Sure injuries are a big deal especially when it takes out 3 of your top 4 dmen, but that's also no excuse to take stupid penalties and blow 2 goal leads constantly.
- drummer829

Or not being able to come back when they're trailing after the second.

Please provide the details of what the offers where for Spaling and Sutter?
- dbell646

The Canucks wanted Sutter in the package coming back for Kesler. That was before his postseason that almost certainly boosted his value.

The Canucks wanted Sutter in the package coming back for Kesler. That was before his postseason that almost certainly boosted his value.
- jfkst1

So he'll get his 20g and probably have a few teams who would take a look at the draft. I don't know whether it would be more lucrative to package Sutter or try to get something straight up.

A team that's really just dying for C may exist but I don't know why they would accept Sutter.

The Canucks wanted Sutter in the package coming back for Kesler. That was before his postseason that almost certainly boosted his value.
- jfkst1

That deal probably didn't happen because sutter was the center piece. I just think it's strange we all bash him for horrible play but assume we could get something for him

So he'll get his 20g and probably have a few teams who would take a look at the draft. I don't know whether it would be more lucrative to package Sutter or try to get something straight up.

A team that's really just dying for C may exist but I don't know why they would accept Sutter.
- Johnny Wrath

Because he can get ~20 goals a season, has a hockey name, and passes all the eye test standards. Just like how some fans think he's a really undervalued player, some NHL GM will hold the same opinion. Hell, one of them is probably Rutherford himself.

I still think this team needs a coach that has the balls & backing of the ownership to sit anyone from the curtain jerker that gets a cup of coffee in the NHL to the superstar player when that player won't play the way they're being coached to play.

I can't, under any circumstance, believe that Tochett is coaching a PP that wants to overpass to set up the pretty goal from 20 feet out instead of sticking 3 guys within 20 feet of the net and having the other 2 guys dropping bombs the whole time to score dirty goals. Or have the D-men in positions to maximize their likelihood of holding pucks in the zone on clearing attempts.

I also don't think the Johnston is coaching this team to play fancy hockey that wants to score tic-tac-toe goals or is coaching them to shoot center mass of the goalie 40 times from 30 feet all game as well.

This team is also still small & IMO, slow. Or lazy. Or just worn out. But I do not see the "Pens speed" that people talk about. I see losing puck races & getting beat to rebounds every time.

Pretty sure we don't have a blog where I don't suggest this, but Sutter really needed tested out as a winger sometime this season, whether with Malkin, or with Spaling as a center.
He scores goals, fine, we can't argue that. He also sucks at possession and fighting for the puck... so just see if he can be a sniper on the wing, at least that holds a bit less responsibility defensively.

I used to think the problem was Bylsma not adjusting, but I'm starting to feel like it's the players & the captain refusing to adjust. They try the same fancy plays repeatedly, no matter how obvious to everyone in the building what is going to happen, and then wonder why it's easily defended?

I watched 3 identical zone entry attempts on one PP against the Flyers the other day & every one was defended & each attempt got defended 10 feet further back that the previous one until they barely made it past the red line before the puck went the other way.

Pretty sure we don't have a blog where I don't suggest this, but Sutter really needed tested out as a winger sometime this season, whether with Malkin, or with Spaling as a center.
He scores goals, fine, we can't argue that. He also sucks at possession and fighting for the puck... so just see if he can be a sniper on the wing, at least that holds a bit less responsibility defensively.
- Guile

He kinda only really scores 1 goal though and just repeats scoring the same goal over and over. Rush down the right side of the ice, fire from just above the outside of the faceoff circle, goal.

Other than McDavid...the only thing that makes sense to me is a ridiculous overpayment like

Malkin and Sutter for Backes, Tarasenko, Berglund

* note - every post like this comes with the caveat that I dont want to trade Sid or Geno. I think its unlikely that we ever win that trade. but its a hockey message board so posting just for fun.

He kinda only really scores 1 goal though and just repeats scoring the same goal over and over. Rush down the right side of the ice, fire from just above the outside of the faceoff circle, goal.
- ScienceJesus

So move him to the right wing

He kinda only really scores 1 goal though and just repeats scoring the same goal over and over. Rush down the right side of the ice, fire from just above the outside of the faceoff circle, goal.
- ScienceJesus

He's a winger at heart. Not good enough to be a 2nd line winger either. He's a soft 3rd line winger.

