Pre-Game Talk: #58 | Rangers @ Pens | 7:00pm

[Shrimper]

Pittsburgh Penguins ‏@penguins 4m View translation
Lines looking this at today's morning skate: Kunitz-Crosby-Gibbons, Jokinen-Malkin-Neal, Glass-Sutter-Megna, Zolnierczyk-Adams-Engelland

No Kobasew again thank god. Either injured, terrible (Hey-ho!) or hopefully being waived.

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[Randy Butternubs]

No Machacek. Big time fail.

 

[Allie Kitsune]

No Machacek. Big time fail.

Of course, had we played him, and then he hadn't scored, we'd be inundated with a bunch of "Cal O'Reilly all over again!" posts.

 

[Shockmaster]

Of course, had we played him, and then he hadn't scored, we'd be inundated with a bunch of "Cal O'Reilly all over again!" posts.

Or he'd be benched so Craig Adams could be double-shifted.

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

I really hope he doesn't change the lines and keeps it like this. You better not dress Kobasew for a kid DB

 

[IcedCapp]

The Letang news really puts a damper on this for me. Wonder if it will affect the team.

 

[BumFortyOne]

Really scary stuff for Letang. Hope he makes a full recovery and is able to come back at some point.

But now, from the team's perspective they should probably plan on him not being able to come back this season. Probably time to balance out the defense pairings.

Orpik-Martin
Scuderi-Niskanen
Maatta-Bortuzzo

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

The Letang news really puts a damper on this for me. Wonder if it will affect the team.

I don't know if it affects the team or not, but I have to believe most of the guys knew what was going on since he was on the trip. Maybe they found out in Phoenix and that's why they weren't really up for it?

Not sure but I hope Kris get's better, that's all that matters right now. ****in scary

 

[alcanalz]

Really scary stuff for Letang. Hope he makes a full recovery and is able to come back at some point.

But now, from the team's perspective they should probably plan on him not being able to come back this season. Probably time to balance out the defense pairings.

Orpik-Martin
Scuderi-Niskanen
Maatta-Bortuzzo

Those were the lines I was thinking too.

 

[IcedCapp]

I don't know if it affects the team or not, but I have to believe most of the guys knew what was going on since he was on the trip. Maybe they found out in Phoenix and that's why they weren't really up for it?

Not sure but I hope Kris get's better, that's all that matters right now. ****in scary

This appears to be exactly what happened. Bylsma just said they knew in Phoenix.

 

[cheesedanish87]

Really scary stuff for Letang. Hope he makes a full recovery and is able to come back at some point.

But now, from the team's perspective they should probably plan on him not being able to come back this season. Probably time to balance out the defense pairings.

Orpik-Martin
Scuderi-Niskanen
Maatta-Bortuzzo

No reason to change anything tonight, wait til after the break and see what's going on with Letang at that point.

 

[Shockmaster]

Really scary stuff for Letang. Hope he makes a full recovery and is able to come back at some point.

But now, from the team's perspective they should probably plan on him not being able to come back this season. Probably time to balance out the defense pairings.

Orpik-Martin
Scuderi-Niskanen
Maatta-Bortuzzo

Those are the pairs they started the season with. Being that it's the last game before the Olympic break, the d-pairs for tonight really don't matter, but long-term this is what the Penguins should do.

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

This appears to be exactly what happened. Bylsma just said they knew in Phoenix.

Makes sense I guess. Must of been a shocker to the guys in the room when they found out

 

[mpp9]

Showcase Bort. Then call up Despres.

 

[cheesedanish87]

Showcase Bort. Then call up Despres.

I can't see Shero trading any NHL def with Letang being out.

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

I can't see Shero trading any NHL def with Letang being out.

I have to agree here. We can forget about moving Orpik or Niskanen. And in that case we might not even have cap room to acquire a forward. Anyways right now I just want #58 to get better

 

[66-30-33]

Vokoun blood clot
Letang minor stroke
Pens lead big time in man games lost
Pens 1st in conference

You can make a book about this seasons team and yet despite the odds just kept on winning no matter what happens to them.

 

[cheesedanish87]

Vokoun blood clot
Letang minor stroke
Pens lead big time in man games lost
Pens 1st in conference

You can make a book about this seasons team and yet despite the odds just kept on winning no matter what happens to them.

https://twitter.com/CraigJButton/status/431838280561078275


Much admiration for Bill Belichick keeping Patriots performing despite losing top players. High time to admire @penguins Dan Byslma for same

 

[mpp9]

I can't see Shero trading any NHL def with Letang being out.

If Letang is out longterm, then Despres needs to be in the lineup. Pair him with Scuds. Move Bort+pick for a forward. And then hope Bennett can come back strong.

 

[Griffin6612]

If Letang is out longterm, then Despres needs to be in the lineup. Pair him with Scuds. Move Bort+pick for a forward. And then hope Bennett can come back strong.

I agree he needs to be in the lineup, but with the uncertainty of Letangs health, injuries, and lots of FA on our D this year, we really need to keep the ones who can play around.

 

[mpp9]

Bort in no way replaces what Letang brings. And we have several D below him in the depth chart who can play in the NHL if injuries occur.

I don't follow the logic that a Letang injury makes Robert Bortuzzo untouchable.

 

[cheesedanish87]

If Letang is out longterm, then Despres needs to be in the lineup. Pair him with Scuds. Move Bort+pick for a forward. And then hope Bennett can come back strong.

I think there is a better chance of the pens adding a def if Letang is out long term then trading one of there NHL def.

Shero is going to want to have 8 or 9 def going into the playoffs.


If Letang is out for the rest of the regular season it does give the pens some cap space.

 

[alcanalz]

Bort in no way replaces what Letang brings. And we have several D below him in the depth chart who can play in the NHL if injuries occur.

I don't follow the logic that a Letang injury makes Robert Bortuzzo untouchable.

What's the logic in trading Bort? He likely has little value around the league, he's cheap, and he's on our bottom-pair. What's the incentive to trade him all of a sudden?

Letang being out doesn't make Bort untouchable, it just adds to the list of reasons not to trade him.

 

[Speaking Moistly]

Zero interest in this game, tbh. But, hey, no Kobasew. That's always nice to hear.

 

[Dying Alive]

This appears to be exactly what happened. Bylsma just said they knew in Phoenix.

Might go a long way toward explaining why they played like crap in that game.