Ryan Wilson: Improvements coming to PPG Paints Arena via FSG Improvements coming to PPG Paints Arena via FSG

I think neither will be signed, if at all, until July 13th or later...

Analytics will say that you don't sign an older player to money and term, no matter how "good" he is still playing

It's just like a pitcher with 6 shutout innings. Analytics tell you not to let him pitch a 3rd time through the rotation, even if he shows no signs of slowing down

Be careful what you wish for with FSG.... You might just get it

Analytics will say that you don't sign an older player to money and term, no matter how "good" he is still playing

It's just like a pitcher with 6 shutout innings. Analytics tell you not to let him pitch a 3rd time through the rotation, even if he shows no signs of slowing down

Be careful what you wish for with FSG.... You might just get it
- TheGame316

Analytics will say that you don't sign an older player to money and term, no matter how "good" he is still playing

It's just like a pitcher with 6 shutout innings. Analytics tell you not to let him pitch a 3rd time through the rotation, even if he shows no signs of slowing down

Be careful what you wish for with FSG.... You might just get it
- TheGame316

Ah the age discrimination analytics. Classic.

Ah the age discrimination analytics. Classic.
- SuperHenderson13

Analytics would say to sign Malkin. Analytics wouldn’t evaluate him based on all 35 year old forwards. It would evaluate him based on his cohorts.

Sakic and Brett Hull are his 2 closest hockey reference similarity scores. Both were productive to age 39.

Analytics would say to sign Malkin. Analytics wouldn’t evaluate him based on all 35 year old forwards. It would evaluate him based on his cohorts.

Sakic and Brett Hull are his 2 closest hockey reference similarity scores. Both were productive to age 39.
- Feds91Stammer

Exactly. I thought the whole point of analytics would be to help overcome the biases that people have, including and especially age, when it comes time for decision making.

Lots of people would say dont sign this guy because of his age. Analytics would say, no sign this guy because he's playing good hockey despite his age.

Exactly. I thought the whole point of analytics would be to help overcome the biases that people have, including and especially age, when it comes time for decision making.

Lots of people would say dont sign this guy because of his age. Analytics would say, no sign this guy because he's playing good hockey despite his age.
- SuperHenderson13

People think analytics is this single overarching idea. You choose the logic that goes into the analysis. How well you are at developing that logic will determine how useful the analysis is.

Follow the money As it flows out of your wallet to their wallet. Suckers beware

Man, this is going to be a painful off season on here.

Analytics will say that you don't sign an older player to money and term, no matter how "good" he is still playing

It's just like a pitcher with 6 shutout innings. Analytics tell you not to let him pitch a 3rd time through the rotation, even if he shows no signs of slowing down

Be careful what you wish for with FSG.... You might just get it
- TheGame316

Being extremely successful with their newly acquired NHL club and winning lots of championships?

Let's f'n do this!

If they got aggressive and found a way to dump Zucker, Dumo and McGinn’s contracts they could really do some damage.

If they got aggressive and found a way to dump Zucker, Dumo and McGinn’s contracts they could really do some damage.
- Rinosaur

That's the annoying thing. You could easily bring back the same impact players (Rakell, Rust, Malkin, and Letang) and still have around over $10M in cap space with only a few minor spots to fill. You could easily fill out the roster will several good $3M+ players or you could look to go big and look for a big fish (even though its a weak FA class for high end talent).

I think Lemieux/Burkle were too "just go with the flow" instead of being aggressive. I hope FSG is more aggressive with this kind of thought process. I think you can easily trade Zucker and Dumo.

That's the annoying thing. You could easily bring back the same impact players (Rakell, Rust, Malkin, and Letang) and still have around over $10M in cap space with only a few minor spots to fill. You could easily fill out the roster will several good $3M+ players or you could look to go big and look for a big fish (even though its a weak FA class for high end talent).

I think Lemieux/Burkle were too "just go with the flow" instead of being aggressive. I hope FSG is more aggressive with this kind of thought process. I think you can easily trade Zucker and Dumo.
- SuperHenderson13

They gave JR too much latitude and it’s biting them. Mind you, I don’t think the Zucker trade was a bad trade. It’s just a trade that didn’t work out as planned.

