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2018-19 Penguins and NHL Offseason

JMM said:
Must have been one hell of a bar tab.

Watching those two teams go at it last night, there's no way in hell the Pens could stand up to that physicality. They may not like it because it doesn't fit into their brand of hockey but they better find some guys who are big enough to withstand that sort of beating but still be able to make the other team pay for getting too aggressive by having a top notch power play.
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What's frustrating is they had that for their last 2 cups. Then they let players walk and trading for physical players that Sully refused to play. ******* stupid.
 
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I see where the Canes are up 2-0. They might be the team to beat.
 
JMM said:
I see where the Canes are up 2-0. They might be the team to beat.
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It maybe too early to say this but all the hype I've heard about the Isles after they beat the Pens maybe just that... HYPE. I listened to several hockey pundits saying that the Isles were the favorite in the east because Washington was out. The Isles had the Pens number but the Pens weren't that good this year. Beating the Pens wasn't a great accomplishment this year.
 
The Isles looked pretty average to me overall but they played a consistent 60 minute + game while the Pens looked to be a below average team (lazy, turnovers, etc) with flashes of being a top echelon team.
 
JMM said:
The Isles looked pretty average to me overall but they played a consistent 60 minute + game while the Pens looked to be a below average team (lazy, turnovers, etc) with flashes of being a top echelon team.
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The Islanders are not going to go very far in the playoffs trying to hold on to 1 goal leads into the 3rd periods of games. Sooner or later you have to score some goals because you can't play a structured defense and shut down the fast teams who can score every night. I know they have scored a few PP goals but overall it is horrible. They tried the goon approach yesterday too and there again, when you start pre-occupying yourself with making hits sooner or later you are going to be behind the play and get burnt. Seeing Clutterbuck being helped off the ice at the end of the game after he went right after Riemsdyk and took him out the first shift of the game had a touch of Karma attached to it too.

Pulling for the Canes but they are really banged up.....I still think if the Jackets get by Bruins they are the team coming out of the East
 
Vader said:
It maybe too early to say this but all the hype I've heard about the Isles after they beat the Pens maybe just that... HYPE. I listened to several hockey pundits saying that the Isles were the favorite in the east because Washington was out. The Isles had the Pens number but the Pens weren't that good this year. Beating the Pens wasn't a great accomplishment this year.
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What the Canes are doing is taking the Isles' game and shoving it right back in their face. The Pens just sat back and let the Isles have free range in their end. The Canes aren't as fast as the Isles, but they are hard to play against, because they are physical, clog lanes and block shots. I think the Canes are lucky to get out of NY up 2-0, but luck is a big part of any cup run. For instance, the Isles goal that was disallowed yesterday. Yes it was kicked, but it also deflected in off the goalie. If not for the goalie, it doesn't go in. It isn't like he kicked it directly into the net. I think the goal should have stood. That goal stands, maybe the game goes to overtime and the outcome is different. But whatever.

Living in the Raleigh area, the Canes were a surrogate team for me in a sense that I could drive 20-25 minutes and go catch a game. I always kinda felt bad that the arena was always full of the other teams' fans. I am happy that their fan base has something to cheer about. They are an easy team to root for. I don't dislike any of their players, really. I hope they continue to do well.
 
str8liner said:
Beating the crap out of what is starting to look like a tired and injured Bruins team. Loving every minute of it. Marchand should be gone for at least a game for the cheap shot at the end of the game.
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That guy looks like a fn weasel. Glad CBJ is getting the best of them. Hope they can wrap it up after a couple more games and send Bahston packing in front of their home crowd of chowdah eating miserable prick fans
 
I will say this. That watching the stress free non Pens has been fun. I hope the Pens are watching too. There is a lot of consistency in the styles that are winning.
 
Uncle Ben said:
I will say this. That watching the stress free non Pens has been fun. I hope the Pens are watching too. There is a lot of consistency in the styles that are winning.
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I think Rutherford sees there is a lot of work to get them in the same ballpark as the rest of the PO field. If there's a disconnect with some of their stars with Sully and the coaching staff, I expect changes. The door with Sid is closing.
 
