Comments on: Why is the Pittsburgh Penguins Defense so Bad?

By: Rick Buker

Rick Buker — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 20:02:02 +0000

I like the defense better now that Robert Bortuzzo’s in the mix. After looking a little lost in his first game against the Rangers, I think he’s played pretty well the last couple of games. He’s a no-frills guy, but he gives the Pens a little size and physicality. He and Deryk Engelland make a nice No. 3 pairing …

By: Guy Fox

Guy Fox — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 21:47:56 +0000

Is it possible for management to take the draft out of Shero’s portfolio?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 18:26:22 +0000

Amazing, two days in a row a Pens defenseman takes a full slap shot, and we score

By: Phil Krundle

Phil Krundle — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 17:03:33 +0000

I think Niskanen & Martin are easily your Eaton & Scuderi. We need a Gonchar & a Gill. Despres had a few mistakes but otherwise looked good last game, may be a Gonchar. He looked good last game. I don’t see a Gill anywhere in the organization. I was really hoping we would go for Luke Schenn instead of what Carolina was offering for Staal.

By: Rick Buker

Rick Buker — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 23:29:31 +0000

At least part of the problem stems from the team’s overall defensive structure … or lack of. How many times have we heard Dan Bylsma allude to offensive zone time as the measuring stick for how the team is performing? Frankly, I don’t think he spends a lot of time teaching defensive structure, which is a mistake. You don’t win Cups without being able to play defense.

Along those lines, the Pens will have trouble defensively as long as Bylsma and Shero stress speed and skill over size and toughness. The Pens need a more balanced mix on ‘d’ … something the brass seems reluctant to try. When we won the Cup we had a near perfect blend of skill (Gonchar and Letang); size and physicality (Gill and Orpik); and defensive conscience (Eaton and Scuderi). For now, we’re too skewed towards smallish “skate and move the puck” types like Martin and Niskanen.

By: Phil Krundle

Phil Krundle — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 14:29:41 +0000

Shero has had seven draft years and other than Jordan Staal, not one player he drafted has played a full season in the NHL. Dustin Jeffrey is his second biggest pick so far.

By: Tyknee

Tyknee — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 13:56:38 +0000

Is there anyone he drafted that worked out yet? His ability on free agent day though seems to be quite amazing.

By: Guy Fox

Guy Fox — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 11:44:09 +0000

How about some defensemen who can actually defend? Offensive defenseman often means soft. The Pens have not been the same team since losing Scuderi and Gill. If Shero does’t make some sort of substantial upgrade to defense I fear that the big minutes being logged by the top 4 will take it’s toll, and we will be quickly sent to the golf course when things tighten up defensively in the playoffs. Also Shero is not proving to make great draft choices.

By: 55 on point

55 on point — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 22:30:34 +0000

Since they aren’t going to grow an bigger it’s no reason they can’t play grittier. I agree they played the Islanders like they were indeed afraid to hit anyone. The only solution to that is to start hitting everyone and suffer the occasional whistle. As it is they just aren’t wearing down their opponents. As for the Islanders set plays, they could have done pretty much anything they wanted on the PP because they weren’t in the least challenged. They had the whole zone to themselves while the Pens swayed from side to side in the box like a precision marching band. For the whole game the Pens had an Islander in their face the second they touched the puck and rarely returned that courtesy in kind. That’s why they beat Philly and the Rangers in the first two games, they hounded the puck. Bylsma has to let loose the dogs of war and the dogs have to play hockey like they ARE the dogs of war. If they don’t get their act together in short order, this shortened season is going to be a lot shorter than they planned.

By: Phil Krundle

Phil Krundle — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:29:40 +0000

They seem to be two different teams on defense. Against the Senators they cleared the people in front any way possible. Two nights later against the Islanders it looked like they were afraid to touch anyone. I agree to that the non stop line switching is a bit crazy as far as over coaching is concerned. Though you would have to admit the Islanders set plays on the powerplay looked really good. Two things the guys here talk about all the time with the defense is how they back to far in our zone instead of challenging a break out and how the Pens could stand to be a bit bigger and grittier.

By: 55 on point

55 on point — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 16:50:08 +0000

I don’t think it’s so much that they don’t have a defenseman, or defensemen, who can shoot, it’s that they don’t shoot enough. With the firepower on this team anything less than 40 shots per game is wimp territory. The defense isn’t the only thing that’s been bad. They’re even having trouble getting into the offensive zone against marginal teams with marginal defenses. You not only can’t score if you don’t shoot, you can’t score if you spend most of the game on the other side of the red line. They won the first two games because they were all over the puck. They won most of the little puck battles. Now it’s like their sticks have puck repellent tape on them and the whole team seems to be asleep on skates. The passing has been abominable. Not only are they making terrible passes — and I’d start fining anyone who makes another of those awful behind-the-back, drop-passes to the opposing team — they’re making too many passes. Shoot the damn puck! I don’t think there’s anyone on the team who doesn’t have a handful of giveaways, including Fluery. And to add to the misery, no one goes to the net. This team, like all the rest in the league, are over-coached. It’s killing the game. Screw matchups and systems. You put your five best guys on the ice and they put they’re five best guys on the ice and let them play hockey. This isn’t rocket science. These guys have been playing hockey since they could walk, they don’t need charts and graphs, mathematical equations and Bylsma’s Theorem to find the net. Plus, it wouldn’t hurt to knock a guy on his ass when he’s coming across the red line with the puck.