Comments on: !Blitzkrieg! of the Penguins

By: BruMagnus

BruMagnus — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 09:48:34 +0000

have more faith and stop being so analytical

did u expect TB or the Canes to win the last two seasons?

By: BruMagnus

BruMagnus — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 09:45:33 +0000

another idiotic comment from a moron

must be a Canucks or Leafs fan.

By: BruMagnus

BruMagnus — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 09:40:24 +0000

Furthermore, I'd dare to say that Crosby gets the LEAST amount of penalties called in his favour in the entire League. I have seen at least two dozen no calls on BLATANT penalties, I'm not even talking about the slight hooks that go uncalled, only to be called against a Gonchar or the likes wtih 2 minues left in regulation, I'm talking about high sticks to the face (knocking out teeth!), spears, foul hooks, and cheapshot hits from behind trying to injure him...

I'll bet this: IF CROSBY goes down with an injury, you won't hear the end of it from the player who did it, and it'll be ENTIRELY THE FAULT of the pathetic refereeing we are seeing. TWO REFS and they cant even figure it out?!?!?!

By: BruMagnus

BruMagnus — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 09:34:50 +0000

ppl who talk about them not retaining their key players in a few years are either (a) jealous or (b) idiots (or a little of column A, a little of column B). as is pointed out ages ago, ANY TEAM WOULD LOVE to have these players. IF IT IS DEEMED NECESSARY TO TRADE ONE, you can be assured it will be before they become free agents and for a HUGE RETURN.
As it is, the Pens have a very low cap, and could sign Crosby, Malkin, Staal and Fleury to max contracts and still be under the Cap. As it is, only Crosby and perhaps Malkin would command that in the near future.

By: kamullia

kamullia — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 20:11:40 +0000

Not in the system, you are correct. Although there are two or three prospects that might fight the bill. However, backup goaltending you can be sure is one of the things that Shero will have to work on during the off-season. I am almost sure that Thibault does not want to stay as a backup and I believe that most in the organization would like to have a backup type goaltender that can do a good job with almost no playing time, because Fleury’s games played I expect will increase even more than this year. Fleury simply thrives the more he plays.

By: CrosbyMalkin

CrosbyMalkin — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 09:13:47 +0000

I agree with all of that except that they do not have anyone, anywhere that I know of in the goal tender position. I do believe that they need a better back goaltender than what they have right now.

By: kamullia

kamullia — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 14:11:38 +0000

You pretty much took the same stance that I did, therefore I will assume your reply was really directed to Chef and you just happened to post it under my reply to Chef?

Otherwise, I will be glad to reply in more detail when I get a chance.

By: kamullia

kamullia — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 14:06:23 +0000

Although I have to say that it is a welcomed surprise how good the Penguins are presently doing, how better than expected their defense is, and how surprising (at least for myself) Jordan Staal has been, among many things to be surprised about, it is quite premature to think this team is ready for lengthy playoff run.

All in all, is not so much what they are lacking in the matter of players in certain positions, but their inexperience that I firmly believe will more than likely do them in a lengthy battle in the playoffs. Manifest of this experience can be shown just about everywhere in the Penguins roster, including their best player, Sidney Crosby. Witness the last game in Montreal of the Penguins, and see how the winning goal was scored in overtime, and you will understand what I am referring to. Or witness Mark-Andre Fleury, who is by a very large part, the main reason the Penguins are in the position they find themselves in at this point. Fleury has never thus far shown to be strong under the highest pressure games/series, having had unfavorable results during WJCs, QJHML, Memorial Cup and Calder Cup runs.

This year is not a year for the Penguins to make acquisitions, especially of rent-a-players at the price of prospects or up and coming players, but a year to get that experience under the belt for the young players already on the roster. After all, there are several players waiting to crack the lineup who might solve some of the perceived problems the Penguins have in their lineup.

By: CrosbyMalkin

CrosbyMalkin — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 12:03:44 +0000

Um, did you forget Eaton? The guy blocks more shots than anybody in the leauge and incase you have not been watching the rest of the defense is starting to take lessons from him and they are doing the same thing. Crosby even blocks shots. Orpik makes the ocaasional bone head plays but he is getting better on defense every game.

By: GoalJudge

GoalJudge — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 11:29:58 +0000

I did not watch all of the game, and watched most of the first period and maybe half of the remaining periods.

SO therefore, I apologize for not even noticing or remembering (which ever the case may be) that the game was in Pittsburgh. So I will give a little credit back to Nashville, a team I like that has quietly built a contender for years. But you cannot ignore the utter dominance that Pittsburgh has displayed in that last two or so months.

True, it is early to talk cup predictions, and no one but die hard Pens fans would have dared to call them for the cup this year. But they appear to be more than just a darkhorse now. I agree that while possible, it is highly unlikely that they keep this pace up. Only two teams I can think of did that and that was a HABS team from the 70s (I believe) and the Red Wings in the 90s. That aside, the Pens can go as far as they want. Like I said, and others have supported me, they are performing with a deminished D ( or non existant past 1-2-3 spots) and without quality wingers. So that supports my statement before that they can do better if they spend a little money or make some deals. They have some talented young kids for depth, Picks, and most of all CAP space, 10 million or so of it, to make whatever moves they want. Short of some exceptional play from some other teams, they could basically buy their way to the conference finals, if they choose too.

And look for Washington to do the same next year when Backstrom comes in to solidify Ovechkin's supporting cast.