Ryan Wilson: No Boxing Day bargains for the Penguins No Boxing Day bargains for the Penguins

Soderberg signs with CHI for $1M. That's $1M.

You can't possibly tell me he would choose to go to a team in a rebuild over having a shot with the Pens. I don't know what JR is doing right now.

So passes another day when GMRW finds something to whine about even though no pucks have been dropped at all this season. I hope GMRW got needles for Christmas. He could play with his needles. He can move them all day every day any way he wants. GMRW loves needles to move. He needs his needles.

Soderberg signs with CHI for $1M. That's $1M.

You can't possibly tell me he would choose to go to a team in a rebuild over having a shot with the Pens. I don't know what JR is doing right now.
- Rinosaur

But does Soderberg move needles?

Duclair would've looked good in a Penguins uniform for the last several years.

This Penuins team just doesnt look that impressive. They seem to be making the same mistake that the Steelers have made this year... they are depending on their aging superstar(s) to perform like they are still under 30 years old. It's a big ask of Crosby/Malkin. The shorter season should honestly help, but that is still a really tough division to be in. The Canada teams have it easy.

I get the sense that GMs have "their guys" which is a very limited number of players at the exclusion of most others. In the case of JR, it is often the fallen top prospects that he thinks can be resurrected, like JJ, Matheson, and Ceci. Without the latter two this off-season, we could have had a third line of McCann - Granlund - Horny and I don't really care who plays 3RD at that point.

Soderberg signs with CHI for $1M. That's $1M.

You can't possibly tell me he would choose to go to a team in a rebuild over having a shot with the Pens. I don't know what JR is doing right now.
- Rinosaur

If only GMJR has a crystal ball and knew Soderberg would still be unsigned on Dec 26 and would be desperate for a job

Damn GMJR for not having a crystal ball. I mean, what GM doesn't get a crystal ball on Day 1 nowadays?

So passes another day when GMRW finds something to whine about even though no pucks have been dropped at all this season. I hope GMRW got needles for Christmas. He could play with his needles. He can move them all day every day any way he wants. GMRW loves needles to move. He needs his needles.
- TheBrownListerine

GMRW loves to whine about the overpays but never mentions the underpays

Crosby is probably 2 million underpaid on what he could have demanded, Malkin another 1.5 Million. Jake probably left 1 Million on the table and we have 4.7 Million invested in goalies, where most teams have 8 or 9. Dumo/Rust/Marino also providing some value

Where the lack of depth comes from is from being a "contender" for the last 15 years. 1st round picks are always late or traded away. The Farm has been empty for 5 years because we haven't had a rebuild cycle. Guys on ELC's or RFA's on bridge deals is what puts good teams over the top

If all these guys who signed for cheap are the answer, then why didn't any of the other 30 teams offer them a contract before now?

Again same stuff under a different heading. Overrated commodity, I think you should start actually admitting what style is overrated and has not shown any type of results.
I remember a few years ago right after the Leafs traded for Nick Petan, Petan was having a good game and the leaf 4th line looked good. Craig Simpson on Hockey Night was bubbling about how this was possibly going to change what players would play on 4th lines thruout the NHL. Other teams were going to have to MATCH the skill and speed . They were going to have to score to keep their jobs. Really , Tampa traded a first rounder for a guy who led the NHL in fighting majors, the signed Patrick M. The top 4th lines in Hockey for years are the Bruins , the Islanders [who eat you alive ]. Vegas with another player Ryan Reaves who you always belittle is awesome. All are high impact lines. Please name the scoring ,skill 4th lines that are tearing it up.

Stop acting like the way to win Cups is by passing on players like Martin, Reaves , Goodrow. B.T ON YOUR 4TH LINE was a very useful ,necessary player all year. The league is littered with hard working, physical 4th lines that proved their worth. I will wait for the list of , high impact scoring non physical talent first 4th lines that have done the same.

