It's almost like a game , how many ways can we prove Scuderi SUCKS !!!! I just hope the coaches look at this kind of stuff.
- Bradlee3

Haha...seriously, why is he still employed. I mean we all knew it with the eye test, so no shocker here, but we still havent seen a single tangible statistic showing he is good at something. He is clearly targeted as a weakness by the opposition when he is on the ice. He breaks up 1 out of every 50 zone entries?? Stunning. New management...umm HELLO??

I guess one surprising aspect would be Maatta, he hasn't shown well in any of the zone entry/exit/defending entry stats. What he did at his age is still amazing, just interesting to see the numbers.

Does it make sense to go over this data when the new HC has the team play a completely different way? This would mean that all statistics would be thrown out for this year...

Haha...seriously, why is he still employed. I mean we all knew it with the eye test, so no shocker here, but we still havent seen a single tangible statistic showing he is good at something. He is clearly targeted as a weakness by the opposition when he is on the ice. He breaks up 1 out of every 50 zone entries?? Stunning. New management...umm HELLO??

I guess one surprising aspect would be Maatta, he hasn't shown well in any of the zone entry/exit/defending entry stats. What he did at his age is still amazing, just interesting to see the numbers.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

still employeed because owners invested a lot of money into him... enough that it warrents, in their eyes, a second chance prior to getting rid of him. i does make some sense too... new year, new coach, new system. scuds could turn it around and be a solid bottom pairing guy. no buy out needed in that case. if he falters again... then looking at a buy out or a pay to play trade

Haha...seriously, why is he still employed. I mean we all knew it with the eye test, so no shocker here, but we still havent seen a single tangible statistic showing he is good at something. He is clearly targeted as a weakness by the opposition when he is on the ice. He breaks up 1 out of every 50 zone entries?? Stunning. New management...umm HELLO??

I guess one surprising aspect would be Maatta, he hasn't shown well in any of the zone entry/exit/defending entry stats. What he did at his age is still amazing, just interesting to see the numbers.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

He was injured at the end of October so we don't really have a good idea how much that played into his dismal performance. I'm holding out hope that he can somehow bounce back to respectability......probably not expecting it though.

I have to admit, It saddens me a little to see all the bashing he has taken since his return. The guy was a hell of a player for the Pens in his first go-around here. He was also just as instrumental in the Kings first cup run too. It amazes me how wrong Shero was by resigning him.

He was injured at the end of October so we don't really have a good idea how much that played into his dismal performance. I'm holding out hope that he can somehow bounce back to respectability......probably not expecting it though.

I have to admit, It saddens me a little to see all the bashing he has taken since his return. The guy was a hell of a player for the Pens in his first go-around here. He was also just as instrumental in the Kings first cup run too. It amazes me how wrong Shero was by resigning him.
- madmike71

Was he though? Re-watching the 08-09 cup finals, he never did much to impress me. Same general slow skating, lay down a lot, and bank the puck off the glass. Gill was much more useful, imo, of the two on that pairing.

Was he though? Re-watching the 08-09 cup finals, he never did much to impress me. Same general slow skating, lay down a lot, and bank the puck off the glass. Gill was much more useful, imo, of the two on that pairing.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I never got the fascination with Scuds. The Caps series he was supposed to be the shut down Dman, yet OV had 8g in 7 games. He stopped a puck on the goal line in the finals BFD. I agree Gill was better than Scuds. LA proved that Scuds wasn't needed as well either. This board blew up with idea of Scuds coming back. One of the many mistakes Shero made.

He was injured at the end of October so we don't really have a good idea how much that played into his dismal performance. I'm holding out hope that he can somehow bounce back to respectability......probably not expecting it though.

I have to admit, It saddens me a little to see all the bashing he has taken since his return. The guy was a hell of a player for the Pens in his first go-around here. He was also just as instrumental in the Kings first cup run too. It amazes me how wrong Shero was by resigning him.
- madmike71

his max might be an overpriced bottm pairing guy but couldnt agree with you more

I never got the fascination with Scuds. The Caps series he was supposed to be the shut down Dman, yet OV had 8g in 7 games. He stopped a puck on the goal line in the finals BFD. I agree Gill was better than Scuds. LA proved that Scuds wasn't needed as well either. This board blew up with idea of Scuds coming back. One of the many mistakes Shero made.
- sammy87

pens were far from the only team after his services that year. those teams are breathing a sigh of relief but it was almost universally panned as a good move by shero. cant all be winners.

pens were far from the only team after his services that year. those teams are breathing a sigh of relief but it was almost universally panned as a good move by shero. cant all be winners.
- ChrisMS

For 1/2 the price I would be more happy with his services. Besides we have plenty of D prospects that need to play. There was no reason to bring him back.

Was he though? Re-watching the 08-09 cup finals, he never did much to impress me. Same general slow skating, lay down a lot, and bank the puck off the glass. Gill was much more useful, imo, of the two on that pairing.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Not saying he was the second coming of Dave Burrows, but I thought he was a very effective defensive dman. He played a lot of hard minutes against other teams best players. Good PK'r. He was flat out excellent in LA's cup run.....ask any LA fan.