I don’t think moving Dumo completely off the books would be too hard, but Zucker isn’t an easy one despite this being his last year. That said I think they can find a way, but it won’t be easy.

They gave JR too much latitude and it’s biting them. Mind you, I don’t think the Zucker trade was a bad trade. It’s just a trade that didn’t work out as planned.

I don’t think moving Dumo completely off the books would be too hard, but Zucker isn’t an easy one despite this being his last year. That said I think they can find a way, but it won’t be easy.
- Rinosaur

Same with the Brassard trade.

Same with the Brassard trade.
- j.boyd919

Agreed. People want to give him a hard time, but it was a good trade. Brassard was just a bad fit.

Also, beyond some of the trades that flopped being good in theory, I’m not sure I agree with the concept of ownership giving their GM too much latitude. Meddlesome ownership is really bad. You want the GM to be functioning with near autonomy (obviously if a move is franchise altering then ownership probably needs to be involved). Ownership should have a distinct philosophy that guides their hiring and structuring of their org, but beyond that the FO should be able to work without many if any restrictions. If ownership doesn’t like what they’re doing, the proper course is to fire them and find someone that fits their vision better, not implement oversight.

Also, beyond some of the trades that flopped being good in theory, I’m not sure I agree with the concept of ownership giving their GM too much latitude. Meddlesome ownership is really bad. You want the GM to be functioning with near autonomy (obviously if a move is franchise altering then ownership probably needs to be involved). Ownership should have a distinct philosophy that guides their hiring and structuring of their org, but beyond that the FO should be able to work without many if any restrictions. If ownership doesn’t like what they’re doing, the proper course is to fire them and find someone that fits their vision better, not implement oversight.
- Victoro311

I agree as a whole, but I think there are moments for ownership to step in. When your GM starts to deviate from the philosophy, it’s not a bad thing for ownership to check in and give their two cents. JR did some great things for this team, no doubt, but he also began to deviate from the team identity that brought them success.

Agreed. People want to give him a hard time, but it was a good trade. Brassard was just a bad fit.
- Rinosaur

The trade did not need to be made. The had #87 and #71, 4 years younger, as their top two centers. How many other teams could have said that?

BTW - Ke'Andre Miller, nice player for the Rangers, they got the Pens pick from Ottawa to draft him.

The trade did not need to be made. The had #87 and #71, 4 years younger, as their top two centers. How many other teams could have said that?

BTW - Ke'Andre Miller, nice player for the Rangers, they got the Pens pick from Ottawa to draft him.
- stevens87

Definitely needed to be made. They didn't have a 3C. Brass was supposed to be their 3C and it didn't work out.

I agree as a whole, but I think there are moments for ownership to step in. When your GM starts to deviate from the philosophy, it’s not a bad thing for ownership to check in and give their two cents. JR did some great things for this team, no doubt, but he also began to deviate from the team identity that brought them success.
- Rinosaur

Right so the way I see it it was probably time to move on from him when that started happening. I think making Rutherford report up to ownership before making moves is a much worse situation for everyone involved than just firing him when he stopped being successful. We’ll never get the full story but I’m sure that’s what basically happened when he resigned, just happened a year or two too late.

Definitely needed to be made. They didn't have a 3C. Brass was supposed to be their 3C and it didn't work out.
- j.boyd919

Having two generational centers was not enough? Of the three teams left, which one of them has one let alone two?

Having two generational centers was not enough? Of the three teams left, which one of them has one let alone two?
- stevens87

The point is someone has to center the third line and Riley Sheahan wasn’t good enough. He ended up being better than Brassard. The trade busted no doubt, but we needed a center.

I mean Bonino was no world beater by any means but he was a good 3C for us. We needed a good 3C regardless how great Sid and Geno are.

The point is someone has to center the third line and Riley Sheahan wasn’t good enough. He ended up being better than Brassard. The trade busted no doubt, but we needed a center.

I mean Bonino was no world beater by any means but he was a good 3C for us. We needed a good 3C regardless how great Sid and Geno are.
- Victoro311

Well that's my point. We didn't need one. Sheahan could have done just as good of a job that Bonino did! We'll never know because he wasn't given the chance.

Having two generational centers was not enough? Of the three teams left, which one of them has one let alone two?
- stevens87

No.