Fedotenko does not deserve his spot with Malkin
by cyroose on Mar 21, 2010 6:10 PM EDT
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I think there have been enough comments in game threads, recaps, etc. for this to justify its own post.
Let's not beat around the bush: Ruslan Fedotenko, while a solid player, has been holding the second line back. His stat line for the year, playing mostly with Malkin (one of the top 3 players in the NHL) is 10 goals, 18 assists, and +/- of -18. 18 assists is not too bad, but 10 goals? It would be understandable if AO's linemates scored only 10 goals, because AO likes to shoot and score himself, but Geno likes to set up his linemates. Also, his +/- is -18?!?! How does this happen? 'Tenks is not pulling his weight.
Now, I know that stats alone don't tell the whole story. For example, Chris Kunitz has a similar stat line to Fedotenko with 11G and 18A. But I don't have a problem with Kunitz playing alongside Sid because he does all the little things that don't show up in the stat line. Remember Kunitz's hit on the Philly D in game one of the series? Hits like that change games. Kunitz battles hard and hits hard. When was the last time you saw Fedotenko have a game-changing hit?
Here's what I think the Pens should do: Bump Feds down to line 3 or 4. Then bring up either Staal or Rupp to play wing with Malkin. What do you guys think?
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3rd line will remain intact no way Disco will not use them ase his shutdown line in the playoffs. I think the best 4 wingers currently are Poni, Duper, Billy G and Chris “3 ass = 1 goal” Kunitz, Kunitz has played through injury and missed quite some games aswel so his “bare” stats are very deceiving he should remain on Sid’s line, Dupuis has been fantastic after the break he is a beast and will be good on either top line, Guerin is getting old but i have a feeling that he’ll step it up for the playoffs, Tank may do this aswel (it would certainly not be the first time) and a Full European line does seem to appeal to Disco so we might see that to start with at least in the first round. Noted might become this year Talbot but at this time I can not see him get more ice time over the likes of Dupuis. In the end i think Disco will come up with the right solution.
There is a knack to flying: it's learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.
by Sid the captain on Mar 21, 2010 8:18 PM EDT reply actions
I’d like to see Rupp play with Malkin and Poni. He is a gritty guy, that can win battles along the boards and put some hits on guys. He actually has pretty good shot too. I think he could do well on the 2nd line.
has more goals then Feds too!
his 13 goals puts him tied for 6th with Matt Cooke. I like the idea of rupp on the second line but i have a crazy idea for lines that i dont think anyone will agree with. They are:
Malkin – Crosby – Guerin
Kunitz – Staal – Poni
Cooke – Kenedy – Dupuis
Rupp – Adams – Feds
I really liked the Staal/Kunitz combo and I think that if teams shut down Crosby/Malkin that second line can score goals. Also our defensive line with cooke kennedy dups is still solid. and they can score goals too kennedy has been coming back strong since a few games as the healthy scratch. I know it wont happen but i’d like to see it experimented with if we got a huge lead in any of the games remaining in the season.
Sorry man
Makes no sense to give up our 3 main lines…
Opps don’t get a break against us as each of our top 3 lines boast dangerous as heck centers. Not like other teams which have to front load their first two lines and then get their backs kicked when the third line comes up to choke.
Plus I have issues breaking up the Euro line… Having a line that can communicate predominantly in Russian seems to have helped to settle Geno. Plus, despite Tenks stat line, they seem to be working well with each other.
Would love to see Dupuis get more time on a top line though… he’s doing well…
It’s nice to have 3 balanced lines but no team is going to be able to shut down Crosby and Malkin together, and Staal-Kunitz could be a great pair as well. I think playing Crosby and Malkin together would make our offense much more dangerous then it is now. Everytime that line hopped out onto the ice they would be a threat to score. Both are great passers and both are good finishers.
It’s nice to have Malkin at C because this allows us to have 3 pretty good balanced lines. But are Malkin’s skills really better suited as a C? I don’t think so. There is no denying he is a great playmaker but he has a good/great shot and is pretty bad on faceoffs. I think he could be just as effective as a winger, especially alongside Crosby.
I’d love to see our lines look something like this:
Malkin-Crosby-Guerin
Kunitz-Staal-Poni
Kennedy-Rupp-Dupuis
Cooke-Talbot/Adams-Feds/Talbot
I realize it probably won’t happen but I think our 3rd line would still be a pretty good one. Dupuis has been great this year, and with he and Kennedy crashing the net hard I think they could manage to score some goals every once in a while. Even the 4th line would be respectable.
Regardless of what happens or doesn’t happen, I would like to see Malkin get paired with either Crosby or Staal. Bylsma has played Malkin with the two of them on occassion this season, and it has always been pretty successful. Malkin paired with either of those two just creates such a mismatch for teams and makes our offense more dangerous.
by packallday555 on Mar 22, 2010 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions
I see your point
But I still don’t like it…
If the line really starts to screw the pooch I’d be okay with a Geno/Staal second line… but that’s usually it…
Really I’d only shift Malkin and Staal around in a pinch if the Pens need a goal….Better to have the 3 headed monster roll every even strength shift to give Pittsburgh an unmatched amount of combined skill and size down the middle.
