I think the Gogo-Neal/Nisk and Whitney-Kunitz/Tangradi deals really jaded him. He always thought defensemen would be easy to flip into multiple assets. Hi drafts indicated as much. Almost all of them puck-movers.

Really, the lack of any NHL-ready forwards in the system is a major indictment of his tenure. All of those assets just sitting in the minors and WBS doing you no good.
- 87_71_11_29

Those two deals were some of the better trades in the last decade of the NHL from our side's return though.

He'll also be the most bang for your buck guy if you play him.
- Ryan_Wilson

Worth it to get a good forward.

The thing about Bortuzzo is that he's literally the ONLY guy on the roster who can fight. Now, I'm fully aware of the fact that fighting isn't as important as it used to be, but...

Kunitz, Crosby, Dupuis, Malkin, Bennett, Hornqvist and Sutter all are skill guys who can't fight.

Downie will fight anyone, but he rarely wins fights. Spaling has actually never been in an NHL fight. Comeau is not a fighter. Goc is not a fighter. Adams will fight, but he's not the boxer, he's the bag.

Martin, Ehrhoff, Scuderi, Maatta, and Despres are all pacifists. Letang will throw, but hasn't much lately.

That literally leaves Bortuzzo.

Those two deals were some of the better trades in the last decade of the NHL from our side's return though.
- Guile

Thing about building stockpiles is that eventually you have to sell. They did that with Morrow, but now they've got too many defensemen in the pipeline who are all at pretty much the same point developmentally, but there's the reality that you're not going to get far in the playoffs while playing 2 or 3 rookie defensemen.

The thing about Bortuzzo is that he's literally the ONLY guy on the roster who can fight. Now, I'm fully aware of the fact that fighting isn't as important as it used to be, but...

Kunitz, Crosby, Dupuis, Malkin, Bennett, Hornqvist and Sutter all are skill guys who can't fight.

Downie will fight anyone, but he rarely wins fights. Spaling has actually never been in an NHL fight. Comeau is not a fighter. Goc is not a fighter. Adams will fight, but he's not the boxer, he's the bag.

Martin, Ehrhoff, Scuderi, Maatta, and Despres are all pacifists. Letang will throw, but hasn't much lately.

That literally leaves Bortuzzo.
- hardnosed

It's an interesting angle...and a tough one to get right because you really just need a couple of guys who will fight and are in game frequently to keep guys from getting too friendly with your stars.

Like Boston...they had a handful of guys that would go...Thornton, Chara (who nobody wants to fight, huge deterrent right there), Lucic, Iginla...etc...but now they seem to be taking a step back from that a little too...if not on purpose then because of cap/FA issues.

The successful Western Conf teams have toughness...but not many fights. Chicago won...with mental toughness really...and LA won...with the right mix of both...but generally speaking it's mental toughness that gets you the cup and what the Pens have been missing.

I will reiterate this though...first guy that hits Sid in the head...accident or not...should be taken to task...period.

This kind of 'no nonsense' reaction would go along way in my opinion.

Leafs sign Santorelli

Leafs have agreed to a 1 year deal with Mike Santorelli, $1.5 mil.
Source: TSN


Tons of big deals and trades today huh? How about EK reports a quiet day that will have no happens so its a fun filled day.

The thing about Bortuzzo is that he's literally the ONLY guy on the roster who can fight. Now, I'm fully aware of the fact that fighting isn't as important as it used to be, but...

Kunitz, Crosby, Dupuis, Malkin, Bennett, Hornqvist and Sutter all are skill guys who can't fight.

Downie will fight anyone, but he rarely wins fights. Spaling has actually never been in an NHL fight. Comeau is not a fighter. Goc is not a fighter. Adams will fight, but he's not the boxer, he's the bag.

Martin, Ehrhoff, Scuderi, Maatta, and Despres are all pacifists. Letang will throw, but hasn't much lately.

