Sportsnet Says Arnott to WASH

[ritari330]

Still don't like giving up stecks

 

[pixburgher66]

Still don't like giving up stecks

Nothing quite like losing a player (it's like losing a friend). I remember being so freaking pumped when the Pens got Hossa a few seasons back, whenever they had said Christensen, prospect, draft pick. I literally ran around my house jumping up and down. Then I went back to the computer to see "Armstrong" listed. So freaking sad.

 

[TheRobotDevil]

Nothing quite like losing a player (it's like losing a friend). I remember being so freaking pumped when the Pens got Hossa a few seasons back, whenever they had said Christensen, prospect, draft pick. I literally ran around my house jumping up and down. Then I went back to the computer to see "Armstrong" listed. So freaking sad.

Free agents as well I was pumped over volchenkov but hated seeing someone sign Martin

 

[elocomotive]

I don't get it. We're giving up the best faceoff man in the league and a Caps' roster stallwart to bring in a slowing decaying Jason Arnott?

I said a month ago I didn't like this deal when we were talking about a mid-round draft pick. I REALLY don't like it now. Especially since he'll probably take Perreault's spot.

Arnott's stats for a full season based on this year - 17 G, 15 A
Perreault's stats for a full season based on this year - 16 G, 17 A

So, now 2 of my 3 favorite Caps won't be on the active roster anymore, and all for a guy who has the same numbers as the guy we already have and is quickly declining the last two years. Not to mention the change to the team's chemistry we'll have to adopt with 20 games to go.

I don't get this move, ESPECIALLY not for Steckel.

 

[TheRobotDevil]

To be fair Arnotts 17 goals came on a team that's dead last in goals for.I can see him working well for you guys.

 

[elocomotive]

To be fair Arnotts 17 goals came on a team that's dead last in goals for.I can see him working well for you guys.

That's a good point. But the guy's well into his mid-30s when you naturally see a lot of guy's production start to fall off. At least he'll be comfortable here since we now play like the Devils.

Enjoy Steckel. He's a solid player and you'll enjoy watching him own guys in the faceoff circle. He kills penalties by wasting 15 seconds to start most PPs and he's great late in a one-goal game when you just need to kill some clock.

 

[TheRobotDevil]

I can see him picking up his production as well as his new line mates.Also factor in the reason he wanted to be traded is his strong desire for another cup.I can see his new environment along with a strong desire to win another cup playing a big role for the caps.wouldn't think to much into his age he's a great leader former captain and he still has a wicked shot and very reliable on the pp.

 

[elocomotive]

McPhee presser notes, paraphrasing his thoughts on the trade deadline day...

-Wideman b/c they were concerned already with Poti gone, but with Green down for now, they wanted some help right away. Right hand shot is useful and limits Carlson on the PP to keep his minutes reasonable. They like him as not just a rental, but a spot they were looking to fill for next year anyway. They had slotted about $3 million for another Dman next year anyway.

-Cap space - Fehr and Poti go on LTI retroactive to when they were out which reduces some cap spending. They can still be brought back at any time.

-Sturm - Thought he was a good experienced player with speed and it didn't cost anything. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained." Maybe he plays 15 games, maybe he plays 3.

-Prospects - Didn't want to trade Carlson, Alzner, Neuvy, Varly, or Johansson. Told teams they were off the table. He is happy they didn't give up any prospects (or any first rounders) in the organiztion to make any of the moves today.

-Arnott - Experience and intangibles (like Fedorov in the past) were the biggest reason for adding him. Thinks he'll help in the locker room. Not many good centers available, the Caps talked to Arnott about his no-trade clause, and he said he would waive it.

-Steckel - "Took a player out of our roster that is a great guy... but we have some depth there with Gordon and Beagle... you do it reluctantly...and as much as you don't want to see a guy go, you have to do it to help your club."

 

[elocomotive]

They take on ~ 20% of 3.4 million at the most. Salaries are day to day. Just like with Wideman they take on ~20% of 3.9 million. Therefore the actual add is a total of 1.46 million which keeps them under the cap.

Wideman will count about $1 million extra towards the cap.

Arnott will cost us about $850,000 towards the cap, but we save about $300,000 of Steckel's salary towards the cap. So a net increase of just over half a million.

