Ryan Wilson: Hornqvist Is The New Guerin Hornqvist Is The New Guerin

You really manipulated that bar graph didn't you? He takes .25 more shots per game on average and his bar is 3x as high.

Thank you for a whole article answering my question about Hörnqvist and whom he resembled the most.

If I was a Pens fan, I'd be pretty excited about have Hornqvist over Neal. You get a much more responsible player in him & a better skill mix, in the sense of mixing things up with like you said, a net front presence.

That graph is appealing to me. Sexy goals are hard to come by in the playoffs the greasy goals are what you get.

Garbage goals are still goals, we need the dirty-like net pounder again. We went too much finesse.

Or the good ole Gordan Bombay saying... "Clean up the trash around the net".

You really manipulated that bar graph didn't you? He takes .25 more shots per game on average and his bar is 3x as high.
- Yeah Boyes

I was thinking the same thing.

I lifted this from LetsGoPens.com. It's from his development camp report. I thought the most interesting sentence is the last one...

One of them was a full-ice, five-on-none breakout drill. Two forwards always came down low to the side where the defenseman with the puck was. The defenseman moved the puck to one of the forwards and they headed up ice. The third forward started high on the other side of the ice and diagonally cut over to the same side the puck was coming up to serve as another passing outlet. The longest first pass a defenseman had to make couldn't have been more than 10-15'.

http://letsgopens.com/camp_reports.php?id=92

You really manipulated that bar graph didn't you? He takes .25 more shots per game on average and his bar is 3x as high.
- Yeah Boyes

You really came in fast just to complain... but yes.

If I was a Pens fan, I'd be pretty excited about have Hornqvist over Neal. You get a much more responsible player in him & a better skill mix, in the sense of mixing things up with like you said, a net front presence.
- Ryan_Nicklaus89

Damn right we are. Hörnqvist is what we needed. He didn't wear an "A" in Nashville for no reason. We've got a character player...+ Spaling!

This is why I have an issue with advanced stats. The ever-popular eye test tells me Neal never went to the front of the net while Hornqvist did. But Hornqvists average shot distance - according to your first chart - is less than a foot from Neal's.

Damn right we are. Hörnqvist is what we needed. He didn't wear an "A" in Nashville for no reason. We've got a character player...+ Spaling!
- Barnaby36

Definitely- Sure Neal may score more goals (well...maybe not this year haha), but Hornqvist is definitely the character player Pitt has been missing...he won't be kneeing anyone in the head, hahaha.

I'm excited to see him play. I'm hoping he plays along side Geno. I think they will work good together. Malkin just needs to shoot more.

I'm excited to see him play. I'm hoping he plays along side Geno. I think they will work good together. Malkin just needs to shoot more.
- simethos

This is gonna be a fun year! I'm already planning a trip up for a December game.

This is why I have an issue with advanced stats. The ever-popular eye test tells me Neal never went to the front of the net while Hornqvist did. But Hornqvists average shot distance - according to your first chart - is less than a foot from Neal's.
- Topshelf Mountain

That was a bit interesting to note as well, the average distance being not too much shorter. But, Neal's average shot was from 10-15 feet out... while Horn had a ton right up front, a foot or two away. To me all that shows it Horn had more shots from the blue line that actually got on net, and spiked up his average a bit since he had less total shots.

I was thinking the same thing.
- dbell646

Haha check it out he changed the scale now.

I love the idea of someone finally being a net presence for the Penguins. It's been too long without.

I think the fans reactions to the trade showed the truth behind what people thought of the trade. People who like and understand hockey because it is hockey were happy Neal was gone. Puck bunnies were upset that the Penguins traded their "Boo" or "Bae" or whatever stupid other saying the Swag generation has.

Hornqvist is going to provide the Penguins something unique that they haven't had since Bill Guerin, a right handed power forward. And one that isn't in the twilight of his career.

Hornqvist is a great player, and great pick up for the Pens....gonna be even more effective than Geurin was, IMO.

Garbage goals are still goals, we need the dirty-like net pounder again. We went too much finesse.

Or the good ole Gordan Bombay saying... "Clean up the trash around the net".
- Guile

I like the term, 'dirty net pounder'. I also like the concept. We could nick name him "Horny" as he likes to bang the net area. Just sayin'.

I like the term, 'dirty net pounder'. I also like the concept. We could nick name him "Horny" as he likes to bang the net area. Just sayin'.
- powerhouse

... I quit

Any of you guys or gals meet up before a game? I haven't been there since '98. Would be pretty solid to put a face to some of the commenters on here.

Any of you guys or gals meet up before a game? I haven't been there since '98. Would be pretty solid to put a face to some of the commenters on here.
- Topshelf Mountain

Most of them probably look like Eric Stoltz in "Mask".

I like the term, 'dirty net pounder'. I also like the concept. We could nick name him "Horny" as he likes to bang the net area. Just sayin'.
- powerhouse

Youmeanddupuis has been trying Horny for the last two weeks! Pretty sure it'll catch on.

Any of you guys or gals meet up before a game? I haven't been there since '98. Would be pretty solid to put a face to some of the commenters on here.
- Topshelf Mountain

I hit the viewing area outside of Console normally... Over zealous people, free shirts or such if you are randomly picked. For home games, they also hold a few seats inside Console to give away to fans watching the big screen.
Oh, and the food isn't RIDICULOUSLY overpriced on the outside at the food trucks. I know, amazing that 200 feet can cut food costs in half

Any news on the Sutter front? I find it very weird that we have yet to sign a guy who didn't file for arbitration. I really really really want to know what his cap hit is going to be and for how long so I can decide if I'm in the trade Flats camp or not.