Ryan Wilson: The Evolution Of Brooks Orpik Role In Pittsburgh Brooks Orpik's role with the Penguins has changed as the personnel has in Pittsburgh.

Great read , I've always loved "free candy " , it'll be interesting to see how he does this year with a little different role. I did notice he lost a little off of his first step last year , but that is to be expected , he is getting older. I'll be sad to see him go whenever he does go.

I'm gonna copy and paste what I wrote at the end of the last blog...

I'm very interested in how the Pens handle Orpik. In his tenure here, Shero has not moved (or let walk) a core, homegrown, popular player.

You can't count Staal, because it was forced, and the closest that he got was Scuderi, and by his admission, he regretted letting him go and then overpaid for him this summer to get him back. I also remember reading that it was tough when in Nashville they traded their captain (and player from inaugural team) Tom Fitzgerald. And Shero went out an hired him with the Pens.

Shero has definitely shown to be decisive, but he seems to have an unwillingness to make the unpopular move.

The easy decision is to extend Orpik for a couple years at a lower cap hit, but that just keeps your top 4 locked up even longer and limits the chance for one of these young guys to make an impact (assuming that Bylsma will play an old, hobbled Orpik over a young guy). It might make the most sense as far as cap space and roster space to just let Orpik walk next off-season, but I don't see that happening.

Ryan,
My 2 takes from this are that your stats usually support my eye test. Which is what i use to evaluate talent and it is certainly never wrong. 2nd I hope Scuds wears protection when he is having intercourse with you. And finally I'm excited about the upcoming year. I think our defense should be as good as it's been in the past decade. I think we may not notch as many points as we were pacing to last year but I think we are built to win in the playoffs. Aside from the softness of the 3rd line at the moment but I think that will work itself out.

I liked this read... good overview of the stats. I love Orpik for his leadership role, his hitting. I am growing suspect of Orpiks skating and ability to keep up. Having Orpik as a 5th D-man is a luxury, but having him as a top four is a weakness... not a glaring one, but one I wouldn't mind seeing addressed. The lack of cap space means the ability to address that would have to come from within... i.e. Despres. I have advocated exploring the possibility of trading orpik either over nisk or as well as nisk for several reasons. Cap flexability come trade deadline is one, our d-prospect depth is another. The return for orpik isn't really my main concern, though it would certainly out do the return for nisk. Orpiks leadership can be replaced by Martin and Scuds, his hitting wont be. Pens have to decide if that physical threat is worth paying orpik for or if it might be time to move on. Personally, I trust Shero and would be ok with any decision, but I would be different than many on this sight in that, while I would miss Orpik and wish him well, I wouldn't stress about his loss. good read mr. gunner

Ryan,
My 2 takes from this are that your stats usually support my eye test. Which is what i use to evaluate talent and it is certainly never wrong. 2nd I hope Scuds wears protection when he is having intercourse with you. And finally I'm excited about the upcoming year. I think our defense should be as good as it's been in the past decade. I think we may not notch as many points as we were pacing to last year but I think we are built to win in the playoffs. Aside from the softness of the 3rd line at the moment but I think that will work itself out.
- dbell646

If you are using specific stats as they are intended to be used and not trying to juke/shoe horn them in to fit your argument they will almost always match up with the eye test.

I like it.

http://ca.sports.yahoo.co...e-ups-ante-131239348.html

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- ChrisMS

your welcome

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- ChrisMS

me 2

Orpik will be 1yr older/slower/beat up and Scuds is 4 yrs removed from the cup team. Why didnt LA resign him? Im still not sold on the new D. Hopefully the kids will be able to step it up.

Orpik will be 1yr older/slower/beat up and Scuds is 4 yrs removed from the cup team. Why didnt LA resign him? Im still not sold on the new D. Hopefully the kids will be able to step it up.
- sammy87

Yeah in regards to the Penguins. Scuderi is just one year removed from being in the top pairing of a Stanley Cup champion.

LA didnt sign him for the same reason Pittsburgh didnt, you have to make choices with the salary cap.

Orpik will be 1yr older/slower/beat up and Scuds is 4 yrs removed from the cup team. Why didnt LA resign him? Im still not sold on the new D. Hopefully the kids will be able to step it up.
- sammy87

LA had cap issues, and got Regher who can play that stay at home role.

Scuds is 4 years removed from the Pens' Cup team, but was a big part of a Cup team two seasons ago.

I don't like the 4th year of the deal at all (or even him on his third year), but I think he'll be a good addition in the short term.

That is one thing that really worries me about the deals Shero signed. In a few years, we could have a decent amount of money tied up in guys who are bottom 6 forwards or bottom pairing defensemen at that point in their careers. I know that the Cap is going up, but with Dupuis, Kunitz & Scuderi, you could have $11 mil tied up on 3rd line players when that money could be better used on top 6 players.

