My point is, who is the 3C if we trade Bjug?
- Hockey66

Blueger.

Blueger.
- Feds91Stammer

I’d like to see a larger sample size.

Blueger.
- Feds91Stammer

I don't even know if Blueger is an NHL player, let alone a 4C, let alone a 3C FFS.

I'm open to trading Bjug, but the center position is pretty important.

3C’s, even higher end ones, are replaceable. The issue is whether or not the proper replacement is available and if the Pens have the right assets available to make the deal happen.
- Rinosaur

Isn't Bonino a 4C and sucks at this point?

Rust is replaceable and vanilla.

What if McCann can play 3C? That opens a bit up.

I’d like to see a larger sample size.
- Rinosaur

He has improved every year during his career and you need to get max value out of players when they have cheap contracts.

Isn't Bonino a 4C and sucks at this point?

Rust is replaceable and vanilla.

What if McCann can play 3C? That opens a bit up.
- sammy87

Bonino is still 3c capable. McCann is not nhl center material

I don't even know if Blueger is an NHL player, let alone a 4C, let alone a 3C FFS.

I'm open to trading Bjug, but the center position is pretty important.
- Hockey66

Dunno what you’re watching if you don’t know if he’s an nhl player.

And Bjugstad had zero primary assists last year. What’s your point?
- Feds91Stammer

He had 2, but still that is weak. His goal and shot production is fantastic though. His pace with the pens was 23 goals and over 200 shots on goal. That is a strong driver of play to have in that spot.

Rust, although he has a good shot and is a good penalty killer, he doesn't elevate anyone's game. He just exists. He also had good perceived value. I'd keep the center.

He has improved every year during his career and you need to get max value out of players when they have cheap contracts.


Dunno what you’re watching if you don’t know if he’s an nhl player.
- Feds91Stammer

He's about to turn 25 and hasn't been able to crack the lineup on a regular basis (either as center or winger), even with plugs and fogeys in the lineup. That looks more like a bust than a budding prospect to me.

I don't even know if Blueger is an NHL player, let alone a 4C, let alone a 3C FFS.

I'm open to trading Bjug, but the center position is pretty important.
- Hockey66

What? 6 goals, 10 point in 28 games, only playing 11 minutes average. That is definitely NHL ready.

What? 6 goals, 10 point in 28 games, only playing 11 minutes average. That is definitely NHL ready.
- burgh4life87

Ok, that's fine. But really small sample and he did this at the age of 24. 3C on a Cup team? I think he is more likely a winger in the NHL.

He's about to turn 25 and hasn't been able to crack the lineup on a regular basis (either as center or winger), even with plugs and fogeys in the lineup. That looks more like a bust than a budding prospect to me.
- Hockey66

Said plug was Matt Cullen who the coach wasn’t going to bench in a million years. Blueger is good enough to play in the bottom six and probably a third line caliber player and him not cracking the regular lineup was just stupidity on Sullivan’s part.

He had 2, but still that is weak. His goal and shot production is fantastic though. His pace with the pens was 23 goals and over 200 shots on goal. That is a strong driver of play to have in that spot.

Rust, although he has a good shot and is a good penalty killer, he doesn't elevate anyone's game. He just exists. He also had good perceived value. I'd keep the center.
- burgh4life87

0 5v5 primaries. Should have clarified.

He's about to turn 25 and hasn't been able to crack the lineup on a regular basis (either as center or winger), even with plugs and fogeys in the lineup. That looks more like a bust than a budding prospect to me.
- Hockey66

Yet he had a greater WAR impact than Bjugstad in way less games played...

Ok, that's fine. But really small sample and he did this at the age of 24. 3C on a Cup team? I think he is more likely a winger in the NHL.
- Hockey66

What makes him a winger and what makes Bjugstad a center?

Amount of seasons Bjugstad has matched or exceeded Bluegers 18-19 WAR60 of 0.11

ZERO

Said plug was Matt Cullen who the coach wasn’t going to bench in a million years. Blueger is good enough to play in the bottom six and probably a third line caliber player and him not cracking the regular lineup was just stupidity on Sullivan’s part.
- Victoro311

The plug I was referring to was Wilson who played in almost twice as many games (the fogey is Cullen, of course).
You can blame Sullivan for not playing Blueger, but I trust him and the coaching staff more than some randos on a blog chat.

