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pensfan21

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Forum: Armchair-GMOct. 22, 2023 at 11:07 a.m.
Thread: Team Vibes and Lines I Would Try
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>pensfan21</b></div><div>Agree with mostly everything you said. I think the bottom 6 being low event hockey is fine for right now and definitely no reason to panic. But I do feel it will have to change at some point. I think the bottom 6 will look very different after TDL. I really want to see Poulin and Zohorna get shots down there. I think White would be ideally better for the 4th line. He was good enough to play on Florida's throughout playoffs last year so he's definitely good enough for ours. I do think the bottom 6 though will have to start to chip in offensively or have some high energy players who can change the momentum of games. I think Eller, Acciara, Poulin, Zohorna is a good start there with 1-2 more players to round it out at deadline maybe. If we can fix 3rd line and get a defensive defenseman to protect our net I think were a legit cup contender.

I do wonder whether Rakell gets dealt around deadline. We are just so cap strapped right now I don't know how else we would make a move given everyone else in top 6 is untouchable. If we used that 5 mil to get someone like Vrana at half retained and 1-2 more bottom 6 players we'd be in really great shape. I don't support this at all right now, I expect Rakell to bounce back. He's one of my favorite players on the team. I just wonder who else Dubas would move at deadline. There's no one else we have to clear for cap space that would be a realistic option. Just a thought I had more than a recommendation.</div></div>

Very interesting take on rakell but it is definitely valid. He was so dynamite last year but has been so underwhelming to start this year. I think he will click with smith and geno at some point, but if not I think you have to take him off that line. Rakell looked very good on the third line during pre season, what if we tried that, or else tried

Rakell-Crosby-Rust

Smith-Geno-Guentzel

Regardless I think dubas is already looking for our Ivan Barbashev.
Forum: Armchair-GMOct. 16, 2023 at 9:11 a.m.
Thread: My Roster and Lines
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>pensfan21</b></div><div>Agree 100%. I don't think we are there yet with coaching either. Need to see at least like 10-15 more games. I'm hoping that defensive collapse against Chicago was more of a one off.

Agree on the middle ground thing. It might be though that they get tired and simply can't have the foot on the gas 100% of a game. Which is very understandable, considering only the most elite skating teams really can. Hopefully it just isn't a problem anymore. If it is though then I would be completely fine with 80% just nonstop offense and trying to score and then going into shutdown mode last period or half of a period. My only concern is against teams like New Jersey and Edmonton that are elite skating teams. I think changing up the strategy a little based on opponent and time in the game could be good.</div></div>

Yeah I would definitely give Sully some time to figure it out of course - and based on the past 2 games maybe he is? Whatever in game adjustments he made after the 1st in the Caps game and after the 2nd in the Flames game seemed to work. That's a positive sign.

That's a good point - maybe they don't have the skating ability to be on the gas 100% throughout the whole game. And in that case need to focus on a shutdown defensive strategy for when they have leads later in a game.
Forum: Armchair-GMOct. 13, 2023 at 9:16 a.m.
Thread: My Roster and Lines
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>pensfan21</b></div><div>Agree with this. I think it reflects badly on coaching when we have a completely new roster, part of it specifically retooled to help defend in late game situations, and they lose the exact same way as last year. If they just lost I wouldn't be concerned, but the way they did concerns me. I don't want to panic yet, but I think it's something to keep an eye on. If it continues I'd consider a coaching change, I think Dubas would have to. It's a much easier solution than a massive roster turnover which can't be done. I just think we need to implement a defensive/trap system. Not 100% of the time, but for when we have leads or when were playing super super fast teams.</div></div>

Agreed. It was some traumatic flashbacks to last season for Pens fans lol.

I go back and forth. Part of me just wants to keep playing the same way when they have a lead - because that's what got them the lead in the first place. Part of me wants to go complete shutdown. I feel like they seem to do this weird middle ground where they take their foot of the gas - but also don't(or can't) play a defensive/trap system. And that definitely reflects poorly on the coach. A coaching change should definitely be an option that's discussed if this keeps happening - maybe not quite there yet though.
Forum: Armchair-GMOct. 11, 2023 at 12:14 p.m.
Thread: My Roster and Lines
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Mr_Gardoki</b></div><div>I said well before this season started that the first two months are going to be rocky until this teams finds it's groove. They literally overhauled HALF the team. Sully needs to give things time before juggling. These guys need to build chemistry, or at least time to see if they can. If you start throwing everything around because of the first game of the season this team will never find itself.</div></div>

Like I mentioned in the description - I made this earlier in the week before the game. I just forgot to post it. It's not as much an overreaction or calling for everything to be switched around/juggled now based on 1 game - it's more just how I would've started the season. And how I would've liked the roster to be broken down.

I'm not going to be all doom and gloom or calling for heads after 1 loss. However, I'm not really going to give them the excuse of new players/chemistry for that specific loss - as CHI is in the same situation. And I certainly hope it doesn't take 2 months to find their grove - they might already be out of the playoff picture by then if it does haha.
Forum: Armchair-GMAug. 10, 2023 at 1:00 p.m.
Thread: Put a bow on it
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>pensfan21</b></div><div>I like the Jones signing. I would also try and sign Suter depending on what's going on there. The only thing is I'm not sure Nylander brings enough offense to the top 6. I think he's a good player I just don't know his style fits the system well. Speed isn't his strong suit and wasn't great at finishing in the small sample size we got last year. Definitely he deserves a shot in camp and I like the idea of putting someone like that in the top 6. I think Poulin Pitlick and Hinostrozza would be good contenders there.</div></div>

Yeah I think Pitlick should start on the Crosby line while guentz is out. I would even like to see Yager play a few games there for a little test drive before going back to junior, who knows maybe he is impressive and sticks around

I think we can all agree that Crosby, guentzel, Rakell, smith, geno, rust, eller are 7/9 top forwards, now we just have to determine who the other 2 are and where they can play. Preferably whoever, out of the long list of hopefuls, can find some chemistry with Sid or Geno can play in the top 6.

I see you mentioned nylander is lacking in speed and I’m not disagreeing with you, but who, out of the list of hopefuls, is fast? I would say it’s Johnsson, Pitlick, Hinostoza, Yager, Poulin, puustinen, nylander, Carter, competing for those 2 spots. I’m not super familiar with some of these guys, but most of them are not exactly burners, to my knowledge
Forum: Armchair-GMAug. 9, 2023 at 9:56 a.m.
Forum: Armchair-GMAug. 7, 2023 at 10:43 p.m.
Thread: Stanley cup champions
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>pensfan21</b></div><div>It will for sure be fun, much better than last year for sure. I remember Matheson would make the games more exciting with his speed and puck movement and EK is pretty much as good as it gets when it comes to that so it's gonna be super exciting. I still have cup hopes though. Won't be devastated if we don't win, I know it's not super likely, but I think our D gives us a chance in any series. Karlsson and Letang being on the ice 50 min a game will give us a huge advantage over other teams. Once your in the playoffs too anything could happen.</div></div>

A healthy playoff team and goaltending can do anything. That top 4 could be someting special, but I still worry about the bottom 6 relying on the top 6 for scoring. Either way I want to see fun hockey for the last few years of this core. They didn't deserve Hextall franking up everything the last few years.