I'm gonna copy and paste what I wrote at the end of the last blog...

I'm very interested in how the Pens handle Orpik. In his tenure here, Shero has not moved (or let walk) a core, homegrown, popular player.

You can't count Staal, because it was forced, and the closest that he got was Scuderi, and by his admission, he regretted letting him go and then overpaid for him this summer to get him back. I also remember reading that it was tough when in Nashville they traded their captain (and player from inaugural team) Tom Fitzgerald. And Shero went out an hired him with the Pens.

Shero has definitely shown to be decisive, but he seems to have an unwillingness to make the unpopular move.

The easy decision is to extend Orpik for a couple years at a lower cap hit, but that just keeps your top 4 locked up even longer and limits the chance for one of these young guys to make an impact (assuming that Bylsma will play an old, hobbled Orpik over a young guy). It might make the most sense as far as cap space and roster space to just let Orpik walk next off-season, but I don't see that happening.
- rival22

Colby Armstrong was popular and Sid's best friend, and he was moved. I don't think Shero will hesitate when the time comes.

LA had cap issues, and got Regher who can play that stay at home role.

Scuds is 4 years removed from the Pens' Cup team, but was a big part of a Cup team two seasons ago.

I don't like the 4th year of the deal at all (or even him on his third year), but I think he'll be a good addition in the short term.

That is one thing that really worries me about the deals Shero signed. In a few years, we could have a decent amount of money tied up in guys who are bottom 6 forwards or bottom pairing defensemen at that point in their careers. I know that the Cap is going up, but with Dupuis, Kunitz & Scuderi, you could have $11 mil tied up on 3rd line players when that money could be better used on top 6 players.
- rival22

Im not saying Scuds wont be good, but only short term. And I agree on these deals. I like Kunitz but I think the Dupuis contract was dumb. Too long, too much $$. If Dupuis's games slides he will be the whipping boy.

Im not saying Scuds wont be good, but only short term. And I agree on these deals. I like Kunitz but I think the Dupuis contract was dumb. Too long, too much $$. If Dupuis's games slides he will be the whipping boy.
- sammy87

Just with his skating and level of fitness, I have more confidence in Dupuis being productive 4 seasons from now more than Kunitz does. Kunitz's body takes a beating, and while he can skate, he doesn't have the natural speed that Dupuis does. Kunitz could look like last year's Brenden Morrow when he's 36-37 (Morrow is only 34).

Brooks Orpick = Overrated

This one is for you Madcap:

@IgorEronko
Belarus TV-channel ONT reports Mikhail Grabovski will sign contract with #Caps today

@SWhyno
Grabovski's agent says he hopes to have resolution by weekend or shortly after. Short-term deal has always been preference.

I think it would be a terrific move for the Capitals.

Good news for everybody that is worried about the big contracts the Pens have:

http://www.cbssports.com/...e-to-80-million-by-201718

Brooks Orpick = Overrated
- ...sbs138...

No one by the name of orpick on this team...

Murray takes 1.5 mil with the Canadians. Why couldn't we have dumped engelland and Niskanen and take Murray for our bottom pairing. He was a solid defenseman. No more, no less

Murray takes 1.5 mil with the Canadians. Why couldn't we have dumped engelland and Niskanen and take Murray for our bottom pairing. He was a solid defenseman. No more, no less
- drummer829

Murray sucked.

LA had cap issues, and got Regher who can play that stay at home role.

Scuds is 4 years removed from the Pens' Cup team, but was a big part of a Cup team two seasons ago.

I don't like the 4th year of the deal at all (or even him on his third year), but I think he'll be a good addition in the short term.

That is one thing that really worries me about the deals Shero signed. In a few years, we could have a decent amount of money tied up in guys who are bottom 6 forwards or bottom pairing defensemen at that point in their careers. I know that the Cap is going up, but with Dupuis, Kunitz & Scuderi, you could have $11 mil tied up on 3rd line players when that money could be better used on top 6 players.
- rival22

If Sid is averaging 1.5 PPG with Kunitz and dupuis, why on earth would you move kuni or duper down to the 3rd line. Unless the pens make a trade for an obvious top 6 guy, Kunitz and dupuis aren't going anywhere. Kunitz had a legitimate shot at the rocket Richard last year and dupuis is putting up career numbers in his mid 30's. the chemistry of those 3 is just phenomenal

Murray sucked.
- Deadstar

You're telling me that you would take engelland and Niskanen over Murray?

Murray takes 1.5 mil with the Canadians. Why couldn't we have dumped engelland and Niskanen and take Murray for our bottom pairing. He was a solid defenseman. No more, no less
- drummer829

One answer speed. I personally loved having a guy that made players think about going to the net but I can't argue with the fact he was slow. It wasn't only the pens making that decision a bunch of other teams did as well.