Ryan Wilson: Penguins sign one of Finland's best forwards Penguins sign one of Finland's best forwards

Those points were in only 53 games, so that is very encouraging. I'd like to know how much of that was 5 on 5.

https://www.eliteprospect...m/player/43555/oula-palve has him listed as 6" and 175, but I wonder if that weight is dated. He has put up points consistently. No indication of his skating.

I see he played with Jukurit, so maybe I can folllow up with a contact there.

You never want to just pencil an unknown like this in to any role, but I think you gotta run off the assumption that he’s at least serviceable center depth and not being back Cullen. My worry is that Ruth will let Cullen come back as position depth, but then Sullivan will play him over Teddy as every night 4C. Gotta save Sullivan from himself regarding Cullen at this point.

Is this a 2 way contract? If so it has WB all over it.....dude is 27.

Don't the Pens sign 1 or 2 of these dudes from the Nordic countries every summer then you never hear from them again?

You never want to just pencil an unknown like this in to any role, but I think you gotta run off the assumption that he’s at least serviceable center depth and not being back Cullen. My worry is that Ruth will let Cullen come back as position depth, but then Sullivan will play him over Teddy as every night 4C. Gotta save Sullivan from himself regarding Cullen at this point.
- Victoro311

I think the challenges with guys like this are the same challenges you face with Plotnikov. You have to commit to having a more skilled 4th line. Guys like this will struggle when playing 8-10 mins a night with the Cullens, Fehrs, and Gordons of the league.

Is this a 2 way contract? If so it has WB all over it.....dude is 27.

Don't the Pens sign 1 or 2 of these dudes from the Nordic countries every summer then you never hear from them again?
- sammy87

All ELCs are 2 way deals.

Is this a 2 way contract? If so it has WB all over it.....dude is 27.

Don't the Pens sign 1 or 2 of these dudes from the Nordic countries every summer then you never hear from them again?
- sammy87

Like who did you have in mind, aside from Plotnikov and Rikola?

Like who did you have in mind, aside from Plotnikov and Rikola?
- jmatchett383

We had another defenseman that was suppose to be pretty good and then got Limes diseases. Bengtsson I believe.

Like who did you have in mind, aside from Plotnikov and Rikola?
- jmatchett383

I believe Olund and Lindberg were offseason deals as well.

I think the challenges with guys like this are the same challenges you face with Plotnikov. You have to commit to having a more skilled 4th line. Guys like this will struggle when playing 8-10 mins a night with the Cullens, Fehrs, and Gordons of the league.
- Feds91Stammer

Blueger’s a good start there. Signing a dude like Ennis like we talked about yesterday would go a solid distance in that regard as well.

"Pittsburgh made a depth signing yesterday and you are lying if you claim to know who this player is."

LOL, Now THAT's a guy who respects his readers.

Blueger’s a good start there. Signing a dude like Ennis like we talked about yesterday would go a solid distance in that regard as well.
- Victoro311

Not sure what Oscar Lindholm will cost, but he could be a good option.

I believe Olund and Lindberg were offseason deals as well.
- sammy87

Linus Olund was a 5th rounder and Tobias Lindberg was acquired in a trade with Ottawa.

"Pittsburgh made a depth signing yesterday and you are lying if you claim to know who this player is."

LOL, Now THAT's a guy who respects his readers.
- Cousinskrid

Maybe some of his readers follow the Finnish league or, shockingly, live in or have previously lived in Finland.

Nah, RW didn't know who he was, so no one else in the world could have either.

Not sure what Oscar Lindholm will cost, but he could be a good option.
- Rinosaur

Letang or Malkin

Like who did you have in mind, aside from Plotnikov and Rikola?
- jmatchett383

Gold helmet Janne Pesonen

Aside from Panarin, how many of these undrafted euro players have come over and truly been successful?

Gold helmet Janne Pesonen
- PittsPens

Dude never got a fair shake.

Who's the guy everyone wanted to grab from Russia because he was friends with Malkin?

Aside from Panarin, how many of these undrafted euro players have come over and truly been successful?
- Rinosaur

The recent success stories do seem to be guys that were drafted but just never came over or were unsuccessful the first time around. Dadanov and Komarov come to mind.

Dude never got a fair shake.

Who's the guy everyone wanted to grab from Russia because he was friends with Malkin?
- jmatchett383

That'd be Panarin and we were dead right to want that.

Aside from Panarin, how many of these undrafted euro players have come over and truly been successful?
- Rinosaur

Some of the truly prominent ones:

The Stastny brothers
Borje Salming
Sergei Bobrovsky
Mats Zuccarello
Chad Ruhwedel

That'd be Panarin and we were dead right to want that.
- Victoro311

No, it was some 35-year-old guy. Apparently he and Malkin played the the WC or something and Malkin said he liked playing with him. This was maybe 3-4 years ago.

Edit: Danis Zaripov

"Pittsburgh made a depth signing yesterday and you are lying if you claim to know who this player is."

LOL, Now THAT's a guy who respects his readers.
- Cousinskrid

Or realistic. I dont believe anyone knew of this player before we signed him.

Dude never got a fair shake.

Who's the guy everyone wanted to grab from Russia because he was friends with Malkin?
- jmatchett383

Agreed. He got a 7 game look at the NHL level after putting up 82 points in 70 games with Wilkes Barre.

No, it was some 35-year-old guy. Apparently he and Malkin played the the WC or something and Malkin said he liked playing with him. This was maybe 3-4 years ago.

Edit: Danis Zaripov
- jmatchett383

Don't even remember the name, but we were desperate for anything resembling a pulse 3-4 years ago, so not shocked.