For you hockey fans

[Coach]

What would the all time Pen's team be?

Left Wing

Center

Right Wing

Defense Man

Defense Man

Goalie


And would this team defeat past great teams like the Islanders or Oilers in a seven-game series?

 

[MTC]

All-time Pens team? Wow.
This is blasphemy. But I'd take Sid over Mario at center. More so just cause the athletes are bigger, stronger, faster now. Mario was big, but his fitness level was nowhere near Crosby's off ice routine. Another thing with Sid is he is so low and hard to knock off the puck

Too much wingers to throw out. I like the current lineup(speed, speed, speed)Defensemen? Darius Kasparitiis and Kris Letang. I have my complaints with Letang at times, but he is such a difference maker on the Pens Defense. Darius brought the boom back when I seriously got into hockey. He was one of my fave players and was feisty and not afraid to stick up for his teammates

 

[Coach]

All-time Pens team? Wow.
This is blasphemy. But I'd take Sid over Mario at center. More so just cause the athletes are bigger, stronger, faster now. Mario was big, but his fitness level was nowhere near Crosby's off ice routine. Another thing with Sid is he is so low and hard to knock off the puck

Too much wingers to throw out. I like the current lineup(speed, speed, speed)Defensemen? Darius Kasparitiis and Kris Letang. I have my complaints with Letang at times, but he is such a difference maker on the Pens Defense. Darius brought the boom back when I seriously got into hockey. He was one of my fave players and was feisty and not afraid to stick up for his teammates

Thanks. Who is the Goalie? And where would this all time team rate with the Islanders or Oilers?

 

[MTC]

The goalie would be a young MAF. His athleticism and saves were unreal in his early days

 

[MTC]

Which era of the Oilers and Islanders? Hockey was different back in the 80's to now. Players are more in tune with their off season/in season conditioning. Wayne Gretzky couldn't bench 145lbs in his day and I remember him saying in an interview how he was ranked dead last in all off ice conditioning drills. Players now are so much smarter and better at the game. So if your asking would the Pens beat a so and so historic team. Then 7 out 10 times I'd say yes

All aside. A lot of young generational type players are coming out. Conor McDavid, Johnny Gaudreau, Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, Nathon McKinnon. At a young age they are transitioning into the NHL ranks because of the advancement in training off ice. So I'd take any team today against any historic team

 

[SteelerFan448]

Lemieux is at center, Jagr at right wing. At this point it's do you put a center at wing or do you go with a pure winger. Stevens would get consideration, otherwise, the obvious choice is Crosby. But then you have guys like Francis, Recchi, Malkin, Kovalev, Mullen, etc. to fill out the lineup. Defense is pretty easy with Murphy and Coffey as the top pairing. Behind them you have Samuelsson, Letang, Gonchar, Kasparaitis and others. Barrasso is in goal with Fleury as the backup.

 

[MTC]

How could I forgot Coffey?! Switch out Letang. With Kasparitiis and Coffey on D. For me Center would be Sid. With Jagr and Sheary at winger. Sheary provides speed, puck possession. Jagr with speed, deadly goal scoring capability and I think him and Sid would click.

There is just too much in Pens history to say which would work better than who. I was too young to rember the early 90's Pens. I remember Francis somewhat. Kasparitiis always stood out cause of his hits. Somewhere along the way espn stopped showing hockey games, Pens games were hard to catch when the team went on a losing streak, so I never got to watch enough of the early 2000's until Sid came along to make a judgement on other wingers

 

[MTC]

A fun line to put together would be. Malkin at center-Sheary LW-Mullen RW
Both Sheary and Mullen are tiny but can distribute the puck.

Letang and Gonchar paired at D. Gonchar cause he clicked with Malkin. Letang cause he is one of the best offensive D men in the league today. The only one I think that can deliver stretch passes like Letang in today's game is Drew Doughty.

