Here’s the podcast of my weekly appearance on Penguins Radio 24/7, the team’s online HD station, with Brian Metzer. We talked Phil Kessel, line combos, all that.
Dejan Kovacevic appears on Penguins Radio 24/7 Mondays at 5:10 p.m.
I remember Johnston talking about how Hornqvist was strictly a RW. Not sure about Kessel, but I don't recall him playing much LW. I'd expect them to be on different lines.
Perron will be 1 of the top 2 LWs and the other will be between Kunitz, Dupuis, and Plotnikov. The two that don't make it likely end up surrounding Sutter on the 3rd.
Forwards are as deep as they've been in a while. Defense is almost the opposite.
3-58 is a fine top pair. Cole/Pouliot is okay for the second, but untested in that role. I'm not comfortable with one off those two having to step up if there's an injury to the top pair, and both 3/58 have health concerns.
Problem is, Pens are basically capped out once the RFAs are freed up. If they weren't using 3.375M of cap space on a guy whose play dictates he should be 7th or 8th on the defensive depth chart, maybe they could address that problem.
I agree. I don't know who plays where (though I'm assuming Crosby gets first shot at Kessell), but I think you leave both Kessell and Hornqvist at their natural RW positions and see if the top lines make it work. Plus, that distributes the wealth a bit more. Here's hoping Perron rediscovers his scoring touch, and Plotnikov works out...and that the Pens finally have a season of good health!
The only thing that scares me is Mike Johnston stating on Mark Madden's show/interview that David Perron is a RW, even though David Perron prefers the LW and is better on the LW.
If Johnston uses Perron out of place (on the RW) then, based on the RW depth chart, that would make Perron the 3rd line RW - which would be horribly miscast.
Jim Rutherford traded a 1st round pick (16th) overall for a young (26), skilled top 6 winger, with I assume the hopes of extending his contact. Playing Perron as the 3rd line RW not only takes him out of his natural position, but puts him in a bottom 6 role where he will not succeed, thus guaranteeing he will not sign an extension.
David Perron needs to be a top 6 LW - period. He's the 2nd most skilled winger the Penguins have. Locking him up with a contract extension would be prudent.
That's my biggest worry as well. He came off a hip injury last summer, clearly wasn't as well conditioned as he wanted to be and got another injury toward the end of the season. Seemed to fall out of favor with MJ down the stretch and bounced around the 3rd and 4th line, but when healthy is definitely a bonified top six winger. He prefers LW, MJ seems to think he's 3rd RW, no talented winger is going to do well with the offensive blackout hole Sutter. Not playing him in a proper role will all but guarantee he walks after next season.
MichaelTheMick
7-8-2015, 7:13 am
@Tim Night - you hit the nail on the head
briancoffey77
7-10-2015, 2:09 pm
yes, this all worries me as well and it also makes me wonder if Johnston is saying that about Perron because he plans on keeping Kunitz with Sid which is a horrid mistake. Kunitz should not be on the first line any more unless they're devastated by injury. If Sid is still requesting kunitz be on his line someone either needs to say something or get rid of Kunitz.
July 6, 2015
Podcast: All pucks on Penguins 24/7
by Dejan Kovacevic • Podcasts • Penguins
Here’s the podcast of my weekly appearance on Penguins Radio 24/7, the team’s online HD station, with Brian Metzer. We talked Phil Kessel, line combos, all that.
Dejan Kovacevic appears on Penguins Radio 24/7 Mondays at 5:10 p.m.