Round 2: (M1) Pittsburgh vs. (M2) New York

[CarltonTheBear]

How does that address their depth issues?

Isn't it obvious? They get Reimer for dirt-cheap, have Kulemin's negotiating rights thrown into the deal too, Kuly signs there and brings along his pal Grabovski, and they trade Fleury for cap relief/more depth.

 

[Peter D.]

There's something about seeing Pittsburgh lose in the playoffs that is gratifying.

They are quickly becoming the best dynasty that was never a dynasty.  Atlanta Braves-esque.

 

[ZBBM]

And Pittsburgh is out!

When Bylsma put Malkin and Crosby together in these playoffs you really saw just how awful the rest of their forward group was. No depth on that team whatsoever.

James Reimer, The City of Pittsburgh Welcomes You.

How does that address their depth issues?

Duh. Their depth in goal is not deep enough.

 

[LittleHockeyFan]

*happy dancing*

not a Rangers fan, but I hates Pittsbooorg even more. Whoever it is now, the East will be represented by an Original Six team (I like that!)... Of course, I'm still hoping for an all Original Six final and what are my Blackhawks' chances against Anaheim or LA?

 

[ZBBM]

How does that address their depth issues?

Isn't it obvious? They get Reimer for dirt-cheap, have Kulemin's negotiating rights thrown into the deal too, Kuly signs there and brings along his pal Grabovski, and they trade Fleury for cap relief/more depth.

This.

Could.

Actually.

Happen.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Kulemin-Crosby-Kunitz

 

[pmrules]

I think this just goes to show that it so hard to win in a cap world with two guys making >8.5M each.  It just totally screws with the depth of the rest of the team.  Add to that Malkin gets a modest raise, and then Letang's new contract comes in at $7.3M, and it just makes it even harder for them to improve next year.

I expect big changes to come, obviously.

 

[bustaheims]

Hope_Smoke: Rob Rossi "Pens won't move Malkin. He'll have his agent tell whatever team that tries to trade for him that he won't stay in North America"

Well, that's awfully nice of him . . .

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Rossi's probably just making that up as a guess.

 

[bustaheims]

Rossi's probably just making that up as a guess.

I hope so. His track record is iffy, but, even just having that out there as speculation is problematic.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Rossi's probably just making that up as a guess.

I hope so. His track record is iffy, but, even just having that out there as speculation is problematic.

I know he's played in the KHL since during the lockout, but Malkin had a pretty messy exit from Russia initially. 

 

[Deebo]

Rossi's probably just making that up as a guess.

I hope so. His track record is iffy, but, even just having that out there as speculation is problematic.

If it is speculation and untrue, who would it cause a problem for?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Hope_Smoke: Rob Rossi "Pens won't move Malkin. He'll have his agent tell whatever team that tries to trade for him that he won't stay in North America"

Well, that's awfully nice of him . . .

Wouldn't it just be easier for his agent to point to Malkin's NMC?

 

[mc]

Since getting eliminated by the Flyers 3 years ago, this Penguins team has been on the downhill. Also, Crosby has been a no show since then when it really matters. One goal from the best player in the world? Unless something is bothering him that we don't know about, he hasn't looked dominant in the playoffs (when it really matters) since their cup win.

 

[Bonsixx]

Three out of four career Game 7s that he's been held pointless. Wasn't someone saying they'd take him over Toews anyday? I'm not so sure about that. Toews seems to have an extra gear or something in those clutch situations.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Wasn't someone saying they'd take him over Toews anyday?

I believe that you're referring to 95% of the hockey community.

 

[Kin]

Toews seems to have an extra gear or something in those clutch situations.

Seriously. Just think what would have happened if Sidney Crosby were capable of coming through in the clutch.

 

[pnjunction]

Three out of four career Game 7s that he's been held pointless. Wasn't someone saying they'd take him over Toews anyday? I'm not so sure about that. Toews seems to have an extra gear or something in those clutch situations.

I've been saying for a while that Toews is probably my first pick.  Yeah Sid has the golden goal but Toews is just relentless out there shift after shift.

That said he has lots of help in Chicago.  Kane consistently comes up with clutch goals, and Crawford for all the heat he gets in bad games always seems to find a good game when it matters.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Crosby has 114 points in 95 career playoff games.  Who cares if he had a subpar (by his standards) playoffs one year?  It's meaningless.  His SH% was unsustainbly low, something like 9% lower than his previous low in any other playoff.  It's random bad luck for him.

 

[Kin]

I've been saying for a while that Toews is probably my first pick.  Yeah Sid has the golden goal but Toews is just relentless out there shift after shift.

Being relentless shift after shift didn't prove all that effective in putting the puck in the net last year when the Hawks won the cup despite Toews only scoring 3 goals in 23 games. And it didn't do much for him the two years prior to that when he only had 3 goals and 8 points in two first round exits.

All good players have bad playoff series and Toews is no exception. Crosby has consistently been the better point producer and goal scorer in the playoffs.