Question of the day: Sergei Gonchar played 5:06 per game on the power play last season and fellow departed vet Bill Guerin was right behind him at 4:25 per night with the man advantage.
Who takes all those minutes and how do you expect the new look PP to function?
over 1 year ago
Hooks Orpik
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EXACTLY!
Letang / Martin is a great pairing for the PP (pending actually seeing them together). Staal / Comrie could be good as well on the 2nd PP unit.
Kunitz – Crosby – Malkin
Letang – Martin
Comrie – Staal – Dupuis
GoGo – ? <———- Michalek, Orpik, or Lovejoy? No clue who would be the best fit here…..
Just my random thoughts on the power play we have yet to see in practice.
"I've always been very open in my desire to come to come to North America and be one of the best here." - Geno
by GenoTheGreat on Sep 10, 2010 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Question...
Is there a rule that says you HAVE to put out 5 skaters when you have a power play?
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by PensAreYourDaddy on Sep 10, 2010 1:22 PM EDT reply actions
You mean…you want to put out MAF or something?!
I hope I read that completely wrong.
So when's October you ask? Well, here's your answer.
No, I just mean like instead of playing it 5-on-4, we make it 4-on-4 (since the power play hasn’t been so good to us the last few regular season).
Hooks asked the question of the day and I came back with the dumb joke of the day! :-)
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Follow me on twitter, Picasa or at Pens Through My Lens.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Sep 10, 2010 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions
And I came back with the dumb question of the day…
So when's October you ask? Well, here's your answer.
The Old Oiler ploy.
Send out a player like Dave Hunter to start trouble and hope he takes an opposing player to the box with him and then you get the desired 4-on-4. So players like Gretzky, Kurri & Coffey have more ice to work with.
I like it.
Letang. I’ve said this before, I’m hoping for a breakout year.
As for the forwards…Kunitz/Comrie will dog it out until we find the best fit. Maybe Staal even gets plugged in there? Geno is going to play wing after all…
So when's October you ask? Well, here's your answer.
GoGo is gonna rock the PP next season. He’ll take hold of the position in camp and hang on like a terrier to a pants-leg.
Letang and Martin will alternate next to him, depending on whose hot.
The forward spot will be decided on a weekly basis by a coin toss. With the candidates being Kunitz, Cooke, Staal and Comrie. (Don’t ask how they decide between 4 players with a single coin toss.)
I forgot to add, I’m really enjoying these “Question of the day”. It Keeps things interesting while we wait for camp to start. Thanks!
Letang
But Goligoski will start off as the PP “QB” only to lose that job to Letang a month into the season.
by French for The Tang on Sep 10, 2010 2:34 PM EDT reply actions
On D, Martin will play a lot of powerplay, and Letang and Goligoski both will see increased minutes. If the 1st pairing is Martin-Letang, then the 2nd one will have to be Goligoski and either Orpik, Michalek, or Lovejoy? Or maybe they have a forward run the point for the 2nd power play, like Geno did sometimes. Or maybe the Pens sign a veteran 7th D-man and they take this spot.
On offence, I think Staal may get a shot at taking Guerin’s spot on unit 1. If not then someone like Kunitz, Cooke, or Comrie will.
I think the Pens may have Malkin take over Gonchar’s old job of carrying the puck into the zone. Letang and Gogo also may be tapped for this. I also think the PP may fare slightly worse than last year due to Sarge’s departure. But if Malkin keeps scoring from the top of the faceoff circle like he did last playoffs, they will be fine!
"90% of the game is physical. The other half is mental." - Yogi Berra
Call me crazy...
… but I can see Asham on the top unit with Crosby and Malkin up front. Why? Because Asham’s a right-handed shot. Neither Kunitz nor Comrie are righties. Asham also fills the Guerin “big body” role in front, screening for shots from the point.
The top D pairing for the PP has to be Martin/Letang. Martin played 3:03 PP min/game last season. He knows what he’s doing, and he’s a lefty to Letang’s right-handed shot. Essentially, he fills in the Gonchar role.
