nossagog

For me, Stiegy just rambles on sometimes about absolute nonsense, and misses things during the game. I've tried the same thing with the radio feed, but found the same thing.

As for tonight, not sure. Could be a letdown game, but it is Toronto, the hockey mecca. And players typically have a lot of family come to these games. I think they'll be up for it.

Had to get a Langism in the thread title, man I miss listening to him call games. Too bad we get Stiegy and Errey for TV, I really think those guys are lost.

Anyway, other than Malkin, looks like everyone will be available for the game. It will just be a game time thing to see who sits between Vitale/Glass(please be Glass) and Despres/Bortozzo/Engelland.

Played a tough/tight but steady game versus the B's, hope this one opens up a little more.

I'll probably have to watch the game via DVR afterwards.

@nossagog Sticks out like a sore thumb now, but looking back, Sid was the only thing that made Colby Armstong relevant, and he made him a few million by helping him become a 20 goal scorer "with grit"...that guy is totally useless.

Sure, remember Warren young, played one year alongside Lemieux, scored 40 goals. Got big bucks the next year from Detroit, two years later he was in the AHL. Can't blame guys like that for cashing in.

Throw Glass out the window (pun intended). He's a non-factor in any trade. I doubt Kennedy has the Flames all hot and bothered (I'm rolling now) either. I still think a few picks (2nd + 3rd) and a decent but not "top" prospect (like a Scott Harrington) is fair. Compare that to what we gave up for Hossa. Two firsts (one being Angelo Esposito) and two marginal young players. Hossa was a coming off a 100 point season...in his prime. Iginla is in the midst of what would he worst statistical season since the late 1990's.

As for long term...he just doesn't fit. Next year, Kennedy, Cooke, Dupuis, Adams, Jeffrey, Eaton and Bortuzzo are all FA (some UFA and some RFA). All together they make about $7.8 million. None are due a huge raise (if any at all) and in theory the Pens could resign all of them with an average raise of about 10% and still be about $1 million under the new (lower) cap. Add an Iginla making...$4 million?...to that mix and now you have some decision to make. If it's more than a 1-year deal, our 2014-15 "fiscal cliff" when 9 current players go UFA and 2 go RFA, gets even more clouded.

Ah, the Hossa deal. One of my favorites that brings a smile to my face when I think about it. At the time, the "pundits" laughed at the Pens because we gave up too much for a rent a player. Killing the future of the team. So lets look how it worked out.

Atlanta got:

Angelo Esposito - First round prospect, NOT. Bounced around the AHL/ECHL, now in the Sweedish league, doesn't look to be NHL material.

Colby Armstrong - Since been on Atlanta, Toronto and now, but probably not for long Montreal. Bottom sixer for life.

Erik Christensen - Road tripper, went to Atlanta, Anahiem, down to Manitoba, up to the Rangers, down to the Conn Whale, up to Minnesota and is now in the KHL.

First round pick, ended up low due to the Pens making the cup final. Ended up being Daulton Leveille, another bust, barely in the AHL at this point.

Pens got:

Marion Hossa- Rent a player. Did not win the cup that season, but was a key factor in getting the Pens to the Cup finals, providing what some could say was the necessary experience for the Pens to win the cup the next season.

Pascal Dupuis - Pundits called him a throw in, typical grinder. Yep, has hands like stones in many cases. But a tireless worker, key player on the PK and has shown that he can be a 20+ goal scorer. Oh by the way, still with the Pens playing a top six role, and ended up being better than any of the players we gave away. Would have to check, but may have better stats than Armstrong and Christensen combined.

So we rented the key that launched us for a two year cup run(with one cup), and got a eh, top six winger for two bottom sixers and two busts. Hindsight being 20-20, what a steal.

@Polaris922

I'd dump Kennedy cause he looks like an aborted Orc from Lord of the Rings...but that's just me.

Hence his little known nickname of Man-Bear-Pig.

As for us trying to toss in Glass in any trade. Its just an added thankyou for a trade, no cost at all to you, just an extra player added on. Just take him. . . . PLEASE!

