Ryan Wilson: Evgeni Malkin will be a Penguin until the end Evgeni Malkin will be a Penguin until the end

The organization needs to look at what kind of people they are drafting. Is this person willing to change their game to become an efffective NHL player if they need to? Also they really need to get someone they see as Sullivans replacement in Wilks. Someone who will help players make that adjustment. For instance this Mcgroarty kid doesn’t strike me as knuckles to the grindstone to make the NHL.
- Grinder47

Maybe it's wishful thinking on my part, but I think that's been a big culture shift this year in WBS due to the depth of talent they have. They've seen their top forwards: Puustinen, Nylander, Poulin, not be able to stick and clear waivers. They have probably 10-11 forwards that thought they'd definitely make the NHL and realize they are fighting for ice time in the AHL.

Guys like Ponomarov and Koivunen have gotten scrapper. McGroarty has embraced being a top PKer. Pouring has been fighting more and it's clicked in he's going to have to make it as a fourth line guy. Bennstrom has gotten away from playing perimeter hockey.

On McGroarty specifically, it's always an adjustment when you go from running over kids your own age to playing against grown men. He's adjusted though, playing much better.

All these guys won't make it, but I think the competition in WBS at forwards is bringing about a bigger appetite to change games. Because if they don't, they realize the guy next to them will take their spot.

Would be interested to see if some of the guys who watch more WBS games agree, but that team seems more competitive to me.

It does feel like a whole different shift this season compared to others in WBS. Every player seems willing to grind and get their hands dirty.


Yohe saying he believes Karlsson will be moved, but in the offseason.

Malkin has received a raw deal the last few years. He has been trying to carry guys who are 3rd and 4th liners on other teams along on the 2nd line. I still think he can be a PPG player if he has at least one really good player with him... kind of like we saw when he and Sid were getting out there together.

I'd like to see what he can do when he doesnt have to be the best guy on his line. Make McDavid rotate through some combination of Beauvillier, Bunting, Tomasino and Heinen and see if he can crack 100pts... not happening.

Maybe it's wishful thinking on my part, but I think that's been a big culture shift this year in WBS due to the depth of talent they have. They've seen their top forwards: Puustinen, Nylander, Poulin, not be able to stick and clear waivers. They have probably 10-11 forwards that thought they'd definitely make the NHL and realize they are fighting for ice time in the AHL.

Guys like Ponomarov and Koivunen have gotten scrapper. McGroarty has embraced being a top PKer. Pouring has been fighting more and it's clicked in he's going to have to make it as a fourth line guy. Bennstrom has gotten away from playing perimeter hockey.

On McGroarty specifically, it's always an adjustment when you go from running over kids your own age to playing against grown men. He's adjusted though, playing much better.

All these guys won't make it, but I think the competition in WBS at forwards is bringing about a bigger appetite to change games. Because if they don't, they realize the guy next to them will take their spot.

Would be interested to see if some of the guys who watch more WBS games agree, but that team seems more competitive to me.
- Tojo.

But this is what has been missing from the NHL club. Certain guys just get favorable opportunities, even if not deserved. Dubas picked up all of these guys as "projects" and its like we are trying to force the issue to make those trades look good. Then again, maybe its just because we have no one else to put in the top 6. Its crazy that we have been this bad and we havent really seen any of these young guys come up and actually get much ice time. Hopefully that changes after the trade deadline.

I wonder if we are going to take a shot at any NCAA free agents this season.

I wonder if we are going to take a shot at any NCAA free agents this season.
- 123Kid

I used to always get excited about those guys coming out. Are there any game changers? When was the last time an undrafted NCAA guy turned into something good? I feel like that group is now scouted way better/more than they were 5 or so years ago... seems less likely for someone to slip through the cracks.

I used to always get excited about those guys coming out. Are there any game changers? When was the last time an undrafted NCAA guy turned into something good? I feel like that group is now scouted way better/more than they were 5 or so years ago... seems less likely for someone to slip through the cracks.
- MacPatty

I don't know that you find stars anymore, unless they force FA by staying until their eligibility passes. Guys like DOC, Sheary, ZAR, and DeSmith would be considered successes just because they made it to the NHL, but they're all bit players.

But this is what has been missing from the NHL club. Certain guys just get favorable opportunities, even if not deserved. Dubas picked up all of these guys as "projects" and its like we are trying to force the issue to make those trades look good. Then again, maybe its just because we have no one else to put in the top 6. Its crazy that we have been this bad and we havent really seen any of these young guys come up and actually get much ice time. Hopefully that changes after the trade deadline.
- MacPatty

The top 6 thing I'm convinced is just Sully wants to put someone who is good defensively even if he is questionable offensively with Malkin and Bunting because neither of them plays much defense. Thus DOC, Glass, and Heinen get the assignment over guys like Beauvillier or Tomasino.

The best prospects are all rookies besides Blomqvist. It's common to give them a full year to adjust to being pros. The only rookie that started in WBS that forced his way up mid-season I can think of is Guentzel.

And it's not like our prospects are necessarily better than say Tomasino. McGroarty has more upside, but that's more off his all-around game than top end offensive skill. Is Koivunen better? Maybe, but beyond McGroarty and maybe Koivunen I don't think anybody in WBS has a better chance at being a top 6 than the guy playing on our third line already. He's who I give a shot to if Bunting or Rackell is traded, and maybe backfill his spot with Bennstrom or Ponomarov.