Bruins - Pens ECF

[mattola]

 

[pixburgher66]

Letang won't be a Penguin too much longer. It's not just because of this performance that I say that. He's EXTREMELY talented. The fact is, big changes are coming, and there's going to have to be sacrifices made because of the cap...with both Malkin and Letang coming up, it comes down to who's easiest to replace? Letang is. Am I expecting someone to step in and BE Letang? No...but the Pens have options to replace the type of player he is. Despres NEEDS TO BE USED CORRECTLY. Bylsma has misused more than just Iggy. Bennett and Despres as well. He doesn't put them in because he didn't let them gain experience in the regular season in which they were steam rolling teams. So, while the Pens have about 10 possible replacements in the wings on D, they have...very few in terms of centers. Honestly, the haul for Letang could rival the haul for Malkin. People have been speculating that Montreal would be the place, but I have no idea. Pens need some hope in goal, I know what my dream is (John Gibson, hometown hero), but there's a difference between dreams and reality. Shero has a helluva offseason mess. Step one is to re-sign Malkin. The Yinzers can suck it...he's not the reason this team is underachieving. And no, I don't think having both Crosby and Malkin is a bad thing.

 

[KennyBanyeah]

Letang won't be a Penguin too much longer. It's not just because of this performance that I say that. He's EXTREMELY talented. The fact is, big changes are coming, and there's going to have to be sacrifices made because of the cap...with both Malkin and Letang coming up, it comes down to who's easiest to replace? Letang is. Am I expecting someone to step in and BE Letang? No...but the Pens have options to replace the type of player he is. Despres NEEDS TO BE USED CORRECTLY. Bylsma has misused more than just Iggy. Bennett and Despres as well. He doesn't put them in because he didn't let them gain experience in the regular season in which they were steam rolling teams. So, while the Pens have about 10 possible replacements in the wings on D, they have...very few in terms of centers. Honestly, the haul for Letang could rival the haul for Malkin. People have been speculating that Montreal would be the place, but I have no idea. Pens need some hope in goal, I know what my dream is (John Gibson, hometown hero), but there's a difference between dreams and reality. Shero has a helluva offseason mess. Step one is to re-sign Malkin. The Yinzers can suck it...he's not the reason this team is underachieving. And no, I don't think having both Crosby and Malkin is a bad thing.

I hear ya.

I can't stand Letang but he brings something to the Pens that no other current player does.

I've seen Despres play many times. He is a GOOD player. He will never replace Letang`s skillset though.

Shero has some hard decisions to make IF the Pens don`t win the Cup. Your team has the ability to win 4 straight more than any other team.

Malkin would bring so much more than Letang it`s not even funny. Moving him might be the best option.

If I was a GM though, I`d never willingly give up a player like Malkin.

 

[pixburgher66]

I hear ya.

I can't stand Letang but he brings something to the Pens that no other current player does.

I've seen Despres play many times. He is a GOOD player. He will never replace Letang`s skillset though.

Shero has some hard decisions to make IF the Pens don`t win the Cup. Your team has the ability to win 4 straight more than any other team.

Malkin would bring so much more than Letang it`s not even funny. Moving him might be the best option.

If I was a GM though, I`d never willingly give up a player like Malkin.

No one would come in and immediately replace Letang's production. I think Paul Martin would quell the blow next year, at least on the powerplay. From offensive side, it'd have to be replaced through committee. From the defensive side...well, that'd be fine. I just look down the pipeline, see the potential...heck even for next season Despres is there, Dumolin and Samuellsson have AHL time in. Harrington, Pouliot, and Maata will be in AHL. Those last three will be nice if they continue on the projected path. I can't even think what type of return Letang would have. I'd need to pick a team. Montreal keeps getting brought up, WOULDN'T YOU ENJOY THAT?!

 

[dash]

Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger
The mere suggestion Bylsma's job may be in jeopardy has teams in the market for a head coach paying attention. Cant see it happening.

 

[mattola]

 

[forty_three]

Full respect for that guy. OMG

No one would come in and immediately replace Letang's production. I think Paul Martin would quell the blow next year, at least on the powerplay. From offensive side, it'd have to be replaced through committee. From the defensive side...well, that'd be fine. I just look down the pipeline, see the potential...heck even for next season Despres is there, Dumolin and Samuellsson have AHL time in. Harrington, Pouliot, and Maata will be in AHL. Those last three will be nice if they continue on the projected path. I can't even think what type of return Letang would have. I'd need to pick a team. Montreal keeps getting brought up, WOULDN'T YOU ENJOY THAT?!

GONCHAR!

Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger
The mere suggestion Bylsma's job may be in jeopardy has teams in the market for a head coach paying attention. Cant see it happening.

What I can't see happening is someone wanting the lost little puppy. He's shown this a few times. Shit hits the fan and he has no idea where to go next.

So, here at work we have a rather well know and intensely obnoxious Yinzer. The kind that carries a terrible towel around the halls.

Sometime overnight, someone put a picture of the band P.O.D. with the faces of Chara, Marchand, Jagr and Krejci photoshopped on it on his whiteboard and re-wrote the lyrics to "Here comes the boom" as "Here comes the broom".

