Based on what?
- Feds91Stammer

Scuderi didnt get a regular shift/full season in the NHL until he was 29 ...when the Pens won the cup in 2009, he was 31 and was a very important piece of that team's cup run, so much so in fact he was nicknamed "The Piece" by his fellow teammates. Also, Ive watched 99% of the Pens games the last 10 or 11 years. I remember him coming into his own...no need to send laughing emojis about that one.

Dumoulin didnt get a regular shift/full season in NHL until he was 24. Most here should be able to attest to how he rounded out and got better after that. He was a major part of the 2016 and 2017 cups and he was 25 and 26 respectfully.

I think our blueline is below average for sure, but I dont get the hate for Oleksiak. He cost basically nothing to acquire, is 25 years old, only costs $2M, and the only defenseman outside Letang that shows some semblance of physicality.

He's a little inconsistent but he gots a lot of D zone starts and is pretty good on the PK. He's an above average bottom pair defenseman. I don't see how you can criticize that acquisition.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

When Oleksiak is your worst Dman on the roster, it’s cool. But when he’s your 4th best defensemen (maybe third depending on your Maatta stance), that’s when it’s a problem. It’s not just the Oleksiak acquisition I’m criticizing, it’s the summation of the build of all the defense.

Dumo never improved. He has the same stats since coming into the league. His full 3 seasons have the same production give or take a few points. So he is what he is.

Same with Scuderi. He came into the league at 25 and his production stayed on a steady plateau.
- j.boyd919

Not just talking about production.

Maatta, Jarry, 1st and 2nd?
- Rinosaur

LOL GTFOH

Scuderi didnt get a regular shift/full season in the NHL until he was 29 ...when the Pens won the cup in 2009, he was 31 and was a very important piece of that team's cup run, so much so in fact he was nicknamed "The Piece" by his fellow teammates. Also, Ive watched 99% of the Pens games the last 10 or 11 years. I remember him coming into his own...no need to send laughing emojis about that one.

Dumoulin didnt get a regular shift/full season in NHL until he was 24. Most here should be able to attest to how he rounded out and got better after that. He was a major part of the 2016 and 2017 cups and he was 25 and 26 respectfully.
- MattStrat

So they got "better" because their roles changed...

Scuderi didnt get a regular shift/full season in the NHL until he was 29 ...when the Pens won the cup in 2009, he was 31 and was a very important piece of that team's cup run, so much so in fact he was nicknamed "The Piece" by his fellow teammates. Also, Ive watched 99% of the Pens games the last 10 or 11 years. I remember him coming into his own...no need to send laughing emojis about that one.

Dumoulin didnt get a regular shift/full season in NHL until he was 24. Most here should be able to attest to how he rounded out and got better after that. He was a major part of the 2016 and 2017 cups and he was 25 and 26 respectfully.
- MattStrat

Being important parts to teams and improving are not one in the same to me. Dumo is the same player today that he was when he broke into the league imo. His production has not gotten better. If he has improved, his production would improve.

Same with Scuderi.

I think it can be recognized to see how these players were important to the team but diving into the individual players production will show no real improvement, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t succeed and play an integral part in the role that they were placed.

LOL GTFOH
- Feds91Stammer

Hahaha it’s called negotiating. Gotta start low.

Kind words about Suderi? Is this the right thread?

Being important parts to teams and improving are not one in the same to me. Dumo is the same player today that he was when he broke into the league imo. His production has not gotten better. If he has improved, his production would improve.

Same with Scuderi.

I think it can be recognized to see how these players were important to the team but diving into the individual players production will show no real improvement, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t succeed and play an integral part in the role that they were placed.
- j.boyd919

Its not all about production for defensemen, hell, its not even all about production for any player.

Kind words about Suderi? Is this the right thread?
- Grinder47

Scuds peaked when he was 30..won a cup with the Pens then the Kings, important to both teams for their cups, then he crashed hard and quick hahah

Hahaha it’s called negotiating. Gotta start low.
- Rinosaur

Yeah but I am not some jabroni that is ignorant to what DET and PIT have in their systems.

Scuds peaked when he was 30..won a cup with the Pens then the Kings, important to both teams for their cups, then he crashed hard and quick hahah
- MattStrat

I would argue Scuderi never peaked and was actually always bad.

Its not all about production for defensemen, hell, its not even all about production for any player.
- MattStrat

It is though. It’s about scoring more goals than the other team. Whether it be preventing them or producing them, the goal is always the same, to end your game with more points than the other team. How you do it doesn’t matter to me (offensive or defensive defenseman). Just be good at it either way.

Scuds peaked when he was 30..won a cup with the Pens then the Kings, important to both teams for their cups, then he crashed hard and quick hahah
- MattStrat

I feel for him. I’m 30 and I’m Starting the descend.

Dumo did. Scuderi did.
- MattStrat

Chara was almost 30 before he became Chara. It takes taller players longer to figure it out.

2019 1st and 3rd. 2020 2nd. Schultz. Rust.

How does that sound?
- Feds91Stammer

No

It is though. It’s about scoring more goals than the other team. Whether it be preventing them or producing them, the goal is always the same, to end your game with more points than the other team. How you do it doesn’t matter to me (offensive or defensive defenseman). Just be good at it either way.
- j.boyd919

So Dumo's defensive numbers aren't better now then when he was 24?

Yeah but I am not some jabroni that is ignorant to what DET and PIT have in their systems.
- Feds91Stammer

I’m just having some fun with you lol

I got that, I was joking also.

You bottom out when you continue to have bad draft after bad draft. I realize that it is getting difficult to find good players after the first round but you still need to find the Jake Geuntzel's and Kris Letang's out there.
- Thunderbolt

And you need to actually give them a chance to see what you have in them instead of rolling out bad players that are pushing 30 like Grant and Wilson. I’d rather have Blueger and double A on the 4th line than those 2. The latter could be a Tom Wilson(but not a dbag) type player that uses his size and decent hands to cause havoc.

I feel for him. I’m 30 and I’m Starting the descend.
- Grinder47

Fear the 40's man. It's like a brick wall

I feel for him. I’m 30 and I’m Starting the descend.
- Grinder47

You're only 30?

I think our blueline is below average for sure, but I dont get the hate for Oleksiak. He cost basically nothing to acquire, is 25 years old, only costs $2M, and the only defenseman outside Letang that shows some semblance of physicality.

He's a little inconsistent but he gots a lot of D zone starts and is pretty good on the PK. He's an above average bottom pair defenseman. I don't see how you can criticize that acquisition.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I have little issue with JO as well. He has improved his game a great deal since coming to the team and he has not hit his ceiling yet. He could be a more mobile Chara in a year or 2.

I have little issue with JO as well. He has improved his game a great deal since coming to the team and he has not hit his ceiling yet. He could be a more mobile Chara in a year or 2.
- dcoms77

Chara was almost 30 before he became Chara. It takes taller players longer to figure it out.
- dcoms77

LOL No.

You're only 30?
- Victoro311

LOL