Comrie to the Penguins

[TOX1]

lol

 

[Darkstone42]

Assuming average everything else (and from what I understand, he's below average in everything else, but I'll account for that later in the post) Comrie's ppg production over the past three years is worth a $2.84 million per year contract. Over the past three years, he's been about a 0.5 ppg player.

Now he's got below average physicality and he's a below average defensive player, so his value is probably about $1.5 million per year less due to those two things. Let's also assume a poor attitude/negative leadership ability, and his value drops by another $500 thousand. So overall, he's worth about $840 thousand, which means the Penguins are going to get $340 thousand of production out of him above his contract rate if the patterns stay essentially the same over the course of the upcoming season, making this a good signing for the Penguins.

If his attitude proves better on a winner than on losing teams, his value may increase by another $500 thousand, and he'll be worth $840 thousand above his contract rate, making him one of the best value contracts on the team.

Also bear in mind that he's here to fill a role. He's not going to be asked to rough guys up or kill penalties or be a shut down defender. He's just going to be asked to contribute offensively about every other game, and he's a player that can fill that role effectively, as his career line suggests.

Overall, I would say that I like the signing.

 

[pixburgher66]

Comrie on the first line. HAHAHAHA. If he's one of the best wingers the Penguins have Penguin fans will be doing a lot of this all year.

I'm not saying that at all. But you had to have noticed that basically every Penguin winger has been given a SHOT on Sid's line. You never know when that chemistry will magically appear. I don't think he was signed to be a top 2 liner (I mean, he's a center by nature), but that doesn't mean the opportunity won't appear. It's a depth signing for the most part, but I can guarantee you that (unless some other combo clicks from the get-go) he will be found on Sid's line at some point this season.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Okay right now I'd say the Penguins top two lines look like this.

1. LW Kunitz C Crosby RW Dupuis
2. LW Cooke C Malkin RW Kennedy

If this is correct there is definately room for improvement. I'd give Tangradi a very long look at camp. Kunitz needs to step up. 13 goals in 50 games isn't getting it done.

 

[JustAsking]

After thinking about this signing a bit more, it makes sense. The Pens still have enough cap room to sign a 650K or so vet. defenseman for the #6 or #7 spot. They have roughly 1.7 million left right now with 13 forwards, 6 defenseman and 2 goalies.

Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis
Malkin-Staal-Kennedy
Cooke-Talbot-Asham
Rupp-Adams-Comrie
Goddard

...with plenty of hungry young legs waiting for a chance.

Actually, any of the RWs can change, but I think the LW-C combo is pretty much set.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

What young legs are you talking about? After Tangradi & Jeffrey the only other guy I see is Simon Dupres & he's a defenseman.

Why would Malkin play wing on the second line?

 

[pixburgher66]

What young legs are you talking about? After Tangradi & Jeffrey the only other guy I see is Simon Dupres & he's a defenseman.

Why would Malkin play wing on the second line?

the buzz since basically the end of the season is that malkin would be moved to wing with staal as the center (or vice versa) because they clicked really well together in their rookie campaign. it's really just a 'solution' or attempt at a solution to our over abundance of centers/lack of wingers. the lines are all up in the air right now...the only thing certain is having sid center the first, and kunitz with him. also, you're over valuing TK. this is being deemed his 'make it or break it' camp. both he and Talbot struggled last season with injuries and are going to have to FIGHT for their spots this year. personally I LOVE TK, but the fact of the matter is, there's a handful of players fighting for one spot, and he may be on the short side of the stick.

 

[pixburgher66]

and to answer the young guys question, there are a few others that will be fighting for those spots. at D there's Lovejoy (who's basically been handed the 6th D spot), Engelland, Borrtuzo (who's had some good camps), and further down the road guys like Despres (who's actually closer than many suspect), D'Agostino, Grant, Strait, Sneep. For forwards, there's Nick Johnson, Letestu, and a few others that are still in the distance.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

I'm not over valuing anybody. I think the CAP is hurting the Penguins big time. They made the decision to sign Martin & Michalek. I understand why they did it. I just think the Pens wingers stink. Fortunately Sid, Malkin & Staal make them look good.

There was a story that Martin actually got on the phone himself with Garth Snow after he found out what the Isles offered. I don't know how many years or how much per. He asked him how long the Islanders were going to be in their DUMP. Garth told him through 2015. The Isles offered Martin more money. They just play in a DUMP no UFA wants to play in.

 

[pixburgher66]

I'm not over valuing anybody. I think the CAP is hurting the Penguins big time. They made the decision to sign Martin & Michalek. I understand why they did it. I just think the Pens wingers stink. Fortunately Sid, Malkin & Staal make them look good.

There was a story that Martin actually got on the phone himself with Garth Snow after he found out what the Isles offered. I don't know how many years or how much per. He asked him how long the Islanders were going to be in their DUMP. Garth told him through 2015. The Isles offered Martin more money. They just play in a DUMP no UFA wants to play in.

