Quoting: hero9154
Just so you know, i'm not making this up. Here is the article from the Athletic with the Pittsburgh looking for defensive help and for someone to play with Karlsson. (https://theathletic.com/5234766/2024/01/31/penguins-jake-guentzel-trade-mailbag/). I believe it was Phil Bourque also reiterated this on nhl radio.
"If the Penguins go into full buyer mode, which is possible, I think they need to address the blue line. I wouldn’t have said this a couple of months ago. However, Ryan Graves’ continuing struggles are impossible to ignore. Graves actually played OK on the third pairing with Chad Ruhwedel, but he’s displayed no aptitude to play with Karlsson or Letang. So, finding someone to play top-four minutes on the left side is mandatory."
Again, not my words but people who cover the Penguins. And again, I never said he was a cap dump, that Pittsburgh won't get fair value for him due to a combination of his struggles and contract. Average defenseman is a #5 - #7 dman since there are more average players than good/great players.
Welcome to the internet, I know you are new here.
Let me give you some pointers.
That is called clickbait.....don't press it.
Their job is to say whatever sells clicks. "IF".......
Graves has never been a 3rd pair. Anyone looking at the minutes on the ice knows this. He is consistantly 4th. Simply go to fantasy tools, depth chart, penguins. and you can clearly see he plays 19:19 a night on average while the other two there are playing 12 and 13 minutes. That has not changed.
The other option on the LD is POJ and a rotating cast because he sucks and is AHL level.
So please don't tell me about how he's been a "3rd pairing". You clearly DO NOT KNOW.
His play has been average, his stats show this, not just the basic stats where his points are ok and he's a net + player on the ice, but his advanced stats like Corsi and Fenwick.
You read some total garbage on the internet and then come sprouting opinions. Try actually watching games to form opinions instead of being a useful clickbait idiot.
Maybe some research into players stats, etc... Hell both MP and Graves are playing with two guys in Letang and EK who are known to make bone head decisions. Yes they can be very good, but in their own end their are low light reels of bad decision making. Look at the letang to malkin pass for an empty net goal for an easy example this year.
Graves has been fine. The people who have issue with graves are the ones who need "something" to complain about for clicks......and well there you.
I won't get into why they blame graves instead of pointing out the horrible 3rd pairing of AHL level talent. Or the rotating forward group of AHL level quality.
Somethings are just easier to get a click on i guess without getting backlash....