All players improve as they get older. Where players start to digress is when their legs start to go. Even then their natural ability, drive and experience help them to compensate for the normal aging process. 22, 25, I don't care, they can still get better and they should get better.
- Thunderbolt

I'm going to nitpick here a little. Not all players improve as they get older. Some players never progress and those are the one never seem to find a home.

Pettersson has room. The guy was drafted higher than both Dumoulin and Letang. Now, I'm CLEARLY not stating he's going to be as good as either, but he was drafted in 2014, played a partial season last year and is still basically a rookie.

Dumoulin didn't get his first stint in the NHL until about four years after he was drafted where he played 6 games. The next year he played 8 games in the NHL. He didn't even play his first full NHL season until he was 24.

It takes time, so what we see from Pettersson can get better.

I'd say by 25 you are what you are. But let's talk about this...

What can we NOT expect from Petterson?
-He will never be a dman who really generates scoring chances and drives offense.
-He will never be a physical shut-down dman.

What can we expect from Petterson?
-He's a complimentary dman who plays a fundamentally sound game
-He's got excellent awareness and seems to think a couple of moves ahead
-He won't lead a pair, but he's the type of dman IMO that will let an offensive-minded dman play his game.

So where is the ceiling of a player like that? Realistically he will remain a 3rd pairing dman who will continue to tighten areas of his game and be able to handle more minutes. Sometimes that's all you should want out of a player.

I think if he continues to tighten his game and focus on some weak spots, he could be a borderline #4Dman.
- Rinosaur

Sounds a lot like Dumoulin and he is top pair. Why pigeon-hole a 22 year old. Why not give him more responsibility as he earns it and see how far he can go.

I am not at practice, nor am I in the locker room when decisions are made. We can argue but none of us see what is going on behind the scenes (Sprong, Pouliott).

What I want is someone to seize an opportunity, much like Grant did last year. Right now Maatta and Oleksiak are being challenged. Did they capitalize on that? I think they were okay and deserve to continue with that challenge.

Sounds a lot like Dumoulin and he is top pair. Why pigeon-hole a 22 year old. Why not give him more responsibility as he earns it and see how far he can go.

I am not at practice, nor am I in the locker room when decisions are made. We can argue but none of us see what is going on behind the scenes (Sprong, Pouliott).

What I want is someone to seize an opportunity, much like Grant did last year. Right now Maatta and Oleksiak are being challenged. Did they capitalize on that? I think they were okay and deserve to continue with that challenge.
- Thunderbolt

Ooooo... my man... that is my view for him (on the prior page here)

Sounds a lot like Dumoulin and he is top pair. Why pigeon-hole a 22 year old. Why not give him more responsibility as he earns it and see how far he can go.
- Thunderbolt

I'm not saying they shouldn't or won't, but he's also only played five games for the Pens. I like what I've seen so far, but I think a full season in his current role is where they should start.

Ooooo... my man... that is my view for him (on the prior page here)
- Guile

Not to be a diack, but that's what everyone in the media has been saying about it him after the trade lol

Not to be a diack, but that's what everyone in the media has been saying about it him after the trade lol
- Rinosaur

That is 100% being a Richard, and many days it feels like a lot of us seem to not read anything except 1/3 of a RW article.

Ooooo... my man... that is my view for him (on the prior page here)
- Guile

One finger typer. It takes me some time to respond.

That is 100% being a Richard, and many days it feels like a lot of us seem to not read anything except 1/3 of a RW article.
- Guile

Haha. He definitely fits the mold of Dumo-type dman. Earlier I compared him to Mark Eaton which a similar type of player.

The Pens should continue to shelter his minutes in a 3rd pairing role. Thus far he's been able to clean up some JJ messes, so he's definitely needed in that role.

If he stays consistent, then I think next year you start giving him a larger role to see how he handles it.

I'm not saying they shouldn't or won't, but he's also only played five games for the Pens. I like what I've seen so far, but I think a full season in his current role is where they should start.
- Rinosaur

The coaching staff has liked what they have seen from him so far. He has gotten more ice each game. I think he is earning it.

Basically then we agree along with the coaching staff that he is a decent player.

The coaching staff has liked what they have seen from him so far. He has gotten more ice each game. I think he is earning it.

Basically then we agree along with the coaching staff that he is a decent player.
- Thunderbolt

Yeah, I think he's good and has potential to get better. It sucks to lose Sprong because I definitely believe he's a 20+ goal-scorer, but getting a dman who's probably already better defensively than JO, JJ and Ruhwedel is a good get.

I'm starting to think Brassard is on his way out.
- Rinosaur

I hope so, this guy used to be a pens killer and a guy I thought was one of the underrated best #2C I'm done get whatever you can. Dumb old fart gm. Mario should have stuck to the plan gave him 2 seasons and brought in botts

Haha. He definitely fits the mold of Dumo-type dman. Earlier I compared him to Mark Eaton which a similar type of player.

The Pens should continue to shelter his minutes in a 3rd pairing role. Thus far he's been able to clean up some JJ messes, so he's definitely needed in that role.

