Bourne Endeavor
Registered User
They've essentially sold their future on the Crosby era. Can't exactly blame them given his and Malkin's age.
How does Pittsburgh do it?
- Thread starter Kronwalled8*
- Start date
TheStatican
Registered User
- Mar 14, 2012
- 1,652
- 1,363
Right about the first point, wrong about the rest. One, maybe both of Kunitz and Dupuis will probably on the 3rd line centered by Sutter depending on how well the russian they brought in the play LW with Malkin does(Plotnikov). They're not going to put up anywhere near 30goal/60points like their injury free years playing on the first line with Crosby. They may not even be considered good second liners at this point in their careers, but that's still a damn good third line. And there's still Bennett, who won't be under the pressure of trying to become something here's not(a top 6 winger). I think he'd excel in a bottom six role, if he can stay healthy.
In any case, without making any more moves the top 3 lines look like this;
Perron/Kunitz/Dupuis - Crosby - Hornqvist/Kessel
Perron/Kunitz/Plotnikov - Malkin - Hornqvist/Kessel
Kunitz/Plotnikov - Sutter - Dupuis/Bennett
Only one of Kunitz/Dupuis/Plotnikov will be on the top 2 lines, which ever performs/fits the best.
Now that Chicago lost Saad, is there a better top 9 in the league? I'll admit defense could be a weakness baring how well the kids play, but they have more then enough 5-6-7 defensemen, its the second pair after Letang & Maatta that's more of a question mark. But there's still plenty of time to correct any issues that may arise there. Obviously injuries could become a problem, but they're better equipped to handle them now with the additions of Kessel - first line sniper, Plotnikov -admittedly an unknown but projects to at least be a decent 3rd liner and Perron(for the entire season) - a top 6 winger. No more playing 3rd or 4th line scrubs on the first line.
As for the last comment... You mad your team got fleeced in a trade with them or something?
Last edited:
TheStatican
Registered User
- Mar 14, 2012
- 1,652
- 1,363
Kristopher Letang
RIP Nipsey
Honour Over Glory
Fire Sully
- Jan 30, 2012
- 77,316
- 42,447
Thank god Megna is gone, never have to hear the whole "he could be on the 4th line now!" stuff..no, let's move on.
They have traded first round picks like candy. Just look at their 1st rounders since 2006:
2006- Staal (traded to Carolina)
2007- Esposito (traded to Atlanta in Hossa deal)
2008- No pick (traded to Atlanta in Hossa deal)
2009- Despres (traded to Anaheim for Lovejoy)
2010- Bennett
2011- Morrow (traded to Dallas for Morrow)
2012- Pouliot and Maatta
2013- No pick (traded to Calgary in Iginla deal)
2014- Kapanen (traded to Toronto in Kessel deal)
2015- No pick (traded to Edmonton in Perron deal)
2016- No pick (traded to Toronto in Kessel deal)
Bennett's probably going to end up getting traded too
tony d
Registered User
They spend high on 4 or 5 guys and use the rest of their payroll on scrubs. They really should invest in more depth throughout their lineup instead of signing all these stars.
Jacob
as seen on TV
- Feb 27, 2002
- 49,465
- 25,053
that's the right move, how often are you gonna have top-2 centers in the world? They are doing what they have to or should.
There's not a whole lot of D in the metro division. The Rangers and Caps have good D's. The Islanders and Blue Jackets are competent. The rest of the division blows.
Seems obvious that the key to beating the Penguins will be not taking penalties.
Seems obvious that the key to beating the Penguins will be not taking penalties.
Yeah, that's not even remotely true.
I really wish people would just drop the parroting "LOL PENS HAVE A BUNCH OF MONEY LOCKED UP TO A FEW PLAYERS!!!!!!!!!!!!" nonsense. They have their long term core locked up. Their top-6 (at least 5 of the members), top-4 D (Maatta, Letang, Pouliot and Cole will be the top-4 for at least 3 years) and goalie situations are all handled long term. They need to cut out the overpaid older players like Kunitz and Sutter and play cheaper, more cost effective players in the bottom-6. The salaries to the top end players aren't even remotely a problem, it's the $3.375 million to Scuderi or the $3.75 million to Dupuis or the $3.85 million to Kunitz.
