Ryan Wilson: A reasonable weekend and a roster addition opportunity A reasonable weekend and a roster addition opportunity

I don’t really care much about the wjc other than it’s entertaining and I have nothing better to do on Christmas holidays but I would have been pretty happy for Finland if they didn’t pull a penguin and blow there 2 goal lead. Pieniniemi looked pretty decent though.

Low risk high reward claim.

Rangers claimed him.

Saw this on Pensburgh that the NHL is releasing quarter century teams. Six forwards, four defensemen, two goalies.

Pensburgh went:
Forward: Crosby, Malkin, Kunitz, Guentzel, Kessel, Lemieux
Defense: Letang, Gonchar, Dumoulin, Orpik
Goalie: Fleury, Murray

Lemieux they admitted was a bit of favoritism because he didn't play here much this century. Rust, Hornqvist among the tough cuts. I think I actually take Hornqvist for Lemieux. Deciding in Rust's long career v Kessel's shorter but brilliant time.

I don't want to use Orpik on defense, but I'm having trouble thinking of a better name. Maybe Paul Martin?

Goalies I completely agree. Just what Murray did for the Cup runs gets him above Jarry for the second spot.

Rangers claimed him.
- MattStrat

(frank)ing rangers

Saw this on Pensburgh that the NHL is releasing quarter century teams. Six forwards, four defensemen, two goalies.

Pensburgh went:
Forward: Crosby, Malkin, Kunitz, Guentzel, Kessel, Lemieux
Defense: Letang, Gonchar, Dumoulin, Orpik
Goalie: Fleury, Murray

Lemieux they admitted was a bit of favoritism because he didn't play here much this century. Rust, Hornqvist among the tough cuts. I think I actually take Hornqvist for Lemieux. Deciding in Rust's long career v Kessel's shorter but brilliant time.

I don't want to use Orpik on defense, but I'm having trouble thinking of a better name. Maybe Paul Martin?

Goalies I completely agree. Just what Murray did for the Cup runs gets him above Jarry for the second spot.
- Tojo.

Kovalev should be on there over Lemieux. He had 3+ seasons in the 2000s at Elite performance with the Pens at over a PPG, easy to forget he was still a great player then. Rust and Hornqvist also over Lemieux. Really hard chose between those three for the last spot.

Kessel had 4 years of elite production with 2 cups... he is definitely on the list. Goalies are simple with Fleury and Murray.

D... it feels like we really only have 3 candidates. Letang, Dumo, Gonchar. I liked Orpik but he is kind of like Rust, where he maybe deserves it on tenure more than elite play.

Ill throw in Ryan Whitney for off the board consideration. Only 3.5 seasons, but he was well over .5 PPG during his time and was the master at taking the back door pass from Sid on the PP. Paul Martin deserves to be in the conversation.

Kovalev should be on there over Lemieux. He had 3+ seasons in the 2000s at Elite performance with the Pens at over a PPG, easy to forget he was still a great player then. Rust and Hornqvist also over Lemieux. Really hard chose between those three for the last spot.

Kessel had 4 years of elite production with 2 cups... he is definitely on the list. Goalies are simple with Fleury and Murray.

D... it feels like we really only have 3 candidates. Letang, Dumo, Gonchar. I liked Orpik but he is kind of like Rust, where he maybe deserves it on tenure more than elite play.

Ill throw in Ryan Whitney for off the board consideration. Only 3.5 seasons, but he was well over .5 PPG during his time and was the master at taking the back door pass from Sid on the PP. Paul Martin deserves to be in the conversation.
- MacPatty

Tarnstrom over Orpik.

Crazy Ned stat if you haven't seen it.

Per Bob Grove, Nedeljkovic is 0-6-4 in his last 10 road starts and allowed four or more goals in each of his past nine.

Rob Scuderi another possible D instead of Orpik? I don't really remember exactly when he left the pens for LA (I think) but he definitely had a few good years as a Pen during his first stint and was a big part of the cup win.

Actually nvm, Orpik seems like a better pick IMO of all of the D the pens had other than Letang, Gonchar and Dumo. Ryan Whitney was a good suggestion though,.

Paul Mart was under appreciated IMO. I'd probably go with Orpik over him but it's close. Scuds was really good for a few years too.

Saw this on Pensburgh that the NHL is releasing quarter century teams. Six forwards, four defensemen, two goalies.

Pensburgh went:
Forward: Crosby, Malkin, Kunitz, Guentzel, Kessel, Lemieux
Defense: Letang, Gonchar, Dumoulin, Orpik
Goalie: Fleury, Murray

Lemieux they admitted was a bit of favoritism because he didn't play here much this century. Rust, Hornqvist among the tough cuts. I think I actually take Hornqvist for Lemieux. Deciding in Rust's long career v Kessel's shorter but brilliant time.

I don't want to use Orpik on defense, but I'm having trouble thinking of a better name. Maybe Paul Martin?

Goalies I completely agree. Just what Murray did for the Cup runs gets him above Jarry for the second spot.
- Tojo.

