GDT: Free Agency: Dr Strangedubas or How We Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Nerd

[Turin]

Oh no I'm not referring to Penguins fans, I'm referring to other fans.

I totally understand Penguins fans wanting something new, I disagree with it but I understand it. But I fundamentally do not understand like Leafs fans acting like this is some horrendous deal.

I've noticed some are retroactively assessing Dubas negatively when they had been fairly pro Dubas before, and it's because they've resigned themselves to running it back with the same core that actually is to blame but with #grit. Not that they didn't have #grit before but this time it's real for some reason.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Yeah I don't understand the Canes being in on Karlsson at all if the DeAngelo deal is still in place. With that deal, they have this defense:

Slavin-Burns
Orlov-Pesce
Skjei-DeAngelo

Why the hell are you adding Karlsson at that point? That defense is already amazing, you don't need Karlsson at all.

 

[Turin]

Yeah I don't understand the Canes being in on Karlsson at all if the DeAngelo deal is still in place. With that deal, they have this defense:

Slavin-Burns
Orlov-Pesce
Skjei-DeAngelo

Why the hell are you adding Karlsson at that point? That defense is already amazing, you don't need Karlsson at all.

Imagine getting Tony D to do anything but play on your powerplay. EK to Carolina feels 100% like bargaining leverage for Pesce and thats it.

 

[cygnus47]

Yeah I don’t give a shit about b prospects and middling first picks at this point. We’re heading deep into tank territory once Sid and Geno are done. It’s gonna take 3-5 years to even get moving in the right direction. Having young average nhlers is not worth not going for it now.

The one good thing with all the signings except maybe eller is they’re all fast skaters. If there’s enough foot speed and defensively capable forwards, sully might even be tempted to let us be more aggressive defensively which would be bigger than any signing.

 

[Gurglesons]

Imagine getting Tony D to do anything but play on your powerplay. EK to Carolina feels 100% like bargaining leverage for Pesce and thats it.

Yeah it seems really bizarre to give Rod Karlsson, Burns and DeAngelo as your right side..

 

[Malkinstheman]

Nope.

Huh. So why is Carolina still after EK then. Trading for TDA at 50% leaves them with around 1.5m in cap space. Having both TDA and EK in the lineup is certainly a strategy

Yeah I don't understand the Canes being in on Karlsson at all if the DeAngelo deal is still in place. With that deal, they have this defense:

Slavin-Burns
Orlov-Pesce
Skjei-DeAngelo

Why the hell are you adding Karlsson at that point? That defense is already amazing, you don't need Karlsson at all.

This much hopium isnt good for me. All signs point to EK coming to Pit but I dont wanna get my hopes up

 

[Son Goku]

Why? he has a NMC? That's terrible asset management.

Do you really think they'd take that original deal? I wouldn't for a 100 point player

 

[DRAGO 18]

Yeah I don't understand the Canes being in on Karlsson at all if the DeAngelo deal is still in place. With that deal, they have this defense:

Slavin-Burns
Orlov-Pesce
Skjei-DeAngelo

Why the hell are you adding Karlsson at that point? That defense is already amazing, you don't need Karlsson at all.

A part of me wonders if Don Waddell is being a smart GM and just driving the acquisition cost up for a division rival. Smart business, in my opinion.

Carolina doesn't need EK65 but making the Pens hemorrhage the scarce amount of assets they do have doesn't harm them at all.

 

[Pens x]

Find a taker for Petry and Granlund and you've got your Karlsson money--assuming salary retention happens, which it'd have to whether he ends up in Carolina or Pittsburgh.

I don't think it'll happen, but it seems to be down to two teams and San Jose is gonna move him eventually.

Good luck finding a taker for either without retaining or having to include a big sweetener.

 

[Turin]

on the topic of the Canes their first two pairings are already 2017 Predators nightmare fuel.

 

[Ryder71]

Tarasenko not really that guy anymore.

He's still a sniper but, a step slower.

I think he'd be really good with Vegas, they slow it down a little bit.


Well, because Karlsson is the best offensive player they'll ever have in their history.

He'll provide way more offense than over the hill Tarasenko will.

And they'll lose two good all around defenders in the process on an already stacked blue line. It's overkill and truthfully that to me is overthinking things if I'm the Canes.

Good luck finding a taker for either without retaining or having to include a big sweetener.

Well, I'm sure they don't want to pay EK for four more years, so that would be off the table for them (well at least most of his salary)

 

[Gurglesons]

on the topic of the Canes their first two pairings are already 2017 Predators nightmare fuel.

Eh. I wouldn’t go that far.

Pesce’s slowed down and Burns had a great season last year but I question how much longer he keeps it up.

 

[Ryder71]

Eh. I wouldn’t go that far.

Pesce’s slowed down and Burns had a great season last year but I question how much longer he keeps it up.

They're pretty damn good as is. To go to all that trouble for EK is just stupid.

 

[Empoleon8771]

A part of me wonders if Don Waddell is being a smart GM and just driving the acquisition cost up for a division rival. Smart business, in my opinion.

Carolina doesn't need EK65 but making the Pens hemorrhage the scarce amount of assets they do have doesn't harm them at all.

