Guess being a replacement lvl hockey player is like being a fat chick. Better have a good personality too make up for it or you’re poop outta luck
- 10inchTerror

Or be good at BJs because not every guy comes around with a pocket full of flour to find the wet spot when the deed needs to be done.

"I appreciated his enthusiasm at times, other times it made me want to turn off the channel. He had major Caps bias the past 10/15 years and he never ever seemed to be that knowledgeable on the game often asking color commentators questions he should know the answers to."

Matt...It's called setting up your color commentator to talk about stuff.

It's sports broadcasting 101 man

"I appreciated his enthusiasm at times, other times it made me want to turn off the channel. He had major Caps bias the past 10/15 years and he never ever seemed to be that knowledgeable on the game often asking color commentators questions he should know the answers to."

Matt...It's called setting up your color commentator to talk about stuff.

It's sports broadcasting 101 man
- OfManNotMachine

Yea, that's basically what I said. The man knows the damn answer most times. He's starting conversation.

That's the worst Jersey lol, so ugly. The white one I liked better haha
- 668710

Really? Lol no wonder we hardly agree in anything here:/ ha

Loved this jersey. Makes me remember the good old Jagr, Straka, Kovalev, Morozov, Lang days

“Bombshell”? “Music”? This was almost as hard to read as Doc was to listen to. At least I won’t have to hit the mute button while watching national hockey broadcasts anymore.

Really? Lol no wonder we hardly agree in anything here:/ ha

Loved this jersey. Makes me remember the good old Jagr, Straka, Kovalev, Morozov, Lang days
- Barnaby36

If only barnaby was there a few years earlier

Really? Lol no wonder we hardly agree in anything here:/ ha

Loved this jersey. Makes me remember the good old Jagr, Straka, Kovalev, Morozov, Lang days
- Barnaby36

They grey kills it for me. But the White ones I can get down with.

Mackenzie Weegar on the trading block... He'd make for a nice 3rd pair RHD....oh wait...

I know not everyone on here liked him, but he was tied for my favorite sportscaster across all the sports I watch tied with Mark Zumoff. I’m gonna really miss him, and disappointed Kenny Albert is the heir apparent. I don’t hate Albert, I just find him to be incredibly boring, and following a guy like Doc, that’s gonna be a huge swing.

I definitely could see ESPN making a huge push for the NHL rights. They already offer a big package of games on ESPN+ and I’d love it if we could start seeing Bucci call games. It’s always an absolute treat having him on the call during college hockey games and the Frozen Four, even if that means Barry Melrose on color.
- Victoro311

Some Zumoff love!

He really is great. Guy keeps the energy up without sounding ridiculous.

I agree. Big fan.

"I appreciated his enthusiasm at times, other times it made me want to turn off the channel. He had major Caps bias the past 10/15 years and he never ever seemed to be that knowledgeable on the game often asking color commentators questions he should know the answers to."

Matt...It's called setting up your color commentator to talk about stuff.

It's sports broadcasting 101 man
- OfManNotMachine

This guy gets it.

Look, I know a ton of Flyers fans that said when Doc would call a game between them and the Pens, they thought it might as well have been a Pittsburgh home game. And yeah, there might have been some bad blood there when Doc was fired by Philly, but that was ages ago, and had an extremely successful career after that.

Nah. Doc wasn't rooting for the Pens. Doc was hyping up the league's brightest stars, and frankly it revolved around guys like Crosby (especially Crosby) for a very long time. Doc is for casual fans, and he's trying to suck them into the sport. He's like Madden in that respect. Perfect for the part-time viewer of the game.

That was his job. He did it fine. It rubbed some long-time fans the wrong way, but he did was he was paid to do. Sid was the best of his generation and the Pens won Cups. Of COURSE he's gonna talk about Crosby a lot.

Doc wasn't my favorite by far, frankly not my cup of tea, but there was a place for him in the sport, and he did his gig the way they wanted him to with high energy.

Mackenzie Weegar on the trading block... He'd make for a nice 3rd pair RHD....oh wait...
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Even without Ceci, Pens were never going to trade for Weegar. They feel set with Marino and Letang, if you are trading away assets for Weegar its because you think he can take on a bigger role.

The Ceci signing complaints are already old. He is a bottom pair D getting bottom pair money for 1 year. I'm on the record with feeling Ceci is going to surprise everyone and be solid.

Even without Ceci, Pens were never going to trade for Weegar. They feel set with Marino and Letang, if you are trading away assets for Weegar its because you think he can take on a bigger role.

The Ceci signing complaints are already old. He is a bottom pair D getting bottom pair money for 1 year. I'm on the record with feeling Ceci is going to surprise everyone and be solid.
- MacPatty

If he pulls a Gudbranson and is solid like him it would be very nice, especially at that price. He's definitely not overpaid. Just could have used the space on a top 9 forward, which I guess we could send the other guys down and still do so...

Even without Ceci, Pens were never going to trade for Weegar. They feel set with Marino and Letang, if you are trading away assets for Weegar its because you think he can take on a bigger role.