Orpik was good in his prime for the era he played in. In its when he got old and the game sped up simultaneously that he became a liability. Prime Orpik 100% deserves the nod here.

The forwards seem right and I agree it would be super weird to leave Mario off despite him not being the same Mario during this time frame. Kovalev has an argument here. If those teams were better maybe he edges out legacy Mario or Kunitz. Kessel is 100% the third forward in after Sid and Mario and neither Hornqvist or Rust have an argument over Kunitz. Again, it’s all about what you want to do with legacy Mario but if you’re booting Mario I think the next man in is actually Kovalev, not Hornqvist or Rust

Paul Mart was under appreciated IMO. I'd probably go with Orpik over him but it's close. Scuds was really good for a few years too.
- madmike71

Martin is the next D in I think. The only other guy I can really think of to put in there is Pettersen? Martin was a lot more offensively polished than Pets so he gets the nod

Pulj in for Beau
Pettersson staying with Letang

DOC on PP2 is interesting because Sully rarely uses players on both special teams, but a third liner at his age should be fine. Means Pulj and Glass aren't on either PP.

Pulj in for Beau
Pettersson staying with Letang

DOC on PP2 is interesting because Sully rarely uses players on both special teams, but a third liner at his age should be fine. Means Pulj and Glass aren't on either PP.
- Tojo.

I support this only to make Grinder go crazy...

Orpik was good in his prime for the era he played in. In its when he got old and the game sped up simultaneously that he became a liability. Prime Orpik 100% deserves the nod here.

The forwards seem right and I agree it would be super weird to leave Mario off despite him not being the same Mario during this time frame. Kovalev has an argument here. If those teams were better maybe he edges out legacy Mario or Kunitz. Kessel is 100% the third forward in after Sid and Mario and neither Hornqvist or Rust have an argument over Kunitz. Again, it’s all about what you want to do with legacy Mario but if you’re booting Mario I think the next man in is actually Kovalev, not Hornqvist or Rust
- Victoro311

Mario had 229 points in 170 games from 2000 - 2006

Kovalev had 248 points in 224 games from 2000-2003, and 13 of those points came with the Rangers in which he played 24 games.

Mario all day lol

Mario had 229 points in 170 games from 2000 - 2006

Kovalev had 248 points in 224 games from 2000-2003, and 13 of those points came with the Rangers in which he played 24 games.

Mario all day lol
- j.boyd919

Woah. For some reason I forget how good Mario still was when he returned. Probably because I mostly remember his return seasons from the Crosby overlap year

I don't have the game on, any word on why Malkin is out?

Have to win these games if we are going to lock up a playoff spot.

Aaaaaannnnd………DOC Sucks.

I don't have the game on, any word on why Malkin is out?

Have to win these games if we are going to lock up a playoff spot.
- MacPatty

The East is so thin with the Rangers implosion. Only six teams are even on pace for 90 points. One or two pretty bad teams are going to slip in. Why not us!

EDIT- meanwhile 5 teams on pace for over 100. Big divide between the top teams and the rest of the field

The East is so thin with the Rangers implosion. Only six teams are even on pace for 90 points. One or two pretty bad teams are going to slip in. Why not us!

EDIT- meanwhile 5 teams on pace for over 100. Big divide between the top teams and the rest of the field
- Tojo.

Bettman’s parity league. You have to be truly terrible to be out of it. And even then a 6-7 game streak could get you right back in the wc race.

Surely we do could call up Poulin or Gruden from WBS to take over for Nieto as a PK specialist.

Gives me hope that if we do stick to the plan of being aggressive this offseason. That it will give us better odds of being a playoff team.

We are tied for the final wildcard spot and there are 7 teams within 5 points, all of which have games in hand on us.

1. Columbus is playing with purpose right now. Still expect them to be sellers but maybe not. Provorov might want to stay and they might want to keep him.

2. Ottawa - They desperately need to make the playoffs. They are going to be adding.

3. Montreal - They are probably selling at least to some extent. Savard will be traded but they already brought in Carrier to replace him. Curious to see if they try to get in.

4. Detroit - The Yzerplan is on the line a bit. He really needs to get the team into the playoffs and I think they will be buying.

5. Philly - They are going to sell. I think they have been clear that regardless of where they are at they aren't going all in with this team.

6. Rangers - Seem to be selling and regardless, I can't imagine there is going to be that one spark that turns this into a team that wants to play this year.

7. Islanders - Lamorillo's job is coming into question. They have two games in hand on us and if they won both they would be within one point. I still cant see them gearing up and adding to make a run.

What are we doing.. Who knows right now. One top 6 addition should put us over the top on all of these other teams but we seem more intent on selling Pettersson and some of the other rentals.

I think Ottawa is going to be our biggest competition for that last playoff spot (if Ulmark gets healthy) and I think Staios is going to be looking to make a big acquisition. I don't hear anyone mentioning it, but I could totally see them taking a run at Pettersson or Miller. Upgrading from Norris to Miller would make Ottawa a really good team.