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2013 Penguins

jerseyjigroe

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From what I gather... you need some Euro influence... teams that are strictly NA built don't seem to win the Cup... but having too many Euro's won't help win the cup.

From the Pens perspective... during 90-93, the Pens went from 0-3-4-5 euros on the team. Won the cup with 3 and 4, best team with 5.... however, skipping ahead to when the Pens had over 9 euros, a stretch between 97-03 (9 up to 19), when the Pens were one of the worst teams in the league...and you'll (no one specific) will understand my logic of rather having NAs than Euros on my team...

Interesting read... not fully finished with it yet...

Yup. :agree:
 

evolver115

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I read the article that jersey linked here, yesterday. And while I appreciate the great lengths thepensblog went to with gathering all that information, I'm still not convinced that nationality has anything to do with winning the cup. I think it comes down to talent, team chemistry and desire. If signing and playing Euros adds to any of those three qualities,... then jackpot. But to say that you have to get Euros on your team in order to win a cup is a bit silly, in my humble opinion.

Pittsburgh has made some nice acquisitions of late from the European talent pool over the past few drafts. Uher, a 2011 pick who is from the Czech Rep., is already in the AHL system.

The 2012 draft had three of the top four Penguin selections all hailing from Europe. Also, they got what looks to be a late round steal in Anton Zlobin, who is currently tearing up the QMJHL. He currently sits in 9th place in the league with 24G-44A in 46 games. They drafted this kid in the 6th round, last year. Not too shabby.

I think Shero and Co. are doing a good job just selecting the best player available. I don't necessarily agree they are thinking about nationality first over talent. If they are, then last season's draft class certainly contradicts that opinion.
 

thedddd

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Ben Lovejoy traded to Ducks for 5th rd 2014

Not surprised by the move, at least they didn't let him go via waivers.
And they recalled Dylan Reese to replace him.
 
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evolver115

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Not surprised by the move, at least they didn't let him go via waivers.
And they recalled Dylan Reese to replace him.



Reese is a local guy, as I'm sure you know. Always cool when the local kid gets on board with his hometown team
 

evolver115

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Big game tonight at the Energy Center. Craig Anderson, the Senators goalie, is red hot. He currently leads the league in save percentage, and GAA.

It looks like Letang will return to the lineup, and Niskanen might, as well. Pens need this one. They don't want to drop three in a row.
 

JustAsking

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Well, Bennett is here to stay, IMO. From what I saw of him last night, I was quite impressed. Forget about the his blocked shot or coming out from behind the net for a quality chance... what impressed me most about him was his intelligence and confidence... deep in our zone, Beau was support along the boards, the puck coming his way and the d-man pinched down.. instead of trying to force the play past the dman to get it out fo the blueline, he just redirected the puck to Letang breaking out of the zone (smart to see teh play and confident to put the puck in the middle of your own zone)... another time he covered great for pinching dman. He looks very good out there...

Now to Tangradi.. he also looked quite good... remember what I said about him in earlier post... he seems so afraid to make a mistake that he's not playing his game... his quote about the penguins was something to the affect of he seemed like he was on the shortest leash on the team, that instead of playing his game he played not to make mistakes... head coach DB crushed that kids confidence while on the Penguins... hopefully he learns from that and gives Beau a little more breathing room....
 

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I'm not worried about this team like a lot of others are, and there are many like me as well.

I'm not worried for this one simple reason. Parity. The Pens remaining near the top of a conference and the top of a division means they are playing good hockey. Once you get to the dance, you can't get off the floor and you have to be prepared for all types of songs. The team that does that, works the hardest every night and adapts to game types will win the cup. The is no 'real' difference between a number 8 team and a number 1 team.

Screw the blackhawks (wink)

But I think you get what I'm at...

My only concern is head coach DB... for real. I saw how Tangradi's confidence got crushed by the way DB handled him, he was so scared to make a mistake on the ice (and he said the same thing after he got traded) ... now, I'm not sure what DB is doing with Despres... I know two things not happening 1.) no ice time 2.) not getting better

Also DB has zero ability to adapt to in game situations... he is adamant about playing the Penguin way and dictating their will on their opponent... not in a league full parity my friend. It's not going to happen. Players have zero accountability, unless you are young and fighting for a spot, it seems all the accountability fulls on their shoulders.

