Extra note on Gonchar.... his fancy charts show him as an above average bottom pairing or questionable mid pairing D the last 3 years... assume the worst case and hes an average bottom pairing... that isn't named Scuderi and would cost less


Back on the trade Scuderi hype train!

Extra note on Gonchar.... his fancy charts show him as an above average bottom pairing or questionable mid pairing D the last 3 years... assume the worst case and hes an average bottom pairing... that isn't named Scuderi and would cost less


Back on the trade Scuderi hype train!
- Guile

If they could trade Scuderi, I think they would have by now. I suppose if Gonchar beats Scuderi out on his PTO they could waive Scuderi, but that only saves ~$900k.

I don't think anyone is questioning the Penguins forwards at this moment.. the real worry the Penguins have IS with their defense. I don't see how bringing in Gonchar could be a bad thing. The move could even just be insurance in case Letang, Maatta, or Pouliot get hurt. Considering they seem to be soft as baby poop.
- j.boyd919

Agreed. We have no need for forwards at all.

At the end of the day, it would depend if he made the team, what his salary would be. The way the injury bug bites this team annually, he may not be a poor option. I agree that he would be a great asset during training camp for the young guys.

If they could trade Scuderi, I think they would have by now. I suppose if Gonchar beats Scuderi out on his PTO they could waive Scuderi, but that only saves ~$900k.
- jfkst1

I'm almost certain we cannot send him down without being forced to buy him out. Read that somewhere last season, or a bit after we were eliminated... (frank)ing Shero contract.

I'd be absolutely fine with Pouliot as a 5/6 dman. Playing on the 2nd pairing he isn't going to get sheltered minutes and that concerns me because he got very favorable deployment last season and I'm not sure he can handle a top 4 dman position yet. I'm also not confident Maatta can handle the top pairing either.
- jfkst1

Thats pretty much how I feel about him and Maata as well. Pens MUST score a bunch of goals and MAF will earn his salary next year. Who knows, maybe Anderson from Sweden could step in as well and be a surprise.

Gonchar > Scuderi

Gonchar can play Scuderi's 12 mins per night on the PP, everyone else can play 5 on 5 or PK

I'm almost certain we cannot send him down without being forced to buy him out. Read that somewhere last season, or a bit after we were eliminated... (frank)ing Shero contract.
- Guile

Unless Scuderi has a full NMC, he can be waived for minimal cap savings. Not sure the Pens would even consider doing so though.

Thats pretty much how I feel about him and Maata as well. Pens MUST score a bunch of goals and MAF will earn his salary next year. Who knows, maybe Anderson from Sweden could step in as well and be a surprise.
- sammy87

Maatta has at least shown he is capable of attempting the top pairing... Pouliot needs a solid mid pairing player with him IMO.

I hope they offer 5_10 guys tryouts. Gonch berg etc. No harm. And if they legit beat out a young guy thats great. If the young guy... Say dp . starts in wbs and old guy peters out... Call up dp and send old guy down. No harm no foul
- ChrisMS

Dp is not going anywhere he is top 4 from here on out. If gonch don't make it which he won't he will get a job in the organization somewhere which is a good signing n will make geno happy n help outt plotz. Maybe he can help the PP n fire TOCCHET.

Thats pretty much how I feel about him and Maata as well. Pens MUST score a bunch of goals and MAF will earn his salary next year. Who knows, maybe Anderson from Sweden could step in as well and be a surprise.
- sammy87

Pouliot and probably even Maatta will still improve their play as the season progresses. At this time, I think the Pens need one capable top 4 dman like Ehrhoff/Franson. Adding either of those two would give them a solid- not great- blue line to start the season and potentially a very strong one if healthy by postseason time.

Geriatric Penguin start times will be moved to 5:00 to accommodate early bedtimes.

Anytime taken away from DP or Dumo's development will further illustrate why this franchise is heading down a very slippery slope. Terrible prospect handling and development.

Let the few young guys we have get full time so they aren't thrown to the wolves in the last 10 games and playoffs like last year.

F old players!

Geriatric Penguin start times will be moved to 5:00 to accommodate early bedtimes.

Anytime taken away from DP or Dumo's development will further illustrate why this franchise is heading down a very slippery slope. Terrible prospect handling and development.

Let the few young guys we have get full time so they aren't thrown to the wolves in the last 10 games and playoffs like last year.

F old players!
- Sell My Monkey

agreed... I would have loved to see Franson name instead of gonch...

bottom line is scuds need to go

#ptotlusty

If they trade scuds for literally anything anyone is offering and sign Gonchar for the season to be D-man #7, I'll be happy. He's already close with Geno and I have no doubt he would be a good mentor for the young defense.

Geriatric Penguin start times will be moved to 5:00 to accommodate early bedtimes.

Anytime taken away from DP or Dumo's development will further illustrate why this franchise is heading down a very slippery slope. Terrible prospect handling and development.

