Dejan Nails It (AKA You're Not Alone TenderRip)

[mpp9]

Dupuis is back to last season's form. He can't handle passes, let alone make them to his center. Zero physicality on the forecheck. He's basically just there. Occasionally will make a decent defensive play.

I'd be exploring his value around the league.

 

[KIRK]

Dupuis is back to last season's form. He can't handle passes, let alone make them to his center. Zero physicality on the forecheck. He's basically just there. Occasionally will make a decent defensive play.

I'd be exploring his value around the league.

I wouldn't be averse to moving him in one of these deals instead of moving him to the third line. I mean, I can't say that a bottom six of Downie-Sutter-Bennett and Spaling-Goc-Comeau (or maybe flip Spaling and Downie) wouldn't be a really nice mix. Plus, you remove the temptation among what now is the third coaching staff to confuse him for a top six player.

Either way, him with Malkin right now might be worse than I've seen him dragging down Crosby. Note: I said MIGHT, because I've seen him do quite a number a few times before to drag down Sid.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

That's not unfair. Not sure I would, but that's me . . .

On the thread in general, I've got to give you props. I figured, like Dejan alluded, that the PP scoring would mask the ES issues for a little longer, but you were sounding the alarm bells about the URGENCY of the matter from day one.

It's degenerated pretty quickly, and it's apparent that the staff has no clue what to do about it. When Malkin scores a goal with Goc and Comeau or makes something happen with Sill and then the next shift it's right back out with Dupuis, it's pretty clear JR needs to do something ASAP.

Thing tonight that was the breaking point wasn't even seeing Sill do stuff that Dupuis can't or the frustration of seeing Goc-Malkin-Comeau produce a Malkin goal and then never seeing that line again. It's seeing Malkin score and him being about as dispassionate about it I can recall him about scoring a goal. That's trouble, big trouble.

He just looks listless. Gotta be discouraging knowing that every time it's time for your shift you're just out for a skate with two guys who don't know how to play with you at all.

I don't know why Johnston's been insisting on this line for so long (Kunitz can't be moved from Sid's wing even though he's a passenger there? Dupuis must be in the top 6? He likes the 3rd line and Comeau's too good for the 4th?), but it's a certified failure. However we re-shuffle this deck, it has to be re-shuffled.

He can't keep making the 2nd line - with his 9.5 mil per superstar - his very last priority.

 

[Tender Rip]

Well, KIRK, just wanted to say that I of course got the reference .

Clearly, most everyone here knows the need for top6 updates, and it would be ridiculous to try and take credit for something so altogether obvious. I think a few of us have been somewhat ahead of the curve in terms of talking about who fits with who, and particularly who do NOT.

Even if Dejan is no longer writing at the Trib and thus isn't in the same kind of circulation, it would be nice if that comment about Dupuis not meshing could get some play in the Pittsburgh hockey media.
Because it is about ****ing time that someone connected the dots there and added a bit of pressure on the org.

 

[Sypher04]

Beau coming back should make a difference, but I don't think anyone should be looking to break up KCH. That line has been the best in the league by a good margin so far this year.

Im not adverse to getting another guy who can play with Malkin and Beau, but really... it's a matter of what you can reasonably afford to give up to acquire and pay the new player.

Kunitz - Crosby - Hornqvist
Bennett - Malkin - ?????


I've always liked Sutter with Dupuis. Although Dupuis is waay overpaid to be a third liner.

 

[Fordy]

we are now counting on dupuis to REBOUND when moved to the bottom six. if there's a deal out there for him it has to be done. he was the worst player on the ice last night, bar none, not even sill or adams were worse

 

[#66]

Beau coming back should make a difference, but I don't think anyone should be looking to break up KCH. That line has been the best in the league by a good margin so far this year.

Im not adverse to getting another guy who can play with Malkin and Beau, but really... it's a matter of what you can reasonably afford to give up to acquire and pay the new player.

Kunitz - Crosby - Hornqvist
Bennett - Malkin - ?????


I've always liked Sutter with Dupuis. Although Dupuis is waay overpaid to be a third liner.

