Quoting: pensfan21
So if we missed the playoffs by a point last year what will it be next year with everyone a year older? And with emerging teams like Buffalo, Detroit, and Ottawa likely to make the playoffs.
Smith didn't get a chance last year, but it matters a lot if his ceiling and talent level is higher because we need as much youth in the lineup as we can get. POJ was solid overall, but I wouldn't say he's a great 2nd pair guy. Solid, but much better on 3rd pair.
Gudas is for sure an improvement. He's been playing fantastic this playoffs. And physicality does matter. It's evidenced by this playoffs. There's no way we could handle Florida in a 7 game series with the physicality they bring. I know our system doesn't call for it, it's time to change the system. There's no way we can get enough youth and speed to be able to implement Sully's system. I'm not saying get a bunch of goons, but get some guys with physicality and grit who can also play. We need a Hornqvist type badly. That's what Bertuzzi is.
Vegas has a bunch of backups rotating in goal. Bobrovsky was not playing up to standard during the season. So much of winning in the playoffs is just what goalie gets hot at the right time. No one would've predicted Bobrovsky playing like this. I would rather have a solid 1a 1b tandem and see who gets hot then trade a valuable 1st round pick and prospect for a goalie who may or may not work out. The position is so volatile right now.
I can understand your criticisms, I just think a team like us right now should focus on the future and restoring our prospect pool, even if we try and retool the team through free agency and contend 1-2 more years.
Well it depends on the free agent signings. Crosby, Malkin, and Letang look great and I find it hard to believe they will have a massive drop off. Rakell, Rust, and Jake are in their prime still. Pettersson is just entering his prime. POJ and smith will be entering their primes in a few years, Rutta is in his early 30s still. Poehling and Nylander are still young. I mean you’re complaining about being old then trade young players to replace them with much older and lesser players lol. Make it make sense.
Again Smith’s ceiling isn’t higher than POJ’s lol. Smith’s ceiling is hoping to be where POJ is now. They are both the same age. Most likely what happens is POJ is a good 2nd pair D and Smith is a solid 3rd pair D. I mean it was only POJ’s first season. He should get better as he enters his prime.
Gudas for sure isn’t an improvement. It’s rearranging deck chairs on the titanic. He’s playing good this playoffs…whoopty do. Rutta played well with TB in the playoffs lol. That means nothing if he comes to Pittsburgh playing in Sully’s system which doesn’t call for that type of play. And whether you believe it’s time to change the system is irrelevant. Sully never will. So keep dreaming. Also I’ve never said I was against signing Bertuzzi. But as a whole the forward core sucks just as bad, if not worse than last year. If Bertuzzi is replacing Zucker, great. If he’s replacing a 40 goal scoring Guentzel AND Zucker …not so great.
Right vegas is doing that in the playoffs. You think that would hold up the whole regular season? And Florida only got in cause the pens crapped the bed. There are plenty of better options in free agency than the oft-injured Murray and the very inconsistent Korpisalo. You’re better off re-signing Jarry and bringing in a Freddy Andersen than this tandem.
The pens can restock their prospect pool by keeping their 1sts and signing college free agents and allowing for more opportunity in the AHL for drafted and signed players rather than filling up with guys like Caggiula, Ouellet, and other journeyman AHL players to play the significant roles. Maybe guys like Hallander wouldn’t sign 5 year deals in Sweden to take him to UFA or Lindberg wouldn’t sign a deal in Finland.