Kovalchuk joins KHL's Avangard Omsk: https://www.tsn.ca/ilya-k...ard-omsk-of-khl-1.1569015

This article is lame. Sheary a better option than Blueger or Tanev? I don't think so, both of those two I would feel more comfortable in the bottom 6 over Sheary. Tanev played on the 3rd line in his last year with the Jets and that line was good. Tanev's line did their job to perfection last season with the Pens. It is not that they couldn't provide more offense if given more offensive zone opportunities and in fact Tanev was near his pace for the year before even with the heavy defensive assignment. The Pens needed them to play against the other teams top forwards while playing 65% defensive zone starts. I much rather have a line of McCann-Blueger-Tanev than a line with McCann-Blueger-Sheary. Put Blueger and Tanev with McCann and give them more of an even offensive zone start to time and they easily get 30+ points.

Jankowski could also bounce back and prove equal offensively to someone like Sheary. Jankowski is just a year away from 14 goals and 32 points. Sheary is no better than that playing 3rd line duty. Jankowski needs to bounce back but is in his prime at 26 years old. Sheary certainly is not any better option than any of those players. Pens just need one of Blueger and Jankowski to provide that 30+ point pace and I think one will. The other will make a good 4th line Center.

This article is lame. Sheary a better option than Blueger or Tanev? I don't think so, both of those two I would feel more comfortable in the bottom 6 over Sheary. Tanev played on the 3rd line in his last year with the Jets and that line was good. Tanev's line did their job to perfection last season with the Pens. It is not that they couldn't provide more offense if given more offensive zone opportunities and in fact Tanev was near his pace for the year before even with the heavy defensive assignment. The Pens needed them to play against the other teams top forwards while playing 65% defensive zone starts. I much rather have a line of McCann-Blueger-Tanev than a line with McCann-Blueger-Sheary. Put Blueger and Tanev with McCann and give them more of an even offensive zone start to time and they easily get 30+ points.

Jankowski could also bounce back and prove equal offensively to someone like Sheary. Jankowski is just a year away from 14 goals and 32 points. Sheary is no better than that playing 3rd line duty. Jankowski needs to bounce back but is in his prime at 26 years old. Sheary certainly is not any better option than any of those players. Pens just need one of Blueger and Jankowski to provide that 30+ point pace and I think one will. The other will make a good 4th line Center.
- MalkinCrosby

Tanev scores on a 14 goal/80 game pace with nothing but PK duty, 4th line minutes and defensive zone starts lining up with the likes of Bluegar and ZAR, but the claims are that the guy can't score

But guy like RW will DROOL over a guy like Sheary, totally limited in deployment, scoring the same while playing with Jake and Sid

This article is lame. Sheary a better option than Blueger or Tanev? I don't think so, both of those two I would feel more comfortable in the bottom 6 over Sheary. Tanev played on the 3rd line in his last year with the Jets and that line was good. Tanev's line did their job to perfection last season with the Pens. It is not that they couldn't provide more offense if given more offensive zone opportunities and in fact Tanev was near his pace for the year before even with the heavy defensive assignment. The Pens needed them to play against the other teams top forwards while playing 65% defensive zone starts. I much rather have a line of McCann-Blueger-Tanev than a line with McCann-Blueger-Sheary. Put Blueger and Tanev with McCann and give them more of an even offensive zone start to time and they easily get 30+ points.

Jankowski could also bounce back and prove equal offensively to someone like Sheary. Jankowski is just a year away from 14 goals and 32 points. Sheary is no better than that playing 3rd line duty. Jankowski needs to bounce back but is in his prime at 26 years old. Sheary certainly is not any better option than any of those players. Pens just need one of Blueger and Jankowski to provide that 30+ point pace and I think one will. The other will make a good 4th line Center.
- MalkinCrosby

Really good post.

Hate in the 3rd line all you want, I think that's fair. But to not value our 4th line for what they do is just dumb.

This article is lame. Sheary a better option than Blueger or Tanev? I don't think so, both of those two I would feel more comfortable in the bottom 6 over Sheary. Tanev played on the 3rd line in his last year with the Jets and that line was good. Tanev's line did their job to perfection last season with the Pens. It is not that they couldn't provide more offense if given more offensive zone opportunities and in fact Tanev was near his pace for the year before even with the heavy defensive assignment. The Pens needed them to play against the other teams top forwards while playing 65% defensive zone starts. I much rather have a line of McCann-Blueger-Tanev than a line with McCann-Blueger-Sheary. Put Blueger and Tanev with McCann and give them more of an even offensive zone start to time and they easily get 30+ points.