Funny you mentioned that, because it's been said that many of the UFAs that have been calling Pittsburgh are doing so to inquire about the new arena. Comrie apparently brought that up as a reason for his pay cut. For yours, and the sake of many others, I hope the situation up there is rectified as quickly as possible...because it just sucks.

 

[JustAsking]

I have a good reason as to why I put TK on the 2nd line. Basically, I see it as this, Staal knows him. As simple as that. For the 4th line, with Rupp and Adams, I wanted some "speed" on that line, therefore I selected Comrie instead of Asham. Asham ended up on the 3rd line. But like I said, any RW can end up anywhere right now. I could see Asham on the 2nd adding that physical edge, with Comrie on 3rd and TK on the 4th.

I just really like the LW-C combos right now.

AS far as young legs:
Up front: Tangradi, Jeffery, Letestu, Johnson and Connor (honorable mention CPZ, not this year, but soon)

Backend, has been covered, but the Pens will still sign a vetern dman for around 650K. They can not go into this season with Lovejoy and Engelland as their 6 and 7.

 

[JustAsking]

Possible UFA defenseman for the Penguins

Mottau, Hnidy, Krajicek ... any could be had around 650K and could fill in nicely when needed.

 

[loki604]

I love the Penguins fans think for some reason Comrie is. He stunk it up in L.I.. He's going to stink it up in Pittsburgh as well.

I don't think he's great. He is what he is. If he gets 40-50 points, I will be ecstatic. Guerin could barely keep up last year. He just ran out of legs. He will fit somewhere (a la Recchi in Boston) and continue to contribute. But he shouldn't be playing with Sidney Crosby for the simple fact that he doesn't have the speed. He makes no sense being in the Penguins line up at this point.

Comrie is making 500K. Low risk, high reward. I'll take this deal any day of the week over Feds for 1.8. If we had paid Comrie 1.5, I would be singing a different tune. As it stands, an easy gamble to make. Who knows what the hell the lines are going to look like this year, but Comrie will get a shot with Sid at some point. As sad as it may be, he probably will be one of our best winger options this year.

 

[postmaster]

A good signing for $500K.
Don't see much downside at that price.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

I don't think he's great. He is what he is. If he gets 40-50 points, I will be ecstatic. Guerin could barely keep up last year. He just ran out of legs. He will fit somewhere (a la Recchi in Boston) and continue to contribute. But he shouldn't be playing with Sidney Crosby for the simple fact that he doesn't have the speed. He makes no sense being in the Penguins line up at this point.

Comrie is making 500K. Low risk, high reward. I'll take this deal any day of the week over Feds for 1.8. If we had paid Comrie 1.5, I would be singing a different tune. As it stands, an easy gamble to make. Who knows what the hell the lines are going to look like this year, but Comrie will get a shot with Sid at some point. As sad as it may be, he probably will be one of our best winger options this year.

There isn't really any downside to signing Comrie at that price. However the Penguins really don't have a choice. They don't have the cap space to sign a legit 1st or 2nd line winger. That's why I don't see them winning the Stanley Cup this season.

 

[JustAsking]

There isn't really any downside to signing Comrie at that price. However the Penguins really don't have a choice. They don't have the cap space to sign a legit 1st or 2nd line winger. That's why I don't see them winning the Stanley Cup this season.

Who was the Pens legit #1 winger when they won the cup? I'm not disagreeing with your statement that the pens won't win the cup, just your reason I tend to disagree with, since they already won a cup with no legit winger.

 

[dare2be]

Who was the Pens legit #1 winger when they won the cup? I'm not disagreeing with your statement that the pens won't win the cup, just your reason I tend to disagree with, since they already won a cup with no legit winger.

Well, they did have Hossa...oh wait.

 

[postmaster]

Well, they did have Hossa...oh wait.

Don't get me started. If Babcock doesn't pull Abdelkader out of the lineup, the Wings win.
Abdelkader > Talbot > Crosby

 

[postmaster]

Comrie did go to Michigan though, but playing for the Pens does make it tough to cheer for though. I really think it was a good signing though unless one of the youngsters in Letestu or Tangradi cannot be sent down without clearing waivers.
The Wings have that problem with Ritola who they must trade or Draper retires. Someone will pick him up off waivers if he is not traded.

 

[puckhead]

Comrie did go to Michigan though, but playing for the Pens does make it tough to cheer for though. I really think it was a good signing though unless one of the youngsters in Letestu or Tangradi cannot be sent down without clearing waivers.
The Wings have that problem with Ritola who they must trade or Draper retires. Someone will pick him up off waivers if he is not traded.

Comrie being a massive douche also makes him tough to cheer for.

This is the guy who is heir to a pretty significant fortune, who grew up an Oilers fan, and held out on them until they renegotiated his contract..... TWICE.