John Toperzer: GAMEDAY! "8's great but 9's fine" Pens look to extend win streak to nine games after stunning victory Tuesday

Did anyone ask Shero during the PC yesterday why Crosby is not on LTIR? I mean they have known since Dec that he was going to be out for an extended period of time. Just seems like it would have been the smart thing to do.

Did anyone ask Shero during the PC yesterday why Crosby is not on LTIR? I mean they have known since Dec that he was going to be out for an extended period of time. Just seems like it would have been the smart thing to do.
- sammy87

Well I think the only answer to that is that Shero knows he isnt going to use that LTIR space because he believes 87 will be back.

However, a closer look reveals that a selfish play by Toronto forward, Mikhail Grabovski, gave the Pens their last-minute opportunity. Grabovski, apparently more interested in securing a hat trick than a win, gained possession of the puck with 27 ticks left. Three seconds later, Grabovski steered a weak attempt from his own blue line toward the Pens net. Sullivan, playing emergency quarterback, easily corralled the shot/clear.

Had Grabovski simply pushed the puck along the left boards, no Penguin could’ve touched the puck and Pittsburgh would’ve been forced to regroup in its own end with time expiring.

I think that might have a little correlation with the age of the team. I think as players mature they don't make a play like that. He will probably live and learn from it as I am sure Ron Wilson noticed that as well.

@DarrenDreger
Darren Dreger
O'Reilly claimed by Penguins on re-entry waivers.

@DarrenDreger
Darren Dreger
O'Reilly's salary $1.05 mil. Penguins pay half of what remains on the CAP # aprox $375,000...so Pitt is on the hook for half of that.

There you go nh! Dominoes!

@DarrenDreger
Darren Dreger
O'Reilly claimed by Penguins on re-entry waivers.

There you go nh! Dominoes!
- Gunner Staal

What.. Booooo!! In sim ill respond later... If bj in net we lose tonight...he's no flower

F*ck. We'll have to trade Martin to clear salary for O'Reilly.

F*ck. We'll have to trade Martin to clear salary for O'Reilly.
- Deadstar

Depth for WB/S or is this guy actually going to get an honest look?

However, a closer look reveals that a selfish play by Toronto forward, Mikhail Grabovski, gave the Pens their last-minute opportunity. Grabovski, apparently more interested in securing a hat trick than a win, gained possession of the puck with 27 ticks left. Three seconds later, Grabovski steered a weak attempt from his own blue line toward the Pens net. Sullivan, playing emergency quarterback, easily corralled the shot/clear.

Had Grabovski simply pushed the puck along the left boards, no Penguin could’ve touched the puck and Pittsburgh would’ve been forced to regroup in its own end with time expiring.

I think that might have a little correlation with the age of the team. I think as players mature they don't make a play like that. He will probably live and learn from it as I am sure Ron Wilson noticed that as well.
- Gunner Staal

Only five teams have given up more goals in the third period and overtime than Toronto. Let's hope that trend continues tonite.

@DarrenDreger
Darren Dreger
O'Reilly claimed by Penguins on re-entry waivers.

@DarrenDreger
Darren Dreger
O'Reilly's salary $1.05 mil. Penguins pay half of what remains on the CAP # aprox $375,000...so Pitt is on the hook for half of that.

There you go nh! Dominoes!
- Gunner Staal

Here's something that confuses me. All the players who recently went thru waivers seem way more attractive then this guy. Gunner play Shero for a minute and explain this one cuz from what I can see this guy is useless.

Depth for WB/S or is this guy actually going to get an honest look?
- Gunner Staal

I think he'll get an honest look in McDonalds spot for the time being. Hes certainly no Chris Bourque when it comes to a 4th line role.

Depth for WB/S or is this guy actually going to get an honest look?
- Gunner Staal

Well he would have to clear waivers again to be sent down to Wilkes barre right?

Well he would have to clear waivers again to be sent down to Wilkes barre right?
- dbell646

Yeah, nobody wanted him the first time though.

