Lockout is over, lets hear some lines!

[DelPen]

Bylsma said today he plans on this:

Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis
???-Malkin-Neal

Several options within organization. I would not be susprised if Cooke gets a chance, he has the skill and defenseive play to be fine in that position. Glass, Tangradi or Jeffrey might be a better fit on the 3rd with Sutter and Kennedy.

[FLPensFan]

Bylsma said today he plans on this:

Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis
???-Malkin-Neal

Several options within organization. I would not be susprised if Cooke gets a chance, he has the skill and defenseive play to be fine in that position. Glass, Tangradi or Jeffrey might be a better fit on the 3rd with Sutter and Kennedy.

I agree. I think it will end up being something like this:

Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis
Tangradi/Jeffrey-Malkin-Neal
Cooke-Sutter-Kennedy
Glass-Vitale-Adams

Give a shot to Tangradi and Jeffrey to win the 2nd line spot, but if they aren't performing, sliding Cooke up to Malkin's line would be the best option. He has the ability to score as well as create some space like Kunitz.

On defense, I don't think we are going to see Dumoulin, Morrow, etc make the team this year due to the shortened season. Depres will be odd man out simply because of his eligibility. Will come down to Bortuzzo, Strait, and Reese.

[pcm]

No guarantee that Kennedy works on the 3rd line the way he used to with Staal. I could see a more well-rounded player working out better there. Jeffrey comes to mind.

Then again, Kennedy and Sutter might click and provide some needed scoring depth. And Jeffrey might win the 2nd line LW spot...

[shmenguin]

No guarantee that Kennedy works on the 3rd line the way he used to with Staal. I could see a more well-rounded player working out better there. Jeffrey comes to mind.

kennedy worked on the 3rd line with connor and letestu. i think he'll be fine.

[Rylan]

I don't even remember who is on the team...

[Hugo Stiglitz]

It's probably going to be a revolving door on Malkin's line. Bylsma may take the stance of deciding who's on his wing depending on the game situation...which isn't necessarily a bad idea. I'm really pulling for Jeffrey though. I think he got a raw deal last year.

[Gaucho]

Geno ought to just bring Mozyakin along. That would of course be pure sports terrorism, but whatever.

[DesertPenguin]

No guarantee that Kennedy works on the 3rd line the way he used to with Staal. I could see a more well-rounded player working out better there. Jeffrey comes to mind.

kennedy worked on the 3rd line with connor and letestu. i think he'll be fine.

Ugh, I had forgotten all about the smurf line. Tons of energy, laughable size.

[DesertPenguin]

Bylsma said today he plans on this:

Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis
???-Malkin-Neal

Several options within organization. I would not be susprised if Cooke gets a chance, he has the skill and defenseive play to be fine in that position. Glass, Tangradi or Jeffrey might be a better fit on the 3rd with Sutter and Kennedy.

After hearing some of the things coming from Bylsma, I'm coming around to this idea, at least to start. What do you think about this:

Kunitz - Crosby - Dupuis
Cooke - Malkin - Neal
Tangradi - Sutter - Kennedy
Glass - Vitale - Jeffrey
Adams

Sutter, Bylsma has already said, will get inserted into the Malkin line at times to take RH faceoffs. We've seen that fish before with Staal playing alongside Malkin. If that happens, DJ can slide up to play center on the 3rd line while Sutter is up with Malkin, and Tangradi can be used on the PP. This lineup also gives you plenty of PK guys with Dupuis, Cooke, Sutter, Glass and DJ. Adams is redundant with that lineup.

That at least gets you out of the gate with veterans in key spots, and if one of DJ or Tangradi earns that LW spot with their play, Cooke can always slide back down. If no one steps up, Bennett is always an option later in the season.

[Steve Dave]

I would switch Glass and Tangradi. I believe Glass played 3rd line minutes in Winipeg last season and I don't think Tangradi has the speed to be effective on a shutdown line. Also, I think he and Vitale were linemates in WBS. Tangradi can get the odd shift on Malkin's line and rotate on the 2nd PP unit with Kunitz, Sutter and Kennedy. I would like to see what Cooke could do on Malkin's line.

Bylsma said today he plans on this:

Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis
???-Malkin-Neal

Several options within organization. I would not be susprised if Cooke gets a chance, he has the skill and defenseive play to be fine in that position. Glass, Tangradi or Jeffrey might be a better fit on the 3rd with Sutter and Kennedy.

