Looking into Paajarvi, its easy to see why the Blues gave up on him. Very low percentage shooter for a guy his size and speed. Pretty clear he lacks the natural finishing ability it takes to be a top six player. The high draft selection doesn't help his cause either.
PDO under 100, used in a defensive role this season and came up about even. Probably the easiest choice to snag off waivers this season thus far.
In the long run you are looking at a fourth line maybe third line guy on a cup team, but right now anyone 6'3 who can skate like that is more than welcome to join the Pens.

Looking into Paajarvi, its easy to see why the Blues gave up on him. Very low percentage shooter for a guy his size and speed. Pretty clear he lacks the natural finishing ability it takes to be a top six player. The high draft selection doesn't help his cause either.
PDO under 100, used in a defensive role this season and came up about even. Probably the easiest choice to snag off waivers this season thus far.
In the long run you are looking at a fourth line maybe third line guy on a cup team, but right now anyone 6'3 who can skate like that is more than welcome to join the Pens.
- usethe1-2-2

Best part about him, he is only 23. If the pens don't at least think about grabbing him... he is only signed for this year, it's a free "rental" depending on how he performs maybe even a resign. Either way it sure as hell wouldn't hurt

Best part about him, he is only 23. If the pens don't at least think about grabbing him... he is only signed for this year, it's a free "rental" depending on how he performs maybe even a resign. Either way it sure as hell wouldn't hurt
- znagle

It certainly isn't in the same respect as trying to find one more good season out of someone like Setoguchi/Heatley. I doubt he even makes it to us though. 1.2 mill could be a steal off waivers.

It certainly isn't in the same respect as trying to find one more good season out of someone like Setoguchi/Heatley. I doubt he even makes it to us though. 1.2 mill could be a steal off waivers.
- usethe1-2-2

Yeah he still has a lot of room to improve. If I were the pens this is the guy I would be looking at out of all the waivers so far this season. He's got good size as well.

Pass 100 times on Heater. All he is is a good fake twitter account. Ghost hockey player

Yeah he still has a lot of room to improve. If I were the pens this is the guy I would be looking at out of all the waivers so far this season. He's got good size as well.

Pass 100 times on Heater. All he is is a good fake twitter account. Ghost hockey player
- znagle

I don't use sarcasm font to send people into on here, but Heatley was never an option. He's done.
Paajarvi has potential, I don't see top six, but I see good enough contribution to stay on the team.
*I love how writers are talking about Paajarvi in a pens sweater now. If he falls to us I guess it's a given we snag him.

I don't use sarcasm font to send people into on here, but Heatley was never an option. He's done.
Paajarvi has potential, I don't see top six, but I see good enough contribution to stay on the team.
- usethe1-2-2

He's definitely got potential. Maybe down the line he can be top 6, playing with Geno or Sid would obviously help that out. Slot him into third line and move BB up for now.

And Heatley has been done for a while now.. I was shocked when the Ducks signed him

Gary Agnew was in St Louis last season with Paajarvi. You gotta guess that he has a lot of input on whether or not Rutherford files a waiver claim.

Gary Agnew was in St Louis last season with Paajarvi. You gotta guess that he has a lot of input on whether or not Rutherford files a waiver claim.
- rival22

Will he get to the Pens? You'd think if they really wanted him they'd have offered a pick or something to make sure they get him. I think the Yotes were going to waive Col Klink until GMJR offered them a deal.

I've watched zero Blues games this year, but do you think he gets to us?

Went to the Caps game the other night while in town my thoughts:

Harrington and Pouliott are not NHL ready yet. Maybe tomorrow/next week but right now they both have the deer in the headlights look and neither were too impressive. Id even say Scuds had a better game than both.

Kunitz was pretty invisible. Same with Malkin, he really did nothing and barely noticable. 87, played pretty hard, but had 2 terrible plays. 1 was in the neutral zone that lead to a goal. He could have easily played the body. 2 was a blind pass in the O zone that went to nobody. That being said he really was the only person able to generate anything substantial. I saw Malkin go down several times, rarely ever see that.

Bottom line: Pens injuries are terrible, missing 11 starters? I hope by the All Star break things will settle down, but this is just not good hockey to watch.


