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doublem24

DoubleM24
Member Since
Oct. 12, 2016
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Pittsburgh Penguins
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Forum: NHL TradesMar. 8 at 1:50 p.m.
Thread: (PIT/CAR) - Guentzel, Smith for Bunting, Koivunen, Ponomarev, Lucius, 2024 2nd (PHI), 2024 5th (CAR)
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>mokumboi</b></div><div>True. It also sounds like Dennis Maruk. And also thousands of guys we never heard of or don't remember. For every Guentzel, there's countless Braccos.</div></div>

I figured I'd put this here for context - <a href="https://www.pensburgh.com/2013/9/10/4713922/prospect-profile-15-jake-guentzel" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Summary of Guentzal after his draft year</a>

You're absolutely right though - there are more under sized prospects that don't pan out in comparison to those that become Jake Guentzal.

I just think it's important to take a breathe and acknowledge that every player develops differently and we won't really know what we have here for awhile.
Forum: NHL TradesMar. 8 at 1:41 a.m.
Thread: (PIT/CAR) - Guentzel, Smith for Bunting, Koivunen, Ponomarev, Lucius, 2024 2nd (PHI), 2024 5th (CAR)
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>TheReelChuckFletcher</b></div><div>Tulsky, Waddell, and Darren Yorke are basically equal partners. There's no such thing as Tulsky controlling the strings. From all accounts, Carolina's front office setup is that Waddell runs the salary cap and trade negotiations, Yorke runs pro and amateur scouting, and Tulsky runs analytics. They collaborate equally.

I don't think that the trade was nearly the fleece that some Pittsburgh fans think it is. Koivunen has second-line upside if he hits. Ponomaryov is very likely going to be either a 3rd line center or a very good 4th line center in the NHL. Lucius is magic beans. Bunting is flippable for a 1st or 2nd round level return in 2 seasons. They did very well themselves.</div></div>

Thanks for clarifying those details. I was unaware of their specific roles but completely agree - they collaborate really well.

The sentiment that they would win the deal is mostly based around the idea that Guentzal is the best player in the trade and Carolina would win the headlines for that reason; even if Pittsburgh got a solid return.

It'll probably take a bit to digest the full scope of the prospects that are coming in and let go of the sting of losing a long time favorite player.
Forum: NHL TradesMar. 8 at 12:35 a.m.
Thread: (PIT/CAR) - Guentzel, Smith for Bunting, Koivunen, Ponomarev, Lucius, 2024 2nd (PHI), 2024 5th (CAR)
For anyone wondering about the Carolina prospects - here are some write ups from Scott Walker of The Athletic.

<strong>Vasili Ponomaryov, C, 21 (Chicago Wolves)</strong>

After becoming a likable player who many believed was a better pro prospect than his good but not great production in the QMJHL indicated, Ponomaryov has impressed in the AHL over the last three seasons to outperform prospects of greater prior pedigree and become a call-up option for the Canes.

I’ve watched him play a lot over the years and he’s a hard player to dislike. He’s always on the puck, he’s got great hands, he can penalty kill, he passes the puck well and he opens up to make himself available offensively. While he’s not the biggest, strongest, fastest, or most talented kid, he understands how to play from A to B. He’s also stronger than you might think at a cursory glance and uses his body positioning to come up with his fair share of pucks. And then he also has skill — enough to deceive, pick apart schemes with the puck and make plays off of all of the retrievals he wins. I’m a fan. He has some intriguing qualities, he’s versatile and he plays the same way regardless of how much he’s playing or who he’s playing with. I’m not sure if he’ll be a full-time NHLer as opposed to a tweener, because it is a little hard to decipher what his role will be, but he showed well in his first call-up and has always been a well-liked player wherever he has gone.

<strong>Ville Koivunen, RW/LW, 20 (Kärpät)</strong>

Koivunen’s a highly entertaining and gifted winger who has been one of the more productive young players in Liiga (especially considering his June birthday) over the last three seasons (though after he impressed in the first two games of the canceled world juniors in Edmonton, he disappointed me in Halifax).

He can be a delight to watch with the puck on his stick when he’s playing confidently. He’s a crafty problem-solver whose game tilts toward offense (he’s got work to do to become a more reliable player defensively, although he can hang). He can manufacture offense in a lot of ways off of the perimeter, whether that’s playing pucks into space with the perfect weight or baiting defenders into reaches so that he can cut past them. He can carve the offensive zone up as a dual-threat scorer and passer. I’ve also seen him look quite effective taking pucks off the cycle to the interior (though not consistently), even though he’s more dangerous in open ice. I’ve seen him twist and turn away from good defenders. He has also had a bit of a growth spurt (he was listed at 5-foot-11 and 161 pounds in his draft year and he’s 6 feet and 172 pounds). I still see potential top-nine upside with the right development plan and some patience, even if his odds of meeting it are low to medium.

<strong>Cruz Lucius, RW, 19 (University of Wisconsin)</strong>

After battling a wrist injury in his draft year, Lucius came on strong late in it with 12 points in his final 10 games at the program on a dominant “third” line with captain Rutger McGroarty. In the two years since, he has built on that with back-to-back seasons as the Badgers’ leading scorer (about a point per game) as a freshman and sophomore.

