Penguins acquire Pierre-Olivier Joseph from STL

[FLPensFan]

No word yet on what goes back to STL. He's been a healthy scratch in STL for 7 games, and missed 3 with an injury.

[FLPensFan]

[EndO FanEra]

Future considerations possibly? That would be sweet.

[FLPensFan]

Officially for future considerations, with 90% of the time means an empty bag of nothing...

[Sigwolf]

Okaaay... not really sure what purpose that serves. Maybe next they can send a first to Edmonton to bring back Kapanen for a third time...

[thehockeyguru]

Good depth for when they trade Pettersson

[FLPensFan]

Dubas said on the GM show today that Pettersson is likely out for 2-3 weeks, which is why he is designated week to week.

[EndO FanEra]

Okaaay... not really sure what purpose that serves. Maybe next they can send a first to Edmonton to bring back Kapanen for a third time...

Left D depth. Petterson's injury. Familiar with the system/team. Free asset.

Or, maybe Graves/Grzelcyk is on their way out?

[Sigwolf]

Also a known quantity that does not make the team better, and is unlikely to do so in the future. He was nowhere near a Pettersson replacement the first go-round, and nothing indicates he is any better suited for it now.

Now if it comes with a move to unload Graves or Grz, that would be an improvement. Otherwise, just another body taking a contract spot on a team that is using far too many already.

[Daniel]

Also a known quantity that does not make the team better, and is unlikely to do so in the future. He was nowhere near a Pettersson replacement the first go-round, and nothing indicates he is any better suited for it now.

Now if it comes with a move to unload Graves or Grz, that would be an improvement. Otherwise, just another body taking a contract spot on a team that is using far too many already.

Who would be a suitable replacement though? If this team was on the rise, I'd give up an asset to get a solid replacement but two things. Pettersson is on a week to week basis so probably just after the new year, so not that many games. Second, this is a crap team and if they brought in Nik Lidstrom in his prime it won't change the outcome of this season.

Give up nothing, barely a cap hit, knows the system, play a half dozen games, either does well and good depth or does poorly and gone.

[KG]

We lost Ludvig to waivers, Aho is hurt and was bad in camp. JSI is injured. POJ provides competent depth for free especially with MP out. We were really scrapping the bottom of the WBS barrel on D men.

[Wyopen]

POJ is only signed for this year, right?

[Sigwolf]

That's the point. He doesn't improve the team, and he's not going to propel them into the playoffs. He's going to help them continue to tread water until more bodies are healthy and then he will be yet another liability towards the contract limit. They need to be moving out dead-weight contracts, not adding more. Sure, scrape the bottom of the WBS barrel until then and maybe get an unexpected performance from someone, or just accept the better draft position if you don't.

Adding additional third pairing defensemen does about as much to help this team as the two dozen or so bottom six forwards they've added in recent years. Adding another contract for a short term need does nothing.

[Sigwolf]

And I do get it... it doesn't hurt the team in the long run. It's just such a massive 'meh' acquisition when it would be really nice to see the team do something, anything, that would actually improve the team. Now or the future. This is the definition of a tread water move (oh, Pettersson is out a few weeks, quick, plug the hole), and the Pens have done a lot of that.

[KG]

POJ is only signed for this year, right?

Yes. He signed a 1 year $950K deal in the off-season. He is an RFA after the season.

Pens are now at 49 out of 50 allowed NHL contracts. Would like to move out a player or two so we have more flexibility to take players on come deadline time.

[Daniel]

That's the point. He doesn't improve the team, and he's not going to propel them into the playoffs. He's going to help them continue to tread water until more bodies are healthy and then he will be yet another liability towards the contract limit. They need to be moving out dead-weight contracts, not adding more. Sure, scrape the bottom of the WBS barrel until then and maybe get an unexpected performance from someone, or just accept the better draft position if you don't.

Adding additional third pairing defensemen does about as much to help this team as the two dozen or so bottom six forwards they've added in recent years. Adding another contract for a short term need does nothing.

There aren’t many scenarios where the Penguins make trades to be a contender this year and I agree they need to get rid of dead weight but adding a LH defensemen as depth isn’t a big deal.

[Maestro]

POJ is awesome and certainly a heck of a lot better at playing hockey than you. Here’s to him having a Pettersson like sprout of development and helping this team win.

[Pens4Life]

Nothing special, but ok - welcome back POJ! He is familiar with players, coach, system at least..

I will be extremely pissed off if this means Pickering back to WBS!

[Wyopen]

So I guess Pickering goes back to WBS. Based off numbers and waivers.

[Puck-Lurker]

Who would you rather play... POJ or one of Grzelcyk, Graves and Shea?

Hope Pickering stays up and plays, he's our best defensive defenceman right now.

[KG]

Who would you rather play... POJ or one of Grzelcyk, Graves and Shea?

Hope Pickering stays up and plays, he's our best defensive defenceman right now.

Hopefully Grzelcyk keeps improving his play so we can get a decent pick for him come deadline. I'm not a Shea fan. To me he's an AHL d man. I would play POJ over him. Graves they need to keep playing and figure out that situation.

[FLPensFan]

So I guess Pickering goes back to WBS. Based off numbers and waivers.

They returned Clurman to WBS already. When Pettersson is healthy, I wouldn't be surprised if POJ is waived. They gave up nothing to get him, so they give up nothing if he is claimed. Pickering is playing too well at the moment. He's the best defensive defenseman we have after Pettersson.

[dark_forces]

So I guess Pickering goes back to WBS. Based off numbers and waivers.

They returned Clurman to WBS already. When Pettersson is healthy, I wouldn't be surprised if POJ is waived. They gave up nothing to get him, so they give up nothing if he is claimed. Pickering is playing too well at the moment. He's the best defensive defenseman we have after Pettersson.

This is one small step above a waiver claim. I have no problem with it. He's young, can skate, and knows the system/players.
This is fine for an interim patch. Who knows, maybe there's a 6-7 slot available for him if he plays well, at least for the remainder of the season.

[FLPensFan]

In an email to reporters, Dubas cited the following reasons for trading for POJ:

1) Injuries - Pettersson, St. Ivany, and Aho are all injured
2) Depth - In addition to the injuries, Mac Hollowell is going to be playing for Team Canada in the Spangler Cup
3) Familiarity - Obviously with his time here, he was someone that could step in immediately.
4) Not signing - Says only reason Penguins didn't sign him is he had arbitration rights; they didn't want to qualify him and risk a bigger than expected award. Sounds like Penguins made him an offer, and he chose not to accept and go UFA route.

[KG]

In an email to reporters, Dubas cited the following reasons for trading for POJ:

1) Injuries - Pettersson, St. Ivany, and Aho are all injured
2) Depth - In addition to the injuries, Mac Hollowell is going to be playing for Team Canada in the Spangler Cup
3) Familiarity - Obviously with his time here, he was someone that could step in immediately.
4) Not signing - Says only reason Penguins didn't sign him is he had arbitration rights; they didn't want to qualify him and risk a bigger than expected award. Sounds like Penguins made him an offer, and he chose not to accept and go UFA route.

KD also used the word "confluence" I might need to Google that.