Ryan Wilson: There Is Hope For Chris Kunitz in 2015-16 There Is Hope For Chris Kunitz in 2015-16

This article just changed the opinion of every one who comes here. Yesterday we wanted to trade him for anything now you will all be like he has good charts.

Question is what timeframe if any they will give him early on? What line does he start on? Does Sid want him with him? If he scores? If he doesn't? So many questions...............

Question is what timeframe if any they will give him early on? What line does he start on? Does Sid want him with him? If he scores? If he doesn't? So many questions...............
- Aussiepenguin

He'll probably be in the top 6 unless Plotnikov absolutely blows everyone away in training camp.

I really hope last year's terrible second half was just an aberration and not a sign of things to come for Kunitz. I've been a defender of his but he was just awful last year after a decent start.

I would love the Ducks to get Kunitz back. I hated when we traded him away for Ryan "fing" Whitney. I thought we got fleeced in that deal. He was the perfect winger for Perry and Getz.

But no way JR trades him to the Ducks without getting Despres back.

This article just changed the opinion of every one who comes here. Yesterday we wanted to trade him for anything now you will all be like he has good charts.
- dbell646

the thing that's actually encouraging about Kunitz is the obnoxiously low shooting pct last year.

You have to think that a career 13% shooter who shot 7% will bounce back a little bit, right? From simple luck regression AND/OR having a healed injury.

Kunitz has always been behind Scuderi and Sutter on my personal "salary dump power rankings."

I really hope last year's terrible second half was just an aberration and not a sign of things to come for Kunitz. I've been a defender of his but he was just awful last year after a decent start.
- acdc1206

Agree. I've been indifferent on Kuni coming back. I think he can still be an effective 3rd liner. However, the thing that worries me is his hands. Most older players eventually lose their touch, and to me, that was the most alarming issue. He mangled a bunch of chances last year.

Question is what timeframe if any they will give him early on? What line does he start on? Does Sid want him with him? If he scores? If he doesn't? So many questions...............
- Aussiepenguin

The good thing is that the Pens' LWs are all pretty swappable. If his hands are back and he can play on a top wing, great! if not, he still puts out big hits and drives possession well enough to play the 3rd (or even 4th!) line.

the thing that's actually encouraging about Kunitz is the obnoxiously low shooting pct last year.

You have to think that a career 13% shooter who shot 7% will bounce back a little bit, right? From simple luck regression AND/OR having a healed injury.

Kunitz has always been behind Scuderi and Sutter on my personal "salary dump power rankings."
- poopmouth

I believe Kuni will bounce back. Some of the ideas people here had to just get him off the roster were just stupid. He's a useful player. And if he is a top 6 wing then that cap hit isn't bad.

I would love the Ducks to get Kunitz back. I hated when we traded him away for Ryan "fing" Whitney. I thought we got fleeced in that deal. He was the perfect winger for Perry and Getz.

But no way JR trades him to the Ducks without getting Despres back.


- Ducksfan93

Guess we owed you one and Despres trade was the even up.

the thing that's actually encouraging about Kunitz is the obnoxiously low shooting pct last year.

You have to think that a career 13% shooter who shot 7% will bounce back a little bit, right? From simple luck regression AND/OR having a healed injury.

Kunitz has always been behind Scuderi and Sutter on my personal "salary dump power rankings."
- poopmouth

That's how I've been too. Kunitz is so old that I find it hard to believe he can return to his former production. But he was a good cost-effective player for a long time.

I think everyone discounts the iron deficiency way too easily. If you've ever suffered from any iron levels being off you know that it takes away all of your strength. It also takes a while to correct. I think he'll be fine this season.

That's how I've been too. Kunitz is so old that I find it hard to believe he can return to his former production. But he was a good cost-effective player for a long time.
- jfkst1

Do you feel the same about Dupes? Seems everyone throws around the age factor with everyone but Dupes. Fact is they are both old and are shells of their former selves. I think both can be very good 3rd line players with smaller minutes. Both on the same 3rd line....not sure about that. Plot is the x factor. He could be a 2nd line player, or might not even make the team. We shell see.

I think Kuni can get 15+ on the 3rd line.

I believe Kuni will bounce back. Some of the ideas people here had to just get him off the roster were just stupid. He's a useful player. And if he is a top 6 wing then that cap hit isn't bad.
- dbell646

I think most fans are worried we'll be paying 3.85 for a 3rd line player. I can't say I'm entirely sure he'll bounce back. I thought he was skating better towards the end of the year, but his hands still looked terrible.

Do you feel the same about Dupes? Seems everyone throws around the age factor with everyone but Dupes. Fact is they are both old and are shells of their former selves. I think both can be very good 3rd line players with smaller minutes. Both on the same 3rd line....not sure about that. Plot is the x factor. He could be a 2nd line player, or might not even make the team. We shell see.

