If we are going to mix lines up

[The Snapshot]

Should we consider putting Kunitz back with Malkin and Neal - moving Kennedy or Jeffrey onto Sid's line? I know we have no chemistry going anywhere right now, but at least that move could jumpstart Geno and perhaps Kunitz too.

I'm just saying this because we are focusing on Geno's winger and he was a great fit last year.

Crosby seems to be getting going now, but I don't think any of that has much to do with Kunitz because he has remained terrible.

Just a thought.

[pcm]

I think Kunitz is going down hill. Sure he was part of the "best line in hockey" last year, but I dont think that had much to do with him. Geno and Neal were unreal, completely mind-boggling. Kunitz did enough by simply not slowing them down.

It's a growing concern for this team that Kunitz, Dupuis, Cooke, and Adams are all getting to that point when their tenacious play will start to be hindered by age. They can't ride out the glory years like star players, because they don't have the talent to still be effective as they age.

Relying on these guys for the secondary support of this team going forward is not a wise move. It's time to bring in fresh blood.

So yes, move Kunitz to Malkin's line if need be. But only if it means giving Sid a player who can help him out. Sid has not shown at all he can be the player he was before he got concussed, when as everyone loves to point out, Kunitz-Sid-Dupuis scored at an unheard of pace... Well, it ain't 2010 anymore. Things have changed. Sid's going to need help on his line to score in the playoffs.

[Idoit40fans]

Maybe they should move Neal up with Crosby and Kunitz.

[Bowser]

Call me crazy but if Bennett is playing in the AHL, he can play in the NHL. Screw this excuse about weight loss.

I want to see...
Dupuis - Crosby - Bennett
Kunitz - Malkin - Neal
Cooke - Sutter - Kennedy
Glass - Vitale - Jeffrey

[KG]

Call me crazy but if Bennett is playing in the AHL, he can play in the NHL. Screw this excuse about weight loss.

I want to see...
Dupuis - Crosby - Bennett
Kunitz - Malkin - Neal
Cooke - Sutter - Kennedy
Glass - Vitale - Jeffrey

I have no problem with giving this a shot. I'm sure Bennett is further then Tangradi in his development as well...at least I hope!

Let Bennett keep that spot warm next to Sid until Iginla comes

[The Snapshot]

Call me crazy but if Bennett is playing in the AHL, he can play in the NHL. Screw this excuse about weight loss.

I want to see...
Dupuis - Crosby - Bennett
Kunitz - Malkin - Neal
Cooke - Sutter - Kennedy
Glass - Vitale - Jeffrey

I agree with this completely. The Pens seem to baby their prospects more than any team in the league. While others throw their top picks into the fire at 18 we take a kid with College experience and assume he needs the AHL to hone his skills. Forward is much different than D as far as young guys go, so if he has NHL skills then let him learn on the job from the best players in the world.

I'm never sold on the idea that playing against AHL pluggers means anything.

Does Bennett have NHL skating - Yes.
Does Bennett have an NHL shot - Yes
Does Bennett have NHL vision - Yes
Does Bennett have NHL size - Yes, but he can certainly get stronger

It's like training a thoroughbred horse amongst quarter horses. What exactly is the point, when it is clear that the NHL is a young man's league. To make matters worse, the guy they chose over him is clearly out of his depth because he has none of the skills listed above except size, which he is incapable of using because of the lack of items 1 through 3.

[tfrizz]

Should we consider putting Kunitz back with Malkin and Neal - moving Kennedy or Jeffrey onto Sid's line? I know we have no chemistry going anywhere right now, but at least that move could jumpstart Geno and perhaps Kunitz too.

I'm just saying this because we are focusing on Geno's winger and he was a great fit last year.

Crosby seems to be getting going now, but I don't think any of that has much to do with Kunitz because he has remained terrible.

Just a thought.

I don't know if it's just me, but Kunitz looks like he's lost a fairly significant step since last season. He still brings the physical game, but he seems to be having trouble keeping up with Crosby & Dupuis on the rush and has been slower on the backcheck.

Hopefully it's just some rust that needs shaken off, otherwise the Pens have a pretty big problem.

[The Snapshot]

Should we consider putting Kunitz back with Malkin and Neal - moving Kennedy or Jeffrey onto Sid's line? I know we have no chemistry going anywhere right now, but at least that move could jumpstart Geno and perhaps Kunitz too.

I'm just saying this because we are focusing on Geno's winger and he was a great fit last year.

Crosby seems to be getting going now, but I don't think any of that has much to do with Kunitz because he has remained terrible.

Just a thought.

I don't know if it's just me, but Kunitz looks like he's lost a fairly significant step since last season. He still brings the physical game, but he seems to be having trouble keeping up with Crosby & Dupuis on the rush and has been slower on the backcheck.

Hopefully it's just some rust that needs shaken off, otherwise the Pens have a pretty big problem.

I'm not too worried about him. I think it is going to vary pretty widely from player to player in terms of how the lack of a camp is going to affect them. His whole game is below the bar in comparison to last season, except for boarding....

[pens_CT]

Call me crazy but if Bennett is playing in the AHL, he can play in the NHL. Screw this excuse about weight loss.

I want to see...
Dupuis - Crosby - Bennett
Kunitz - Malkin - Neal
Cooke - Sutter - Kennedy
Glass - Vitale - Jeffrey

Bennett supposedly had the flu around Christmas time and lost 10 lbs. He didn't participate in most of the practices this week, didn't play last night, and the WBS announcers were saying that Bennett didn't look well at all. I don't know what he has, but I doubt you are going to see him called up in the next couple of weeks.