toby91_ca 620 Report post Posted November 19, 2007 http://www.timesonline.com/articles/2007/1...42710206749.txt Fairly interesting article. I think Madden is a bit of an idiot, but I agree with some of the concepts in his article. There has been some rumblings in Pittsburgh about problems in the locker room. It's not really a problem amongst players, but more between players and management/coaching. From what I have heard, the older players and the younger players like each other, that isn't the problem, the problem is the apparent double standard displayed by management......which is somewhat articulated in the article. I have a few views on the Pens situation. 1. There is far to much expected from that team....they are simply not good enough yet. They shouldn't even be compared to the Oilers of the early 80's, that's just dumb, but if you were to compare them, you would realize that the Oilers were not instantly successful. 2. Madden is right, they don't manage the players very well. It is important to have a good mix between youth and experience, but you need to use your players properly. We really have to be thankful for the way the Wings are run. There is a great mix of youth and experience and the guys are used properly. Chelios is getting older, but he isn't used in a major role. As he's aged, his role has been reduced. He is still useful to the team, but you are not going to play him 25 minutes a night. Lidstrom is getting older, but still is one of the top D in the league, when he starts to decline, I'm sure his role will decline as well. It doesn't work that way in Pittsburgh. I think Recchi was getting 20 minutes a night last year and he's still getting 16-17 minutes this year. Recchi and Roberts are almost useless now, yet they continue to play larger roles with the team....it just doesn't make sense. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kp-Wings 3 Report post Posted November 20, 2007 I'm surprised by the lack of production surronding that team. It seems like Crosby and Malkin are the only ones doing anything out there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
toby91_ca 620 Report post Posted November 20, 2007 I'm surprised by the lack of production surronding that team. It seems like Crosby and Malkin are the only ones doing anything out there. I'm not surprised at all. Who else do they have? Staal performed a little beyond his capabilities last year. He is still a good PKer, but he needs more experience and needs to improve his skating. Sykora is okay, but nothing great. I think the fact that they have Crosby and Malkin makes them scary, but they really have nothing beyond that. Play them together, teams will just focus on shutting that line down, separate them and you have to leave it up to them to do it all themselves, which they can do a bit, but not enough to win games. They have no defense and a young goalie. I think if the guys stay together, the team will grow to be great, but it won't be this year and probably not next year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted November 20, 2007 It's fair to say that Andre-Fleury has been a bust so far up to this point in his career. When they drafted him, everyone thought he'd be a star by this point in time. I do expect the team to turn it around, though. It's still early in the season to call them a disappointment. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
toby91_ca 620 Report post Posted November 20, 2007 It's fair to say that Andre-Fleury has been a bust so far up to this point in his career. When they drafted him, everyone thought he'd be a star by this point in time. I do expect the team to turn it around, though. It's still early in the season to call them a disappointment. I think that would be completely unfair. The guy is 22 years old, he's younger than Howard for example. Not a lot of goalies are in the league at that age. It really is not a very good situation to be breaking a young goaltender into the league with the kind of defense they have. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted November 20, 2007 I think that would be completely unfair. The guy is 22 years old, he's younger than Howard for example. Not a lot of goalies are in the league at that age. It really is not a very good situation to be breaking a young goaltender into the league with the kind of defense they have. Yeah, but he was picked 1st overall, and it seems like his progress has actually gotten worse in the last year or so. His rebound control is awful. It is hard for a goalie to succeed at his age, but that was the expectation with him, and he hasn't lived up to it so far. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
toby91_ca 620 Report post Posted November 20, 2007 (edited) Yeah, but he was picked 1st overall, and it seems like his progress has actually gotten worse in the last year or so. His rebound control is awful. It is hard for a goalie to succeed at his age, but that was the expectation with him, and he hasn't lived up to it so far. Maybe he hasn't lived up to expectations yet, but I'm not sure the expectations were for him to be a star right away. I think most thought he may not even be a full timer yet. The guy needs to work on rebound control, he is improving there and he needs to work on consistency....those things come with experience. When he is on, he's one of the best. Edit: Oh, what I was really disputing was your use of the word "bust" - I think it's far too early to be using that term. Edited November 20, 2007 by toby91_ca Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