Also Consol Fans: Pretty dead place for a rival game. I was surprised how mellow the whole feel was. There was a dude in his 50's behind me the entire game " you suck 87, go home, your garbage anymore, play the body, go play for the flyers, bla bla bla"

I don't use sarcasm font to send people into on here, but Heatley was never an option. He's done.
Paajarvi has potential, I don't see top six, but I see good enough contribution to stay on the team.
- usethe1-2-2

MP-S was a very effective offensive player when he was under 18 and in Sweden. He's lightning quick for a guy his size and he's got your typical Swedish puck skill set with decent on-ice IQ. His offensive game did not translate to the NHL. He's a volume shooter with low %. I don't think he's the answer for Pittsburgh is they're looking for scoring punch at top-4 wing.

That being said, Pittsburgh cold use MP as a defensive wing on the top-six. Think back to one of my personal favorite players, Jere Lehtinen. MP has the wheels, the skill set, and the work ethic to be an effective forward in that same category but probably won't excel at the role in North America.

Will he get to the Pens? You'd think if they really wanted him they'd have offered a pick or something to make sure they get him. I think the Yotes were going to waive Col Klink until GMJR offered them a deal.

I've watched zero Blues games this year, but do you think he gets to us?
- madmike71

Waivers are so impossible to predict. Guys you think should get claimed get through and other odd guys are picked up.

Like you, I haven't seen any Blues games this year, and the only time I can remember actually watching Paajarvi play was with Edmonton, so I have no idea really how good he is or can be.

Hitchcock has the ability to completely alienate certain players, so even if he didn't fit in there, it doesn't mean that he won't fit well somewhere else.

MP-S was a very effective offensive player when he was under 18 and in Sweden. He's lightning quick for a guy his size and he's got your typical Swedish puck skill set with decent on-ice IQ. His offensive game did not translate to the NHL. He's a volume shooter with low %. I don't think he's the answer for Pittsburgh is they're looking for scoring punch at top-4 wing.

That being said, Pittsburgh cold use MP as a defensive wing on the top-six. Think back to one of my personal favorite players, Jere Lehtinen. MP has the wheels, the skill set, and the work ethic to be an effective forward in that same category but probably won't excel at the role in North America.
- Johnny Wrath

Almost exactly what I said on the previous page. It all adds up to a guy who isn't talented enough for top six, but is a responsible two way guy who can play good bottom six. I think as a fill in from time to time he could jump to top six, but won't last there. Either way, tough to pass on a kid like this for nothing.

Bennett probably back for Wednesday. God do we need him. Everyone go to your nearest church, synagogue, mosque, or whatever and pray for his health. He can't break again.
- Victoro311

A 1st rd’er (20th overall) who has only played in 27% of available games during his short career, with a paltry .129 goals per game (7G in 54gms) is not something I’d be praying for. In relative terms, Brian Gibbons posted 5G in 41gms with the Pens; .122 goals per game. The reality of NHL business is that Bennett doesn’t have value to any team if he cannot avoid IR (regardless of his soft cap hit). Personally, I’ve written-off #19; too fragile for NHL level play (opinion); in a few years, I think he’ll be forgotten about, with the likes of Morozov, Surovy, Kraft, Koltsov, etc…

I'd take a chance on Paajarvi though...

Almost exactly what I said on the previous page. It all adds up to a guy who isn't talented enough for top six, but is a responsible two way guy who can play good bottom six. I think as a fill in from time to time he could jump to top six, but won't last there. Either way, tough to pass on a kid like this for nothing.
- usethe1-2-2

When your choice is between guys like Taylor Chorney as a wing, Dominik Uher, Jayson Megna or Magnus Paajarvi, I think I am going with MP.

A 1st rd’er (20th overall) who has only played in 27% of available games during his short career, with a paltry .129 goals per game (7G in 54gms) is not something I’d be praying for. In relative terms, Brian Gibbons posted 5G in 41gms with the Pens; .122 goals per game. The reality of NHL business is that Bennett doesn’t have value to any team if he cannot avoid IR (regardless of his soft cap hit). Personally, I’ve written-off #19; too fragile for NHL level play (opinion); in a few years, I think he’ll be forgotten about, with the likes of Morozov, Surovy, Kraft, Koltsov, etc…

I'd take a chance on Paajarvi though...
- out_of_market

Hate to say it but unfortunately I can see this happening. I really hope he can get into form here and stay in the lineup.

