Ryan Wilson: Assistant GM Tom Fitzgerald With Some Interesting Comments On Radio Assistant GM Tom Fitzgerald With Some Interesting Comments On Radio

Here's a link to the Fitzgerald segment if you want to listen... It adds some context to some of the quotes.

http://iphone.tsn.ca/tsnp..._TomFitzgerald_Sept16.mp3

So glad its training camp time and the first preseason game is in 5 days.

I'm glad you focused this blog on Fitz's interview and not that complete rubbish article that Rossi put out there.

I heard Yohe mention this morning Rutherford is already saying he will be "very aggresive" around deadline time. Of course, who knows what that might mean, but I do get the feeling GMJR is not finished tweaking the roster and we may look very different by seasons end.

A Richard move singling out Adams, even with the fanbase giving a standing O for the thinking.

I like JR wanting to be aggressive at the deadline. There's way too many quality D-men to even start this season though and I wonder if after camp he makes a move. (Wasn't it an E5 over the weekend with Montreal?)

- BulliesPhan87

Dude actually put coffee in the cup!

A Richard move singling out Adams, even with the giving a standing O for the thinking.

I like JR wanting to be aggressive at the deadline. There's way too many quality D-men to even start this season though and I wonder if after camp he makes a move. (Wasn't it an E5 over the weekend with Montreal?)
- Topshelf Mountain

...because those ratings are always so accurate?

Joking aside, the Penguins do seem to have an overflow on D. However, with Maatta recovering, I don't think they need to necessarily make a move right away. To start the season they could easily go with the following:

Letang-Martin
Ehrhoff-Despres
Dumoulin-Bortuzzo
Scuderi

That'd leave Samuelsson exposed to waivers & it would be nice to be able to move him, but not sure there is much of a market for the guy. When Maatta is ready to come back at 100% & if no other Dman goes down with an injury, then a move can be made.

A Richard move singling out Adams, even with the giving a standing O for the thinking.

I like JR wanting to be aggressive at the deadline. There's way too many quality D-men to even start this season though and I wonder if after camp he makes a move. (Wasn't it an E5 over the weekend with Montreal?)
- Topshelf Mountain

It will be interesting to see how much or how little contract status plays into who makes the roster.

Right now, the defense is set at:
Letang
Martin
Ehrhoff
Scuderi
Maatta
Bortuzzo
Despres

Everyone except Maatta has to clear waivers... If Dumoulin outplays guys in camp and is set to make the team, who gets moved? Bortuzzo is the obvious based on pedigree, but he has that edge that no one else has, and it would be nice to fill a roster spot with a guy who makes $600k. Freakin' Scuderi...

It will be interesting to see how much or how little contract status plays into who makes the roster.

Right now, the defense is set at:
Letang
Martin
Ehrhoff
Scuderi
Maatta
Bortuzzo
Despres

Everyone except Maatta has to clear waivers... If Dumoulin outplays guys in camp and is set to make the team, who gets moved? Bortuzzo is the obvious based on pedigree, but he has that edge that no one else has, and it would be nice to fill a roster spot with a guy who makes $600k. Freakin' Scuderi...
- rival22

Could we technically buy out Scuderi during this season If he doesn't get better? I wouldn't trade Bortuzzo. I think he's perfectly fine.

...because those ratings are always so accurate?

Joking aside, the Penguins do seem to have an overflow on D. However, with Maatta recovering, I don't think they need to necessarily make a move right away. To start the season they could easily go with the following:

Letang-Martin
Ehrhoff-Despres
Dumoulin-Bortuzzo
Scuderi

That'd leave Samuelsson exposed to waivers & it would be nice to be able to move him, but not sure there is much of a market for the guy. When Maatta is ready to come back at 100% & if no other Dman goes down with an injury, then a move can be made.
- s0rcerer1984

Maatta is ready to go. He will be in top 4 on opening night.

It will be interesting to see how much or how little contract status plays into who makes the roster.

Right now, the defense is set at:
Letang
Martin
Ehrhoff
Scuderi
Maatta
Bortuzzo
Despres

Everyone except Maatta has to clear waivers... If Dumoulin outplays guys in camp and is set to make the team, who gets moved? Bortuzzo is the obvious based on pedigree, but he has that edge that no one else has, and it would be nice to fill a roster spot with a guy who makes $600k. Freakin' Scuderi...
- rival22

I agree with you on the D corps and on Bortz. But there are five legitimate players who could crack the lineup of most teams in the league in:

Pouliot (still recovering)
Dumoulin
Harrington
Samuelsson
Ruopp

Tough to keep them in the minors when they could help - through a trade - now.

Could we technically buy out Scuderi during this season If he doesn't get better? I wouldn't trade Bortuzzo. I think he's perfectly fine.
- Barnaby36

No, on the buyout... that can only happen during the buyout period in the summer.