I agree with both comments above
Michalek may not have the best offensive upside but it is underrated and his offensive game is better than both Orpik’s and Lovejoy’s. I could see Asham on the first PP unit for the reasons you mentioned. To ride the hopeful E.T. wagon but have you noticed that most Tangradi’s goals are off rebounds/tap ins because he goes hard to the net and puts his big body there. Hopefully if he doesn’t make the team Asham can do that on the PP.
by Geno McFleury on Sep 10, 2010 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions
not bad at all...
… especially if Asham has a good start of the season and chips in some goals I think it’s a legitimate option for the PP1 unit
You have to see it for yourself...
I’m more anxious to see the strategy that AC Todd Rierden brings to the power play. I hope he utilizes the speed we’ll gain without Gonch and Guerin.
I understand you might want to be patient with power plays since you have the advantage, but Gonch’s old-man-with-a-walker approach killed me when the clock was ticking. Sure, it let us catch our breath and focus, but it’s hard to watch. I’m looking for energy in the new stadium with the young team.
I think Gonch’s minutes will be filled by committee. Probably Letang and Martin.
Who knows who will replace Guerin on the PP? All have been tried and none have worked. I’m expecting a pretty big dropoff on offense this year, there’s not enough talent beyond Sid and Geno and little immediate help on the farm.
Gogo should take over for Gonch
I’m not sure what they’ll do , but I’d go with this -
1st team -
- Crosby – MalkinK.Letang – Gogo
I’d like to see Kennedy as the 3rd forward on a regular basis because of his right handed shot , he can really get after pucks in the corner quick , and I think he’d be scrappy enough to go in front of the net at times. Sometimes Staal of they want a bigger body in front of the net , occasionally Asham.
2nd team -
- Comrie – KunitzLovejoy – Martin
I know Lovejoy can play there and I’m not as familiar with Michalek’s offensive skills ….. but either way. Whatever works best.
Michalek
I am really curious as to what this guy can bring offensively. I hope he has that offensive upside that helps the pens out. Even if it’s on just on the PP.
Actually, it’s been recorded that he’s got a pretty underrated shot. So much so, that I remember RS saying something about his offensive upside.
So when's October you ask? Well, here's your answer.
Bull…
Read up the Yotes blogs when we signed him. Been told that he’s got a real slap shot to play with… Don’t expect him to be Sarge or even Tanger on the PP but I’m fairly sure he’ll hold his own. Maybe as a part of that second unit.
Is it October yet?
Just so I never have to answer this again. I'm from Singapore so whenever you see me online, I'm either sleep deprived or just waking up.
mhmm. This.
So when's October, you ask? Well, here's your (new and improved) answer.
by PensFan8725 on Sep 11, 2010 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zbyn%C4%9Bk_Mich%C3%A1lek
27 G in 415 games. Lots of NHL players have big shots, few of them score goals.
They aren’t bad numbers, but I doubt he’d get much PP time. That’s fine as it isn’t why we signed him.
Are you really using that as justification?
The Yotes didn’t use him in an offensive role. The Pens, however, have already talked about using him in more of an offensive role. Just because he’s only got 27 goals in his career doesn’t mean anything. You have to take into account how he was used by his former team.
So when's October, you ask? Well, here's your (new and improved) answer.
To add to that
27 goals is pretty good for a guy who started in his own zone most of the time and faced tough competition. Think of what he could do if the Pens allowed him to shoot more.
So when's October, you ask? Well, here's your (new and improved) answer.
Plus the situation he is in now isn’t going to be the same as back in Phoenix… Based on the level of talent on our blue-line, I expect him to have a little bit more freedom offensively. Staying at home should still be his first priority but I’m sure his numbers are gonna get a boost just from playing here.
First PP unit? Definitely not with guys like GoGo, Martin & Tanger. 2nd Unit isn’t a stretch…
Is it October yet?
Just so I never have to answer this again. I'm from Singapore so whenever you see me online, I'm either sleep deprived or just waking up.
Martin/Goligoski for QB.
Letang is good on the PP, but not running it.
Cooke should get the Guerin/crease-occupying role. He has no shot really, but he could be a hell of a good garbage man. Causing havoc in the crease would provide a great screen for a shot from the point and ample distraction for Sid to sneak in from the goal line.
