1.6% isn't much. He did have slightly better possession numbers without Tanev, but all his scoring chance, goals, and xgoals took a hit.

Lowry only had the one real good possession year which was 2017-18 where he also missed half the season. JMI, but you have to do it more before I credit you the ability to boost your linemate's possession.
- Tojo.

So by that logic of having to do it more for credit of ability... Tanev only having this one average season, last year, definitely means he shouldn't have been signed?

That said how about cheer for the guy to do well. Seems like a Jacko situation all over again: no benefit of doubt
- Barnaby36

We weren't wrong about JJ though. Gudbranson we were happily wrong about. And hell, I'll happily be wrong about Tanev, but I'm going to expect what his career has been. Above average 4th line quality.

I think that’s why Scotty Bowman used to always focus on pairs when he was a coach (and so many coaches nowadays do it). Find that pairing that clicks, and the 3rd wheel is interchangeable.
- j.boyd919

I agree with that. I focus more on who's my top 4 or 5 forwards.

So by that logic of having to do it more for credit of ability... Tanev only having this one average season, last year, definitely means he shouldn't have been signed?
- Guile

Yes, I agree with you there. Tanev last year was a solid 3rd liner, worth about 3.5M. But since he only did it once they shouldn't have given him that contract, not enough history, so there's a risk he could go backwards, and the salary left no room for decline.

And that's not even considering they didn't have a hole for a third line wing that they needed to spend on. I'm not defending the signing, just saying he's not some creation of Lowry, especially in conversation involving Ferlund who has gotten nice stats bump from his linemates.

Really good article and analysis.

I don’t dislike Tanev as a player at all. He’s just overpaid. It’s really nothing like the Johnson situation. I think Tanev will do fine in his role and I don’t think the on ice results will be anywhere near as horrendous as JJ. The issue isn’t the player, it’s the contract. With JJ, the issue is the player and the contract.
- j.boyd919

Nah. By the way Guile talked about Tanev sounded like someone that sucked at hockey

Galchenyuk will be wearing #18 for the Penguins.

Nah. By the way Guile talked about Tanev sounded like someone that sucked at hockey
- Barnaby36

Yeah I don’t think he sucks depending on how they play him. I think he’s a fine bottom six player who will produce at that role whos a bit overpaid via hit and definitely overpaid by like 3 years on term.

Yeah I don’t think he sucks depending on how they play him. I think he’s a fine bottom six player who will produce at that role whos a bit overpaid via hit and definitely overpaid by like 3 years on term.
- j.boyd919

I really don’t think it would be all that bad for the rest of the Sid/Geno window if we managed to dump one of other other big contracts and reallocate the cap space to bigger needs (top six caliber right hand shot for the PP/top 4 defenseman). Issue is that we really didn’t need Tanev and we used the last bit of cap we had overpaying him which prevents us from addressing our needs.

If we were to manage to cap dump Johnson, Hornqvist, or Gudbranson (probably in that order) and turn around and acquire Gusev, I’d still be prepared to call this offseason pretty ok all things considered