Adam Proteau: The Pittsburgh Penguins: the Tidal of the NHL The Pittsburgh Penguins have world-class superstars at the forward, defense and goaltending positions – so why are they fighting just to make the playoffs for the second straight season? Because, like a famous music service, they're far less than the sum of their parts.

Fair story. The point about drafting and developing young cheap talent (especially forwards) is the bulk of the problem. Shero mangled it.

What is the point of this blog exactly?

You comparison of the Pens and Hawks is a little weak. The Hawks got a steal in the draft in Saad and flip him when he got too expensive for some comparable parts and this somehow relates to the Penguins adding Kessel and Hagelin? Who exactly was the Penguins Brandon Saad that they didnt flip at the right time?

As for the Pens playoff woes? 2013 conference finals, 2014 pretty epic loss, 2015 crippled by injuries... But because they aren't tearing up the league they are somehow failures? Chicago didn't light it up last year and they did ok, Kings didn't even get in! 2013 Kings got in on the last day and won the cup.

This blog doesn't address any of the issues that plagued the Pens over the past year, a coach that didn't fit the team, injuries that knocked out Malkin, Fehr and Bonino leaving a huge gap down the middle.

Are you going to be any more surprised to see Dallas in the finals than the Pens? I bet not.

Maybe I'm an idiot.....well I'm definitely an idiot....but, how does the word tidal equate to the Pens. Tidal would imply relying, or going with, the tide. I'm confused.

Maybe I'm an idiot.....well I'm definitely an idiot....but, how does the word tidal equate to the Pens. Tidal would imply relying, or going with, the tide. I'm confused.
- cranktheradio

Nevermind....I got it! Tidal. Like TIDAL the streaming music service.

They have found ways to lose games this season. Kessel, Hornqvist, Perron, Kunitz couldn't spell "goal" for most of this season if you spotted them the first three letters. Good team process under Sullivan, but mediocre results still. It's on the players at this point. I keep waiting for them to get their heads outta their asses but frankly I'm probably being overly optimistic. I think they'll make the playoffs mostly because they have a slumping Wings team and an overachieving Flyers team in direct competition with them. I'm not holding my breath on them doing anything meaningful when they do get in.

maybe crosby and malkin arent that good

They have found ways to lose games this season. Kessel, Hornqvist, Perron, Kunitz couldn't spell "goal" for most of this season if you spotted them the first three letters. Good team process under Sullivan, but mediocre results still. It's on the players at this point. I keep waiting for them to get their heads outta their asses but frankly I'm probably being overly optimistic. I think they'll make the playoffs mostly because they have a slumping Wings team and an overachieving Flyers team in direct competition with them. I'm not holding my breath on them doing anything meaningful when they do get in.
- jfkst1

Yes, and goals are the only thing missing. Everyone who doesn't watch the Pens like to point at the defence, goal tending or depth but none of those things are issues. The issue with the team is scoring... there are a lot of players on the Penguins that have scored a lot of goals, it isn't a stretch to think the goals may start coming, and if they start coming come playoff time they are going to be a nightmare to beat.

It doesn't boggle my mind.

They have Crosby, Malkin, Kessel, Letang, MAF and not much else.

Maatta is a good young defenseman but beyond him and KL the rest of the blue line pretty much sucks.

Kunitz is past his prime, Hornqvist is a decent top-6 winger and, beyond them and the three big stars, they have nothing much else up front.

On the other hand, the Hawks easily match the forward sizzle with Kane, Toews and Hossa, have one of the best defensemen in the world in Keith, two other really good defensemen in Seabrook and Hjalmarsson, and have been able to supplement and replenish that core with better young players (Saad, Panarin, etc.) than the Pens have, have always maintained much better 3rd and 4th line forwards than the Pens have had since 2009, and have managed their cap like no one else in the league.

It doesn't boggle my mind.

They have Crosby, Malkin, Kessel, Letang, MAF and not much else.

Maatta is a good young defenseman but beyond him and KL the rest of the blue line pretty much sucks.

Kunitz is past his prime, Hornqvist is a decent top-6 winger and, beyond them and the three big stars, they have nothing much else up front.

On the other hand, the Hawks easily match the forward sizzle with Kane, Toews and Hossa, have one of the best defensemen in the world in Keith, two other really good defensemen in Seabrook and Hjalmarsson, and have been able to supplement and replenish that core with better young players (Saad, Panarin, etc.) than the Pens have, have always maintained much better 3rd and 4th line forwards than the Pens have had since 2009, and have managed their cap like no one else in the league.
- Snowblind

Good observation......of the Hawks. The Pens D is far from terrible. Daley and Doumalin have both been quality top 4 players. Meanwhile, Pouliot, Lovejoy and Cole are completely fine in 3rd pairing minutes. We'll see about Schultz.

maybe crosby and malkin arent that good
- masterhans

There are dozens of players better than those two. They aren't even the best players on the team, Letang is. But if the big markets said that then what other small market team would the New York, Philadelphia and Toronto media have to write about.

