nossagog

I wonder if Despres had even unpacked his clothes yet. Hope he has an easy pass for the turnpike.

Remember about three weeks, everyone was worried about the defense and that we couldn't keep up with these 5-4 style games because that would change in the playoffs. Oh how the times have changed. I'm still not convinced on our defensive scheme transitioning to the defensive zone. We get back way to slow, and the opposing forecheck is on the D before they get to the puck.

I certainly hope that this doesn't start the merry-go-round of injuries that we've had the past two seasons.

Gotta say, I really don't like these one goal games. I'm getting too old for this every night. Anyway, HATED the way that the Pens defense played the Canadians forecheck tonight. They were slow to the puck, and constantly just wanted to freeze the puck along the boards, half the time losing it to the Canadians.

Hope Fleury is okay, Kennedy came back with too much speed to the goal and lost his balance fighting for position with Gionta.

Down goes Despres, Down goes Despres. Well, there goes one of the roster spots. Sent back down to the Baby Pens today. We'll see ya in about 2 weeks simon.

Morrow skated in practice today... I hope he skates tonight. Murray won't be here yet but I'd like to see Morrow and watch the man play.

I think that Bylsma stated after the morning skate that Morrow was in the game. Letang was claiming that he's a game time decision, with a groin I'd rather see .him take another game or two off, don't rush back just for the streak.

I'm looking for Morrow to try to make a big impact tonight, lets see him plant Slewban on the forecheck, that should get a loud reaction.

But keeping in tradition with the current streak, I got a bad feeling about this one. Jinx hopefully avoided once again.

Wait though... is Glass involved in that transaction? Hmm

Jeez, I don't get all the Tanner Glass hate . . . Oh wait, never mind, I've seen him play. Hate on.

He's skating with Jeffery and Neal in the morning skate. Bennet was moved done to a line with Sutter and Kennedy(Cooke was not participating in the morning skate)

Bortuzzo can't go down. He'd never clear waivers. I say waive Glass AND Jeffrey... Morrow with Malkin/Neal... Bennett with Sutter and Kennedy, as our third line really is expected to generate as much as shut down... And I think Bennett would benefit more from third line time at NHL speeds than first line at AHL. PlUs he gets PP time. Cooke to fourth line.

I think we'll see Murray second pairing with Niskanen till Letang comes back. Then either he or Orpik with Letang, the other with Martin.

I read somewhere yesterday that the roster increase for the playoffs can happen on April 3rd. If that's the case, they may either leave Letang and Malkin rest for a week, or send Benet and Despres down for a week and then bring them back up.

@Polaris922 Man, that guy is gonna hurt some Flyers next year.....wtf...not good.

Unless something drastic happens, I think he's just a rental. The Pens are stocked on Defense with youth, this seems to be a move for the cup this year, then a nice pat on the back and a thank you for your time.

Revisiting my initial post here.

Still don't know if I'm sold on the Morrow deal because of the prospect, but it was less that I thought we'd pay and here's where he helps. Morrow can play on the PK, helps upgrade the third line(either him or bennet playing there) and adds a physical presence and more leadership to the team to the team. Playing with the kids and having none of the myriad of responsibles as a captain may make it enjoyable to just play the game.

Murry, like this much more. BIG BODY in front of the net, can clear room for Fleury. Can play the PK, again, clearing the crease. Increased physical nature of the team for playoffs. Possible of two second rounders could be the price of a Stanley Cup.

The Pens went from having mediocre physical team to being real physical.

Downside is that I see them both being rentals, unless they win the cup and one of them has soo much fun he forgoes monetary gratification to go for it again. Hey come on, quit laughing, it COULD happen!

Do you think that Briere might just up and call it quits? Its not his first dance with a concussion, and at 35, you gotta start to think about the rest of your life. If he were to retire, that I think would let the Flyers off the hook with his salary cap hit, does it not?

Dupuis / Crosby / Kunitz

Morrow / Malkin / Neal

Cooke / Sutter / Kennedy

Adams / Vitale / Glass

(Jeffrey)

Martin / Orpik

Letang / Niskanen

Depres / Murray

(Eaton / Engelland)

I don't mind this too much except for the fact that you left Bennet out of the picture. I don't thing the AHL does him ANY good at this point. Leave him on the 2nd or 3rd line, and push either Cooke or Kennedy down to the 4th. One of our complaints has been our scoring depth, and yes ManBearPig scored a big one last night, but other than Sutter on the third, our lower level is not having a great year. I'd even say I'm okay with Kennedy-Sutter-Bennet, given Bennet's skill and vision, he could emmencely upgrade the 3rd line. Having Cooke move down with Vitale and Adams would not be a bad thing.

That being said, Coach Dan seems to love Jeffery, no clue what he's going to do there.

@nossagog Really, really smart of the Pens, to get in on these trades before the prices go all whacky closer to the trade deadline. Me no likey....lol.

Yeah, this could set the price, and sent some of the other teams scrambling. If Boston and Chicago are still in the hunt for Iginla, this could push up the price. That whole keeping up with the Jonses thing.

