Pens

[Manfred]

Konjo, your last statement just makes your day, doesn't it? But O so true.

[abpk2903]

Good thing we traded Despres! Lovejoy has been a great addition!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think the Pens still did come out a little ahead in those deals. As lost as clueless as Lovejoy has looked from time to time, I don't think it was Rutherfords intention to having him logging this amount of quality minutes. On the flip side, I think Cole is the 2nd best defenseman in the lineup right now behind Martin. I think depres would struggle in a top 4 role, as well. I'm sure glad the pens are putting Bortz over the board for 25 minutes a night.

[Sidewalk]

Is there any way these guys can right the ship heading into the playoffs? What a bad time to slump

[theoneandonly]

Can they? Sure they can...

Will they? With this team... who the hell knows. They have the mental make of a 14 year old girl after the love of her life broke her heart.

[abpk2903]

I heard from someone through the grapevine (so the chances of this being true is under 5%), that if not for his mother passing Johnston would no longer be the coach of this team. Has anyone else heard anything similar?

Perfect analogy 1&only, I swear that as soon as this team gives up a tough goal, has a bad call go against them, has someone leave the game due to injury, ect. that they don't have the mental toughness to get through it. Could you imagine what losing an overtime game, or blowing a late lead, or falling behind a couple of goals will do to this team IN THE PLAYOFFS??? Teams that make it to the finals have mental toughness. When the Pens won the cup in '09 they fell behind 0-2 twice. The year the Bruins won the cup they faced a multiple goal deficit late in the 3rd period of game 7 in round 1 against the maple leafs. The 1st LA cup was won after they won 40 regular season games and averaged well under 2 goals a game. The Rangers last year were down 3-1 and won 2 game in the 'Burgh to get to the ECF.

From what I've seen through 80 games, there is no way the Penguins players, coaches, or organization right now is mentally tough enough to even think about overcoming the ups and downs associated with the Stanley Cup playoffs.

[theoneandonly]

No I've never heard that but it's interesting. I follow most of the Burgh media personalities on Twitter and didn't see anything regarding that but that doesn't really mean much.

To answer all your questions in a nutshell, abpk, no. I can't.

[JustWrestle]

If you still think the Pens came out ahead in the Despres/Lovejoy trade you're just bias to the Pens

[Jrs237]

The pens made out with Cole/bort but I think they broke even with Lovejoy/Despres. Lovejoy hasn't done anything special in the burgh, Despres hasn't done anything promising in Anaheim (I still think he has and upside though). That doesn't mean anyone is bias.

[Jrs237]

http://triblive.com/mobile/8145505-96/p ... -islanders

Not the mentality of a team poised to make a run for the cup. This team is a mental disaster right now.

Just to share something relevant: I played in high school and now that I'm graduated and in school I still find time to play a little bit. But when I was in HS my coach had a unique but very effective rule. If there was a goal, whether we were the ones who scored or the other team did, our rule was we have to put one in within the 2 minutes after. Because we are either responding to a relaxed line that thinks they have momentum or we are putting them down for good. It was always something we initiated and believe it or not we scored a lot of back to back goals. This team cant just drop dead anytime adversity strikes. they have to respond stronger and with more urgency. I think the pens just lack a verbal leader behind the bench, and although I think he tries, Sid is not the greatest verbal communicator either. There seems to be no motivation or passion and its hard to watch.

Just my opinion, but these guys aren't winning a cup as it stands right now.

[HockeyGenie]

If the pens get past NYR, they make it to the finals. Calling it now