GDT: Game #4 Pens vs Sabres: "Gee, I wish we had one of them powerplay machines."

[Kristopher Letang]

I missed them so much!

That is all.

 

[PensandCaps]

Vanilla 4th liners and 13th forwards don't typically have multiple seasons with 10+ goals, including 12 last year between the Sharks and Avalanche.

Meh, 24 points last year. Vanilla.

17 points the year before, He's a 13th F that you scratch here and there, or even waive.

 

[Darren McCord]

At that point, I think having Poulin as a 4C is wasting him.

Maybe Eller regresses to the point where you don't even need to worry about it, it's entirely possible that Eller ends up just being a good 4C and Poulin takes over the 3C spot. But if Eller is actually still as good as he was in his old Washington days, I think moving Poulin to RW would help him make the NHL sooner.

It's also kinda funny to me that if you have an O'Connor-Eller-Poulin line, it's actually a line of 3 centers.

No no you got that wrong.

DOC - Poulin - Accari would be my line 3.
Zoho - Eller - Carter/Nieto would be line 4

 

[PensandCaps]

We got rid of the only physical guy we had and you didn't like him anyway. This is no different than any other year. Not much bite at all to this team.

Yah, i would love Rutta here instead of a Ruhwedel.

Actually cleared the net.

 

[Zirakzigil]

I know it's just the preseason, but I'm really concerned about the physicality element in our top six and top four D.

What physicality?

 

[Empoleon8771]

No no you got that wrong.

DOC - Poulin - Accari would be my line 3.
Zoho - Eller - Carter/Nieto would be line 4

Oh yeah, in this case I can understand that. While he was great today, Eller has declined so it wouldn't surprise me at all to see him be just a 4th liner going forward.

I'd probably try to keep Eller and Acciari together on L4 though, that reminds me of the old Cullen-Fehr duo from the past. But that thought is well premature at this point.

 

[Gurglesons]

We got rid of the only physical guy we had and you didn't like him anyway. This is no different than any other year. Not much bite at all to this team.

Archibald? Lol

 

[Empoleon8771]

On the defense, I think Ruhwedel was his normal solid self but I would really like to get someone better than him to play on the 3rd pair. Even though he's generally a no-event player, you have to limit the usage of the 3rd pair as long as he's on it and I think POJ is too good for that.

Shea looked like an AHLer to me. I didn't think he was particularly good while playing with Smith on Tuesday and I don't think he was particularly good today while playing with Ruhwedel. I'm really hoping Dubas can somehow snag someone like Bogosian from the waiver wire and push Ruhwedel to a #7 spot.

 

[PensandCaps]

What about Johnsson in these lineups?

Keep forgetting about him, even though he is the one with the best track record...by far.

 

[Empoleon8771]

What about Johnsson in these lineups?

Keep forgetting about him, even though he is the one with the best track record...by far.

Johnsson was Pitlick level bad when I've watched him. He does have the track record but his performance so far makes me want him in WBS.

 

[Ryder71]

Leturnover just keeps turning it over, same as it ever was.

Nice night for line 3.

 

[Gurglesons]

What physicality?

I think they gotta give Poulin a spin. He won’t work in the top six, but he adds a lot of what this squad needs.

 

[PensandCaps]

On the defense, I think Ruhwedel was his normal solid self but I would really like to get someone better than him to play on the 3rd pair. Even though he's generally a no-event player, you have to limit the usage of the 3rd pair as long as he's on it and I think POJ is too good for that.

Shea looked like an AHLer to me. I didn't think he was particularly good while playing with Smith on Tuesday and I don't think he was particularly good today while playing with Ruhwedel. I'm really hoping Dubas can somehow snag someone like Bogosian from the waiver wire and push Ruhwedel to a #7 spot.

I'd just have Friedman be the #6. Bogo stinks. I'd even prefer Ruh over him.

 

[Ryder71]

I know it's just the preseason, but I'm really concerned about the physicality element in our top six and top four D.

What physicality? lmao

 

[PensandCaps]

I think they gotta give Poulin a spin. He won’t work in the top six, but he adds a lot of what this squad needs.

Why wouldn't he work in the top 6? He plays a complete game, could work with Crosby.

 

[Ryder71]

Ellers been great today. Still got it defensively and been making some really smooth offensive plays.

Yep, no complaints with his game tonight.

 

[PensandCaps]

Yah, physicality sucks. Which is why I don't want the softest player in the world in Jeff Carter, playing a bottom 6 defensive role.

Wagner would fit that role much better. Hell Gruden would.

 

[Ryder71]

The Sabres have been equally as bad with the turnovers ..

With a watered down line up however.

 

[Turin]

Yah, physicality sucks. Which is why I don't want the softest player in the world in Jeff Carter, playing a bottom 6 defensive role.

Wagner would fit that role much better. Hell Gruden would.

Carter should absolutely be replaced by Wagner or Zohorna.

 

[Gurglesons]

Why wouldn't he work in the top 6? He plays a complete game, could work with Crosby.

Skating ability isn’t good enough to be in our top six IMO.

 

[jmelm]

DOC: 2 goals, ho hum…

 

[Empoleon8771]

Carter should be replaced by the homeless guy at the end of the block as long as that guy will sign for league minimum

He looks less bad than he did last year but he flat out doesn't have the legs anymore to keep up in the NHL. He's just too slow.

 

[PensandCaps]

Skating ability isn’t good enough to be in our top six IMO.

So, DOC - Eller - Poulin as line 3?

 

[Ryder71]

I think they gotta give Poulin a spin. He won’t work in the top six, but he adds a lot of what this squad needs.

Which is what exactly?

DOC: 2 goals, ho hum…

Very easily could have had four tonight.

 

[Gurglesons]

So, DOC - Eller - Poulin as line 3?

Nah. I'd probably go.. Poulin - Eller - Acciari | Nieto - DOC - Carter