Ryan Wilson: Checking In On Brooks Orpik Checking In On Brooks Orpik

Take him back.

Brooks was great for us in his prime but it was becoming obvious he was no longer an effective shutdown defenseman.

Also, as I mentioned earlier what do you guys think of Cody Eakin as a potential top six guy. He is improving offensively and he signed through next year at 1.9 mil. Plus he is still a young guy, any thoughts? Dallas is struggling defensively so we will have to give up a defensive player or two.

Brooks was great for us in his prime but it was becoming obvious he was no longer an effective shutdown defenseman.

Also, as I mentioned earlier what do you guys think of Cody Eakin as a potential top six guy. He is improving offensively and he signed through next year at 1.9 mil. Plus he is still a young guy, any thoughts? Dallas is struggling defensively so we will have to give up a defensive player or two.
- powerhouse

I highly doubt Dallas trades Eakin.

I highly doubt Dallas trades Eakin.
- Blackstrom2

Cody Eakins is awesome. No way they trade him.

Brooks was great for us in his prime but it was becoming obvious he was no longer an effective shutdown defenseman.

Also, as I mentioned earlier what do you guys think of Cody Eakin as a potential top six guy. He is improving offensively and he signed through next year at 1.9 mil. Plus he is still a young guy, any thoughts? Dallas is struggling defensively so we will have to give up a defensive player or two.
- powerhouse

Would love to have Eakin on our team, but fans better be prepared to let one of our young d-men go...probably Despres. Dumo or Harrington wont get it done.

Brooks was great for us in his prime but it was becoming obvious he was no longer an effective shutdown defenseman.

Also, as I mentioned earlier what do you guys think of Cody Eakin as a potential top six guy. He is improving offensively and he signed through next year at 1.9 mil. Plus he is still a young guy, any thoughts? Dallas is struggling defensively so we will have to give up a defensive player or two.
- powerhouse

That dream is birthed from a pipe. We'd have to pay a ransom and send back either Bennett or Kapanen.

That dream is birthed from a pipe. We'd have to pay a ransom and send back either Bennett or Kapanen.
- Victoro311

Actually, it was wine induced. But yeah, I was feeling merry. Totally.

I highly doubt Dallas trades Eakin.
- Blackstrom2

Didn't he just get fired recently?



Oh... nevermind, read that wrong

Didn't he just get fired recently?



Oh... nevermind, read that wrong
- rival22

You were off by a couple thousand miles although they are both oil country!

I liked Orpik a lot... but his last couple seasons as a Penguin, his play really dropped off.

I still can't believe that contract though.


I haven't watched Washington this year, so I don't know if with Reirdon they are using the same puck retrieval system that he used in Pittsburgh, but it will be interesting to see if the Pens can exploit some of the things that the Caps will be doing.

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!

I liked Orpik a lot... but his last couple seasons as a Penguin, his play really dropped off.

I still can't believe that contract though.


I haven't watched Washington this year, so I don't know if with Reirdon they are using the same puck retrieval system that he used in Pittsburgh, but it will be interesting to see if the Pens can exploit some of the things that the Caps will be doing.
- rival22

I don't know about the last part, but Reirdon and Trotz have collectively brought our shot against/game numbers way down.

No thanks to Orpik.

WBS Penguins ‏@WBSPenguins 12m12 minutes ago
TRANSACTION: Eric Hartzell and Paul Cianfrini Join W-B/S Penguins
http://bit.ly/1zERpq3

Likely means that Zatkoff is coming back up tomorrow... Griess might have the mumps...

Still love Orpik.... hes the man

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

Although I was not at the game , I've seen the replay(I'm sure it doesn't do it justice) I have always loved 'free candy' and always will. Well written as always Emperor

bye brroks... hope you get a spot on the wall of fame! Thanks for doing us one last service by weighing down a division rival! A team player to the end!

Ryan Wilson: Checking In On Brooks Orpik
Checking In On Brooks Orpik
- Ryan_Wilson

IMO Orpik was a descent pick up short term for the caps. They now have stability in their top 4 and I think it makes Green and Carlson better all around players this season.

The contract is going to hamper the Caps 2 years from now though

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

Still love Orpik.... hes the man
- Guile

Yes, I'm a fan for what he's done for the team. Good player for a long time.

I still don't understand how he got that contract even if he had a decent season last year (which he didn't). Seems like a classic case of a GM negotiating against himself. Players should be lining up to sign with his agent.

The Pens signing of Scuderi a few seasons ago sealed the fate of Orpik ever resigning here. While both are supposed "shutdown defenseman", neither of them are. They also provide little to no offense. The Pens made the right move by not keeping Orpik. One can only hope somebody will also take Scuderi off our hands.

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

This right here. At least give the guy some credit for being the glue that held that defensive corps together for so long when they were awful. It's not his fault he got old and can't really handle the speed of the game anymore. He was my favorite dman on the pens for quite some time.

i imagine the WJC wont be on any TV stations here in the US right? any online feeds?

IMO Orpik was a descent pick up short term for the caps. They now have stability in their top 4 and I think it makes Green and Carlson better all around players this season.

The contract is going to hamper the Caps 2 years from now though
- homiedclown

Green yes. It allows him to have a 61% Offensive zone start average.

Carlson is just far and away their best defensemen

i imagine the WJC wont be on any TV stations here in the US right? any online feeds?
- JLT168

Let me know if you find one, might need something to do at work