cassius
Registered User
- Jul 23, 2004
- 13,560
- 706
Look - I understand the Penguins are in the midst of a slump, but shouldn't we all just kinda chill out?
I am resigned to the fact that there will be a significant drop-off due to the factors below.
Bottom line: Penguins aren't playing with a full deck. It's not realistic to expect them to win every game when they are missing key players due to injuries.
If they continue to play like this when their full roster is healthy, then I'll get worried. Until then, I think it's logical to expect a drop-off when so many players are out with injuries.
I am resigned to the fact that there will be a significant drop-off due to the factors below.
- Missing #1 D-Man - Let's face it, Schultz is really the key player on the back end that drives this whole team. He logs big minutes, he is an offensive catalyst, and he is the best PP QB on the team. Without him, this team is in a big hole. Without his stellar play last year, I don't think the Penguins win the Stanley cup.
- Missing #1 Goalie - I don't know if we have begun to take his play for granted, but Murray is a true phenom in every sense of the word and this team becomes significantly worse without him. Murray kept the Pens in so many games that they had no business being in - that's just a fact.
How can you expect to win games when your #1 goalie is out of the lineup for an extended period of time?
- Letang's Underperformance - I gotta call a spade a spade here - Letang has just flat out underperformed relative to how much he gets paid. He is still finding his game and is doing alright on the offensive side of the puck, but not so much on the defensive side.
- Other Injuries - Malkin, Hornqvist, Cole - core players have missed extended time and have been banged up.
Bottom line: Penguins aren't playing with a full deck. It's not realistic to expect them to win every game when they are missing key players due to injuries.
If they continue to play like this when their full roster is healthy, then I'll get worried. Until then, I think it's logical to expect a drop-off when so many players are out with injuries.