Ryan Wilson: Penguins sign two players to PTO contracts Penguins sign two players to PTO contracts

What?!?!? Yup!!!! 1st again!!!!

While I'm not big on the players going to China to do this, this season, I'm certainly going to be excited AF to watch this tournament haha, I wont even try to hide that fact.

JFresh has been doing some Olympic posts and getting readers to vote on players for each country's roster make up. Letang just missed getting into the "runner up" category but I think he should at least be there...at least..but it is hard to slot him in the 6 best D-men available out of this pool of players...

Also, the USA team is going to be really good and fun to watch.

Russia always look scary AF but hasnt done much in a long time....is this their time?

With regards to this blog and those two PTO's, is there a limit to how many you can invite? I'm seeing names like Neal, Ryan, Anisimov, Vesey, Gudbransson and more out there unsigned...invite them at all if you can haha. In ways, in my mind anyway, it's kind of like having a lot of draft picks...the more you have the more chance one hits and sticks...

Old news Try new news

Russia always look scary AF but hasnt done much in a long time....is this their time?
- MattStrat

Can't wait to see US claiming to be favorites and then rampaging another locker room after another early exit.

I'd like to bring on Ryan, would have to make a move though.

Can't wait to see US claiming to be favorites and then rampaging another locker room after another early exit.
- VeryModernMan

Canada is absolutely the favorites. They should definitely win. Has the potential to be one of the best Canadian teams assembled.

Can't wait to see US claiming to be favorites and then rampaging another locker room after another early exit.
- VeryModernMan

Canada is absolutely the favorites. They should definitely win. Has the potential to be one of the best Canadian teams assembled. Marchand-Sid-Bergeron will probably be there third line lol.

Can't wait to see US claiming to be favorites and then rampaging another locker room after another early exit.
- VeryModernMan

Canada is absolutely the favorites. They should definitely win. Has the potential to be one of the best Canadian teams assembled. Marchand-Sid-Bergeron will probably be there third line lol.

Russia always look scary AF but hasnt done much in a long time....is this their time?


- MattStrat

As long as Vasi is dialed in, the Russians have a strong chance to win it.

As long as Vasi is dialed in, the Russians have a strong chance to win it.
- GalacticStone

They definitely do, I'd pencil them in as my second as favorites. This is probably their best goalie they have gone in with ina long time and the defense isn't complete trash lol.

Russia always look scary AF but hasnt done much in a long time....is this their time?


- MattStrat

Does Russia still choose KHL guys for half their roster to prove their league is just as good?

But I'm excited for it too. USA finally has legit top centers!

Canada is absolutely the favorites.
- 668710

Absolutely, yet there are other teams who can win a single important game - including Russia, but absolutely not the US (- and sadely also not the post-'17 Pens).

I'm really excited to see a new Era of USA hockey with all the high end young talent we have. Obviously not on Canada's level, but I can see us being a Sweden-like team in this generation that's capable of challenging despite lesser talent.

Of course that's all dependent on the team being constructed properly. If the GM goes vet happy or we get a repeat of the World Cup strategy, it would be a real disservice to our potential.

They definitely do, I'd pencil them in as my second as favorites. This is probably their best goalie they have gone in with ina long time and the defense isn't complete trash lol.
- 668710

Their top-4 is respectable. And idea of Kucherov and Ovi on the same power play should give goalies (and coaches) nightmares.

Their top-4 is respectable. And idea of Kucherov and Ovi on the same power play should give goalies (and coaches) nightmares.
- GalacticStone

Yep they will probably have the best PP on paper, we'll see if they can execute.

I'm really excited to see a new Era of USA hockey with all the high end young talent we have. Obviously not on Canada's level, but I can see us being a Sweden-like team in this generation that's capable of challenging despite lesser talent.

Of course that's all dependent on the team being constructed properly. If the GM goes vet happy or we get a repeat of the World Cup strategy, it would be a real disservice to our potential.
- Victoro311

What is the USA's projected lineup? We'll I'll look myself haha but keeping some conversation going.

Yep they will probably have the best PP on paper, we'll see if they can execute.
- 668710

I imagine it might look like Tampa's PP.

Kucherov on the half wall distributing the puck. Ovi in his office taking the place of Stamkos. Sergachev working the point. It should be a similar "pick your poison" for penalty killers - who do you leave open? Kuch? Ovi? Or Panarin who is taking Brayden Point's place? Any of those guys will burn you if you give them an inch.

What is the USA's projected lineup? We'll I'll look myself haha but keeping some conversation going.
- 668710

I think who they decide is going to be a center is really going to affect this, particularly the right side. Our three best centers are Mathews, Eichel, and Larkin, but if you remember back to the World Cup, Gaudreau-Eichel-Larkin was a really, really good line. Larkin is also one of six best forwards. So do you move Larkin into the top 6 and reunite that line and have the bottom two centers be some combination of Trochek, Hayes, and Miller? Or do you go for center depth and keep Larkin at C? I think the first option might be the way to go, especially because I’m really high on Trochek, who surprisingly isn’t making a lot of these roster projections. Something like

Conner-Matthews-Kane
Gaudreau-Eichel-Larkin
Guentzel-Trochek-Boeser
Pacioretti/Tkatchuk-Hayes-Tkatchuk
Miller

Doesn’t Russia always throw in a few khl bodies just so they can say that their league is also competitive?

Fortunately for USA the team is go good sully can’t really (frank) up the lines.

Doesn’t Russia always throw in a few khl bodies just so they can say that their league is also competitive?
- jchst22

Generally speaking when they do send KHL guys it’s been because they deserve it and just haven’t made the NHL jump yet or came back for X reason. We’re talking about Panarin and Dadanov before they came over and Kovalchuk and Radulov after they went back. And then they have that one KHL defenseman that was just happy to stay over there. Forget his name.

Still all of the currently published "All Stars"-lineups will be 'revised' by injuries and the usual 4th-liners "you need to have". The US-team posted above definitely also looks competitive.