After hearing some of the things coming from Bylsma, I'm coming around to this idea, at least to start. What do you think about this:

Kunitz - Crosby - Dupuis
Cooke - Malkin - Neal
Tangradi - Sutter - Kennedy
Glass - Vitale - Jeffrey
Adams

Sutter, Bylsma has already said, will get inserted into the Malkin line at times to take RH faceoffs. We've seen that fish before with Staal playing alongside Malkin. If that happens, DJ can slide up to play center on the 3rd line while Sutter is up with Malkin, and Tangradi can be used on the PP. This lineup also gives you plenty of PK guys with Dupuis, Cooke, Sutter, Glass and DJ. Adams is redundant with that lineup.

That at least gets you out of the gate with veterans in key spots, and if one of DJ or Tangradi earns that LW spot with their play, Cooke can always slide back down. If no one steps up, Bennett is always an option later in the season.

[JeffDFD]

Geno ought to just bring Mozyakin along. That would of course be pure sports terrorism, but whatever.

I came into this thread hoping someone would mention that! Haha - Mozyakin, Malkin, Neal all on one line or move Neal to Crosby's line?

Goodness they were tearing up the KHL. Not that it is actually probable, but anyone know Mozyakin's story and why he never came to the NHL? Is he another Morozov? Wikipedia says:

Sergei Mozyakin, a highly-skilled winger, was drafted in the 9th round of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, 263rd overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Maybe CBJ explains it.

[Gaucho]

Mozyakin is the KHL al-time leading scorer, if I'm not mistaken, and probably gets a pretty decent salary over there. No idea what kept him from playing in NA, but I doubt he would be interested at this point.

[meecrofilm]

Say hello to Tanner Glass, possible Top-6 forward!



Edit: Removed the link, didn't realize it was a Rossi article at first. derp.

[cheesesteakwithegg]

IIRC, Tangradi hasnt scored a goal in the AHL since Dec 7th. Id much rather see them give Cooke, Jeffrey, TK, and Bennett a shot on Malkin's line over ET. He has shown me nothing in his time as a Penguin that makes me think he deserves a shot at a top 6 role.

[pcm]

Glass played 4th line minutes last year. The bump in his TOI is for PK time.

It's weird when Blysma comes out and says Glass might see time there (though "when we're winning" he says) but doesn't mention Tangradi. I suppose he's already starting the coaching / motivational tactics. No one's mentioned it so far, but this is a crucial year for Blysma. His job is on the line with this season, you have to think.

[penny lane]

Tanner Glass wearing #10! per a tweet-tweet.

[Gaucho]

It bothers me for some reason whenever I see a Penguin not named Ron Francis wear that number.

[Steve Dave]

I thought Glass played on the third line with Slater and Thorburn.

Glass played 4th line minutes last year. The bump in his TOI is for PK time.

It's weird when Blysma comes out and says Glass might see time there (though "when we're winning" he says) but doesn't mention Tangradi. I suppose he's already starting the coaching / motivational tactics. No one's mentioned it so far, but this is a crucial year for Blysma. His job is on the line with this season, you have to think.

[Idoit40fans]

What puts Bylsma's job on the line this year?

[pcm]

After 4 seasons in a row of disappointment, most NHL coaches would not have the job for year 5. This being season 4, I'd say his job is on the line.

But let's hope it doesn't come to that.

[ffemtreed]

The quotes in the press from team mgt seem to be hinting at something to breakup the logjam of #5 -6 D man we have accumulated during training camp. So are they thinking about somehow acquiring a top 6 forward or trading for some shutdown D pairings.

If I had a vote I would be for the shut down D type and let Crosby and Malkin take care of the top two lines as both have shown they can elevate other players games.

[columbia]

The quotes in the press from team mgt seem to be hinting at something to breakup the logjam of #5 -6 D man we have accumulated during training camp. So are they thinking about somehow acquiring a top 6 forward or trading for some shutdown D pairings.

If I had a vote I would be for the shut down D type and let Crosby and Malkin take care of the top two lines as both have shown they can elevate other players games.

Link?

[IanMoran]

Hasn't Bennet played better than Tangradi in WBS this season by most accounts?

[ffemtreed]

The quotes in the press from team mgt seem to be hinting at something to breakup the logjam of #5 -6 D man we have accumulated during training camp. So are they thinking about somehow acquiring a top 6 forward or trading for some shutdown D pairings.

If I had a vote I would be for the shut down D type and let Crosby and Malkin take care of the top two lines as both have shown they can elevate other players games.

Link?

Read about 2/3 way down the article and remember the reporter is talking to Shero to get that article.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/spo ... ds-669347/

[penny lane]

It bothers me for some reason whenever I see a Penguin not named Ron Francis wear that number.

Like this clown!