Arron Asham

[MRandall25]

I'd say keep Asham... It strikes me funny how the board wished the Pens had more toughness, but want to get rid of one of the toughest guys on the team...

[pfim]

They could do a lot worse with his 9 minutes per game.

[Gaucho]

No knock on the guy, but the taming of the Cooke certainly didn't help as far as being hard to play against.

[RisslingsMissingTeeth]

I look at someone like a Wayne Simmonds from Philly as the same type of role player yet Wayne is a much more dangerous all arounder than Arron. I would cut him and try to find someone with a larger skill set.

I'll be disappointed if he or Adams is back next year.

[shmenguin]

I look at someone like a Wayne Simmonds from Philly as the same type of role player

i never would have expected to hear that comparison in a million years

[RisslingsMissingTeeth]

I look at someone like a Wayne Simmonds from Philly as the same type of role player

i never would have expected to hear that comparison in a million years

Yeah, I admit it is odd but I guess that is how I look at the world. Simmonds is an antagonizer but shows you that you can be a jerk and still put the puck in the net. Basically like Cookie used to be but even a better set of hands than Matt.

[Penspal]

He does bring valuable elements to the team, (toughness, attitude, experience), but he was a large part of that debacle in game 2. Mario was not happy. While Asham is a great guy from all accounts, his actions coupled with Mario and the team's playoff frusrtation, there must and will be changes, and he's caught up in that. I suspect he'll be re-signed by another team if he's willing to take little pay. Too bad, but the winds of change are blowing and guys like Asham have been around long enought to know how it works.

[GenoMachino71]

I look at someone like a Wayne Simmonds from Philly as the same type of role player yet Wayne is a much more dangerous all arounder than Arron. I would cut him and try to find someone with a larger skill set.

I'll be disappointed if he or Adams is back next year.

Simmonds is a really good player....

if he were on the open market, he would get around 4 million from a team on a long term deal....

obviously everyone wants guys like him, but thats why hes special.... guys like him dont grow on trees

[GenoMachino71]

He does bring valuable elements to the team, (toughness, attitude, experience), but he was a large part of that debacle in game 2. Mario was not happy. While Asham is a great guy from all accounts, his actions coupled with Mario and the team's playoff frusrtation, there must and will be changes, and he's caught up in that. I suspect he'll be re-signed by another team if he's willing to take little pay. Too bad, but the winds of change are blowing and guys like Asham have been around long enought to know how it works.

he was part of that "debacle" yes, and u dont want to see that in the playoffs....

but I do like the fact that he does stand up for his teammates.... and he's not a complete goon/bum like other guys who have that role

he went after Schenn because he hit Martin up high (and ultimately concussed him)

he went after Schenn in the game in the regular season after he crosschecked Crosby from behind for no reason.... also in that game, after all the fighting, Rinaldo was yapping at the Pens bench and Asham went over to him and was ready to go

look at the Beagle fight.... it all happened because he hit Letang up around the head and knocked his helmet off.... I like having a guy like him on the team, especially in the regular season....

I think he would be a solid 12th/13th forward for the minimum.... he's a solid enough player that he can give you some games in the regular season and not hurt the team (the way a guy like MacIntyre or Godard do) and give you a solid 8 to 10 minutes a game on the 4th line, especially vs a team like Philly, Washington, or NY when you know things are going to get chippy

[hbysmd]

ASHAM is still hanging in the burgh...and must be banking on a new contract somewhere. Saw him at the Rivers Casino betting 200 a hand at the 15 dollar table.

[ffemtreed]

so who do we add to a Vitale Asham 4th line next year?

We need a speedy forward who can win the battle to the corner on a dump and chase and not be afraid of getting their nose dirty. Also probably needs to excel on the PK blocking shots.

[czwalga]

ASHAM is still hanging in the burgh...and must be banking on a new contract somewhere. Saw him at the Rivers Casino betting 200 a hand at the 15 dollar table.

Yeah, I was playing at the table right next to him. I swore I saw him by his face, then I saw his body and I questioned it. Was a lot smaller than I was expecting.

[GenoMachino71]

yeah Asham is still in Pitt

saw him, Neal, and Crosby at Mario's last Wednesday night

[Defence21]

so who do we add to a Vitale Asham 4th line next year?

We need a speedy forward who can win the battle to the corner on a dump and chase and not be afraid of getting their nose dirty. Also probably needs to excel on the PK blocking shots.

There's a guy by the name of Craig Adams who is loved by the coaching staff. I'm a fan of his, but admittedly, he's lost a step. Still, it matters not what we the fans think -- he'll be on the fourth line next season.

