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Forums :: Blog World :: Ryan Wilson: Penguins have their new center in Nick Bjugstad
Author Message
nelson911
Pittsburgh Penguins
Joined: 02.03.2007

Feb 1 @ 5:41 PM ET
I like the trade, they got younger and will keep the players for term longer than Brass and Shea. Won't know the full value until we see Bjugstad and McCann mesh with the lineup. Im intrigued to see how McCann may progress, think having some skill at 4LC will be great as Cullen can't be a go to guy every night, he's old and slow.

Looking at what we traded to acquire Brass stings now in hindsight, he just didnt work out for the strangest reasons outside of injury. But I think we will see Bjugstad succeed here and glad JR took another bold move.
WSCTeton17
Joined: 07.29.2013

Feb 1 @ 5:43 PM ET
Alright a couple of points.

I buy the 2C to 3C transition a lot more than the reduction in PP time. I'm not going to doubt that there's a mental/human aspect to just about everything, but I don't think a reduction in PP time takes you from being a top 6 player to a replacement level player, because that's really how bad Brassard was here: replacement level. If it does you're a mental midget. That kind of drop off just because three of the best players in the world are better than you and blocking you from top PP time is unfathomable. The 3C thing though I can buy. Perceived disrespect at being brought into play a role you know you're better than can lead to lack of buy in and poopty play. Still, once again, Brass has been playing at replacement level so I'm not willing to concede that as a full excuse.

I also don't think you can blame the wingers at all. Brassard was brought into play with Phil (frank)ing Kessel. Only reason why he hasn't played with him is because Brassard hasn't been good enough to earn Phil as a line mate. The two of them have negative chemistry and get absolutely caved when playing together. Phil's an all world winger and better than anyone JT Miller is playing with on the 3rd line in Tampa by a large margin.

So I'm willing to concede some mental/human aspect to it, but there's really no good enough excuse to justify why Brassard didn't work out here beyond that he was just bad here all around.

- Victoro311

Brassards low play was definitely on the extreme low end, but I like I said I think any real 2C coming over and playing 3C and PP2 will likely have a 10-15 point drop in production. Name me a 4.5MM 3C who comes in as a free agent and puts up 45 points with 15-16 minutes of ice time and PP2 time. I think most just wouldn’t bother coming, not from this years crop anyways. I’m sure guys like Hayes and Dzingel would rather extend or go to Dallas for more money and term. I like McCann. I think he can do better than what Sutter gave us and I think 40 points from him maybe as early as next year or 2 years from now is a win for me
stevens87
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: LET'S GO BRANDON, PA
Joined: 10.05.2005

Feb 1 @ 6:13 PM ET
No #71 tonight!
iworkatinitech
Joined: 11.12.2014

Feb 1 @ 6:14 PM ET
WTH no Malkin tonight...
powerhouse
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: Columbia , MD
Joined: 11.28.2006

Feb 1 @ 6:14 PM ET
I disagree on the Brass trade because I think we all felt our D was kinda suspect and we let go of Cole and never replaced him.

Also, Brass has always gotten a chunk of his points on the PP and while playing more minutes which he was never going to get in Pitt. That’s why I think guys like Hayes and Schenn are bad 3C targets. I think Bjugstad, Spezza, Sheahan, Janmark all provide a lot more production based off the situation and their respective cap hits. It’s not a good recipe to take a 19 minute player and reduce him to 16 and reduce his PP time and expect him to continue to thrive or put up anything similar

- WSCTeton17


Brass has had three, count em', three shoulder surgeries. He hated contact and was not strong on the puck and particularly along the boards. I know nothing about the players we acquired yet I have to believe we are better off because Brass was that bad.
JLT168
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: PGH, PA
Joined: 07.09.2012

Feb 1 @ 6:31 PM ET
WTH no Malkin tonight...
- iworkatinitech


Wow so we may not give up a shorty tonight!
He has played better the last few games I will give him that.
j.boyd919
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: Tampa, FL
Joined: 06.14.2011

Feb 1 @ 6:35 PM ET
Most guys have their most productive seasons before the age of 26.
- BINGO!


so what you’re saying is ALL forwards are useless after 26.
Chuck-Norris
Pittsburgh Penguins
Joined: 05.29.2018

Feb 1 @ 6:39 PM ET
No Geno. It doesn’t matter because we are playing Ottawa.... they aren’t that good so we definitely are going to lose 😂 anyone under 500 seems to give us hell.
MattStrat
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: ...serial abuser...and misuser...of the ellipsis , NF
Joined: 12.12.2014

Feb 1 @ 6:40 PM ET
On my way to a meetingbut i wanted to note that Malkin is out: day to day
- WSCTeton17


Great. Same day we trade away a a 2C....
j.boyd919
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: Tampa, FL
Joined: 06.14.2011

Feb 1 @ 6:41 PM ET
Starting dating Hernandez's fiancee's sister and boom your dead. Too soon?
- DeflatedPucks


It’s never too soon for comedy.
madmike71
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Joined: 12.21.2006

Feb 1 @ 6:50 PM ET
I like the trade, they got younger and will keep the players for term longer than Brass and Shea. Won't know the full value until we see Bjugstad and McCann mesh with the lineup. Im intrigued to see how McCann may progress, think having some skill at 4LC will be great as Cullen can't be a go to guy every night, he's old and slow.

