GMJR has said :
1) ~ This PENGUIN Team must get younger = Kappy, Domi, & Bouchard all under 25yrs old / Even- Trocheck, Lowry, Ullmark, & Forbort are 28 or younger.
* My 20-21 Pens Avg Age = 27 / *The 20-21 Pens Real Avg Age = 29.2
2) ~ Other than the Core of - 87 / 71 / 58 + w/ some help from - 72 / 8 / 17 :
Nobody else has stepped into the next group of leadership roles or Bench talkers like - Bones, Daley, Cullen was == Trocheck, Lowry, & Domi are all Not afraid to talk or step into that role
** WHAT I THINK WAS WRONG :
~ This team was so Soft last year - (& no not fighting soft) - But my god have a back bone or have some pride in urself. This was maybe the Softest & Saddest Pens team ever??
AND at DEADLINE we ...........
* brought in another small winger in Zucker who got tossed around like a 100 lb girl by the MTL Defense ?
* brought in a pathetic wing in Sheary who fell down every 3 strides AND a 59yr old waste of life - Marleau ??
~~ THINGS I CHANGED :
* Domi might be small, but he plays like a Pitbull & will play w/ some pride, instead of the Standard way of the Pens & getting bullied.
* Kappy - I love how fast & how nasty he plays. It could be a miracle but we mite have a player that actually stands up for Sid, instead of the usual sad tiny wingers he has w/ no baallls
* Trocheck is just a Leader type & will do whatever it takes to win - will take a puck in the face or run the goalie if needed, lol
* Lowry- well adding this dude will make Sid happy !!!
* Forbort - was never a real physical player but the last cpl yrs he has started to use his 6'-4" 220+lb frame & we NEED that on the back-end.
[PIT] gets :
~ C/RW- V. TROCHECK #21 [$4.75m] -- Pens get the PGH kid that can be that great 3C, Top 6 RWer, or even a fill in 2C. Needs to get back to his pre-injury play but I have faith he does here.
~ C- D. COTTON #83 [$858] --------------- 1 of my Fav NCAA players & only the 3rd or 4th best Center - Prospect for CAR but would be an upgrade over the Hallander loss.
~ G- J. WOLL #60 [$800,] ------------------- The 6'-3", B- type Prospect is athletic, & quick, but calm in Net. Pens need a decent Goalie Prospect.
*** Pens get the next Great 3C & type of leader GMJR is talking about, a guy that is close w/ Sid & not afraid to step up into leadership role in Trocheck. PLUS [2] needed prospects.
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[TOR] gets :
~ G- M. MURRAY #30 [RFA] ------------- Like I've been saying - ** A 26yr Old 2- Time Cup Winning Starting Goalie - Will be wanted & Get more than everyone thinks.
~ LW- K. BJORKQVIST #20 [$792,] ----- Not rated high as a Prospect but IMO, The former 2nd Rdr will be a bottom 6 Forward in the NHL w/ his motor & way he busts his arse.
* Leafs get the guy they want to replace Freddy & a proven winner where they need that badly in that fragile locker room.
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[CAR] gets :
~ G- F. ANDERSEN #31 [$5m] --------- Seems like this is who they want but they def need a legit #1 if this team is going anywhere.
~ LHD- J. RIIKOLA #50 [RFA] ----------- great 1st yr in NHL (look at his Lytics), is a LHD but better on Right side (TVR replacement) & will never get why he never played more in PIT.
~ RW- J. BRACCO #29 [RFA] ------------ an almost ready prospect that is a play-maker Top 9 type RWer.
* Canes get their #1 Goalie, a 3rd pairing Dman, & an almost ready prospect. IMO, that is very good for Trocheck.
[PIT] gets :
~ LW/C- M. DOMI #16 [RFA] ------------- Mario orders Trade for his God Son & gets a fresh start at LW. Also only gets 2yr Deal w/ a Long term promise when we will have Cap Room.
~ RHD- E. BOUCHARD #75 [$925,] ---- This is what we do = Take all EDM good RHD. IMO, is ready for 3rd pairing w/ Top 4 upside but needs work on D-game & skating. PLUS does NOT need Protected.
*** Pens get a younger Top 6 LWer that IMO will be the best player in deal but MUST go back to wing & PLUS fill that 3rd Pairing RHD role.
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[EDM} gets :
~ LW- J. ZUCKER #16 [$5.5m] ---------- EDM gets some much needed Top line winger help w/ Speed & some legit scoring ability to help McJesus.
~ LW- C. HUDON #54 [RFA] ------------- Has been stuck as the #13 forward for MTL but could be a Top 9 guy or a good 4th liner.
~ LHD- N. ALMARI #79 [809,] ----------- The 6'-2" smart Dman is a future 3rd pairing guy to #7
* Oilers get a fast winger that is a proven, can keep up w/ McDavid, & can provide some secondary scoring.
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[MTL] gets :
~ LW/C- A. ATHANASIOU #28 [RFA] ----- A.A. had a down yr but is just a season removed from 30G & being only 26, This seems like a MB guy.
~ C/LW- J. KHAIRA #16 [$1.2m] ----------- A big, tough, physical, & only 26yr old - solid 4th Line Center that can PK good.
* Habs get a fast AF, Top 6 guy that can play all 3 positions & could be a steal & a great physical 4th liner.
*[PIT] get there 1B Goalie to Jarry. A - RFA who shouldn't be much of a Cap hit to Sign & keeps getting better every year in NHL. IMO, an underrated Perfect 1B type Goalie. PLUS allows Pens to move Murray next.
* [PIT] - GMJR Finally lands Lowry- an actual big tough Forward that won't get beat up, lol
- LOWRY- after a down tough yr in WPG, The 4th / 3rd line Center "Tweener" gets a fresh start w/ just 1 yr remaining on Contract. Lowry could play both 3C in a shut-down role or be the 4C or LW & get back on a line w/ Tanev & Teddy B being able to play LW or C too.
~ DAHLSTROM- is a depth #8 type Dman but I'd take a chance on the 25yr old 6'-4" / 230lbs - former 2nd Rdr.
- ZAR- Im not as high as most on ZAR but he is the best Defensive Forward in hockey & and an Analytic super-star & why I would sell "high" on him now. Plus his contract is controlled.
- DeSMITH- even tho stuck in AHL, DeSmith would be a perfect back-up to a Legit #1 like Helly. Plus he is cheap & better than Brossiot.
- STOLARZ - I have liked Stolarz since he was drafted by PHI & always thought he could be a #2 in NHL & would love him as the #3 G here. Plus is insurance if we lose Ulmark in Expansion Draft.
- CZUCMAN- Pronounced - "Church-man" - yah, dont ask me how, lol. But he is a solid depth #8 LHD-man.
- D'Orio - is a C+ type Goalie prospect but is tradable after the Woll pick-up.
No UFA goalie wants to come to Buffalo. Ullmark is a solid starter outperformed a lot of goalies this year. They will be able to have him around for a reasonable price 2.5-3.
it is legitimately hilarious to me that people suddenly think Kapanen is some sort of scrappy grit guy because he got into a pair of half assed wrestling matches. He wasnt even the 2nd scrappiest player on his own line in toronto
it is legitimately hilarious to me that people suddenly think Kapanen is some sort of scrappy grit guy because he got into a pair of half assed wrestling matches. He wasnt even the 2nd scrappiest player on his own line in toronto
Yeah, he was absolutely invisible in the play-in round. At least Clifford had a few big hits. Kapanen has speed and a decent shot. Definitely not a scrappy guy at all