Ardelan to Finland

narcolept · Post by **narcolept** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 7:30 am

MARK ARDELAN from WBS > Lukko (FIN) 2008/09

3 day old news, and not that exciting, but it's an open D spot in WBS. Who will fill it, one of the D kids we've drafted, or a free agent journeyman AHLer?

Lots of D room open down here, possibly. Lannon is a UFA, Lovejoy is and hasn't yet accepte the 2-way he was offered. Nas is on his way to Germany as well, so Ardelan makes 4 (current) open top 6 D spots in WBS. Goligoski and Engelland are the only two from last year currently under contract who saw significant time.

Post by **eastonpensfan** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 8:37 am

I think that Bortuzzo is eligible to play in the AHL next year. Bissonnette was a converted D-man so, as Fletcher has already said they will offer him his RFA offer, put him back there. Goligoski, Engelland, and D'Aversa are under contract right now. That's 5. You have to figure that Lovejoy will accept the entry-level NHL deal because those terms are non-negotiable and spelled out in the CBA.

That puts the number at 6. I would expect that they would sign 2 veteran minor-league d-men (Lannon may be one of them) in the mold of an Ardelan or Nasreddine.

The blueline is actually in better shape than last year at this time.

K2 · Post by K2 » Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:58 pm

I'd actually rather they keep Biss at forward and groom him as a grinder/enforcer. Easton, is he better suited on defense?

Post by **eastonpensfan** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 2:09 pm

K2 wrote:
I'd actually rather they keep Biss at forward and groom him as a grinder/enforcer. Easton, is he better suited on defense?

I don't know that he's better suited for D. But, D is his natural position and so, if WBS needs D more than they need forwards, it is a pretty obvious solution.

Post by **WWGRD** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 3:09 pm

eastonpensfan wrote:
K2 wrote:
I'd actually rather they keep Biss at forward and groom him as a grinder/enforcer. Easton, is he better suited on defense?
I don't know that he's better suited for D. But, D is his natural position and so, if WBS needs D more than they need forwards, it is a pretty obvious solution.

I think Bis is better suited as a LW. He can crush the opposing defensemen with big checks. He even scored on a breakaway this year.

narcolept · Post by **narcolept** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:38 pm

WWGRD wrote:
eastonpensfan wrote:
K2 wrote:
I'd actually rather they keep Biss at forward and groom him as a grinder/enforcer. Easton, is he better suited on defense?
I don't know that he's better suited for D. But, D is his natural position and so, if WBS needs D more than they need forwards, it is a pretty obvious solution.
I think Bis is better suited as a LW. He can crush the opposing defensemen with big checks. He even scored on a breakaway this year.

He's a plus skater, for a bruiser, as well.

Henry Hank · Post by **Henry Hank** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 6:40 pm

I'd rather see him as a forward. He has some potential to make it to the NHL as a fourth line goon. He's probably not making it on D.

Pens need to make a couple Nasreddine/Weaver type signings to fill out WBS and provide more depth for the NHL team. The big Pens used ten defensemen last season and also had Lannon as a call-up so the depth's important.

Is Engelland ready to make the jump if injuries occur? Goligoski's gotta be first in line, but as of now he'd be next.

Post by **WWGRD** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 6:42 pm

Henry Hank wrote:
I'd rather see him as a forward. He has some potential to make it to the NHL as a fourth line goon. He's probably not making it on D.

Pens need to make a couple Nasreddine/Weaver type signings to fill out WBS and provide more depth for the NHL team. The big Pens used ten defensemen last season and also had Lannon as a call-up so the depth's important.

Is Engelland ready to make the jump if injuries occur? Goligoski's gotta be first in line, but as of now he'd be next.

Engelland is a great defensive defenseman. Almost always clears the zone. Hits a lot. Tough fighter. He should be ready.

K2 · Post by K2 » Tue Jun 17, 2008 10:35 pm

Hopefully WBS signs a couple vets. Bortuzzo and Grant are possibilities, but aside from Lannon, Eggy, and Lovejoy it's pretty thin back there. Gogo is in the mix, but he could end up in PIT at least part of next season. I like Biss better in the role he played this year and am not sold on D'Aversa

Nate Guenin would be a good signing if Philly doesn't give him a QO. He's a local product too (Hopewell?)

Dickie Dunn · Post by **Dickie Dunn** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 4:21 pm

At this point, I would use Engelland as a callup before Lannon.

narcolept · Post by **narcolept** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 6:51 pm

Dickie Dunn wrote:
At this point, I would use Engelland as a callup before Lannon.

Depends. If Lannon is resigned, it could very well go that way, but they're also different types of stay at home defenseman.

Lannon is like a Scuderi type, just a stay at home, defensively responsible guy. Engelland is Gill-like, where he likes to smash people and clear the crease at any opportunity while he's staying at home.