This is probably the best opening night Pens lines I’ve seen on here. The only change I’d make is swapping Sprong and Hornqvist.

I think Sprong will get a real shot with sid. If not then switch him and Hornqvisf i agree. Sprong with Brassard would be scary.

i might flip ZAR and hagelin. As for the right wings, kessel, horni, and sprong are basically interchangeable imo with the only one not possible is sid with kessel, any other combo could be suggested and I would be ok with it.

I like ZAR, he doesn't have the foot speed to play on those top 2 lines. You will see Rust on that 2nd line most likely. the 2LW and 3LW are between Rust and Hags. I think if hags struggles you will see ZAR in the 3LW and Hags on the 4th line..... if not traded out. I think their patients with him is slim at this point. He didn't do much of anything for half the year last year. I don't think they will be ok with that going forward.

Agree, Rust and Hags are 2 and 3 LW with Horn 1 RW, Sprong may get decent time with Malkin, not with Crosby. Really blows my mind on here, can anyone name a single defensively inept sniper that Crosby has spent even clcose to signifigant time with...didn't play with Neal, doesn't play with Kessel,won't play with Sprong. ZAR will be the first to get top 9 time when someone is injured. And I think Hags has much more leeway than most realize, he is not expected to score, only by the media, hes a role player and he does his role better than about any other player in the league, forecheck like a manaic and eat up a ridiculous amount of PK time.

I think the reason people say Sprong will be on Croby's line is that Kessel is on Malkin's right side.
That only leaves 2 two other spots open. 1RW and 3RW. No way he plays on the 4th line. I do see him on the 3RW position personally. Hags or Rust on the LW and Brass at center give him defensive help. He gives that line the offensive burst they need. The thing with Sprong is he needs to shoot the puck. The more he shoots the better he is. So the weakest offensive part of the line up is where a player like that should go.

If Sprong shows that he isn't just a mouth breather defensively and that he is more than literally only a "sniper", yanno cycle the puck, play the boards, find the soft areas and crash the nets and find the rebounds. Then will no doubt play with Crosby. And if that happens ill be the first to admit that i was wrong, but the only thing I have ever heard about Sprong, is that he is a sniper, that is it. And how is 1st line, playing with Crosby the weakest Offensive part of the line-up? Assuming that Horny is there, which he will be.

Also, you don't design your line-up around an un-proven winger. You don't force Crosby to play with him just because you think Sprong may be top-6. You give the player that has been the face of the NHL, Penguins and City of Pittsburgh for the last decade, whatever he wants.

many you need reading comprehension. I never said Crosby was the weakest part of the line up. Matter of fact I made the case that he will be on the 3rd line.