I would bet that they're working on him right now while he's in town. They kind of have to. If they let him go back to school, I'd bet that he'll go the FA route, no reason not to at that point.
- hardnosed

The site Pensbugh said the same thing. They've had content on him since March and the general speculation was that if he didn't sign this summer, there would be a good chance he'd be gone as a FA next year. If management tries their best to sign him and he doesn't want to, there's nothing that can be done. Same deal with Reilly leaving CBJ to go play for his daddy at MIN. CBJ was trying to sign him for several years before this summer and he simply didn't want to.

This was just one Scrimmage, so there is only so much you can take from it - but it was interesting.
- so_buzz11

It's just nice seeing them all together on the ice at once. And there's guys where you can just tell.

The site Pensbugh said the same thing. They've had content on him since March and the general speculation was that if he didn't sign this summer, there would be a good chance he'd be gone as a FA next year. If management tries their best to sign him and he doesn't want to, there's nothing that can be done. Same deal with Reilly leaving CBJ to go play for his daddy at MIN. CBJ was trying to sign him for several years before this summer and he simply didn't want to.
- jfkst1

I think the ship has sailed on signing Blueger this summer. The FO has been talking about how he is going to play out his senior season for a while now. We're just going to have to do with him what we did with Rust and NYI did with Anders Lee: sign him as soon as his college season is over. If he doesn't sign then, he's probably not gonna sign at all.

Hardnose your pic looks like the undertaker from WWE wearing a Pens beanie. Love it!

Another good interview after the prospects game of Tom Fitzgerald.
http://video.penguins.nhl...nter/?id=832491&catid=829

Just commenting on Ryan's blog. JR's response to the shot on Sid question was to score on the PP, so how many PP's did we get from Staal cross checking Sid a couple of playoffs ago? Penalties have been a funny thing with the Pens especially last season when we got very few, so the question stands what happens when a player/s starts to cheap shot 1 of our stars?

Just to add - it's well known that our team loses it's cool (although that improved the latter half of last season), when put under physical pressure. Don't people think that that will happen even more now especially with another top line player on board to be a target?

The teams JR mentioned all have guys on their team that drop the gloves &/or play a more physical (cheap shot) game when required - who on the Pens is going to throw checks around for intimidation of retaliation? I hope Plot brings his 'Downie' vitamins with him.

Just commenting on Ryan's blog. JR's response to the shot on Sid question was to score on the PP, so how many PP's did we get from Staal cross checking Sid a couple of playoffs ago? Penalties have been a funny thing with the Pens especially last season when we got very few, so the question stands what happens when a player/s starts to cheap shot 1 of our stars?

Just to add - it's well known that our team loses it's cool (although that improved the latter half of last season), when put under physical pressure. Don't people think that that will happen even more now especially with another top line player on board to be a target?

The teams JR mentioned all have guys on their team that drop the gloves &/or play a more physical (cheap shot) game when required - who on the Pens is going to throw checks around for intimidation of retaliation? I hope Plot brings his 'Downie' vitamins with him.
- Aussiepenguin

Plotnikov and Sundqvist both play with an edge. Between the two of them, we should be on par as far as "toughness" goes with the 3 in 6 Chicago franchise who throughout the years has really only had Big Buff and Shaw.

Just commenting on Ryan's blog. JR's response to the shot on Sid question was to score on the PP, so how many PP's did we get from Staal cross checking Sid a couple of playoffs ago? Penalties have been a funny thing with the Pens especially last season when we got very few, so the question stands what happens when a player/s starts to cheap shot 1 of our stars?

Just to add - it's well known that our team loses it's cool (although that improved the latter half of last season), when put under physical pressure. Don't people think that that will happen even more now especially with another top line player on board to be a target?

The teams JR mentioned all have guys on their team that drop the gloves &/or play a more physical (cheap shot) game when required - who on the Pens is going to throw checks around for intimidation of retaliation? I hope Plot brings his 'Downie' vitamins with him.
- Aussiepenguin

Will we get targetted more with Kessel? Hard to say... but Kessel is very very low penalty minutes career wise. So, they target him, he won't retaliate stupidly.