Jankowski could also bounce back and prove equal offensively to someone like Sheary. Jankowski is just a year away from 14 goals and 32 points. Sheary is no better than that playing 3rd line duty. Jankowski needs to bounce back but is in his prime at 26 years old. Sheary certainly is not any better option than any of those players. Pens just need one of Blueger and Jankowski to provide that 30+ point pace and I think one will. The other will make a good 4th line Center.
- MalkinCrosby

Blueger is underrated. Unfortunately he has been pigeonholed into a fourth line player and will never get an opportunity to be anything else on this team.

But does Soderberg move needles?
- TheBrownListerine

He's still a decent player and a major upgrade compared to Jankowski and Erod on the third line for $300K more.

Anybody not named Jared Mccan? Tanev is 10 times the player of Sheary.

https://nypost.com/2020/1...eceived-4-82m-covid-loan/

Typical

If only GMJR has a crystal ball and knew Soderberg would still be unsigned on Dec 26 and would be desperate for a job

Damn GMJR for not having a crystal ball. I mean, what GM doesn't get a crystal ball on Day 1 nowadays?
- TheGame316

You realize they have space for him now, right? Dummy

Who cares about Carl Soderberg, he's 35 years old and was unsigned in late December. I understand some players have been waiting to see how things would shake out with the season, but I seriously doubt he had tons of offers on the table. The Pens were trying to get younger and faster, that does not include Soderberg.

I couldn't agree more - every little bit adds up. I'm a Flyers phan and contend they often overpay by about 25%. With the exception of rookie deals and Sean C you would be hard pressed to find underpayment. Nothing ridiculous like Andy Mac but, as you said, it all adds up.

Who cares about Carl Soderberg, he's 35 years old and was unsigned in late December. I understand some players have been waiting to see how things would shake out with the season, but I seriously doubt he had tons of offers on the table. The Pens were trying to get younger and faster, that does not include Soderberg.
- 5on1Powerplay

McCann-Soderberg-Erod/Sceviour

or

McCann-Jankwoski-Erod/Sceviour

That is a fair comparison. Blackwood and Jarry have had nearly identical trajectories, drafted 42nd, and 44th overall (both top 3 goalies in their draft), and have played 65-70 games each. Both have had some terrible defensive structure in their own zone, so I don't know why Jarry is making more. Plus, Blackwood is an RFA after his 3 years. That is better insurance.

Regardless, I expect both goalies to be solid 1G's for their clubs, and at a very reasonable cap hit. Far better than Mtl's strategy.

That is a fair comparison. Blackwood and Jarry have had nearly identical trajectories, drafted 42nd, and 44th overall (both top 3 goalies in their draft), and have played 65-70 games each. Both have had some terrible defensive structure in their own zone, so I don't know why Jarry is making more. Plus, Blackwood is an RFA after his 3 years. That is better insurance.

Regardless, I expect both goalies to be solid 1G's for their clubs, and at a very reasonable cap hit. Far better than Mtl's strategy.
- bikeguy99

Which is why it isn't an even comparison since the Pens bought out a UFA year from Jarry.

Blueger is underrated. Unfortunately he has been pigeonholed into a fourth line player and will never get an opportunity to be anything else on this team.
- Thunderbolt

Blueger is the 4th line center in name only. His line is the real 3rd line on this team and was pretty much all last year. It's similar to the Isles in that it gets listed as 4th but gets a lot of the tough minutes and more ice time than the other bottom 6 line.

Blueger is the 4th line center in name only. His line is the real 3rd line on this team and was pretty much all last year. It's similar to the Isles in that it gets listed as 4th but gets a lot of the tough minutes and more ice time than the other bottom 6 line.
- Tojo.

I thought Blueger's line played well in the first half of the season when they had all those injuries but it seemed as though when the regulars came back they had lost some of their effectiveness. Where was that energy against Montreal?