I think people look at his numbers in Nashville this last season and assume he is a good, competent player. His numbers suggest he might be, but ... he really truly isn't. I like very little about him as a player. The only good, he can play all three forward positions, but of course, not well at any of them. Winnik at 1.4 >>>>>>> Spaling and its not even close. I would have rather taken a chance on picking a second round kid and developing him than having an arbitrator rule the Pens have to pay north of 2 million for a player like him.
- Oneonta Penguin

I agree Winnik/Stempniak for the same price of Spaling would be a better deal for us.

Spaling's numbers were inflated by the PP time he got in Nashville.

I'd only think about a Nyqvist for Määttä If we knew for sure that Dumoulin/Despres/Harrington could play just as good.

I think people look at his numbers in Nashville this last season and assume he is a good, competent player. His numbers suggest he might be, but ... he really truly isn't. I like very little about him as a player. The only good, he can play all three forward positions, but of course, not well at any of them. Winnik at 1.4 >>>>>>> Spaling and its not even close.
- Oneonta Penguin

Well Im not going to pretend like I follow Nashville because no one follows Nashville. But I have been watching a few games over the summer to get a look at Spaling and Hornqvist. From what I've seen Spaling isnt a great player but he has some pluses:
I rarely saw him out of position in the defensive zone, his head is always on a swivel and he doesnt take ANY risks in his zone.
His wrist shot is really good.
He goes to the net and it looked like Nashville was trying to groom him to be the other Hornqvist on the PP, which last year was completely driven through their points for obvious reason (Weber, Jones, Josi)
He has some minuses:
He isnt very physical, and gets out muscled/out worked along the boards more often that I like to see.
Not very tenatious
He is thinking defense all the time it seems and doesnt push offense at all really. By this I mean if a puck looks like it is going to be a 50/50 situation he wont engage and will fall back into defence. But I wonder if this is because thats what Trotz wanted out of his team. In which case this could be a plus because he follows the game plan.
He isnt very fast
He rarely hits (I thought it was Smashville?!)

The best word I can use to describe him is responsible. And to me, with what most players are getting paid, hes a 2m player.

I agree Winnik/Stempniak for the same price of Spaling would be a better deal for us.

Spaling's numbers were inflated by the PP time he got in Nashville.

I'd only think about a Nyqvist for Määttä If we knew for sure that Dumoulin/Despres/Harrington could play just as good.
- Barnaby36

I dont think that powerplay inflated anyones numbers! Would you argue that the PP inflated Sutters numbers? Because they both got about the same amount of PP time, which wasn't much.

I liked Stempniak, but like others have been saying Stemp isnt going to get any better, Spaling could be much better in a more open system. Look at Mike Fisher, he is alot like Stempniak (only better) but in Nashville he doesnt look that great. I'd wager if Stemniak was playing in Nashville last year you wouldn't love him so much.

I dont think that powerplay inflated anyones numbers! Would you argue that the PP inflated Sutters numbers? Because they both got about the same amount of PP time, which wasn't much.

I liked Stempniak, but like others have been saying Stemp isnt going to get any better, Spaling could be much better in a more open system. Look at Mike Fisher, he is alot like Stempniak (only better) but in Nashville he doesnt look that great. I'd wager if Stemniak was playing in Nashville last year you wouldn't love him so much.
- stackthepads

No reason to get so defensive stackthepads I'm just frustrated we couldn't sign Kulemin/Grabovski first....secondly we could have gotten a 2nd RP out of Nash and signed Winnik/Stempniak/Booth/Setoguchi or whatever.

But.....lets support Spaling! His agent sucks though

No reason to get so defensive stackthepads I'm just frustrated we couldn't sign Kulemin/Grabovski first....secondly we could have gotten a 2nd RP out of Nash and signed Winnik/Stempniak/Booth/Setoguchi or whatever.

But.....lets support Spaling! His agent sucks though
- Barnaby36

Sorry Barnaby, but you're avatar makes my blood boil.
I really wanted Booth though.

package may or may not have happened and barbashov may never play 100 games in the nhl
- ChrisMS

I think barbashev becomes a 50 point player in the nhl

I agree Winnik/Stempniak for the same price of Spaling would be a better deal for us.

