yea, us and everyone else...hes having a career year, for a team in our division, granted hes going to be a free agent, and columbus already has a tough time scoring, as much as I agree in that he would be beneficial to us, i think the asking price would be ludacris, not to mention, theyd probably never trade him within the division...
- JLT168

That's what scares me a little bit... His price for a trade at the deadline and/or UFA this summer is going to be overly inflated. His shooting percentage is double what his career shooting percentage was before this season.

He's a nice player, and what this team needs... some skill, good grit, and annoying to play against, but you need to try to acquire those guys before their career year, not during or right after it.

That's what scares me a little bit... His price for a trade at the deadline and/or UFA this summer is going to be overly inflated. His shooting percentage is double what his career shooting percentage was before this season.

He's a nice player, and what this team needs... some skill, good grit, and annoying to play against, but you need to try to acquire those guys before their career year, not during or right after it.
- rival22

johanson would be an awesome talented guy to have with sid, but hes going to cost a ton too...he isnt having a great year in the 1st of his bridge contract, however, inner division, not happening...

johanson would be an awesome talented guy to have with sid, but hes going to cost a ton too...he isnt having a great year in the 1st of his bridge contract, however, inner division, not happening...
- JLT168

Lmao it doesn't even matter that it's inner division they aren't trading him unless it's a mugging. No point to even bring him up.

Lmao it doesn't even matter that it's inner division they aren't trading him unless it's a mugging. No point to even bring him up.
- ImScore71

agreed, I know they arent giving him up unless someone put together a nice package deal for him...always nice to wish hahaha

Id consider sutter and a 1st or 2nd rounder, but like you said, waste of breath for sure

well our 1st wont be worth much, hopefully, maybe itd be more like sutter, pouliout and a pick, obviously not worth it to either team, but a man can dream?!?!

Being pulled from a game is getting "off the hook"?
- drummer829

i thought that was getting the hook

agreed, I know they arent giving him up unless someone put together a nice package deal for him...always nice to wish hahaha

Id consider sutter and a 1st or 2nd rounder, but like you said, waste of breath for sure

well our 1st wont be worth much, hopefully, maybe itd be more like sutter, pouliout and a pick, obviously not worth it to either team, but a man can dream?!?!
- JLT168

Sutter isn't going anywhere. Not sure why everyone keeps bringing him up. Especially when it's trading offense for offense that only hurts our depth and bolsters the top two lines.

Sutter isn't going anywhere. Not sure why everyone keeps bringing him up. Especially when it's trading offense for offense that only hurts our depth and bolsters the top two lines.
- znagle

I don't think sutter is going anywhere, still fun to think about what if and what it'd take...but im pretty sure if columbus said hey i want sutter and will give you johnason wed gladly accept. I know it wont happen, but doesn't hurt to think about it im pretty sure...i think everyone is in agreeance of what we need, a fringe top 6 winger with potential or a past that has at least shown offensive upside, and most likely someone on the downtrend, otherwise its going to cost an arm and a leg...so i get it, but doesn't hurt to throw out potentials

not to mention, columbus isn't trading johanson

That's what scares me a little bit... His price for a trade at the deadline and/or UFA this summer is going to be overly inflated. His shooting percentage is double what his career shooting percentage was before this season.

He's a nice player, and what this team needs... some skill, good grit, and annoying to play against, but you need to try to acquire those guys before their career year, not during or right after it.
- rival22

It's either the Joel Ward influx, Jason Blake experience or the Fernando Pisani effect. Also known as when a 3rd line player knows it is a contract year and so he suddenly produces like Pavel Bure and is way overpaid by a gullible team (Was, Tor, Edm).

Is it bad that I hope Orpik lights Malkin up like a candle tomorrow?

Is it bad that I hope Orpik lights Malkin up like a candle tomorrow?
- Grinder47

uhh yea? why would you want to see geno machino get lit up by brooks? I think you should be hoping for anyone on our team to light up ovi, the other teams best player and rival

Is it bad that I hope Orpik lights Malkin up like a candle tomorrow?
- Grinder47

I will be very vocal about hits I think are illegal and harsh punishment of said hits... tat being said, most if not all of the "contraversial" orpik hits, a la Toews, I defended cause they were good hits. I wonder how many people who defend junk the pens players do would be in arms over a legal orpik check to malkin...

