Pens Tidbits 2014

[salamander]

MURRAY SELECTED TO 2014-15 AHL FIRST ALL-STAR TEAM
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, in conjunction with American Hockey League, have announced that goaltender Matt Murray has been named to the 2014-15 AHL First All-Star Team, as voted by coaches, players and media in each of the league’s 30 member cities.

A third-round draft pick (83rd overall) by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2012 NHL Draft, Murray is 24-9-3 in 38 appearances for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season and ranks first in the league in goals-against average (1.50), save percentage (.943) and shutouts (12). His 12 shutouts are the most by a rookie goaltender in AHL history and one short of the record set by Jason LaBarbera (2003-04 – Hartford)

http://wbspenguins.com/articles/murray-selected-to-2014-15-ahl-first-all-star-team#

Also, since Pittsburgh's playoff opportunity is hanging on by a thread, I'll just leave this here...

https://scontent-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/v/t1.0-9/10394119_10152679683596384_2456591667765501038_n.j pg?oh=6e88268aaf52ff79c32e3be480aadae9&oe=55AD5890

[X-Terminator]

Sens win 3-0

If Boston wins....


Pens royally screwed in the ass

Boston is down 4-2 late in the 3rd. If the score holds, it would mean win and in for the Pens tomorrow night. Boston losing would also clinch a berth for the Islanders (who actually aren't playing tonight) and the Red Wings, who just picked up a point against the Canadiens.

EDIT: Bruins game is now final. Lose 4-2. So here you go, Penguins. Win, and you're in the playoffs for the 9th consecutive season, even if it isn't deserved. Do you bunch of jabronis have one more decent game left in you?

[TD's & Beer]

Jagr to the rescue!

Boston's turn to flame out

Isles game doesn't even matter if you want to go the dramatic route.....just beat Buffalo in regulation and we're in



Boston only has one game left and are 1 pt behind us, it doesn't matter what Ottawa does now

so Pens can even lose both games if Boston loses their last game against Bolts in regulation ...and we still get in


I think our best route is through the Atlantic division - looking like the Habs now


here's all the what ifs


http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL/Eastern/Metropolitan/Pittsburgh.html

[TD's & Beer]

So here you go, Penguins. Win, and you're in the playoffs. Do you bunch of jabronis have one more decent game left in you?

ayep

Just friggin' win you bunch of fragile headcases. And try not to get hurt doing it.

[X-Terminator]

Going with 5 D again tonight. Because, you know, it worked so well before.

[TD's & Beer]

Going with 5 D again tonight. Because, you know, it worked so well before.


Martin-Lovejoy
Scuds-Cole
Chorney
HA!

They have no other choice - thanks JR

Letang/Ehrhoff are out, and now so is Derrick Pouliot. The Pens can't afford to bring any other dmen up because of the cap situation.

[vader29]

They have no other choice - thanks JR


586576040291659776

:chuckle:

[TD's & Beer]

Oh Vader

More Scuderi and Lovejoy


That's all we need > Steigy

[TD's & Beer]

Fan Appreciation Night is so over-rated




These bums can't hit the broad side of a barn

On to Buff a lo

[salamander]

Lol.

[stillers4me]

586709519922810881

[X-Terminator]

Actively rooting for the Sabres and Bruins now. Put this pathetic team out of its misery.

[salamander]

Actively rooting for the Sabres and Bruins now. Put this pathetic team out of its misery.

I agree.

[TD's & Beer]

Johnston: "You have to get results, for sure. Again tonight, if you look at the game, I think we were textbook in our game."


kick this knob outta town

[vader29]

http://i59.tinypic.com/2ngewkn.jpg

[TD's & Beer]

It seems only yesterday, Pens were red hot prior to trade deadline and appeared to be jelling....then in one move they handcuffed the team cap-wise rest of season and lose our most improved and physical defenseman in Despres - that's on managemen

Poor Letang - I fear his career might be over.


Buffalo has clinched the bottom of the barrel, they have nothing left to lose for now and just gave Columbus a battle.

Better hope the Bolts beat Boston in regulation.

[zulater]

Of course if the Pens do miss the playoffs they would be in the lottery and have a chance at getting a franchise changing player. Oh yeah except that they traded their first round pick to the Oilers for David Perron and didn't bother to protect the pick ( as they could have) on the chance that they would be in the lottery. :doh:

Arrogance and stupidity starts from the top on down with this team.

- - - Updated - - -


Actively rooting for the Sabres and Bruins now. Put this pathetic team out of its misery.

And then are you going to root for the Penguins lottery pick that the Oilers own strikes gold, and Edmonton gets either Connor David or Jack Eichel? :lol:

[X-Terminator]

The Oilers have 2 picks, and it wouldn't surprise me if they traded the pick they got from the Pens. Their original pick will get them either Eichel or McDavid. Even if the Pens had kept their pick, they'd still have virtually no chance of winning the lottery.

[salamander]

I lost track... do the Pens have ANY draft picks left for this year and next year? Seriously. I feel like they traded them all away.

Anyways, I am selfishly hoping the Pens don't make it to the playoffs just for the fact that would mean they can't pillage the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pens.

[zulater]

The Oilers have 2 picks, and it wouldn't surprise me if they traded the pick they got from the Pens. Their original pick will get them either Eichel or McDavid. Even if the Pens had kept their pick, they'd still have virtually no chance of winning the lottery.

The way things are going for the Pens don't bet against that pick hitting in the lottery. The chances they'd miss the playoffs two weeks ago was virtually naught.

[X-Terminator]

Goddammit, Buffalo! You had ONE JOB!

The Pens get the most undeserved playoff berth in NHL history. Hopefully the Rangers sweep them right on out of the playoffs.

[salamander]

I have zero excitement about the Pens making it in. They don't deserve it and now the Baby Pens are about to be pillaged of their players.

[X-Terminator]

I have zero excitement about the Pens making it in. They don't deserve it and now the Baby Pens are about to be pillaged of their players.

They'll only need them for 4 games. I expect the Baby Pens' roster to be intact when their playoffs start on April 22.

[TD's & Beer]

Pens in 4


http://i.imgur.com/101aLTM.gif

Rape the baby Pens of everything that isn't nailed down - bench Kunitz, Adams, Lovejoy Scuds and come out flying with fresh young legs


Looks like 1st game Thurs at MSG

[zulater]

I'm glad they made the playoffs. If for nothing else now I don't have to sweat out the possibility that lightning would strike and their ball would be drawn in the lottery. And besides maybe this will be the best thing for them. Going into the playoffs with zero expectations also means zero pressure. A couple bad bounces early and it's the President Cup winning Rangers who start feeling the pressure possibly? Nothing worse than a great regular season getting flushed early. 8 seeds can win in the NHL. Yeah I know the Pens played like shit the last month. But now the pressure is off. Also no more short bench. It wasn't just coincidental they couldn't put three good periods together this past few weeks. When you're down manpower like that you can't sustain your best for 60 minutes of hockey.

I'll laugh my ass off at some of you if the Pens make a serious run in the playoffs this year. :pointlaugh:

No it's not what I expect. but damn some of you guys are so fucking spoiled. :doh: What do you think it's like being a Columbus Blue Jacket fan? A Sabers fan? Etc etc.... I mean we've been pretty privileged the past 30 years. Not only have we been treated to 3 Cups and 4 Cup finals. We've also got to witness first hand some of the greatest players to ever take the ice. Mario, Jagr, Sid, Geno, Ron Francis, Paul Coffey, Larry Murphy, Rick Tochett, Kevin Stevens etc....

We've been pretty damn lucky. Yeah I expected more from this team. But you know what, relatively speaking it's been pretty good being a Pens fan.

Go Pens! Pull of the upset! :tt02:


How great would it be to send the Rangers home early?