The Ceci signing complaints are already old. He is a bottom pair D getting bottom pair money for 1 year. I'm on the record with feeling Ceci is going to surprise everyone and be solid.
- MacPatty

You dont get it. Its simply that Ceci is a plug. Ruwh is better than Ceci. Cap space is better than Ceci. Now or into the season. Any hope for a third line addition is better than Ceci. Ceci is not solid. If Sullivan can hide him and opponents not overly expose him then great but he isnt going to tangibly help the team.

If only barnaby was there a few years earlier
- 10inchTerror

Absolutely lol Loved his time with us.

https://images.app.goo.gl/RLjKEjMXhvgdttdE7

I like Boucher as well. I like having a goalie on the broadcast as he gives great insight on the goalie position

Some Zumoff love!

He really is great. Guy keeps the energy up without sounding ridiculous.

I agree. Big fan.
- Hesh_

Zu’s a special guy. Like Doc, he’s the only guy I can say that is truly unique. There’s guys like Mike Tirico and Chris Fowler who are really good at their jobs and I like a lot on the call, but they don’t really do anything that sets them apart besides being really good. Then there’s Zu who just adds this flair to it all that’s just quintessentially him that no one else could do it they tried. It’s like having a second color guy doing play by play. I’ve never heard much of Lang because I’m out of market and local streams weren’t easy to get back when he was doing it, but from the way people talk about him, I imagine it’s similar.

You dont get it. Its simply that Ceci is a plug. Ruwh is better than Ceci. Cap space is better than Ceci. Now or into the season. Any hope for a third line addition is better than Ceci. Ceci is not solid. If Sullivan can hide him and opponents not overly expose him then great but he isnt going to tangibly help the team.
- MHurl

I dont like being a Richard about things, but you are just being dumb trying to make the Ceci signing a big deal.

I have no problem with Ruh, but Ceci while not outstanding is a huge upgrade. Ceci goes to Toronto, gets poop deployment on a terrible defensive team and he still hung in there. Yes, he sucked in Ottawa on poopty teams.

Some people are overly critical of ok players because they were drafted high, paid big bucks and have not lived up to it. Its like the trendy thing to do nowaday. I feel 100x better having Ceci over Ruh.

I dont like being a Richard about things, but you are just being dumb trying to make the Ceci signing a big deal.

I have no problem with Ruh, but Ceci while not outstanding is a huge upgrade. Ceci goes to Toronto, gets poop deployment on a terrible defensive team and he still hung in there. Yes, he sucked in Ottawa on poopty teams.

Some people are overly critical of ok players because they were drafted high, paid big bucks and have not lived up to it. Its like the trendy thing to do nowaday. I feel 100x better having Ceci over Ruh.
- MacPatty

I think Ruhwedel is very underrated. Not that I think he's some amazing dman, but I think he's a solid #6 and is capable of being an NHL regular. Ceci is trash and time will tell if 3rd pairing deployment will allow him to shine, but I honestly take Ruhwedel over Ceci. The only reason I can see some people liking Ceci better is because he's more physical than Ruhwedel.

In terms of the Pens cap space, I feel like there are still moves to come.

If you start the year with Riikola and ZAR in the minors and IR respectively, the Pens have $3.3M in available cap space, and that is with carrying Ruh and Lafferty as extras.

So the Pens could in essence bump Lafferty to the minors to start the year and have $4M to spend. Seems like a good chance of being able to get a Haula or Granlund with that amount.

What’s up female doges. About to smoke another pork shoulder.

In terms of the Pens cap space, I feel like there are still moves to come.

If you start the year with Riikola and ZAR in the minors and IR respectively, the Pens have $3.3M in available cap space, and that is with carrying Ruh and Lafferty as extras.

So the Pens could in essence bump Lafferty to the minors to start the year and have $4M to spend. Seems like a good chance of being able to get a Haula or Granlund with that amount.
- MacPatty

I don't think any more moves are coming. I think they are leaving the space in case Poulin makes the team and/or leaving space for deadline moves which JR tends to do.

Imagine if JR just kept Horny and signed Ryan Namestnikov Merril and Stetcher. wow

I think Ruhwedel is very underrated. Not that I think he's some amazing dman, but I think he's a solid #6 and is capable of being an NHL regular. Ceci is trash and time will tell if 3rd pairing deployment will allow him to shine, but I honestly take Ruhwedel over Ceci. The only reason I can see some people liking Ceci better is because he's more physical than Ruhwedel.
- Rinosaur

This is the exact take I am talking about... Ruh underrated, Ceci trash.

The real value with Ruhwedel is he does a good job being game ready, even when he sits in the press box for extended periods. But he is very protected and plays very limited minutes. I'd say he is fairly rated as a 6/7.

Ceci had terrible deployment and hung in there playing 20 mins a game for the Leafs who have one of the worst defensive forward groups in the league. It doesn't make him great, but if everyone thinks he is trash, id say he is underrated.

I don't think any more moves are coming. I think they are leaving the space in case Poulin makes the team and/or leaving space for deadline moves which JR tends to do.
- Rinosaur

You could be right. I would just think though that if Poulin makes it, Lafferty or whoever he beats out would start the season in the minors.