nyG

In a move that I think will secure the Penguins quest for a Cup next season, Pittsburgh has signed two of the best forwards from my Islanders. Both one year deals, Ruslan Fedotenko for $2.25 mil and Miroslav Satan for $3.5 mil. Fedotenko finished just his first year with the Isles was good on the powerplay. Satan on the other hand, was one of my favorites because he would always score if the Isles got to a shootout. Very versatile forward. After all the moves that the Pens are making I'm declaring that the Cup finals will be a rematch between Detroit and Pittsburgh, and the Pens will win it all this time.

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cruzg24

Im going to back that bold statement by saying that the Islanders WILL make the playoffs this year. Idk but I think Depietro is going to have his best season this year.

Go Isles!!

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dohcdelsol93

I'd love for the pens to go back to the finals next season but they need two things to beat detroit


experience

a more finess style of play.

Every team the Pens faced in the playoffs up unitl Detorit they skated circles around.

It's time to make those players skate twice as hard twice as long.

Detroits players never stopped moving their legs so it was easier for them to beat the Pens to the puck 90% of the time.

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nyG

You're totally right. The Penguins played the worst playoff team hands down in Ottawa, got to pick up the pieces of the Rangers after they had the series with the Devils, and Philly eliminated the big obstacle Montreal. Detroit had the Preds put up a fight, then played 2 tough teams in Colorado and Dallas.

The West is just far superior. It was a good experience for the young Pens to lose in the Cup Finals. They saw what the top of the mountain looks like and what it takes to climb up there, and they are definitely the favorites to take the East again. Detroit did manage to get Hossa, but there are a lot of bubble teams out there who are still trying to take the west like San Jose and Calgary. They need Osgood to play like he did in the playoffs for a whole year.

cruzg, very bold statement saying that we will make the playoffs with a really different team and new head coach (who STILL hasn't been named). But we're one of those cockroach teams that just never go away and manage to stay in the playoff hunt down the stretch. DiPietro being healthy = playoffs.

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dohcdelsol93

I don't see the pens making it to the finals again this year

but sometime in the next 5 years I see them putting together some teams around the experience of Crosby, Malkin and Flury to make some killer runs and bringing the cup back to Pitt for a third time.

I wouldn't say that the east is weak, i'd say that Detroit is just that good.

The pens got out played and out coached. They got out played by a team that was more experienced and had more discipline. Detroit may be older but they were able to skate circles around a yonger, faster and very skilled pittsburgh team.

Detroits playing style reminds me of the old USSR hockey playing style. Their players may not be the fastest around but because of their constant motion they always appear to be in the right place at the right time and one step ahead of the Pens. They had the momentum and with the exception of a few moments in few games they kept the momentum in their favor.

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nyG

I think the Pens want to win now and the Marion Hossa trade was a good representation of that. Fleury no doubt will be a good goaltender, but he was too inexperienced and pretty much thrown to the wolves in the Finals. Now with extending Malkin, Fleury, Orpik and DuPuis in addition to these free agents, I don't see who can beat the Pens.

I wasn't saying the East was weak, but when you compare the top teams in the NHL the first few are going to be from the Western Conference. Who do you think are the favorites to win the East this year? Montreal maybe? Possibly the Capitals. I think that those are the main competition for Pittsburgh. But then you look over at the West and you got the Wings, Sharks, Stars, Avalanche, Flames, Ducks and now awesome-looking Blackhawks in contention. The West is the new AFC.

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dohcdelsol93

I think the strength, speed and explosive scoring of the Flyers is more than enough to take most west coast teams

I think the tough trap D and physical play of NJ is enough to take most west coast teams

Montreal, when they show up to play consistatly IMO is capable of winning a cup.

The pens are definatly in the mix.

When the pens took the momentum from the wings they were able do things against them that other teams were not able to do. What the pens lack are big hitters who can score/make plays. They need a veteran leader like Hatcher. Maybe two.

To win the cup you will have to do three things

gain momentum and keep it in your favor

Hit to the point that the other team refuses to chase you into the corner/boards for the puck

keep the puck in the netural/attack zone and out of you defensive zone.

It's long been known that the east coast is a grittier playing division. Generally the team that wins in game 6 or 7 is the team that wins battles on the boards and keeps the other team on their toes.

We will see who wins this argument next season!

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