 

[Steelr4evr]

Lemieux is at center, Jagr at right wing. At this point it's do you put a center at wing or do you go with a pure winger. Stevens would get consideration, otherwise, the obvious choice is Crosby. But then you have guys like Francis, Recchi, Malkin, Kovalev, Mullen, etc. to fill out the lineup. Defense is pretty easy with Murphy and Coffey as the top pairing. Behind them you have Samuelsson, Letang, Gonchar, Kasparaitis and others. Barrasso is in goal with Fleury as the backup.

I like this lineup.

 

[Coach]

Which era of the Oilers and Islanders? Hockey was different back in the 80's to now. Players are more in tune with their off season/in season conditioning. Wayne Gretzky couldn't bench 145lbs in his day and I remember him saying in an interview how he was ranked dead last in all off ice conditioning drills. Players now are so much smarter and better at the game. So if your asking would the Pens beat a so and so historic team. Then 7 out 10 times I'd say yes

All aside. A lot of young generational type players are coming out. Conor McDavid, Johnny Gaudreau, Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, Nathon McKinnon. At a young age they are transitioning into the NHL ranks because of the advancement in training off ice. So I'd take any team today against any historic team

Gretzky wasn't a good skater either. He was just great at scoring, passing, and had a hockey IQ off the charts. Who cares if he can't bench 145 pounds.

The NFL has a combine too, and none of the kids is particularly strong. Hockey is a skill game.

I'm not sure if I agree that modern players are better than past players by the margin you are suggesting. To level the playing field, you have to assume the players from decades ago get the same nutrition, training, legal drugs, ect...

 

[MTC]

Gretzky wasn't a good skater either. He was just great at scoring, passing, and had a hockey IQ off the charts. Who cares if he can't bench 145 pounds.

The NFL has a combine too, and none of the kids is particularly strong. Hockey is a skill game.

I'm not sure if I agree that modern players are better than past players by the margin you are suggesting. To level the playing field, you have to assume the players from decades ago get the same nutrition, training, legal drugs, ect...

The supplementation/nutrition now is a lot better than years past. Beer has always been a part of hockey culture, even during games lol. My opinion, I just think the NHL is more improved today. Not discrediting guys like Gretzky or Lemieux. I'd think if they took their fitness a bit more serious, who knows what type of "godly" level they would've achieved. In Lemieux's defense he did battle hodgkins lymphoma in his career and had back problems and was still able to skate past defenders. So I do agree with your stance that hockey requires a lot more skill than pure athleticism. But I think the off ice athletism in today's NHLers translates onto the ice better

 

[Stryker]

Center - Crosby
LW - Lemeiux
RW - Jagr
LD - Coffee
RD - Malkin

G Murray, I know I'm in the minority here, but I play goalie, and this kid is the best I've ever seen for the Pens. He's young, but he shuts the door low better than any goalie we've had. He also makes very few mental errors. Much less than Fluery ever has, and he's still technically a rookie. It's early. and it may seem over-reaching now, but in 10 years, this call will be a no brainer.

 

[Confluence]

Gretzky wasn't a good skater either. He was just great at scoring, passing, and had a hockey IQ off the charts. Who cares if he can't bench 145 pounds.

The NFL has a combine too, and none of the kids is particularly strong. Hockey is a skill game.

I'm not sure if I agree that modern players are better than past players by the margin you are suggesting. To level the playing field, you have to assume the players from decades ago get the same nutrition, training, legal drugs, ect...

Shut the **** up.

 

[Confluence]

Here is some video of Gretzky's poor skating



(Pens fans note where Gretzky was on the greatest goal of Lemieux's career)

 

[Coach]

The supplementation/nutrition now is a lot better than years past. Beer has always been a part of hockey culture, even during games lol. My opinion, I just think the NHL is more improved today. Not discrediting guys like Gretzky or Lemieux. I'd think if they took their fitness a bit more serious, who knows what type of "godly" level they would've achieved. In Lemieux's defense he did battle hodgkins lymphoma in his career and had back problems and was still able to skate past defenders. So I do agree with your stance that hockey requires a lot more skill than pure athleticism. But I think the off ice athletism in today's NHLers translates onto the ice better

I'll match my NY Islanders team, who won four Stanley cups in a row vs the Penguins all-time team as long as they get the same supplementation/nutrition. I'm far from a hockey expert but growing up in Long Island, this is the team I followed.