[salamander]

I'm glad they made the playoffs. If for nothing else now I don't have to sweat out the possibility that lightning would strike and their ball would be drawn in the lottery. And besides maybe this will be the best thing for them. Going into the playoffs with zero expectations also means zero pressure. A couple bad bounces early and it's the President Cup winning Rangers who start feeling the pressure possibly? Nothing worse than a great regular season getting flushed early. 8 seeds can win in the NHL. Yeah I know the Pens played like shit the last month. But now the pressure is off. Also no more short bench. It wasn't just coincidental they couldn't put three good periods together this past few weeks. When you're down manpower like that you can't sustain your best for 60 minutes of hockey.

I'll laugh my ass off at some of you if the Pens make a serious run in the playoffs this year. :pointlaugh:

No it's not what I expect. but damn some of you guys are so fucking spoiled. :doh: What do you think it's like being a Columbus Blue Jacket fan? A Sabers fan? Etc etc.... I mean we've been pretty privileged the past 30 years. Not only have we been treated to 3 Cups and 4 Cup finals. We've also got to witness first hand some of the greatest players to ever take the ice. Mario, Jagr, Sid, Geno, Ron Francis, Paul Coffey, Larry Murphy, Rick Tochett, Kevin Stevens etc....

We've been pretty damn lucky. Yeah I expected more from this team. But you know what, relatively speaking it's been pretty good being a Pens fan.

Go Pens! Pull of the upset! :tt02:


How great would it be to send the Rangers home early?

If they end up going deep into the playoffs, then awesome. I just don't have that confidence in them. Say what you want to me/about me, but I'm a realist and until I see them prove otherwise, I don't have a whole lot of faith in them. Besides, I'd rather see the WBS Pens finally win a Calder Cup anyways :chuckle:

[X-Terminator]

I'm glad they made the playoffs. If for nothing else now I don't have to sweat out the possibility that lightning would strike and their ball would be drawn in the lottery. And besides maybe this will be the best thing for them. Going into the playoffs with zero expectations also means zero pressure. A couple bad bounces early and it's the President Cup winning Rangers who start feeling the pressure possibly? Nothing worse than a great regular season getting flushed early. 8 seeds can win in the NHL. Yeah I know the Pens played like shit the last month. But now the pressure is off. Also no more short bench. It wasn't just coincidental they couldn't put three good periods together this past few weeks. When you're down manpower like that you can't sustain your best for 60 minutes of hockey.

I'll laugh my ass off at some of you if the Pens make a serious run in the playoffs this year. :pointlaugh:

No it's not what I expect. but damn some of you guys are so fucking spoiled. :doh: What do you think it's like being a Columbus Blue Jacket fan? A Sabers fan? Etc etc.... I mean we've been pretty privileged the past 30 years. Not only have we been treated to 3 Cups and 4 Cup finals. We've also got to witness first hand some of the greatest players to ever take the ice. Mario, Jagr, Sid, Geno, Ron Francis, Paul Coffey, Larry Murphy, Rick Tochett, Kevin Stevens etc....

We've been pretty damn lucky. Yeah I expected more from this team. But you know what, relatively speaking it's been pretty good being a Pens fan.

Go Pens! Pull of the upset! :tt02:


How great would it be to send the Rangers home early?

If that does, in fact, happen, I'll sit down to the biggest, nastiest, maggot-infested plate of crow you can serve up. But it won't. I have ZERO faith in this team.

[salamander]

I share X-T's sentiments exactly. Eric, if that happens, I'll provide the crow myself for us both :heh:

[TD's & Beer]

Lundqvist can be beat

Thursday, April 16, 7 p.m. @ NY Rangers
Saturday, April 18, 8 p.m. @ NY Rangers
Monday, April 20, 7 p.m. in Pittsburgh
Wednesday, April 22, 7 p.m.in Pittsburgh

The first, third and fourth games of the series with be televised by NBC Sports Network, the second by NBC.


WBS players eager for possible NHL playoff call-up

WILKES-BARRE — When news broke last week that the Penguins were considering replacing a couple of underperforming veterans with prospects in the playoff lineup, word spread across the state in record time.And why not? Young players in Wilkes-Barre probably would give a digit, maybe a limb, to have a chance to compete for a Stanley Cup. This was the kind of news they wanted to hear.

Farnham: He has toned down his agitating antics, taking only one penalty in his last eight games, but has continued to play with speed, physicality and energy

Andrew Ebbett: At 32, he hardly is a young, exciting prospect, but if the only criteria is AHL performance. He is 2nd in the league at 1.12 points per game.

Jayson Megna: He moved from third-line right wing to top-line center seamlessly. He has five goals and six assists in his last 12 games.

Scott Wilson: His offensive production largely has depended on the quality of his linemates, but he is competitive and has a strong all-around game.

Bryan Rust: His speed and consistency play well at the NHL level, but he just is getting back in the lineup after suffering a lower-body injury Feb. 21.

Kasperi Kapanen: An instinctive offensive player, Kapanen had 21 points in 41 games as an 18-year-old in the Finnish league.

Oskar Sundqvist: A rangy, two-way center, Sundqvist had 19 points in 41 games in the Swedish league.

http://triblive.com/sports/penguins/8055925-74/games-league-points#axzz3WOacATC8

------------------------

bring them all up - Harrington and Dumoulin too

[zulater]

I don't have any expectations that the Pens will do any good in the playoffs. It's just where there's life there's hope. As Pgh sports fans we know all about the lower seeded team taking out the higher seed. Since the Pens last Cup win it's been a succession of teams that the Pens outperformed in the regular season that beat them in the playoffs. The Pitt Panthers basketball team loses to a lower seeded team ever year they make the NCAA's. The Steelers have no shortage of home playoff losses in their quiver. So why can't it work in our favor just this once?

Again I don't expect it. But you can't dismiss until it either happens or doesn't. So yeah I'm watching. Expecting a sweep by the Rangers. But damn, if we can get a split in New York, who the hell knows? :noidea:

[salamander]

Brian Dumoulin and Scott Harrington have been called up.

[TD's & Beer]

let it be just the beginning




Penguins Recall Defensemen Brian Dumoulin and Scott Harrington

Both players have spent a majority of the season helping WBS allow the fewest goals (153) in the AHL, while also seeing NHL minutes in Pittsburgh.
Dumoulin, 23, scored his first NHL goal in Pittsburgh’s 4-2 win against Tampa Bay on Dec. 15. In that game, both Dumoulin and fellow rookie Bryan Rust (http://penguins.nhl.com/club/player.htm?id=8475810) scored their first goals.

Dumoulin has played in 14 NHL regular-season games the last two years, posting two points (1G-1A) and a plus-1.

Harrington, 22, saw the first NHL action of his career in 2014-15, playing in 10 regular-season contests, beginning with his NHL debut on Dec. 18 against Colorado at CONSOL Energy Center.

http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=762917

[venom]

Playoff Time !! Pens were a huge favorite last year and look what happened. This year its the other way around- anything can happen. Good Luck Pens fans-Hope its a good series with a Rangers victory.

Lets Go Rangers !!!

[TD's & Beer]

For the first time in a long time, there really isn't much pressure on the Pens, they are going in as heavy underdogs. Malkin is badly banged up, Letang's season over, roster depth generally inferior to the Rangers to begin with - yeah I can see why Rags fans would be cocky.

All the pressure is on the Rangers, and of course, we won't lose to a lower seed this time, ha.

No expectations = nothing to lose. Just gonna watch some hockey and hope for the best. Let's go Pens!

Shock the world

http://lowres.cartoonstock.com/animals-boxing-boxes-ring-penguin-polar_bear-shl090609_low.jpg

[X-Terminator]

Playoff Time !! Pens were a huge favorite last year and look what happened. This year its the other way around- anything can happen. Good Luck Pens fans-Hope its a good series with a Rangers victory.