Spaling's numbers were inflated by the PP time he got in Nashville.

I'd only think about a Nyqvist for Määttä If we knew for sure that Dumoulin/Despres/Harrington could play just as good.
- Barnaby36

Maatta has shades of Lidstrom when he plays. I can't see him being traded

I believe any trade for a top player is going to cost more than our "furthest down the depth chart" d-prospects.

Teams would be expecting guys named Despres, Maatta, Pouliot etc... which Pitt won't do. Despres seems like the most expendable guy Matta definitely not. Pouliot, well, it's debatable.
- penguins-4-life

So you isolated on the 4th and least important piece of the package...lol

Well I threw out some ideas for Pavelski but I still think martin plus Sutter could get us Marleau and its much more reasonable that SJS would part with Marleau.

Well Im not going to pretend like I follow Nashville because no one follows Nashville. But I have been watching a few games over the summer to get a look at Spaling and Hornqvist. From what I've seen Spaling isnt a great player but he has some pluses:
I rarely saw him out of position in the defensive zone, his head is always on a swivel and he doesnt take ANY risks in his zone.
His wrist shot is really good.
He goes to the net and it looked like Nashville was trying to groom him to be the other Hornqvist on the PP, which last year was completely driven through their points for obvious reason (Weber, Jones, Josi)
He has some minuses:
He isnt very physical, and gets out muscled/out worked along the boards more often that I like to see.
Not very tenatious
He is thinking defense all the time it seems and doesnt push offense at all really. By this I mean if a puck looks like it is going to be a 50/50 situation he wont engage and will fall back into defence. But I wonder if this is because thats what Trotz wanted out of his team. In which case this could be a plus because he follows the game plan.
He isnt very fast
He rarely hits (I thought it was Smashville?!)

The best word I can use to describe him is responsible. And to me, with what most players are getting paid, hes a 2m player.
- stackthepads

Minus that net front stuff, this sounds a lot like Sutter.

Sorry Barnaby, but you're avatar makes my blood boil.
I really wanted Booth though.
- stackthepads

haha sounds like I'm doing my job well then

Hopefully Downie can bring what Barnaby brought to the Pens back in the days (minus the occasional stupid penalty). Big fan of him.

Maatta has shades of Lidstrom when he plays. I can't see him being traded
- drummer829

He's definitely a special kid. I wouldn't want to trade him as well....but since we lack top 6 young forwards and we have Pouliot/Harrington/Despres/Dumoulin, I just thought it could be debatable.

haha sounds like I'm doing my job well then

Hopefully Downie can bring what Barnaby brought to the Pens back in the days (minus the occasional stupid penalty). Big fan of him.
- Barnaby36

The Downie signing makes me happy.

Maatta has shades of Lidstrom when he plays. I can't see him being traded
- drummer829

I see both sides on Maatta. I think fatigue was a real factor at the end of last season... And it skews how I view him. He looked slow and out of position at certain times (understandable at 19 years old). Then he follows it with some amazing shift.

I think he is overvalued just a tad... Only because we're assuming he's going to get even better with age. J staal and brandon Sutter are examples of guys that has great seasons very early but pretty much plateaued ever since.

Ultimately, he's close to untouchable in my eyes, but would trade him for the right young star winger. Being on an elc is so valuable...I'd only want other guys at 3 mill or less. So Kane and ROR are tough choices. I think we should just hang onto him as I can't think of any young winger that would warrant trading maatta and be realistic. Tarasenko might be the only guy I can think of.

I see both sides on Maatta. I think fatigue was a real factor at the end of last season... And it skews how I view him. He looked slow and out of position at certain times (understandable at 19 years old). Then he follows it with some amazing shift.

I think he is overvalued just a tad... Only because we're assuming he's going to get even better with age. J staal and brandon Sutter are examples of guys that has great seasons very early but pretty much plateaued ever since.