Yeah, nobody wanted him the first time though.
- Gunner Staal

We shouldn't have wanted him either. It's a head scratcher. Oh well it's 375k no biggie

Here's something that confuses me. All the players who recently went thru waivers seem way more attractive then this guy. Gunner play Shero for a minute and explain this one cuz from what I can see this guy is useless.
- dbell646

Honestly, I really don't know much about him. I would be making stuff up just for the sake of answering you if I am being honest. I know the Sabres board was discussing him the other day but they want anybody who is a natural center at this point.

We shouldn't have wanted him either. It's a head scratcher. Oh well it's 375k no biggie
- dbell646

Actually half of that.

Well I think the only answer to that is that Shero knows he isnt going to use that LTIR space because he believes 87 will be back.
- Gunner Staal[/quote

how exactly does it work? Say Crosby has a 10mil cap hit, and he's out half the season, but he comes back. Does that free up 5 mil in cap space that they can use? Or once he's back his cap hit is back to 10mil? So is the cap space only available once the injured player is out?

[quote=Gunner Staal]Well I think the only answer to that is that Shero knows he isnt going to use that LTIR space because he believes 87 will be back.
- sammy87[/quote

how exactly does it work? Say Crosby has a 10mil cap hit, and he's out half the season, but he comes back. Does that free up 5 mil in cap space that they can use? Or once he's back his cap hit is back to 10mil? So is the cap space only available once the injured player is out?

Yes their cap space is only available while the player is on LTIR then it disappears it doesn't carry over for the rest of the season

Honestly, I really don't know much about him. I would be making stuff up just for the sake of answering you if I am being honest. I know the Sabres board was discussing him the other day but they want anybody who is a natural center at this point.
- Gunner Staal

Stats wise I don't see anything even remotely descent. Extremely low penalty minutes even lower goals and assists totals.

[quote=Gunner Staal]Well I think the only answer to that is that Shero knows he isnt going to use that LTIR space because he believes 87 will be back.
- sammy87[/quote

how exactly does it work? Say Crosby has a 10mil cap hit, and he's out half the season, but he comes back. Does that free up 5 mil in cap space that they can use? Or once he's back his cap hit is back to 10mil? So is the cap space only available once the injured player is out?

If we are talking about LTIR, you get cap space while that player is on LTIR. When that player comes back to the active roster, that cap space vanishes. It is more of a mirage than actual cap space to use. The only time it would be useful is if that player was ruled out for the entire regular season. With no potential of coming back.

how exactly does it work? Say Crosby has a 10mil cap hit, and he's out half the season, but he comes back. Does that free up 5 mil in cap space that they can use? Or once he's back his cap hit is back to 10mil? So is the cap space only available once the injured player is out?
- sammy87

You only have the cap exception while the player is out. You don't accrue any cap space while the player is out.

So this O'Reilly guy, started the year with Nashville, then ends up on Phoenix, how via trade? Or off waivers? Plays 22 games for Phoenix sent down around January 17. Now tried to be brought back up and we claim him. Hmmm....

Only five teams have given up more goals in the third period and overtime than Toronto. Let's hope that trend continues tonite.
- the-mitch-wilsons

I can't believe a Ron Wilson coached team carries around a stat like that. He strikes me as a Nazi with those kind of details, apparently not.

@TSNBobMcKenzie
PIT claims Cal O'Reilly on re-entry waivers from PHX.

What I've gleaned on O'Reilly is that Shero is familiar with the 25 year-old from Nashville. He's a playmaker who's had success in the minors but not the NHL. He's dealt with injuries nearly every year of his pro career. He was traded from Nashville to Phoenix for a 4th round pick in July, 2011. I thought perhaps he was acquired for his faceoff ability but I checked and he's won fewer than 50 percent of his draws in each of his NHL seasons. Let's hope Shero knows something we don't.

Stats wise I don't see anything even remotely descent. Extremely low penalty minutes even lower goals and assists totals.
- dbell646

Probably a serviceable 4th liner. He's likely more suited to the roll of playing 5 minutes/night than Tangradi or Macdonald.