Excellent post, Kirk, and I thoroughly agree. In particular, I love the note on Brooks. This game should show, beyond a shadow of doubt, that he is absolutely replaceable, not an integral and essential part to winning, and that if we can get some nice assets back in a deal for him, we should take that package and run!
And yes: we also got schooled hardcore by Lindy Ruff. An inferior (on paper) Dallas team beat us because of their tremendous tactical play, their diligence on the forecheck and a strong defensive game, and a tremendously aggressive PK that stopped our PP right in its tracks.
I've been thinking the last week or two that for this team, at least for this season (and probably long term as well), that I would like to adopt "the best defence is offence" strategy. Tonight, as you're alluding to with getting Sid's Neal is part of a bigger picture of seeing what happens when we're not able to sustain any pressure in the offensive zone. This should be an expected outcome when you're playing a team who's playing well, and you've got guys like Kobasew and Glass and Pyatt as the wingers you're deploying. We need some more guys with skill and who can help create momentum and maintain possession in the offensive zone.
I think we all believe that our defence will be great in a few years, and it's already starting to get better. But it's not yet at the point where we're a scary team to play against from a defensive POV. So if that's the case, then what's the problem with trading Orpik and possibly Nisky or Letang to boost our forward group, knowing that our D will be substantially stronger within a couple of years anyway?
A lot of food for thought, this game has provided tonight.
FYI, I've been taking pot shots at Letang and being flippant, but when I say 'even at the cost of Letang', I mean even Letang on his game. He's the only one that's going to get us Sid's Neal, unless we completely gut the team's youth.
I just look at Toews. Playing with Hossa and Sharpe. If he's on, that line is the best in hockey. If he's not, the line still can and often will produce.
Why should Sid have to be in full blow beast mode just to have a line that maybe is as good? Same thing for Geno?
Some teams build from the net out, because that's where their strengths lie.
The Pens strength-- the one thing that distinguishes them from every other team in hockey-- is that they've got Sid and Geno, and nobody else does.
So, why not trying exploiting that advantage instead of mitigating it?
Imagine, from a matchup perspective, where on a shift you'd put out the best line in hockey with the best player in hockey flanked by two perfectly complementary players in a 'whole greater than sum of parts' way AND then could follow that with the best line in hockey with the best player in hockey flanked by two perfectly complementary players in a 'whole greater than sum of parts' way.
Because THAT is what Ray Shero COULD be doing.
If the Pens had been drafting the Hertl's and Saad's of this world, then it's a different story. Funds allocation could be more balanced. But, Shero has so much in terms of young talent on defense that either he leverages the rookie deals and controlled years or he sends Sid and Geno out there, yet again, each with an arm tied behind his back.
You saw it tonight, no?
The Stars collapsed on Sid, and he had nobody to help create a little space for him or exploit the Stars cheating towards him.
The Stars collapsed on Geno, and he'd try to force **** rather than dump the puck because he KNEW neither of his linemates would get it.
It was the Boston series in 60 minutes.
It's why I've been saying '**** it' since the 2011 deadline and calling for this strategy.
I remember 2008. Yeah, we got Gill. But, let's be honest: Shero saw what MMS was doing and said 'imagine if I had Sid out there with that kind of help'.
2011 . . . he liked his team as it was. 2012 . . . who knows if Iggy would've been enough (I have my doubts that it would've helped Sid), because the coach saw to that.
I keep saying it . . . the Pens won the cup in 2009 beating the three worst defensive teams in the East, avoided NJ and Boston, and then got Detroit with Datsyuk hurt (which created huge matchup advantages for Geno and Staal).
That, in conjunction with 2008, taught Shero that Sid and Geno can make due with less. What it should've taught Shero is that putting Sid and Geno in the best position to succeed makes team success more likely all outside factors being equal.
That latter lesson Shero is one Shero has refused to acknowledge or notice ever since.