Penguins coaches have no plans to split up Phil Kessel and Sidney Crosby.
For good reasons they don’t.
The last couple games we’ve seen glimpses of why Evgeni Malkin and Patric Hornqvist can work together.
The issue with the Penguins top line isn’t Crosby and Kessel, it’s Chris Kunitz on the left side.
Kunitz who has 1 goal and 2 assists in his last 26 regular season games, continues to look finished as top-6 winger and the clock is ticking on Kunitz skating alongside Crosby and Kessel.
Barring no setbacks, Pascal Dupuis who practiced again today is closer to returning to the lineup than the estimated 4-to-5 week timetable.
Despite Johnston downplaying it, it was no coincidence Dupuis To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
I want to see Scuderi centering Gonchar and Lovejoy on Offense, then Sid and Geno play defense. Player usage is critical!
Anyone else find it oddly fascinating that with Despres in the top 4 Anaheim is 0-3-1 and was outscored 11-1 and in his 1st game out of the lineup they won 4-1? Not to mention his partner was 0g-0a and -5 while paired with Despres and in the 1st game without him scored a goal and was +1. Anaheim is going to regret that contract before the year ends.
The “Scuderi” effect.
Yeah, there’s no recency bias there at all from a fully objective observer. Because three and a half games really is enough time to evaluate anyone and sometimes concern about a player’s health (who may be concussed from a head shot that drew a suspension) is masked with well-meaning criticism.
3 1/2 games? Something tells me the past 2 years is enough time to evaluate someone, and i’m sure Jay has been watching games in that time frame. Then again, even after watching those two years, people around here bitch and moan when he was given a fair assessment.
Ah yes, the other objective observer. Are we talking about the time with the Pens where Despres was a combined +27? And we’re now spelling doom for his career based on his partner’s +/- rating over three and a half games? +/- is a bogus stat anyway, and Stanch, I know you were about to jump all over jaydogg for using it.
So wait, every time he plays a good game(which is actually pretty rare) the fanboys and ball washer can talk about what a horrible mistake it was to let him go but when I point out that his team and his D partner performed better the instance he was out of the lineup it’s recency bias? The kid has played over 150 NHL games and has more average to bad tape than he does good tape so I’m using a much bigger sample size then what the fanboys use when the come on crying every time he makes a good… Read more »
Average to bad tape is in the eye of the beholder. A lot of Pens fans were happy with how his play was progressing here. The majority of Duck fans have been happy with his play there. If you want to be objective about it, go look at his possession numbers. TOI and goals aside, he’s top 4 or better. Plus he brings the physical element as well. If you’re going to mention the guy at all, the relevant headline on his season is the injury. He’s on IR and with concussions, who knows where that’s going to go? You… Read more »
His possession numbers – so good. How does him tripping over his own feet or sheer on ice stupidity effect those negatively? Or does that not factor in at all?
sprong sucks. he’s too young. they should trade him for a 35 year old UFA at the deadline.
Is this your way of bitching about the Luca Caputi trade?
Right. Kunitz is the problem….
Can we finally get a PITT article?1!?!??! Ranked 25th and soon to be 6-1
Steelers 4-2. Who predicted that while others were scared to throw a record out because of all of these crazy variables that may come into play.
I’ll give ya credit you did say 5-1 and 4-2. Wasn’t scared to make a prediction just didn’t have the optimism you had.
Really??? If they would have gone 2-4 Dustin would have been posting about how injures were the only reason he was wrong. Sam and Dustin become more alike every day.
Why make an excuse? I would just say I was wrong….it’s ok to do that.
Jaydogg, other than those in the media trying to protect Crosby I don’t think there are many who really believe Kunitz is the problem. I have felt Kunitz has been “above the line”
kunitz sucks too. 1 goal in 26 games is lame. he’s a 4th liner.
I love that people think Kunitz is the reason Sid/Kessel can’t produce, Benn/Seguin are skating with Sharp and aren’t having a hard time producing, hell even Spezza is producing with Sceviour & Nichuskin. Pacioretty is skating with Plekanec & Gallagher who are nothing special and isn’t having a hard time producing, Zetterberg is leading the league with 9pts while skating with Larkin/Abdelkadar who combined aren’t as good as Kessel alone. The excuse making and worrying more about Crosby than the team is getting old, it’s time for him to start manning up and excepting a little accountability for his poor… Read more »
People in the know disagree.
Shouldn’t that be people that don’t know disagree?
. Pacioretty is skating with Plekanec & Gallagher who are nothing special and isn’t having a hard time producing,yes you are right this proves that MT takes the max potential out of players .While you clowns never admited DB sucks Compare to MT and yet hypmotized with the cup that he won with someone elses Team . just to ask you clowns how is DB doing ? Tough he was going to have same success anywhere he goes
He’s coaching in the league again less than 2 years after being fired, another accomplishment he bested MT at.
he is a fraud
MT was fired and had a job with WILD’s right away while DB was on NBC making fun of him self every time he was opening his mouth
Crosby needs a 3rd winger to overcome himself.
Kessel will end up with Malkin before it’s said and done. In the meantime we’ll continue to blame others for Cindy sucking.
lets replace a washed up 37 year old with another washed up injury prone 37 year old. F that sprong kid, he’s too damn young. you win in the NHL with geezers! let’s go pens!
So wait, Crosby and Kessel are supposed to be 2 of the top players at their position and people are blaming Kunitz for their inability to produce? If Sid needs and all star RW and also a great LW to produce then not only is he not the best in the world but he can’t be considered anything but average.
crosby is playing like a woman, but don’t go around sticking up for kunitz. this is the 2nd year he’s in the top 6 while being washed up. thanks shero! sticking us with all of the untradeable geezers! niiiiiice!
Has nothing to do with sticking up for Kunitz because he hasn’t been good but if Sid needs to all star wingers to produce then this team has bigger issues than replacing Kunitz in the top 6.
Kunitz and Scuderi for a half eaten sandmich
or a hot dog cart
kunitz in a package for a dman is a pipe dream
Look if someone in the nhl will trade Simon Despres for Ben Lovejoy surely we can get that senile fool to take Kunitz for something…….Oh damn never mind.