@B21

@nossagog

@flyercanuck

I'm torn on this one as well. I mean, I like what Iginla can bring to the team. A more calming presence and he still plays the power forward game of go to the net and fight for it. If Sid had that to pass to at any given moment... but he already has Kunitz doing exactly that. WHat would it do to their chemistry? Is Iginla's game too much like Kunitz's to work well together? And what would we be giving up?

I don't want to lose Depres. I think he's developing very well and will only get better. If we could steal Iginla for Kennedy, Glass, and Bortuzzo I'd take it, but I don't think Calgary will settle for that. I know Iginla and Sid had a great thing going in the Olympics, but can Iginla still skate enough to stay up??

I'm thinking PASS... our team is scoring plenty right now, why risk it for a rental?

bingbingbingbingbingbingbingbingbingbingbingbing I think we have a winner.

I agree with most of your summation with some minor exceptions. I don't want to see Sutter go. Regardless of his goal scoring this year, I think he's perfect for the third line center role, and that's something our team has needed for some time. Who'd have thought he'd have more goals than Jordan Staal at ANY time in the season. I also don't want Martin to go anywhere, BECAUSE he's regained the shut down form he had when we acquired him.

Yes our defensemen are largely positional, with the exception of the recently AWOL Orpik... but I really don't have a problem with that as long as they're IN position. It's when they go scrambling that they have trouble, and if they're scrambling, it doesn't matter if they're physical players or not... they get scored upon. EVERY defense scrambling gets scored upon. As for Orpik ,he's still near the top of the league in blocked shots, and fits the role you're speaking of Scuderi having years back. Just wish he'd return to his hitting form as well.

I say get rid of Glass immediately. He flat out sucks. Was supposed to be an energy guy with a talent for fighting, but I see neither, really. MIddleweights are a dime a dozen. He could've blocked Chara's shot tonight and chose not to... that tells you all you need to know about Glass.

Kennedy needs to go as well. Jeffrey needs more time in the AHL... like ... until the end of his career.

I am actually starting to like Cooke. Is he expendable? Sure... but I'd actually have him in the hate to see him go bracket these days. He creates energy and still hits, but does so cleanly.

That's why I broke them down as I did. I don't want to see Sutter or Orpik go either, but if something great did come up, well . . .

But as for Orpik, I just don't know what's going on. Even last year everyone thought he may be injured because he just wasn't the same. His blocks come alot from being the guy around the net, not that he's laying himself out though. And he just doesn't have that nastiness any longer.

Great, check off learning how to use the ignore filter in the forums. Man does it make these threads seem more intelligent now. No need to respond, filter is on.

No, no, no and NO!

This team is a solid 4th line forward (replace Tanner Glass) away from being 'perfect' once it's healthy.

Two loaded scoring lines. A solid 3rd line that can shut down the opposition's top line or score if needed. (I know we love to kill Kennedy but he stepped up when Malkin and Crosby were out). Incredible depth on D....how many teams can literally platoon d-men based on the opposition and not miss a beat? Physical team? Dress Engelland and/or Bortuzzo. Less physical? Depres. Sprinkle in a Mark Eaton and you have a deep, versatile and well rested d-man corps for the playoffs.

If he doesn't cost us one of the young d-men or a 1st round pick....grudgingly I'll do it. 2nd and 3rd. Throw in Dustin Jeffrey or maybe a Scott Harrington. No 1st. No Depres, Maatta, Pouliot, Morrow or Dumoulin.

IF it happens....where does he go? Only two options...he either bumps Dupuis to the 3rd or 4th line or Bennett to the AHL. Crosby loves playing with Dupuis and no way you separate him and Selke finalist Chris Kunitz they way they have been playing. Would hate it but it would have to be Bennett going down.

Humm, decisions . . . decisions . . . I hope not. From the standpoint that I still think that what the Pens need is a solid physical shutdown defenseman to complete the team. This would probably only be a rental as I don't think they'd resign him unless he took waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa breath aaaaaaaay less money.

But if he did, I would think that he would bump Dupuis down to the third line, moving Kennedy/Cooke to the fourth, which could work out. Cooke-Sutter-Dupuis could work well as Dupers fits the role fine. Kennedy-Vitale-Adams/Jefery would be my preferred fourth line, and PLEASE somehow, if it happend, make the Flames take Tanner Glass.

