Frustrated with the Pens' season

[pixburgher66]

Unless Kovy turns out to be a Russian spy like Gonchar did, I think this team has what it takes for playoff hockey...

They're actually built very well for a playoff run, solid in goal and on D, with players who have very little pressure on them and know how to play a gritty, physical, low scoring game.

 

[Jared]

If you look at the current state of things with only this season in mind, it is a bit depressing, I guess. If everything remains the same, we will go as far as our goaltender takes us.

I'm choosing to look at this thing long term, though. The core of this team is awfully young. The pickup of Neal will pay some real dividends when Sid is back ,whether this season or next. And the experience that the SWB guys are getting is going to invaluable in the future. Management is getting to see who to keep and who to let go with first hand NHL game experience. IMO, some of these guys who have been filling in will turn out to be major pieces in the not too distant future. So as frustrating as the past few months have been, I'm still excited at the prospect of the next few years.

 

[SFNL]

I see some veterans on this team that can easily be replaced now. Jeffery and Connor are keepers. I believe Max's contract is up this year... Dupuis?

 

[loki604]

UFA's:

Talbot
Dupuis
Rupp
Godard
Asham
Adams
Connor
Comrie
Kovy

See ya: Rupp, Godard, Comrie, Asham

Hold onto: Adams, Connor

Decision after playoffs:
Talbot - I know a lot of people have been on his case and he has been disappointing, but he does average .5 PPG in the playoffs. If he has another good playoff, I say keep him around. Who cares if he's underwhelming in the regular season? Now, the issue is with the pay because there is some GM who will give him two million and he's not worth that much to us. He would have to stay at the same salary or even take on a pay cut. Chances of him staying here are around 30% I say.

Dupuis - Keep him on the cheap if he will be used in a third line role. Other than that, see you later.

Kovy: See how he fares in the playoffs. So far he has looked pretty good, and I would like to see him try things out with Malkin. Who knows how much he will command though? Once again, it's a matter of a player wanting to play in a good situation here and willing to take less money than other teams might give him. Then again, his stock certainly dropped from his situation in Ottawa and even a good performance in Pittsburgh makes it look like he just prefers it here and not like he's going to turn back the clock again.

Ideally, I would want to keep Talbot and Kovy. Let Dupuis go. Connor and Adams are worth their value (still not sold on Connor exactly, but it's not like he's going to cost much).

Save any cap space you have for the deadline/depth D signing. Since Crosby has chemistry with Kunitz, leave him on the left side and put anyone on the right wing (can sign a FA winger at deadline or earlier if we really need to) :

Kunitz-Crosby-Jeffrey
Neal-Malkin-Kovy
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Adams-Talbot-Letestu

If we're trying Staalkin:

Kunitz-Crosby-Kovy
Neal-Staal/Malkin-Staal/Malkin
Cooke-Jeffrey/Letestu-Kennedy
Adams-Talbot-Letestu/Jeffrey

Edit: Sort of forgot about Connor. We have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to third-liners.

 

[ELYEAH82]

UFA's:

Talbot
Dupuis
Rupp
Godard
Asham
Adams
Connor
Comrie
Kovy

See ya: Rupp, Godard, Comrie, Asham

Hold onto: Adams, Connor

Decision after playoffs:
Talbot - I know a lot of people have been on his case and he has been disappointing, but he does average .5 PPG in the playoffs. If he has another good playoff, I say keep him around. Who cares if he's underwhelming in the regular season? Now, the issue is with the pay because there is some GM who will give him two million and he's not worth that much to us. He would have to stay at the same salary or even take on a pay cut. Chances of him staying here are around 30% I say.

Dupuis - Keep him on the cheap if he will be used in a third line role. Other than that, see you later.

Kovy: See how he fares in the playoffs. So far he has looked pretty good, and I would like to see him try things out with Malkin. Who knows how much he will command though? Once again, it's a matter of a player wanting to play in a good situation here and willing to take less money than other teams might give him. Then again, his stock certainly dropped from his situation in Ottawa and even a good performance in Pittsburgh makes it look like he just prefers it here and not like he's going to turn back the clock again.