This is such BS,nation to whatever team you write for. Their defense is young but it has become quite competent. Dumoulin, who you didn't even mention is quickly becoming the Seabrook of the team and Maatta the Hjalmarson. After that they still have Daley who has flourished here after being choked out on the Hawks and Pouliot who shows flashes of brilliance with the puck and Cole who is steady on the bottom pairing. They have actually drafted very well in the later rounds of the draft and those players are making big contributions to the team. They are not household names but they are worthy NHL level talent. They do have an excellent forward prospect in Daniel Sprong and 2 of the very best goaltending prospects in the NHL. Even with Crosby and Malkin getting older they have some very good pieces in place for the future. And when the time comes in a few years they can move Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Fleury, Kessel for prospects and picks. It's definitely not such a bleak situation. If the team could actually start putting away their chances they would be destroying teams. It's obviously not very easy to play with Crosby or Malkin because few players find success with them for some reason. Kunutz and Dupuis of 3 years ago and Neal and Jokinen were the best linemates they have had. Too bad they can't stay young forever.

It doesn't boggle my mind.

They have Crosby, Malkin, Kessel, Letang, MAF and not much else. Maatta is a good young defenseman but beyond him and KL the rest of the blue line pretty much sucks. Kunitz is past his prime, Hornqvist is a decent top-6 winger and, beyond them and the three big stars, they have nothing much else up front.

On the other hand, the Hawks easily match the forward sizzle with Kane, Toews and Hossa, have one of the best defensemen in the world in Keith, two other really good defensemen in Seabrook and Hjalmarsson, and have been able to supplement and replenish that core with better young players (Saad, Panarin, etc.) than the Pens have, have always maintained much better 3rd and 4th line forwards than the Pens have had since 2009, and have managed their cap like no one else in the league.

I dont disagree with anything you said about the Penguins; but get back to me in 2-3 years as the top of their roster starts to age while 1/4 of their cap (like the Penguins) is devoted to two players. They're benefitting beyond belief at the extraordinarily below-market de

This guy clearly doesn't watch the Pens night in, night out. He just looks at standings and individual point totals. Opinions, like a-holes, everyone has one. When opinions form from ignorance though they stink like poop. Heres another opinion:

http://www.tsn.ca/penguin...l-playoff-threat-1.447211

This guy clearly doesn't watch the Pens night in, night out. He just looks at standings and individual point totals. Opinions, like a-holes, everyone has one. When opinions form from ignorance though they stink like poop. Heres another opinion:

http://www.tsn.ca/penguin...l-playoff-threat-1.447211
- MattStrat

As long as you guys make it in as the 8th seed and get bumped 1st round you have Leafs fans cheering for you

I think a lot of pens fans are sorta missing his point - the way I interpret this article isn't saying the Pens are horrible rather it's saying that a team who has two of the best forwards in the NHL for the past 6 years (arguably two of the best players in the league), a top scoring D and a solid goalie (despite a few of his playoff performances) should probably have had better results than they have.

Since they won the cup they've had basically the same amount of playoff success as the habs...which isn't bad but maybe isn't up to expectations for a team with crosby and malkin who could have become a dynasty similar to the hawks.

From an outsiders perspective I dont really understand why the pens haven't been more competitive...their D now looks weak (compared to when they had Niskanen Orpik Martin Letang gonchar) but their real issue is apparently lack of scoring. It also seems like they move all their picks n prospects for roster players but i can't definitively say if that has made them worse or not.

Maybe part of the lack of scoring comes from the D's inability to effectively move hte puck...i dunno that's just a guess i dont watch a ton of pens games but when you have a fwd core like you guys do you'd think scoring would be easy.

I think a lot of pens fans are sorta missing his point - the way I interpret this article isn't saying the Pens are horrible rather it's saying that a team who has two of the best forwards in the NHL for the past 6 years (arguably two of the best players in the league), a top scoring D and a solid goalie (despite a few of his playoff performances) should probably have had better results than they have.

Since they won the cup they've had basically the same amount of playoff success as the habs...which isn't bad but maybe isn't up to expectations for a team with crosby and malkin who could have become a dynasty similar to the hawks.

From an outsiders perspective I dont really understand why the pens haven't been more competitive...their D now looks weak (compared to when they had Niskanen Orpik Martin Letang gonchar) but their real issue is apparently lack of scoring. It also seems like they move all their picks n prospects for roster players but i can't definitively say if that has made them worse or not.