Again, I'm fine with trading Bjug if it leads to a replacement center, but going with Blueger and ??? as your bottom six centers on a Cup team is an absurd amount of risk. We saw what Brassard did at 3C and the affect it had on the team. And say what you will about Cullen, he still knows the game and the position better than Blueger. We also tried going without a bona fide 3C before getting Brassard and that sucked, too.

The plug I was referring to was Wilson who played in almost twice as many games (the fogey is Cullen, of course).
You can blame Sullivan for not playing Blueger, but I trust him and the coaching staff more than some randos on a blog chat.

Again, I'm fine with trading Bjug if it leads to a replacement center, but going with Blueger and ??? as your bottom six centers on a Cup team is an absurd amount of risk. We saw what Brassard did at 3C and the affect it had on the team. And say what you will about Cullen, he still knows the game and the position better than Blueger. We also tried going without a bona fide 3C before getting Brassard and that sucked, too.
- Hockey66

What makes Bjugstad so valuable?

The plug I was referring to was Wilson who played in almost twice as many games (the fogey is Cullen, of course).
You can blame Sullivan for not playing Blueger, but I trust him and the coaching staff more than some randos on a blog chat.

Again, I'm fine with trading Bjug if it leads to a replacement center, but going with Blueger and ??? as your bottom six centers on a Cup team is an absurd amount of risk. We saw what Brassard did at 3C and the affect it had on the team. And say what you will about Cullen, he still knows the game and the position better than Blueger. We also tried going without a bona fide 3C before getting Brassard and that sucked, too.
- Hockey66

I’m not even advocating trading Bjugstad. I have a higher opinion of him than Feds and don’t have interest in going back to not having center depth. I just think the idea that he might not be nhl ready is silly. He is.

What makes him a winger and what makes Bjugstad a center?
- Feds91Stammer

Because playing center at the NHL level takes a special talent that most players don't have. Again, if you can't crack the lineup ahead of guys like Wilson and Cullen at the age of 24, that doesn't bode well. I will gladly eat crow if Blueger becomes a regular, bona fide 3C.

Right now, I'm not trading a bona fide NHL player who can play the center position decently without a replacement. It's easy to say, "Oh, just plug this guy in at center." Then you play teams who know how to expose every weakness, especially come playoff time, and it's not so easy anymore.

Seriously, though, a 28 game sample size and he is now a 3C on a Cup team??

The plug I was referring to was Wilson who played in almost twice as many games (the fogey is Cullen, of course).
You can blame Sullivan for not playing Blueger, but I trust him and the coaching staff more than some randos on a blog chat.

Again, I'm fine with trading Bjug if it leads to a replacement center, but going with Blueger and ??? as your bottom six centers on a Cup team is an absurd amount of risk. We saw what Brassard did at 3C and the affect it had on the team. And say what you will about Cullen, he still knows the game and the position better than Blueger. We also tried going without a bona fide 3C before getting Brassard and that sucked, too.
- Hockey66

Ahhh the old coaches and GMs are infallible gig. Gotcha. Conversations pretty much over there.

thEy MuSt KnOW mOrE. He iS aN NHL cOaCh.

What makes Bjugstad so valuable?
- Feds91Stammer

Because he is a bona fide NHL player who can play the center position.

I’m not even advocating trading Bjugstad. I have a higher opinion of him than Feds and don’t have interest in going back to not having center depth. I just think the idea that he might not be nhl ready is silly. He is.
- Victoro311

Blueger definitely looks NHL ready to me. I’m just not sure of his abilities to man the 3C yet.

I’m not even advocating trading Bjugstad. I have a higher opinion of him than Feds and don’t have interest in going back to not having center depth. I just think the idea that he might not be nhl ready is silly. He is.
- Victoro311

That's fine, he's an NHL player. Is he a legit NHL center? Ok, great, he's a NHL center (easily debatable). Is he a 3rd line center on a Cup team? That's quite a leap.

Blueger definitely looks NHL ready to me. I’m just not sure if his abilities to man the 3C yet.
- Rinosaur

That's all I'm saying. Well, I don't know about "definitely," but the second part.