I think that gives Waddell too much credit. He seems super reactionary like JR, he just doesn't have the ultra negative reputation JR has.

 

[Ryder71]

A part of me wonders if Don Waddell is being a smart GM and just driving the acquisition cost up for a division rival. Smart business, in my opinion.

Carolina doesn't need EK65 but making the Pens hemorrhage the scarce amount of assets they do have doesn't harm them at all.

This makes sense to me, if you look at their roster they have no need of EK, but if they are driving up the price because clearly a dynamic player like that could help us quite a bit then, yeah, that would make a lot of sense.

 

[Epic Neal Time]

My ratings for each acquisition/contract:

Smith: A

Love the trade, huge addition to the PK specifically. That's the difference with he & Zucker

Graves: A

Right cost for a top-4 D with size. Fills an immediate and future need without giving up assets. Great add.

Acciari: B+

Solid bottom-six FWD. Should have strong PK impacts and brings some offense to the lower lines. Iffy on the third year.

Jarry: C

I agree with the decision to bring Jarry back given the market, but I'm really shocked we were pushed into a 5 year deal. Anything beyond 2 yrs feels unearned but it's an OK bet to make.

Nieto: B-

I'd have liked to have seen this go to a younger, hungrier guy, but I like Nieto as a player. Decent 5v5 impacts.

Nedjelkovic: C+

It's a different option that CDS and at a good price. I'm just not sure if you're getting Carolina or Detroit version. Good little bet to make but I wanted someone more proven in this tandem.

Eller: D+

I think he's washed and we really needed this money to go to an option with better secondary scoring rates. One of the younger guys like Geekie would have been much better. Strangest deal of the bunch especially given the second year. Giving a "+" because he's still sound defensively.

Koppanen: B-

Why not

 

[Epic Neal Time]

Honestly, I really wonder if Carolina is really in this. It just makes no sense even if they trade Pesce. It could be SJS trying to squeeze the Pens. If it's only Pittsburgh involved, San Jose is screwed on the return and it'll look like the Kane trade.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

I honestly don't get signing Eller and letting Poehling walk. Eller is a slower and older version of Poehling at this point. Poehling would've been the better and cheaper option.

I think it's because Eller is proven capable of handling difficult assignments. While Poehling is going enough to maybe grow into that role, he was in and out of the lineup last year and apparently has health concerns.

For a team like Philly, they can afford to roll the dice on his availability. The Pens opted for a safer bet.

We'll see if it works out.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Honestly, I really wonder if Carolina is really in this. It just makes no sense even if they trade Pesce. It could be SJS trying to squeeze the Pens. If it's only Pittsburgh involved, San Jose is screwed on the return and it'll look like the Kane trade.

Carolina makes a big deal out of asset management and I think they'll trade Pesce before letting him walk.

I also don't think their GM is calculated enough to try to drive up the price like that. He's just as much of a reactionary kind of guy who gets aroused by big moves like JR was.

 

[Dennis Reynolds]

After watching the "best of" Erik Karlsson video from last year that was posted a couple pages back, I'm all-in for EK.

How many points in OT and the shootout did the Pens leave on the ice last year because they sucked in extra time? Ten? More?

That's the difference between making the playoffs or not, getting home ice, and even getting a favorable matchup.

 

[Gurglesons]

I think it's because Eller is proven capable of handling difficult assignments. While Poehling is going enough to maybe grow into that role, he was in and out of the lineup last year and apparently has health concerns.

For a team like Philly, they can afford to roll the dice on his availability. The Pens opted for a safer bet.

We'll see if it works out.

I mean this is 100% what it is which is why you have to question our coaching staff’s evaluation of players. Especially since we now know a big proponent of the deal was Todd speaking up for Eller.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

I mean this is 100% what it is which is why you have to question our coaching staff’s evaluation of players. Especially since we now know a big proponent of the deal was Todd speaking up for Eller.

We have complained endlessly about guys being miscast in roles. It was extraordinarily evident last year.

Dubas has specifically acquired guys who have experience playing the roles they will be asked to play here in Sullivan's system. Eller is the perfect example.



The guy has a history of eating tough minutes. Isn't that what the Pens need based on Sullivan's usage of the bottom six?

We'll see if he still can play, but at least it's not another finesse player who thinks they should be the 2C.

 

[3ladesof5teel]

It might be toughEK would be exciting add to this team. Any offense that we missed out in FA he automatically makes up for. EK is a master with the puck and makes our PP deadly.

No offense to Tanger but those cross passes to Malkin in his skates on the powerplay are butter to everyone on the team coming from EK.

He would create a ton of space for the top 6 guys with his skating, and passes up the ice.

Then you got the Swede line with Petts.

 

[Dennis Reynolds]

Dubas has specifically acquired guys who have experience playing the roles they will be asked to play here in Sullivan's system. Eller is the perfect example.

The guy has a history of eating tough minutes. Isn't that what the Pens need based on Sullivan's usage of the bottom six?

I am as dismayed as the next guy by some of the moves today, Eller especially, but this has to be their line of thought and I hope you're right.

 

[Ryder71]

Not sure how successful they'd be, but the entertainment value for this team with EK next season would be tremendous!