Re: The NHL Thread (where the Presidents Trophy matters!)
 

Can't place it all on one guy. If the Pens don't repeat, it is on all of the team and the lack of Letang will only be one of several reasons for it.

Re: The NHL Thread (where the Presidents Trophy matters!)
 

i don't think you understand how important Letang is to the Penguins then

is it possible for other guys to play poorly or mistakes? yes, of course

but if the Pens play their best hockey they still won't win because no Letang. he's the engine that propels their system.

Re: The NHL Thread (where the Presidents Trophy matters!)
 

I do understand how important he is, and I agree that it will be much more difficult for them to win without him. I just don't believe it is a forgone conclusions when you are supposed to have the best player in the world on your team, along with Geno, and a lot of other great players.

Also, my point was that if they do get past the Jackets and Caps, they will become a favorite again to win it all. I think the Caps are really the only team in the East the Pens would not be a favorite against.

Re: The NHL Thread (where the Presidents Trophy matters!)
 

the best player in the world is less effective, especially in the playoffs, when one of the best puck moving/skating defensman in the world isn't available to get him the puck.

it's a different team without Letang...he's just as important as Geno and almost as important as Sid.

sucks

Re: The NHL Thread (where the Presidents Trophy matters!)
 

I just don't trust Columbus. Letang, no Letang, extra Letangs, negative amounts of Letangs. It doesn't matter. I still don't trust Columbus to actually beat the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Re: The NHL Thread (where the Presidents Trophy matters!)
 

I mean - yeah you can. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are fucking grueling, even for a fully loaded team.

It's the Caps without Backstrom, the Hawks without Keith, the Rags without Hank, the Sharks without Jumbo Joe...

Clearly it's a "team game", but when you lose one of the most important pieces...it's just a huge stretch to think it's going to happen. Maybe you can scrape by and win a series, but I just can't see much besides that. Holes will get exposed over time when meeting the same team over and over again.

Re: The NHL Thread (where the Presidents Trophy matters!)
 

Bobs hasnt been playing well the last month either, nor was he very good in the playoffs a couple years ago.

Re: The NHL Thread (where the Presidents Trophy matters!)
 

You misspelled BOBROVSKY!

Re: The NHL Thread (where the Presidents Trophy matters!)
 

Do you remember who he picked last year?

Re: The NHL Thread (where the Presidents Trophy matters!)
 

Not 100% but im pretty sure it was the Caps

He picked against the pens in every round of the playoffs last year

Re: The NHL Thread (where the Presidents Trophy matters!)
 

I hear what everyone is saying and I am not denying that Letang out makes it way harder. That said, It can be done. Lightning made it to game seven of the ECF without Stamkos last year. All I said was that I have a feeling about the Pens this year and that if they get out of the MET playoffs, they will be a favorite to win it all.

Hopefully I am wrong, I am not sure I want to see the Pens with the Cup again this soon :lol

Re: The NHL Thread (where the Presidents Trophy matters!)
 

LeBrun has picked against the Rangers in every round for like 6 years in a row. In 2014 and 2015 he never picked them to win a single series. (This is all according to comments on NHL.com, not my own research).

Re: The NHL Thread (where the Presidents Trophy matters!)
 

Pens still match up pretty well against the caps and CBJ, if they get to their game, they can beat both teams in a 7 game series. Not easily by any means, but it can happen. If they get through those two, all bets are off.

That is unless they get to the final and play the Hawks, then I dont see any way they win that series :lol

Re: The NHL Thread (where the Presidents Trophy matters!)
 

Meh. Here's holding he's like a broken watch - eventually right given enough time.

I'm praying for symmetry in the universe. 2017, the year to get the monkey off your back.

First Sergio! Who's next??

Re: The NHL Thread (where the Presidents Trophy matters!)
 

Henrik Lundqvist!

Re: The NHL Thread (where the Presidents Trophy matters!)
 

The thing about losing a guy like Letang isn't just about not having him on the ice (which is still a huge loss, don't get me wrong), but it's also about guys being able to fill HIS role both in minutes and skill.

These are the types of questions that come up when a #1 defenseman goes down:
Who is going to take his spot on the top pair?
Can that guy play as many minutes as Letang?
Who would Letang normally match up against on the other team?
Can his replacement handle that matchup for 30 minutes a night? (< this might be the most important and least-considered question)
Who is going to replace Letang's replacement on the second pairing?
Can he handle the extra work? Especially on deep teams that can throw 2-3 legit scoring lines at you?
Who is the seventh D-man that comes in? Can HE handle it?
How will the roster juggling affect the chemistry of the current pairings?