They could waive him and send him down, but he would still count like $2.5 mil against the cap.

The old re-entry waivers would have been great for getting rid of him, but those don't exist anymore :/

Maatta is ready to go. He will be in top 4 on opening night.
- Ryan_Wilson

I read he would be cleared for contact soon & Maatta being in the line-up opening night would be quite nice, but until he is cleared & playing I woudln't make any moves.

Aside from that, you never know who is going to go down with an injury during the pre-season, for either the Penguins or another team. Unless the team can move Samuelsson, I just don't see the need to force a move at this point.

Great article Ryan. One of your best. Loved the breakdown.

Agree on singling out Adams but perhaps he was just using him as an example as opposed to intimating "Adams sucks..please come take his position". I'll believe it when I see it.

Agree on Fleury. What else are they going to say?

...because those ratings are always so accurate?

Joking aside, the Penguins do seem to have an overflow on D. However, with Maatta recovering, I don't think they need to necessarily make a move right away. To start the season they could easily go with the following:

Letang-Martin
Ehrhoff-Despres
Dumoulin-Bortuzzo
Scuderi

That'd leave Samuelsson exposed to waivers & it would be nice to be able to move him, but not sure there is much of a market for the guy. When Maatta is ready to come back at 100% & if no other Dman goes down with an injury, then a move can be made.
- s0rcerer1984

The name recognition might attract a little attention, but there is no way that he shouldn't clear waivers coming out of camp. Every team has those types of young defensemen that are not quite good enough to crack the NHL roster, but don't really have much of a higher ceiling.

Unless like NY claims him for Ulf or something, I just can't see anyone taking him when every team is cutting down their rosters out of camp.

So glad its training camp time and the first preseason game is in 5 days.

I'm glad you focused this blog on Fitz's interview and not that complete rubbish article that Rossi put out there.

I heard Yohe mention this morning Rutherford is already saying he will be "very aggresive" around deadline time. Of course, who knows what that might mean, but I do get the feeling GMJR is not finished tweaking the roster and we may look very different by seasons end.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

It will. It better!

The name recognition might attract a little attention, but there is no way that he shouldn't clear waivers coming out of camp. Every team has those types of young defensemen that are not quite good enough to crack the NHL roster, but don't really have much of a higher ceiling.

Unless like NY claims him for Ulf or something, I just can't see anyone taking him when every team is cutting down their rosters out of camp.
- rival22

Islanders aren't exactly flooded with depth at that position. If they found a spot for Strait I can't imagine Samuelsson isn't an upgrade.

Islanders aren't exactly flooded with depth at that position. If they found a spot for Strait I can't imagine Samuelsson isn't an upgrade.
- Ryan_Wilson

Honestly, if Samuelsson turns into Brian Strait, I don't think any of us will be crying ourselves to sleep that night.

The Penguins just have so many young Dman who seem to have higher upside than Samuelsson (23yrs) - Despres (23yrs), Dumoulin (23yrs), Maatta (20yrs), Harrington (21yrs), and Pouliet (20yrs). Can't keep them all & i'd rather have any of the 5 players I listed over Samuelsson.

Honestly, if Samuelsson turns into Brian Strait, I don't think any of us will be crying ourselves to sleep that night.

The Penguins just have so many young Dman who seem to have higher upside than Samuelsson (23yrs) - Despres (23yrs), Dumoulin (23yrs), Maatta (20yrs), Harrington (21yrs), and Pouliet (20yrs). Can't keep them all & i'd rather have any of the 5 players I listed over Samuelsson.
- s0rcerer1984

That's a no brainer. At least we could try to trade one defenseman for a B- level forward prospect. It would be cool to have some options.

No, on the buyout... that can only happen during the buyout period in the summer.

They could waive him and send him down, but he would still count like $2.5 mil against the cap.

The old re-entry waivers would have been great for getting rid of him, but those don't exist anymore :/
- rival22

Thanks Rival. If he really does suck again I'd Redden him.

That's a no brainer. At least we could try to trade one defenseman for a B- level forward prospect. It would be cool to have some options.
- Barnaby36

Trade him and a 4th for Adam Erne.

Edit: by "him", I mean Samuelsson....and maybe a itd be a 3rd instead of a 4th...

Instead of Spaling maybe the Pens should have packaged one of their young defenseman or a pick and insisted on Forsberg being included in the Neal trade

Dude actually put coffee in the cup!
- Topshelf Mountain

I would not waste precious coffee

Besides Downie and Car-Bomb, I am most looking forward to seeing Scuds this year; I honestly think he is going to turn it around and really step up for us this year. His injury was worse than reported.


F Sutter

I would not waste precious coffee
- BulliesPhan87

I like the avatar, very nice.