I think Kuni can get 15+ on the 3rd line.
- sammy87

Kunitz might still have decent trade value. And Kunitz doesn't have a NTC. Dupuis has a NTC and injury concerns so there wouldn't be any return for him. I personally think the 3rd line of Kunitz-Sutter-Dupuis won't be nearly as effective as their cumulative cap hits suggest they should be. In a perfect world for me, Pens would unload Scuderi, Sutter, and Kunitz in trades and figure out what they are doing with Perron and Lovejoy. I'm firmly against allowing anymore assets to expire with the team.

Do you feel the same about Dupes? Seems everyone throws around the age factor with everyone but Dupes. Fact is they are both old and are shells of their former selves. I think both can be very good 3rd line players with smaller minutes. Both on the same 3rd line....not sure about that. Plot is the x factor. He could be a 2nd line player, or might not even make the team. We shell see.

I think Kuni can get 15+ on the 3rd line.
- sammy87

it's one thing to think kunitz is a shell. if you ignore the case that Ryan makes in the article, then it is reasonable to think he is a shell.

but dupuis? how can you even say that? He sure looked fine last year before the clot. he loses 1 lb per year to retain his speed. if anyone could be a productive 3rd liner deep into his 30's, it's Duper.

When talking age, remember that the Pens won a Cup with Crosby having a 38 y/o winger....

it's one thing to think kunitz is a shell. if you ignore the case that Ryan makes in the article, then it is reasonable to think he is a shell.

but dupuis? how can you even say that? He sure looked fine last year before the clot. he loses 1 lb per year to retain his speed. if anyone could be a productive 3rd liner deep into his 30's, it's Duper.
- poopmouth

Not to mention there's virtually no way to get rid of Duper. He has a NTC, a big salary and serious health issues. I don't think anybody would argue that it would be nice to have cap space over certain players, but the only chance to get rid of a couple of players is by buyout (not attractive either).

I read an interesting opinion on "buyouts". Basically said the Pens don't want to do it because they don't want to get the reputation of reneging on their deals. Like it or not, that's a good reason.

@cranktheradio : I think everyone discounts the iron deficiency way too easily. If you've ever suffered from any iron levels being off you know that it takes away all of your strength. It also takes a while to correct. I think he'll be fine this season.

I really thought the iron thing sounded like bogus, especially considering the source. I know it can make you tired but that's about all I know.

You seem like you know what you are talking about, so what IS the way to correct it?

Effing quotes not working.

I was one of the ones who predicted Kunitz decline last year. The year before, after the Olympics, he looked terrible. Then the same thing happened last year, he fell off a cliff in the 2nd half of the season. 2 years in a row is a trend. I think it is age related. He doesnt have the gas in the tank for a full season of high production.

And those hands, man, it wasn't like he just had trouble shooting and was fanning on shots.... the guy could barely receive a pass, and certainly could not stickhandle.

I predict he comes out of the gate playing well again and eventually his scoring dries up and he is moved to bottom 6.

When talking age, remember that the Pens won a Cup with Crosby having a 38 y/o winger....
- cap1681

How many players remain effective all the way up until 38? Like 25% of all players?

Dupes mostly not involved in the age conversations only because of his training regime. He's an excursive nut. I do believe kuni lost a step, but not a leap. He will have a bounce back year, only because his play last year had his name in trade talks this year. He wants to be a penguin and his going to play like it this year. (also a foot injury doesn't help much either). However, i do think we need a more efficient center for Kuni and dupes on the 3rd. I promise i won't miss church ever again if we get scuds off our roster.

it's one thing to think kunitz is a shell. if you ignore the case that Ryan makes in the article, then it is reasonable to think he is a shell.

but dupuis? how can you even say that? He sure looked fine last year before the clot. he loses 1 lb per year to retain his speed. if anyone could be a productive 3rd liner deep into his 30's, it's Duper.
- poopmouth

Kunitz is gonna have trouble unless he changes his game some. He's not big enough to keep bashing himself into everybody AND stay healthy enough to be an effective scorer. He'll be 36 when the season starts...not many players who are expected to score play such physical games into their mid and late 30's

If Dupuis is healthy and can stay that way, I have no doubt he will be effective.

it's one thing to think kunitz is a shell. if you ignore the case that Ryan makes in the article, then it is reasonable to think he is a shell.

but dupuis? how can you even say that? He sure looked fine last year before the clot. he loses 1 lb per year to retain his speed. if anyone could be a productive 3rd liner deep into his 30's, it's Duper.
- poopmouth

Remove gm1 last yr and look at Dupes stats, they're nothing amazing. The dude is 36 and hasn't played a full season in 3 yrs now. I think he struggles.