Dupuis would be at least one example of a guy who was pegged as a bottom 6 with one outlier season as he entered his 30s but ended up being a middle six.

Tanev had 29 points last year with basically no PP or top 6 time. It's hardly stretch to think he's capable of mid-30s which is middle six territory.

Comes down to, as the previous posted said, usage. I'm not betting on Tanev getting a lot of top 6 time, but I wouldn't rule out him getting a shot and sticking for a while either. We know Sully is likely to experiment a lot.

I still maintain there is very little talent separation among our wings: lot of 25-35 point guys depending on who they pay with.
- Tojo.

Didn't Dupuis spend a lot of time as Crosby's winger? I always assumed that a big part of his success was the "Crosby Effect."

I think Tanev has a lot of good intangibles (for lack of a better word) but I don't think hands / scoring touch is or will be one of his attributes. I think Dupuis had this attribute, albeit as a passenger, and was a perfect fit for Crosby.

I guess if Tanev is the "dirty work" player opposite a finisher he might be able to play in the top 6 and maybe get a bunch of secondary assists, but I see him more as a 25-30 point 3rd/4th line tweener. I'm not super confident in the bottom six centers to facilitate a lot of scoring and I think it might take half a season for the lines to develop chemistry, perhaps longer if Sully continues the blender approach.

What I'm saying is I feel people over-generalise that dumping the puck in is a bad play. I'll agree, skating in with control is better, but sometimes the dump is the safer play when the defense as the blueline covered and you can say dump behind a slow defenseman facing the other direction.

It's textbook how teams killed JJ all year. I believe someone posted he actually had good numbers defending controlled entries, yet he still got buried in his end because teams knew dumping into his corner was a high percentage play to get possession.
- Tojo.

That's what i was thinking. Dump>let JJ pick it up>inability to do anything>give back back to other team and be out of position.

What I'm saying is I feel people over-generalise that dumping the puck in is a bad play. I'll agree, skating in with control is better, but sometimes the dump is the safer play when the defense as the blueline covered and you can say dump behind a slow defenseman facing the other direction.

It's textbook how teams killed JJ all year. I believe someone posted he actually had good numbers defending controlled entries, yet he still got buried in his end because teams knew dumping into his corner was a high percentage play to get possession.
- Tojo.

It wasnt so much JJ's speed, I actually think he's a pretty decent skater, it's his poor play with and around the puck. Issue with him isnt so much getting to it, its what he does when gets it or gets around it.

What I'm saying is I feel people over-generalise that dumping the puck in is a bad play. I'll agree, skating in with control is better, but sometimes the dump is the safer play when the defense as the blueline covered and you can say dump behind a slow defenseman facing the other direction.

It's textbook how teams killed JJ all year. I believe someone posted he actually had good numbers defending controlled entries, yet he still got buried in his end because teams knew dumping into his corner was a high percentage play to get possession.
- Tojo.

You try too hard man.

JJ was absolutely terrible at defending the blue line.

Go to CJ Turtoro tableau page.

It wasnt so much JJ's speed, I actually think he's a pretty decent skater, it's his poor play with and around the puck. Issue with him isnt so much getting to it, its what he does when gets it or gets around it.
- MattStrat

Skating is literally the only thing he does at an NHL level.

Skating is literally the only thing he does at an NHL level.
- Feds91Stammer

His hits look cool when they land.

His hits look cool when they land.
- Victoro311

Not going to count that as a skill set but I’ll allow it.

Not going to count that as a skill set but I’ll allow it.
- Feds91Stammer

After Sid’s mound charging story on chicklets I just want Johnson to play 4 minutes a night and fight everyone like John Scott.

After Sid’s mound charging story on chicklets I just want Johnson to play 4 minutes a night and fight everyone like John Scott.
- Victoro311

JJ should have stuck with baseball

JJ should have stuck with baseball
- Feds91Stammer

I just can’t stop thinking about how (frank)ing funny it’d be to observe two hockey guys lame duck on a baseball team because they’re forced to be there. It kinda sounded like half the reason JJ charged the mound was to get kicked off the team.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.reddit.com/r/hockey/comments/6cnhii/latest_leaguetonhl_translation_factors_74_khl_58/

Here’s a reddit post you can check out if you want to educate yourself on the translation factors.
- j.boyd919

Looking forward to him scoring exactly 80.254193548387096774193548387097 points next year (assuming he plays all 82 games).

His hits look cool when they land.
- Victoro311

Unfortunately he lands a hit as often as the Orioles Chris Davis.

Being an effective hitter is 100% a skill. It’s not just luck that guys get there in time to make the hit or are coming from the right angles. Hell, that’s something that’s evident at lower levels - some guys just aren’t good at it. Thinking the ability to generate effective hits isn’t a skill is like RW saying everyone will be a capable penalty killer if put in that role.

No, man lol. The funniest part about that is that it’s not even Kessel or Kovalchuk but RW has literally blogged about Sutter and Scuderi being awful killers

On the dump and chase thing: guys who don’t want to dump and chase it don’t skate right next to the boards because it limits their options (like faking inside and going outside, you can’t do it because you’re as outside as it gets). Watching 72 come up through the neutral zone he’s very close to the boards often.. he’s baiting defenders to somewhat/fully commit so he has a better ability to retrieve a soft dump (you may notice he doesn’t cross corner dump often)

Unfortunately he lands a hit as often as the Orioles Chris Davis.
- PittsPens

The guy who won a Silver Slugger and 2 home run titles? Seems like he lands a fair amount of big hits. I'm sure his numbers have dipped quite a bit, as this was a bit of an obscure reference and I don't follow the Orioles closely.