Ideally, I would want to keep Talbot and Kovy. Let Dupuis go. Connor and Adams are worth their value (still not sold on Connor exactly, but it's not like he's going to cost much).

Save any cap space you have for the deadline/depth D signing. Since Crosby has chemistry with Kunitz, leave him on the left side and put anyone on the right wing (can sign a FA winger at deadline or earlier if we really need to) :

Kunitz-Crosby-Jeffrey
Neal-Malkin-Kovy
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Adams-Talbot-Letestu

If we're trying Staalkin:

Kunitz-Crosby-Kovy
Neal-Staal/Malkin-Staal/Malkin
Cooke-Jeffrey/Letestu-Kennedy
Adams-Talbot-Letestu/Jeffrey

Edit: Sort of forgot about Connor. We have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to third-liners.

Did you intentially leave Tangradi out? I dont see him in WB/S again so you probably need a spot for him.

 

[dare2be]

Kunitz-Crosby-Jeffrey
Neal-Malkin-Kovy
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Adams-Talbot-Letestu

If we're trying Staalkin:

Kunitz-Crosby-Kovy
Neal-Staal/Malkin-Staal/Malkin
Cooke-Jeffrey/Letestu-Kennedy
Adams-Talbot-Letestu/Jeffrey

Edit: Sort of forgot about Connor. We have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to third-liners.

I thought the same thing looking at those lines. No-brainer: Connor in, Cooke out. Way out.

 

[SFNL]

Ugh... Whats it matter anyway. They'll all get hurt and it will look totally different

 

[loki604]

Did you intentially leave Tangradi out? I dont see him in WB/S again so you probably need a spot for him.

I did. I don't think another year in the AHL would hurt. If he comes up though, I don't want him playing fourth line minutes. He just hasn't shown me that he is going to be a solid contributor at the NHL level quite yet and I don't see the need in rushing him.

 

[pixburgher66]

It's nice to think that if we remain healthy through next season and resign just a few of this year's pieces we're still looking great. I think you keep Adams no doubt, Connor, and maybe Asham (if he comes at the same price), but with our AHLers proving their abilities this season, it really makes Shero's offseason a little easier when it comes to letting some guys go. However, even some of our AHLers are up after this season (Ticket is, I know that much).

 

[loki604]

I thought the same thing looking at those lines. No-brainer: Connor in, Cooke out. Way out.

They'll never do it.

 

[pixburgher66]

I did. I don't think another year in the AHL would hurt. If he comes up though, I don't want him playing fourth line minutes. He just hasn't shown me that he is going to be a solid contributor at the NHL level quite yet and I don't see the need in rushing him.

I agree...the sad thing is, right before he was injured he was playing solid hockey and starting to gain confidence in his play. I just hope he can bounce back from this injury. Another factor on D that hasn't been mentioned is Despres. I think that he'll DEFINITELY be pushing for an NHL spot during camp, so it'll be interesting to see if Shero makes any moves with the plethora of D we seem to have next year.

 

[loki604]

It's nice to think that if we remain healthy through next season and resign just a few of this year's pieces we're still looking great. I think you keep Adams no doubt, Connor, and maybe Asham (if he comes at the same price), but with our AHLers proving their abilities this season, it really makes Shero's offseason a little easier when it comes to letting some guys go. However, even some of our AHLers are up after this season (Ticket is, I know that much).

I wouldn't mind seeing Asham back, but I don't like the way DB uses him, so I'd rather just see him gone than have to be continually frustrated with someone like Mike Rupp getting more minutes than him.

 

[pixburgher66]

I wouldn't mind seeing Asham back, but I don't like the way DB uses him, so I'd rather just see him gone than have to be continually frustrated with someone like Mike Rupp getting more minutes than him.

He is very under-utilized. Which is a shame, he seems like a great teammate.

EDIT: Although it must be noted that he seems to have had a lot of injury issues this year.

 

[loki604]

I agree...the sad thing is, right before he was injured he was playing solid hockey and starting to gain confidence in his play. I just hope he can bounce back from this injury. Another factor on D that hasn't been mentioned is Despres. I think that he'll DEFINITELY be pushing for an NHL spot during camp, so it'll be interesting to see if Shero makes any moves with the plethora of D we seem to have next year.