The Pens D group is also getting laughably underrated here. They have a Norris caliber D, 2 young NHL ready studs with top pair potential, 2 younger guys that have good potential and 1 older veteran on D for them. Their D core right now is better than it was by the end of last year, where the Pens let up like 13 goals in 6 games against the Rangers. A good D system (which MJ runs) makes up for having a young and inexperienced blue line. And that's really the only knock you can make on them, no one knows yet how good they'll be by the end of the season. If Pouliot, Cole and Dumoulin progress as fast as Maatta did, they'll have 5 top-4 D.
Le Magnifique 66
Let's Go Pens
Not that it isn't true but if you look at our past drafts you'll notice that we suck at it anyways. We traded players like Esposito, Morrow (1st rounders) who haven't become much.
Staal was traded for a better package return and we still have Sutter-Dumoulin and Pouliot.
Maatta helped a lot, great pick
Kapanen well still too early to say.
I don't know, maybe the GM's around the league are trying to help us win!!!
Also it helps when guys like Iginla and Kessel want to be traded to Pittsburgh
But they do have have a bunch of money locked up in a few players. It's not an untrue statement. I think the problem with them is that they've been giving away picks the last several years and it's lead to zero depth and they are relying on making trades to get 3rd line value. Problem is they've been giving up picks to do so. Blackhawks are in the same boat starting this year. It'll be interesting to see where they are at in 4-5 years.
We're not bitter , and speaking for myself I have no hatred of the Pens. Just because I call them chocking dogs does not mean I dislike them , But I can not tell a lie so I have to call it as it is . Believe me you can have Kessel , I would not want him in Chicago for nothing. The good thing about this is that now that you have such a powerful team we won't have another season full of excuses.
The bolded is also a huge problem along with the bloated contracts Shero gave out at the end of his time here. I worded that wrong originally, I meant to say "The Pens spend too much money on their top players!!!!", not a bunch of money on their top players.
Rufus
Letangarang
- May 27, 2014
- 1,929
- 18
WarriorofTime
Registered User
- Jul 3, 2010
- 28,633
- 16,739
How's that?
Toews-Hossa has arguably been the best two-way duo in the league for 6 years now.
And they have 3 Cups to show for it.
I'm sure the Chicago fans will live with people saying they're "overrated".
WarriorofTime
Registered User
- Jul 3, 2010
- 28,633
- 16,739
Beauner
Registered User
Sure, they probably are the best two-way duo. But in the grand scheme of things, that's probably about the 93rd reason why they've won three cups. Two way play is so overrated here it's maddening. Sure it definitely helps, but defensive play is one of the easiest concepts in hockey. All it takes is willingness to commit to defense and knowledge of where to be and when. Most players in the NHL at least have the knowledge part down of basic positioning.
Jaded-Fan
Registered User
I look at the whole top heavy charge as a hockey IQ test. It is the most oft quoted, and wrong, criticism that I have seen here over the years.
It is not just the Blackhawks but virtually every good (read playoff) team has 40 to 50 percent of their cap tied up in five or fewer players.
Far from a recipe for disaster, it is actually the recipe to win. More 'balanced' teams, ie that do not have those percentages and that are not top heavy in that way, generally suck. Go look at the cap sites and see. I have linked them before many times. Pretty much every good team. The Pens are in that wheel house.
Oh you need balance on the cheap in your bottom six and your bottom pairings. Great teams have that. And remain top heavy anyways as they fill those spots on the cheap. The Pens failures were not signing Crosby for $8.7 million. Malkin $9.5 million. Kessel for $6.8 million. Their issues were bad drafting, bad developing, trading good assets for nothing. Bad coaching. In other words everything but this.
And the recent trades of first being called 'mortgaging the future'.
If there is an owner/GM out there who would not trade what amounts to three middling firsts and a couple of seconds for Perron and Kessel just entering their primes, a Kessel cost controlled at $6.8 million until 2022 for that matter, then I will point to them and laugh at them. I have not even gotten into that being the primary need for this team with the two best centers, no players, in the world to boot. I have seen the percentages. One out of five middling to late firsts will not even make it to the NHL. Just over 50% will give you 100 games or more. In any capacity no matter how sucky.
The Pens have plenty to criticize in recent years. Being top heavy or these trades of those three firsts and some spare parts are neither of them.
Coastal Kev
There will be "I told you so's" Bet on it
You're right. But I have a theory when it comes to professional sports. Be very good or very bad. Stuck in the middle gets you nowhere.
