Sweetwater Fan

Therrien is not a good coach, never liked him in Montreal! With a new coach and Gonchar back, they should soon turn things around. Jagr said he would play for Pitt. for the league minimum as a favour to Mario, I think that would be a great move for the Pens!

I am a long-distance Pen fan living in AK without Versus, so this is only from watching stats and a couple games.

1.  Leadership is lacking.  Crosby wears the C, but can only do so much with the puck.  He's still only 20-21, and has not yet had to deal with real adversity.  Character takes time to build.  A mentor (Gonchar?) is needed.

2. Injuries to defensive corps.  Gonchar again is key.  In my opinion, the Pens lack depth here.  It wouldn't hurt to have some committment to team defense- this is where coaching is key, until the offense can get it in gear.

3. Coaching- I'm not clear what Therrien has done either to motivate or shake things up.  Clearly the Pens have the talent- what has he done to bring it out?  I'm starting to wonder if he has learned much since the minors, when he was given the great talent of Crosby and Malkin to mature.  He needs to instruct the youth about what to do when enthusiasm wanes, and how to become pros.

Anyway you look at it, someone has to "step up."  Whether it's management removing Therrien, bringing new depth to the defensive corps primarily, or a Penguin picking the team up on his back, something needs to change.  The Pens are better than they've played. 

It's time to show it.

I agree completely.  The Pens have played inconsistently all season long and the second they go on a one or two-game win streak and I get all excited, they find a way to get blown out in the next however many games.  I can just notice something is missing from last season...whether its the team chemistry, the leadership, the injuries, or what.  They are playing like they have no heart, like they just don't give a damn