Looking at what we traded to acquire Brass stings now in hindsight, he just didnt work out for the strangest reasons outside of injury. But I think we will see Bjugstad succeed here and glad JR took another bold move.

- nelson911


This has been something I've been saying since before the season started.... I hated the thought that Brass was going to walk for nothing. With the way we've traded draft picks, they can't afford to let assets leave with nothing coming back. I also felt we needed to infuse some youth.

There's some risk involved but I think it's a worth it.
Victoro311
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: San Diego, CA
Joined: 06.17.2014

Feb 1 @ 6:51 PM ET
This has been something I've been saying since before the season started.... I hated the thought that Brass was going to walk for nothing. With the way we've traded draft picks, they can't afford to let assets leave with nothing coming back. I also felt that we needed to infuse some youth.

There's some risk involved but I think it's a worth it.

- madmike71

When you consider how bad Brassard has been I don’t think there’s a ton of risk.
Rinosaur
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: Somewhere, NJ
Joined: 01.21.2016

Feb 1 @ 6:55 PM ET
When you consider how bad Brassard has been I don’t think there’s a ton of risk.
- Victoro311


IMO It’s a lateral move at the very worst.
madmike71
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Joined: 12.21.2006

Feb 1 @ 6:57 PM ET
When you consider how bad Brassard has been I don’t think there’s a ton of risk.
- Victoro311


There's a little risk with Bjugstad. Gets injured a lot and he's not all that cheap, but yes, there isn't a ton of risk.
Victoro311
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: San Diego, CA
Joined: 06.17.2014

Feb 1 @ 7:00 PM ET
IMO It’s a lateral move at the very worst.
- Rinosaur

That's where I'm at. I'm not expecting it to be this massive impact move, but I think we really can only get better. Like I keep saying Derrick Suttard was a replacement level player in Pittsburgh.
MattStrat
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: ...serial abuser...and misuser...of the ellipsis , NF
Joined: 12.12.2014

Feb 1 @ 7:01 PM ET
There's a little risk with Bjugstad. Gets injured a lot and he's not all that cheap, but yes, there isn't a ton of risk.
- madmike71


Almost everyone gets injured.. Quite a few never play a full season... He did last year though.
MattStrat
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: ...serial abuser...and misuser...of the ellipsis , NF
Joined: 12.12.2014

Feb 1 @ 7:03 PM ET
No sign of new additions in warmup... Might not play.
nelson911
Pittsburgh Penguins
Joined: 02.03.2007

Feb 1 @ 7:04 PM ET
No sign of new additions in warmup... Might not play.
- MattStrat

They playing!
all-pgh
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: PA
Joined: 05.14.2014

Feb 1 @ 7:05 PM ET
No sign of new additions in warmup... Might not play.
- MattStrat

just got to the locker room per Errey
MattStrat
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: ...serial abuser...and misuser...of the ellipsis , NF
Joined: 12.12.2014

Feb 1 @ 7:06 PM ET
They playing!
- nelson911


Awesome!
madmike71
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Joined: 12.21.2006

Feb 1 @ 7:06 PM ET
No sign of new additions in warmup... Might not play.
- MattStrat


DK saying they will play. Literally got to the building at 6:55.
MattStrat
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: ...serial abuser...and misuser...of the ellipsis , NF
Joined: 12.12.2014

Feb 1 @ 7:07 PM ET
just got to the locker room per Errey
- all-pgh


Hahah are we in for a sloppy mess tonight?... I'll understand if so, everything pretty disjointed today for the team.
MattStrat
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: ...serial abuser...and misuser...of the ellipsis , NF
Joined: 12.12.2014

Feb 1 @ 7:08 PM ET
DK saying they will play. Literally got to the building at 6:55.
- madmike71


That's pretty wild.
all-pgh
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: PA
Joined: 05.14.2014

Feb 1 @ 7:10 PM ET
just put them both on Sids line tonite., they'll be fine
Thorny87
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: Calgary, AB
Joined: 10.17.2014

Feb 1 @ 7:13 PM ET
New guy and Jake look like brothers
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