Zatkoff looked like a PRO. I hope he can keep that play up.
- IronCity

He did indeed. Plus the team played well in front of him. I really liked how strong we came out in that first period. Strong start then played smart, to me that is solid hockey.

Sounds like I missed a pretty good game

Sounds like I missed a pretty good game
- dbell646

Best one in weeks, IMO.

That's food for Bartley to rip the guy.
- Orpik44

Ha, your correct sir!! haha

Wait... We got Jokinen from Carolina for absolutely nothing, AND they picked up $900k? I remember it being a conditional pick, but didn't realize that we never reach any of the conditions.

Jokinen was dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins Wednesday for a conditional sixth- or seventh-round pick in the 2013 NHL Draft. TSN’s Bob McKenzie reports that Carolina will get a seventh-round pick if Jokinen plays in 25 percent of Pittsburgh's playoff games and the Penguins make the Stanley Cup Finals, or will get a sixth-round pick if Jokinen plays in half of Pittsburgh’s postseason games and the Pens win the Cup. The Hurricanes will also retain some of Jokinen's $3 million 2013-14 salary.

Wait... We got Jokinen from Carolina for absolutely nothing, AND they picked up $900k? I remember it being a conditional pick, but didn't realize that we never reach any of the conditions.
- rival22

It's like the definition of "get free sh!t"

Wait... We got Jokinen from Carolina for absolutely nothing, AND they picked up $900k? I remember it being a conditional pick, but didn't realize that we never reach any of the conditions.
- rival22

Haha never thought about that. True.

Sign Jokes while you can!

It's like the definition of "get free sh!t"
- ScienceJesus

One of the best deals ever!

One of the best deals ever!
- Orpik44

I'm all for resigning Jokinen. He can fill in anywhere in the top 9. If he was a little faster we would be looking at 5 mil per

Haha never thought about that. True.

Sign Jokes while you can!
- Orpik44

Sadly, he will be looking at getting a raise anyway you look at it since Carolina is picking up alot of his salary. So even if he signs for 4 million that would be app. 2 million more than pens are paying now.

Maatta impresses me night in and night out, what an awesome player he is going to become.

I know LA might be weary from a long road trip, but they're getting an education tonight. I can imagine some of the conversation in LA's room right now....especially about Malkin.
- madmike71

The Malkin line was ridiculous last night. That said, the boys passed up alot of quality shots to me. That game could have easily been 7-3 type.

St. Louis for sure. Giroux has had such and up and down year. I read a little of the flyers board tonight and they were bi*ching about the lack of back check.

St. Louis has carried Tampa since Stamkos went down.

Great game tonight. Nice to see some solid D. LA is horrid offensively.
- madmike71

LA was horrid offensively the year they won the Cup. They made two deals at the deadline and boom.

Sadly, he will be looking at getting a raise anyway you look at it since Carolina is picking up alot of his salary. So even if he signs for 4 million that would be app. 2 million more than pens are paying now.
- kgrpitt

I could live with 3 years @ $3-3.5M for him.

Niskanen anything above $4M is just not worth it for this team.

In my ideal world Orpik would take a Big discount and sign for 2 years @ $2.5-3M.

I think our blogger may be on a walkabout at the moment, dropping 14 of the last 19 games has even got me pondering long walks and short piers, anyway to address your takes here, first of all I wish Kopitar would realize he could be a beast like Malkin but for some reason insists on playing like a the Kroger brand version of Malkin.... baffling to me. In regards to tonight's game, I expected Pit to drop a snowman on us, we got lucky the way I see it, and our only hope of winning would have been to put a giant bowl of Haribo sugarless gummy bears in the Pens locker room and pray that the entire team eat at least 10 of them a piece... Spoiler alert! my forecast leading into the break: Flyers will beat us in a shoot out saturday, Chicago will destroy us Monday, and c-bus will probably put another curb stomping on us... Sutter will not show any emotion or express a need to coach a team that "knows what to do" ( if he means go face down a$$ up then he is right, we know what to do and are executing it) and brown will give 10 more interviews as he leaves for Sochi saying that we just need to "bear down" ... Fast forward to after the Olympics, no trades will be made, colin fraser, mike Richards, Stoll, Mitchell, Nolan, and Lewis will al get the same minutes through the rest of the season as we throw it in reverse and back our way out of the play offs, then we will hear more about "bearing down" and how this team knows how to win, and more regurgitated sports rhetoric that is just as heart felt and meaningful as the republican congress saying "I really look forward to working with the president on these issues" I have been a kings fan way to long not to know how the organization works and I am not afraid to look like a bad fan in the process of being honest and not just spew insane jingoistic rah-rah crap through a set of pom-poms ... great game tonight Pens Fans, I have nothing but respect for your team, only thing that bugged me tonight was Crosby looking so incredulous after teeing off on kopitar and whinning to the refs about a blatant obvious high stick.

and BTW I have Jokinen and Niskanen on my fantasy squad, and the dude I am playing this week has quick, voynov and dough-boy... so at least I got that going for me




he did actually, he is real easy to find on the ice because he is tied to a tree, and has 2 cinder blocks for hands...
- MikeOxbyg

So, tell us how you really feel. You will make some deals at the deadline. You have to. Hope you pound Philly/.

