Line Combos: Build The Best 23-Man Roster in the Crosby/Malkin Era

[BobCole]

After the Pens locked up Geno & Letang, I looked back at every player who's donned a Pens sweater in the Crosby/Malkin era and decided to build the best 23-man roster I could from that list.

In my framework, each player is assumed to play the best he ever did in a Pens sweater. I also tried to play each player in his natural position.

Guentzel - Crosby - Rust
Kunitz - Malkin - Neal
Hagelin - Staal - Kessel
Malone - Bonino - Hornqvist
Guerin, Dupuis

Dumoulin - Letang
Gonchar - Maatta
Orpik - Schultz
Scuderi

Fleury
Murray

EDIT: I only looked at players who played 82+ games in a Pens sweater, hence the omission of Hossa (+ I'm sure some others).

Click to read more...

 

[Borgir]

lol....

 

[SEALBound]

Hossa and Iginla are bums anyway.

 

[Goalie_Bob]

You forgot Hossa........

And Malone would definitely be above Hagelin.

This just after a cursory glance.

 

[Beau Knows]

Hossa wasn't here for long, but I'd swap him in for Rust on line 1.

lol....

Good point

 

[BobCole]

Ah, yes, I should clarify that I only looked at players who played at least 82 games here, hence the omission of Hossa.

Iggy wasn't on my list for the same reason, but even with that said, I don't know if his best games in a Pen sweater would dislodge any of the above from the list. He came here as an old man, was played on his offwing, and didn't make much of an impact.

 

[Borgir]

Hossa wasn't here for long, but I'd swap him in for Rust on line 1.



Good point

But, but, OP's framework! Scuderi! Where is Adams?

 

[BobCole]

You forgot Hossa........

And Malone would definitely be above Hagelin.

This just after a cursory glance.

I addressed Hossa above.

I think a 4th line of Malone - Bonino - Horny would be awesome.

But, but, OP's framework! Scuderi! Where is Adams?

I actually think "prime" Scuderi makes the cut as a 7th/8th defensive dman...

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Definitely forgot someone but

Hossa-Crosby-Iglina
Kunitz-Malkin-Neal
Guentzel-Staal-Kessel
Cooke-Cullen-Rust
Talbot

Dumoulin-Letang
Gonchar-Niskanen
Martin-Schultz
Orpik

Fleury
Murray

 

[BobCole]

Definitely forgot someone but

Iglina-Crosby-Hossa
Kunitz-Malkin-Neal
Guentzel-Staal-Kessel
Cooke-Cullen-Rust
Talbot

Dumoulin-Letang
Gonchar-Niskanen
Martin-Schultz
Orpik

Fleury
Murray

Good roster. I couldn't in good conscience have Cooke near our roster, though. I know he cleaned up his act a bit under us, but I still don't like the guy + I thought there were better options available, but that's nitpicking.

I struggled with Nisky but ultimately omitted him. Martin is a good add.

 

[Zirakzigil]

Definitely forgot someone but

Hossa-Crosby-Iglina
Kunitz-Malkin-Neal
Guentzel-Staal-Kessel
Cooke-Cullen-Rust
Talbot

Dumoulin-Letang
Gonchar-Niskanen
Martin-Schultz
Orpik

Fleury
Murray

Like it. Needs more Asham on the 4th line. Also I would not have Schultz there, Daley hands down.

 

[SomeDude]

Tanner Glass-Craig Adams-Janne Pesonen
ZAR-Jeff Taffe-Dominik Simon
Jani Rita-Mike Comrie-Luca Caputi
Sam Lafferty-Zach Boychuk-Eric Tangradi
Chris Conner, Chris Bourque

Joel Kwiatkowski-Corey Cross
Micki Dupont-Derrick Pouliot
Carl Sneep-Joe Morrow
Joe Melichar

Danny Sabourin
John Curry

Co-coached by Mike Johnston and Edzo

 

[orby]

Tanner Glass-Craig Adams-Janne Pesonen
ZAR-Jeff Taffe-Dominik Simon
Jani Rita-Mike Comrie-Luca Caputi
Sam Lafferty-Zach Boychuk-Eric Tangradi
Chris Conner, Chris Bourque

Joel Kwiatkowski-Corey Cross
Micki Dupont-Derrick Pouliot
Carl Sneep-Joe Morrow
Joe Melichar

Danny Sabourin
John Curry

Co-coached by Mike Johnston and Edzo

Egreguious snub of Pens legend Sergei Plotnikov.

 

[SomeDude]

Egreguious snub of Pens legend Sergei Plotnikov.

Tried to make a it a little realistic with the cap and all.

 

[JRS91]

Guentzel - Crosby - Hossa
Kunitz - Malkin - Neal
Hagelin - Staal - Kessel
Malone - Cullen - Hornqvist

Dumoulin - Letang
Orpik - Gonchar
Daley - Niskanen

Fleury
Murray

 

[theicebox]

 

[StaalForOne]

P

Tanner Glass-Craig Adams-Janne Pesonen
ZAR-Jeff Taffe-Dominik Simon
Jani Rita-Mike Comrie-Luca Caputi
Sam Lafferty-Zach Boychuk-Eric Tangradi
Chris Conner, Chris Bourque

Joel Kwiatkowski-Corey Cross
Micki Dupont-Derrick Pouliot
Carl Sneep-Joe Morrow
Joe Melichar

Danny Sabourin
John Curry

Co-coached by Mike Johnston and Edzo

Put some respect on Mark Arcobello's name