GDT: Pens vs Stars: The Kids are anti tank

[DesertedPenguin]

Pionk without Samberg is going to be pain for some team

New brand of hockey. All goals, no saves.

 

[ThosePuckingPenguins]

Normally would get upset about a win when we’re trying to tank but that was a really fun win. Then of course a vintage Crosby game on top of it all. Won’t complain about that.

 

[Ulf5]

This McG kid is okay

#2 might have a bit more hockey iq than the last #2.

 

[Gurglesons]

McG - Sid - Marner
Peterka - Malkin - Rust
Eklund - M. Bourque - Koivunen
Novak - Lizotte - Dewar
Poulin/Ponomarev

Hague - Pionk
Orlov - Letang
Pickering - Timmins
Kolyachonok

Pedal down, full speed ahead, no brakes.

Imagine paying Pionk 8-9 mil over EK at 10 lol

 

[Fordy]

crosby wasn't some product of guentzel, not really surprised he hasn't missed a beat. guentzel just went to another ideal scenario

 

[Ryder71]

Normally would get upset about a win when we’re trying to tank but that was a really fun win. Then of course a vintage Crosby game on top of it all. Won’t complain about that.

Why would anyone complain about it? The Pens just beat a legitimate cup contender.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Imagine paying Pionk 8-9 mil over EK at 10 lol

Why you heff to be mad? I'm just having some fun.

 

[Empoleon8771]

If the Penguins would pull off Marner this off-season, I actually think they wouldn't be too far away from being a playoff team. Absolutely massive if obviously, but:

McGroarty-Crosby-Rust
Kouivunen-O'Brien-Marner

Looks like a top-6 that will still be playoff caliber in like 2028.

 

[End of Line]

I think one thing we can all agree upon is that Bob Wichausen shits on Sean McDonagh when it comes to the NHL on ESPN

 

[DesertedPenguin]

If the Penguins would pull off Marner this off-season, I actually think they wouldn't be too far away from being a playoff team. Absolutely massive if obviously, but:

McGroarty-Crosby-Rust
Kouivunen-O'Brien-Marner

Looks like a top-6 that will still be playoff caliber in like 2028.

In the fever dream where they pull off Marner, you know he's playing with Sid.

 

[66-30-33]

The more I see Crosby dominating at his age, the more I feel he’s going to be playing for another 5+ years

How many points does this Sid have at the end of his career?

 

[DesertedPenguin]

I think one thing we can all agree upon is that Bob Wichausen shits on Sean McDonagh when it comes to the NHL on ESPN

Wischusen is excellent. Just the consummate professional broadcaster.

 

[Ragamuffin Gunner]

 

[BusinessGoose]

I dunno. We would have had to score 6+ to win with our porous tenders back then

 

[Empoleon8771]

Those guys wouldn't be performing at this level had you called them up in December.

McGroarty looks night and day compared to where he was in October. He wasn't ready in Decenmber.

 

[Pancakes]

If the Penguins would pull off Marner this off-season, I actually think they wouldn't be too far away from being a playoff team. Absolutely massive if obviously, but:

McGroarty-Crosby-Rust
Kouivunen-O'Brien-Marner

Looks like a top-6 that will still be playoff caliber in like 2028.

Still hopeless unless the goaltending rebounds next year.

Tbh if the Pens had gotten goaltending this year they'd have possibly been a playoff team. The east is trash.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Still hopeless unless the goaltending rebounds next year.

Tbh if the Pens had gotten goaltending this year they'd have possibly been a playoff team. The east is trash.

I wasn't thinking next year, I was thinking in the 2-3 year timeframe.

I don't mean this to shit on Malkin, but I don't think you're fixing L2 until Malkin retires. You need to redo that entire line and I don't think Malkin will/should be a part of it for 2026-2027.

 

[Ugene Magic]

How many licks to the Center?

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Still hopeless unless the goaltending rebounds next year.

Tbh if the Pens had gotten goaltending this year they'd have possibly been a playoff team. The east is trash.

I think the east may be trash for a little while yet. The balance of power has shifted to the west.

Boston is clearly trending down. The Flyers and Sabres are rudderless despite some young talent. The Islanders won't get anywhere with Lou at the helm. The Rangers are primed to fully implode, and Dolan is an impulsive owner.

Make a few smart moves, add in an aggressive move or two, and continue to develop the youngsters, and it's easy to feel optimistic about a quick turnaround. No guarantees. Could easily fall apart, too. But it's easy to envision how it might all fall into place.

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

It couldn't have been worse that's for sure!!

 

[Pancakes]

I wasn't thinking next year, I was thinking in the 2-3 year timeframe.

I don't mean this to shit on Malkin, but I don't think you're fixing L2 until Malkin retires. You need to redo that entire line and I don't think Malkin will/should be a part of it for 2026-2027.

I doubt Malkin plays past next year. The only way I see that happening is if he plays unexpectedly well next year and the Pens make a surprise playoff appearance. If they're similar to where they're at this year then I expect Malkin would retire after his contract ends.

Anyways like I said you can make all the moves you want and assume the best for Crosby (ie, he maintains this level for another 2-3 years) but all that won't matter for shit if they get the goaltending they've gotten the past two years.

 

[Turin]

Remember when Ovechkin won the Hart in 2013 despite having the same amount of points as Crosby who missed 12 games? Man that was stupid.

 

[Pancakes]

I think the east may be trash for a little while yet. The balance of power has shifted to the west.

Boston is clearly trending down. The Flyers and Sabres are rudderless despite some young talent. The Islanders won't get anywhere with Lou at the helm. The Rangers are primed to fully implode, and Dolan is an impulsive owner.

Make a few smart moves, add in an aggressive move or two, and continue to develop the youngsters, and it's easy to feel optimistic about a quick turnaround. No guarantees. Could easily fall apart, too. But it's easy to envision how it might all fall into place.

Boston still has Pastrnak. They could rebound relatively quickly if they hit on the top 5 pick they're going to get this year.

But I agree otherwise.

 

[Empoleon8771]

The McGroarty/Guentzel comparison feels like a super appropriate one, they're obviously not carbon copies of each other but the comparison fits.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Boston still has Pastrnak. They could rebound relatively quickly if they hit on the top 5 pick they're going to get this year.

But I agree otherwise.

That's a valid point, but I don't trust Don Sweeney and Cam Neely. I think they're going to misread where they are and make some ill-advised moves. But maybe that's just cope and hope, not reality.