Lets Go Rangers !!!

Dude, just stop. The Rangers won't break a sweat beating the Pens.

[TD's & Beer]

All is well


Penguins CEO on playoffs: 'It's where we belong'


“Given all the difficulties we've been through this year,” Morehouse said, “we're very happy to be where we are. Everyone has done a good job given the obstacles that we've had to go through. We're just looking forward to going to New York now.”


http://triblive.com/sports/penguins/8154590-74/morehouse-penguins-playoffs#ixzz3XA2wn2Qg


David Morehouse is Chief Executive Officer and President of the Penguins, overseeing every aspect of the team’s operations.

[X-Terminator]

Scott Wilson recalled today from WBS. So which forward is injured now? We know Malkin has a bad back. But hopefully it means that Craig Adams never sees the ice again in a Penguins uniform.

[TD's & Beer]

Scott Wilson recalled today from WBS. So which forward is injured now? We know Malkin has a bad back. But hopefully it means that Craig Adams never sees the ice again in a Penguins uniform.

Pens can bring as many players up as they want, even if they don't play them right away, but I think Adams has finally been benched for good.



PITTSBURGH RECALLS WILSON

http://www.wbspenguins.com/images/uploads/Images/600_Wilson.jpg


The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled forward Scott Wilson from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, it was announced today by executive vice president and general manager Jim Rutherford.

Wilson, 22, ranks among the top-five on WBS in almost every offensive category, including goals (19; 3rd), assists (22; 4th), points (41; 3rd), power-play goals (7; 1st) and shots (147; 1st) despite missing 18 games due to injury/call-ups. The first-year forward has produced three goals in his last four AHL contests, which is tied with teammate Tom Kuhnhackl for most on the team during that span.

The Oakville, Ontario native made his NHL debut earlier this season, skating 4:21 minutes before suffering a leg injury against New Jersey on Dec. 2.

http://wbspenguins.com/articles/pittsburgh-recalls-wilson

[TD's & Beer]

some good news- Ehrhoff practicing


Pittsburgh Penguin @penguins
Coach Johnston confirms that Christian Ehrhoff has been cleared for contact and is day-to-day.


Ehrhoff practicing on the 2nd PP unit with Cole, Kunitz, Downie and Sutter. 1st unit is Martin, Crosby, Malkin, Perron and Hornqvist -MC

https://twitter.com/PensInsideScoop/...13319019192323 (https://twitter.com/PensInsideScoop/status/588013319019192323)

[TD's & Beer]

Playoffs start tonight with games on USA network and NBCSN. Let the real Hockey begin..

Habs and Sens should be a good series - I gotta root for the Sens tonight - on the NHL channel

[X-Terminator]

Ducks/Jets, Caps/Isles and Flames/Canucks are the series to watch.

[TD's & Beer]

Ducks/Jets, Caps/Isles and Flames/Canucks are the series to watch.



Teams from the west don't interest me much, and I don't give a shit about the Caps.

Nobody is talking about Tampa Bay, I wouldn't mind at all if they win the east.

[X-Terminator]

Teams from the west don't interest me much, and I don't give a shit about the Caps.

Nobody is talking about Tampa Bay, I wouldn't mind at all if they win the east.

Tampa Bay is a good team, but they have questionable goaltending. Bishop doesn't exactly inspire confidence. Anyway, all of those series are preferable to watching the Penguins be embarrassed by the Rangers. I'm thinking about not watching a single second of that massacre.

[TD's & Beer]

Tampa Bay is a good team, but they have questionable goaltending. Bishop doesn't exactly inspire confidence. Anyway, all of those series are preferable to watching the Penguins be embarrassed by the Rangers. I'm thinking about not watching a single second of that massacre.

you never know - it's the playoffs

I like seeing all the Canadian clubs fighting it out early - tears will be shed up in the great white north, ha ha

[TD's & Beer]

just like I predicted - Habs/Sens game awesomo! - 0 yeah - what a wild ass start to the series!

crowd amped up sky high, great atmosphere, goals galore, a beat down brawling game to the end - Habs win 4-3


Isles blow out the lame Caps and Hawks come back from 0-3 to tie it up - they are pounding the shit out of each other in this one too

2 OT in Nashville now

what a game

Chicago wins in a heartbreaker for the Preds, Neal throwing up lots of shots, but no luck


Flames win in the final 30 sec in a sloppy slopfest of a game 2-1 - good - I couldn't handle another OT

[TD's & Beer]

I'm watching these playoff games in Nashville and Montreal and the level of urgency/desperation on every shift.... was out of this world.
Wow. I hope the Pens bring the same energy.

[salamander]

I'm watching these playoff games in Nashville and Montreal and the level of urgency/desperation on every shift.... was out of this world.
Wow. I hope the Pens bring the same energy.

I wouldn't count on that. When was the last time the Pens showed any desperation in an important game?

[zulater]

I'm looking forward to tonight's game. Absolutely zero pressure. Usually I'm so worried about them coming out and losing home ice in the first game of a playoff series. Not this time. When the worst is expected the worse you can do is live down to expectations. :lol: Who knows maybe the Penguins will be relaxed and go at it with a devil may care attitude, and maybe the Rangers will be uptight? :noidea:

Oh well I'm certainly tuning in. Maybe Malkin or Crosby can come up with a magical moment, even if they don't win?

Here we go Penguins here we go! :tt02:-

[TD's & Beer]

damn right Zu!

GO PENS!

new blood


Harrington, Chorney, and Dumoulin interview


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CCqRqg0UkAA7n9T.png


http://video.penguins.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=912&id=808111&cmpid=pit-twt-penguins

[X-Terminator]

Pouliot and Ehrhoff are out tonight, meaning Dumoulin and Chorney are in, and will probably be a pairing since they played together in WBS.

[TD's & Beer]

No repercussions for Subban slashing/breaking a guy's wrist

http://www.tsn.ca/subban-cameron-face-no-punishment-after-game-1-1.258580



Goon it up!

Send Downie after Staal!

[SteelMember]

No repercussions for Subban slashing/breaking a guy's wrist

http://www.tsn.ca/subban-cameron-face-no-punishment-after-game-1-1.258580



Goon it up!

Send Downie after Staal!

Should have been suspended a least 1 game if not 2. That was obvious malicious intent, imo.

[X-Terminator]

I dunno, I thought Stone embellished it. :noidea:

[venom]

Good Luck to your Pens in the series -

Lets Go Rangers !!!
https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS3Pnc5rj3KFNYrv_PeAluJWDdeZ-0jQBFcmRdRi9djqqzAXjHSbw

[SteelMember]

I dunno, I thought Stone embellished it. :noidea:

His reaction, no matter the opinion, doesn't change the fact. He was chopping some lumber on that swing.

- - - Updated - - -


Good Luck to your Pens in the series -

Lets Go Rangers !!!
https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS3Pnc5rj3KFNYrv_PeAluJWDdeZ-0jQBFcmRdRi9djqqzAXjHSbw

You too. Maybe we'll show up for at least one game.

[X-Terminator]

I'm looking forward to tonight's game. Absolutely zero pressure. Usually I'm so worried about them coming out and losing home ice in the first game of a playoff series. Not this time. When the worst is expected the worse you can do is live down to expectations. :lol: Who knows maybe the Penguins will be relaxed and go at it with a devil may care attitude, and maybe the Rangers will be uptight? :noidea:

Oh well I'm certainly tuning in. Maybe Malkin or Crosby can come up with a magical moment, even if they don't win?

Here we go Penguins here we go! :tt02:-

I doubt it. It's great that you have faith, but I just don't see things being any different. I don't think they can just automatically flip a switch and turn into a hard-nosed, gritty, competitive team when most of the season, they've been the complete opposite. Not to mention, they are banged up big time. Like I said, I won't be watching the game, but I will be recording it to watch later on.