Center Bryan Trottier - Great passer, checker, and scorer. Best face off man I ever saw.

Wing - Mike Bossy - Among the best pure goal scorers ever. WIcked wrist shot.

Wing - Clark Gillies. Big and strong, a force on defense too. Oh, and if needed he could fight.

Defense - Denis Potvin. A prototype for future NHL defensemen. High on the + vs -, a good mark for any defensemen.

Defense - Ken Morrow. Has Olympic gold hardware, dependable type.

Goal - Billy Smith. Brilliant in the playoffs, old school nasty with his stick.

 

[MTC]

Ya know Trottier was a Pen as well right? If anything, maybe do a payoff . Lol. Just kidding. The islanders have had their share of historic players as well. I just feel under any circumstance today's players have better routines, etc. Now if even the playing field and both teams get equal training/treatment etc. Then I expect whichever goalie can make the most stops

 

[Stryker]

Those Islanders teams were fantastic. Not only do you have to take into account, nutrition and training, but it comes down to the rules as well. If you're playing the aggressive, heavy hitting, clutch and grab style of the late 70s, early 80s, Islanders would win hands down.

If you're playing the wide open, no interference, no red line/2line pass rules. The Islanders wouldn't be able to keep up with the speed and puck handling talent on the Pens all time roster.

 

[hook]

And not one of you guys mentioned Gary Rissling. WTF?

 

[Coach]

Those Islanders teams were fantastic. Not only do you have to take into account, nutrition and training, but it comes down to the rules as well. If you're playing the aggressive, heavy hitting, clutch and grab style of the late 70s, early 80s, Islanders would win hands down.

If you're playing the wide open, no interference, no red line/2line pass rules. The Islanders wouldn't be able to keep up with the speed and puck handling talent on the Pens all time roster.

And back in the day goaltenders didn't wear XXXL pads and equipment.

Some Islanders had speed. Bobby Bourne ( Spelling ) used to get short handed goals, by racing past over aggressive teams on power plays.

As MTC said, you can't compare era, unless your giving the islanders the same nutrition/training, but skill wise you'd be hard-pressed to find a better starting 6.

 

[Stryker]

And back in the day goaltenders didn't wear XXXL pads and equipment.

Some Islanders had speed. Bobby Bourne ( Spelling ) used to get short handed goals, by racing past over aggressive teams on power plays.

As MTC said, you can't compare era, unless your giving the islanders the same nutrition/training, but skill wise you'd be hard-pressed to find a better starting 6.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Steeler Nation mobile app

 

[Stryker]

And back in the day goaltenders didn't wear XXXL pads and equipment.

Some Islanders had speed. Bobby Bourne ( Spelling ) used to get short handed goals, by racing past over aggressive teams on power plays.

As MTC said, you can't compare era, unless your giving the islanders the same nutrition/training, but skill wise you'd be hard-pressed to find a better starting 6.

Goaltenders were also playing different styles back then. During the Islanders run goaltenders were still playing stand up. Nowadays goalies wouldn't be in the league if they played stand up. The butterfly and hybrid styles are much more effective in stopping quicker faster more skilled players.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Steeler Nation mobile app

 

[MTC]

Goaltenders were also playing different styles back then. During the Islanders run goaltenders were still playing stand up. Nowadays goalies wouldn't be in the league if they played stand up. The butterfly and hybrid styles are much more effective in stopping quicker faster more skilled players.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Steeler Nation mobile app