Plotnikov and Sundqvist both play with an edge. Between the two of them, we should be on par as far as "toughness" goes with the 3 in 6 Chicago franchise who throughout the years has really only had Big Buff and Shaw.
- Victoro311

Didn't Seabrook put Backes through the boards 2 years ago? Big experienced tough guys that know what to do & when. We don't have that - nowhere near it. Plus our team is renown for losing it. The Isles are going to have a field day & I'm not even going to mention the devious tactics of good ol Bazza Trotz. We don't have the physical toughness to compete with the other Metro teams, so to even consider going outside of that??? I would/am worried if we are relying on Sundqvist to go into battle. I prefer he concentrate on his play if he wants to more than a 4th line guy with an edge. I'm just saying that's all. Then again Sid can go all commando poop ala Dubinsky. Dubinsky left him alone after that - the only thing he did was go & score the GWG!

Just commenting on Ryan's blog. JR's response to the shot on Sid question was to score on the PP, so how many PP's did we get from Staal cross checking Sid a couple of playoffs ago? Penalties have been a funny thing with the Pens especially last season when we got very few, so the question stands what happens when a player/s starts to cheap shot 1 of our stars?

Just to add - it's well known that our team loses it's cool (although that improved the latter half of last season), when put under physical pressure. Don't people think that that will happen even more now especially with another top line player on board to be a target?

The teams JR mentioned all have guys on their team that drop the gloves &/or play a more physical (cheap shot) game when required - who on the Pens is going to throw checks around for intimidation of retaliation? I hope Plot brings his 'Downie' vitamins with him.
- Aussiepenguin

That is why I think Franson would be a good get for the Penguins. Yes, he does not fight, but he can hit hard, block shots, has good size. Maybe he doesn't fight much because of his size and hard hitting ability.
This is a new youtube video (notice the solid hits with his size and he has a good shot along with many shots ON goal).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb76k3LpNAY

The teams JR mentioned all have guys on their team that drop the gloves &/or play a more physical (cheap shot) game when required - who on the Pens is going to throw checks around for intimidation of retaliation? I hope Plot brings his 'Downie' vitamins with him.
- Aussiepenguin

And just to remind people, during those 6 years the Blackhawks employed Dan Carcillo (twice), Brandon Bollig, Sheldon Brookbank and Jon Scott.

That is why I think Franson would be a good get for the Penguins. Yes, he does not fight, but he can hit hard, block shots, has good size. Maybe he doesn't fight much because of his size and hard hitting ability.
This is a new youtube video (notice the solid hits with his size and he has a good shot along with many shots ON goal).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb76k3LpNAY
- so_buzz11

He's never fought in the NHL, and he's more of a separation hitter than a punishing hitter.

He's soft considering his size.

And just to remind people, during those 6 years the Blackhawks employed Dan Carcillo (twice), Brandon Bollig, Sheldon Brookbank and Jon Scott.
- hardnosed

And how much did Jon Scott, Carcillo, and Brookbank play? Not much. Jon Scott and Brookbank were both frequent healthy scratches. Can't remember Carbomb's first go around with the Hawks, but this past time he also was a healthy scratch more times than not. The Hawks beat people with skill during their cup runs, not intangibles like grit and toughness.

Didn't Seabrook put Backes through the boards 2 years ago? Big experienced tough guys that know what to do & when. We don't have that - nowhere near it. Plus our team is renown for losing it. The Isles are going to have a field day & I'm not even going to mention the devious tactics of good ol Bazza Trotz. We don't have the physical toughness to compete with the other Metro teams, so to even consider going outside of that??? I would/am worried if we are relying on Sundqvist to go into battle. I prefer he concentrate on his play if he wants to more than a 4th line guy with an edge. I'm just saying that's all. Then again Sid can go all commando poop ala Dubinsky. Dubinsky left him alone after that - the only thing he did was go & score the GWG!
- Aussiepenguin

It comes down to team makeup. Fact is, we don't have the Backeses, Dubinskys, Staals, or Buflygns. Our stars play a different type of game than stars like that. Our team is mostly made up of skilled finesse guys. We can go with half measures and go out and try to infuse fo-grit into our lineup with guys like Glass or Pyatt, or we can go with what we have and what works well within our system and the stars we have, which is focusing on skill and beating teams with our speed rather than trying to wear them down with poopty bottom 6 players.