I didn't capture the whole thing but it started with
"I never knew that a giant like me,
Could come around the world and crush the little Sidney"

Yes it has been erased. I hope someone gt a picture.

Every time he walks away from his desk, another broom and dustpan show up.



Today has been a good day. Because I didn't anything to do with it.

 

[pixburgher66]

Yeah, if you're honestly obnoxious it's hilarious. I always caught crap at school from people who barely understood the sport, and man it drove me nuts...

 

[forty_three]

Yeah, if you're honestly obnoxious it's hilarious. I always caught crap at school from people who barely understood the sport, and man it drove me nuts...

It honestly would not matter who he rooted for, he's that obnoxious. Everyone just wants whoever he wants to win to lose. There's good natured banter and then there's crossing that line. This guy is one of those ones that doesn't even remember there was a line.

 

[JustAsking]

These will be quick hits (SportsHoopla wouldn't open for since the past half a day)

1.) Iggy, being smart and talented, is the best option for the Pens to play out of position. He is smart and talented enough that he should be able to handle that change, more so than any other Penguin. Misused, sure, but should be talented enough to over come that. Dash, your comment about TOI I can't speak to, but it makes sense.

2.) Malkin would command a lot more on the open market (edm is a good partner). If Letang does not take the Pens offer, he will be traded, perhaps even during the offseason... going into a UFA year, teams know that and will low ball the Pens, and Letang will know that and he will hold the power in negotiations. If he does not accept a deal, like Staal, he's gone. The Pens are a few years away from replacing Letang with their current crop of prospects. But you gotta do what you gotta do

3.) Some family 'bragging'. My nephew is from Whitehall/Baldwin and is a goalie (just turned 11). Plays for PGH Preds (like Gisbon), his first set of pads, Gibson's parent lent him John's old set. During the lockout, Vitale and Lovejoy often took to the ice to 'shoot' on my nephew, and Brnet Johnson wanted to have a goalie camp, and my nephew was the first goalie he wanted to work with... didn't work out... the problem he will have is we are little people. his compete level will need to be off the charts to succeed (like hasek) and like Hasek, I'm trying to get him to Mitch Korn's goalie camp... my family is not delusional, but right now, he's having a good time of it. a little family pride.

 

[pixburgher66]

It honestly would not matter who he rooted for, he's that obnoxious. Everyone just wants whoever he wants to win to lose. There's good natured banter and then there's crossing that line. This guy is one of those ones that doesn't even remember there was a line.

If he's a yinzer, I don't doubt it, hahaha. We all know people like that...they're called New Yorkers.

 

[The Q stache]

I need Pittsburgh to win this game, I can't have the cup finals to start on Wednesday because that is my travel day. Not that the Hawks have made it yet, I'm just hoping.

 

[pixburgher66]

I need Pittsburgh to win this game, I can't have the cup finals to start on Wednesday because that is my travel day. Not that the Hawks have made it yet, I'm just hoping.

I need them to win it so as to not descend into the offseason in a complete depression. Seriously. If they get it to six I'll feel...well, okay.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

Pens by 4 tonight. Rask cracks. Bostonians start to sweat a little.

 

[pixburgher66]

Also...I'M REALLY NOT READY TO BE 100% FOCUSED ON THE PIRATES.

 

[The Q stache]

I need them to win it so as to not descend into the offseason in a complete depression. Seriously. If they get it to six I'll feel...well, okay.

Whatever our motivations may be I'm riding with the PengWINS tonight

 

[Iffster]

Original Six final....yes

 

[Darkstone42]

I just want them to go down swinging. Not literally swinging, but playing well. If they play every remaining game in the series like Wednesdays, I'll be happy.

 

[forty_three]

3.) Some family 'bragging'. My nephew is from Whitehall/Baldwin and is a goalie (just turned 11). Plays for PGH Preds (like Gisbon), his first set of pads, Gibson's parent lent him John's old set. During the lockout, Vitale and Lovejoy often took to the ice to 'shoot' on my nephew, and Brnet Johnson wanted to have a goalie camp, and my nephew was the first goalie he wanted to work with... didn't work out... the problem he will have is we are little people. his compete level will need to be off the charts to succeed (like hasek) and like Hasek, I'm trying to get him to Mitch Korn's goalie camp... my family is not delusional, but right now, he's having a good time of it. a little family pride.

DO IT!

My Son's hockey league got Mitch to come up and talk to all the house goalies during the lockout, and he has such a great attitude, he made a giant impact on all the goalies. My son sat and listened to him for two hours and STILL works on things in practice that "Coach Mitch" was talking about.

Another thing I like about him is he addresses not just what it takes to be a goalie, but what it takes to be the parent of a goalie. He's top notch. Check out his site if you haven't already for his "helpful articles". Good stuff.

I was going to send my son to Miami University for his camp this year, but we are going with the CBJ Hockey school goalie camp (Ian Clark and supposedly Bob, plus the OSU goalie, Hjelle) so we don't have to travel.

Edit, Linkified:
http://mitchkorn.com/goaltendingarticles.html

 

[thedddd]

Also...I'M REALLY NOT READY TO BE 100% FOCUSED ON THE PIRATES.

The Pirates lost Saturday, Monday and Wednesday along with the Penguins.

The Pirates are winning today so lets home that is a good sign at least for one game!