conversation with Shero.

Also, slpit up the PP into 2 solid units. Keep Neal in the slot where he belongs.
- AncasterPens

If we could get Benn or D.Brown trading a couple defenseman we'd be unstopable.

Bennett looked good today for the half hour I was there. He has an awesome shot. He is definitely going to be a good winger at some point whether this year or next. Part of me still feels they need to give Tangradi a shot and see how it works out, he either does well or that is it, out of chances.

So are the Habs drafting MacKinnon or Jones?

I'd rather have Malkin at the point with Crosby, Neal and Kunitz working down low.
- Ben37

Couldn't agree more. I hate the thought of Neal at the point.

IMO...The PP problems stem from the desire of both Crosby and Malkin to play the exact same spot. Also the need of a right handed sniper......let's hope Bennett fills that role soon.

Every time I hear the word "rover", I think of Goli, which makes me think of vomit. Didn't work then, won't work now.

If Bennett somehow manages to make the team, put me down for 2 units.

If I was the other team's coach, I would send Dan flowers if he split up Malkin and Crosby on the PP. It would be a relief.

If I was a Pittsburgh fan, I would want to see Neal on the RW or in the slot waiting for a pass from the LW side or awaiting a rebound. Kunitz should be screening very close to the goalie, Letang at the point. It's not that Neal can't handle playing the point, it's more the case that Pittsburgh has much better options than that.

Malkin and Crosby both seem to like the RW circle/half boards area, which makes for an easy penalty kill. Remember the series with Montreal where the Penguins didn't have any influence on Halak moving and losing his angles? The Penguins need a presence that the opponent must respect playing on the left side, and that player should be Sid.

If Pittsburgh can let the puck do most of the work to get the goalie moving behind a screen, I don't see any reason why the Penguins should finish out of the top five on the PP.

Think Dallas would hang up the phone instantly if Shero called about Benn?

After the last deal with Dallas, I don't see how Nieuwendyk can even begin a conversation with Shero.

Also, slpit up the PP into 2 solid units. Keep Neal in the slot where he belongs.
- AncasterPens

I'm sure Nieuwendyk would listen, but what do the Pens really have to offer that Dallas wants?

The only reason the Stars were willing to move Neal was that they had a surplus of Top-6 W's w/ both Benn and Eriksson to pick up the slack. Without Benn, it'd just be Eriksson, unless the Stars have another few +25G scorers hidden somewhere in the AHL.

And for all his faults, Goligoski has been a success for the Stars. He led all Dmen w/ 30pts in 71gms last year while playing a team-high 22.46min/gm. He's even got an even (ie, 0) +/- and a shooting percentage of 6.4%. Solid production for a D man on a team that missed the playoffs.

Plus, the [Goligoski]/[Neal/Niskanen] trade was really the [Goligoski]/[Neal] trade at the time. Niskanen was basically a 1st-round bust who was being shipped out of town by the Stars for a small measure of salary cap relief. His TOI had declined evey year and his +/- went from a +22 (20.29min/gm) his rookie year to -11 (19.58min/gm) to -15 (18.16min/gm). His shooting percentage went down from 7.1% to 5.4% to 2.7%. They didn't trade Niskanen to the Pens; they dumped him.

Think Dallas would hang up the phone instantly if Shero called about Benn?

After the last deal with Dallas, I don't see how Nieuwendyk can even begin a conversation with Shero.

Also, slpit up the PP into 2 solid units. Keep Neal in the slot where he belongs.
- AncasterPens

That is never going to happen.

Couldn't agree more. I hate the thought of Neal at the point.

IMO...The PP problems stem from the desire of both Crosby and Malkin to play the exact same spot. Also the need of a right handed sniper......let's hope Bennett fills that role soon.

Every time I hear the word "rover", I think of Goli, which makes me think of vomit. Didn't work then, won't work now.

If Bennett somehow manages to make the team, put me down for 2 units.
- madmike71

As far as the O side of Neal playing rover goes, I kinda like it. My issue w/ Goligoski was that he wasn't big enough/strong enough to create space; if a Dman stepped into where he wanted to go, he'd just have to go around. Neal on the other hand, can just power through the Dman to some extent w/ his strength/size.

What makes me hate the idea of having Neal as a rover is the crazy amount of pucks that he'll be unable to keep in the O-zone during the PK. Oh, and the 50 SH goals we'll be giving up.

Couldn't agree more. I hate the thought of Neal at the point.

