Does anyone actually believe that...

[borohcky9]

we have top line talent, or even top line prospects on this team or even in this organization?

we all talk about how we need the un-producing vets to be traded or simply retire to make room for our youth movement, as i do agree that the majority of our vets need to go somewhere that is not here, i really dont see any bright future in our youth at the moment.

With the exception of Crosby, Malkin, Fluery we dont really have much else. If you look at winning teams, they are made up of two potent scoring lines, and a 3rd and 4th line that can contain the oppositions top lines while producing on occasion. I really cannot find anyone in our system that will be able to fill these top lines.

Our 3rd and 4th lines are gonnna be stacked with feisty, energy guys that will go out and give it their all like Talbot, Armstrong, Murley, Carcillo, Stone and maybe even Endicott.

But honestly does anyone believe that Ouellet, Surovy, Malone even Christensen are going to be able to play top line minutes consistently?

And anyone that argues that we still have talent in WBS in my opinion is sorely mistaken, we have already called up everyone that we can, and they just cant cut it.

With this being said...i hope that we have a shot at drafting Kessel, he may be an immature puck hog that likes to show boat, but i think that me be just what we need to play top line minutes alongside Crosby or Malkin. We need an outright goalscorer, someone that only knows how to do that, and just that...someone from the Ovechkin or Kovalchuk mold.

[spi]

Crosby, Malkin. Are either of those 2 considered top line talent?

[davemess]

I think we do have some top line talent.

Whitney and Welch are excellent prospects on D. Goligoski has interesting upside as an offensive Dman.

Crosby and Malkin are obviously the key prospects at forward. As you stated we have a bunch of 3rd/4th line guys who should fill those spots for years to come.

The one area of weekness is in goal scoring wingers but that is only natural when you look at how CP has been rebuilding the prospect ranks by drafting the spine of a new team. You build from the back with a top Goalie and some Dmen, then you want to get a good core of centres together which he has. Last area you draft is scoring wingers.

[wondermoose]

We've got great talent in the wings, but also a lot of overrated talent.

Crosby, Malkin, and Fleury are our superstars, and probably whoever we draft will make that status as well.

Whitney, Orpik (disagree with me all you want, he's got the right stuff), Talbot, Christensen, Armstrong, Surovy, Ouellet, Scuderi, Welch.... We are just hampererd by severe lack of talent in some areas, and lack of effort. Conditioning is a big part of the game, and our players plain and simple cannot match up physically with other teams, as could be seen last night against Ottawa

[netwolf]

Without a doubt they have top flight propsects. I think at least part of the problem is that the organization doesn't take enough responsibility for their development. I have heard more than one person from Pens mgmt say it's up to the player to succeed.

I would agree that the player has to want to get better, but I think it is foolish to invest a draft pick and X amount of dollars into a kid and not do everything you can organizationally to get that kid to succeed, especially the upper part of your draft.

[Daniel]

"really, the penguins need another winger - but with the defensively strong, high energy, havoc wreaking third and fourth lines they should have they might be able to get away with a couple less than elite wingers playing with Sid and Malkin."

I think Samuellson will turn out to be a pretty good scorer, eventually. I wish Anshakov (the kid from the Straka trade) would have turned out better, but oh well.

I also think that Sid and Malkin can make Christenson and Armstrong pretty good scoring wingers.