No we don't have the assets. Rumors say they're looking for over-payment including high end D.

Vanek is interesting but he's a pretty mercurial player. He's had effort issues over the years. Maybe he'd thrive here with a legit contender. Certainly more likely than Landeskog however.
- madmike71

from the last Blog... Vanek hasn't had a season under 40 points since entering the NHL and is on pace for around 50 this season, I still don't know why Minny bought him out. Sure he's not a top line player, but I think in a reduced role and given PP time, he could for sure be a contributor.

If I had to play one of them I would play Olesky. They are the same hockey wise, Olesky adds more fun to the game.
- Grinder47

That comment just shattered any credibility you may have had left, saying Olesky and Ruhwedel are the same hockey wise is like saying Donald Trump and Martin Luther King are the pretty much the same in the civil rights movement.

Didn't get to watch the game but I do have to admit that it's disturbing what people consider entertaining hockey these days. Sure there was some exciting offensive plays and a lot of goals scored but from the highlights I've seen it looks like A LOT of bad hockey led to much of that excitement. If bad hockey that leads to a ton of goals is what leads people to be entertained the sport of hockey is in a lot of trouble. Give me a fast-paced, highly-skilled 3-2 or 4-3 game with good play on both sides of the ice with great goaltending over what happened last night any day of the week.
- jaydogg1974

Agreed. Yeah, it's fun, but it was pretty terrible hockey, ala the Flyers series in 2012 without all of the extra bullpoop attached. Give me a game with lots of scoring chances, good defense, good goaltending, and a 4-3 final and I'll take that over defense-optional hockey all day long.

from the last Blog... Vanek hasn't had a season under 40 points since entering the NHL and is on pace for around 50 this season, I still don't know why Minny bought him out. Sure he's not a top line player, but I think in a reduced role and given PP time, he could for sure be a contributor.
- j.boyd919

Vanek, at this stage, reminds me of Ales Hemsky. Sure, he'll put up points, but they seem very empty.

That comment just shattered any credibility you may have had left, saying Olesky and Ruhwedel are the same hockey wise is like saying Donald Trump and Martin Luther King are the pretty much the same in the civil rights movement.
- jaydogg1974

Yeah Ruhwedel is really tearing it up out there. You just don't have any negative preconceived notions about him.

Vanek, at this stage, reminds me of Ales Hemsky. Sure, he'll put up points, but they seem very empty.
- jmatchett383

How are points empty?

He's +10 on the 5v5 on-ice goal differential.
+6 in PP goal differential

If his goal differential was closer to 0, I could see an argument.

How are points empty?

He's +10 on the 5v5 on-ice goal differential.
+6 in PP goal differential

If his goal differential was closer to 0, I could see an argument.
- j.boyd919

I guess "empty" isn't the right word. His goals just don't seem impactful. Kind of like Olli Jokinen; he got his points, but they never seemed to make much of a difference.

He's not a bad player, I just don't think he's a guy that takes a team to another level despite his numbers.

I guess "empty" isn't the right word. His goals just don't seem impactful. Kind of like Olli Jokinen; he got his points, but they never seemed to make much of a difference.

He's not a bad player, I just don't think he's a guy that takes a team to another level despite his numbers.
- jmatchett383

Just depth scoring IMO, acquiring him wouldn't be a game changer, but Vanek>>>Fehr/Kuhn/Wilson/Rust in terms of production. Kunitz-Cullen-Vanek could be a very effective 4th line in limited minutes.

EDIT: Although he could be a game changer on the PP.

cuz rust is a black hole there.
- martox

How? Was it is piddly two points? Him being good at fighting for pucks? His speed?

I'm confused here.

How? Was it is piddly two points? Him being good at fighting for pucks? His speed?

I'm confused here.
- Rinosaur

nah it is his hands where the puck creativity goes to die, where the finish is non existant also rust just does not work with the GOOD sids playing style.

Haglin Fleury to LA for Jake Muzzin.

Matt Cullen is in a walking boot.

Haglin Fleury to LA for Jake Muzzin.
- Grinder47

So LA is done with Jonathan Quick after this year?

Yeah Ruhwedel is really tearing it up out there. You just don't have any negative preconceived notions about him.
- Grinder47

My only preconceived notion about Olesky was that he was solid for the Caps in a 7th defenseman role. That notion has been proven incorrect. Man, you really pick poopty hills to die on. Why can't you talk about how Lucic, Backes, Simmons, or any of the legions of hockey players that drop the gloves but still play good hockey are good rather than harping on plugs that hurt the team every time they hit the ice?