Ultimately, he's close to untouchable in my eyes, but would trade him for the right young star winger. Being on an elc is so valuable...I'd only want other guys at 3 mill or less. So Kane and ROR are tough choices. I think we should just hang onto him as I can't think of any young winger that would warrant trading maatta and be realistic. Tarasenko might be the only guy I can think of.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

It's true that he's only had one good year and there is a possibility he plateaus, but what if he continues to improve? He's a Norris finalist in 3 years if he continues this development

So you isolated on the 4th and least important piece of the package...lol

Well I threw out some ideas for Pavelski but I still think martin plus Sutter could get us Marleau and its much more reasonable that SJS would part with Marleau.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Not meaning to be difficult. Samuelsson is just a recurring name on the message boards. Any top winger will fetch a top prospect (depending on the winger accounting for certain variables such as age blah blah lol)

Pirates to acquire everyone today E5

Well Im not going to pretend like I follow Nashville because no one follows Nashville. But I have been watching a few games over the summer to get a look at Spaling and Hornqvist. From what I've seen Spaling isnt a great player but he has some pluses:
I rarely saw him out of position in the defensive zone, his head is always on a swivel and he doesnt take ANY risks in his zone.
His wrist shot is really good.
He goes to the net and it looked like Nashville was trying to groom him to be the other Hornqvist on the PP, which last year was completely driven through their points for obvious reason (Weber, Jones, Josi)
He has some minuses:
He isnt very physical, and gets out muscled/out worked along the boards more often that I like to see.
Not very tenatious
He is thinking defense all the time it seems and doesnt push offense at all really. By this I mean if a puck looks like it is going to be a 50/50 situation he wont engage and will fall back into defence. But I wonder if this is because thats what Trotz wanted out of his team. In which case this could be a plus because he follows the game plan.
He isnt very fast
He rarely hits (I thought it was Smashville?!)

The best word I can use to describe him is responsible. And to me, with what most players are getting paid, hes a 2m player.
- stackthepads

For him to be thinking defense all the time and to put up 30+ points is pretty impressive.

Pirates to acquire everyone today E5
- dbell646

Haven't followed them much. How are they? Any chance to fight for the tittle?

Haven't followed them much. How are they? Any chance to fight for the tittle?
- Barnaby36

If they make moves to acquire the right pieces... I still feel a 1B and relievers are needed but I guess they want to grab starting pitchers and for some reason get byrd back... which is confusing unless he is going to split time in the outfield... but there are a lot of rumors...

If they make moves to acquire the right pieces... I still feel a 1B and relievers are needed but I guess they want to grab starting pitchers and for some reason get byrd back... which is confusing unless he is going to split time in the outfield... but there are a lot of rumors...
- nh4442

Club lacks an ace so I can see why they are linked to some of the names out there. 1st base is a black hole and I could see them getting Byrd back if they were going to flip Marte. Byrd would bridge the gap in left field while Bell develops. None of those scenarios are likely to occur

Haven't followed them much. How are they? Any chance to fight for the tittle?
- Barnaby36

I think they are in a wildcard spot as of today and like 2/3 behind milwaukee in the division.

I think they are in a wildcard spot as of today and like 2/3 behind milwaukee in the division.
- dbell646

Thanks for the info.

The Penguins requested a one year award on Spaling if they go to arbitration today.

It's true that he's only had one good year and there is a possibility he plateaus, but what if he continues to improve? He's a Norris finalist in 3 years if he continues this development
- drummer829

Right. Very possible.

Also possible that Tarasenko would score 50 goals next to Sid. And we already have Letang with Norris upside and a bunch of other young D. Just a thought!

Right. Very possible.

Also possible that Tarasenko would score 50 goals next to GENO. And we already have Letang with Norris upside and a bunch of other young D. Just a thought!
- YouMeAndDupuis9

fixed

Thanks for the info.

The Penguins requested a one year award on Spaling if they go to arbitration today.
- Barnaby36

It's funny Pens will have to go to arb and kind of bash a guy who has never even stepped foot in their lockerroom.