[TD's & Beer]

His reaction, no matter the opinion, doesn't change the fact. He was chopping some lumber on that swing.


It should have been a penalty, for slashing, the ref freaked out when he went down like a ton of bricks and kicked Subban out of the game...that was a very iffy call.

- - - Updated - - -

Dave Molinari @MolinariP (https://twitter.com/MolinariPG)G
Ehrhoff, Adams, Harrington, Wilson and Pouliot still working out on ice. Safe to assume they're Game 1 scratches.

[SCSTILLER]

28 seconds

[Lady Steel]

588851690796888066


Do the Pens know this is the playoffs?

[vader29]

Do the Pens know this is the playoffs?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3-eavMSBnk

[TD's & Beer]

The boys are trying, but they are just overmatched with the speed and skill of the Rangers. Pens are taking penalties left and right trying to keep up with them

Fleury sucking doesn't help either

[Lady Steel]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3-eavMSBnk

That makes me laugh every time. :lol:

[salamander]

Raise your hand if your saw this coming. *raises hand* :chuckle:

[Lady Steel]

The Pens are back in it. Let's gooooooo!

[SCSTILLER]

Kunitz is a turnover machine

[TD's & Beer]

The boys showing some life getting to the net. Getting a little gritty out there. Keep it up.

[TD's & Beer]

Very entertaining game - I was pleased with their effort

[X-Terminator]

But they still lost. At least they didn't embarrass themselves completely. Still see them getting swept.

[TD's & Beer]

Fuck the Rags - keep smacking them in the mouth around their net, something will go in eventually, that's all we can do.

I love you Sid. But omg do something.

[TD's & Beer]

Meanwhile, my boy Despres having a rock solid game as the Ducks overpower the Jets - what a slugfest

[venom]

Great game last night. My boys have to stop giving the puck away. Hopefully the next game isn't this close.

Lets Go Rangers !!!!

[X-Terminator]

Great game last night. My boys have to stop giving the puck away. Hopefully the next game isn't this close.

Lets Go Rangers !!!!

They can give the puck away all night...the Pens won't do anything with it.

I unfortunately was forced to watch most of this game, as a few buddies and I went to the bar after martial arts class last night. It is pretty evident that the Pens have neither the speed nor the supporting cast to beat the Rangers. Everyone complains about Crosby not scoring...every time he looked up, he had Girardi and McDonagh in his face. It's a little difficult to score when you're constantly double-teamed, and one of your linemates is Daniel Winnik. The Pens MUST...MUST...improve their supporting cast if they are to have any hope of winning a Cup while Sid and Geno are still in their primes. Winnik is not a top-line player, and Kunitz is really KILLING Malkin's line. Why they insist on keeping him there is a freaking mystery. At this point, they should try Bennett with Malkin, and swap Perron over to LW. Would the line be any worse off? Maybe putting Bennett with skill players would get something out of him, more than the nothing they're getting from him now, because he simply is NOT a bottom-6 kind of player. Just get Kunitz off that line!

[TD's & Beer]

. Everyone complains about Crosby not scoring...every time he looked up, he had Girardi and McDonagh in his face. It's a little difficult to score when you're constantly double-teamed, and one of your linemates is Daniel Winnik. The Pens MUST...MUST...improve their supporting cast if they are to have any hope of winning a Cup while Sid and Geno are still in their primes. Winnik is not a top-line player, and Kunitz is really KILLING Malkin's line. Why they insist on keeping him there is a freaking mystery. At this point, they should try Bennett with Malkin, and swap Perron over to LW. Would the line be any worse off? Maybe putting Bennett with skill players would get something out of him, more than the nothing they're getting from him now, because he simply is NOT a bottom-6 kind of player. Just get Kunitz off that line!

I totally agree - you took the words right outta my mouth .

Kunitz doesn't deserve a spot in the top 6. They keep shuffling his dead weight from one top line to another. Winnik sucks too, his spot on the top line is not working either. One of the biggest issues the Pens have is the inability to trust youth, and all that 'veteran presence' means is old, slow players.

The Ducks can scratch Wisniewski and start Despres, why can't we scratch Kunitz and give Wilson, Kapanen, or Farnham a shot ? Pens need a spark.

[TD's & Beer]

Rangers’ defenseman, Dan Girardi, left the 3rd period of Game 1 after taking a puck to the face, and did not return. His status for Game 2 is still up in the air.


Broken jaw?

[X-Terminator]

Broken jaw?

Either that or a broken nose. He could play with either one if he wears a full face shield.

[TD's & Beer]

no such luck

@rangersreport: Girardi on ice for practice, no shield

[venom]

no such luck

@rangersreport: Girardi on ice for practice, no shield

He has missed like 4 or 5 games since 2007 due to injuries

Besides , he plays in the NHL not the MLB . Broken jaw he plays the next game - bad manicure , a baseball player goes on the 15 day disabled list

[X-Terminator]

He has missed like 4 or 5 games since 2007 due to injuries

If only the Penguins were that fortunate. They've been in the top 5 or 10 in man-games lost in 4 of the past 5 seasons. This year 5th...last year 1st...2013 25th...2012 6th...2011 7th. And of course, the one time they weren't in the top 5 or 10, they made it to the conference final, while they didn't make it out of the 1st or 2nd round in every other season, including this one (yeah, I know...series isn't over yet).

[TD's & Beer]

how very interesting...


DK:


Friday Insider: Penguins eyeing buyouts

Barring some unforeseen reversal in the performance of one or more veteran players in these Stanley Cup playoffs, the Penguins are anticipating the buyout of one or more of those veterans’ remaining contracts this summer

I don’t have names, so please don’t ask. None were given.
What I do know is that the buyout or buyouts will be aimed at making the roster both younger and more manageable in the salary cap sense, and that other steps will be taken, as well. There was no elaboration on the latter.

Emphasizing again that I have no names for this, I’ll offer my own best possibility in this category as being Chris Kunitz. He’s had a miserable season, he’s 35, and he’s due $3.85 million each of the next two seasons, thanks to Ray Shero handing him a three-year, $11.55 million extension two summers ago.

http://dkonpittsburghsports.com/2015/04/17/friday-insider-penguins-eyeing-buyouts/

[X-Terminator]

Buying out both Kunitz and Scuderi would cost the team roughly $3.5 million per season against the cap for the next 4 years. With cap space at a premium, I highly doubt it will be both. Kunitz is probably most likely to be bought out - he would cost about $1.75 million per year over 4 years. In any case, IF it's true that they are playing a vet buyout, it's about damn time that they realize that they needed to get younger as a team. It would be an absolute travesty if neither Kapanen nor Sundqvist are on the team next season.

[TD's & Beer]

Isles blow it bigtime. Preds light it up against Chicago. Fucking Habs get all the luck and Engelland's brawl at the end only highlight for the Flames. Lots of good games

[TD's & Beer]

it's about damn time that they realize that they needed to get younger as a team.

they SAID they did - a year ago - observe:



Exclusive interview: Mario Lemieux, Ron Burkle

DK: The root of any successful franchise is the draft. How big of a problem was the drafting?

Lemieux: It’s a problem. We’ve drafted well on defense. We’ve got some great prospects coming up, guys who are still in Wilkes-Barre, in juniors. We haven’t done as well at forward, obviously, but we’ve got some defensemen, some young guys we feel can step in over the next year or two.

DK: Why wouldn’t there have been a recognition earlier on that this team wasn’t tough? I mean, you could see in training camp that wasn’t the case.

Lemieux: (Shrugs)

DK: Is this roster too old?

Burkle: That’s part of what we’re talking about right now with the younger guys. You can look at the draft and say what we did or didn’t do, but we’ve got forwards and D-men who we have drafted and didn’t always take advantage of them or done a lot with them. So we have ended up with an older team. When we do see our younger guys, we see a lot more energy, a lot more of what we’d like to see in our game. So maybe those guys at the Garden were playing a little bit ahead of their ability. They made up with their energy.

