Waived: Brian Strait (Claimed by NY Islanders)

[Penguinzilla*]

Sadly, other than Malkin and Crosby, Jefferey is the only one with any offensive creativity; he should be given every chance to succeed. Yes, Neal can shoot, but other than that he lacks good hockey sense.

 

[Dupree13]

Agree. Thomas Hickey was interviewed in the same fashion and he didnt have any negativeness or bitterness directed toward the Kings he was just happy the NYI are giving him a chance. I dont think Strait was throwing DB under the bus i just think he was answering the question honestly. Hickey was picked #4 overall as opposed to Straits third round status.

Sure he was throwing him under the bus. He absolutely was. Instead of giving a PC answer he levelled specific complaints about his experience in Pittsburgh and how he was handled.

 

[Til the End of Time]

Bort can do a number of things for this team if he would just be allowed to. The guy is a really good player. He is a bigger, better version of Strait with more offensive upside.

He has a huge wingspan and he can play a shutdown role very well. He also isn't naturally mean, but he can take his game there when need be. He can be a crease clearing blueliner if asked to be.

He just needs to be put in and given some time to adjust. By the end of the season I'm willing to bet he will be the Pens most reliable blueliner, if given a shot.

There is a reason I was afraid of losing him to waivers and hopefully he can show people why.

sounds like exactly what the penguins need. every game that goes by and he isn't playing makes me angry.

 

[Dupree13]

How's his skating? We know that's the only thing Bylma values in a D man.

 

[Shrimper]

The lack of prospects getting chances does worry me.

Other teams seemed willing to give prospects 5 games to show themselves this year before sending them down. Why didn't we at least given them a try?

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

How's his skating? We know that's the only thing Bylma values in a D man.

He can skate well for a big man. He is not Despres though.

He is good in transition, lateral skating, his crossovers from a standstill off the boards when defending are sound. No holes there to pick on.

He has the wheels to join the rush or come late and make himself an option. He is far from being offensively Pejorative Slured. People will be a little surprised with his offensive game.

If he ever plays though, he may be too afraid to show that side of his game for fear of getting trapped and DB benching him.

 

[Darth Vitale]

Brian Strait to Shelley Anderson in the Post-Gazette:

"Any call-up I had the last couple of years, I was playing sparingly -- 12 minutes, 10 minutes," he said. "I'm getting a good opportunity here.

"It's nice when you have a coaching staff that shows trust in you. It was a different situation the last couple of years, only playing for 10 minutes and not knowing if I was going to go back out for another shift after I made a mistake."

Annnnnd, there you have it. Confirmation that Bylsma refuses to let players develop the right way once they're ready for the NHL / always deferring to veterans if a young player has a bad game or makes a mistake. More fuel for the lynch mob.

Not saying Strait would be our savior. He wouldn't even crack our Top 4 but the point is, he was ready to contribute and was not allowed to do that. Being replaced instead by Lovejoy, an arguably lesser D talent, but one with more games under his belt and took a puck to the face and so he's the guy.

 

[Riptide]

Annnnnd, there you have it. Confirmation that Bylsma refuses to let players develop the right way once they're ready for the NHL / always deferring to veterans if a young player has a bad game or makes a mistake. More fuel for the lynch mob.

Not saying Strait would be our savior. He wouldn't even crack our Top 4 but the point is, he was ready to contribute and was not allowed to do that. Being replaced instead by Lovejoy, an arguably lesser D talent, but one with more games under his belt and took a puck to the face and so he's the guy.

At what point does DB fear for his job?

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

At what point does DB fear for his job?

Burkle and Lemieux won't accept another first round exit.

If that happens, he is gone for sure. Zero doubts about that.

Especially if Shero corrects the roster uh.... Deficiencies.

 

[KIRK]

I hated giving up Strait for Lovejoy as much as anyone, but I'm sure any waiver wire pick-up would say the same thing...including Thomas Hickey, recently of the reigning Stanley Cup Champions.

That's the whole point of the waiver process. If guys can't crack a good team, they get to leave and get better opportunities on a lesser team.

I think the issue is more specifically about why Lovejoy cracked the lineup than generally about the waiver wire process.

 

[KIRK]

Burkle and Lemieux won't accept another first round exit.

If that happens, he is gone for sure. Zero doubts about that.

Especially if Shero corrects the roster uh.... Deficiencies.

Shero may have his own problems with another one and done whether or not he corrects them. Bylsma is his call.

 

[KIRK]

Bort can do a number of things for this team if he would just be allowed to. The guy is a really good player. He is a bigger, better version of Strait with more offensive upside.

He has a huge wingspan and he can play a shutdown role very well. He also isn't naturally mean, but he can take his game there when need be. He can be a crease clearing blueliner if asked to be.