Lucius is a patient playmaker who slows the game down and uses delays, lightly weighted passes and the attention he pulls into himself to create through layers for his linemates. Like his older brother Chaz, his skating (which pitchforks) is the primary concern with his projection. But he plays within the pace of play so well, problem solves really effectively and has a sneaky quick and accurate release that I wrote in his draft year I believed was going to produce greater goal totals than we’d seen to date (which we’ve seen more of in college). He will ultimately be defined, though, by his ability to continue to wait for plays to develop and stay cerebral as the speed of the level around him ramps up. If he can, he’ll be a complementary playmaking winger. He has never lacked confidence and decisiveness in his game.
Forum: NHL TradesMar. 8 at 12:22 a.m.
Thread: (PIT/CAR) - Guentzel, Smith for Bunting, Koivunen, Ponomarev, Lucius, 2024 2nd (PHI), 2024 5th (CAR)
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>ricochetii</b></div><div>My first two thoughts:

1. Dubas tried to pressure teams into better offers by putting an early deadline on a deal and it backfired, reducing the competition.
2. Are GMs finally regaining their sanity and pushing back against rental prices?

With so many teams going all in the last couple of seasons and multiple GMs being faced with serious pick/prospect shortages, maybe the analysts are getting through with data about just how effective deadline additions are and what acceptable risk is with respect to cost/benefit.

Bad negotiating, buyer's market, or paradigm shift?</div></div>

I think you're on to something there.

Carolina is always on the progressive side of roster management and it was my main concern in Pittsburgh working on a deal with them - Carolina was always going to win.

This feels like an Eric Tulsky deal with Don Waddell's name on it.
Forum: Armchair-GMJun. 8, 2023 at 10:12 a.m.
Thread: Granlund Buyout Bottom 6 Rebuild
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>JSEB93</b></div><div>You are correct that you can't bury Carter - but you have the space to keep him so no biggie. I'd be surprised if Pacioretty comes that cheap even with the injuries, but still might be able to squeeze him in even with a raise.

I'm in the minority on this site in thinking that defense is perfectly fine haha. Overall a solid squad</div></div>

Yea, is there any way Carter's contract can come off the books? It still counts if he retires right?

I've seen Pacioretty projected at less than 2 million on a few different platforms, but I agree, I think he would command more, even with the injury history.

I also agree the the defense isn't in complete shambles, but I think one move might help. They need to add size with some edge. If Petry could dial his game to be more responsible but also more aggressive I think that would benefit the group a lot.
Forum: Armchair-GMJun. 8, 2023 at 7:44 a.m.
Thread: Granlund Buyout Bottom 6 Rebuild
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>pensfan21</b></div><div>Forward core is very good here, only issue is the D. It needs big changes, it was awful last year</div></div>

I agree that the D needs changes, but didn't want to go too off the wall with the adjustments. I actually think this forward group is realistic and hope these are the types of guys they bring in.

I think POJ can put a decent campaign together, if not I think he could be interchangeable with Ty Smith. Both players haven't really reached their breakout season with both having played less than 150 games.

I believe the best move is to trade Petry, but there are some barriers there. A NMC combined with an upside down contract really limit the market. If they combined him with an asset, I'd like to see him swapped for a left shot D at lower cost and term, that would give them flexibility to shop either Smith or POJ.

If they went that route, I think it'd be valuable for them to sign a depth RD, like Schenn, but it's really hard to say how things will shape up.

What do you think they should do on D?
Forum: NHL SigningsJul. 5, 2022 at 5:24 p.m.
Thread: Pittsburgh Penguins signed Casey DeSmith (2 Years / $1,800,000 AAV)
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Sidstick87</b></div><div>A 30yr old Goalie that had a break out season at 28, then 2 injury prone, up &amp; down seasons....

We just gave a #3 Goalie $1.8m Per.... Sooo Bad</div></div>

Agreed - the injuries are the biggest concern, but really - who cares when his breakout season was?

Isn't it more relevant to ask what can he provide and what's it worth?

Are his career stats what you would expect to see from a decent back up? I think so.

I know it sounds like I'm defending this signing as if it's a bulletproof plan, which it's not, but I'm just wondering - what are the better options? Holtby or Halak?

The only thing I can think of is Fleury at $2M - but I gotta think he's gonna get more than that somewhere else.
Forum: Armchair-GMMar. 31, 2022 at 1:17 p.m.
Thread: If we dont win this year
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>pensfan21</b></div><div>I think it was premature to re-sign Carter. Especially when we need more youth in the lineup. I just think the goal should be to do what is best to win another cup. It would have made fans happy and boosted ticket sales bringing Fleury back, but they didn't do it last offseason. I just don't think the right approach is to say rebuild in x amount of years for the front office. They should go year by year, see how the playoffs shake out, and then determine because things can change quickly.</div></div>

That's a fair assessment and I agree with a few of those points. You definitely have to take it as it comes and assess in real time. I was hoping the Carter contract would be a lower hit, but I do think he brings a lot to the team. Stanley Cup winner, playoff experience, position versatility, locker room leadership, blah blah blah. I know Pittsburgh isn't stocked with young prospects, but I bet the first year NHLers enjoy having a wiley vet in there to give em some atta boys.

Having said that, I think Pittsburgh's situation is unique in the sense that Crosby has 3 years left on his deal and he just secured his 17th straight PPG season. They owe it to him as much as anything to try to be competitive as long as he's there.

Also, you're right about Fleury, that would have made fans happy, but it would have cost them future assets, which by holding, help their approach towards the future. They can get him next year as a UFA if they really want him, I have a feeling he wants to end in Pittsburgh.