I just saw this, and the Penguins power-play is going to be a force this year. Lemieux, Crosby, LeClair, and Gonchar? they will be running a clinic this year.

I am a very worried Devils fan but I am starting to jump on the Penguins bandwagon and I hope to see Crosby and Mario. This is very good for the state of hockey especially in Pitty.

And my main man Andre Roy to protect them all...

the penguins will probably make the playoffs, but i don't think they have a good shot at the cup with thibault in net

I think the Penguins, Blackhawks, and Mighty Ducks have done the best for their team in the offseason. The Panthers will also be a much improved team especially if they sign Oli Jokinen.

Edited August 23, 200520 yr by Ozzie Montana

the penguins will probably make the playoffs, but i don't think they have a good shot at the cup with thibault in net

Thibault was always solid, and they will score a lot of goals, and if the "new NHL" is as-advertised, offense will become more important than defense.

Thibault was always solid, and they will score a lot of goals, and if the "new NHL" is as-advertised, offense will become more important than defense.

I don't care about the "new nhl." Playoffs = Goaltending.

 

Pens don't have a shot with thibault, he's not a cup goaltender

The Pens will be alright if Thibault stays healthy. That seems to be the problem with him. Im not sure if they'll win the Stanely Cup but they should make the playoffs with what they got.

I don't care about the "new nhl." Playoffs = Goaltending.

 

Pens don't have a shot with thibault, he's not a cup goaltender

goaltender's can pop up out of nowhere, and when Thibault was with Chicago he was always facing a barrage of shots. he'd lead the league in saves and shots faced, and still still 60-65 games. and 3 years ago, how many people would say that Mikka Kiprusoff would be goalie for a team in the Finals?

 

by the way, I said if the "new NHL" is as-advertised. I'm not fully convinced about it, either.

goaltender's can pop up out of nowhere, and when Thibault was with Chicago he was always facing a barrage of shots.  he'd lead the league in saves and shots faced, and still still 60-65 games.  and 3 years ago, how many people would say that Mikka Kiprusoff would be goalie for a team in the Finals?

 

Not to sound like a jag, but I always like Kipper when he was with the Sharks...

I think the Penguins, Blackhawks, and Mighty Ducks have done the best for their team in the offseason.  The Panthers will also be a much improved team especially if they sign Oli Jokinen.

Hope you're right about the Hawks being strong this year.But I totally agree the Pens look dominant this year with the players they got.

Aside from Roy, they look kinda soft to me.

Not to sound like a jag, but I always like Kipper when he was with the Sharks...

well yeah, but did you see him taking a team to the Finals?

well yeah, but did you see him taking a team to the Finals?

 

Like I said, I liked him. Which means, a solid goaltender. Solid goaltenders take teams deep into the playoffs. See J-S Giguere, Khabibulin, Irbe (with the Canes that magical year). It can happen.

Don't forget to add Martin Brodeur to that list.

Don't forget to add Martin Brodeur to that list.

 

I consider him in the elite group with players like Roy, and although I never liked him much, Hasek and to an extent Belfour.

 

And I cant forget Andrei Trefilov. Although I think I'm the only Hawks fan that knows who that is.

Like I said, I liked him.  Which means, a solid goaltender.  Solid goaltenders take teams deep into the playoffs.  See J-S Giguere, Khabibulin, Irbe (with the Canes that magical year).  It can happen.

Khabibulin is more than a "solid goaltender". Irbe played over his head, and Giguere could be an all-time great if he improves his glove.

I consider him in the elite group with players like Roy, and although I never liked him much, Hasek and to an extent Belfour.

 

And I cant forget Andrei Trefilov. Although I think I'm the only Hawks fan that knows who that is.

 

Make that TWO Hawk fans that remember the former Calgary Flame...didn't he use to play in Buffalo as well? I still have his '92 Upper Deck hockey card in my house somewhere....

goaltender's can pop up out of nowhere, and when Thibault was with Chicago he was always facing a barrage of shots.  he'd lead the league in saves and shots faced, and still still 60-65 games.  and 3 years ago, how many people would say that Mikka Kiprusoff would be goalie for a team in the Finals?

 

by the way, I said if the "new NHL" is as-advertised.  I'm not fully convinced about it, either.

I think Thibault's had long enough to prove himself. I just don't think he's a cup-caliber goalie is all. He's average in my mind, with the potential to play some amazing games. But 28 playoff wins? I don't see that coming from Thibault.

I like the Pens "O"...but what about their D? Gonchar, Orpik, Jackman and Tarnstrom doesn't exactly scare anyone (except Orpik, who would look DAMN good in a Hawks uniform).

 

I'll take the Hawks' new D any day of the week now.

Aucoin-Vandermeer-Spacek-Cullimore-Simpson-???

Duncan Keith? Paging Duncan Keith...your table is waiting..........

Khabibulin is more than a "solid goaltender".  Irbe played over his head, and Giguere could be an all-time great if he improves his glove.

 

Where do you get this, improves his glove? You must be a goalie or a goalie instructor...

Make that TWO Hawk fans that remember the former Calgary Flame...didn't he use to play in Buffalo as well?  I still have his '92 Upper Deck hockey card in my house somewhere....

 

Nope, 2 years with the hawks in 96-97 and a year with the flames in 98. I doubt he had a 92 hockey card

Where do you get this, improves his glove?  You must be a goalie or a goalie instructor...

well I haven't seen hockey in a while, but there were a lot of people criticizing JS Giguere's glove hand, calling it his one weakness. but I do remember a lot of straight shots that scored on him were glove side.

I like the Pens "O"...but what about their D?  Gonchar, Orpik, Jackman and Tarnstrom doesn't exactly scare anyone (except Orpik, who would look DAMN good in a Hawks uniform).

 

I'll take the Hawks' new D any day of the week now. 

Aucoin-Vandermeer-Spacek-Cullimore-Simpson-???

Duncan Keith?  Paging Duncan Keith...your table is waiting..........

the Pens are really built assuming the NHL is more offense-based. Gonchar helps the offense a lot from the point, and Tarnstrom (I forgot about him when I started this thread) had 12 powerplay goals and 26 powerplay assists in 03-04, so with him the Pens have two damn good powerplay quarterbacks.

well I haven't seen hockey in a while, but there were a lot of people criticizing JS Giguere's glove hand, calling it his one weakness.  but I do remember a lot of straight shots that scored on him were glove side.

 

 

I'll disagree here, being a goaltender myself, Giguere was a butterfly goalie, go down and use your enormous padding to stop shots. If anything is his weakness, its his post to post movement. I've never heard him be criticized about his glove hand before. I've heard him criticized about puck handling though...