It always makes me laugh when PIT fans think Sheary, Rust, and Wilson are top 6 players. They aren't. The team got hot and went on a roll at the right time. Starting those guys in top 6 this year will be a mistake, teams understand PIT now, they know the HBK line is the deadliest.

When you play with two of the more elite centers in the league all you need is a shoot-first mentality, which all three of the above mentioned players have. Let me go through a quick list of expensive highly regarded players that have been brought in over the years that have been a complete failure:

1) Jerome Iginla
2) Alexei Kovalev
3) Alexei Ponkikorovski
4) Phil Kessel
5) Brenen Morrow
6) David Perron


My point being, as long as you have $650k point producers why change anything?

Sheary did look out of place at times(probably most of the time) but when you've got a good shot and get to play with sid you are more than likely going to be successful.

Rust is an NHLer but top 6 is probably pushing it. Again if he does the right things he could be great value for the pens because he will probably play with geno.

Wilson has the most potential of any forward taken before the 2015 draft. this is probably his make it or break it year.
Between these three guys (and maybe Kunitz can get something going with Crosby again) they should be able to fill out a top six. Its not ideal but its inexpensive. Id still be trying to trade flower and get someone who is a legit top 6 talent either in return or thru some other means, but if they can play the same style they were last year they should be fine.

LOLOLOLOL that you have Kessel on that list. Dude goes nearly PPG in the playoffs, comes within 1 vote of the Conn Smythe, and he's a "complete failure" I guess haters are always gonna hate.

As for HBK, I love Bonino and I love the fact that his chemistry with Hagelin & Phil allows the Pens to run 3 scoring lines instead of 2 but you're trippin if you don't think HMK would have yielded just as good or maybe even a bit better results.

I was referring to players brought in to play with Malkin and Crosby, and I would refer to the Kessel playing with either one of them was a complete failure. The trade wasn't made to put Phil on the 3rd line, it just worked and they stuck with it.

look at who kessel has had the most success with. Bonino and Bozak. straight line hard workers that arent overally talented or skilled. It doesnt make sense to me why malkin or sid didnt work but they didnt and bonino did.

The trade was made to add a dynamic point producing winger to the roster and that's exactly what they got. You can't predict how chemistry will develop when you acquire guys and who they will mesh well with, you just add them because you like what they bring to the team. It's just hilarious to see him listed with those 5 busts just because he developed better chemistry with Bonino than Crosby. I still maintain that he did have good chemistry with Malkin, but having 3 scoring lines instead of 2 is an advantage so why change it?