For 1/2 the price I would be more happy with his services. Besides we have plenty of D prospects that need to play. There was no reason to bring him back.
- sammy87

fair argument... but they paid him the competitive price for his services at that time. They had no idea Maatta would jump in like he did and felt they needed a "top 4" didn't work out but a lot of hindsight involved

Are you in highschool? I seriously have to ask because I read this board everyday and I'm like this must be a highschool kid when I read your comments. If you are then its fine, but if your not collect more info about hockey from places other than just this board.
- Grinder47

I wish I was back in high school... sigh. to be young again

Are you in highschool? I seriously have to ask because I read this board everyday and I'm like this must be a highschool kid when I read your comments. If you are then its fine, but if your not collect more info about hockey from places other than just this board.
- Grinder47

wtf does that even mean?

fair argument... but they paid him the competitive price for his services at that time. They had no idea Maatta would jump in like he did and felt they needed a "top 4" didn't work out but a lot of hindsight involved
- ChrisMS

Definitely a fair point about Maatta. They thought he would work with Letang which would have made him worth the money. The contract wouldn't have been outrageous either if it wasn't for the 4 year term.... knowing he will be 38 and we have a pipeline of young D eventually making their way up.

Definitely a fair point about Maatta. They thought he would work with Letang which would have made him worth the money. The contract wouldn't have been outrageous either if it wasn't for the 4 year term.... knowing he will be 38 and we have a pipeline of young D eventually making their way up.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I figured they thought top 4 d-man for a couple then a bottom 6 for a couple with the whole mentor thing happening. they hope he pulls a hlaf-martin and ups in his second year. remember the vitriol that he got that first year... people were giving him away

Grinder, you read some folks and skip the others. Not designating that comment to anyone in particular just relaying what I've learned from others over the years.

Grinder, you read some folks and skip the others. Not designating that comment to anyone in particular just relaying what I've learned from others over the years.
- Topshelf Mountain

Obviously the ones worthy enough to not skip over

Martin, never gets flustered and it shows here. Despres has third best numbers, just sayin'.

fair argument... but they paid him the competitive price for his services at that time. They had no idea Maatta would jump in like he did and felt they needed a "top 4" didn't work out but a lot of hindsight involved
- ChrisMS

No but.....Shero needed to realize that Scuds and Orpik were both mid 30's players. If Orpik didn't slump so much and Shero/Bylsma stayed, probably would have a new contract here. Tie that in with both Dupes being 35 to start the season, ownership needs to look at it as a 5 yr plan and wonder wtf he is doing with his picks? It's a collective group of choices Shero made that got him fired and the team in the position it's in today.

Martin, never gets flustered and it shows here. Despres has third best numbers, just sayin'.
- powerhouse

At break-ups at the blue-line yes, but the opponents are as successful at carrying the puck in as they were against Orpik (higher % means the opponent did better at carrying in against him, against say Martin who is at 42.5% vs Despres 55.8%). What it does say is that Orpik literally has nothing on him, even in the defensive zone.

At break-ups at the blue-line yes, but the opponents are as successful at carrying the puck in as they were against Orpik (higher % means the opponent did better at carrying in against him, against say Martin who is at 42.5% vs Despres 55.8%). What it does say is that Orpik literally has nothing on him, even in the defensive zone.
- cygnus41

Samples are so small that definitive conclusions are a ways away. But by looking at the small samples we have it can make for more interesting viewing this year to see how these kinds of things play out.

Samples are so small that definitive conclusions are a ways away. But by looking at the small samples we have it can make for more interesting viewing this year to see how these kinds of things play out.
- Ryan_Wilson

This is good stuff even though the sample size is small. I love numbers that confirm what my eyes are telling me.

We've talked for the last several years that Paul Mart might not always be the most noticeable player on the ice, but he does all the little things very well. Things that don't make the highlights, but they do amount to winning hockey games. Too bad I think this is his last year here. I have a hunch he may not even be here beyond the TDL.

Those Scuds numbers are disturbing. Just wow. I could take another swipe at Dan for dressing him every night...um...well, I guess I just did.

This is good stuff even though the sample size is small. I love numbers that confirm what my eyes are telling me.

We've talked for the last several years that Paul Mart might not always be the most noticeable player on the ice, but he does all the little things very well. Things that don't make the highlights, but they do amount to winning hockey games. Too bad I think this is his last year here. I have a hunch he may not even be here beyond the TDL.

Those Scuds numbers are disturbing. Just wow. I could take another swipe at Dan for dressing him every night...um...well, I guess I just did.
- madmike71

Martin and Letang are going to be an excellent top pair this year. If he wasn't going to command $7M+ on the open market I would keep him around for a few more years, but if he's traded at the deadline for top 6 help, I can live with that.

No but.....Shero needed to realize that Scuds and Orpik were both mid 30's players. If Orpik didn't slump so much and Shero/Bylsma stayed, probably would have a new contract here. Tie that in with both Dupes being 35 to start the season, ownership needs to look at it as a 5 yr plan and wonder wtf he is doing with his picks? It's a collective group of choices Shero made that got him fired and the team in the position it's in today.
- sammy87

shero made some damn good choicesd and kept the core of the team together. he was in a unique situation and teams like chicago are gonna find out just how dificult it is. dupes and kunitz signings were good. and read up french's prospect report and 2001 2012 might make shero look half decent with the drafting record.

shero made some damn good choicesd and kept the core of the team together. he was in a unique situation and teams like chicago are gonna find out just how dificult it is. dupes and kunitz signings were good. and read up french's prospect report and 2001 2012 might make shero look half decent with the drafting record.
- ChrisMS

The no forwards policy was a disaster. The bottom sis such as Crag Adams, Tanner Glass and such was not helpful.