Maybe part of the lack of scoring comes from the D's inability to effectively move hte puck...i dunno that's just a guess i dont watch a ton of pens games but when you have a fwd core like you guys do you'd think scoring would be easy.
- Joel_Eh

Injuries man. Not sure why people can never grasp how they've crippled their chances over the years. The one time they were relatively healthy was 2013 when they made the final 4. Even that year though Crosby missed a massive amount of time with broken jaw from that Orpik shot. He came back with hardly any play time in two months. No other team has come close to the amount of injuries the Pens have had since 2009. Its actually insane. The Pens blog writer has actually posted stats about health of teams and chances of winning cups. All the recent cup winners have had extremely low man games lost.

Fair story. The point about drafting and developing young cheap talent (especially forwards) is the bulk of the problem. Shero mangled it.
- madmike71

People might get pissed at this, but his point is obvious. We have little to rely on in the farm as the future comes. This is due to poor drafting and development AND trading away good picks for rentals that either weren't needed (Iginla), or failed to do anything of note (Winnick, Goc, Doug Murray, and so on). Shero was a big cause for this.

Injuries man. Not sure why people can never grasp how they've crippled their chances over the years. The one time they were relatively healthy was 2013 when they made the final 4. Even that year though Crosby missed a massive amount of time with broken jaw from that Orpik shot. He came back with hardly any play time in two months. No other team has come close to the amount of injuries the Pens have had since 2009. Its actually insane. The Pens blog writer has actually posted stats about health of teams and chances of winning cups. All the recent cup winners have had extremely low man games lost.
- MattStrat

Yeah i guess that makes sense...i'd be curious to see the actual numebers especially concerning top players.

Pittsburgh's problem remains to be an inconsistent goalie. I know everyone in Pittsburgh loves MAF. But based on his meltdowns in the playoffs, they cannot survive with a goalie like him. He plays just bad enough to lose an important close game. If the score is tied late in a game, he will blink first and give up that goal that changes the momentum in the game. If he played in Montreal, with all the pressure from the media there, he would already be in a rubber room. Just cannot handle the pressure. I know everyone in Pitt loves him but the only way to get the monkey off his back is to steal a series. He has not been able to do just that. And remember he was the NO 1 Overall pick in his draft year. He has been an underachiever to say the least.

Pittsburgh's problem remains to be an inconsistent goalie. I know everyone in Pittsburgh loves MAF. But based on his meltdowns in the playoffs, they cannot survive with a goalie like him. He plays just bad enough to lose an important close game. If the score is tied late in a game, he will blink first and give up that goal that changes the momentum in the game. If he played in Montreal, with all the pressure from the media there, he would already be in a rubber room. Just cannot handle the pressure. I know everyone in Pitt loves him but the only way to get the monkey off his back is to steal a series. He has not been able to do just that. And remember he was the NO 1 Overall pick in his draft year. He has been an underachiever to say the least.
- holeinone

MAF was terrible in the playoffs between 2010-2013. No doubt about it. There is a good argument that he single handedly lost the Canadians, Lightning, and Flyers series. However, since changing goalie coaches in summer 2013 he has been an above average goalie. SC winners need solid goaltending- not great goaltending. MAF has been solid. He's not the problem.

Pittsburgh's problem remains to be an inconsistent goalie. I know everyone in Pittsburgh loves MAF. But based on his meltdowns in the playoffs, they cannot survive with a goalie like him. He plays just bad enough to lose an important close game. If the score is tied late in a game, he will blink first and give up that goal that changes the momentum in the game. If he played in Montreal, with all the pressure from the media there, he would already be in a rubber room. Just cannot handle the pressure. I know everyone in Pitt loves him but the only way to get the monkey off his back is to steal a series. He has not been able to do just that. And remember he was the NO 1 Overall pick in his draft year. He has been an underachiever to say the least.
- holeinone

Fleury left those things in the past so you should to. Coaching and leadership were the issues the past 2 playoffs. So since those happened more recently don't you think they might be (or had been) the real problem?

Injuries and playoff MAF were the main reasons for the Pens downfall for several years after winning it all in 09.
Injuries and lack of depth have plagued the last few seasons.
The future will be spent paying for the sins of management trading all of their picks and prospects away for bad rentals in addition to their aging core and their bloated salaries.

Number One overall pick in his draft year Like I said under achiever You really cannot dispute that. Case closed

Number One overall pick in his draft year Like I said under achiever You really cannot dispute that. Case closed
- holeinone

Most goalies get better with age. Very few look good in their early-mid 20s. It seems like a goalie really settles down and plays their best hockey from late 20s to mid/late 30s. Fleury is actually following this progression. He's been very good last year (29) and this year (30).

Also, the guy backed the team to a Stanley Cup and usually stands on his head this time of year. Fleury = NOT the problem.

The problem...
Sidney Crosby 2010-2012, 101 games missed, 63 games played
Malkin 2010-2013, 57 games missed, 149 played
Letang 2011-2014, 81 missed, 121 played
Paul Martin 2011-2014, 59 missed, 146 played.
That's just 4 examples of "key" players missing atleast 25% of their games over at least a 2 season span.