Being an effective hitter is 100% a skill. It’s not just luck that guys get there in time to make the hit or are coming from the right angles. Hell, that’s something that’s evident at lower levels - some guys just aren’t good at it. Thinking the ability to generate effective hits isn’t a skill is like RW saying everyone will be a capable penalty killer if put in that role.

No, man lol. The funniest part about that is that it’s not even Kessel or Kovalchuk but RW has literally blogged about Sutter and Scuderi being awful killers

On the dump and chase thing: guys who don’t want to dump and chase it don’t skate right next to the boards because it limits their options (like faking inside and going outside, you can’t do it because you’re as outside as it gets). Watching 72 come up through the neutral zone he’s very close to the boards often.. he’s baiting defenders to somewhat/fully commit so he has a better ability to retrieve a soft dump (you may notice he doesn’t cross corner dump often)
- WSCTeton17

If JJ was an effective hitter it would generate possession for his team more often.

If JJ was an effective hitter it would generate possession for his team more often.
- Feds91Stammer

My fuzzy brain seems to recall him throwing his weight around a bit when the Pens and Jackets met in the playoffs a few years ago...But I think it was bigger hits, not frequent ones.

The guy who won a Silver Slugger and 2 home run titles? Seems like he lands a fair amount of big hits. I'm sure his numbers have dipped quite a bit, as this was a bit of an obscure reference and I don't follow the Orioles closely.
- jmatchett383

https://www.cbssports.com...Z2xlLmNvbS8%3d&i10c.dv=10

My fuzzy brain seems to recall him throwing his weight around a bit when the Pens and Jackets met in the playoffs a few years ago...But I think it was bigger hits, not frequent ones.
- jmatchett383

And they almost never lead to possession whether they are big or small.

Tanev is absolutely dogged on the puck. He's a workhorse with speed and tenacity. You have him in a 4th line role, but don't be surprised when injuries hit if he slips into the top 6 and stays there! Underrated due to usage with the Jets. Tanev-Lowry-Copp were incredibly good matched up against top lines. 3.5M is overpaid for a 4th liner, but he's a middle-6 forward who is a strong candidate to overachieve if given some scoring talent to play with, along with the favourable matchups that come with. Again though... usage will be the determining factor in his perceived success.
- Burnt_juice

I look at Tanev as basically a younger, more physical, and slightly cheaper Carl Hagelin.

Sure, he's not quite as fast, but he's playing that same forechecking/responsible defense/tempo setting type of role.

I look at Tanev as basically a younger, more physical, and slightly cheaper Carl Hagelin.

Sure, he's not quite as fast, but he's playing that same forechecking/responsible defense/tempo setting type of role.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Hagelin was a god at driving play though. Hagelin always had the better teammates but I’ll be thoroughly shocked if Tanev is as good defensively as prime Hagelin was.

If JJ was an effective hitter it would generate possession for his team more often.
- Feds91Stammer

I didn’t say JJ was an effective hitter. I’m refuting your statement that hitting isn’t a skill

The guy who won a Silver Slugger and 2 home run titles? Seems like he lands a fair amount of big hits. I'm sure his numbers have dipped quite a bit, as this was a bit of an obscure reference and I don't follow the Orioles closely.
- jmatchett383

That was a while ago. His strike out totals have always been among the highest in baseball. His last two seasons have been a train wreck.

That was a while ago. His strike out totals have always been among the highest in baseball. His last two seasons have been a train wreck.
- PittsPens

I’m not a baseball guy, but don’t sluggers always have high strike out rates due to their propensity to, you know, swing at everything? Doesn’t Harper lead the league in strike outs right now?

I didn’t say JJ was an effective hitter. I’m refuting your statement that hitting isn’t a skill
- WSCTeton17

It isn’t.

"When you look at players like Nikita Gusev and Timo Meier going for 4M with low acquisition costs (in the case of Meier nothing) it can be a little frustrating to see 3.5M spent on who is likely a fourth line forward."


What has Gusev accomplished in the NHL that warrants him making $4.5 mil a year?

EDIT: Also, Timo Meier is making $6.0 mil a year, not $4.0.
- stevens87

Still as comparisons, Tanev was overpaid and given WAY too much term. That being said, I live in Winnipeg and watch a ton of games. He was a fan favorite. Hits anything that moves, wins battles in the corner, excellent pk guy. He will not crack the top 6 opening night, but is capable in the event of an injury. Ill miss the guy, but you are right to be concerned with his contract.
Comperables to the recent 3.5M contracts would be J.T Compher (3.5M AAV), Vrana (3.25MAAV), Burakovsky (3.25), Dzingle (3.375M AAV), Ferland (3.5M AAV), Kerfoot (3.5M AAV)....etc
Now, Most of those guys are younger, more offensively talented, and have significantly less term commitment. This gives pens fans the right to be concerned.