Right now I'm see a whole lot of chemistry between Beau and Neal(as well as Malkin before his injury).

My worry would be what we give up. I think that Calgary would push for Depres, and I can't justify giving him up for an aging veteran. Heck, I'll offer up Bortozzo or Jeffery and a pick(along with Tanner glass and a bag of pucks), but I don't think that will cut it. Maybe toss in Kennedy somehow, I've soured on him and his $2m/year contract.

I'll ignore the petty stuff, and just talk about the game. Tired team, blah blah, Back to back , blah blah, the sun got in my eyes, blah blah, add more excuses here as needed. None of that is the case. The Bruin's tried to play a road game, they got an early lead and tried to sit on it, play dump out and make the Pens chase all night, and clog the neutral zone. Oops, in this case it didn't work, their fault.

Even in the first, the pens out played , out shot and out hit the Bruins. They scored on two of their first three shots, really their first two chances. Other than the PP chance that the B's had, the Pens were still outplaying them. The only thing the B's did better was in the faceoff dot.

The Pens kept to their game and were eventually rewarded by a couple of good goals, and a defensive blunder by Seidenberg.

Give Bylsma some credit too, in the first the Pens had issues gaining the zone because the B's were clogging the neutral zone and forcing puck carries to other defenders. Bylsma change to a touch and go pass with a forward on the fly to get past the trap. And it worked great.

Now if I'm a Bruins fan, sure, I'm feeling that my team gave away two points(at least one) as you don't expect to cough up a lead that late in the game. But the truth is that they were under pressure from the start of the game.

I'll defend him. He is wrong.. he is right.. he's like everyone else.. just louder and more offensive about it to make money. LOL But sometimes he does get it right.

But he doesn't care if he's right or wrong, just that he gets heard. Wasn't it Madden that for like five years straight said the Pens were going to trade Jagr, and when they finally did, he was like "See, I was right". He's like the people who make all the predictions for the coming year. At the end of the year the crow about the 1 they got right, but forget all about the 999 that they got wrong.

Just my $.02

Random thoughts on Player status(IMHO)

Rule says no one should be Untouchable, but I would have serious issues if any of these guys were traded before the deadline:

Crosby/Malkin - No ammount of rationalization could ever be done to explain how trading either of those guys would help a team before a playoff run.

Kunitz - Wouldn't have said that in prior years, but right now the man is on fire. Normally not untouchable, but I don't think I could justify a trade that would make us better AT THIS POINT.

Letang - Too valuable a defenseman to give up

Bennett - Next wave star of the Pens. I wouldn't normally put such a young player as untouchable, but this guy has all the makings of a star forward.

Neal - Man is rounding into form for the Pens and starting to produce 5v5.

Fleury - Sigh, Deadline day is not the time to make a goaltending change. But his numbers are NOT worthy of a $5M/year goalie. He's not untouchable as a player, but it would do damage to change out a goalie at this point in the season.

Would be sad if they got dealt, but its a business:

Dupuis - Love the guys effort on and off the ice.

Despres - Almost felt as I did with Bennett, but we have too many offensive defenseman. If we are keeping Letang around long term, Despres could bring in alot.

Niskanen - I think he's underrated, great defensively. He could fill that Scuderi role on a shutdown pair.

Joe Vitale - Should be the core of the fourth line, but for some reason Bylsma doesn't think so. Puts in great effort, and I believe is good defensively. I think that Glass has pictures of Bylsma from the awards ceremony in Las Vegas that keeps him in the lineup over Vitale.

Martin - For two years we have been waiting to see this Paul Martin. He's finally arrived, which means that sadly his trade value is at an all time high. If he was part of a package that brought us a big defensive defenseman, I'm all for it.

Engelland - Only enforcer type on the team, but is a liability defensively. Don't usually need enforcers in the playoffs.

Eaton - I think he can be valuable as a pure defenseman in the playoffs. Good thing for the short year at his age.

Orpik - Will always have the memory of that famous shift in the Cup Finals where you put down 4 Wings in about 15 seconds with solid checks. Where did that Brooks Orpik go?????

