I would disagree as I think he may get stuck in the D log jam.

Letang, Scuderi, Despres, Dumoulin (RFA), & Bortuzzo (RFA) will all be on 1-way deals. Add in Maatta (who seems to be an NHL lock) & Pouliot (who will be an NHL lock if he keeps it up) & suddenly you are up to 7 NHL Dmen. This is also assuming the Pens don't add any more veteran Dman like Ehroff or Petry via UFA.

If Harrington makes it, I'd think they'd have to move 2 of the Dmen from the above list as I do think they will add a veteran Dman this offseason. I'd suggest Scuderi (trade or buyout) and Bortuzzo (trade).
- s0rcerer1984

Bort is a 7, and Dumo and Harrington play different games. Make the assumption that Martin and Ehrhoff don't return....

58-47
3-51
6-8
4-41

Like I said, they get young really quick, they are fine back there. We all bag out on Shero but he did leave the back end in pretty good shape, how the staff used the players was as much a coaching decision as a GM drafting choice.

Nope your attitude is why people don't change.

He has his issues, but taking the 'holier than thou' attitude doesn't help him, or the team that has him.
- walshy66

He has major issues. He brought them on himself. His attitude sucks; he is a poopty teammate and only cares about himself.

Who took a "hollier than thou" attitude? The team paying him millions of dollars for quite frankly not great results? Fact is, Kane had an obligation to the Jets and failed miserably. He deserves the criticism.

I can't believe the trade proposals I am seeing for Vermette, he isn't an upgrade over Sutter. He isn't faster, he isn't gritty, he is always injured.

Look at what worked last night.
- Hard forecheck
- Hard to the net
- Hard along the boards

Vermette, Tlusty, Bergenheim do not bring this. They are finesse players who are useful play makers if you don't have a Crosby or a Malkin. We have both a Crosby and a Malkin.

It sounds like everyone wants to replace soft players like Sutter and Bennett, which I'm completely for. But then we're looking to replace them with the exact same thing and we expect something different.

We need bigger, heavier players or players who play bigger like Hornqvist. Not more butterflies like Bennett.
- stackthepads

POTD


Nicely put.

take your silly genealogy and animal husbandry tactics elsewhere
- stayinthefnnet

Only real men like me can successfully mate with a Balrog-goat mixed breed.

He has major issues. He brought them on himself. His attitude sucks; he is a poopty teammate and only cares about himself.

Who took a "hollier than thou" attitude? The team paying him millions of dollars for quite frankly not great results? Fact is, Kane had an obligation to the Jets and failed miserably. He deserves the criticism.
- Oneonta Penguin

I can definitely agree with the last part. He signed a contract to play hockey there for millions of dollars, and then decided he didn't want to play hockey there anymore.

He has major issues. He brought them on himself. His attitude sucks; he is a poopty teammate and only cares about himself.

Who took a "hollier than thou" attitude? The team paying him millions of dollars for quite frankly not great results? Fact is, Kane had an obligation to the Jets and failed miserably. He deserves the criticism.
- Oneonta Penguin

Seguin(is that right?) had all the same concerns you are putting out here on Kane, on top of that, you're right, Kane has all of those issues.

I just find the 'I hope he fails' attitude sucks, why not want someone to succeed? Have him 'wake up' turn it around and become a better person?

Because I think your right, at the moment he is probably a self centered, selfish person, who doesn't do much positively for those around him.

If he changes with all that coin he has, he can help a lot of people and make their life better.

I can't believe the trade proposals I am seeing for Vermette, he isn't an upgrade over Sutter. He isn't faster, he isn't gritty, he is always injured.

Look at what worked last night.
- Hard forecheck
- Hard to the net
- Hard along the boards

Vermette, Tlusty, Bergenheim do not bring this. They are finesse players who are useful play makers if you don't have a Crosby or a Malkin. We have both a Crosby and a Malkin.

It sounds like everyone wants to replace soft players like Sutter and Bennett, which I'm completely for. But then we're looking to replace them with the exact same thing and we expect something different.

We need bigger, heavier players or players who play bigger like Hornqvist. Not more butterflies like Bennett.
- stackthepads

Like...?

Only real men like me can successfully mate with a Balrog-goat mixed breed.
- jmatchett383

I can't believe the trade proposals I am seeing for Vermette, he isn't an upgrade over Sutter. He isn't faster, he isn't gritty, he is always injured.