In hindsight, we could have picked Riley Sheahan, Kevin Hayes, Evgeny Kusntesov, Charlie Coyle, Emerson Etem or Brock Nelson instead. And those are just players picked behind BB (#20) in the first round.

Hate to say it but unfortunately I can see this happening. I really hope he can get into form here and stay in the lineup.

In hindsight, we could have picked Riley Sheahan, Kevin Hayes, Evgeny Kusntesov, Charlie Coyle, Emerson Etem or Brock Nelson instead. And those are just players picked behind BB (#20) in the first round.
- znagle

I remember reading a TIOPS article a while ago saying that Shero didnt like taking European forwards in the early rounds of the draft but Tarasenko was a guy he really wanted. Had the Rangers taken Cam Fowler at 10, the Ducks would have traded us their pick at 12 and we would have drafted Tarasenko at 12 instead of Bennett at 20.

just an interesting story. would have been interesting to see what would have happened

BTW, if anyone out there knows someone who is NOT a Steeler fan AND would rather go to the Pens vs Habs game Saturday night, please send me a PM. I have 2 tix in section 220 that night and will hook you up...

A 1st rd’er (20th overall) who has only played in 27% of available games during his short career, with a paltry .129 goals per game (7G in 54gms) is not something I’d be praying for. In relative terms, Brian Gibbons posted 5G in 41gms with the Pens; .122 goals per game. The reality of NHL business is that Bennett doesn’t have value to any team if he cannot avoid IR (regardless of his soft cap hit). Personally, I’ve written-off #19; too fragile for NHL level play (opinion); in a few years, I think he’ll be forgotten about, with the likes of Morozov, Surovy, Kraft, Koltsov, etc…

I'd take a chance on Paajarvi though...
- out_of_market

The difference is that 19 has shown that he does have the top end talent to be an impact...Surovy, Kraft etc were complete busts from the get go. 19 doesn't look out of place like those guys did...he just can't stay in the lineup.

I remember reading a TIOPS article a while ago saying that Shero didnt like taking European forwards in the early rounds of the draft but Tarasenko was a guy he really wanted. Had the Rangers taken Cam Fowler at 10, the Ducks would have traded us their pick at 12 and we would have drafted Tarasenko at 12 instead of Bennett at 20.

just an interesting story. would have been interesting to see what would have happened
- SuperHenderson13

That would have set us up for years.

Alright who wants to guess on the next Penguins player to get hurt today? This would be funny if it were not so, so very sad!

Haven't looked at the financial aspect of this but if Paajarvi can be snagged off waivers I think it's a no brainer. Far too many players down not to give him a look. Don't lose anyone to do it.

Went to the Caps game the other night while in town my thoughts:

Harrington and Pouliott are not NHL ready yet. Maybe tomorrow/next week but right now they both have the deer in the headlights look and neither were too impressive. Id even say Scuds had a better game than both.

Kunitz was pretty invisible. Same with Malkin, he really did nothing and barely noticable. 87, played pretty hard, but had 2 terrible plays. 1 was in the neutral zone that lead to a goal. He could have easily played the body. 2 was a blind pass in the O zone that went to nobody. That being said he really was the only person able to generate anything substantial. I saw Malkin go down several times, rarely ever see that.

Bottom line: Pens injuries are terrible, missing 11 starters? I hope by the All Star break things will settle down, but this is just not good hockey to watch.


Also Consol Fans: Pretty dead place for a rival game. I was surprised how mellow the whole feel was. There was a dude in his 50's behind me the entire game " you suck 87, go home, your garbage anymore, play the body, go play for the flyers, bla bla bla"
- sammy87

Agreed on poulliot ... He needs more seasoning ... Harrington should be up... Let the kid make his mistakes ... He s going to be solid. Kapenen is 18 can we please stop the overreaction... Bb has no trade value ... Play him and hope he stays healthy

Agreed on poulliot ... He needs more seasoning ... Harrington should be up... Let the kid make his mistakes ... He s going to be solid. Kapenen is 18 can we please stop the overreaction... Bb has no trade value ... Play him and hope he stays healthy
- Brianandr1

I agree with all of this.

Edm traded for Roy? They must have really hated the guy they traded.

Edm traded for Roy? They must have really hated the guy they traded.
- usethe1-2-2

Further ineptitude. Arcobello was moved. One explanation is number of contracts but that's ridiculous. They could've traded him separately and gained something else.