Sutter - Working well as the center for the third line. Solid defensively and in the faceoff dot. Would love to see him push that line a little more offensively, but what can you do with TK and Cookie.

Thanks for the memories, and good luck in the future:

Tyler Kennedy . . . Kennedy - Had high hopes, but is still just the grinder that he was, didn't work out on the second line and is great at hitting the goalie right in the logo.

Matt Cooke - Has really changed his game, but can easily be replaced.

Craig Adams - Solid role player, interchangable part.

Dustin Jeffery - You can only be a prospect for so long, at some point you have to actually produce.

Tomas Vokoun - Had high hopes, maybe to push Fleury out, but NAH. That goal in the second Philly game this year to lose it after your team fought so hard to tie the game will forever be in my mind.

And I'll give you a bag of pucks(used):

Tanner Glass - Yes he'll drop the gloves, otherwise useless.

@nossagog

@B21

I'd be rid of Tanner Glass. He's been less than unimpressive this season. He's frequently out of position, and usually if he's IN position, he is only there to take a stupid penalty. I liked it when they signed him. I'd like it more if they got rid of him.

Otherwise, Adams and Vitale were doing great as a fourth line in the past, no reason a replacement for Glass couldn't bring back the pep they had been playing with previously.

As for defense... I think Orpik is hurt. I really have noticed him struggle the past six or seven games. He took a shot off the foot and hobbled his way to the bench a game before that, so I'm thinking he has some undisclosed unjury that just has him off his game. He doesn't seem to be the physical presence he usually is.

I think Bortuzzo has played well but is still maturing and having some growing pains. I like Depres, and I think the more he plays the better off he will be. I don't see an issue with our defense overall. I think the penalty kill is a matter of physicality in front of the net, and that is something you can bring out of current players without the need to bring in new faces. It just seems they're playing the puck more than the body, and that makes rebounds a difficult thing to keep from going back into the net.

I'm not sure they can. Depres, Bortozzo and Engelland won't see the chance of PK time. Letang,Martin,Niskanen and Eaton and are all positional defensemen, they are not going to clear the crease. Orpik is all there is to try to move bodies in front of the net, and I don't think he can do it.

Add the fact that our PK seems to be a box that leaves the man in front of the net open, there is not a dedicated defender to move him out of the way. The goals in the Leaf's game are perfect examples, deflection by player one foot off the crease, rebound by player four feet from crease. Our stratagy seems to be to leave him there and hope to clog the lanes so the puck never gets in there.

Ah, the memories of Gil and Scuderi, there was a pair. Not flashy, pretty much not going to contribute in goal production, but a pair where when the Stanley Cup was on the line, it was they who were called upon for the last frantic moments. Gil was slow as a slug(sorry slugs), but he knew his limitations and never got caught pinching, and could clear anyone from the front of the net with his frame. Scuds couldn't hit the net if his life depended on it(hence the nickname Scuds for the Iraqi Scud missles who had a accuracy rate of Mr. Magoo), but would lay his body on the line to block a shot with a minute left in a 10-1 game. That's the kind of pair that the Pens need.

Deadline day is April 3rd. Time to start looking for how to improve the Pens for a cup run. To start out with, let's take a look at the different facets of the team.

Top Six - I'm not seeing a trade happening here. Crosby is very comfortable with Kunitz and Dupuis and is turning points like a slot machine. Beau is looking fantastic on Malkin's wing with Neal. In the end, I so nothing happening at the top.

Checking line- Not the same without Staal, but Kennedy-Sutter-"The Most Hated Man in Hockey" are playing pretty well. They could just use a few goals. I could part with Kennedy here, I think that he may have some worth, and the addition of someone who could add a few goals would greatly help.

Banger Line - Keep Vitale and maybe Adams, the rest are up for improving. Don't have the patience for Glass any longer due to his silly penalties, but he is the only tough guy of any of our forwards. Jeffery's stock has been going down, at one point slotted for the second line, he's luck to be getting time on the fourth. Right now the fourth line is a major liability, and will get killed away from home when we don't get the last line change. Minor changes possible. I don't see them getting alot of time in the playoffs, and I also think that Geno and Sid will get double shifted alot as their center.

