Z Hockey Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 So I've been looking at the Penguins, and honestly, I think the hype over them adding all this depth is extremely overrated, please read this with an open mind. First off they released the following players P. Martin-UFA, Ehrhoff-UFA, Comeau-UFA, Winnik-UFA, Lapierre-UFA, Adams-UFA, Chorney-UFA, Greiss-UFA Then they traded Kasperi Kapanen, Spaling, Harrington, a (Conditional) 1st, and another pick for Kessel, Tim Erixon, Tyler Biggs, and a (Conditional) 2nd. Then they traded Brandon Sutter and a 3rd for Bonino, Clendening, and a 2nd. I'm going to break down why the Penguins aren't really improved. Their 1st line LW in Kunitz had a down year in production last season, is another year older, and there's plenty of other teams with a better 1st line winger. Then they have D. Perron, he's obviously a great player but no better than D. Sedin, Kreider, A. Lee, B. Schenn, Galchenyuk, E. Kane, Tatar, or Beleskey. Then they sign Plotnikov and Matt Cullen, an unproven young Russian and a 38 year old who's ok now, is no upgrade on Winnik and Spaling. At Center, Bonino is no upgrade on Sutter, they lost PK ability, speed through the middle, grit, and Bonino and Sutter score basically the same amount. Fehr is just a more skilled Lapierre and also far less aggressive. At right wing, Kessel is a fantastic pick-up, but it obviously shows the Penguins did not have an Elite scoring winger, which many teams in the East and the league already had, they're no better now then teams like Philly, Tampa, Ottawa, or Detroit, who already had wingers just as good or better in Voracek, M. Stone, Kucherov, and Nyquist. Dupuis is another year older and playing on blood thinners, they lost a great 2-way shutdown D-man in Martin and a top puck mover in Ehrhoff and replaced them with an unproven Clendening. Yes Maatta is healthy but he won't be at a Martin or Ehrhoff level yet, same with Derrick Pouliot. They have no proven backup after losing Greiss and we all know about Fleury's playoff woes recently, Matt Murray was the best AHL goaltender but the Penguins said he's not ready. All in all I don't think Pittsburgh really is that great as they're being made out to be. (Sorry for the long read) (Post your thoughts.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostsof1915 Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 If I ran Pittsburgh I'd trade Crosby or Malkin and get a king's ransom of picks and prospects. I also don't understand why they would trade away most of their defensive prospects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nas19 Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 They have no proven backup after losing Greiss and we all know about Fleury's playoff woes recently, Matt Murray was the best AHL goaltender but the Penguins said he's not ready. All in all I don't think Pittsburgh really is that great as they're being made out to be. (Sorry for the long read) (Post your thoughts.) Fleury's numbers the last two playoffs: 2014: GAA 2.40 - SV% .915 2015: GAA 2.12 - SV% .927 He's the least of their problems. The Penguins biggest problems have always been depth and injuries. They addressed the depth issue but I highly doubt they'll have horse shoes up their ass like Chicago and be injury free. The Penguins seem to be cursed when it comes to injuries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gstank29 Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 Tampa Bay is going to win the cup next year, so who cares /thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z Hockey Posted August 21, 2015 Author Share Posted August 21, 2015 Fleury's numbers the last two playoffs: 2014: GAA 2.40 - SV% .915 2015: GAA 2.12 - SV% .927 He's the least of their problems. The Penguins biggest problems have always been depth and injuries. They addressed the depth issue but I highly doubt they'll have horse shoes up their ass like Chicago and be injury free. The Penguins seem to be cursed when it comes to injuries. Yeah? How did he play in the Boston series? 915 is good but not great and obviously the team in front of him wasn't good enough. Crawford is just good or OK but the team in front of him is very consistent and skilled. Fleury can not win them a Cup alone, he will crumble if all he has Matt Murray behind him right now, because the Penguins said Murray is staying in the AHL right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blueberries Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 Fleury's numbers the last two playoffs: 2014: GAA 2.40 - SV% .915 2015: GAA 2.12 - SV% .927 He's the least of their problems. The Penguins biggest problems have always been depth and injuries. They addressed the depth issue but I highly doubt they'll have horse shoes up their ass like Chicago and be injury free. The Penguins seem to be cursed when it comes to injuries. Have you watched him play in the playoffs? He chokes like no other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baka Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 Fleury's numbers the last two playoffs: 2014: GAA 2.40 - SV% .915 2015: GAA 2.12 - SV% .927 He's the least of their problems. The Penguins biggest problems have always been depth and injuries. They addressed the depth issue but I highly doubt they'll have horse shoes up their ass like Chicago and be injury free. The Penguins seem to be cursed when it comes to injuries. The numbers look good but in all fairness he only plays well against the Rangers in the playoffs. Last year was 1 round against the Rangers and the year before they lasted 2 rounds. He posted a .923% against the Rangers but a .908% against the Blue Jackets. Beyond him though I don't think they addressed the depth issue. The offense got better but they have had numerous #1 offenses in the past. The issue beyond goaltending is often defense and that defense only got more shallow this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostsof1915 Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 Have you watched him play in the playoffs? He chokes like no other. Ahem. And the all time winner (regular season). And an amazing call by the Leafs Joe Bowen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master Mind Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 IMO the Rangers, Islanders, Capitals, and Blue Jackets are all better teams than the Penguins. Offence is there, but the defence and bottom 6 forward group is lacking. I think they make the playoffs as a wildcard, but I don't see them beating any of those teams, or the top team in the Atlantic (likely Tampa). