Kaapo Cabana
Next name: Admiral Kakkbar
Pionk is overmatched in the NHL.
This is the biggest pay day he will get.
This is the biggest pay day he will get.
Around the NHL: Part XVI - Born on the First of July
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Gardner McKay
RIP, Jimmy.
Well, then good for him.
TheTakedown
Puck is Life
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His very FIRST point he made is in regards to ice time, so what he's using the "well the coach did X so Y is absolutely true"... Then he says Pionk is capable of 35 points. Then he says "defense? ehh! he has time!" Then he goes back to the ice time argument.
Then he gets on point totals and says Trouba could only score 40 points........
He's got ZERO concept of the worth regarding his defensive abilities
eco's bones
Registered User
Rookie season pretty much and he gets thrown out for the first half as a first pairing guy. He doesn't have the size or strength to handle big, skilled forwards and he wore down and as that happened he lost confidence.
The thing is I don't know if Neal has peaked yet--if he has he's like Michael Del Zotto 2.0 and no one in their right mind would have wanted Del Zotto on the first pair when he started with the Rangers either so slotting Pionk correctly would be the way to go to find out just how good he is. He's got an engine though--he can play 25 minutes a game night after night--there are a lot who can't but really OTOH he's not where he needs to be at to justify playing him that much. Personally I think he could turn into something like a Torey Krug who ain't a 1st pairing D either and gets a lot of shtick from Bruins fans for his shaky defensive play but IMO is still a valuable guy.
Anyway I didn't think Neal would get $3 mil per. Good for him I guess--it helps to be appreciated.
The thing is I don't know if Neal has peaked yet--if he has he's like Michael Del Zotto 2.0 and no one in their right mind would have wanted Del Zotto on the first pair when he started with the Rangers either so slotting Pionk correctly would be the way to go to find out just how good he is. He's got an engine though--he can play 25 minutes a game night after night--there are a lot who can't but really OTOH he's not where he needs to be at to justify playing him that much. Personally I think he could turn into something like a Torey Krug who ain't a 1st pairing D either and gets a lot of shtick from Bruins fans for his shaky defensive play but IMO is still a valuable guy.
Anyway I didn't think Neal would get $3 mil per. Good for him I guess--it helps to be appreciated.
Rongomania
I use my Kakko jersey as pajamas now.
True. Ok is a good summary for NP. Rangers going to look better and better in this trade.
TheTakedown
Puck is Life
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Pionk's probably a touch above average of an 18-min/night guy. He's not exceptional at anything, and with less minutes, he might look OK...
However, we also said this about Girardi and look what happened there
However, we also said this about Girardi and look what happened there
also uses games played as proof that pionk has time to get better ignoring the fact that trouba is only 16 months older
eco's bones
Registered User
Ideally last year he would have been a 3rd pair guy playing say 15 minutes a night--maybe some power play and maybe a little penalty kill (because I think that's important for all d-men) but not the main guy on either and not tasked with jobs like shutting down the Backstrom-Ovechkin-Wilson line or Crosby or Matthews or Barzal or Taylor Hall.
It's one of the reason why I think he might do alright with Winnipeg because he won't be getting those kinds of matchups or at least not a lot.
Hopefully Seeler got a nice Rolex out of the deal.
Zuccarello can afford it.
Zuccarello can afford it.
Kaapo Cabana
Next name: Admiral Kakkbar
I know it happened a while ago but if Zucc actually cares about winning, lol @ going to Minnesota
Minnesota was the only team offering 5 years. He took it. $30M. $10M in signing bonus money.
Oscar Lindberg
Registered User
Dunno, but to me Zucc was looking for one last big payday, not looking to win
Which is fine. But Minnesota isn’t winning anything while he’s there
Which is fine. But Minnesota isn’t winning anything while he’s there
- Oct 23, 2014
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How is Steve Kampfer as a comp for Neal Pionk and his career path? I see Neal following a similar trajectory. Bouncing between the A and NHL, playing decent in spurts in limited minutes. Good offensive instincts.
On a higher and more unrealistic end, maybe his career path turns into someone like Anton Stralman and he figures it out and blooms late.
On a higher and more unrealistic end, maybe his career path turns into someone like Anton Stralman and he figures it out and blooms late.
NYR Viper
Registered User
I think that's a good one. I always saw Matt Hunwick so similar level of play
- Oct 23, 2014
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Yeah, that's not a bad one either. 500+ NHL GP played though, I think Pionk will bounce around a little more.
leetch99
Leetch66 Joined 2007
Well....if nothing else that end to end rush against the Habs likely a great Ranger replay for years to come . If he has more like that in his duffel bag he might actually do OK in Winnipeg .
Morning Minute: Pionk's Incredible Goal Leaves Habs in the Dust - MSGNetworks.com
Morning Minute: Pionk's Incredible Goal Leaves Habs in the Dust - MSGNetworks.com
NYR94
Registered User
There are deficiencies in Pionk's game that I'm pretty confident he will not be able to overcome.
He wasn't a complete disaster away from Staal though so he has that going for him.
He wasn't a complete disaster away from Staal though so he has that going for him.
Bob Richards
Mr. Mojo Risin'
He piled on points in the first 20 games of last year (virtually all on the PP) and then essentially stopped scoring for the rest of the season
Hank is getting older and older.
Zuccarello is in his Minnesota Wild practice sweater.
I am not a big Panarin guy but I would rather have him than Hayes & Zuccarello for a combined $13,142,857 for each of the next 5 years. Two more years of Hayes at $7,142,857 per after Zuccarello's contract expires.
The Flyers will regret that contract before Christmas.
haohmaru
boomshakalaka
Procrastinator
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Why lol an minn? Lol at zucc if anything. He obviously wanted to get paid and live the rest of his life in comfort and peace as opposed to chasing the cup. His pay day is contractual. His cup is not.
Rangers ftw
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I’m not so sure, I always liked Hayes though. I think next season will be his best, scoring 60 pts.
TheTakedown
Puck is Life
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He piled on points in the first 20 games of last year (virtually all on the PP) and then essentially stopped scoring for the rest of the season
Yeah, did like 14 points in 20 games, but then that number becomes 19 points in 32 games, and then finally his point totals end up being 26 over 73... Those final 40 games of the season he put up 7 points in 40 games... That's abhorrent.
I'll be nice and pretend that the adrenaline start was all the team, and the team dragged Pionk down into the abyss.
14 in 20 is .7 PPG, moreover, 19 in 32 is .59PPG
7 in 40 is .175PPG
It's a clear downward trend. I'll take his 32 games and his 40 games and average those out.
.38 PPG. Over a 75 game season, that's a 28-30 point defenseman.
If Pionk does not learn how to play defense, then the 30 points he puts up won't be worth it. This isn't Erik Karlsson putting up 60 points and then adding shoddy defense -- he does enough on his own to mitigate the risks his play brings. Pionk does not have that luxury.
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