I think the acquisition of James Neal takes the pressure off Tangradi a bit. We don't need him to start looking like a regular contributor yet, so why hurry?

The D situation is interesting.

Top four obviously set, but who do you take out of Engo, Nisky, the Reverend, and Depres knocking on the door.

The Reverend is easily the option I like least. Engo's game has come a long way this season and he's on a nice contract. Nisky has been a pleasant surprise and might continue to get better. Should be interesting with Depres right there. Not sure how that will shake out, but it's a good problem to have.

 

[loki604]

He is very under-utilized. Which is a shame, he seems like a great teammate.

EDIT: Although it must be noted that he seems to have had a lot of injury issues this year.

He showed some chemistry early with Malkin and DB never put him back there. I mean, we were just cycling through third line scrubs to play with Geno, so I didn't see the issue in giving Asham an extended look.

 

[pixburgher66]

I think the acquisition of James Neal takes the pressure off Tangradi a bit. We don't need him to start looking like a regular contributor yet, so why hurry?

The D situation is interesting.

Top four obviously set, but who do you take out of Engo, Nisky, the Reverend, and Depres knocking on the door.

The Reverend is easily the option I like least. Engo's game has come a long way this season and he's on a nice contract. Nisky has been a pleasant surprise and might continue to get better. Should be interesting with Depres right there. Not sure how that will shake out, but it's a good problem to have.

Lovejoy is probably the odd man out in the whole situation. He's signed 2 more years really cheap, but he's a UFA beyond that point. Nisky has one more season at a bigger cap hit, but he's an RFA and he holds more upside. Engo has played his way into solid 5-6 time, and he deserves it. He's developed in great strides this season. I'm more interested in seeing how the future pans out with Despres, because I want to see him up, but is playing limited minutes at 5-6 gonna help?

 

[loki604]

Lovejoy is probably the odd man out in the whole situation. He's signed 2 more years really cheap, but he's a UFA beyond that point. Nisky has one more season at a bigger cap hit, but he's an RFA and he holds more upside. Engo has played his way into solid 5-6 time, and he deserves it. He's developed in great strides this season. I'm more interested in seeing how the future pans out with Despres, because I want to see him up, but is playing limited minutes at 5-6 gonna help?

I think it will. It's not like Tangradi playing limited minutes because in that case, he is playing in a completely different situation than the one he is expected to be in long term.

Depres can be insulated by our top four and take on more duties as we see fit. But if they want to let him season more, they can.

I say ship the Reverend off for a pick. He has no future here beyond this season.

 

[pixburgher66]

I think it will. It's not like Tangradi playing limited minutes because in that case, he is playing in a completely different situation than the one he is expected to be in long term.

Depres can be insulated by our top four and take on more duties as we see fit. But if they want to let him season more, they can.

I say ship the Reverend off for a pick. He has no future here beyond this season.

Man, I remember just 2 seasons back (maybe even a bit into last season) when most of Pens nation was completely against shipping Lovejoy out in a package, but I guess when you have Despres and a few others in the system it makes things a bit easier.

 

[loki604]

Man, I remember just 2 seasons back (maybe even a bit into last season) when most of Pens nation was completely against shipping Lovejoy out in a package, but I guess when you have Despres and a few others in the system it makes things a bit easier.

It's not like he's the worst D-man ever or something, but the free agent signings have made getting on the Pens D no easy task. I think Engo has made more strides in his game and I like what he brings to the table. Nisky has more upside and shown in a small amount of games that he can play well within this system.

Depres is the gem, but a variety of other D prospects just make Lovejoy redundant. We don't need him next season and we won't need him long term.

Just my views of course.

 

[ELYEAH82]

Man, I remember just 2 seasons back (maybe even a bit into last season) when most of Pens nation was completely against shipping Lovejoy out in a package, but I guess when you have Despres and a few others in the system it makes things a bit easier.

That and the additions of Martin and Michalek makes moving him and Gogo reasonable.