We can focus on what Orpik no longer is, but I prefer to salute what he was. As Ryan mentioned, he played more games as a Pens defenseman than any other, and was the first guy picked in what would become a slew of young players that would lead the turnaround from the dark days of the early 2000s here. He was an obvious leader, who probably should have worn the "C" during his tenure here as he often was willing to stand up and say what needed to be said and done when things weren't going well. He was a fearsome hitter, and I will never forget witnessing this sequence of hits live and in person at the old building against the Wings in 2008.

http://youtu.be/XpBXdefDulU

It's the loudest I'd ever heard it for a play that didn't involve a goal.

After that series, he could have signed elsewhere for more money, like Ryan Malone did, but he opted to stay here for less, and cemented his legacy here with a cup win in 2009.

I'm sure he will get a long and sustained ovation when he take the ice. It will be well deserved.

Thanks Brooksie!
- Emperor Filonius

Thanks for a great post. Free Candy will forever be one of my favorite Penguins. That guy lived and died for the team, was a tremendous shutdown defenseman in his prime, and had a knack for saving his goals for when they mattered most.

And those 4 hits. Chills.

finally a blog to comment on, i was having withdraws.

i sure hope some of our players got better over the break. i started watching that lightening game but stopped after about 3 minutes cause i didnt know who anyone was. (besides of course 87, 71 78)

well anywho.........GO PENS!

It's either the Joel Ward influx, Jason Blake experience or the Fernando Pisani effect. Also known as when a 3rd line player knows it is a contract year and so he suddenly produces like Pavel Bure and is way overpaid by a gullible team (Was, Tor, Edm).
- Ben37

Except Ward had career numbers with us last year.....

uhh yea? why would you want to see geno machino get lit up by brooks? I think you should be hoping for anyone on our team to light up ovi, the other teams best player and rival
- JLT168

The Capitals' best player is not Ovechkin.

uhh yea? why would you want to see geno machino get lit up by brooks? I think you should be hoping for anyone on our team to light up ovi, the other teams best player and rival
- JLT168

hahahaha yeah anyone to light up Ovi? Have you seen our team? Soft as puppy poop, especially without Downie. Farnham will try and probably stir something up and draw a penalty, but I'm pretty sure Ovi's gonna be able to do whatever he wants.

hahahaha yeah anyone to light up Ovi? Have you seen our team? Soft as puppy poop, especially without Downie. Farnham will try and probably stir something up and draw a penalty, but I'm pretty sure Ovi's gonna be able to do whatever he wants.
- Grinder47

Despres.

Despres.
- powerhouse

ehhh maybe, I like how he has played I thought he would be a bust. I think the whole being tough thing was just for show at the beginning of the season though. I think Downie has to be there to have the consistent do whatever it takes attitude towards winning. Hornqvist is consistent, but not violent enough. Sad that Kunitz got all comfy on the first line and stopped having that ferocity to his game.

Pittsburgh could guarantee themselves a SCF appearance with one small deal... Michael Ryder. Pure goal scorer who would light it up on Crosbys wing. Big game player too. Just ask Boston. HUGE part of that cup run

The Fins haven't had the puck much in this game, especially over the last 10 minutes.

Hopefully Kap will get used early in the shootout, at least that will be something.

Usa/Finland game is pretty good. Kapanen is looking solid

Edit: kap with an ugly attempt lol

Edit: kap with an ugly attempt lol
- drummer829

Was expecting more creativity.

Team USA was pretty impressive overall despite the score.

Was expecting more creativity.

Team USA was pretty impressive overall despite the score.
- hardnosed

Team use does look good. Eichel just owns the ice when he's out there.

Is it bad that I hope Orpik lights Malkin up like a candle tomorrow?
- Grinder47

Racist

Nick Schmaltz was the guy that impressed me the most.