John Toperzer: A Tangradi poll, Sid talks hockey & some funny Penguins commercials Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the U.S.!

Met Tangradi back in his Bellville Bulls days, a lot of untapped potential there. Great person and attitude as well. Not ofter you get a 6'4 Winger with skill

"I wouldn’t be against it. I don’t block shots."

Why not block shots? He's good at everything else.

If he wants to kill penalties he'll have to block shots.

"I wouldn’t be against it. I don’t block shots."

Why not block shots? He's good at everything else.

If he wants to kill penalties he'll have to block shots.
- Coburns_Nose

Thus why Bylsma doesn't utilize him in that role. Perhaps with a guy like Malkin you look the other way if he doesnt block a ton of shots on the PK. This is because he has a giant reach and can cover more of the passing lanes ala Lemieux. But Sid does not have that advantage so he would have to provide something defensively on the PK. His strengths as a center and in corners wouldnt translate well to covering the points and slot area on the weak side of the PK IMO.

Thus why Bylsma doesn't utilize him in that role. Perhaps with a guy like Malkin you look the other way if he doesnt block a ton of shots on the PK. This is because he has a giant reach and can cover more of the passing lanes ala Lemieux. But Sid does not have that advantage so he would have to provide something defensively on the PK. His strengths as a center and in corners wouldnt translate well to covering the points and slot area on the weak side of the PK IMO.
- Gunner Staal

Gunner you make some good points.
But if Max Talbot can do it Sidney Crosby can do it.

Do you think Bylsma keeping Sid off the PK has anything to do with injury concerns? Ditto for Malkin?

Gunner you make some good points.
But if Max Talbot can do it Sidney Crosby can do it.

Do you think Bylsma keeping Sid off the PK has anything to do with injury concerns? Ditto for Malkin?
- Coburns_Nose

The risk reward of using Talbot is nowhere close to what it is with Crosby/Malkin when talking about shot blocking situations. I think it absolutely has everything to do with injury concerns. And now without Staal in the fold, they dont have that safety blanket the are used to if one of they big 3 centers gets hurt.

Sans the recent Flyers series where the Penguins were wildly unsuccessful, the previous 2 years the Penguins are already a top 5 PK team (1st and 3rd overall). Not imperative to make too many changes on that front from a personnel standpoint.

Now if you find yourself down two goals in the third killing a penalty, you might want to try out guys like Malkin/Crosby to try and turn nothing into something.

Its not that I dont think Crosby and Malkin arent capable, I just think that they are already logging the max # of minutes per game. In fact, Malkin is #12 forward in the entire NHL in TOI without adding shorthanded responsibilities.

Tangradi's AHL stats are much like these negotiations I don't really give a poop. Until he does that up here he's a terd. Slow as dirt. always late to the play. Plays physical at times which is not acceptable for his size. Pens fans say oh well he isn't a 4th line player he needs to play up on the top 2 lines. Here kid who has never done anything or shown anything other than size in the league go play with the 2 best players in the world. -------0 ()8

Tangradi's AHL stats are much like these negotiations I don't really give a poop. Until he does that up here he's a terd. Slow as dirt. always late to the play. Plays physical at times which is not acceptable for his size. Pens fans say oh well he isn't a 4th line player he needs to play up on the top 2 lines. Here kid who has never done anything or shown anything other than size in the league go play with the 2 best players in the world. -------0 ()8
- dbell646

I agree with all this.

However, his production early this season is a great sign. I truly hope he gains the confidence he needs to translate the success he's having to the big club. The Pens desperately need someone of his ilk assuming he's not a liability.

I'm rooting for him.

I agree with all this.

However, his production early this season is a great sign. I truly hope he gains the confidence he needs to translate the success he's having to the big club. The Pens desperately need someone of his ilk assuming he's not a liability.

I'm rooting for him.
- canadianpenfan

I agree with most of it however, I never saw the harm in giving him a look with Sid or Geno. Not just one shift (which I'm not sure he's ever had), but a game or two. I just always thought we'll never see much from the guy while he's plugging away on the fourth line. Give him a game or two with Sid and we'll see if he has the hands to pot a few. I hate to pull the Robbie Brown analogy (that guy was slow as frozen piss and was as physical as a Ho Ho), but he knew what to do with the puck when he got it. Regardless... On the Pens roster, picken's are slim at wing at the moment.

Anyway.... heard an interview with the WB/S coach the other day on MM's show and he said Tangradi has slimmed down and his skating has improved. The coach said he likes what he see's but stopped short of endorsing his abilities at the NHL level (basically gave the "we'll see" answer). Last year, Tangradi bulked up because that's what he thought he needed to do, but all that weight sure didn't help his wheels.

I'm no basketball fan but...


http://espn.go.com/mens-c...collegiate-scoring-record

I'm no basketball fan but...


http://espn.go.com/mens-c...collegiate-scoring-record
- canadianpenfan

http://deadspin.com/59625...ter&utm_medium=socialflow

I agree with most of it however, I never saw the harm in giving him a look with Sid or Geno. Not just one shift (which I'm not sure he's ever had), but a game or two. I just always thought we'll never see much from the guy while he's plugging away on the fourth line. Give him a game or two with Sid and we'll see if he has the hands to pot a few. I hate to pull the Robbie Brown analogy (that guy was slow as frozen piss and was as physical as a Ho Ho), but he knew what to do with the puck when he got it. Regardless... On the Pens roster, picken's are slim at wing at the moment.