It depends. Maybe Comeau works when Bennett adds some skill and puck carrying to that line. Comeau's a third wheel and so is Dupes. To have both kind of hurts Malkins game but one or the other might work. I actually think Comeau has that little bit of poise that Dupes doesn't so he's a better fit.

In order for 2 third wheels to work with Malkin, they would need to have some poise and playmaking ability. IMO a guy like Zubrus would be perfect.

I would love to see rover Malkin come back. Do some defensive work, headman plays, follow up late and have plays dropped to him. Russian trained Malkin was such a pure and effective player.

 

[Malkin112*]

we are now counting on dupuis to REBOUND when moved to the bottom six. if there's a deal out there for him it has to be done. he was the worst player on the ice last night, bar none, not even sill or adams were worse

I think they need to be very careful with Dupuis. his 5on5 production will drop very fast in the future. Kunitz's contract is little bit safer, because he's almost PP specialist at this point.

 

[Shrimper]

Bennett with another assist so far tonight.

 

[JTG]

Everyone knows Geno needs linemates, but it's not an issue that can be fixed right now. Kunitz-Crosby-Hornqvist is a bonafide playoff line, and shouldn't be split up, so that sort of leaves Geno with nothing else to work with until Beau gets back. I'd love to see Megna brought back up to play with Geno. Those two were feeling it together last year.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Everyone knows Geno needs linemates, but it's not an issue that can be fixed right now. Kunitz-Crosby-Hornqvist is a bonafide playoff line, and shouldn't be split up, so that sort of leaves Geno with nothing else to work with until Beau gets back. I'd love to see Megna brought back up to play with Geno. Those two were feeling it together last year.

Kunitz - Crosby - Horny
Megna - Malkin - Bennett

 

[cygnus47]

Bennett with another assist so far tonight.

Or 4

 

[mpp9]

Megna has a long ways to go before hes a top 6 forward in the NHL.

 

[Michael8771*]

Megna has a long ways to go before hes a top 6 forward in the NHL.

True, but the same could be said for guys like Comeau and Dupuis. I know what you're saying but it's worth a shot. He does go to the net and has very good speed.

 

[wej20]

Megna has a long ways to go before hes a top 6 forward in the NHL.

He has some way to go to prove he's an NHL forward never mind a top 6 one. I'd like to give him a shot on the 4th line though.

 

[WayneSid9987]

I actually believe there is enough on the roster, pre-trade, to help out Geno a bit. We all know Bennett should eventually be on Geno's wing. What i would do is plant him on Geno's LW cuz Comeau and Downie can fill in on the RW until a trade is made for either Geno's left or right wing and Bennett just plays the other wing. This is, of course, going on the premise that only 1 top 6 option is brought in.

With the 3rd line playing well, i see why they haven't been willing to bump Downie up but they really should've tried it with Duper playing so poorly.

With Bennett/Downie:

K-C-H
Bennett-Geno-Comeau/Downie
Dupuis/Spaling-Sutter-Downie/Comeau
Spaling/Dupuis-Goc-Adams

With Bennett/No Downie:

K-C-H
Bennett-Geno-Comeau
Spaling-Sutter-Dupuis
Sill-Goc-Adams

^they probably start out with Bennett filling in for Downie on the 3rd though but this should be the end result if Downie is out for any length of time.

 

[Ogrezilla]

Bennett really needs to be RW. His biggest strength is playmaking and carrying the puck. Don't make him do it on his backhand.

 

[WayneSid9987]

Bennett really needs to be RW. His biggest strength is playmaking and carrying the puck. Don't make him do it on his backhand.

I dunno. He looks pretty good on the left side of the rink in these highlights. I dunno if they are PP's are not though.

Just let Comeau/Downie play LW then. Don't Maata to me.

It's pretty clear with the roster as is, Bennett, Comeau, Downie are all guys who can give something in the top 6/with Geno. Really anything to get Dupuis down the depth chart.

 

[Night Shift]

Dupuis is back to last season's form. He can't handle passes, let alone make them to his center. Zero physicality on the forecheck. He's basically just there. Occasionally will make a decent defensive play.

I'd be exploring his value around the league.

how many more years left on his deal? 3?