[MRandall25]

I still don't get where this notion that Craig Adams has lost a step is coming from...

This is the only place I've even seen it mentioned. And I disagree. You could be a lot worse than Craig Adams with regards to speed.

[Defence21]

I still don't get where this notion that Craig Adams has lost a step is coming from...

This is the only place I've even seen it mentioned. And I disagree. You could be a lot worse than Craig Adams with regards to speed.

No question, his speed isn't terrible. But he isn't the same player he was when he won so many fans over. Even so, I'm a huge fan and will be happy to see him back on the fourth line next season.

[sil]

Adams had a really poor second half last year. His PK work was good like always, but he was trainwreck out there for even strength play. He hasn't "lost a step" but he also didn't display the same calmness and control with the puck in the defensive and neutral zones that he has in the past...at least not at the end of the '12 season. I've no doubt (unless he were retire) that Adams will be back, but I'd also be surprised if he was an every night player next season. Still a great voice to keep in the locker room.

[shmenguin]

Adams can't forecheck anymore and continually loses races to the puck in his own end. There's your diminishing speed.

He's in the NHL because he's been an excellent penalty killer. He's also useful in late game situations with a lead - since it's 6-5 and pretty much a PK anyways. He's turned into a terrible ES player though. He can't skate out of pressure, make a pass, win battles for pucks or almost anything else that makes for good ES defense. He can block shots and stay in a small assigned space as good as anyone, but that doesnt cut it when there are young cheap horses out there who can skate fast and bang bodies. They won't score, but who cares.

[MRandall25]

Adams can't forecheck anymore and continually loses races to the puck in his own end. There's your diminishing speed.

He's in the NHL because he's been an excellent penalty killer. He's also useful in late game situations with a lead - since it's 6-5 and pretty much a PK anyways. He's turned into a terrible ES player though. He can't skate out of pressure, make a pass, win battles for pucks or almost anything else that makes for good ES defense. He can block shots and stay in a small assigned space as good as anyone, but that doesnt cut it when there are young cheap horses out there who can skate fast and bang bodies. They won't score, but who cares.

I think we're watching different games.

[sil]

Adams can't forecheck anymore and continually loses races to the puck in his own end. There's your diminishing speed.

He's in the NHL because he's been an excellent penalty killer. He's also useful in late game situations with a lead - since it's 6-5 and pretty much a PK anyways. He's turned into a terrible ES player though. He can't skate out of pressure, make a pass, win battles for pucks or almost anything else that makes for good ES defense. He can block shots and stay in a small assigned space as good as anyone, but that doesnt cut it when there are young cheap horses out there who can skate fast and bang bodies. They won't score, but who cares.

I think we're watching different games.

I don't know if it's quite as bad as Smenguin is saying, but Craig was abysmal during even strength play most of this year. The turnovers and lack of reaction against a tough forecheck were particularly bothersome for me. Special teams aside, Richard Park was significantly better 5-on-5 in 2011-12.

[ffemtreed]

I agree with those who are saying he lost a step, its pretty obvious watching him over the past few years he doesn't have the same characteristics anymore. I can't say if his footspeed is slower, or is it his reaction time or just needs a scene change to get his intensity back but somewhere along the line something is missing with his game.

The complete lack of ability to cycle a puck and grind down low was non existent almost all season on the 3rd and 4th lines, this is why we had trouble protecting leads and killing clock time. The only thing that really saved us during the regular season was our PK. If it weren't for a top 5 PK I bet RS would have made some more drastic changes to our depth players at the deadline.

[darkstar57]

i beleive adams is still signed through next year, i am fine with him being a 13 forward who we give 30-40 games and maybe keep fresh for the playoffs and hopefully he can unleash one final run. Other then that he has lost a step. Let the 4th line get younger and fresher

[Pensrock]

i beleive adams is still signed through next year, i am fine with him being a 13 forward who we give 30-40 games and maybe keep fresh for the playoffs and hopefully he can unleash one final run. Other then that he has lost a step. Let the 4th line get younger and fresher

I agree but I don't think Disco Dan agrees with us.

Adams is a lock to be in the lineup night in and night out. Byslma loves him.

[joopen]

i beleive adams is still signed through next year, i am fine with him being a 13 forward who we give 30-40 games and maybe keep fresh for the playoffs and hopefully he can unleash one final run. Other then that he has lost a step. Let the 4th line get younger and fresher

I agree but I don't think Disco Dan agrees with us.

Adams is a lock to be in the lineup night in and night out. Byslma loves him.

That's because he was Craig Adams as a player