Malkin and the Penguins

[Trooper 8]

I have no problem with releasing him because they want to develop younger players, more teams should be doing things like that. The only problem with that is the Penguins don't have any potential top line wingers on the team to develop at the NHL level. Eventually they are going to have to move one of their three stud centers to pick up some top-level wingers. It's going to be hard to bring in a veteran via free agency given the way the last few guys have been treated.

Staal has the most trade value I would think. I don't think the guy you bring in to fill that role is in the same situation as Recchi or LeClair (tail ends of their careers). You are going to have someone who is being paid well and who is going to get a lot of ice time for the next 4-5 years alongside Crosby or Malkin.

[Grave77Digger 1]

I certainly dont think of Malkn as a power forward, and I thik he does have better hands than Nash. But I may be under rating Nash.

[Chadd 916]

I certainly dont think of Malkn as a power forward, and I thik he does have better hands than Nash. But I may be under rating Nash.

Malkin reminds me of Mario but with more grit. He has all the skill in the world and is just going to get better as he fills out his frame.

[camhockey16 5]

I certainly dont think of Malkn as a power forward, and I thik he does have better hands than Nash. But I may be under rating Nash.

I don't think he is a better power forward than rick nash currently..

key word being "currently". nash is 218lbs and malkin is still 195lbs.

but people already can't knock him off the puck (ovechkin :P) and you know they are probably trying to get him to bulk up even more.

i would say comparing him to mario is a pretty good match so far - i wish i could say the same thing about jordan staal..

[Grave77Digger 1]

I used to think of Kovalev as a power forward in the non traditional sense. A powerful finesse player (when he wants to be). I remember him KOing Zhitnik in the playoffs one year. I definitly see the Mario comparison but am hesitent to use that label. One thing is for sure he has alot of raw talent that he hasnt even grown into yet.

[Penguinsfanatic 0]

well lets throw another swing to this topic, what do you think they have to do or who do you think they have to get to be a perennial playoff powerhouse??

[Bravada 442 0]

They need someone that can play with Crosby. I know that Mario made guys like Rob Brown into 40 goal scorers, but it seems like Sid needs someone that thinks ahead of the play like he does in order to be successful, they don't have that right now.

In order of most needed, I think the Pens need...

1) a scoring winger (right handed if possible)

2) a stay at home pure defensive defenseman

3) a strong goaltender (could be Fleury if he continues to mature)

They have the talent now to get into the playoffs and win a round or two, but they are still a player or two away from being a team that is going to contend for the cup.

[Jake 0]

I'd say a top-pairing stay at home defenseman (preferably a right handed one) is the Pens biggest need right now.

Another scoring winger similar in ilk to Sykora would be nice but, to me, isn't a pressing need. Christensen has skills and can play with Crosby if necessary and even Staal can convert to wing if needbe. And even when Crosby plays with Colby "no finish" Armstrong he still manages to put up points.. Offense isn't our most pressing need. If they wait, someone like Esposito or Caputi could fill a top-6 roll in time.

Definitely think our 2nd biggest need is a strong netminder.. As mentioned above, Fleury could be it. If not, they should start looking outside of the organization.

[gxc999 7]

im glad to see malkin playing as well as he is with the extra time he is getting since crosby is hurt.

i think he is starting to turn into a true power forward and i think he might even have better hands than rick nash. (just my opinion though)

Malkin reminds me of a stronger version of Alexei Kovalev, which is really a huge compliment. I didn't believe Evgeni could continue this sickening pace of points, but he has made a believer out of me.

[Fire0nIce228 1]

I think the number one acquisition should be a shutdown defenseman. Anaheim has a surplus of good d-men so maybe the penguins could get one (Pronger in a pens jersey would be awesome :))

I think the organization will wait a few more years to give guys like Fleury time to see if he can carry the goaltending and to give those Christensen, Talbot, Staal guys time to see if they really can play on Crosbys wing effectively.

