GDT: PRE-SEASON | Penguins at Chicago Blackhawks | Sept 19 | 8 p.m. | TV: ROOT

[Le Magnifique 66]

Engo didn't hurt Borts' cause. As I wrote earlier, they're going to be 6/7. Personally, I think you move Nisky and keep Despres. If he earns it, give Maatta his 10 game stint and see how it shakes out.

What about Eaton, you know he's coming back

 

[KIRK]

What about Eaton, you know he's coming back

Why is that sarcastic?

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

That's what will happen. What should happen is Nisky goes bye-bye.

Unless of an injury it's what makes most sense. Hopefully Shero gets a call from a desperate team that's ready to overpay

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

Why is that sarcastic?

Insecure

 

[WayneSid9987]

Pretty good game all around. Vokoun looked very good and Bennett made a lot of nifty plays. Sid still looks like he's on autopilot but that's not a big deal. Bortuzzo definitely stated his case.

Thought Mikkelson had a nice game as well.
Niskanen belongs no where on this roster.
Kobasew needs a contract.

Young guys showed some promise:
Megna and Sill stood out to me. Payerl not so much after all of the development camp hype.

 

[Your Boy Troy]

I did not watch the entire game, but I liked how Zach Sill played during the third period. He did a good job on the penalty kill, and he laid a nice hit.

 

[SHOOTANDSCORE]

I want this

JJ-Sutter-Kobe
Jeffrey-Vitale-DAg


But it will probably be
JJ-Sutter-DAg
Glass-Vitale-Adams

 

[KIRK]

I did not watch the entire game, but I liked how Zach Sill played during the third period. He did a good job on the penalty kill, and he laid a nice hit.

So, he's like a rich man's Glass at half the cost. To the minors he goes then. This team has no need for a player who can do on the fourth line for half price what Glass allegedly can do but never does.

 

[Speaking Moistly]

The puck didn't ricochet and hit Crosby in the face during the shootout, yay. Crosby scored, so there's that; he also got hit in the head (neck?) again, stop it.
Bennett was great and he scored in the shootout. Seriously impressive at times.
Kobashew looked very good, contract him.
Vitale scored, he got a penalty and his head met the glass... story of his life.
Vokoun looked sharp, for some reason I thought he was going to be a disaster in the shootout. I'm not sure why.
It looks like everyone made it through the game.
They seem to be slowly waking up.

Niskanen, bleh. Go away.

 

[Jaded-Fan]

Good to see that the Pens got to their game.

 

[KIRK]

I want this

JJ-Sutter-Kobe
Jeffrey-Vitale-DAg


But it will probably be
JJ-Sutter-DAg
Glass-Vitale-Adams

I still don't think Bennett in the top six is a lock.

But, if he ends up there, then I see Kobe with JJ-Sutter.

Either way, as things stand now, the team keeps 14 forwards, add Kobe and Jeffrey to the assumed list of 12.

 

[orby]

Kobasew is definitely worth a shot on the third line. Like people have been saying, he's basically a worse version of Dupuis...and since a Dupuis-type player would definitely benefit the bottom-6, i'll take it. He's playing very well.

 

[KIRK]

Good to see that the Pens got to their game.

 

[Nietzsche Zone Play]

I don't know what to think of Sill as far as being an NHLer right now, but I know that the guys who cover WBS think he needs more time in the minors.

 

[SHOOTANDSCORE]

I still don't think Bennett in the top six is a lock.

But, if he ends up there, then I see Kobe with JJ-Sutter.

Either way, as things stand now, the team keeps 14 forwards, add Kobe and Jeffrey to the assumed list of 12.

Yeah, I'm trying to be optimistic on that front but it wouldn't surprise me.

Signing Kobe makes the cap situation even more interesting.

 

[cygnus47]

So Bylsma's lineup:

Kuni - Sid - Duper
Glass - Geno - Neal
Glass (double shifted) - Sutter - Jokes
Beauner - Vitale - Adams
McIntyre

Niskanen - Niskanen
Orpik - Martin
Scuderi - Letang
Engelland

Really got the age and panicky, concrete hands going on.

 

[Your Boy Troy]

So, he's like a rich man's Glass at half the cost. To the minors he goes then. This team has no need for a player who can do on the fourth line for half price what Glass allegedly can do but never does.

Pretty much. With Craig Adams and Tanner Glass playing under Dan Bylsma, Zach Sill is AHL bound.

Zach Sill is a better skater, better at blocking shots, better in the face-off circle, better at dropping the gloves, better agitator and he is better with the puck as well. Sill deserves a spot on this team, he has proven in WBS that he is a solid grinding forward.

 

[JTG]

Kobasew is looking like a great find so far. Definitely will help this year

Depending on how he is used, potential is there. See if DB gives him pp time and 2nd line duty

I don't think Beau will score a lot at even strength. I think he could seriously light it up on the powerplay though on the left wall.

I'm still trying to get a feel on what kind of shooter he is. He doesn't seem like he's a Hemsky, but he doesn't seem like he's a Neal either.

 

[Darth Vitale]

If Bortuzzo is anywhere but our Top 6 I will lose all faith in this organization's coaching and mgmt, short of Martin. He is clearly one of our Top 6 D. Despres didn't stand out to me anymore than Nisky did so if we can't trade Nisky, send Despres down. Not a development move, just a cap move plain and simple.

I also remember tonight why I don't care if I miss pre-season games. Only the last one is worth watching as that's the one that usually fields a close-to-final lineup.

 

[ByeBye]

Signing Kobe makes the cap situation even more interesting.

Good point. So far we kind of assumed that Rossi was talking completely out of his ass and the Pens actually do have more cap space than it is known. Hence the scenario of sending Despres down in order to get compliant. If we sign Kobasew, that probably wouldn't work anymore, right?

 

[mpp9]

Beau will rack up points at ES playing with Malkin and Neal. Many of which will be primary assists on Malkin and Neal goals. He'll get enough prime scoring chances to bury 20+ of his own.

 

[Waffle Fries]

There's going to be a trade. Sending Despres down is not going to do anything to help the cap situation (even if we do supposedly have more, we still won't have Shero's 1M bonus cushion he likes), especially because it's obvious the Pens want to give Kobasew a contract.

Best situation would be shipping Nisky + Glass off to some poor souls. I don't even care about the return anymore. I just want them both gone.

 

[Jacob]

Bennett's release looks to be a lot quicker than it was last season. Seems like he's gained back his strength after the wrist injury and then some. Skating looks to be a notch better too.

I liked Bortuzzo, Payerl, Sill and Kobasew's games today as well. It may be incredibly short-sighted based on their ages and Jeffrey's potential untapped upside but I think at this point you sign Kobasew and move Jeffrey.

Kane was getting smoked all night.. he got crunched 3 times that I saw.

 

[domaug*]

i think the lines should look something like this (even though they most likely won't):

Kunitz - Crosby - Dupuis
Bennett - Malkin - Neal
Jokinen - Sutter - Kobasew
Jeffrey - Vitale - Adams/D'Agostini

Letang - Scuderi
Orpik - Martin
Despres - Bortuzzo
Engelland/Dumoulin

Fleury (blech)
Vokoun

Glass will probably find his way into that lineup as well as Niskanen, but they have to drop someone eventually because of the cap so i'm assuming they've traded Niskanen and waived Glass for this lineup.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

Glad to see Sill get some love.

Thought he had a good game. That is basically his game that we saw tonight. He brings that **** every night like Vitae which is why I want him on the 4th line.

Sill and Vitale would be a good grinding line, but Glass.

So ya, Glass and Adams because Glass.

Glass.

P.S. Glass