mikey287 wrote:Under normal circumstances, Luckybreak, I wouldn't pose such an offer because it's not a Penguins move. But we're not the same team we were in 2008 and 2009. We used to be a Snickers bar made almost entirely of peanuts, we had some softer, creamier parts (Sykora, Gonchar). Now, we're a Three Musketeers bar pretty much...maybe a stale one, as we have some crunch on the bottom side with Tanner Glass and whoever...but it doesn't look like we're building the same thing as before...note: 6'4", 225 lb. Tangradi out, 5'2" 80 lb. Boychuk in. If we were going to be a board-playing, cycling, hard team to play against, we'd be making personnel moves that mimic that mantra.
Thus, PMB - if he can be had for a song - wouldn't be a bad choice. If we're looking for skill over substance, Butchy boy is it...
Just got back today from a work trip, was able to follow a bit but trying to catch up.....I missed a lot.
Anyways, Mikey I love this analogy. The one thing I try to point out from that cup team is that they were a b**** to play against. The trend to a different type of player actually started the day after the cup was hoisted. I am not overly romanticizing Talbot and Fedetenko, but they had awful seasons in 09-10 and were run off, IIRC Feds was even scratched most of the playoffs.
They went on to have decent years after leaving once put back into the roles they were successful at as SECOND line players here, I capitalized it to prove a point, which is we proved you dont need all top 6 guys to succeed, especially with Sid and Geno. I mean, even Neal (and I am not bashing him) is a sniper more than anything else. He is not a banger, even for his size.
The trend shifted on defense as well.
Now time will tell if the strategy is right or wrong, but at some point we are going to need some umph on "both sides of the ball". My analogy is we cant stop the run or control the clock. I cant remember the last time we actually carried the play for an extended time with cycle, while punishing their defense and keeping control. Other teams game plan to punish Letang, we cant game plan to stop that or even to the same to their equivalent unless we use our skates to cut them (too soon?).
Back to the thread at hand - not sure what we will be available at the deadline. Our chips are only valuable to a team trying to drop an impending UFA at the deadline. With finances being a major force in the NHL right now, an ownership will want to take a shot with the impending UFA for a round of home games ticket sales and try his their hand in free agency, then give up on the season for a high bust rate position playing prospect (PMD). Either way I am not sure there is a ton out there anyways. Hossa, Neal - those were pretty good circumstances we fell into.
My best guess is at the deadline we have a much better chance for some defense depth.
) Sullivan? And whilst the 'waterbug' was fun to watch dipsy doodling about with the puck it didn't get us far in the playoffs.
