Équipe: 2020-21 Penguins de Pittsburgh

Date de création initiale: 15 août 2020

Publié: 15 août 2020

Mode - plafond salarial: Basique

This team has 2 issues on the RW. And the truth is, they aren't going to find 1 guy who can fix both. 1st they need a guy with size who has the speed to play with Sid and can be useful in places like below the goal line and in the corners and contribute offensively. Anderson is a risk to do that. We know this is highly unlikely as CBJ probably signs him at that cost. But this is the kind of player they need with Sid if he can rebound. Sid can't be the biggest guy on that line. It's going to get Jake killed if he is. Teams have figured out you shut that line down by shoving them to the ice. 40 goal scorers are worthless if they can't stay upright. He was getting knocked around way to much last series. A Change needs to happen. Out there with Sid and Sheary was not the answer.
They also have the problem of needing a real RH shot. The question is, is Poulin the answer here.He has nothing left to prove in the CHL. To not play him is simply a bad decision. They don't have 3 years left to wait on players to develop. They have 1 maybe 2 and the good times are basically over. They need young, fast players. It's time to get all in. He's young, fast, has some size, They have nothing to lose. Trading him for a high price player only takes away from some other player they can sign.
The same can be said on Hallander, who will bring some willingness to play hard and hit people and go to the dirty areas.
They need more of that on this team. Adding Poulin and Hallander onto a line will hopefully bring some edge to it. It was lacking against MTL. PM was never going to do anything but stand around being old and slow. McCann and Horny are both smaller players and Horny is slow.
They have a full year to "adjust" to the pro game. They don't have to be great right away. The more ice time they get the better, but they don't have to be thrown to the wolves as the 4th line is really good and can help support them.

Clearly the defense has it's issues. The top 4 is fine. The 3rd pairing may have issues with POJ. Who knows if he's NHL ready yet. They can sign any number of guys for the RHD 3rd pairing. TVR, DeMelo, Soucy. There are options there but they aren't going to break the bank. It can't get any worse than their 3rd pair against MTL. The truth is they don't have to be great. They have to be good enough that when Sullivan does something stupid like pair the 3rd pairing defense with Malkin's line constantly, that they won't slow Malkin and company down.
Everyone complained about the lack of production on Malkin's line. Every time I looked he was on the ice with JJ and Schultz. It's no wonder there was on production. They need some defensive minded guys who can play actual 3rd pairing minutes and not get in the way. Not guys they try to hide in the Ozone hoping the forwards can carry them.

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