IMO...The PP problems stem from the desire of both Crosby and Malkin to play the exact same spot. Also the need of a right handed sniper......let's hope Bennett fills that role soon.

Every time I hear the word "rover", I think of Goli, which makes me think of vomit. Didn't work then, won't work now.

If Bennett somehow manages to make the team, put me down for 2 units.
- madmike71

I know we have 2 star players but at some point the coaches need to be coaches and say hey this is where we need you to be succesful. Whether it be Geno or Sid making the move they need to manage the team not worry about ego's.

I just wanted to pass this along to others who live outside of Pittsburgh. I was thinking about taking the plunge and getting NHL Gamecenter for the $50 price. But after reading this, I am holding off I think. You are basically going to get it for 19 games. I get the MSG networks where I live, so chances are out of those 19 games, I will get at least a handful of those will be against NY teams so I'll catch most of them on MSG.

I can probably find web streams to watch the rest.

While there won't be many more dual-NBC games in the regular season, the spirit of the problem isn't a one-game occurrence. Example A: the Penguins (29 times) and Flyers (22 times) are on national TV relentlessly. Not a big deal for local fans, but a major issue for people who, for whatever reason, want to use the service they paid for to watch their teams. Maybe they don't have cable—or maybe their provider doesn't offer NBC Sports or NHL Network. That's a problem. Take it from SB Nation's Steve Lepore, as big an authority on the subject as you can find:

If you live in Pittsburgh, I'm sure plenty of those games will be available on FS Pittsburgh and not on NBCSN or NHL Network, but if you live out-of-market, purchasing one of the two pay-per-view services is a legitimate question. Do you really want to fork over $50 or $60 for, essentially, 19 games

http://aol.sportingnews.c...lvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

I just wanted to pass this along to others who live outside of Pittsburgh. I was thinking about taking the plunge and getting NHL Gamecenter for the $50 price. But after reading this, I am holding off I think. You are basically going to get it for 19 games. I get the MSG networks where I live, so chances are out of those 19 games, I will get at least a handful of those will be against NY teams so I'll catch most of them on MSG.

I can probably find web streams to watch the rest.



http://aol.sportingnews.c...lvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
- rival22

There's also a bunch of websites where they are streamed to online for free viewing.

There's also a bunch of websites where they are streamed to online for free viewing.
- drummer829

Yea, I just use firstrow, the streams are always good.

I just wanted to pass this along to others who live outside of Pittsburgh. I was thinking about taking the plunge and getting NHL Gamecenter for the $50 price. But after reading this, I am holding off I think. You are basically going to get it for 19 games. I get the MSG networks where I live, so chances are out of those 19 games, I will get at least a handful of those will be against NY teams so I'll catch most of them on MSG.

I can probably find web streams to watch the rest.



http://aol.sportingnews.c...lvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
- rival22

Not a bad deal.. I like Gamecenter better b/c you get the HD streaming which I prefer. After using it for a couple games its hard to go back to the free streams.

That is never going to happen.
- rival22

Nor should it. Either Crosby or Malkin will have their time significantly cut. In all the years of playing and coaching the "2nd" unit never received even close to the amount of time as the "1st" unit. Crosby and Malkin are alpha players, that will not sit well with either competitor.

I have never seen an equal split.

I just wanted to pass this along to others who live outside of Pittsburgh. I was thinking about taking the plunge and getting NHL Gamecenter for the $50 price. But after reading this, I am holding off I think. You are basically going to get it for 19 games. I get the MSG networks where I live, so chances are out of those 19 games, I will get at least a handful of those will be against NY teams so I'll catch most of them on MSG.

I can probably find web streams to watch the rest.



http://aol.sportingnews.c...lvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
- rival22

I just ordered Gamecenter for the first time. We'll see how it goes. I like that you can watch condensed 11 minute games. If I dont like it, I can always get the Center Ice Package given how cheap both are this year.

I just ordered Gamecenter for the first time. We'll see how it goes. I like that you can watch condensed 11 minute games. If I dont like it, I can always get the Center Ice Package given how cheap both are this year.
- Gunner Staal

How much are they charging down there?

How much are they charging down there?
- canadianpenfan

$50

I just ordered Gamecenter for the first time. We'll see how it goes. I like that you can watch condensed 11 minute games. If I dont like it, I can always get the Center Ice Package given how cheap both are this year.
- Gunner Staal

are you going to use your iPad or laptop/PC for Gamecenter?