Get Vitale a Winger

[Ossa]

The Pens top 3 lines seem to be ok, but I'm worried about the 4th line. There is a weak spot in our armor and Ray Shero needs to get Vitale a winger IMMEDIATELY.

[Gaucho]

Kennedy - Vitale - Bennett

[Froggy]

I doubt we use a traditional 4th line in the playoffs. It'll probably Kennedy and Bennett if he sticks, and then Adams or Vitale, probably Adams, taking odd shifts and pk while Crosby and Malkin get double shifted.

We really don't need a traditional energy line because all our other wingers, save for maybe James Neal, play a physical game. We have a lot of speed and blunt force peppered through the lineup.

It worked in 2009, right?

[DocEmrick]

I doubt we use a traditional 4th line in the playoffs. It'll probably Kennedy and Bennett if he sticks, and then Adams or Vitale, probably Adams, taking odd shifts and pk while Crosby and Malkin get double shifted.

We really don't need a traditional energy line because all our other wingers, save for maybe James Neal, play a physical game. We have a lot of speed and blunt force peppered through the lineup.

It worked in 2009, right?

Yup, and they recognize that and will probably do it again.

[Stevens25]

I wish Vitale was still going to get playing time, but I highly doubt it. I'm gonna miss Joe V's beautiful grace and amazing hustle.

[Hawkeynut]

Oh don't worry you will get to see alot of Vitale next year. The hangover year.

[DelPen]

Unless Adams gets hurt Vitale won't dress another game all year. Glass or Bennett will be joining him too.

For Vitale, the shortened season reduced chances to increase his role on the PK since every game was more important. He has more talent than Adams but there is no way an NHL coach will play him over "proven" players in certain roles, even players like Glass and especially a guy like Adams.

Next year Despres will get more situational time, as will Vitale. If Bortuzzo is still here and he's playing in the top 6 then he will get worked in too in November.

It's a numbers game right now and if Vitale is scratched it's not an indictment on his talent or ability.

[guiner]

Glass better be sitting after all these acquisitions.

[pittsoccer33]

what current NHL captain can we pencil in to captain the 4th line?

[DelPen]

Glass better be sitting after all these acquisitions.

Who is your 5th penalty killer? This team for the last 5 years has always used 5. Cooke, Dupuis, Sutter and Adams. Glass is in the lineup for the PK. Who do you put in there?


Morrow has done it a few years ago but barely played in Dallas the last two seasons.

[Drewski17]

what current NHL captain can we pencil in to captain the 4th line?

Pominville. Adds a nice scoring touch to the bottom line.

[DelPen]

what current NHL captain can we pencil in to captain the 4th line?

Horcoff and Smid for Pouliot, Bortuzzo and Jeffrey

[meecrofilm]

Glass better be sitting after all these acquisitions.

Who is your 5th penalty killer? This team for the last 5 years has always used 5. Cooke, Dupuis, Sutter and Adams. Glass is in the lineup for the PK. Who do you put in there?


Morrow has done it a few years ago but barely played in Dallas the last two seasons.

Sid? Like he's been doing throughout the year anyway.

[DontToewsMeBro]

what current NHL captain can we pencil in to captain the 4th line?

Jagr? Selanne? Alfredsson? Bring back Fedorov from retirement, let's go for it.

[DelPen]

Glass better be sitting after all these acquisitions.

Who is your 5th penalty killer? This team for the last 5 years has always used 5. Cooke, Dupuis, Sutter and Adams. Glass is in the lineup for the PK. Who do you put in there?


Morrow has done it a few years ago but barely played in Dallas the last two seasons.

Sid? Like he's been doing throughout the year anyway.

Something to just consider, I think Glass is horrible on the PK but he still chews up 1:23 a game. Kuntiz played PK in place of Cooke in 2011 while he was suspended.

Of course just play Vitale

[slipshod]

Malkin was a main PK guy for team Russia, Crosby has been doing it more this year.

[Nizzy]

LMAO.

T.O.Y

Thread of the year.

[pittsoccer33]

Malkin was a main PK guy for team Russia, Crosby has been doing it more this year.

he did a bit too in the 2009 playoffs.

i think some of that was because we played 7 day somewhat often.

that year I remember the following guys killing penalties up front
-staal
-talbot
-malkin
-adams
-cooke
-dupuis (played 16/24 playoff games)
-crosby?

so now to fill out PK it would be
-sutter
-cooke
-dupuis

and then some mix of sid, adams, glass, morrow?

[DelPen]

Adams and Cooke are our top two forwards. Glass averages 1:23 and Sid 0:49. Elevate Sid, ask kunitz and Morrow to make up that time.

Penalties drop int he playoffs anyways so it's not a huge deal but you need Adams or Glass in the lineup, can't scratch both and it's a shame Vitale couldn't learn in November and be ready now.

[meecrofilm]

Either way, with the current roster it's lookin like Cooke will move down to 4th line LW, which (hopefully) gets rid of Glass.

[puckeye]

LMAO.

T.O.Y

Thread of the year.

agree, needs to now become one of the longest running thread in LGP history. Should just sticky it to the top now