Penguins/NHL
Penguins countdown to camp storylines — The right wing situation on Sidney Crosby’s line —
Mike Sullivan since he took over as head coach in December 2015 has always been a believer in spreading his lineup out among the top-3 lines.
The top priority in 2018-2019 is getting more production out of the bottom-6, the key area the Penguins brass believes doomed them last season, not Kris Letang or the goaltender.
Best case scenario, the belief is the coaching staff would love for DTo read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
LATEST NHL BUZZ
The New York Islanders 
have had a nightmare summer.
Islanders ownership made a rush move into hiring Lou Lamoriello in thinking it enhanced their chances to keeping John Tavares when the Lamoriello hiring actually decreased the Islanders chances of signing Tavares, those on the inside say.
They countered losing Tavares by signing Leo Komarov to a four-year contract, a washed up Valtteri Filppula to a one-year contract and signed D Thomas Hickey to a four year deal.
There’s no way the Islanders will be a playoff contender in the Metropolitan Division with the loss of Tavares and failing to address the need for a two top-4 defenseman and a No.1 goaltender.
The Lamoriello hiring might have brought a needed presence to the organization but things are heading in the direction where the Islanders should be all-in on a mini-rebuild to set themselves up as a legitimate contender in 3-4 years when the arena situation might actually be settled and you can be a player for stars to want to stay.
Let the Capitals/Penguins wave ride out over the next couple years.
In the immediate future, the focus should be on acquiring high draft picks/prospects for the likes of pending UFA’s Jordan Eberle, Anders Lee and Brock Nelson.
The problem is that Lou Lamoriello is in his mid-70’s and he’s not wired like that.
— 
A sleeper team in the Karlsson sweepstakes —
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— Multiple NHL executives peg the Columbus Blue Jackets as the most fascinating team to watch for the first six to eight weeks of the season. If the Blue Jackets get off to a great start, they’re prepared to go all-in and play out the season with Artemi Panarin who is leaving next summer.
If they’re a middle of the road team by Thanksgiving, all bets are off.
Among the individuals who will have a close eye on the Blue Jackets is UFA winger Rick Nash.
Nash has not ruled out returning to play at somepoint during the season and the player and his camp have remained in touch with 3-4 teams (mostly Eastern Conference clubs), all Cup contenders.
Columbus To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Thanks for the Steelers updates D. Big time insider!
The way you complain, you must have paid for this site. He’s not an insider. Once you learn that, you’ll be at peace.
Nate schmidt. To be suspended first 20 games of the season
Old news chubby. We don’t need to read it from you. Loser.
Simon is closer to an AHL player than a 1st line NHL player.
Agreed. He shouldn’t be anywhere near Sids line. I’d love to see Sprong get an extended look there. He should have the space to get that shot of and has the speed to play with him.
Archer is looking damn good.
Is this the same Nash same said bring him for 1m and still is a better fit than zerotools boy toy tk2.0 sheary
Yup, the garbage bag that hasnt been worth half of what he was getting paid for almost a half a decade. The guy who knows it to the point he is thinking about retirement. So… no surprise you’d be out here tugging at his nuts. Likely the death blow to that career lol.
Do you even think sheary would still be in the NHL at the same age as Nash is today. It he will be like original TK by age 28-29 he will disappear
Are these the same clowns who were drooling for Brian Gibbons and Chris Conner?
No. But the same clowns that were happy with tk contract and sheary contract same clowns that saw them both top 6 saviours. Just ask zerotool and gaydogg
I would also tell you ask that fat fuckk npl but he doesn’t know who TK is since his NHL started in 2016. And most probably he is busy getting kicked out of Florida
Sheary put up similar numbers to Nash in each of the last couple seasons making significantly less lol. Get over it. You are talking about a guy that has not existed for nearly a half decade while shitting on a player that was effective and had an impact over two Stanley Cups.
On that note, I never stated TK was a top 6 guy ever… I liked him where he was but I also stated he seemed to have enough ability to jump up in case of injury. I am pretty sure Jay was saying something similar. Maybe it is lost in translation or its more likely you are too fucken stupid to understand what is said out here on most days but no one called TK anything but a solid depth guy
“Clowns” – “I put all our best producers in the top 6 with no regard for the overall performance of tow of those guys when together, and called it a balanced line up” – SD
Nash is on the NHL? Who does he play for?
Guess we will find out lol, we know Sheary is gonna play next season
Sam wants another guy who’s retired. You would be a terrible GM. Drooling over Nash.
Not to mention he refuses to acknowledge that while TK was a Penguin until his last year here he was an effective player from the 3rd line that contributed a decent amount of offence. Over a three year period TK put up numbers similar to Rick Nash over the past 3 years… while Nash was making 7 million to do it. He won’t let go of the fact that TK had his time, was effective in his role, WON A CUP (Like Sheary x 2) and moved on. He doent get that I don’t care that he was never a… Read more »
Daniel Sprong isn’t ready for top line duties and neither is Simon…
Yes, Guentzel, Crosby and Sprong line. We should nickname it, the big vag line.
Guentzel-Crosby-Hornqvist
Kessel-Malkin-Rust
Hagelin-Brassard-Sprong
ZAR/Wilson-Sheahan-Simon/Cullen
Is our best, most balanced lineup.
Agreed Dustin except I would move move Hagelin with Kessel and Malkin And move Rust and Sheahan to brassard line.
Crosby Guentzal Hornqvist
Malkin Kessel Hagelin
Brassard Rust Sheahan
Grant Cullen Sprong ( ZAR/Simon/Wison)
they have been talking of moving Cullen or Sheahan to wing because they have 5 centers and Grant is a sold center pick up 14 goals in Anaheim last year 4th line…
THOUGHTS…
Sheahan was the teams best F/O guy last year and I am not sure he should play anywhere but up the middle. Regardless there is probably a handful of interchangeable parts on lines 3 and 4
I really doubt we see Cullen play much C at all outside of PK and Injury… I have a feeling Grant was brought in just in case “dad” struggles in this regard
I think Rust and Hagelin are interchangeable. I just think Rust is more gritty around the net and would benefit our 2 snipers better on the 2nd line.
I think you hurt Sprong on the 4th line. I think you need him playing with a more offensive Center like Brassard. I’d bring him along like they did with Jagr during his first 2 years.
Agreed, moving Kessel to Malkins wing to appease him despite the well documented struggles the two faces while on the ice together and making sure 2 of 3 90+ point guys are on the same line is definitely the most “balanced” approach. Brass and Kessel shows some chemistry building before Brass was hurt. A full camp should help him adjust to the Penguins game. It should keep Kessel happy knowing that he can play with someone with some competence with the puck and by having the three spread out we are actually seeing real scoring balance up and down the… Read more »
Are we interested in Nash
why? He is mulling over retirement for a good reason, he has clearly lost a few steps, even after his trade to Boston he was still pacing at an absurdly average level. Unless he was willing to take 1MM to see if there is anything left I wouldn’t be interested. He has been dog shit for about 4 years now and even at 1MM the Pens couldn’t really afford it.
Do the Penguins even have any cap space left?