It comes down to team makeup. Fact is, we don't have the Backeses, Dubinskys, Staals, or Buflygns. Our stars play a different type of game than stars like that. Our team is mostly made up of skilled finesse guys. We can go with half measures and go out and try to infuse fo-grit into our lineup with guys like Glass or Pyatt, or we can go with what we have and what works well within our system and the stars we have, which is focusing on skill and beating teams with our speed rather than trying to wear them down with poopty bottom 6 players.
- Victoro311

Matt Cooke could probably be acquired for 600K lol

I would have no problem with the pens hurting guys by winning games and scoring goals on the pp... BUT the Player Safety Board has to step up and suspend guys who do the stupid poop.. every bad hit needs to be called in a game and then looked at.

Matt Cooke could probably be acquired for 600K lol
- Brianandr1

Hahaha unfortunately you pay for what you get. The version of Matt Cooke we would be getting would be worth only about that much.

Hahaha unfortunately you pay for what you get. The version of Matt Cooke we would be getting would be worth only about that much.
- Victoro311

TIOPS is reporting Farmham as the "13th forward"... I would have zero issue with the Pens inviting Cooke and Kenedy to training camp... not saying sign them... see what's left in the tank

And how much did Jon Scott, Carcillo, and Brookbank play? Not much. Jon Scott and Brookbank were both frequent healthy scratches. Can't remember Carbomb's first go around with the Hawks, but this past time he also was a healthy scratch more times than not. The Hawks beat people with skill during their cup runs, not intangibles like grit and toughness.
- Victoro311

Doesn't matter how much they played, they were on the roster. You might not have to pay for running Kane on a night when Scott is scratched, but he just might be in the lineup next time.

I don't really care either way, I get the argument for having toughness and I get the argument for having skill. But to say the Blackhawks haven't employed deterrents is untrue.

TIOPS is reporting Farmham as the "13th forward"... I would have zero issue with the Pens inviting Cooke and Kenedy to training camp... not saying sign them... see what's left in the tank
- Brianandr1

Kennedy, as much as I (frank)ing hate his face, would probably be a better option as a 13th forward than Farnham if he can be signed for under a mil. I'd still rather carry Wilson or Rust as the 13th guy though. I don't think Cooke has anything left in his tank besides his yearly dirty play investigation, which is not something the team needs.

Kennedy, as much as I (frank)ing hate his face, would probably be a better option as a 13th forward than Farnham if he can be signed for under a mil. I'd still rather carry Wilson or Rust as the 13th guy though. I don't think Cooke has anything left in his tank besides his yearly dirty play investigation, which is not something the team needs.
- Victoro311

I agree about Wilson and Rust, but make them earn it.... Did not see Cooke play at all last year... Done???

Doesn't matter how much they played, they were on the roster. You might not have to pay for running Kane on a night when Scott is scratched, but he just might be in the lineup next time.

I don't really care either way, I get the argument for having toughness and I get the argument for having skill. But to say the Blackhawks haven't employed deterrents is untrue.
- hardnosed

Well yeah I see what you're saying. I guess I'm basically arguing that the Hawks haven't regularly employed deterrents. Its not their focus.

And I see both arguments as well. I'm not anti-toughness, I just think with our team makeup that's not the style of play we should be looking at and its not helpful to take half measures to try and be fake tough.

I agree about Wilson and Rust, but make them earn it.... Did not see Cooke play at all last year... Done???
- Brianandr1

Pretty much. He sucked. The Wild FO agrees with me too, apparently.

Pretty much. He sucked. The Wild FO agrees with me too, apparently.
- Victoro311

I can't speak educated on the subject... but what harm is there inviting him to camp? They can just cut him if he's done?

Toughness seems like the cheapest thing to acquire if needed...

He's never fought in the NHL, and he's more of a separation hitter than a punishing hitter.

He's soft considering his size.
- hardnosed

Franson fought a few times in the AHL and did fight in at least one NHL game. But, I agree he is not a fighter. I don't remember the last fight in a Penguin game.
In any event, Franson is not the perfect fit for the Penguins, but he can improve the team, and he is available right now.

Hardnosed, Do you think the current roster is good enough to win a Stanley Cup? If not, do you see some other change they can make to be - OR do we have to wait a year or two to realistically win another cup?