Burkle: Frankly, the salary cap situation is going to drive that anyway. With a cap system, you can’t just have a bunch of senior people on the team. You can’t afford to.

DK: On that note, this team has been guilty, at least in my estimation of not giving its younger players a chance. I’m not going to paint Simon Despres as Bobby Orr, but he didn’t get a chance. It’s the regular season, you’re on your way to 51 wins, and no one ever found about the kid, you know?

Lemieux: Yeah.

Burkle: Agree with that 100 percent.

(when asked about players such as Despres)

Burkle: On and on and on. So we haven’t given those younger guys a chance. We haven’t gotten that right mix on the ice.

We’re a team that’s been talking about finding forwards for Sidney all this time. We haven’t been drafting those forwards, and we’ve given up some younger players along the way. That has to change.

(more)

http://blog.triblive.com/dejan-kovacevic/2014/05/16/exclusive-interview-mario-lemieux-ron-burkle/

----------------------

so after all that talk about getting younger, they went and traded away Despres anyway - so who is running this ship?

Ownership must not care too much that management has gone against what they said last summer.

[TD's & Beer]

this is the one we need to win...... get the momentum, and then head home for two......it's all good - it's playoff hockey - I love it

http://img.pandawhale.com/post-41495-hockey-baby-gif-Imgur-pumped-u-ef62.gif

[X-Terminator]

so after all that talk about getting younger, they went and traded away Despres anyway - so who is running this ship?

Ownership must not care too much that management has gone against what they said last summer.

It's well-documented that ownership allows management almost complete autonomy. They don't like to get involved in player personnel decisions. However, since JR has to report to Morehouse, who, in turn, speaks for ownership, they'd have had to sign off on that trade. Therefore, what they said in that interview was complete BS, and I personally won't believe they are serious about getting younger until I see it happen. Never judge the Penguins' brass on what they say. Judge them on what they do.

[TD's & Beer]

I see no change in the line-up or lines tonight from Game 1 ...going on faith, I guess


http://41.media.tumblr.com/974556943d4f608845ba1de3317b40af/tumblr_nlqtwvtJDS1txyx4lo1_540.png

[venom]

I'm off to the game tonight - Good Luck to your Pens ( but not that much , lol )

Lets Go Rangers !!!

[TD's & Beer]

Have fun at the game! Don't forget to wear your SU t-shirt and wave!


Rossi stirring up shit in the Trib?


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CC11HqQWgAAVzeQ.jpg

[X-Terminator]

Watching the Pirates and WBS Penguins instead. I've officially stopped caring about this series.

[TD's & Beer]

fuck the Rangers - they ain't shit

[SCSTILLER]

The Pens are killing themselves. Two goals, Two penalties immediately afterwards. It's like they don't want to win.

[salamander]

I'm one hat short now thanks to Jayson Megna's hattrick for WBS tonight. Totally worth it! Oh, and Zatkoff sucks.

[TD's & Beer]

ha ha

Kunitz proved me wrong for once and finally scored but there's a whole crew of gonna be wrong about the Pens being swept

Want some crow?


Rangers suck

[TD's & Beer]

A glorious win! - praise all around - let me count the ways.

PK was absolutely brilliant - Sid took a shot to the mouth and came out fired up and buries a couple, finally. Way to go Sid!!!!!!

Fleury>>>>>Hank!!!

All heart and guts tonight - I couldn't be happier. We got em right where we want them - Pens in 5!!!

[TD's & Beer]

and since I haven't bitched about the refs all year - they deserve some shit now ....they totally sucked

this brutal headshot deserved more than 2 min - it was worse than Subban's slash, by a lot.

https://twitter.com/myregularface/status/589619833068748801

and that blindside hit on Sid is called 99.9999% of the time

http://memecrunch.com/meme/68ZHE/nhl-refs-suck/image.png?w=500&c=1

[vader29]

I still don't understand the no call on Scuderi getting his nose busted up in game 1 with a high stick, but oh well. I wish they would have had Lapierre miked up when Pierre McGuire said he was doing play by play to the Rangers bench on one of the Pens power plays in the second period.

[TD's & Beer]

I still don't understand the no call on Scuderi getting his nose busted up in game 1 with a high stick, but oh well. I wish they would have had Lapierre miked up when Pierre McGuire said he was doing play by play to the Rangers bench on one of the Pens power plays in the second period.

Scuds got hit with a stick in the follow through from a shot - it's not a penalty

yeah - Lappy was giving it to their bench - wish they had a live audio feed there

"You got him mad and now he's dominating..." - Max Lapierre on Crosby to Rangers bench.


I'm just happy that Sid was feeling good enough to do post-game and showed no ill effects.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKkfzNYsxUc


and since I'm handing out kudos - Playoff Sutter is vastly different from regular season Sutter.


and of course I was wrong about the D - I expected the defense to be way worse. Dumo and especially Chorney have really stepped up.

[X-Terminator]

So they got one win. Big deal. Series ain't over. Rangers in 5. I'll only eat crow if they somehow win this series.

BTW Sal - Megna has really taken off since moving to the top line. Yeah, it's the AHL, and yeah, I'm still not convinced he can be a decent NHL player. But how can he not get a legitimate shot next season? He has 25 goals, with 17 of them coming since mid-January when he was moved to the top line. Even if all he ends up being is an OK 4th line center/wing, I'd be OK with that.

[TD's & Beer]

My beer is always half full.

ha ha - The Isles beat the Craps 15 sec into OT - yay - I'd much rather face them than the Caps.

but back to my praise bucket, I'd be remiss if I didn't salute Cole, he really shined, and Horny is just a beeeeeeast

[zulater]

Just taking it game by game. The Pens should be feeling no pressure. They're already playing with house money by winning one game. This series isn't as lopsided as people want to believe. The Pens playing with a short bench at the end of the year really impaired them.

I've enjoyed both games so far. Far from perfect, but I'm a hockey fan and I've still got skin in the game. So I'll continue to enjoy it while it lasts.

[salamander]

WBS Pens finished their regular season today and head into the playoffs next weekend with a 45-24-3-4 record and hold the 4th seed in the AHL's Eastern conference. Their series begins at home on 4/24.

[venom]

Rangers have to take advantage of these power plays - cant score . The Rangers are too fast for the Pens thus creating all these power plays . Big game tonight !!

- - - Updated - - -


ha ha

Kunitz proved me wrong for once and finally scored but there's a whole crew of gonna be wrong about the Pens being swept

Want some crow?


Rangers suck

Rangers suck ? You must be drunk or know nothing about Hockey

[TD's & Beer]

Rangers suck ? You must be drunk or know nothing about Hockey

Pens are gonna wipe the florr wit teh Dirty Rags - and I never post withouit drinking a quart of Crown first hahaha

Go Pens! Smack them in the mouth some more _ I hate all NY teams, they smell

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CBM06DiVEAAji8f.jpg:large

[TD's & Beer]

Just taking it game by game. The Pens should be feeling no pressure. They're already playing with house money by winning one game. This series isn't as lopsided as people want to believe. .

Exactly

I want to believe - the home crowd should be rockin'

@_ShellyAnderson (https://twitter.com/_ShellyAnderson)

Malkin said his game is about 84 percent. Would not admit to any injury. #Penguins (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Penguins?src=hash).

[TD's & Beer]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CDEZVu5W4AA1jXm.jpg:large

Penguins PR @PensPRLady (https://twitter.com/PensPRLady)

Beau Bennett is out of the @penguins (https://twitter.com/penguins) lineup with an upper-body injury. Scott Wilson takes his place

[venom]

Cindy really loves that elbow ! What defense ! Go Rangers !!!

[salamander]

One game closer to WBS getting their guys back.