Lapierre is measurably worse. He is worse at faceoffs, shot suppression, penalties drawn, and penalty kill. Neither produces offensively. One is at least good defensively and that is Goc. Lapierre is bad at everything.
- jfkst1

EXACTLY. Some guys try to make fun and don't know what they are talking about. At least Goc could take spot duties on the 3rd line when needed. Lapierre just can't.

Thus said Goc >>> Lapierre.

He's a winger at heart. Not good enough to be a 2nd line winger either. He's a soft 3rd line winger.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I'll settle for Sutter becoming James Neal 2.0, who can skate a bit better and takes less penalties in leu of 5 less goals for Malkin's wing.

I'll settle for Sutter becoming James Neal 2.0, who can skate a bit better and takes less penalties in leu of 5 less goals for Malkin's wing.
- Guile

His shot is leagues worse and he's softer. I'll settle for trading him if his ceiling is James Neal 2.0 and he wants 4-5 mil after next season. No thanks.

I feel like this could have had a lot more graphs and charts
- Guile

Here you go

His shot is leagues worse and he's softer. I'll settle for trading him if his ceiling is James Neal 2.0 and he wants 4-5 mil after next season. No thanks.
- Victoro311

I'm looking at... his price is 3.3 mil, he somehow becomes a 2nd line winger, and now he is being set up by Malkin, instead of making goals himself. In theory, sounds like a positive for next season/playoffs.

EXACTLY. Some guys try to make fun and don't know what they are talking about. At least Goc could take spot duties on the 3rd line when needed. Lapierre just can't.

Thus said Goc >>> Lapierre.
- Barnaby36

Do you think Goc or Lappy had any real impact on this team and their ability to win? I don't.

I'm looking at... his price is 3.3 mil, he somehow becomes a 2nd line winger, and now he is being set up by Malkin, instead of making goals himself. In theory, sounds like a positive for next season/playoffs.
- Guile

He wasn't stellar with Malkin this season. Granted, the majority of the time Geno was inexplicably on the wing, but I just didn't like it. You can't just look at next season. He's being 3.3 mil next season (still an overpayment. You can get a guy to play 2RW for 3.3 who is better) but then after that he's up for a new contract and he'll want more, and I refuse to pay him more. Why hold on to mediocrity and let it walk for nothing when its easily replaceable?

He wasn't stellar with Malkin this season. Granted, the majority of the time Geno was inexplicably on the wing, but I just didn't like it. You can't just look at next season. He's being 3.3 mil next season (still an overpayment. You can get a guy to play 2RW for 3.3 who is better) but then after that he's up for a new contract and he'll want more, and I refuse to pay him more. Why hold on to mediocrity and let it walk for nothing when its easily replaceable?
- Victoro311

For the same reason some team's may not want to trade for him for 1 season, he might be better than what it would take to replace him for next year.

For the same reason some team's may not want to trade for him for 1 season, he might be better than what it would take to replace him for next year.
- Guile

I guess we'll find out at the draft. If we resign Winnik I see no reason to keep him. I'd trade him solely on salary dump purposes. Especially if Dupuis comes back. We need to make the cap work somehow.

I guess we'll find out at the draft. If we resign Winnik I see no reason to keep him. I'd trade him solely on salary dump purposes. Especially if Dupuis comes back. We need to make the cap work somehow.
- Victoro311

For depth?

I guess we'll find out at the draft. If we resign Winnik I see no reason to keep him. I'd trade him solely on salary dump purposes. Especially if Dupuis comes back. We need to make the cap work somehow.
- Victoro311

This is one of our biggest wildcards this offseason. Totally changes everything.

For depth?
- rangerdanger94

Winnik or Spaling can play center. That 3 million can go towards depth. Also Sutter can go for a depth guy, or a pick.

EXACTLY. Some guys try to make fun and don't know what they are talking about. At least Goc could take spot duties on the 3rd line when needed. Lapierre just can't.

Thus said Goc >>> Lapierre.
- Barnaby36

Stop with the insanity. No one is saying Lapierre is better. People are saying Goc would NOT have made the situation we are in any better. Fools believe that.