I cant figure you out man. You're showing data that Crosby and Malkin are STILL better than Toews and Kane in the playoffs even though they aren't "producing more in the playoffs than regular season".....and you say it like its a bad thing. They STILL produce more...and with a lesser supporting cast....are you kidding me with this argument?

This is like saying Max Lapierre is better than Crosby because Lapierre ups his game in the playoffs.

Maybe the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen you say.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I don't understand what's so hard to get. I could care less about the numbers between Crosby/Malkin and Toews/Kane. I expect Crosby and Malkin to produce more than those guys because they're better players. But I also expect Crosby and Malkin to be able to raise their games in the playoffs, or at least maintain them. That hasn't happened throughout their careers, which is the reason for showing the data that I showed.

And really, career-long stats was probably the wrong thing to show, because it's been the last 2-3 playoff seasons where 87 especially has disappeared.

Crosby has 3 goals in his last 23 playoff games. If folks think that's okay, and that some 4th line center not scoring complementary goals is the problem, that's fine.

But they can spend $6 mil on a 4th line and it's not going to matter if Crosby is going to continue to disappear come playoff time.

I don't understand what's so hard to get. I could care less about the numbers between Crosby/Malkin and Toews/Kane. I expect Crosby and Malkin to produce more than those guys because they're better players. But I also expect Crosby and Malkin to be able to raise their games in the playoffs, or at least maintain them. That hasn't happened throughout their careers, which is the reason for showing the data that I showed.

And really, career-long stats was probably the wrong thing to show, because it's been the last 2-3 playoff seasons where 87 especially has disappeared.

Crosby has 3 goals in his last 23 playoff games. If folks think that's okay, and that some 4th line center not scoring complementary goals is the problem, that's fine.

But they can spend $6 mil on a 4th line and it's not going to matter if Crosby is going to continue to disappear come playoff time.
- hardnosed

Raising their game doesn't mean they score more points. Almost every great player in the history of the NHL has a lower ppg average in the playoffs.

Crosby and Malkin haven't done well in the playoffs the last few years, and hopefully they can turn it around, or the Pens won't win anything anytime soon. Doesn't mean they cant.

The Gretz numbers are one dimensional. They don't look at defense, or back checking, or penalty killing, or face off percentages, etc. the are reasons why Chicago has won their last 3 Cups, and it doesn't all revolve around the team mates of Kane and Toews. There are ways to win games in addition to scoring goals.

The Gretz numbers are one dimensional. They don't look at defense, or back checking, or penalty killing, or face off percentages, etc. the are reasons why Chicago has won their last 3 Cups, and it doesn't all revolve around the team mates of Kane and Toews. There are ways to win games in addition to scoring goals.
- scottak

Gretzky was actually a critical part of the Edmonton PK. Pretty hard to score 73 SHG if you're never killing penalties. Gretzky was a much better all-around player than people give him credit for, although he did start cherry picking in his later LA/StL/NYR days. People who say otherwise just look at his stats and make assumptions. He was never a Selke candidate, but he wasn't some player who just stood at the red line waiting for breakaways.

Unless Scuderi gets traded, I think it will be a mistake to not buy him out. He's completely unsuitable for Johnston's system.
- jfkst1

People seem to think this is a Jr decision. I'm sure he buys out scuds if allowed. Not his money to flush.

I don't understand what's so hard to get. I could care less about the numbers between Crosby/Malkin and Toews/Kane. I expect Crosby and Malkin to produce more than those guys because they're better players. But I also expect Crosby and Malkin to be able to raise their games in the playoffs, or at least maintain them. That hasn't happened throughout their careers, which is the reason for showing the data that I showed.

And really, career-long stats was probably the wrong thing to show, because it's been the last 2-3 playoff seasons where 87 especially has disappeared.

Crosby has 3 goals in his last 23 playoff games. If folks think that's okay, and that some 4th line center not scoring complementary goals is the problem, that's fine.

But they can spend $6 mil on a 4th line and it's not going to matter if Crosby is going to continue to disappear come playoff time.
- hardnosed

You just can't make a blanket statement without looking at the details.

What happened to Sid 3 years ago? He got blasted in the face by Orpik right before the end of the season. He was playing incredible hockey before that. Orpik then breaks his jaw like a potato chip and he clearly...CLEARLY....was not the same player when he returned. Drinking your meals for weeks will do that to you. He was obviously timid too. Chara punching your freshly healed jaw won't help either.

Two years ago, Sid played the most minutes of any forward in the league. I'm fairly certain he played the most minutes of any forward in the Olympics. There was also the rumored "wrist injury". Both him and Kunitz came back and looked like sh*t. Oh and Gibbons was his RW. Maybe the worst player he's ever had to carry.

Last year... He carried the team the best he could. They were just too broken.

It's easy to pick them apart by looking at the results. But not looking at the the circumstances is ridiculous. Call them excuses....whatever. Doesn't change the fact that him and the team have had zero luck with injury and the supporting cast has been largely garbage.

People seem to think this is a Jr decision. I'm sure he buys out scuds if allowed. Not his money to flush.
- ChrisMS

A buy out actually saves a team actual dollars spent. Why would an owner be opposed to that?

And... we won one and lost one before Crosby and Malkin were both on their big deals.
- Guile

Exactly. Its pointless to compare for several more seasons now that bowman is facing the sorta same sitch as shero did.