Thank goodness he kept Paul Martin ont he 1st PP unit (did I just say that).. like I said earlier, for as good as Letang is, I used overrated, but he is just not a good PP QB.. for some reason his brain shuts off back there and he can't make a decision, focus issues really.

On to the team... I'm glad Kunitz is scoring. He took some heat earlier in the year that I just didn't notice on the ice (minus penalties). He still more of a forechecker than a goal scorer in my book but he and dupper benefit from playing with Sid of course.

Malkin's line... needs to become better in our own end and they HAVE to be better 5-on-5. Bennet here.

Sutter's line... they are still feeling eachother out. I like Sutter, he'll work nicely in his role. Cooke here. TK, he hustles every night, has some hits, gets some shots... he rarely makes a mistake that cost the Pens (like Dupper).. they aren't mistake free... they just don't mistakes that result goals.

4th line... whatever... still wish he had Mike Rupp. Any day of the week over Glass (Not sure about monies being earned)

Defense.. I like our defense... I don't nec. like the positions they find themselves in sometimes... but I don't blame the players..

I'm really souring on DB. Regular season success doesn't mean much... his cup team can be argued was the child of Therrien... he can't adapt to playoff style games... his teams have on ice control issues (again, he has two players that left his team on suspensions)... the way he handled tangradi and now despres... if he doesn't get this team into a deep playoff run... he won't be back next season.


But I like the team. They just have to be coached the right way now.
 

JustAsking

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Despres should never be a healthy scratch again... Eaton played well... Burt and Engo will be finding themselves on the bench, minus certain games.
 

element1286

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Despres should never be a healthy scratch again... Eaton played well... Burt and Engo will be finding themselves on the bench, minus certain games.

Agreed, it has been beyond comprehension that a guy like Engelland, who is a 6/7 would ever get playing time over Despres. And when Engelland is dressed he only plays 12 minutes a game. He doesn't even trust him to play pk time. Why does Dan continue to dress him if he doesn't trust him to play big minutes or any important situations?

Agreed, Eaton was solid, and off the street he plays 19 minutes while Engelland plays under 14.
 

evolver115

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:scared::shocked:

derekrocco_7.gif


Just an unreal highlight reel goal by Malkin. It doesn't get any better than that. Brewer and Carle make close to a combined cap hit of 9 million per. Geno makes them look like ECHL scrubs.
 
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element1286

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Yea, they really need to tighten up, they don't have to be Boston, but they have to get that GAA down to 2.65-2.75 by the end of the year. They aren't winning much in the playoffs being bottom 10 in goals against.
 

JustAsking

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Engo will find himself on the bench more and more... esp efter the defensiive effort against the Isles last night... Despres falling down with the puck in his skates, hey, we all elbowed a drink down at a bar... no worries. Orpik is not.. being.. orpik... but this isn't playoff hockey and he doesn't need to be yet.. I hold out MY JUDGEMENT until then...

PK needs to get better and goalies need to make the easy saves.. no more 7 holes....
 

JustAsking

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What typr, if any moves, do you want the Pens to make at the deadline... I honestly can not think of too much where the Pens have to give up too much...

Still want a winger for Geno? Trade TK, pick, prospect for Ignila? (+ a player) and put him with Malkin? Beau on the 3rd line? Keep the pick and prospect and ride with Beau on the 2nd.

Like the defense now with Eaton and Despres playing more...
 

SFNL

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Would love to see TK go + a pick for some now value
 

thedddd

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If he started the season I would say yeah but to come in at the trade deadline with the fanfare involved in a Jagr return it might cause more harm than good. Granted it shouldn't but others didn't work out. If he was never a Penguin from that time in history I would say Yeah.

They might even look towards Brenden Morrow (if the NTC could be broken).
 

JustAsking

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I wonder what the reaction would be if he did come back this time around...

Morrow is one to look at for sure, IMO (but I see him in Chicago... Montreal, in red, wierd huh?)... it will be an interesting deadline I think, a lot of UFAs from teams that usually aren't sellers, or finding their star players being those UFAs... on the offensive side of the puck, I haven't glanced over the defenseman yet.
 
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