[TD's & Beer]

Very entertaining game - could have gone either way

[zulater]

Pens are gonna wipe the florr wit teh Dirty Rags - and I never post withouit drinking a quart of Crown first hahaha

Go Pens! Smack them in the mouth some more _ I hate all NY teams, they smell

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CBM06DiVEAAji8f.jpg:large


What ever happened to the refs slightly favoring the home team? :frusty:

[TD's & Beer]

yeah -refs hosed us again - eh, too bad Pens couldn't play with the same urgency in the 1st like they did in the 3rd


but Pens hockey is always entertaining.....Rossi get jacked by Rutherford!

Ha ha!



-
After exiting a media elevator and while walking with other reporters to the Penguins' dressing room, Rutherford addressed this columnist, a frequent critic since his hiring last June, in an obscenity-laced diatribe.


“Thanks for your support,” Rutherford said repeatedly.


“You're fucking jerk,” Rutherford said repeatedly.


Rutherford followed the jerk comment with a suggestion to “go sell ice cream now”


My role is to provide opinion.


“Well, your opinion is shit ” Rutherford said


http://triblive.com/sports/robrossi/8209495-74/rutherford-penguins-final#axzz3XxL2rFxa

[X-Terminator]

Rossi is a joke and a moron. I still can't figure out for the life of me how the guy still has a job. It doesn't matter to me if JR went after him first - that column didn't need to be written. Dejan Kovacevic he ain't.

[Lady Steel]

590555413805985794


:chuckle:

[TD's & Beer]

Rossi is a joke and a moron. I still can't figure out for the life of me how the guy still has a job..

he's a knob, and made no secret of his love for Shero/Bylsma - and he was obviously pounding those keys in anger

I love the comments section the best

And you lack a spell-checker, Mr "Trib Total Media's lead sports columnist"

http://triblive.com/sports/penguins/8209495-74/rutherford-penguins-final#axzz3XxL2rFxa



hahaha - now the story is blowing up on the Rossi thing

Rutherford lashes out at columnist

Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford apparently lost his cool Monday night after his team went down 2-1 in their first round series against the New York Rangers.
Rutherford went after Pittsburgh Tribune columnist Rob Rossi who has been a critic of Rutherford since he replaced Ray Shero last summer.

While sharing an elevator together following the game, Rossi said Rutherford called him a "(expletive) jerk" repeatedly and told him to "go sell ice cream

A couple weeks ago Rossi wrote a column about Rutherford's failure so far as Penguins' GM and then wrote another harsh piece on the first day of the playoffs where he said it was Rutherford's fault for the poor season instead of head coach Mike Johnston.

http://www.tsn.ca/rutherford-lashes-out-at-columnist-1.262745
----------------------------------------

Dejan's tweets:

For the record, anyone portraying some Rutherford tirade is flat-out wrong. I was next-closest person and could barely hear him 5 feet away.

This was a conversation being held between two people clearly intended to be exactly that. Portraying the GM as vocally blowing up is a lie.

Larger issue here: One media outlet in town has a major hatchet out for one of the teams it covers. That's a real problem.

One last thing: It's a damn shame a good reporter/person like @JoshYohe_Trib caught in garbage like this. Wish he'd come work for me

[X-Terminator]

I knew Rossi was making some of that shit up. He has had it out for the Pens ever since his buddies Ray and Dan got axed, and DK got the big interview with the big 3 (Lemieux, Burkle, Morehouse) last spring, and he got left holding the bag. That "column" was just more of the same sour grapes. I was one of the commenters on his story calling him out on his BS.

[steelerdude15]

Rossi sucks. I stopped reading his articles.

[TD's & Beer]

Dressing down Rossi has been LONG overdue, but I can never forgive JR for trading away Despres.

yep - the story has gone viral- even hockey fans in Saskatoon Saskatchewan are having a good laugh

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CDIjVbqWMAAEd7a.jpg

[X-Terminator]

Don't faint everyone, but I'm now rooting hard for the Pens to win this series. Just to stick it right in Rossi's smug and arrogant face. And if it happens, I hope JR gives him the Stone Cold salute. :countdown:countdown

[TD's & Beer]

Don't faint everyone, but I'm now rooting hard for the Pens to win this series.

I figured I'd better copy that down before you sober up or change your mind.

gotta win tonight - they can do it _ I Believe

[TD's & Beer]

here we go...crank up the rumor mill


JIM RUTHERFORD WILL BE REMOVED AS GM THIS OFFSEASON

We’ve confirmed that Jim Rutherford is out as GM the minute the season ends, unless the season somehow ends in a Cup run.

According to at least two people with knowledge of the situation, Rutherford will be asked to resign to avoid public perception that the Penguins will have fired their second GM in as many seasons.

It is believed that Bill Guerin is the lead candidate to fill the spot.

Rutherford’s mishandling of the salary cap down the stretch is reportedly one factor that has led to this situation

http://thepensblog.com/2015-archives/sources-jim-rutherford-will-be-removed-as-gm-this-offseason.html

[Lady Steel]

New Rossi Radio podcast on @TribLiveRadio (https://twitter.com/TribLiveRadio) - his interaction with #Pens (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pens?src=hash) GM Jim Rutherford and the reasons he wrote it.


http://filesource.abacast.com/tribtotal/422ROSSI15.mp3




Now I'm hungry for a Blizzard... Must resist.

[TD's & Beer]

Oh, and the reason for the ice cream quip is because Rossi's parents own a string of Dairy Queens


or so I heard

[TD's & Beer]

Here we go

Josh Yohe ✔ (https://twitter.com/JoshYohe_Trib)
Not much going on at the skate. Looks like Wilson will play in place of Bennett again.

[Lady Steel]

591011946050281472

Puuuurdy. LET'S GO PENS!

[TD's & Beer]

1-0 after one

Oh baby, you know you know you love me, my pee pee is hard, we can do this

Let it be

[salamander]

Rangers tie it up.

[TD's & Beer]

what an uninspired effort

[salamander]

One more to go.

[zulater]

what an uninspired effort


I guess we weren't watching the same game? They just don't score, but it was certainly not for lack of effort. They competed hard. Just don'ty get good enough results. My guess is the Rangers are the better team. Certainly with the way the garage league enforces the rules it is anyway.


You know you can bitch about the deals that left this team short handed down the stretch, that put them up against the President Cup winning Rangers But with the exception of the first period of games 1 and 2 the Pens have given the Rangers all they can handle.

[KeiselPower99]

Same crap from this team for the last 6 years. New coach, new Gm, new group of guys but same results. This is crap. Rutherford was supposed to replenish our team and make it deeper through the draft, what has he done? Traded pick after pick for guys who have been invisible the last month. Crosby in game 2 is the lone bright spot. I wish we would have missed the playoffs, at least that way we would be spared the torture!!!!

[zulater]

Gee I don't know, but maybe losing Letang wasn't the best thing that could have happened to this team. Yeah I know injuries are part of the game, but losing him was huge.

[venom]

591011946050281472

Puuuurdy. LET'S GO PENS!

Looks like the Rangers house to me

- - - Updated - - -

[zulater]

Looks like the Rangers house to me

- - - Updated - - -

Don't come to a largely Pittsburgh site and kick us inn the teeth when we're down. You know damn well you're fucking lucky to win that game last night. Not saylng the Rangers aren't better, but nothing that happened the last two games or even for the last four gives cause for smugness.

[venom]

Don't come to a largely Pittsburgh site and kick us inn the teeth when we're down. You know damn well you're fucking lucky to win that game last night. Not saylng the Rangers aren't better, but nothing that happened the last two games or even for the last four gives cause for smugness.

I've been nothing but respectful to your Pens - scroll up. Wishing for a good series and wishing you guys luck - Don't be mad

[TD's & Beer]

Our AHLers are our best players on D, might as well bring Kapanen, Megna, Farnham...whoever, up. Let them try and score our 1 goal a game.