[camhockey16 5]

well that kris beech pickup is looking pretty good in hindsight :D

to clarify - the above sentence was sarcasm because i saw that he was out indefinately..

dang internets - impossible to read sarcasm

[Fire0nIce228 1]

I chuckled aloud to myself when I saw that on tsn. However, he is playing alright. Its funny to think that a few years ago he was pretty much a top 6 forward for the team.

Glad to have Tyler Kennedy back. He and Sid play well together.

Opinions on the goaltending situation. Fleury only has a few more conditioning games before he comes back up. We can't just stop playing Conks. He has lost a few games and of course MT will give Fleury a start or two. It would be nice if he did a 'play as long as you win' type of rotation that Ottawa is doing. I think Conks and Fleury pushing eachother in net to play terrific could be enough to overcome our defensive dman lack.

[jeffw 1]

well that kris beech pickup is looking pretty good in hindsight :D

...and he's now out indefinitely with a broken wrist.

[Trooper 8]

I would be surprised if they went out and spent a lot on a big dman. They aren't a dime a dozen and you have Eaton for the long run.

[Chadd 916]

well that kris beech pickup is looking pretty good in hindsight :D

...and he's now out indefinitely with a broken wrist.

That's one way to prevent getting released again.

[Fire0nIce228 1]

Eaton is good, but he's never healthy. Last season he was out a ton and of course this season. I don't really consider him a shut down Dman as it is.. He's good when he's healthy, but he lacks the punishing hit that a Pronger or Phaneuf has that adds that final element to a shut down player.

I dont think theyll go get anyone big name this year. I think they will make a few small trades over the next season or two and see how far the kids on the core we have can do with just a few small changes. If after a few years they havnt gone deep or got the cup then i think they make the blockbuster for a dman if orpik or whitney hasnt stepped up.

The new arena factored with a big name offseason acquisition could make for quite an exciting season :)

[RSobkowz 0]

for a dman if orpik or whitney hasnt stepped up.

Whitney? Step up? LMAO. I've watched I all but a handful of Pens games since he came into the league and he's never once impressed me. He has great offensive sense and at this point I think they should just move him to winger. He is barely physical, most of the other teams forwards can out muscle him for the puck, and he never seems to have any clue what to do defensively. Letang is still green and makes some rookie mistakes but he does have defensive sense and can put a guy on his backside so if we packaged Whitney up and move him I wouldn't exactly be heartbroken.

[Penguinsfanatic 0]

I really do think one of the things they need is a big strong d man who can land punishing hits, protect the playmakers, and still help offensively without giving up too many penalties ya know....i guess to sum it all up they need an elite defenseman or two, and their starting goalie (Fleury) to win big games and put up numbers like he did last year but do it year after year like Brodeur, Luongo, Hasek, or even Osgood....and i know what you all will say more like Ossucks.....but despite what you say he is an excellent goalie just look at his stats

Thats kinda what i think they need to step it up in the playoffs maybe throw in another secondary scorer to accent Malkin and Crosby

[Chadd 916]

The really amazing thing about Malkin's run with Crosby out is that other teams don't have to worry about stopping any of the other lines. They can put their best defensemen out against Malkin and he's still tearing it up.

[Trooper 8]

I really do think one of the things they need is a big strong d man who can land punishing hits, protect the playmakers, and still help offensively without giving up too many penalties ya know....

Um, these kind of guys aren't a dime a dozen and they aren't cheap. You have to sign Malkin long-term, Staal, Fleury, and Whitney(?). Your defense is adequate and not the reason you lose games. I think a dman like this is down on the list. If Eaton could stay healthy you would be fine.

[chef_ducky 0]

Put Crosby second line and Malkin 1st.

That is my thoughts, what does everyone else think?

[mik3 1]

So Sid's not playing tonight but it looks like he might go Thursday up in Montreal.

And about line number, it doesn't matter who starts the game really. Though they might get split up on the PP now.

[Chadd 916]

They don't have enough talented wingers to have two good lines. Maybe they could get one for Fleurry or Staal.

[camhockey16 5]

geno took over the scoring lead by a point tonight..

although now ovechkin will probably have like a hat trick the next game but im sure he will enjoy it for the time being.

[Fire0nIce228 1]

Genos been lighting it up ever since Ovy tried to hit him lol