Wayne Gretzky had it wrong: 100% of the shots Gary Roberts doesn't take DO go in.
Cooke-Kennedy-Dupuis is not a shut down line. We all saw what Cooke-Staal-Kennedy did last year as a unit and now that Gill-Scuds are gone that kind on line is needed more than ever!
I know what you mean about Staal and Kunitz, their really seems to be something there, but on this team Staal is a third center, thus his role is defense. Plus, Malkin and Crosby together means another team can send their “shut-down” line against them which means you are asking unproven commodities to win a series, no thanks man.
Life is about one simple choice, get busy living or get busy dying
Highly doubt it
Rupp’s not skilled enough to keep up with Malkin… As much as Noted’s been a surprise, he’s gonna get showed up badly in the playoffs when he’s up against faster and more technical top lines…
I think he is skilled enough to keep up with Malkin. I mean if Feds can, I definitely think Rupp is more then capable of doing so. In fact, a lot of Rupps goals this year have come when he and Crosby are on the ice together.
by packallday555 on Mar 22, 2010 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm not sure but I'm fairly sure we've had this conversation before...
By we I meant the community… not you in packallday in particular…
Sorry guys but I’m fairly squeamish about mucking up lines and chemistry so soon to the playoffs…
Yeah, you definitely have a point there. I would hate to see the chemistry of the team messed up. Maybe it’s something to consider in the future.
by packallday555 on Mar 23, 2010 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions
I see Aligheri’s point on Rupp. I love the guy as much as anyone, but I think his ceiling is a 8-9 minute a night guy on the 4th line. He’ll add his size, toughness, checking and hopefully a goal in any given game, but you start putting him up on line 2 or 3 and I think his skating will become a liability in the playoffs.
Not to say Noted isn’t a good skater, but he’s a big boy and pulling a lot of weight around, I don’t think that would fare well game in and game out.
Wayne Gretzky had it wrong: 100% of the shots Gary Roberts doesn't take DO go in.
Hopefully Malkin comes back soon and then I’d give Fedotenko 5 more games.
Sure it’s nice to have an all-Russian speaking line, but Malkin’s played with non-Russians a lot, it’s not necessary.
If Feds can’t pull his weight, I’d make him the healthy scratch over guys like Adams, Rupp and Talbot who all offer some form of size, toughness, PK’ing, shot-blocking, faceoffs that Fedotenko does not.
Whether or not that’ll happen remains to be seen. Bylsma favors Fedotenko and might leave him with Malkin/Poni for better or worse.
Wayne Gretzky had it wrong: 100% of the shots Gary Roberts doesn't take DO go in.
Yes,
why does he favor Feds? He also favors Gogo. These two favors are one of the two things I dont understand HCDB this season.
Fedotenko I get (kinda). He’s almost never out of position, he hits, he’ll go into the corner to dig a puck out. Fedotenko rarely does anything dangerous with the decisions he makes, in terms of putting the team in a bad spot.
Unfortunately, he’s not putting the puck in the net or showing a lot of skill in his passes.
Wayne Gretzky had it wrong: 100% of the shots Gary Roberts doesn't take DO go in.
by Hooks Orpik on Mar 26, 2010 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions
I actually put a premium on the smart dependable play
I think Feds ability to find the safe, smart (if boring) might do a few things for us. With guys like Geno, Staal & Sid around, his lack of goalscoring isn’t going to be as much of a liability as people say it’s going to be
I have only scene 5 games but, here is what I think
I know right, but I live in Des Moines now and hockey is on life support. Thank God for Internet radio
Kunitz – Crosby – Guerin
Dupuis – Malkin – Poni
Cooke – Staal – Kennedy
Rupp – Adams – Talbot/Tenks/Connor (WBS)
Bring Letestu up as well as a fourth center and play Adams at that right wing spot. Say what you want but he is a right handed center who, unlike Adams, wins face-offs!
I love Talbot, but I think this season is a lost one and we should be thinking about next year with him. That shoulder injury is a bear to get over.
Connor is undersized but makes contact and his ALWAYS hustling!
Tenks reminds me of Sykora and Satan from last year’s team. Hide him on the fourth line and plug him in there from time to time to see if something happens.
Sorry Godard, but come on, you know your role.
There will be times to pair Malkin and Crosby, after PK’s or end of periods or when down a few, but it should not be a permanent solution.
Life is about one simple choice, get busy living or get busy dying
Feds has always stepped it up around the playoffs, so I’d like to see the lines like this for the last couple games and the first round:
Dupuis-Crosby-Guerin
Fed-Malkin-Poni
Kunitz-Staal-Cooke
Rupp-Talbot-Adams
If Feds keeps up his less than stellar play, I’d like to see Talbot get another shot on Malkin’s wing and Kennedy plugged in as the fourth line center. I love the way Kunitz plays with Staal, and I think Dupuis has earned a spot with either Crosby or Malkin. Plus, putting Kunitz on the third line gives a more balanced attack, which is the reason that everybody likes to see Crosby, Malkin, and Staal on seperate lines.
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