Anyway.... heard an interview with the WB/S coach the other day on MM's show and he said Tangradi has slimmed down and his skating has improved. The coach said he likes what he see's but stopped short of endorsing his abilities at the NHL level (basically gave the "we'll see" answer). Last year, Tangradi bulked up because that's what he thought he needed to do, but all that weight sure didn't help his wheels.
- madmike71

Well last season I would't have wanted to see him replace any of the wings on the top 2 lines. This year there is a hole on 1 of the wings. Let's see if he impresses enough to EARN a shot which he has never done in the past assuming we play hockey this year.

http://deadspin.com/5962514/?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_twitter&utm_source=deadspin_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow
- Gunner Staal

He took 108 shots.

The catch 22 of arguing over who should pay for the lost revenue from the lockout while you are losing more revenue because you are still locked out. In another week the extra $182 million the PA wants will have evaporated anyway.

I would prefer to see Tangradi moved for a better top 6. Doing well in the AHL does not = NHL success. The baby Pens have been a solid AHL team for several yrs and none of their top forwards have done anything at the NHL level.

Well last season I would't have wanted to see him replace any of the wings on the top 2 lines. This year there is a hole on 1 of the wings. Let's see if he impresses enough to EARN a shot which he has never done in the past assuming we play hockey this year.
- dbell646

Don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not Tangradi's number one fan. I just believe you give a guy a look before you throw him away. I don't think you get an idea on what a winger can do getting 5 mins of ice with Craig Adams. Virtually every time he's been up with the big club that's where he plays. If you look at his production at lower levels, he does have a scoring pedigree - .71ppg in the AHL. Not going to light your hair on fire with those numbers but if Duper loses a game or two with Crosby while they take a look at him, I'm sure not going to cry over that......especially for a team that is in dire need of a big scoring winger.

The catch 22 of arguing over who should pay for the lost revenue from the lockout while you are losing more revenue because you are still locked out. In another week the extra $182 million the PA wants will have evaporated anyway.
- Deadstar

Hamarlik's comments will be just the beginning of the crack in union solidarity. The majority of union members don't get paid to play overseas and are starting to feel the pinch. Bettman smells blood and the owners will get close to what they want. Just like it was always going to be as soon as the lockout began, predictable path.

Here are the raw numbers on how the lockout will affect NHLPA jobs if this continues.

http://www.hockeyhurts.co...oes-having-principal-cost

Don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not Tangradi's number one fan. I just believe you give a guy a look before you throw him away. I don't think you get an idea on what a winger can do getting 5 mins of ice with Craig Adams. Virtually every time he's been up with the big club that's where he plays. If you look at his production at lower levels, he does have a scoring pedigree - .71ppg in the AHL. Not going to light your hair on fire with those numbers but if Duper loses a game or two with Crosby while they take a look at him, I'm sure not going to cry over that......especially for a team that is in dire need of a big scoring winger.
- madmike71

Your point has merit about who he has played with in NHL (4th liners). But part of that has been his lack of foot speed, he most likely couldn't keep pace with the big guns. However, he has lost weight and hopefully that has led to an improvement in that area.

Mac is a disgrace! Just got thrown out for punching dude laying on the once after a fight

Your point has merit about who he has played with in NHL (4th liners). But part of that has been his lack of foot speed, he most likely couldn't keep pace with the big guns. However, he has lost weight and hopefully that has led to an improvement in that area.
- Gunner Staal

Yes, his skating has always been a hurdle. Like I said before the WB/S coach says it's improved at his new weight. I kind of wonder who told him to bulk up like that in the first place.

Guerin did OK with Sid at age 40. Obviously a lot to be said with being a savvy vet, but still he wasn't exactly melting the ice with every stride a couple of years ago.

"I wouldn’t be against it. I don’t block shots."

Why not block shots? He's good at everything else.

If he wants to kill penalties he'll have to block shots.
- Coburns_Nose

I dont think putting the worlds best hockeyplayer in harms way is an effective gameplan for the long run.

http://deadspin.com/5962514/?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_twitter&utm_source=deadspin_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow
- Gunner Staal

I may be wrong but this makes him look like more of a ball hog than anything.

I dont think putting the worlds best hockeyplayer in harms way is an effective gameplan for the long run.
- vancity787

Thankfully, Dan Bylsma agrees with you.

Mac is a disgrace! Just got thrown out for punching dude laying on the once after a fight
- kgrpitt

There's backstory...

Hamarlik's comments will be just the beginning of the crack in union solidarity. The majority of union members don't get paid to play overseas and are starting to feel the pinch. Bettman smells blood and the owners will get close to what they want. Just like it was always going to be as soon as the lockout began, predictable path.

Here are the raw numbers on how the lockout will affect NHLPA jobs if this continues.

http://www.hockeyhurts.co...oes-having-principal-cost
- Gunner Staal

Yea it's tough cause I certainly see the players point. But it's not going to get better for them from here on out, no matter what Fehr tells them