1st team PP
Crosby
Malkin
Cooke
Martin/Goligoski
Letang
Don't think this was mentioned anywhere
so…
Happy Birthday Staalsy!!!!!!!
"Hockey captures the essence of Canadian experience... hockey is the chance of life, and an affirmation that despite the deathly chill of winter we are alive." - Stephen Leacock.
Happy Birthday, Jordan =]
Now, let that foot heal!
So when's October you ask? Well, here's your answer.
by PensFan8725 on Sep 10, 2010 10:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Unrealistic I know but I’m excited about seeing Sid line up with Staalkin on the PP… Or at all…
Is it October yet?
Just so I never have to answer this again. I'm from Singapore so whenever you see me online, I'm either sleep deprived or just waking up.
It may not be as unrealistic as you think..
So when's October you ask? Well, here's your answer.
by PensFan8725 on Sep 11, 2010 12:28 AM EDT up reply actions
I know but the only reason why I wouldn’t want to see it is because it’s most likely when we’re in desperate need for a goal & the time’s running…
I just don’t like the idea of having to be in that situation.
Is it October yet?
Just so I never have to answer this again. I'm from Singapore so whenever you see me online, I'm either sleep deprived or just waking up.
No…maybe not even that.
When Staal, Sid, and Geno were all centers, it was a crazy idea. Now that Geno’s a winger, it’s not so crazy. They may actually try it,
So when's October you ask? Well, here's your answer.
Makes sense. But I’m still a bit apprehensive. It means at least a full shift w/o a scoring line. I wanna see how solid our bottom shelf is before we pull out hail mary lines like Staalkin Sidney (hope this catches on)…
If I’m that desperate to see those 3 in a line, I can always pull out NHL11…
Is it October yet?
Just so I never have to answer this again. I'm from Singapore so whenever you see me online, I'm either sleep deprived or just waking up.
I’ll join the “Gogo as our main PP QB” group thinking he should be the mainstay on the blue-line when it comes to PP time. Martin and Letang should alternate to fill the other Dman spot.
From what I’ve seen last year in WBS Lovejoy has a good shot and should be a good fit on the PP2 unit…
You have to see it for yourself...
I’m curious… Wouldn’t Tanger get the 1st crack at the PP QB position? Based on seniority & all… I wouldn’t trust a relative rookie with such big responsibilities so early on in the season.
Also wouldn’t letting Sid or Geno marshall and take charge of the PP be an idea. After all, they are the best players on the team.
Is it October yet?
Just so I never have to answer this again. I'm from Singapore so whenever you see me online, I'm either sleep deprived or just waking up.
GoGo is trained to be a PP QB from his time in WBS, whereas for Letang, it’d be a fairly new job description. Sophomore or not, I don’t believe it’s a great risk putting it in the hands of GoGo, he handled the job admirably when Gonch was out last fall.
If not GoGo, then it’ll almost certainly be Martin getting the role. I’d expect Letang on the first PP alongside whoever gets the job, though.
yes, that’s most likely… may be if they wanna play it conservatively Martin will start on the PP1, but I still think Gogo has more upside and will be a better option as early as this season.
You have to see it for yourself...
It’s the same way I see Tangradi transitioning into the top 6… No doubt GoGo’s got the skill set to be the next PP QB. But I don’t wanna see him get rushed into it… Agree with Skyff though, Tanger just doesn’t seem too suited as a QB but I really would like to see him try.
Start with Martin & slowly ease Gogo into the role.
Is it October yet?
Just so I never have to answer this again. I'm from Singapore so whenever you see me online, I'm either sleep deprived or just waking up.
Staal should only be on the 2nd PP unit, especially if he’s the second line center—he’s too valuable on the PK, don’t want to stretch him too much.
Thinking about Guerin’s role as a PP screener, I’d like to see Rupp get a a shot—he’d be near impossible to be moved if he parked in the crease.
Rupp would be impossible to move but could he put home rebounds or redirect shots? I’d go with Kunitz or Cooke. For the point I’d go with Goligoski he can skate, pass and has a good shot. Martin’s minutes should be saved for 5on5 play.
by threeheadedmonster on Sep 11, 2010 5:18 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
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