A buy out actually saves a team actual dollars spent. Why would an owner be opposed to that?
- jmatchett383

Pay millions to player not to play and pay his replacement. These guys became millionaires billionaires by not doing stupid stuff... Example of how happy an owner was buying out a player 1-- karmonos

A buy out actually saves a team actual dollars spent. Why would an owner be opposed to that?
- jmatchett383

Because no matter how you look at it you are paying for something that isn't there.

Pay millions to player not to play and pay his replacement. These guys became millionaires billionaires by not doing stupid stuff... Example of how happy an owner was buying out a player 1-- karmonos
- ChrisMS

Right now they have 7 defensemen of 1-way deals plus Dumoulin. So those 7 players (Scuderi included) are getting paid their NHL salary whether or not they're in the lineup. If you buy out Scuderi, you're saving $1.125M. If you play Dumoulin and make one of Erixon your 7th, you're still saving $325K. You could send Erixon down, but that won't saver you real dollars, only cap space.

Because no matter how you look at it you are paying for something that isn't there.
- Aussiepenguin

I think that some people would argue they've been doing that with Scuderi for the past 2 years.

But really, if you can save 1/3 of his salary and replace it with someone who makes less than that 1/3 salary (Dumoulin makes the most sense), then why not do it?

Right now they have 7 defensemen of 1-way deals plus Dumoulin. So those 7 players (Scuderi included) are getting paid their NHL salary whether or not they're in the lineup. If you buy out Scuderi, you're saving $1.125M. If you play Dumoulin and make one of Erixon your 7th, you're still saving $325K. You could send Erixon down, but that won't saver you real dollars, only cap space.
- jmatchett383

Send Erixon down he plays for WBS - he is being utilised, he is not dead money. Can see 1 maybe being in a trade with someone else?

I think that some people would argue they've been doing that with Scuderi for the past 2 years.

But really, if you can save 1/3 of his salary and replace it with someone who makes less than that 1/3 salary (Dumoulin makes the most sense), then why not do it?
- jmatchett383

You'll love this - his experience!

Now give me an uppercut!

Send Erixon down he plays for WBS - he is being utilised, he is not dead money. Can see 1 maybe being in a trade with someone else?
- Aussiepenguin

You can send him down, but he's on a 1-way contract, so you're not saving any money there. Dumoulin is the only one with a shot at the roster who's on a 2-way deal (well, Maata and Pouliot both are too, technically).

You'll love this - his experience!

Now give me an uppercut!
- Aussiepenguin

I'd hope that Crosby/Malkin/Letang/Flower have enough experience to go around.

You can send him down, but he's on a 1-way contract, so you're not saving any money there. Dumoulin is the only one with a shot at the roster who's on a 2-way deal (well, Maata and Pouliot both are too, technically).
- jmatchett383

Not talking about saving money. I simply said that paying someone out you are paying for something that is not there.

Right now they have 7 defensemen of 1-way deals plus Dumoulin. So those 7 players (Scuderi included) are getting paid their NHL salary whether or not they're in the lineup. If you buy out Scuderi, you're saving $1.125M. If you play Dumoulin and make one of Erixon your 7th, you're still saving $325K. You could send Erixon down, but that won't saver you real dollars, only cap space.
- jmatchett383

There are teams who would take scuds the problem is he won't waive to go to any of them. That is my thought and thank you to Shero for that gift.

Not talking about saving money. I simply said that paying someone out you are paying for something that is not there.
- Aussiepenguin

And while that is true, you could be replacing/improving his spot and save money at the same time. I think that owners care more about the bottom line than they do individual salaries.

There are teams who would take scuds the problem is he won't waive to go to any of them. That is my thought and thank you to Shero for that gift.
- dbell646

Scuderi can probably be moved close to the deadline, but the return will be minimal.

Edit: poop, he's got ANOTHER year after this one? Yeah, I'd go buy out.

Isn't Dumo's contract 1-way?

I'd hope that Crosby/Malkin/Letang/Flower have enough experience to go around.
- jmatchett383

What no uppercut?

I'm not defending Scuds but from a business prospective I see why he wasn't bought out. You would hope that there is enough experience to go around but remember next seasons D is very raw, hopefully Scuds will be sitting eating potato salad & only used if one of our young guys is overwhelmed. Otherwise (frank) him (frank) the overwhelmed sissies & throw them to the wolves to sink or swim!

Isn't Dumo's contract 1-way?
- cory7321

No, he's in the 2rd year of his ELC. He slid for 2 years.

No, he's in the 2rd year of his ELC. He slid for 2 years.
- jmatchett383

Pretty sure he just signed an RFA deal 2 years 1 way

And while that is true, you could be replacing/improving his spot and save money at the same time. I think that owners care more about the bottom line than they do individual salaries.
- jmatchett383

Ok you seem to be not accepting something here but rather twisting it a little. Scuds gets bought out they pay him to do what ever he wants to do anywhere he wants to do it. They are paying someone money for not being there regardless of what else happens they are paying him for nothing, rien de tout! Doesn't matter what else happens there is money paid for something that is not being used in the organisation - regardless of your valid points previously mentioned a couple of times, Scuds will be singing Dire Straits, 66 will be doing the same only not the same tune of the same song.