Look at what worked last night.
- Hard forecheck
- Hard to the net
- Hard along the boards

Vermette, Tlusty, Bergenheim do not bring this. They are finesse players who are useful play makers if you don't have a Crosby or a Malkin. We have both a Crosby and a Malkin.

It sounds like everyone wants to replace soft players like Sutter and Bennett, which I'm completely for. But then we're looking to replace them with the exact same thing and we expect something different.

We need bigger, heavier players or players who play bigger like Hornqvist. Not more butterflies like Bennett.
- stackthepads

I like alot of this post and its true. However, I like Bergenheim as a player. He does alot of things well that don't show up on the scoresheet.

Has anyone looked at Tlusty's numbers this year? Very similar to a third line center here in Pittsburgh that plays with worse linemates. 12-8-20 playing mostly with Staal and Staal ain't that impressive.

I can definitely agree with the last part. He signed a contract to play hockey there for millions of dollars, and then decided he didn't want to play hockey there anymore.
- jmatchett383

Are we running with the timing of surgery or the build up to the surgery?

Because optically it looks like he quit on the team for sure.

I can definitely agree with the last part. He signed a contract to play hockey there for millions of dollars, and then decided he didn't want to play hockey there anymore.
- jmatchett383

Don't think he was banking on becoming Winnipeg's scapegoat when he signed that deal though.

I will never understand why guys like Fleury, Kane, Kessel, and Thornton don't demand trades. When you're a good player, and you know you're a good player, and you are blatantly disrespected by your fanbase and pegged as the reason for a franchise's problem, why would you ever want to play for that town? I'd pack my bags and leave for somewhere where I will be loved too.

Are we running with the timing of surgery or the build up to the surgery?

Because optically it looks like he quit on the team for sure.
- walshy66

I'm going with the "calling the coach 1 hour before game time and saying he wasn't going to the game" theme.

Don't think he was banking on becoming Winnipeg's scapegoat when he signed that deal though.

I will never understand why guys like Fleury, Kane, Kessel, and Thornton don't demand trades. When you're a good player, and you know you're a good player, and you are blatantly disrespected by your fanbase and pegged as the reason for a franchise's problem, why would you ever want to play for that town? I'd pack my bags and leave for somewhere where I will be loved too.
- Victoro311

If someone paid me $5million+ a year to play hockey, I'll live with the fans making me a scapegoat, and I won't go out of my way to be a Richard to the team.

a great write up Gunner I also liked your piece on the Kane trade. A solid 60 min effort from the Pens last night, the only negative I could see was the PP , they're so much talent out there it's sick but they get into that "Harlem globetrotting" style with too many fancy drop passes or spin around crap , just move the puck cleanly and take your shots when u get them. On a side note, Every time I see Sutturd go into the corners I throw up a little bit in my mouth because I KNOW he's not coming out with the puck , I mean not even once in a while ? I thought even a blind squirrel finds a nut right ?
- Bradlee3

Are you talking local bar, alcohol & a brown haired .......... Ah don't worry.

I can't believe the trade proposals I am seeing for Vermette, he isn't an upgrade over Sutter. He isn't faster, he isn't gritty, he is always injured.

Look at what worked last night.
- Hard forecheck
- Hard to the net
- Hard along the boards

Vermette, Tlusty, Bergenheim do not bring this. They are finesse players who are useful play makers if you don't have a Crosby or a Malkin. We have both a Crosby and a Malkin.

It sounds like everyone wants to replace soft players like Sutter and Bennett, which I'm completely for. But then we're looking to replace them with the exact same thing and we expect something different.

We need bigger, heavier players or players who play bigger like Hornqvist. Not more butterflies like Bennett.
- stackthepads

I stopped reading after it said Vermette is always injured. He's missed 3 games in the last 8 years...

gigity

If someone paid me $5million+ a year to play hockey, I'll live with the fans making me a scapegoat, and I won't go out of my way to be a Richard to the team.
- jmatchett383

Why? You have the contract already. Demand a trade and take it with you to greener pastures. The thing is, when big talent like Kane signs a 5 mill contract in a town like Winnipeg, Arizona, Edmonton, or Buffalo, you're doing them a favor, and not the other way around. No one wants to play in those places and by signing with them you're giving their fans a better team to watch and increased profits through ticket at merch sales. You could have made that much money or more on the open market, so the organization should be working with you and the fans should love you. I understand that franchises are a business and management will have its differences with players, but once the fans start crucifying you then its time to give them the finger and leave. All of Kane's major problems started when the scapegoating began.