That literally leaves Bortuzzo.
- hardnosed

Cant say I disagree, but the issue I have with that is you have a Dman as your primary fighter. Never a good idea; especially in a hostile playoff series. Plus, Bortuzzo sucks at fighting---not questioning his willingness, just his ability. Hockey skill aside, Engelland IMO is one of the best fighters I have ever seen.

It's an interesting angle...and a tough one to get right because you really just need a couple of guys who will fight and are in game frequently to keep guys from getting too friendly with your stars.

Like Boston...they had a handful of guys that would go...Thornton, Chara (who nobody wants to fight, huge deterrent right there), Lucic, Iginla...etc...but now they seem to be taking a step back from that a little too...if not on purpose then because of cap/FA issues.

The successful Western Conf teams have toughness...but not many fights. Chicago won...with mental toughness really...and LA won...with the right mix of both...but generally speaking it's mental toughness that gets you the cup and what the Pens have been missing.

I will reiterate this though...first guy that hits Sid in the head...accident or not...should be taken to task...period.

This kind of 'no nonsense' reaction would go along way in my opinion.
- icedog97

And I think we get crossed up with saying things like "look at Chicago" or "look at Detroit" with teams who do well and don't fight much.

The playoffs are a different animal. I'd rather turn the other cheek in the playoffs, but on that random Tuesday in January, when someone takes a shot at a skill guy, I'm all for having someone in the lineup who will pound on a guy.

It has to be a calculated thing, though... Not a guy just losing his temper.


My favorite memory of Derek Engelland wasn't a fight or a big hit... but early in his time here the Pens played the Rangers with Sean Avery. Avery was running around all game, and lined up across from Malkin on a neutral zone faceoff (not sure why Malkin was on a wing). He started elbowing and jostling with Malkin, and the ref stopped to reset the draw. Engelland drifted up and took Malkin's spot on the draw. He looked over, said something to Avery, and the rest of the night, Avery was invisible.

I am not a pro fighting guy, and don't usually buy into "the code", but seeing someone come in as a cooler and not even have to throw a punch was awesome to see.

Edmonton has no depth at center.... Sutter + Samuelsson for Yakopov?

Would they do it? Would you?
- rival22

I would do this deal for sutter and any of our dmen prospects other than maata, yes including pouliot.

The thing about Bortuzzo is that he's literally the ONLY guy on the roster who can fight. Now, I'm fully aware of the fact that fighting isn't as important as it used to be, but...

Kunitz, Crosby, Dupuis, Malkin, Bennett, Hornqvist and Sutter all are skill guys who can't fight.

Downie will fight anyone, but he rarely wins fights. Spaling has actually never been in an NHL fight. Comeau is not a fighter. Goc is not a fighter. Adams will fight, but he's not the boxer, he's the bag.

Martin, Ehrhoff, Scuderi, Maatta, and Despres are all pacifists. Letang will throw, but hasn't much lately.

That literally leaves Bortuzzo.
- hardnosed

Despres dropped the gloves in the AHL playoffs. With his size and strength he might start to do that more often to stay on the big club.
The thing is fighting is down across the league and if the mantra of fighting=toughness has gone out the window. Being tough is systematic and comes from coaching now. I think Tocchet is going to preach that tough playing style without having to be the drop the gloves tough.

Despres dropped the gloves in the AHL playoffs. With his size and strength he might start to do that more often to stay on the big club.
The thing is fighting is down across the league and if the mantra of fighting=toughness has gone out the window. Being tough is systematic and comes from coaching now. I think Tocchet is going to preach that tough playing style without having to be the drop the gloves tough.
- usethe1-2-2

This is true about Despres, but also keep in mind that at no time did Despres go looking for a fight. The 2 majors that I saw at our home playoff games were in defense of himself or a teammate following a very heated scrum.

Hes willing to drop the gloves, but he is not going to hunt for a fight either.

This is true about Despres, but also keep in mind that at no time did Despres go looking for a fight. The 2 majors that I saw at our home playoff games were in defense of himself or a teammate following a very heated scrum.