He just needs to be put in and given some time to adjust. By the end of the season I'm willing to bet he will be the Pens most reliable blueliner, if given a shot.

There is a reason I was afraid of losing him to waivers and hopefully he can show people why.

Well, I could do all kinds of things to improve my life is I won the lottery. About as likely as Bortuzzo being given a shot, no?

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

Shero may have his own problems with another one and done whether or not he corrects them. Bylsma is his call.

Shero has a longer leash. If they flame out this year and next, he is done.

If they make the second round and show well, both will be safe. I'm almost certain of that.

Crosby and Malkin are a blessing and a curse. They are fun to watch, but they mask problems that should of been corrected by now.

 

[gordie]

I think the issue is more specifically about why Lovejoy cracked the lineup than generally about the waiver wire process.

Dan Bylsma believes every minor league player that he personally likes should be given a shot in the NHL.

 

[Riptide]

Shero has a longer leash. If they flame out this year and next, he is done.

If they make the second round and show well, both will be safe. I'm almost certain of that.

Crosby and Malkin are a blessing and a curse. They are fun to watch, but they mask problems that should of been corrected by now.

So very very true. And sadly, the team does have the ability to make the 2nd around (assuming they're not playing like complete ****). For me even a 2nd round appearance would not be enough to save a job on the face of things.

Then if you're putting benchmarks in (like a 2nd rd appearance), why even wait? Just pull the trigger (TML style) and get it over with.

 

[KIRK]

Shero has a longer leash. If they flame out this year and next, he is done.

If they make the second round and show well, both will be safe. I'm almost certain of that.

Crosby and Malkin are a blessing and a curse. They are fun to watch, but they mask problems that should of been corrected by now.

Said it earlier. Remember the TB game when Therrien was on the ropes where Geno put money on the board and then claimed it?

Geno did that for Bylsma last year many times, especially that Florida road trip (losing streak, captaincy article, 4-2 win in FLA, great road period at TB taking 3-0 lead then lose it in 5 minutes in the third, only to have Geno save the day).

I have no doubt that Sid and Geno will do it again. Heck, I'd even add Fleury to that list. The win at Ottawa was his gift to Bylsma (big assist, of course, to some of Ottawa's skill guys like Karlsson just all being off with their passing/shooting).

 

[Riptide]

Crosby and Malkin are a blessing and a curse. They are fun to watch, but they mask problems that should of been corrected by now.

Now we know what Washington has been going through the past few years, where their coaches have the talent, but that talent isn't playing well enough to mask their issues.

 

[KIRK]

Now we know what Washington has been going through the past few years, where their coaches have the talent, but that talent isn't playing well enough to mask their issues.

If BB had Malkin instead of Ovechkin the last two years, he'd still be there.

 

[mpp9]

I don't see how anyone can watch last night's game and think the players aren't dogging it. There's a difference between execution and effort. We didn't have either last night.

 

[KIRK]

I don't see how anyone can watch last night's game and think the players aren't dogging it. There's a difference between execution and effort. We didn't have either last night.

It was the Toronto game that got Therrien canned all over again.

Because Rowdy kept moaning about it, I actually looked at the record. Last 15 games and with media people calling for Therrien's hide saying he'd lost the players, he did as much as Bylsma has done with so much less in terms of personnel. It's an indictment of Bylsma, and it's an indictment of whatever Bylsma kool-aid residue there is around here.

 

[JTG]

Well, Strait just brought up what some thought.

 

[Zero Pucks]

Brian Strait to Shelley Anderson in the Post-Gazette:

"Any call-up I had the last couple of years, I was playing sparingly -- 12 minutes, 10 minutes," he said. "I'm getting a good opportunity here.

"It's nice when you have a coaching staff that shows trust in you. It was a different situation the last couple of years, only playing for 10 minutes and not knowing if I was going to go back out for another shift after I made a mistake."

-----

I know, easy to say what with the Islanders not having nearly as many established NHL D-men. But still.

I hope a lot of people in the front office sees this.

 

[Crafton]

I hope a lot of people in the front office sees this.

Tangradi, Jeffrey, Després and Bort should each buy Strait a beer for revealing the depth of their collective plight.

 

[Allie Kitsune]

Brian Strait to Shelley Anderson in the Post-Gazette:

"Any call-up I had the last couple of years, I was playing sparingly -- 12 minutes, 10 minutes," he said. "I'm getting a good opportunity here.

"It's nice when you have a coaching staff that shows trust in you. It was a different situation the last couple of years, only playing for 10 minutes and not knowing if I was going to go back out for another shift after I made a mistake."

-----

I know, easy to say what with the Islanders not having nearly as many established NHL D-men. But still.

We all knew this to be true, but still, it's no less infuriating to read.

 

[IcedCapp]

Well, Strait just brought up what some thought.

will anyone in the pittsburgh media ask DB about it?