Take into account the difference in the width of the net as well. The NHL goals are smaller and goalies take up a lot more net presence. Scorers now need that touch to get past a goalie. Don't get me wrong, goaies back then moved around quite a bit. Smaller pads and larger net made that position fun to watch. There are a lot of variables to factor in. Today's goalies have an advantage. As far as wingers, centermem and D men, give both teams equal training, treatment, nutrition. It will be just like now. Fun and fast

 

[madinsomniac]

I made a whole team...:

So first off, I'm excluding anyone I didn't see play... that cuts out anyone pre Mario.
Secondly I'm not counting guys like hossa or Iginla who were rentals at the deadline...
I'm also excluding Markus Nasland because his trade pains me
Thirdly I added a spare player at every position, so its actually 25 players, or more than a whole active roster, cause someone would be hurt lol

At Center Id take, in order
Mario Lemieux, Greatest Pen Ever. if you take all the lockouts and injury time missed and multiply those games by his points per game in that season or the season before and after it, he finishes with more points than gretzky... he was one of the top 3 players ever.
Sidney Crosby, Whose overall natural talent level is not quite Marios and probably even lower than malkins, but whose day to day drive is twice any of these guys
Evgeni Malkin, who is chronically underrated, but has been the top player in the NHL some years.
Ron Francis who is the penultimate two way center in Pens history, also the #5 all time scorer in NHL history
The spare would be Brian Trottier. Think about that... Trottier is the guy who sits on this team.... #16 all time in scoring... bench...
All of these are HOF players... none of these would be out of place in any era


At RW they are equally loaded
Start with the greatest RW in Pens history... Jaromir Jagr. #2 scorer all time
Behind him you have
Mark Recchi- #12 all time in scoring
Phil Kessel has to be in there... One of the top wingers of this era...
Rick Tocchet For both scoring and grit

Joey Mullen... Hof American badass on the bench
(Honerable mention Alexi Kovalev... had the talent to be a generational player... never lived up to that potential so I had to leave him off)

At LW
Keven Stevens... the best power forward in pens history.
Lucky Luc Robatille, 21st in scoring
After that its gets sparcer
James Neal, who can play either wing
Martin Straka, who could play all three positions at forward and was maybe the best speedy two way winger in pens history (though Hagelin is also in consideration for that role)

The Bench would see either prime Chris Kunitz or Prime Pascal Dupuis... both added grit with the ability to play with talented guys...


On D we start with Larry Murphy... the best and most underrated defenseman in pens history...
Paul Coffee... who most would have as #1, but he was a pure scorer
Sergei Gonchar- who was again a pure scorer
Sergei Zubov (over Kevin Hatcher every day)
Kris Letang- Who is underrated on the defensive side and overrated on the offensive side
Then lets add a defensive and physical guy:
Ulf Samuelson

on the bench lets go with
Brooks Orpik, who was underrated as a skating defensive defenseman because he sometimes gave up position for the huge hit
Phil Borque, who was solid and underrated. There are more glamorous options, but I think he'd fit what we need with all those super scorers


In Goal lets start with The ******* Barasso
Then lets put in MAF, who is great till he aint

the kicker here is I think Murray may be better than both of them...

 

[Confluence]

Take into account the difference in the width of the net as well. The NHL goals are smaller and goalies take up a lot more net presence. Scorers now need that touch to get past a goalie. Don't get me wrong, goaies back then moved around quite a bit. Smaller pads and larger net made that position fun to watch. There are a lot of variables to factor in. Today's goalies have an advantage. As far as wingers, centermem and D men, give both teams equal training, treatment, nutrition. It will be just like now. Fun and fast

When did the net in hockey change size?

Didn't happen


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[MTC]

When did the net in hockey change size?

Didn't happen


Sent from my iPhone using Steeler Nation mobile app

I should've of worded that better. When I said that. But the smaller goalie equipment gave the shooters more room to shoot the puck. Goalies now take up more net with bigger equipment. The point I was trying to get across is the players had more net to shoot at. If that makes sense