What's his other option?
- jmatchett383

I'm just glad he recognized our "lifestyle"

Provorov could end up being a true first pairing guy. Ghost is great offensively but without the puck he looks like a liability. Sanheim is not there yet.

Today, none of those guys would be in the Pens top 4. I'd probably take Oleksiak over Ghost & Sanheim at this point also.
- MacPatty

homerism much?

homerism much?
- martox

^^right?

I know now how you feel when you had Johnston.

I know now how you feel when you had Johnston.
- flyer_nutter

UNCANNY! I've been saying this as well all season long. Hakstol just stands there emotionless, with that deer in the headlights expression. Just like Mike Johnston did for the Pens. I feel your pain ... but not really since it's the Flyers.

So you are defending the guy taking Oleksiak over Ghost and Provorov?

And at the same time are calling others dumb and dumber?
- Feds91Stammer

Never said I'd rather have Oleksiak over Provorov. As I said, Provo is legit.

Given the Pens current roster, yeah, I'd still take Oleksiak over Ghost. Ghost is a cutesy D man who will put up a bunch of points, that is good but the Pens already have Shultz and Letang who are both better.

Oleksiak is going to develop into dominant, top pairing defenceman. It will be similar to Schultz progression, where he went from "the worst defenceman in the league" to being a top pairing defender on a Stanley cup winning team.

He already plays a complete responsible game. Once he comes into his own and gets to develop with this group he might just turn into the next Chara.

Never said I'd rather have Oleksiak over Provorov. As I said, Provo is legit.

Given the Pens current roster, yeah, I'd still take Oleksiak over Ghost. Ghost is a cutesy D man who will put up a bunch of points, that is good but the Pens already have Shultz and Letang who are both better.

Oleksiak is going to develop into dominant, top pairing defenceman. It will be similar to Schultz progression, where he went from "the worst defenceman in the league" to being a top pairing defender on a Stanley cup winning team.

He already plays a complete responsible game. Once he comes into his own and gets to develop with this group he might just turn into the next Chara.
- MacPatty

Schultz is not better than Ghost.

Never said I'd rather have Oleksiak over Provorov. As I said, Provo is legit.

Given the Pens current roster, yeah, I'd still take Oleksiak over Ghost. Ghost is a cutesy D man who will put up a bunch of points, that is good but the Pens already have Shultz and Letang who are both better.

Oleksiak is going to develop into dominant, top pairing defenceman. It will be similar to Schultz progression, where he went from "the worst defenceman in the league" to being a top pairing defender on a Stanley cup winning team.

He already plays a complete responsible game. Once he comes into his own and gets to develop with this group he might just turn into the next Chara.
- MacPatty

I know half the fun of being a fan is having homerish opinions but goddamn.

UNCANNY! I've been saying this as well all season long. Hakstol just stands there emotionless, with that deer in the headlights expression. Just like Mike Johnston did for the Pens. I feel your pain ... but not really since it's the Flyers.
- chimpira

They need a 3C and obviously an actual above average goaltender.

The rest is there or coming in the propects.

The coaching is not helping them by any means. Hextall is slowly tying his fate side by side to Hakstol. Weird.

Schultz is not better than Ghost.
- j.boyd919

I think he's better defensively, Ghost is better offensively.

Never said I'd rather have Oleksiak over Provorov. As I said, Provo is legit.

Given the Pens current roster, yeah, I'd still take Oleksiak over Ghost. Ghost is a cutesy D man who will put up a bunch of points, that is good but the Pens already have Shultz and Letang who are both better.

Oleksiak is going to develop into dominant, top pairing defenceman. It will be similar to Schultz progression, where he went from "the worst defenceman in the league" to being a top pairing defender on a Stanley cup winning team.

He already plays a complete responsible game. Once he comes into his own and gets to develop with this group he might just turn into the next Chara.
- MacPatty

lol

I think he's better defensively, Ghost is better offensively.
- MattStrat

Based on what?

Oleksiak brings things that Ghost can't and never will... But overall Ghost is better IMO.

Based on what?
- Feds91Stammer

My biased eyes, obviously.

Haul out some fancy stats though. I'm curious.

Oleksiak brings things that Ghost can't and never will... But overall Ghost is better IMO.
- MattStrat

Yeah and Cole brings things Letang doesn’t and never will. Ghost is on a completely different level than Oleksiak.

My biased eyes, obviously.

Haul out some fancy stats though. I'm curious.
- MattStrat

5v5 HDCA/60 this season

Ghost: 9.11

Schultz: 12.88

System effects do come into play here but Ghost was best on PHI in this and Schultz was only better than Cole and Hunwick in this.

My biased eyes, obviously.

Haul out some fancy stats though. I'm curious.
- MattStrat

They need a 3C and obviously an actual above average goaltender.

The rest is there or coming in the propects.

The coaching is not helping them by any means. Hextall is slowly tying his fate side by side to Hakstol. Weird.
- flyer_nutter

I know half the fun of being a fan is having homerish opinions but goddamn.
- Victoro311

It isn't homerish to state facts. Schultz is better that Ghost on both sides of the puck.

And I don't feel I'm exaggerating when I think there are comparisons that can be drawn between Oleksiak and Chara. People forget that Chara looked like a bust with the Islanders for his first several years before he was traded to Ottawa. About the same age as Oleksiak is now.

While Chara is an exceptional freak, Oleksiak can skate very well for a guy that size, can absolutely rip the puck and he plays responsibly with good positioning. The sky is the limit for him, especially if he decides to spend some time training with Sid and Mack this summer.

Did anyone catch Puddy at the Devils game?

It isn't homerish to state facts. Schultz is better that Ghost on both sides of the puck.

And I don't feel I'm exaggerating when I think there are comparisons that can be drawn between Oleksiak and Chara. People forget that Chara looked like a bust with the Islanders for his first several years before he was traded to Ottawa. About the same age as Oleksiak is now.

While Chara is an exceptional freak, Oleksiak can skate very well for a guy that size, can absolutely rip the puck and he plays responsibly with good positioning. The sky is the limit for him, especially if he decides to spend some time training with Sid and Mack this summer.
- MacPatty

You are wrong. In every way possible. Those are not facts.

It isn't homerish to state facts. Schultz is better that Ghost on both sides of the puck.

And I don't feel I'm exaggerating when I think there are comparisons that can be drawn between Oleksiak and Chara. People forget that Chara looked like a bust with the Islanders for his first several years before he was traded to Ottawa. About the same age as Oleksiak is now.

While Chara is an exceptional freak, Oleksiak can skate very well for a guy that size, can absolutely rip the puck and he plays responsibly with good positioning. The sky is the limit for him, especially if he decides to spend some time training with Sid and Mack this summer.
- MacPatty

You stated zero fact here. You stated an outright lie that Schultz is better on both sides and then speculated that Oleksiak could evolve into Chara which is a minimal possibility.

- j.boyd919

Now bring up their stats in the playoffs when hockey games actually count.

Giroux had way better stats than Crosby this year... is he a better player than Sid?

You stated zero fact here. You stated an outright lie that Schultz is better on both sides and then speculated that Oleksiak could evolve into Chara which is a minimal possibility.
- Victoro311

Yes. Those are facts.

You are wrong. In every way possible. Those are not facts.
- j.boyd919

All facts.