Comments on: Column: These Penguins can still fly … with wings

By: alphelps

alphelps — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 19:29:21 +0000

@Rbilak

No, he won’t come to be a 4th liner. I think the Pens would taget him to be either on Sid’s line or Geno’s line.

I say maybe also Geno’s line that was they both have that big bodied winger that gets in front of the net and causes problems, and Kap plays on Sid’s left, Perron on Geno’s right.

By: Peanutboy

Peanutboy — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 17:37:22 +0000

Impressive review, Harry, no lack of good ideas here.

However, I have to agree with Scott, if you can get Cole to sign for $850K, you ought to be a real GM instead of just playing one on TV. He was one of Pens’ best D in this past series.

By: Scott

Scott — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 12:44:08 +0000

If Lovejoy is making $1.1m next season, why do you think Cole a for #1 pick and a guy that actually played his way into top 4 vs LJ getting stuck there with 58 out is going to accept $850k?

By: Abdulmaliksteelersfan

Abdulmaliksteelersfan — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 12:03:08 +0000

Thanks a lot for good words! With a better luck there is no way the Pens would have faced the Rangers in the first round, most possibly it would be second round if at all.

By: jlgale

jlgale — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 07:21:37 +0000

This is one of the best columns you’ve written in a while, Dejan. Following my beloved Penguins from distant Chicago is made easier thanks to your talents. Shero really stymied us. Drafting so badly and tossing away draft picks. Yet so many think a Cup is our entitlement. I’m sorry, but next is full-out rebuilding year with a pretty good core of Sid, Geno, Flower, Horny, and Letang. If Kris, Duper, and Maatta can come back well, we could have a very good rebuild. Management has never faced tougher decisions. Most importantly, they need to keep Pittsburgh an attractive place to draw players like Ehrhoff and Comeau who want to come here and play for what is perceived as a high-quality organization. The young defensemen battling and holding the Rangers to 8 goals, one goofy goal at the end of our victory, and two OT goals made me very optimistic about next year. Finally, I thought our new, good coach really showed how he could adapt to terrible, debilitating injuries. His positive attitude was great. Serious changes need to be made next year. Making the playoffs is a good goal. Opening the first round at home would be unreal. Competing for the Cup in two years. “Good night, good luck, and good news tomorrow.”

By: Abdulmaliksteelersfan

Abdulmaliksteelersfan — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 07:08:26 +0000

I do not understand people who call for people’s heads in sports after only one year, especially when that year has not been remotely close to disastrous. The Pens made the playoffs after all! 14 teams were not so fortunate this year and more than handful of them haven’t sniffed playoffs for quite some time.
Give the guys benefit of the doubt.
Chuck Noll went 1-13 in his debut season, did not make playoffs until until his fourth season, almost went one-and-done in his first playoffs but for that Immaculate One.
I know it was football hockey may be different. But the principles should be the same.

By: Whovian87

Whovian87 — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 00:05:04 +0000

team87

Winnik was rather wasted, only good part really was the PK. second best to Lapierre. He played well with Sid but showed lack of skill and really was best fitted with wilson and Lapierre.

Lovejoy- just look at the other comments I’ve made, I’m sick of typing this stuff.

9 goals, almost 30 points, played every single game(only other player was Scuderi). Agree maybe not worth 2.2, but I’d say he’s worth pretty close.

And with Perron, he said today he was playing for a while with a rib injury, obviously not sever but I can tell you from experience that greatly effects how much torque your body produces. Not a full excuse but I respect anyone who will fight through an injury to keep playing for the team. Hopefully he heals over the summer and will shoot more upon return of October. If he does, he will be dangerous with Malkin or Crosby.

By: Whovian87

Whovian87 — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 23:59:01 +0000

Winnik was the only shaky trade Rutherford made. You can’t question the Lovejoy one because they played Lovejoy in a role he shouldn’t be playing. They were drastically low on defensemen so someone has to go there. And I’ll call BS on Despres all day. The guy was poor, very poor really since January. He was making dumb passes, silly turnovers, and was bad in coverage. Who knows what the off ice stuff was but whatever it was, add that on too. He wasn’t playing well and there is absolutely no evidence whatsoever that he’d be better than lovejoy was.

I’ll believe Rutherford wanting Botterill out when I see it. Haven’t heard anything of the sort.

As for the go for it now, what do you want them to do? They can’t wait 3-5 years when Crosby and Malkin are on the decline. It surely will make for some tough years down the road, but hey if they win a cup in the next 2 years doing it I’m all for it. They’ll have to try to find one in FA, and likely trade for another. If they are lucky they might find 2 in FA. Martin was far from a wasted asset. They shouldn’t trade a guy just because he is on his last year. He was valuable to the team, more valuable than he is ever given credit for by fans. If a team thinks they have a shot for the cup they aren’t going off guys like Orpik, Niskanen, and Martin, just to try to get some return.

By: Whovian87

Whovian87 — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 23:48:08 +0000

Pauldia

Thats fine if you disagree. Some teams are built with strength and power, some are built with skill and technique, and some are built with speed. The penguins under Johnston aren’t a power team. That’s not the style Johnston employs. If Johnston wanted that style they wouldn’t have Scuderi as the only true “stay at home” defenseman. If they desired big physical people, adams would’ve played, farnham would’ve been up, payerl would’ve come up. They don’t though. Johnston’s system employs mobile skilled defensemen and skilled, creative forwards. Physicality isn’t a bad thing, but when it doesn’t really fit the system then it shouldn’t be employed in large amounts. FInding hybrids of speed, skill, and physicality are rare and the good ones cost a pretty penny.

By: NYR Season Ticket Holder

NYR Season Ticket Holder — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 17:11:50 +0000

Appreciate the well-wishes, we’ll need a few bounces. The Caps mean our shutdown pairs go back to work on Ovie and the Isles bring all the NY/NY hoopla with it and they’re faster. Let em play 4OT’s tomorrow. We’ll need Zuc healthy and we should get Klein back.

Your young “D” gained a ton of experience during the series and you’ll leverage that next year.

Curious to get your thoughts on Malkin/Crosby? One thought here in NY is to take the “C” off Crosby and just let him play. If he talks to the officials less, he’ll bring less heat on the team – he may have talked to the refs too much and they’re going overboard to show they’re not intimidated – not that our PP takes advantage.

No major changes in your coach/GM – consistency for a year can only help with the top talent you have.