Hes willing to drop the gloves, but he is not going to hunt for a fight either.
- Reverend Killtaker

Exactly, but we don't necessarily need a guy to hunt for fights anymore. No one does.

Exactly, but we don't necessarily need a guy to hunt for fights anymore. No one does.
- usethe1-2-2

+1

If the teams makeup is scrappy, accountable for their play, and picks its spots, a pugilist isn't needed.

EDIT: Couldn't resist Pugilist. Watched Young Guns last night.

Our top 6 is a little thin... Taylor Pyatt is still availahahahahahahhahaha... I can't....

Our top 6 is a little thin... Taylor Pyatt is still availahahahahahahhahaha... I can't....
- rival22

Booth seto or heatley

Booth seto or heatley
- dbell646

Pass, pass, pass. None of these guys. I would rather coax Daniel Alfredsson and his 41-year old self to the Burgh than any of those three. Heck, I'd rather have stempniak than those three.

Pass, pass, pass. None of these guys. I would rather coax Daniel Alfredsson and his 41-year old self to the Burgh than any of those three. Heck, I'd rather have stempniak than those three.
- Oneonta Penguin

That's about all that's left. If we don't trade I'd prefer to give kapinen a chance instead of paying those guys

That's about all that's left. If we don't trade I'd prefer to give kapinen a chance instead of paying those guys
- dbell646

Totally agree. The pool is dried up. Everything left is unappealing and doesn't do anything. Winnick would be great, but we don't need bottom six forwards anymore. Either a trade or let the kid learn on the fly. I'm sure Maatta would be a good one to help him with the transition.

That said, bring him up too early, he could struggle and not develop well ... see Luke Schenn and others.

Totally agree. The pool is dried up. Everything left is unappealing and doesn't do anything. Winnick would be great, but we don't need bottom six forwards anymore. Either a trade or let the kid learn on the fly. I'm sure Maatta would be a good one to help him with the transition.

That said, bring him up too early, he could struggle and not develop well ... see Luke Schenn and others.
- Oneonta Penguin

It'd be a huge help if he could get in there and contribute, but I agree don't want to ruin him.

It'd be a huge help if he could get in there and contribute, but I agree don't want to ruin him.
- dbell646

The only things that help him now, as opposed to someone like Pouliot on D is the kid is playing against men in Finland, not same aged players. Of course, the skill level of the Finnish Elite League isn't that of the NHL, but he knows what its like to face off against men. I'm sure his old man will be of help too.

The only things that help him now, as opposed to someone like Pouliot on D is the kid is playing against men in Finland, not same aged players. Of course, the skill level of the Finnish Elite League isn't that of the NHL, but he knows what its like to face off against men. I'm sure his old man will be of help too.
- Oneonta Penguin

I would worry about him being too undersized for the NHL. The Finnish league is not anywhere near as physical as what he would face in the NHL.

I really hope we can swing a trade.

Looks like NJ needs defensemen. How about trading Martin for Michael Ryder and a prospect?

I'm just saying they aren't really making great choices right now.

I wouldn't trade Thornton or Marleau if I were them but they seem dead set on some sort of mythical change even though they had a great team last year.
- Ryan_Wilson

yeah... they should fire dan bylsma and shero!

I would worry about him being too undersized for the NHL. The Finnish league is not anywhere near as physical as what he would face in the NHL.

I really hope we can swing a trade.
- stackthepads

Not only that, but he only played 47 games last year. Kid needs a good full season in the AHL to get used to the physicality and the grind of a full season.

I know he was hurt too, but look how much Maatta wore down by the end, and he was used to playing 80 game seasons in junior.

Not only that, but he only played 47 games last year. Kid needs a good full season in the AHL to get used to the physicality and the grind of a full season.

I know he was hurt too, but look how much Maatta wore down by the end, and he was used to playing 80 game seasons in junior.
- rival22

I heard JR on the fan today. He said it's a possibility that KK gets a chance this year. He was dead serious.....FWIW.