Post by Pittsburgh Penguins on Feb 22, 2017 23:15:41 GMT
February 22, 2017
Team Article 2
10 Days on the Mean Streets of Pittsburgh PA
Greetings Pens faithful
It has been 10 days since Gm Rick took over Management of the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey club. The team has a respectable 6-3-1 record in their last 10 games, as they attempt to hold off the surging Sabres. Currently the Pens hold the last wild card spot in the Eastern Conference 1 point behind Washington and 1 point ahead of the Sabres. The team is a solid offensive unit, led by Evgeni Malkin who has 79 points in 66 games.
Coach Sutter
" I am confident that we can generate offense,we are a top 10 offensive unit, we have a lot of skill upfront, but our defense has me a little concerned,we look to be overall a notch below the best teams offensively and maybe a notch and a half defensively."
Now it hasn't helped that the aging Markov(37) and Sekera(30) both went down with injury,causing the Pens to grab Gunarsson off waivers and call up TVR off the farm. Tanev and Ekholm led what was left on the blue line,logging extra minutes. This also highlighted the need for the Pens to find a true #1 dman going forward. Yesterday in a deal with the Islanders the Pens acquired just that in Ryan Suter. It was costly as Ryan Getslaf and Zach Smith were the price to land the smooth skating, sound two way d man.
Gm Rick
" We were talking to three teams back and forth for the past week, which was relatively fruitless, other than it gives one a chance to delve into the thinking of other GM's, what they value, do they over price their players, or don't they, do they only do one sided deals,or do they look for win win deals,etc. Finally we took a chance and just sent the word out that Getslaf was available and we were looking for defense,we were hoping it didnt take long,now that Ryan knew he was being shopped,we didnt want to create an uncomfortable locker room for the boys. The Islanders answered the call just a few hours after the word was sent out and it didnt take either of us long to agree on which Ryan we wanted."
The Pens were excited to get Suter into the line up, but just as Markov and Sekera returned from injury, Suter suffered an injury and as of now remains day to day, so the fans will have to wait to see their new addition.
Coach Sutter
" Its exactly what I was looking for and believed our hockey club needed, someone to settle things down in our end, lead the PP and the PK, he's good really good."
SIM Perspective
The previous GM did a nice job in the draft, after all he was competitive and the team responded in the 2nd year , Malkin was a fine 1st pick where he was sitting, but with my 2nd pick I would have drafted a cornerstone D man, like Suter. So I feel now that at least in a small way I am beginning to put my stamp on the team. Scheifele is a true blessing, he may not get the press of some of the other young centers but he is proving in the NHL just how good he is and he's a little nasty, I like that, not the Flyers goons of the 70's but he has some edge, like a Messier. Jaden Schwartz is an excellent young player, Baertschi might turn out, Ekholm is not bad on D, in that age group and Jake Bean should be the real deal, a top flight PP QB and maybe a 2-3. There are a few other intriguing youngsters on the farm but no sure fire blue chippers in my opinion. I would have drafted more youth, but I also probably would have missed the playoffs as a result as well. It is a fun team with a couple of top notch fun to watch on TV superstars, at least one superstar of the future in Scheif and Schwartz is pretty solid with still more to give.
Its been really nice talking trade and getting to know you guys, your obviously a skilled group of GM's, maybe we will talk more as the deadline nears.
....out for now....peace
Team Article 2
10 Days on the Mean Streets of Pittsburgh PA
Greetings Pens faithful
It has been 10 days since Gm Rick took over Management of the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey club. The team has a respectable 6-3-1 record in their last 10 games, as they attempt to hold off the surging Sabres. Currently the Pens hold the last wild card spot in the Eastern Conference 1 point behind Washington and 1 point ahead of the Sabres. The team is a solid offensive unit, led by Evgeni Malkin who has 79 points in 66 games.
Coach Sutter
" I am confident that we can generate offense,we are a top 10 offensive unit, we have a lot of skill upfront, but our defense has me a little concerned,we look to be overall a notch below the best teams offensively and maybe a notch and a half defensively."
Now it hasn't helped that the aging Markov(37) and Sekera(30) both went down with injury,causing the Pens to grab Gunarsson off waivers and call up TVR off the farm. Tanev and Ekholm led what was left on the blue line,logging extra minutes. This also highlighted the need for the Pens to find a true #1 dman going forward. Yesterday in a deal with the Islanders the Pens acquired just that in Ryan Suter. It was costly as Ryan Getslaf and Zach Smith were the price to land the smooth skating, sound two way d man.
Gm Rick
" We were talking to three teams back and forth for the past week, which was relatively fruitless, other than it gives one a chance to delve into the thinking of other GM's, what they value, do they over price their players, or don't they, do they only do one sided deals,or do they look for win win deals,etc. Finally we took a chance and just sent the word out that Getslaf was available and we were looking for defense,we were hoping it didnt take long,now that Ryan knew he was being shopped,we didnt want to create an uncomfortable locker room for the boys. The Islanders answered the call just a few hours after the word was sent out and it didnt take either of us long to agree on which Ryan we wanted."
The Pens were excited to get Suter into the line up, but just as Markov and Sekera returned from injury, Suter suffered an injury and as of now remains day to day, so the fans will have to wait to see their new addition.
Coach Sutter
" Its exactly what I was looking for and believed our hockey club needed, someone to settle things down in our end, lead the PP and the PK, he's good really good."
SIM Perspective
The previous GM did a nice job in the draft, after all he was competitive and the team responded in the 2nd year , Malkin was a fine 1st pick where he was sitting, but with my 2nd pick I would have drafted a cornerstone D man, like Suter. So I feel now that at least in a small way I am beginning to put my stamp on the team. Scheifele is a true blessing, he may not get the press of some of the other young centers but he is proving in the NHL just how good he is and he's a little nasty, I like that, not the Flyers goons of the 70's but he has some edge, like a Messier. Jaden Schwartz is an excellent young player, Baertschi might turn out, Ekholm is not bad on D, in that age group and Jake Bean should be the real deal, a top flight PP QB and maybe a 2-3. There are a few other intriguing youngsters on the farm but no sure fire blue chippers in my opinion. I would have drafted more youth, but I also probably would have missed the playoffs as a result as well. It is a fun team with a couple of top notch fun to watch on TV superstars, at least one superstar of the future in Scheif and Schwartz is pretty solid with still more to give.
Its been really nice talking trade and getting to know you guys, your obviously a skilled group of GM's, maybe we will talk more as the deadline nears.
....out for now....peace