If he stays consistent, then I think next year you start giving him a larger role to see how he handles it.
- Rinosaur

This is where we disagree. Currently we have a log jam with six players who are fighting for playing time. Right now it is Maatta and Oleksiak are getting the chance to show what they can do. But if Petterson, Riikola, Ruhwedel and yes even Johnson can show they can handle the added responsibilities, they should not be held back.

I hope so, this guy used to be a pens killer and a guy I thought was one of the underrated best #2C I'm done get whatever you can. Dumb old fart gm. Mario should have stuck to the plan gave him 2 seasons and brought in botts
- Jordy8

I don't understand where this Brass situation took a turn. Personally I think he's been good, but it just seems like they can't find a set spot for him and having all these injuries hasn't helped giving him decent linemates.

I just don't know what they will do to fill his spot if they move him. Sheahan is not good enough IMO to be the Pens' 3C.

My hope is they'd move JO for a 3C if Brass is moved out.

Yeah, I think he's good and has potential to get better. It sucks to lose Sprong because I definitely believe he's a 20+ goal-scorer, but getting a dman who's probably already better defensively than JO, JJ and Ruhwedel is a good get.
- Rinosaur

I didn't like the way Sprong was handled either but he is gone now. As we have seen this management team is not always right. But we can hope (hope is not a plan though) this trade works out for both teams.

I didn't like the way Sprong was handled either but he is gone now. As we have seen this management team is not always right. But we can hope (hope is not a plan though) this trade works out for both teams.
- Thunderbolt

So far so good. They needed scoring (not that the Pens don't), but they are stacked with dmen, so they had some to spare.

https://www.pensburgh.com...hat-it-was-supposed-to-do

Brassard has been fine... the trade has done exactly what it was supposed to do, as I’ve been saying for weeks even before this article came out. People had unreasonable expectations.

He shouldn’t be on his way out.

https://www.pensburgh.com/2018/12/12/18137617/the-derick-brassard-trade-has-done-what-it-was-supposed-to-do

Brassard has been fine... the trade has done exactly what it was supposed to do, as I’ve been saying for weeks even before this article came out. People had unreasonable expectations.

He shouldn’t be on his way out.
- j.boyd919

He shouldn't, I agree. I also have been happy with him, but when he plays less time than Grant and Wilson, the coaching staff clearly feels different. I know it's only one game, but that shouldn't happen.

https://www.pensburgh.com/2018/12/12/18137617/the-derick-brassard-trade-has-done-what-it-was-supposed-to-do

Brassard has been fine... the trade has done exactly what it was supposed to do, as I’ve been saying for weeks even before this article came out. People had unreasonable expectations.

He shouldn’t be on his way out.
- j.boyd919

I still want better... he 'is/should' be better than an average 3rd line center.

https://www.pensburgh.com/2018/12/12/18137617/the-derick-brassard-trade-has-done-what-it-was-supposed-to-do

Brassard has been fine... the trade has done exactly what it was supposed to do, as I’ve been saying for weeks even before this article came out. People had unreasonable expectations.

He shouldn’t be on his way out.
- j.boyd919

Yeah I want him to stay for sure. Plus once we get Horny and Simon back he'll have better wingers.

I still want better... he 'is/should' be better than an average 3rd line center.
- Guile

If we make the playoffs just wait, dude is a beast. He had a bum groin last playoffs but right before that bum groin he was killing it.

I still want better... he 'is/should' be better than an average 3rd line center.
- Guile

He is better. These are not excuses, but when you look at his tenure here it's been rough.

-He starts settling in last year, plays awesome then gets injured.

-This year he started out playing well, then gets moved to LW which is just a terrible fit.

-Once he comes back this year from injury he gets either bad linemates or ones that just don't fit with him, i.e. Kessel

-He gets jerked around back to LW.

He's had zero consistency in his role here.

Also if we get this Cullen for the playoffs that would be awesome. We definitely have to give him more nights off for sure though. Maybe he'll just get "injured" again

He is better. These are not excuses, but when you look at his tenure here it's been rough.

-He starts settling in last year, plays awesome then gets injured.

-This year he started out playing well, then gets moved to LW which is just a terrible fit.

-Once he comes back this year from injury he gets either bad linemates or ones that just don't fit with him, i.e. Kessel

-He gets jerked around back to LW.

He's had zero consistency in his role here.
- Rinosaur

All of this has happened in like 40-50 some games with us(including playoffs). He hasn't even been here that long lol. Hey if JJ gets 12 plus seasons to find his game why can't Brass even get one full season lol

Also if we get this Cullen for the playoffs that would be awesome. We definitely have to give him more nights off for sure though. Maybe he'll just get "injured" again
- 668710

He will need to rest for 2-3 weeks before the playoffs if you want 'this' Cullen. He barely has any left in the tank, which showed at the start of the year.

All of this has happened in like 40-50 some games with us(including playoffs). He hasn't even been here that long lol. Hey if JJ gets 12 plus seasons to find his game why can't Brass even get one full season lol
- 668710

But we don't want JJ or expected better from him