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintPatrick33 Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 Pittsburghs problem is that either Crosby or Malkin go missing in key games. The hawks in big games always seem to get a big game out of either Toews or Kane. When you have that much of your cap going into two players, they better be coming up clutch in the big ones. I think Crosby in the playoffs should be doing more, and with Kessel on his wing, he actually has a legit sniper. Should be at least fun to watch, but playoffs are a different animal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z Hockey Posted August 21, 2015 Author Share Posted August 21, 2015 Have you watched him play in the playoffs? He chokes like no other. Thank you Blueberries. Exactly what I'm trying to say Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elvis15 Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 Who said Pittsburgh was better than anyone else? They're a good team with two of the biggest stars around (and some other really good players as well) but there are other teams as good as or better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pears Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 If I ran Pittsburgh I'd trade Crosby or Malkin and get a king's ransom of picks and prospects. I also don't understand why they would trade away most of their defensive prospects. This. I think they would've already traded Malkin by now if he didn't threaten to go back to Russia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z Hockey Posted August 21, 2015 Author Share Posted August 21, 2015 Who said Pittsburgh was better than anyone else? They're a good team with two of the biggest stars around (and some other really good players as well) but there are other teams as good as or better. Everyone has been saying it and that they're going to win the Cup. Ever since Kessel, Bonino, Fehr, Plotnikov, Cullen, Clendening, and a healthy Maatta and Dupuis showed up that is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhippy Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 Better? Didn't they add massive star power like Morrow Jokinnen Iginla and more a few years back and...did less than nothing in the playoffs? They're as good as 29 other teams right now and I echo Ghosts. Trade Crosby or Malkin for an absolute wealth of picks and prospects right now (Edmonton Arizona Buffalo) and carry on that way properly and stop trading all of your defensive prospects. All of that star power and they do nothing. ever Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RUPERTKBD Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 Everyone has been saying it and that they're going to win the Cup. Ever since Kessel, Bonino, Fehr, Plotnikov, Cullen, Clendening, and a healthy Maatta and Dupuis showed up that is. I honestly haven't heard that (although I don't pay a lot of attention to pre-season hype, other than the Canucks) I think the Pens are a pretty good team, but are not a Cup favorite. If Flower goes on some kind of roll, I could see them going depp in the playoffs, but I don't believe the extra offense that Kessel provides will offset the team's other problems. Personally, I see Montreal, T-Bay and the Rags as the top teams in the east, just like last season and like Master Mind said, the Caps, Jackets and Isles could take another step forward and pass the Pens as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMapleLaughs Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 Depends on the development of Pouliot and the resurgence of Maata. But they still look top-heavy and lacking in character guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elvis15 Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 Everyone has been saying it and that they're going to win the Cup. Ever since Kessel, Bonino, Fehr, Plotnikov, Cullen, Clendening, and a healthy Maatta and Dupuis showed up that is. Define 'everyone' - examples please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMapleLaughs Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 I wonder if Matt Cullen will work out for them better than Mike Comrie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Langdon Algur Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 If I ran Pittsburgh I'd trade Crosby or Malkin and get a king's ransom of picks and prospects. I also don't understand why they would trade away most of their defensive prospects. There is no way ownership would ever approve that, picks don't sell tickets, Crosby and Malkin do. Plus the chance of even a massive collection of picks or prospects turning out to have the same value of someone like Crosby is pretty slim. You don't trade the best player in the game unless your the Oilers and broke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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