Matt Cullen is in a walking boot.
- acdc1206

Sink or swim time for Sundqvist. Get the feeling he'll do a-ok. Or we can always put Fehr in that spot. Losing Cullen for a month isn't the end of the world.

Just depth scoring IMO, acquiring him wouldn't be a game changer, but Vanek>>>Fehr/Kuhn/Wilson/Rust in terms of production. Kunitz-Cullen-Vanek could be a very effective 4th line in limited minutes.

EDIT: Although he could be a game changer on the PP.
- j.boyd919

There's ceertain players, Hemsky and Jokinen being two, who always seem to acquire points but where they never seem to matter. Vanek has become like them, and I can't really explain my feelings on it well.

Do you remember the Phillie's outfield Bobby Abreu? He was the king of smacking a 2-run homer in the late innings of a 7-4 loss, and his stats always looked great because of it. Kind of the same thing with those guys.

There's ceertain players, Hemsky and Jokinen being two, who always seem to acquire points but where they never seem to matter. Vanek has become like them, and I can't really explain my feelings on it well.

Do you remember the Phillie's outfield Bobby Abreu? He was the king of smacking a 2-run homer in the late innings of a 7-4 loss, and his stats always looked great because of it. Kind of the same thing with those guys.
- jmatchett383

Nah I'm from Pittsburgh, we don't have a baseball team. hahaha

There's ceertain players, Hemsky and Jokinen being two, who always seem to acquire points but where they never seem to matter. Vanek has become like them, and I can't really explain my feelings on it well.

Do you remember the Phillie's outfield Bobby Abreu? He was the king of smacking a 2-run homer in the late innings of a 7-4 loss, and his stats always looked great because of it. Kind of the same thing with those guys.
- jmatchett383

During his time in Pitt, I never thought Jokinen's points were empty. He was vital to Malkin and Neal's success when all three of them were together. That's why I'm excited about Guentzel. I really think he can become Malkin's new Jussi.

During his time in Pitt, I never thought Jokinen's points were empty. He was vital to Malkin and Neal's success when all three of them were together. That's why I'm excited about Guentzel. I really think he can become Malkin's new Jussi.
- Victoro311

He was talking Olli, not Jussi. Wrong Jokinen. Jussi had important points. Olli didn't.

During his time in Pitt, I never thought Jokinen's points were empty. He was vital to Malkin and Neal's success when all three of them were together. That's why I'm excited about Guentzel. I really think he can become Malkin's new Jussi.
- Victoro311

think he means OLLI jokinen

nah it is his hands where the puck creativity goes to die, where the finish is non existant also rust just does not work with the GOOD sids playing style.
- martox

finish? He can't even receive a pass to get a shot off lol

Dude just fumbles the puck too much. His hands are made of stone. Too many plays die when the puck goes towards Rust.

finish? He can't even receive a pass to get a shot off lol

Dude just fumbles the puck too much. His hands are made of stone. Too many plays die when the puck goes towards Rust.
- j.boyd919

ye but I mean that 1 in a 100 chance he will get a shot off.

My only preconceived notion about Olesky was that he was solid for the Caps in a 7th defenseman role. That notion has been proven incorrect. Man, you really pick poopty hills to die on. Why can't you talk about how Lucic, Backes, Simmons, or any of the legions of hockey players that drop the gloves but still play good hockey are good rather than harping on plugs that hurt the team every time they hit the ice?
- Victoro311

Why would I talk about Lucic Backes or simmonds when its a Pens blog and people are talking about d men? I'm not saying Olesky is great but when comparing him to Ruhwedel there is basically no difference than he took 2 bad penalties in a game we were going to lose no matter what.

Why would I talk about Lucic Backes or simmonds when its a Pens blog and people are talking about d men? I'm not saying Olesky is great but when comparing him to Ruhwedel there is basically no difference than he took 2 bad penalties in a game we were going to lose no matter what.
- Grinder47

I'm really not going to argue whos better, because they're both trash. But Oleksy does suck more.

During his time in Pitt, I never thought Jokinen's points were empty. He was vital to Malkin and Neal's success when all three of them were together. That's why I'm excited about Guentzel. I really think he can become Malkin's new Jussi.
- Victoro311

Meant Olli Jokinen. Jussi Jokinen was a big part of the Pens' run in 2014.