[TD's & Beer]

I guess we weren't watching the same game? They just don't score, but it was certainly not for lack of effort.

OK - maybe effort was a bad word choice - I should have said uninspired play....Just shoot the damn puck!!!!

Sid, 2 shots on goal, Malkin, 1 shot on goal - all night. Pens aren't going to win many games like that. Lappy had 3, he was an offensive juggernaut.

[SteelMember]

I agree with Zu. I think we are playing them tougher than most expected. Love em, or hate em, we are definitely missing Letang out there. Especially on the PP. And for those hoping for a quick exit or an I told you so moment... whatever. Those playoffs are less of a blip on the national radar than the NIT tourney or the Frozen Four. Outside of a handful of people, no one will even remember or care.

[TD's & Beer]

Colossal change needed? Be serious

BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC

Jim Rutherford isn’t getting fired. Nor is he quitting, barring something unforeseen.

I’ve been told that definitively, right from the Penguins’ brass.

Mike Johnston isn’t getting fired, either.

Heard that tonight.

Neither Sidney Crosby nor Evgeni Malkin is going anywhere.

That comes from the very, very top.

You know, when it comes to the Penguins, maybe the most simultaneously star-laded and starcrossed franchise in professional sports, the solutions that tend to get suggested for any problem, large or small, are gargantuan. And that’s probably not a coincidence. For years, the public and press — I’m no exception — would coo with every one of Ray Shero’s larger-than-life trades, and he’d seldom disappoint, at least if measured by headline font size. The answers would come in the form of Marian Hossa, Jarome Iginla, so many others. It was all big, big, big.

Well, larger-than-life solutions aren’t coming. They won’t happen this offseason.

http://dkonpittsburghsports.com/2015/04/23/column-time-for-colossal-change-please/

[SteelMember]

Just like any business, the minute they start saying 'nothing is going to change', the more skeptical I get. =P

[TD's & Beer]

Why is DK getting all the "leaks"? Where's Rossi?

[X-Terminator]

Colossal change needed? Be serious

BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC

Jim Rutherford isn’t getting fired. Nor is he quitting, barring something unforeseen.

I’ve been told that definitively, right from the Penguins’ brass.

Mike Johnston isn’t getting fired, either.

Heard that tonight.

Neither Sidney Crosby nor Evgeni Malkin is going anywhere.

That comes from the very, very top.

You know, when it comes to the Penguins, maybe the most simultaneously star-laded and starcrossed franchise in professional sports, the solutions that tend to get suggested for any problem, large or small, are gargantuan. And that’s probably not a coincidence. For years, the public and press — I’m no exception — would coo with every one of Ray Shero’s larger-than-life trades, and he’d seldom disappoint, at least if measured by headline font size. The answers would come in the form of Marian Hossa, Jarome Iginla, so many others. It was all big, big, big.

Well, larger-than-life solutions aren’t coming. They won’t happen this offseason.

http://dkonpittsburghsports.com/2015/04/23/column-time-for-colossal-change-please/

They don't need colossal change. What they need is to drop some of the dead weight (Adams, Lovejoy, Kunitz) and replace them with some youth (Sundqvist, Kapanen, Dumoulin). And a little help on the injury front would be nice. I think Martin, Ehrhoff, Adams and Downie will be gone for sure. Lovejoy might be gone, and Kunitz could be either traded or bought out. I see Lapierre (ugh), Comeau and Winnik all staying. Letang will be back, but Dupuis...I don't know. Thinking he might be done, which would free up an additional $4 million in cap space to go out and either sign or trade for a 2nd-line winger or a bottom-pairing defenseman. They should re-sign Taylor Chorney as well, just to give Harrington another year to develop. Sign Leblond to be their designated enforcer, or sign Jared Boll out of Columbus for the same role. He's not a bad player, either.

If I'm GM (and I guaran-damn-tee I'd do a better job than senile ol' JR), this is what my team looks like next season:

Forwards (13) - Crosby, Malkin, Hornqvist, Perron, Sundqvist, Kapanen, Dupuis (?), Lapierre, Comeau, Sutter, Winnik, Spaling, Boll (or Leblond), UFA/trade
Defensemen (7) - Letang, Maatta, Pouliot, Cole, Dumoulin, Scuderi, Chorney
Goalies (2) - Fleury, Murray

Lines:

Dupuis - Crosby - Hornqvist
Perron - Malkin - Kapanen (or UFA/trade)
Winnik - Sutter - Sundqvist
Spaling - Lapierre - Comeau
Boll/Leblond

Letang - Maatta
Cole - Pouliot
Scuderi - Dumoulin
Chorney

Not exactly the 1992 Pens, but at least as good as this year's team. It all depends on who they'd potentially go after for Malkin's wing. I'd love it if they went after Jordan Eberle, but I, personally, would try to get Nail Yakupov, put him with Malkin and see if Geno can get this kid to live up to his potential, because he has all the skill in the world.

[Lady Steel]

The Pens are going to win the next three games. :coffee:

[TD's & Beer]

They need a comeback miracle like the Bolts laid on the Wings


Down 0-2 with 4 min left they came back and won it in OT.


Wish we had a team like that.

[Lady Steel]

591739965874253824


LET'S GO PENS! You can do this!

[Lady Steel]

They tried. They really, really tried. :(

[SCSTILLER]

And yet another season wasted! Crosby may never even sniff Lord Stanley's Cup again

[TD's & Beer]

Chalk it up to injuries and try again next season.


Fleury should be Pens MVP.

[venom]

Rangers won 4-1 but didn't feel that way - Tough series Lets Go Rangers !!!


P.S. The Rangers still suck ?

#Becauseitsthecup

[X-Terminator]

I said all along that the Rangers were the better team. However, if the Pens didn't have so many guys banged up and had some wingers who could actually score, the outcome might have been different. Granted, I only watched 1 game of this series (game 1). I'll give them credit for hanging tough, but in the end, they just didn't have the horses to get the job done. I do think Fleury has silenced his critics, though. He played very well in this series (at least looking at the numbers), and deserved a better fate. BTW, he WAS the team MVP.

On to the off-season. Fire Jim Rutherford.

[TD's & Beer]

P.S. The Rangers still suck ?



The Rangers will always suck in my book

but you won, so congrats with that

[TD's & Beer]

On to the off-season. Fire Jim Rutherford.

I hope so

and here's a list of players who should not be invited back

Kunitz
Lovejoy
Martin
Scuderi
Comeau
Downie
Winnik
Perron

bring up the whole baby Pens team as their replacements

and DK says - no changes at the top


Rutherford and Johnston are staying. Both of them.

I reported that in the Friday Insider, having heard it from the very top. I can report right here that I also was told that after this game, by David Morehouse, the team’s CEO and president. In emphatic terms.

The Penguins’ brass sees this season as one that was lost to injury

http://dkonpittsburghsports.com/2015/04/25/column-these-penguins-could-still-fly-with-wings/

[TD's & Beer]

almost forgot

Go Ducks!

http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Simon+Despres+Anaheim+Ducks+v+New+York+Islanders+t mdEB_Qk_KJl.jpg

[Lady Steel]

I still don't care about the Rangers. *shrugs*

[zulater]

I wonder what the statistical improbability would be to lose 7 straight OT games? I understand chalking the season as a whole up to injuries, but is it fair to surmise their might be an underlying problem of leadership among the core players on this team?

[venom]

The Rangers will always suck in my book

but you won, so congrats with that

Thank you very much TD - a healthy Pens team could have been a different outcome. Let's hope Game 7 between Isles and Caps go into 5 overtimes ,
lol

[X-Terminator]

I wonder what the statistical improbability would be to lose 7 straight OT games? I understand chalking the season as a whole up to injuries, but is it fair to surmise their might be an underlying problem of leadership among the core players on this team?