 

[Ogrezilla]

I dunno. He looks pretty good on the left side of the rink in these highlights. I dunno if they are PP's are not though.

Just let Comeau/Downie play LW then. Don't Maata to me.

It's pretty clear with the roster as is, Bennett, Comeau, Downie are all guys who can give something in the top 6/with Geno. Really anything to get Dupuis down the depth chart.

Comeau and Downie have no business in the top 6. They aren't better than Dupuis. They are better fits with Geno so they make better stopgaps, but they are not good options there.

 

[WayneSid9987]

Comeau and Downie have no business in the top 6. They aren't better than Dupuis. They are better fits with Geno so they make better stopgaps, but they are not good options there.

Better fits, stop gaps, options. Whatever word you wanna use is fine with me.

 

[Shady Machine]

Comeau and Downie have no business in the top 6. They aren't better than Dupuis. They are better fits with Geno so they make better stopgaps, but they are not good options there.

I'll take Comeau if the other winger is really good. Bennett isn't good enough to make Comeau work there long term.

 

[Ogrezilla]

I'll take Comeau if the other winger is really good. Bennett isn't good enough to make Comeau work there long term.

I mean, if the other winger is Evander Kane then it would still be a good line. But I'd still be looking to add another winger if Comeau was on our 2nd line even if it was with Evander Kane.

 

[wgknestrick]

That's not unfair. Not sure I would, but that's me . . .

On the thread in general, I've got to give you props. I figured, like Dejan alluded, that the PP scoring would mask the ES issues for a little longer, but you were sounding the alarm bells about the URGENCY of the matter from day one.

It's degenerated pretty quickly, and it's apparent that the staff has no clue what to do about it. When Malkin scores a goal with Goc and Comeau or makes something happen with Sill and then the next shift it's right back out with Dupuis, it's pretty clear JR needs to do something ASAP.

Thing tonight that was the breaking point wasn't even seeing Sill do stuff that Dupuis can't or the frustration of seeing Goc-Malkin-Comeau produce a Malkin goal and then never seeing that line again. It's seeing Malkin score and him being about as dispassionate about it I can recall him about scoring a goal. That's trouble, big trouble.

We are anything but a bad team at ES. Data is skewed due to playing BUF 2x, but still hard to say we have problems at ES.

http://stats.hockeyanalysis.com/teamstats.php?db=201415&sit=5v5&disp=1&sortdir=DESC&sort=GFPCT

Duppers hasn't been that bad either. Lots of worry warts here. How much better do we expect them to be? Duppers has still been putting up points at a top 6 level.

Goaltending seems to be fixed
Defense seems to be fixed
PP is dominant
PK is dominant
Young players are all playing best hockey of their careers

We have Letang and the 4th line that need some attention. Letang needs coaching, while 4th line needs roster changes. Sill should be sent down and WBS "talent" should be filling in. BB will return, knocking Spalling to the 4th line, (and hopefully Adams to press box)

 

[Boocock]

We are anything but a bad team at ES. Data is skewed due to playing BUF 2x, but still hard to say we have problems at ES.

http://stats.hockeyanalysis.com/teamstats.php?db=201415&sit=5v5&disp=1&sortdir=DESC&sort=GFPCT

Duppers hasn't been that bad either. Lots of worry warts here. How much better do we expect them to be? Duppers has still been putting up points at a top 6 level.

Goaltending seems to be fixed
Defense seems to be fixed
PP is dominant
PK is dominant
Young players are all playing best hockey of their careers

We have Letang and the 4th line that need some attention. Letang needs coaching, while 4th line needs roster changes. Sill should be sent down and WBS "talent" should be filling in. BB will return, knocking Spalling to the 4th line, (and hopefully Adams to press box)

You've certainly identified plenty of strong areas which will be conducive to future success for this hockey squad. Moreover, you are right to identify that Pascal Dupuis has played well at even strength (although almost three of his ES points came in a single game). That's why Pascal Dupuis will look great playing on a line with Brandon Sutter once Beau Bennett returns to the lineup.

However, the Malkin line simply needs to be revamped. Are we a good ES team? Yes. Can we be better? Yes. Is the Malkin line a wreck? YES!