Ryan Wilson: Penguins should look to shake up defense pairs Penguins should look to shake up defense pairs

If I was a betting man, my guess is Oleksiak and Riikola will be the odd-men out. More and more I believe that each time Oleksiak plays that it's very possibly his last game as a Penguin.

Now, I can see the Pens attempting a few looks in the lineup without JJ, but will they stick with it? I don't know how much better the defense would have to look for them to finally say good riddens to JJ for the remainder of the season.

JJ needs to block a shot with his face. He's not trying hard enough

Not sure now is the time to experiment. We need every point available to get positioning for the playoffs. The return of Schultz helps the defense so long as everyone stays healthy and you know that’s not likely.

@Mr Bob: we only have one good defensive pairing so expirmentation doesn’t really hurt at all. But we can speculate all we want, Johnson isn’t coming out of the lineup.

From TIOPS, so tread lightly...

They are also buying in to all the Ferland rumors. They comment on what they think it would take, but no real "rumor" of any proposals. The only real "talk" they comment on is Carolina has interest in Simon, but say it's not clear if the Pens would entertain that idea.

Simon is a weird case. He's clearly not a superstar and has yet to develop into a high-end player, but I don't think he's far away from becoming a legit top-six player. Personally, I think the Pens should be looking to ADD forwards, not swap. I would only make a move for Ferland if it was a dman or a pick/prospect package going the other way.

HOWEVER, as we all know my feelings on ZAR, I'd be fine if he was the one going the other way for Ferland.

Not sure now is the time to experiment. We need every point available to get positioning for the playoffs. The return of Schultz helps the defense so long as everyone stays healthy and you know that’s not likely.
- Dr Blob

Well, it's not an experiment. The Pens will have too many dmen in the lineup when Schultz returns, so they will have to figure out what works and what doesn't.

From TIOPS, so tread lightly...

They are also buying in to all the Ferland rumors. They comment on what they think it would take, but no real "rumor" of any proposals. The only real "talk" they comment on is Carolina has interest in Simon, but say it's not clear if the Pens would entertain that idea.

Simon is a weird case. He's clearly not a superstar and has yet to develop into a high-end player, but I don't think he's far away from becoming a legit top-six player. Personally, I think the Pens should be looking to ADD forwards, not swap. I would only make a move for Ferland if it was a dman or a pick/prospect package going the other way.

HOWEVER, as we all know my feelings on ZAR, I'd be fine if he was the one going the other way for Ferland.
- Rinosaur

What is your criteria for top 6 forwards? I see Simon as a middle 6 ceiling.

Too many #6-7D guys. This is where paying JO $2mm+, paying JJ $3.2mm+ facking sucks.
Quack! Quack!

What is your criteria for top 6 forwards? I see Simon as a middle 6 ceiling.
- Feds91Stammer

Sheary-lite. Not a top line player on any team in the league, but able to hold his own when injuries strike (with either Sid or Evgeni) and a dependable middle six guy otherwise.

JJ needs to block a shot with his face. He's not trying hard enough
- Thorny87

tyler kennedy looked like the type of guy who blocked shots with his face regularly.

From TIOPS, so tread lightly...

They are also buying in to all the Ferland rumors. They comment on what they think it would take, but no real "rumor" of any proposals. The only real "talk" they comment on is Carolina has interest in Simon, but say it's not clear if the Pens would entertain that idea.

Simon is a weird case. He's clearly not a superstar and has yet to develop into a high-end player, but I don't think he's far away from becoming a legit top-six player. Personally, I think the Pens should be looking to ADD forwards, not swap. I would only make a move for Ferland if it was a dman or a pick/prospect package going the other way.

HOWEVER, as we all know my feelings on ZAR, I'd be fine if he was the one going the other way for Ferland.
- Rinosaur

I agree, they should not be moving any forwards out. If they're going to lose a skater in a trade it should totally be a d-man.

Too many #6-7D guys. This is where paying JO $2mm+, paying JJ $3.2mm+ facking sucks.
Quack! Quack!
- DeflatedPucks

3.5 mill* : /

Sheary-lite. Not a top line player on any team in the league, but able to hold his own when injuries strike (with either Sid or Evgeni) and a dependable middle six guy otherwise.
- DeflatedPucks

Agreed.

3.5 mill* : /
- MattStrat

Late one for you tonight

What is your criteria for top 6 forwards? I see Simon as a middle 6 ceiling.
- Feds91Stammer

Let me clarify. I don't see him as a 1st line forward, but I view him as someone who can be a staple on a 2nd line, but be a high-end 3rd line player.

My criteria? It's hard to say because I think the criteria for a top-six player has changed a bit. I'd say there's two levels of top-six. You have your Kessels and Ovies, but then you have your Dupuis' and Fialas of the NHL, which is what I see from Simon.

-Ability to create chances
-Strong on the puck
-Makes time and space for their linemates
-Above average in zone exits/zone entries

Late one for you tonight
- Thorny87

hahah yeah it is. Puck drops around 20 to midnight. Pretty sure I'll pass out before the final buzzer but we shall see about that.

Sheary-lite. Not a top line player on any team in the league, but able to hold his own when injuries strike (with either Sid or Evgeni) and a dependable middle six guy otherwise.
- DeflatedPucks

Definitely more concise than my long-winded explanation, but I see Simon a little higher than that. His puck-skill and play-making is a step above Sheary IMO.

hahah yeah it is. Puck drops around 20 to midnight. Pretty sure I'll pass out before the final buzzer but we shall see about that.
- MattStrat

Luckily my night won't even begin until after the game is over.

Let me clarify. I don't see him as a 1st line forward, but I view him as someone who can be a staple on a 2nd line, but be a high-end 3rd line player.

My criteria? It's hard to say because I think the criteria for a top-six player has changed a bit. I'd say there's two levels of top-six. You have your Kessels and Ovies, but then you have your Dupuis' and Fialas of the NHL, which is what I see from Simon.

-Ability to create chances
-Strong on the puck
-Makes time and space for their linemates
-Above average in zone exits/zone entries
- Rinosaur

To me there is a big difference between

Top line talent - Ovechkin, Forsberg, Crosby, Kessel, etc.

Top 6 talent - Tatar, Hornqvist, Kreider, Vrana

Middle 6 talent - Sheary, Simon, Nielsen, Burakovsky

To me there is a big difference between

Top line talent - Ovechkin, Forsberg, Crosby, Kessel, etc.

Top 6 talent - Tatar, Hornqvist, Kreider, Vrana

Middle 6 talent - Sheary, Simon, Nielsen, Burakovsky
- Feds91Stammer

Fair enough. I think that's a good breakdown.

EDIT: I actually have Vrana in my HBSL for next week.

Fair enough. I think that's a good breakdown.

EDIT: I actually have Vrana in my HBSL for next week.
- Rinosaur

You in the top 128 yet?

You in the top 128 yet?
- Feds91Stammer

Nope. This is my first crack at fantasy and took me the first two weeks to figure out the best way to devise my lineups, so I'm probably not going to, but I keep climbing the standings in my own division.

That being said, my lineup this week has been a bust. Most of my top guys have been quiet.

Penguins having Crosby and Malkin for a decade really (frank)s up our definition of a top 6 forward.

Also why all the JO hate? Maybe I am super biased and dont see it... but I dont believe he is bad by any means. He might be just slightly overpaid, definitely underused due to JJ, but he shouldn't be the target of disdain here imo.

Dem scouts wuz at the dallas-philly game last night.

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