Roberts to Pens?

[magnum]

According to a league source, Pens have asked Roberts to make a decision by 9 pm eastern. They have a few other things in the fire that hinge on the deal with Florida and Roberts waiving his NTC.

Pens are balking at the price Phoenix wants for Georges Laraque as the Pens have had more interest in defenseman Nick Boynton.

Thanks for the updates, Bowser.

I'll trust your sources before I believe a single media report. Even if nothing happens with the information from your end, it's always more logical and worthwhile discussing instead of some of the shlock from other sites.

boynton > laraque

Boynton is way too much per year...he's not worth giving up prospects and/or roster players in addition to the 3 mill a year he doesn't deserve

your the only person on the face of the universe who would want laraque over boynton, regardless of there contracts(cept maybe sportsfan)

I'll second this one.

Good defensemen cost money. Crappy defensemen are cheap or overpaid and playing on the Flyers. Middle of the road defensemen are cheaper.

If you want defensemen better than what we have, they won't be cheap.

[Stoosh]

I can't take MM saying that Roberts is to slow to play with Crosby....Is Gary Roberts a hack and I don't see it? He is not a speed monger, but he has played with skilled guys his whole career...

KG,

The funny thing is that he's bashing Roberts up one side and down the other, and if this trade happens, he'll have him on his show by the end of the week and he'll be kissing his *** in an interview.

[KG]

I can't take MM saying that Roberts is to slow to play with Crosby....Is Gary Roberts a hack and I don't see it? He is not a speed monger, but he has played with skilled guys his whole career...

KG,

The funny thing is that he's bashing Roberts up one side and down the other, and if this trade happens, he'll have him on his show by the end of the week and he'll be kissing his *** in an interview.

I never listen to this guy, but the stuff he is spewing just annoyed me. Here in NY I hear sports radio like this all the time. What's up with the callers? they sound like they are afraid to give him their opinion. Whatever.

[magnum]

I can't take MM saying that Roberts is to slow to play with Crosby....Is Gary Roberts a hack and I don't see it? He is not a speed monger, but he has played with skilled guys his whole career...

KG,

The funny thing is that he's bashing Roberts up one side and down the other, and if this trade happens, he'll have him on his show by the end of the week and he'll be kissing his *** in an interview.

Good thing it isn't the other way around. Roberts is only going to probably be a rental. He wouldn't have enough time to finishing kissing that monstrosity.

[Paulie_WalnutzII]

If you call Madden with an opinion that differs from his, you will be interrupted, berated, made to look a fool, and hung up on before you are able to get a point across. Last week, I was so tempted to call in because he kept stating that Laraque doesn't play much, and when he is dressed, he usually doesn't leave the bench.

[Daniel]

I was so tempted to call in because he kept stating that Laraque doesn't play much, and when he is dressed, he usually doesn't leave the bench.

Thing is, he can spin it to say that 12 minutes out of 60 isn't usually leaving the bench.

[magnum]

At least it sounds like Madden was against bringing Laraque here. There must be some intelligence bouncing around in that big head of his head

[Paulie_WalnutzII]

Which is the perfect reason to bring him here.

[kirk]

I can't take MM saying that Roberts is to slow to play with Crosby....Is Gary Roberts a hack and I don't see it? He is not a speed monger, but he has played with skilled guys his whole career...

I really don't get this. Is Roberts a noticeably faster skater than Malone? I don't think so. But, he's a smarter skater, along the same lines that Staal is a smart skater with deceptive speed. He will give Sid everything Malone doesn't, a guy who wins 1 on 1 battles along the boards, a guy who will help a little more in transition, a guy who knows how and when to establish and maintain possession in front of the net, and a guy who anticipate and see, rather than react to, a developing play.

But, beyond all of that, here's an angle to consider. Roberts has given TB fits all year. He traditionally has given Ottawa fits. On other words, he's a guy who can help the Pens with their two potentially most unfavorable playoff matchups.

[Pipes Hochuli]

if there were a deal out there...

malone, welch, and say some picks

for

someone better than gary roberts OR a legit defensive upgrade
(no rentals)

would you think that would benefit the team more than roberts and say some middle to lower tier defenseman

[kirk]

if there were a deal out there...

malone, welch, some picks

for

someone better than gary roberts / a legit defensive upgrade
(no rentals)

would you think that would benefit the team more than roberts and say some middle to lower tier defenseman

Yes, but even if Doan and Boyton both could be acquired in a trade, the price tag would be infinitely greater than Malone, Welch, some picks.

[crzymike]

Eklund: Sources say that Roberts is "Seriously considering" going to Pitt at this hour.

Well I would certainly hope that as an adult and a professional, the man would seriously consider any option he was given. Eklund is really giving some earth-shattering news there.

Whats even better is that he reported Kovy was on waivers after USA Today incorrectly did.