It's a big trickle-down thing that is so much more than just filling a hole and soldiering on. Not saying the Pens can't do it. They know how to play in the playoffs. But it's going to be quite the challenge.

Re: The NHL Thread (where the Presidents Trophy matters!)
 

I'm kind of happy for the Caps are playing the Leafs in round 1. The speed and style of play is similar to what the Penns bring to the table. If the Caps and Penns are able to advance, the style of play the Caps will face in round one should get them ready for the Penns if they advance as well.

Ultimately I'm just looking for the Blue Jackets to physically and mentally exhaust the Penns in the first round. Whether it goes 5, 6, or 7 games we all know the style of play the Blue Jackets bring to the table, and if I was a Penns fan I would be a little worried about getting out of that first round 100% healthy from when they went in. I see at least 1 suspension from a Blue Jackets player by game 3

Re: The NHL Thread (where the Presidents Trophy matters!)
 

I definitely agree, luckily (sort of) they have been dealing with a majorly depleted blue line over half the season, so guys are used to stepping up into bigger minute rolls already. So this isnt as much of a shock to their current system as it is a disappointment because he was expected to be back.

Re: The NHL Thread (where the Presidents Trophy matters!)
 

^^^^ This. The Penns can't blame a Letang injury for any failures in the playoffs. They had over 40+ games without him to adjust

Re: The NHL Thread (where the Presidents Trophy matters!)
 

Oh yeah im with you on that aspect.

It was so apparent in the game we played against them last week. It was basically a battle for home ice in that series and CBJ came out and just seemed more interested in setting a physical tone than winning the game. It was a bit bizarre.

Re: The NHL Thread (where the Presidents Trophy matters!)
 

Also, isn't it KrisTOPHER Letang??

Re: The NHL Thread (where the Presidents Trophy matters!)
 

exactly

Matty gets it

Brohan doesn't get it

this is like saying if Ovie got hurt 2 months ago: "Caps can't blame an Ovechkin injury for any failures in the playoffs, they had time to adjust!!"

just doesn't work that way. wouldn't expect you to understand though

Re: The NHL Thread (where the Presidents Trophy matters!)
 

Even without the Flyers in, love playoff time. Much better to be in than to be out.

But here's to the best 8 weeks in sports and to 105 OT games! :thumbsup

Re: The NHL Thread (where the Presidents Trophy matters!)
 

OT playoff hockey gives me a rager, especially during the west coast games.

Re: The NHL Thread (where the Presidents Trophy matters!)
 

Only in Pierre's lovesick eyes.

Re: The NHL Thread (where the Presidents Trophy matters!)
 

Well said, I agree completely. I feel for the Pens fans because losing a guy like him just plain sucks. In addition to the points you made I would also mention how much the offense flows through him and how effective he can be on special teams. You are also entirely correct about replacing his TOI especially with a depleted D corps, as for a 7 D man, do they even have one or will they call one up from the AHL? Ugh - sucks they are starting against a damn good team too, if they had a better matchup the adjustment might be a bit easier. Repeating is tough as we all know but it is even tougher when your #1 D man is not available for the playoffs.

Re: The NHL Thread (where the Presidents Trophy matters!)
 

I understand that there's a shit ton to replace with Letang's injury and not one person is going to be able to bring what he has to the table.

I'm saying that they've had plenty of time to adjust, and frankly I think they have a better record this year with him off the ice.

Penguins this year are 26-10-5 without Letang and 24-11-6 with Letang. So they obviously have found a way to fill the void and keep the same production. Some of that will change going forward into the playoffs as their a different beast, but Penns have proven they can play just as well without Letang

Re: The NHL Thread (where the Presidents Trophy matters!)
 

right now we've got

Schultz-Cole
Maata-Daley
Doumolin-Hainsey

could dress Streit as a 7th and go with 11 forwards if they really wanted to but i'd rather have Rowney in at wing (or obviously Hagelin if he gets healthy) than Streit as a 7th

Streit has not impressed me at all since his acquisition

Re: The NHL Thread (where the Presidents Trophy matters!)
 

I can't believe I am saying this, but I agree with Brohan here. With the exception that the use of the word any is not 100% accurate. They could definitely point to Letang's absence as ONE of the reasons for failure. I just don't believe it would be the ONLY reason. Like Brohan said, they had over 40 games already without him and have played well. It still reminds me of Tampa Bay without Stammer last year.

Re: The NHL Thread (where the Presidents Trophy matters!)
 

Yeah hes basically just a body on the ice. Need some big production out of maatta specifically, hes had a below average season.