Let the few young guys we have get full time so they aren't thrown to the wolves in the last 10 games and playoffs like last year.

F old players!
- Sell My Monkey

this is true to an extent, but more than likley Gonchar would be on the bottom pairing with dumo or the 7th d-man. with dp infront of him in depth.

I don't have a real problem with this. As I've said a million times, my only problem with this would be if hypothetically he makes the team and management decides to play he and Scuderi above Dumoulin because vets. Adding Gonchar would help our d depth in the sense that we wouldn't have to bring Clendening or Erixon up in case of injury and expose them to wavers. Could be a savy move if Gonch can have a revive and play as an acceptable 7th d man. He's not getting more than vet min.

Pouliot and probably even Maatta will still improve their play as the season progresses. At this time, I think the Pens need one capable top 4 dman like Ehrhoff/Franson. Adding either of those two would give them a solid- not great- blue line to start the season and potentially a very strong one if healthy by postseason time.
- jfkst1

Definitely Pouliott and Maatta improve as the season progresses. You improve by playing against better competition and just as important but to a lesser extent with better players.

The question for these guys should be; who will be better at the end of the season rather than the beginning. Pouliott and Maatta will be the top three along with Letang by the end of the season.

Definitely Pouliott and Maatta improve as the season progresses. You improve by playing against better competition and just as important but to a lesser extent with better players.

The question for these guys should be; who will be better at the end of the season rather than the beginning. Pouliott and Maatta will be the top three along with Letang by the end of the season.
- Thunderbolt

I also am taking a cautiously optimistic approach to the d core. I think Maatta will be a serviceable #2 d man (which means he'll be damn good) and Pouliot will be a solid #4 guy. The big question mark is if Cole can preform like a solid #4 guy too. If we can have a second pairing of two solid #4 guys then we'll be fine with how good the rest of our team will be.

I also am taking a cautiously optimistic approach to the d core. I think Maatta will be a serviceable #2 d man (which means he'll be damn good) and Pouliot will be a solid #4 guy. The big question mark is if Cole can preform like a solid #4 guy too. If we can have a second pairing of two solid #4 guys then we'll be fine with how good the rest of our team will be.
- Victoro311

When Letang is healthy he is playing close to 30 minutes; that means he will be playing with different partners throughout the game.

I would think that Gary Agnew had some input on bringing Cole over from St. Louis, that bodes confidence in me that Agnew feels Cole can play. If I remember correctly, Cole got more and more playing time as the season and playoffs rolled along. I realize some of it had to do with the rash of injuries but also he had to earn that respect from the coaching staff.

Unless Scuderi has a full NMC, he can be waived for minimal cap savings. Not sure the Pens would even consider doing so though.
- jfkst1

If Gonchar signs for around $1M or so, waiving Scuderi is more or less like having Gonchar at Scuderi's salary, as I think the cap savings for a waiver demotion maxes out at $950K or so.

If Gonchar signs for around $1M or so, waiving Scuderi is more or less like having Gonchar at Scuderi's salary, as I think the cap savings for a waiver demotion maxes out at $950K or so.
- jmatchett383

May as well. If Gonch has anything left in the tank he's probably a better fit in our system. Scuderi may have some years left in the tank but he has nothing to offer in our system.

If Gonchar signs for around $1M or so, waiving Scuderi is more or less like having Gonchar at Scuderi's salary, as I think the cap savings for a waiver demotion maxes out at $950K or so.
- jmatchett383

More or less... So the question is... which past his prime Vet do you want to pay over 3 mil? Gonchar, or Scuds... Obviously, Gonchar, cause the bonus is that there is SOME (super duper tiny btw) chance of Scuds getting picked up by a team.

More or less... So the question is... which past his prime Vet do you want to pay over 3 mil? Gonchar, or Scuds... Obviously, Gonchar, cause the bonus is that there is SOME (super duper tiny btw) chance of Scuds getting picked up by a team.
- Guile

Depending on the team and the whims of Odin, there's a chance Scuderi gets picked off of waivers.

Depending on the team and the whims of Odin, there's a chance Scuderi gets picked off of waivers.
- jmatchett383

Its not unreasonable to think if a team that with a bunch of cap space to spare gets 2 starters injured, they might just grab Scuderi as a plug until they return.

If Gonchar signs for around $1M or so, waiving Scuderi is more or less like having Gonchar at Scuderi's salary, as I think the cap savings for a waiver demotion maxes out at $950K or so.
- jmatchett383

Id be okay with that. Alot of our teams success is going to rely on our PP being absolutely dominant to the point where the bigger teams like CBJ/WSH second guess to avoid penalties. Gonchar may not be very effective 5 v 5 anymore, but that man sure and sh!t can run a PP. Also who better to mentor a player like Pouliot, who I think shows alot of the traits in his game that made Gonchar so good.

Scuderi doesnt help our team anymore, Gonchar could in a limited capacity.