Bob McKenzie retweeted
Arizona Coyotes ‏@ArizonaCoyotes 3m3 minutes ago
UPDATE: G.M. Don Maloney says center Martin Hanzal will have back surgery and the likelihood of him playing again this season is "remote."
- SuperHenderson13

Well its the hockeybuzz curse. We talked about Kane...season ending surgery. Talk about Hanzal....season ending surgery.

It's bad news for us, even if we weren't going to acquire Hanzal. He's potentially one of the few centers on the market. May be quite difficult (expensive) to find a competent 3rd line C in the trade market.

Why? You have the contract already. Demand a trade and take it with you to greener pastures. The thing is, when big talent like Kane signs a 5 mill contract in a town like Winnipeg, Arizona, Edmonton, or Buffalo, you're doing them a favor, and not the other way around. No one wants to play in those places and by signing with them you're giving their fans a better team to watch and increased profits through ticket at merch sales. You could have made that much money or more on the open market, so the organization should be working with you and the fans should love you. I understand that franchises are a business and management will have its differences with players, but once the fans start crucifying you then its time to give them the finger and leave. All of Kane's major problems started when the scapegoating began.
- Victoro311

Sorry, I have a little bit of self respect and loyalty built into me. Damn those traits. To me, if you sign a contract with a team, you play hockey for that team until they ask you not to do so.

Don't think he was banking on becoming Winnipeg's scapegoat when he signed that deal though.

I will never understand why guys like Fleury, Kane, Kessel, and Thornton don't demand trades. When you're a good player, and you know you're a good player, and you are blatantly disrespected by your fanbase and pegged as the reason for a franchise's problem, why would you ever want to play for that town? I'd pack my bags and leave for somewhere where I will be loved too.
- Victoro311

You don't bite the hand that feeds you.

Well its the hockeybuzz curse. We talked about Kane...season ending surgery. Talk about Hanzal....season ending surgery.

It's bad news for us, even if we weren't going to acquire Hanzal. He's potentially one of the few centers on the market. May be quite difficult (expensive) to find a competent 3rd line C in the trade market.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Penguins should trade for Brandon Sutter.

If someone paid me $5million+ a year to play hockey, I'll live with the fans making me a scapegoat, and I won't go out of my way to be a Richard to the team.
- jmatchett383

The problem there is it assumes only one team is willing to pay you 5mil, and is a take it or leave it situation. That clearly isnt the case for Kane as multiple teams would bid for his services. If you have options to not be a scapegoat elsewhere while being paid the same 5mil, why wouldnt you take it(or in this case force the situation to play out)?

It is the same reason that Toronto can't attract free agents without overpaying.

Sorry, I have a little bit of self respect and loyalty built into me. Damn those traits. To me, if you sign a contract with a team, you play hockey for that team until they ask you not to do so.
- jmatchett383

Loyalty is the best trait a man can have, but you're asking for unconditional loyalty here. There's a difference between quitting on a team because they suck and quitting on a team because everyone has decided that they hate you. Keep in mind, Winnipeg is a decent/good hockey team this year and have sucked in the recent past. If Kane was quitting on the team because he was tired of losing, this would be a pretty weird time to do so.

The problem there is it assumes only one team is willing to pay you 5mil, and is a take it or leave it situation. That clearly isnt the case for Kane as multiple teams would bid for his services. If you have options to not be a scapegoat elsewhere while being paid the same 5mil, why wouldnt you take it(or in this case force the situation to play out)?

It is the same reason that Toronto can't attract free agents without overpaying.
- Rawdog9755

This. Thank you.

Loyalty is the best trait a man can have, but you're asking for unconditional loyalty here. There's a difference between quitting on a team because they suck and quitting on a team because everyone has decided that they hate you. Keep in mind, Winnipeg is a decent/good hockey team this year and have sucked in the recent past. If Kane was quitting on the team because he was tired of losing, this would be a pretty weird time to do so.
- Victoro311

But it's not the team that hated him, it was the fans. Once the fans started, he began to act like a spoiled baby, which led to the team hating him. You don't exactly see Brandon Sutter causing a big media circus like that, do you?