Thus rendering obvious where he gets his sources from.

He said on leafslunch that he didnt see Roberts waiving the no trade clause to come here ,WOW! What a piece of work eklund is!

[Bowser]

Pipes - Are you willing to eat some major crow if the Pens acquire Roberts so they can move another forward to get the important veteran defenseman. There is a domino effect required to improve the blueline, Roberts deal needs to happen for Pens to feel comfortable.

[RxBandit66]

Methinks two trades R in the works....

Roberts to the top line and Nolan or Doan to the second line. Maybe you all get your wish and Ouellet will be moved off that line.

Boynton may be headed here as well. Welch will be traded for Roberts so I've heard, and Malone and picks to the Yotes for any combination of Nolan/Boynton/Doan (I really hope its Doan).

[SportsFan]

Doan isn't going to get traded. They just signed him to a 5 year contract.

[IcePack]

Not much new but PG has this on their web site @5:33

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07057/765150-100.stm

[Corvidae]

Doan isn't going to get traded. They just signed him to a 5 year contract.

This is true. Also, Nolan is washed up and I REALLY hate him. Shero should consider my feelings when making trades.

[kirk]

Methinks two trades R in the works....

Roberts to the top line and Nolan or Doan to the second line. Maybe you all get your wish and Ouellet will be moved off that line.

Boynton may be headed here as well. Welch will be traded for Roberts so I've heard, and Malone and picks to the Yotes for any combination of Nolan/Boynton/Doan (I really hope its Doan).

Methinks you are correct. Methinks if the other deal is Malone, Ouellet, Melichar, and a #1 for Nolan and Boynton that me will not be too depressed. Meknows Roberts and Nolan is a lot of years to add to the equation, but methinks Roberts-Sid-Rex and Staal-Malkin-Nolan represents an upgrade, especially for the type of hockey that will be played in the playoffs. Methinks Ekman is coming back, so there's a buffer if someone gets hurt or EC doesn't perform on the third line. Methinks Boynton gives the Pens a top four defenseman. And, methinks with Roberts, Nolan, and Ekman coming off the books at the end of the year, the Pens will have money to spend in free agency to sign a winger for Sid.

[magnum]

Methinks two trades R in the works....

Roberts to the top line and Nolan or Doan to the second line. Maybe you all get your wish and Ouellet will be moved off that line.

Boynton may be headed here as well. Welch will be traded for Roberts so I've heard, and Malone and picks to the Yotes for any combination of Nolan/Boynton/Doan (I really hope its Doan).

Methinks you are correct. Methinks if the other deal is Malone, Ouellet, Melichar, and a #1 for Nolan and Boynton that me will not be too depressed. Meknows Roberts and Nolan is a lot of years to add to the equation, but methinks Roberts-Sid-Rex and Staal-Malkin-Nolan represents an upgrade, especially for the type of hockey that will be played in the playoffs. Methinks Ekman is coming back, so there's a buffer if someone gets hurt or EC doesn't perform on the third line. Methinks Boynton gives the Pens a top four defenseman. And, methinks with Roberts, Nolan, and Ekman coming off the books at the end of the year, the Pens will have money to spend in free agency to sign a winger for Sid.

Me don't mind this idea too much. Me thinks you could be onto something.

[penny lane]

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/morriso ... on_to.html

Gary Roberts holding out hope for the leaf...

[Guins]

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/morrison/2007/02/gary_roberts_has_a_decision_to.html

Gary Roberts holding out hope for the leaf...

Obviously so is Scott Morrison

[RxBandit66]

Roberts would be F*&king CRAAAAZZZZZYYY to not want to play with Sid!

[Pipes Hochuli]

Pipes - Are you willing to eat some major crow if the Pens acquire Roberts so they can move another forward to get the important veteran defenseman. There is a domino effect required to improve the blueline, Roberts deal needs to happen for Pens to feel comfortable.

Not really, I've never denied the d for a forward, forward for a d balancing of the roster

I would rather package malone and welch for a much stronger upgrade on D...with ekman coming back we're balanced, and just like roberts he doesnt correct the long-term problem.

[The U]

If we get Roberts and then trade Malone/EC/Welch or whatever to LA or PHX for Miller or Boynton or whatever (maybe even a package deal) I wouldnt mind at all.

With Ekman coming back Roberts doesnt even have to play on line 1. Roberts would be fine on our 3rd line, he'd do a good job in that banging, crashing roll.

Our #1 priority has to be defense. If we "have to" acquire Roberts in order to ship out Malone or EC or whomever and then get a GOOD defenseman, it'll all be worth it IMO.

[mikulas]

Roberts would be F*&king CRAAAAZZZZZYYY to not want to play with Sid!

It's entirely possible that Roberts would love to play with Crosby, but would not agree to come to Pittsburgh. Do you see why?