So what are our Power Play units?

[ron_duguays_hair]

Forgive me, but I'm far too lazy to look through the game thread.

Thanks!

[netwolf]

Not sure if you were asking about tonight specifically, or heading into the season in general.

The top unit was stacked with Staal in front, Satan down low, Crosby on the RW boards, Gonchar at left point and Malkin on the right. With Gonchar out, Malkin apparently will move to right point and I'm guessing Letang will get first crack at left. Sydor might get a look there if Letang falters.

Sykora might see time in Satan spot on the top unit, but right now it looks like he'll be on the second one. The rest of that unit is up in the air. Sydor figures to be there unless he gets on the first one, and if Goligoski sticks, he'll be there as well. You could see Eaton and Orpik get there on occaision as both saw time there in the preseason so far. I would think Fedotenko would be a virtual lock for the second one and Kennedy might have the inside track on being the center, at least right now.

[shmenguin]

crosby left point
malkin right point
sykora on the right boards as a shooter
satan keeping possession and sneaking into the slot down low on the left
staal at the top of the crease

it CAN, nay, it will work.

[Dickie Dunn]

The top unit was stacked with Staal in front, Satan down low, Crosby on the RW boards, Gonchar at left point and Malkin on the right. With Gonchar out, Malkin apparently will move to right point and I'm guessing Letang will get first crack at left. Sydor might get a look there if Letang falters.

In the game Wednesday against Toronto it was always Goligoski going with the first unit. Even when he was out on the ice for a 45+ second shift when the penalty was called and Letang was fresh, Goligoski was kept on the ice with the top power play unit.

[netwolf]

The top unit was stacked with Staal in front, Satan down low, Crosby on the RW boards, Gonchar at left point and Malkin on the right. With Gonchar out, Malkin apparently will move to right point and I'm guessing Letang will get first crack at left. Sydor might get a look there if Letang falters.

In the game Wednesday against Toronto it was always Goligoski going with the first unit. Even when he was out on the ice for a 45+ second shift when the penalty was called and Letang was fresh, Goligoski was kept on the ice with the top power play unit.

I saw that as well, but took it to mean "we need to see how much Goligoski can handle; let's throw the sink at him and see what happens." IIRC, he lead the entire team in ice time the night Gonchar got hurt. Wanting to get as much of a look at him as possible in a short time is the only way that stat makes sense. He's a great prospect, and has had a good camp/preseason, but he's not playing so well that he earned almost 30 minutes of ice time.

[Defence21]

The top unit was stacked with Staal in front, Satan down low, Crosby on the RW boards, Gonchar at left point and Malkin on the right. With Gonchar out, Malkin apparently will move to right point and I'm guessing Letang will get first crack at left. Sydor might get a look there if Letang falters.

In the game Wednesday against Toronto it was always Goligoski going with the first unit. Even when he was out on the ice for a 45+ second shift when the penalty was called and Letang was fresh, Goligoski was kept on the ice with the top power play unit.

I saw that as well, but took it to mean "we need to see how much Goligoski can handle; let's throw the sink at him and see what happens." IIRC, he lead the entire team in ice time the night Gonchar got hurt. Wanting to get as much of a look at him as possible in a short time is the only way that stat makes sense. He's a great prospect, and has had a good camp/preseason, but he's not playing so well that he earned almost 30 minutes of ice time.

More often than not, with young players, their given extended work loads for the reasons you mention, while some of the more proven players take a back seat. One exception might be Sydor, who likely will be used in additional roles this season, so he's getting extra looks right now.

[Defence21]

Oh, and for what it's worth, here would be my powerplay units:

Staal - Crosby - Sykora (until Satan proves his way onto the line)
Letang - Malkin

Fedotenko - Crosby/Malkin - Satan
Eaton - Goligoski

The way I see it, Crosby and Malkin could take turns double shifting onto the second unit to give that group more of an offensive flare.

The first unit should include Sykora, who, in my opinion, is deserving of the right wing role based on his season last year and his familiarity with the team. Satan shouldn't just be given the spot because of what he has done 2 or 3 years ago -- or because he is Crosby's winger, for that matter.

Lastly, I like Eaton on the second PP because he is solid defensively and is capable of making a nice first pass and also skating the puck up the ice. His roots are as an offensive defenseman.

[shmenguin]

Oh, and for what it's worth, here would be my powerplay units:

Staal - Crosby - Sykora (until Satan proves his way onto the line)
Letang - Malkin

Fedotenko - Crosby/Malkin - Satan
Eaton - Goligoski

The way I see it, Crosby and Malkin could take turns double shifting onto the second unit to give that group more of an offensive flare.

The first unit should include Sykora, who, in my opinion, is deserving of the right wing role based on his season last year and his familiarity with the team. Satan shouldn't just be given the spot because of what he has done 2 or 3 years ago -- or because he is Crosby's winger, for that matter.

Lastly, I like Eaton on the second PP because he is solid defensively and is capable of making a nice first pass and also skating the puck up the ice. His roots are as an offensive defenseman.

well this is the most plausible lineup (assuming gogo's in for sydor). this is exactly what i expect. but...

i still want my 5 forward power play

[purelebo84]

Satan-Crosby-Sykora
Malkin-Letang

Fedotenko-Staal-Cooke
Goligoski-Orpik

It would look a lot better with 55 and 19 present.

[André]

Satan-Crosby-Sykora
Malkin-Letang

Fedotenko-Staal-Cooke
Goligoski-Orpik

It would look a lot better with 55 and 19 present.

staal not on that first unit is a mistake. sykora is nice, if you want staal to get back to 29 goals, he's gotta be infront of the crease on the first one. otherwise he'll have the same numbers as last year.

Don't think top six minutes next to Malkin alone will get his numbers up from last year?

He'll be expensive enough to re-sign as it is, too

[AlexPKeaton]

Someone better tell Letang that he needs to be extra conservative with Geno on the other point lol.

[KG]

Crosby/Staal/Satan

Letang/Malkin

[Jimmy Straka]

this is a depressing thread without whitney and gonchar

[shmenguin]

this is a depressing thread without whitney and gonchar

is it?

losing gonchar hurts. but while whitney was more than serviceable, he's also more than replaceable (i mean, he was already replaced last year). he shouldn't be on the top unit when healthy.

and while we'd clearly be better off with gonchar, he's not without issues. he's not good at bringing the puck up-ice and i really don't know why that was ever the gameplan. whoever is taking his place in this department will be an upgrade (which is important since establishing the zone is the only real issue we ever have).

[Idoit40fans]

PP 1 = Malkin

That is all.

[Mongoose87]

Staal - Malkin - Sykora

TheTang - Gogo

When Geno runs the show, things get done.

[meow]

Staal - Malkin - Sykora

TheTang - Gogo

When Geno runs the show, things get done.

But where is Mango Salsa?

[Mongoose87]

Staal - Malkin - Sykora

TheTang - Gogo

When Geno runs the show, things get done.

But where is Mango Salsa?

At the buffet.