You can have great leadership, but if a team doesn't have enough talent/depth, it's very hard to win. The latter is, and was, the problem with this team all season long, due to both injuries and lack of performance. Crosby, Malkin and Fleury can't do it all by themselves. Take away Staal, McDonagh and Boyle away from the Rangers, and it would hurt them. Big time.

[salamander]

For anyone who cares, the WBS Pens are up 2-0 in their opening playoff series against the Syracuse Crunch. They have outscored the Crunch 9-1 in the first two games. Matt Murray continues his awesomeness. Kasperi Kapenen has 3 goals in the 2 games so far. It's early but we'll see how it goes.

[X-Terminator]

For anyone who cares, the WBS Pens are up 2-0 in their opening playoff series against the Syracuse Crunch. They have outscored the Crunch 9-1 in the first two games. Matt Murray continues his awesomeness. Kasperi Kapenen has 3 goals in the 2 games so far. It's early but we'll see how it goes.

I'm interested to see how well Kapanen does. If he does well, then there should be no reason whatsoever why he should not be in Pittsburgh next season. Same thing for Murray as Fleury's potential backup.

[TD's & Beer]

thus begins our summer of discontent


Just by the way he reacted, Malkin seemed confused why he was asked if he still plans to remain a Penguin. #Pens

@_ShellyAnderson
Malkin said he has no injury that could require any procedures, just rest. #Penguins

Malkin said he wants to remain in Pittsburgh and believes #Penguins can win another Cup.

Letang said he's not worried about long-term implications of concussions, vows to play next season. #Penguins

Perron said he was playing with a rib injury. #Penguins

Dupuis says he wants to play next year, but it's not up to him. Needs a few more tests. #Pens

Maatta: "I'll be ready for next year, for sure." #Pens

Cole: "My time here was great. I don't think you can ask for a better room." Wants to be back. #Pens

Winnik says he also wants to be back. Has not had any talks yet. #Pens

Lovejoy: "I love Pittsburgh." #Pens

Comeau on why he struggled to score later in the season: "I don't know. I wish I knew."#Pens

Ehrhoff says he's still dealing with a concussion. Started getting better, then had a setback. #Pens
Ehrhoff says he has interest in returning to Pittsburgh, but has had no talks. #Pens

[venom]

Just a great save last night -
http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--s_TUaBw1--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/w9kb1p0vizdxcp9rcmre.gif

[TD's & Beer]

yeah - great save - but Bolts are tough though, they can score, I hope they win

meanwhile, Orpik and Niskanen were too much for the Isles

[X-Terminator]

NO MORE CRAIG ADAMS!!!!!!

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/penguins/2015/04/29/Jim-Rutherford-Penguins-were-serious-Stanley-Cup-contenders-before-March-injuries/stories/201504280188

Our senile GM finally makes a good move, and I no longer have to watch that waste of space put on a Penguins uniform again. Your old ass should still be in the unemployment line...or in a senior care center.

[vader29]

NO MORE CRAIG ADAMS!!!!!!

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/penguins/2015/04/29/Jim-Rutherford-Penguins-were-serious-Stanley-Cup-contenders-before-March-injuries/stories/201504280188

Our senile GM finally makes a good move, and I no longer have to watch that waste of space put on a Penguins uniform again. Your old ass should still be in the unemployment line...or in a senior care center.
About three years late. Next up Kunitz and Scuderi need to be replaced with some young blood.

[TD's & Beer]

"The first step toward sculpting the 2015-16 Penguins was taken when management informed right winger Craig Adams, whose contract is expiring, that he will not be brought back."



hallelujah

[salamander]

1st round sweep by the WBS Pens. On to round 2.

[TD's & Beer]

bye Wings


Go Bolts! - you are my new fav to win the east

[X-Terminator]

Wait, the NHL is still going on? Coulda fooled me. I stopped paying attention the second the Pens' season ended.

[TD's & Beer]

Wait, the NHL is still going on? Coulda fooled me. I stopped paying attention the second the Pens' season ended.

so that makes me a True Hockey Fan, I still watch - fuck the Pens, they better take my advice next year

meanwhile

Down with Canada!

Go Bolts!

[X-Terminator]

that's why you are a spoiled Pens fan

Not even close to accurate. I'm not watching because the sport is watered down, boring to watch and is NOTHING like it was even 6 years ago...and it wasn't all that great then, other than the Pens winning the Cup, obviously. But it was better than the horseshit they produce today. Once the Pens were done, I was done. I have no more interest in watching what amounts to glorified figure skating.

[TD's & Beer]

stop reading my subliminal messages

[TD's & Beer]

Hahahahaha!

Caps beat the Rangers with 1 sec left - now that's drama! 2-1

how ya like that?


Orpik and Niskanen too much for them

[TD's & Beer]

2-0 Way to Go - Bolts and Despres Ducks crushing the spines of Canadians everywhere

[TD's & Beer]

Despres was a total stud in his game - he's the only reason I keep watching - the Ducks and Bolts in the SCF!

I predict

[TD's & Beer]

Orpik and The Mighty Niskanen too much for the Dirty Rags AGAIN!

1-0


ha ha

[TD's & Beer]

The Orpik and Niskanen show thunders on!


Crushed the skulls of the dirty Rags again!


one more and they're done!


Bolts roll on too, just like I perdicted - one more for their sweep!

[salamander]

WBS Pens hea ding into triple OT in their game right now in their 2nd round series opener against the top team in the AHL. Time for Pittsburgh's young studs to step up.

[TD's & Beer]

fucking Orpik standing around under 2 minutes and lets them score

Rags that close to being out

The Despres Ducks looking good

[TD's & Beer]

Game 7 for the Craps/Rags - Orpik stumbling


My boy on the ice for the winning OT goal - how appropriate, Despres Ducks on to the conference finals!
http://www.trbimg.com/img-55503e1c/turbine/la-sp-flames-la0028681451-20150510/750/750x422

[TD's & Beer]

Bolts eliminate the baby seal pup clubbers


Canada weeps

[venom]

“We’re going to play our game, and we’re going to come back, and we’re going to play Montreal or Tampa”
-Alexander Ovechkin
http://cdn.barstoolsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Screen-shot-2015-05-13-at-11.45.02-PM.png?fa4b00

[TD's & Beer]

I find myself curiously satisfied that the Caps lost. Third time Orpik and Niskanen on a team that blew a 3-1 series lead.


Go Bolts! Go Ducks!


http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Simon+Despres+Anaheim+Ducks+v+New+York+Islanders+t mdEB_Qk_KJl.jpg

[Lady Steel]

598889917188599809

[salamander]

598889917188599809

The guy who runs the Discovery twitter account must be a Flyers or Rangers fan. :chuckle:

[Lady Steel]

Speaking of the Rangers, I can't believe they beat the Capitals, but am glad they did. I don't like that Ovechkin guy.

Congratulations, Venom!

[TD's & Beer]

Mighty Despres Ducks look unbeatable

My boy had gave up a sure breakaway empty netter goal and passed it to his teammate - he was brilliant all game.

[TD's & Beer]

Rags just got their balls crushed by the Bolts

Go Ducks!

http://imgick.nj.com/home/njo-media/width960/img/njcom_photos/photo/2015/05/19/-c0a8f03ac4dfaa3f.JPG

[salamander]

Lemieux, Burkle exploring possible sale of PenguinsPittsburgh Penguin owners Ron Burkle and Mario Lemieux have hired Morgan Stanley to explore the possibility of selling some or all of the NHL franchise.

http://www.tsn.ca/lemieux-burkle-exploring-possible-sale-of-penguins-1.299085

p.s.
I think it might soon be time to start anew with a new Tidbits page. :yup:

[TD's & Beer]

I think it deserves it's own thread - so I'll start one!