Eh Pens will be alright down the road.
They had glimpses of really taking over and carrying play against the Isles.

The lack of....passion; that's what killed our boys this year.
 
thesteelcity said:
I think Rutherford sees there is a lot of work to get them in the same ballpark as the rest of the PO field. If there's a disconnect with some of their stars with Sully and the coaching staff, I expect changes. The door with Sid is closing.
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All these articles being written aren't without foundation. Star players that won't buy into the team system aren't stars. JR is using the media to help him shop. I'm OK with some movement. As Madden says " you need to move declining players before they are spent ". The build up to the draft will be interesting. The organization needs a youth injection to remain competitive.
 
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MTC said:
Eh Pens will be alright down the road.
They had glimpses of really taking over and carrying play against the Isles.

The lack of....passion; that's what killed our boys this year.
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There is a talent issue as well. You don't get beat 4-0 to a team that is down 2-0 to the Canes without some talent issues. The Isles aren't that good. They were off a week while Carolina played a brutal 7 game series with the Caps and only had 2 days off. The Pens were bad in the playoffs. Yes, not much passion but some of that was realizing they didn't have the players for a deep run. The don't have the grinders nor the play makers. This team ,as it is, could play in the playoffs for 10 years and never sniff a cup.
 
MTC said:
Eh Pens will be alright down the road.
They had glimpses of really taking over and carrying play against the Isles.

The lack of....passion; that's what killed our boys this year.
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I respect your outlook but they need to get a lot more physical before they can compete against the playoff field. They are closer to the Cup than a few others but after watching what this year's playoff teams are bringing, they have a long way to go before they can get back to the top. Need to get younger, tougher, stronger, and hungrier.
 
Alright, Canes are back up by 1.
 
That's all she wrote and the fans go wild!
 
Well the Canes may very well make the SCF if they keep this up.
 
I agree with you guys that the Pens need to toughen up.
3rd and 4th lines were duct tape lines. If Cullen leaves that opens up potential for a grittier, younger, hungrier centerman to perhaps compliment Garret Wilson.

Malkin needs a winger too. I'd write off Kessel and/or Letang.
I don't think the Pens are far off
 
The Isles are about to get swept. WTF Pens? This is borderline embarrassing. Hence, I think there will be big changes and needed.
 
thesteelcity said:
The Isles are about to get swept. WTF Pens? This is borderline embarrassing. Hence, I think there will be big changes and needed.
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The Pens need to be physical yet smart. Those 2 cup winning teams had grit but they also had timely goal scoring and good defense. It was hard to play against them.
 
thesteelcity said:
I think Rutherford sees there is a lot of work to get them in the same ballpark as the rest of the PO field. If there's a disconnect with some of their stars with Sully and the coaching staff, I expect changes. The door with Sid is closing.
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Part of that disconnect is with Sid as well, and between Rutherford and Sully, Rutherford brings guys in that Sully doesn't like/want. How the hell do yo expect the team to buy in when the coach and GM aren't even on the same page. Sid not wanting to play with Horny, who we just gave big money to, is ridiculous. It's the best for this team to have horny with Sid and Jake, yet Sid doesn't like playing with Horny, so we'll pay him 5 million to play 3rd line minutes, but yeah it's all on Geno and Letang.
Trading Malkin away would be dumb, power play sucks without him, Sid isn't that good without him. Trade Kessel, try to get a good winger for Malkin, someone that plays 200 ft with speed and put Horny with him as well.
 
A good measure of where Makin is at in his career will be at the World Championships. He should be playing with a crazy talented roster. Where they slot him and his ice time is will be interesting. From some recent media quotes, Malkin is aware he had a lousy season. I doubt he will ever change his game but we'll see. A friend of mine interviewed him for one of the articles. His feelings are that if it get's too uncomfortable Malkin will just go back to Russia.
 
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