I could live with 3 years @ $3-3.5M for him.

Niskanen anything above $4M is just not worth it for this team.

In my ideal world Orpik would take a Big discount and sign for 2 years @ $2.5-3M.
- Orpik44

Why on earth would Orpik do that?

I just watched the highlights of the game. JJ looked solid on all those plays. If you can keep that 2nd line, move BB to the 1st when healthy or bring in someone else. Drop Dupuis to the 3rd, or move him. Hes way over paid IMO for what he brings to the table.

Nisk, Orpik, Letang and Despress will not all be together. Someone will have to go. With Scuds, not sure why you bring Orpik back.

Why on earth would Orpik do that?
- rival22

Cuz he sucks and would be lucky to get that. I wouldn't offer Orpik anything. Maatta slots up in the top 4 Borts and Despres bottom pairing next year. Assuming Nisk leaves as well.
Scuds/Letang
Martin/Maatta
Borts/Despres
insert healthy scratch

Now you have 3 very cheap defenseman in the line up who are all good. And I think you actually get bigger as well.

I could live with 3 years @ $3-3.5M for him.

Niskanen anything above $4M is just not worth it for this team.

In my ideal world Orpik would take a Big discount and sign for 2 years @ $2.5-3M.
- Orpik44

3/3.5M would be okay except I think he could get much more. Not sure he will take that discount to play with Malkin or not. I hope they resign Nisk. Especially if he continues playing the way he has been and I don't see why he won't.

Orpik, no reason for him to take that type of discount. If the pens low ball him like that he is gone. I like him alot but his days with the pens are limited.

Cuz he sucks and would be lucky to get that. I wouldn't offer Orpik anything. Maatta slots up in the top 4 Borts and Despres bottom pairing next year. Assuming Nisk leaves as well.
Scuds/Letang
Martin/Maatta
Borts/Despres
insert healthy scratch

Now you have 3 very cheap defenseman in the line up who are all good. And I think you actually get bigger as well.
- dbell646

I wouldn't resign Orpik either, but when Scuderi who is 2 years older gets 4 x $3.375 mil in a down cap year, and Orpik is coming off an Olympic season (right or wrong), he gets at least 4 x $3.5 mil.

I really hope that Bortuzzo can continue to develop and reduce the running around a bit, he has an element that is lacking on this team. He makes other players ANGRY.

I wouldn't resign Orpik either, but when Scuderi who is 2 years older gets 4 x $3.375 mil in a down cap year, and Orpik is coming off an Olympic season (right or wrong), he gets at least 4 x $3.5 mil.

I really hope that Bortuzzo can continue to develop and reduce the running around a bit, he has an element that is lacking on this team. He makes other players ANGRY.
- rival22

You are right. Bourtuzzo does add another element to the lineup when he is in. We is unique. Last night, he threw some jarring hits and does play angry. Is that the way he would play every night, or is that because he hadn't played in five games? If that is the guy we see every night, sign me up.

Cuz he sucks and would be lucky to get that. I wouldn't offer Orpik anything. Maatta slots up in the top 4 Borts and Despres bottom pairing next year. Assuming Nisk leaves as well.
Scuds/Letang
Martin/Maatta
Borts/Despres
insert healthy scratch

Now you have 3 very cheap defenseman in the line up who are all good. And I think you actually get bigger as well.
- dbell646

In fairness, I think Orpik has been playing a lot better the last few. He really struggled for after returning. Now that Martin returned it seems Orpik has returned to his pre-concussion form.

Why on earth would Orpik do that?
- rival22

I said it was in my ideal/perfect world ain't happening anyway..

In fairness, I think Orpik has been playing a lot better the last few. He really struggled for after returning. Now that Martin returned it seems Orpik has returned to his pre-concussion form.
- madmike71

Saying he sucks was a bit harsh. I don't see a significant drop off if he is gone next year. I'd prefer to part ways

I wouldn't resign Orpik either, but when Scuderi who is 2 years older gets 4 x $3.375 mil in a down cap year, and Orpik is coming off an Olympic season (right or wrong), he gets at least 4 x $3.5 mil.

I really hope that Bortuzzo can continue to develop and reduce the running around a bit, he has an element that is lacking on this team. He makes other players ANGRY.
- rival22

I agree someone will pay him. Hopefully it's not us