Part of Fehr and Poti's salaries don't count towards the cap for their injury time.

So at least for this year, our cap spending moved only minimally today. $1.5 million more for Wideman and Arnott, and likely saved roughly the same amount towards the cap on Fehr and Poti.

 

[Caps Revenge]

I pretty much agree with everything you've said, eloco. I loved Steckel too. However, I think Arnott can be to the Caps what Guerin was to the Pens a couple of years back. The intangibles he brings are invaluable. Perreault's time will come and he'll be great...but I think the addition of Arnott will be a bigger asset for this year's run.

On a side note: Congrats, New Jersey...you guys got a very solid player.

 

[TheRobotDevil]

I pretty much agree with everything you've said, eloco. I loved Steckel too. However, I think Arnott can be to the Caps what Guerin was to the Pens a couple of years back. The intangibles he brings are invaluable. Perreault's time will come and he'll be great...but I think the addition of Arnott will be a bigger asset for this year's run.

On a side note: Congrats, New Jersey...you guys got a very solid player.

Completely agree believe Arnott will be a great addition to your team.And am really looking forward to seeing steckel.Lou Lams also spoke very highly of steckel.

 

[elocomotive]

Also, now that he's on the Devils...

Dave Steckel is a typical dirty, New Jersey player who deserves to be suspended for an obvious intentional and malicious hit on Crosby.

 

[devs30rko]

Another dimension of arnie is he's also got an almost odd capacity for really nice finesse plays when you consider he's a big lumbering power forward

 

[TheRobotDevil]

Also, now that he's on the Devils...

Dave Steckel is a typical dirty, New Jersey player who deserves to be suspended for an obvious intentional and malicious hit on Crosby.

LMAO

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

In short, I loved steckel but....

I love today's trades. The Caps are.much much more preapared.for a long playoff run than they were at this time yesterday and the time is now.

Steckel is an easy guy to like, but taking the fan glasses off, arnott is the type of gritty second line center, right handed power play point, grinder that flourishes in the playoffs.

 

[TiLoBrown]

We trades Arnott because we brought him in to win us a cup, and since we're a classy team we didnt want to keep him here in case we dont complete the most impressive 2nd half season ever

 

[Dacks]

I think these moves fill some holes the Caps had, and taken as a whole, improve their team. Thankfully, as a Pens fan, the Caps didn't pick up someone like Vokoun or Brad Richards; that would have worried me more. As far as the rivalry goes, I feel the Pens improved more at the deadline than the Caps, so I'm happy about that. One thing I hated about playing the Caps was Steckel winning faceoffs against Crosby, so that's one positive about this deal.

 

[pixburgher66]

Hahhahaha, eloco showing his real opinion on the Crosby hit DIRTY MALICIOUS. And now we get to beat him up for it a few extra times. YEAY!

 

[ritari330]

So...This is how I see the regular lines as of now:

OV-Backstrom-Knubs
Liach-Arnott-Jizz
Chimmy-MOJO-Hendricks
Bradley-Beagle-Gordo

I see Fehr coming back into Bradley's spot, but who knows when he will be healthy

Carlson-Alzner
Erskine-Hannan
Wideman-Schultz

When Greenie and poti come back....hmmm tough decision. Depends on how Wideman plays, but if he plays well enough on the PP, its between Schultz and Erskine of who is the healthy scratch. Right now I like Erskine better....

Varly/Neuvy

It'll play itself out to show who will be #1...

 

[elocomotive]

I think these moves fill some holes the Caps had, and taken as a whole, improve their team. Thankfully, as a Pens fan, the Caps didn't pick up someone like Vokoun or Brad Richards; that would have worried me more. As far as the rivalry goes, I feel the Pens improved more at the deadline than the Caps, so I'm happy about that. One thing I hated about playing the Caps was Steckel winning faceoffs against Crosby, so that's one positive about this deal.

Yes, but without Crosby, you guys are light years behind. You can't even beat us WITH Crosby. There were always jokes (even from Pens' fans) that this was an AHL group of forwards with Crosby, Malkin, and Staal... and that was BEFORE it actually WAS an AHL group of forwards.

I hope we draw the Pens in the first round. Redemption time.