Salary Cap: Pens '24-'25 Salary Thread: The Crosbicles Volume XIX

[orby]

Strange move but whatever. POJ is an acceptable depth defenseman and it presumably costs the Pens nothing.

 

[Turin]

I imagine the Pens will end up sending him down in a couple weeks and St. Louis probably claims him again.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

Welcome back POoJ.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

P.O. is back because the Penguins are decimated at defense at all levels.

The Baby Pens have struggled lately because of the mounting defensive injuries, so the Pens can send Clurman back down.

PO knows the system, so there is no acclimation period.

There could be more in the works, too. Tony Androckitis, who covers the AHL, said Boris Katchouk - who has played well at center for WBS - was a surprise scratch tonight. He could be the future considerations since he's not signed to an NHL deal.

EDIT: Also, this makes the pairings a bit more palatable for a while, because POJ and Letang have history.

POJ - Letang
Pickering - Karlsson
Graves - Grzelcyk
Shea

Then you figure things out when Petts comes back.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I think people are kinda forgetting how dogshit POJ was before the team cut bait. I mean, one more log on the dogshit blueline pile, but yeah. Every bit as bad as Graves or Shea or St. Ivany or whoever else have been imo.

 

[Ryder71]

P.O. is back because the Penguins are decimated at defense at all levels.

The Baby Pens have struggled lately because of the mounting defensive injuries, so the Pens can send Clurman back down.

PO knows the system, so there is no acclimation period.

There could be more in the works, too. Tony Androckitis, who covers the AHL, said Boris Katchouk - who has played well at center for WBS - was a surprise scratch tonight. He could be the future considerations since he's not signed to an NHL deal.

This all makes sense, you very well could be right.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Idk I’m happy POJ is back. I’d significantly rather have him playing than some goober named Clurman.

With MP out, there’s a need for a LD. I’d much rather it be POJ than basically anyone else they have in the organization.

 

[Pancakes]

I think people are kinda forgetting how dogshit POJ was before the team cut bait. I mean, one more log on the dogshit blueline pile, but yeah. Every bit as bad as Graves or Shea or St. Ivany or whoever else have been imo.

Poj had the occasional good games and he knows the system.

Since he's free might as well

 

[McGroarty2]

There has to be something in the works, Pens now have 49 contracts, I don't see Dubas sticking with that many for long, you would think he would want more flexibility for moves, college FA signings, waivers etc.

 

[MetalheadPenguinsFan]

Meh. Cool I guess??

 

[Empoleon8771]

Poj had the occasional good games and he knows the system.

Since he's free might as well

Yeah I find it hilarious that anyone is shit talking this move. They have a couple of D injuries and are bringing back a depth defenseman that knows the system for nothing. Like who cares if POJ isn’t anything? He cost them nothing to get

I figure he sticks around as a depth guy especially with Pettersson and Grzelcyk being rentals. Would rather have him in that role than any of the other guys they have.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

POJ won't hit his potential as a middle pairing d-man, obviously. But he could be a useful third pairing player with an appropriate partner. Like Rutta. Or JSI once he's healthy.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Yeah I find it hilarious that anyone is shit talking this move. They have a couple of D injuries and are bringing back a depth defenseman that knows the system for nothing. Like who cares if POJ isn’t anything? He cost them nothing to get

I figure he sticks around as a depth guy especially with Pettersson and Grzelcyk being rentals. Would rather have him in that role than any of the other guys they have.

Yeah, and they literally have no one else on an NHL contract worth calling up at the moment.

 

[Empoleon8771]

This was already mentioned above about Katchouk being a healthy scratch, but this deal (if it ends up the deal) actually kills 2 birds with one stone. WBS is extremely deep at forward right now, especially after Puustinen got sent down. They really need to swap out some forwards for defenseman, they’re scratching very good AHL forwards but running with a terrible D group:



Even taking out the Pettersson injury, sending Katchouk out for a defenseman makes a boatload of sense for them. The forward group is just miles better than the defense.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I'm not shit talking the deal because it's some grand error or waste of assets. I'm shit talking the deal because they know what POJ is and they already gave up on him because he was trash, so I dunno what they're expecting to be different.

But I guess it's easier than scouting and all that, and this team loooooves easy. /shrug

-edit- In the end, I don't think it changes anything for the better or worse, and I don't really care, I just think it's funny and very on brand for this team.

 

[SomeDude]

PO knows the system

As does every team that has played against the Pens since 2017.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

As does every team that has played against the Pens since 2017.

Not specifically defending Sullivan, but there are no secrets in the NHL. Systems aren't wildly different from team to team. There is man vs zone, different levels of pace, and different points of emphasis, but the core principles aren't all that varied.

So much of it comes down to consistency, attention to detail, and then just having good players stay healthy.

 

[Ryder71]

I like Katchouk better than POJ if I'm bein honest. POJ has so much great athleticism and fluidity in his skating, but never excelled to the degree his skillset would suggest.

I know it's a need, but I'm hopin we're not parting with any draft picks beyond say a 7th.

As does every team that has played against the Pens since 2017.

What a low blow!







However...I agree.

 

[SaucyCelly]

Could be Harkins that was reunited with the Pens.. So it could be much worse

 

[Pancakes]

Not specifically defending Sullivan, but there are no secrets in the NHL. Systems aren't wildly different from team to team. There is man vs zone, different levels of pace, and different points of emphasis, but the core principles aren't all that varied.

So much of it comes down to consistency, attention to detail, and then just having good players stay healthy.

I agree that people overrated the importance of systems and their effect on the game.

I think far more important than that is whether a coach's message is getting through to his team. When the players stop listening, the coach has gotta go.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

POJ won't hit his potential as a middle pairing d-man, obviously. But he could be a useful third pairing player with an appropriate partner. Like Rutta. Or JSI once he's healthy.

I actually felt the more ice time POJ got, the BETTER he was.

It seemed that when he was getting 3rd pair minutes we saw him at his worst. It's almost like he needs to get into the flow of the game to be effective.



Realize that's anecdotal...

 

[KrisLetAngry]

Yes POJ got trades for future considerations.

He holds no value. We are aware.

With our injuries pretend it's just calling up our 8th or 9th best d man.

He is here now. Realize he is bad enough that he can be given for future considerations and just be happy he's better than a call up.

 

[eXile3]

I agree that people overrated the importance of systems and their effect on the game.

I think far more important than that is whether a coach's message is getting through to his team. When the players stop listening, the coach has gotta go.

Yeah there’s only like a handful of systems in modern hockey to choose from and they all seem to amount to how aggressive you play.

I think it’s accountability and structure. Good teams limit shots from the home plate area and that means not getting out of position and chasing. We really like to get out of position and chase.