Defense - Martin,Letang,Nisky, Orpik and Eaton are fine. I worry about Despres during the playoffs, I think other teams will try to bang on him hard. Engelland and Bortozzo are not playing up to what the expectation are, and if an upgrade can be made there, I would do so. Problem is that Engelland is our real physical enforcing type. I would love to have Engelland pick up his play, and become a physical presence on the ice as well as the enforcer, but I don't see that this year. We could use a pure shut down defenseman.

Goaltending - It is what it is, we're not changing now. Its a change that has to be made somehow in the offseason.

Power Play - No need to change a thing or look to improve by addition, its fine.

PK - MEH, where to start. The problems are in front of the net. No one to clear the junk. I think the forwards are not the problem(Dupers, Adams, Cooke, but once set up in the zone, we need someone in front(ala S.S. Gill) who can move players without penalties. If we cannot upgrade this somehow, we are in trouble. Again, need that Shutdown type defenseman.

Okay, Personally, I think we need to look at the blue line and pick up a good shutdown defenseman, don't need an offensive one, and maybe an upgrade or two on the 3rd and 4th lines.

Gotta leave at the moment, but I'll try to do an untouchable/available list later.

@nossagog

You would think the Islanders would have had a better effort tonight being in the fix of things. This is complete dominance by the Penguins.

I was expecting a tight game, the FishSticks always give the Pens fits, especially with the way the Pens defense has been playing. But this has been the Sid show tonight, he's been pretty dominant.

Islanders with 9 shots in almost 2 periods. After shaky start to the game, its been total domination. Sids got 4 assists and at least 1 post. Even the 4th line is looking good tonight.

Oh, and raining of Sock Monkeys(its sock monkey night) on the Kunitz hatty

I'm getting scoring updates... Wish I could watch.

Islanders with 9 shots in almost 2 periods. After shaky start to the game, its been total domination. Sids got 4 assists and at least 1 post. Even the 4th line is looking good tonight.

Wow, what a good start to the game. Kunitz with 2, Stone hands with one and three helpers for Crosby already. Two helpers for Nealer too!

Looks like they amended the scoring. Martin, Neal, Crosby and Dupuis now credited with the goals.

Still - have to be happy with what you see from the kid so far. Of course, now our farm system is once again devoid of any real wingers with NHL potential....unless you like Tom Kühnhackl.

Yeah, from an above angle you could see that he did not touch it. Good on for Martin through, he's finally playing the way that we expected.

My guess is a sore shoulder for Malkin, tried to duck under and took the full body into the boards.

Islanders always play the Pens tough. Pens seem to have a hard time with the forecheck that they throw at them.

I like alot of what I see, especially the vision. The 40 ft saucer pass to Malkin in the third period last night showed he's got great hands also. He works hard to get to the dirty areas too and uses his frame well. At 21, a few seasons of offseason strength training should add muscle and about 15 lbs of weight, and he could be a real horse out there.

Good points eh? Sounds like typical lazy stereotype nonsense to me. But hey, enjoy your guy

He's a Jim Rome wannabe who likes to say controversial things just to get people to call his show. He's not liked by many in the 'burgh also.

Beau having a good first trip to Toronto, goal and and assist in the first.

@nossagog I'll be watching Bennet close tonight in their game against the Leafs, should be a electiric atmosphere, Sid's first game at the ACC in a few years due to injuries...game will be broadcast nationwide and I expect Sid will put on a show for the Canadian audience. Sure he will have lots of family and friends there = hat trick...calling it....4 point game for Sid tonight. 3 goals and 1 assist, but a 7-6 Leafs win.

Sid seems to be stuck on the three point thing lately, but man he's been close to a basket full. Hopefully tonight he can break the ceiling hard..

Hopefully Fleury lets in less than 6 though, he's making things too exciting.

I disagree. There are teams struggling to get to the cap floor that need his cap hit. Actuall dollars is $3mm next year and $2mm in 2015-16.

Whether the Flyers can get something good in return is another story.

But Briere has a no movement clause I believe, so he'd have to agree to go to a team struggling to get to the cap. Which basically means a team that will not be competing for the cup. Can't see him doing that.