Put a nail in the trade Briere talk, out indefinitely with a concussion is going to pretty much scare anyone away from him at the moment.

Here's the problem the Pens have now, too many players on the roster. With the aquisition of Morrow and Murry, something has to give when Malkin and Letang come off of IR. It could be that Beau and Despres go back the WBS until the expanded playoff rosters are in place.

Hey, double win here, keep Beau and Simon here, waive Tanner Glass and hope someone picks him up!!! What's Ray's number, I got to get in touch with him on that.

Okay, a couple of draft picks, but I like this one. Solid defensemen that can move people from in front of Fleury. Eaton moves to the "depth" spot, Depres or Bortozzo must go back down. Not sure what Bort's status is on waivers, it may mean that Despres goes down until the expanded playoff roster. Don't want to lose Bort to waivers.

Depres made two bonehead plays on the same shift (one in the neutral zone and another trying to clear the puck). That said...man is calm in his own end. He's not afraid to try to leave the zone with control of the puck instead of a 50/50 clear or head man pass. Just needs to make sure he doesn't carry it too much. I like the potential. And he's huge.

I think Morrow sends Beau to the AHL with the 3rd and 4th lines remaining in tact for now. Hopefull, Shero has one more move left...for a 4th liner.

Worst part....Glass is here next year for $1.1 million.

I really hope not. Beau has shown great skills and vision on the ice. I don't think that the AHL can benefit him at this point. His place is to learn in the NHL.

@B21

I said this somewhere else, I don't think B Morrow is the answer to your team's "deficiencies". In quotes because I'm not sure i see any, if anything you guys need one more middle/top tier defenseman in case Letang comes back less than Letangy. Someone like Rob Scuderi or Fracois Beauchamin, I'm not sure about Orpik's fuel tank and what is left there, but I'd ride it out with him he's a gamer. Niskanen is nice and could be top pair with the right partner. But one more solid blue liner would be the the move, but the price for those guys is high, maybe too high if teams ask about Bennett or Pouloit.

The deficiencies that are there are more on the defensive side. As you could see last night, our defense is a little prone to errors on the hard forecheck. Everyone wants to skate the puck out. Eaton and Despres made quite a few bad decisions. That's what worries most Pens fans. The second glaring problem is the bottom six, the Morrow thing helps, as this will push someone down to help out. I think this moves either Cooke or Kennedy down to the fourth line and solidifies the third(at least that's what I'm hoping)

Wow, for some reason this morning, I'm heading to work with a smile on my face, what's up with that wonder?

@B21

I think you're crazy for not liking the morrow deal. Yes you give up on a young prospect but your team has quite a few of them. You have a team now that can win a cup. With morrow on board he'll give you leadership when your guys need it. He's gonna be scrappy come playoff time. You guys could've used him in the series against us. He's like a max Talbot with much more experience. Iginla would've been better but they musk be asking too much. Now if the B's get Iginla look out. That'll be a nasty series for you guys.

Don't take me too seriously. I like to break your guy's stone's.

I don't think there's any doubt that Morrow can help the team, especially in the physical game. But it came at a high cost, that's the problem . Defensive prospects like Morrow don't come around too often. Strangely, Shero has created this situation but drafting so many defensemen, who seem to be working out, over the last 5 years. So this year we had a glut. If they win the cup, that's okay, but if not, it would be a great prospect gone for a rental.

The more I think about this trade the more I like it. Joe Morrow showed promise, and I think he will become a steady top four d-man. All credit to that thought... That's a few years away.

The Pens have a LOT of young defenseman prospects that will be coming of age close together.

The second line is dominant in many ways. But as a line they have no net presence. Neal is built like a power forward, but he's a pure shooter. He doesn't get the dirty goals and doesn't get many rebounds.

Brendan Morrow is a spirit on the ice. He's got drive and heart, and goes to those dirty places. He thrives there. He'll be a problem for defensemen as they'll have to collapse to deal with him. That means space for Malkin. And he'll lay a guy out just as readily with physical play.

Good luck Joe Morrow. Welcome Bendan Morrow!

Can't say I've seen to many Stars games to make a definitive conclusion, but I'm watching some of his work on NHL Tonight. This could be a plus, brings alot of grit, hard hitting, and another net front presence.

I was going to pick up Kennedy today for one of my fhl teams. Kennedy is beginning to get an Elias reputation when playing the Flyers.

That's his 5th goal of the year, four of them against the Flyers.

The problem with "Letting them play the game", is that after a while, the players figure they can do anything they want. Both teams had quite a few hooks and hold that went uncalled. A pretty blantent cross check by both teams in the high slot that went uncalled. Coburn hit on Dupuis not called. Players were on the ice from both teams in front of the nets, how many holding the sticks went uncalled.

In a nutshell, the "Let em play" really sucked tonight. But then again, the right team won.

Yeah he assisted on the Kennedy goal. Looked like a vicious boarding from my seats. Was it??

Just got rid the puck, facing boards, hit from behind, head directly into boards. After the replay, I'm surprised he came back out for the OT.

Its out on Youtube