The Erik "Gudzilla" Gudbranson Thread

[MrBurghundy]

And what’s that? Since you just believe that we keep these guys. Like others have said, that’s not realistic also.

The more realistic thing that will happen is we'll end up losing a player we'd rather keep to stay under the cap.

Or just buy somebody out, which poses other problems.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I just have a really hard time believing that Pearson is a negative value contract. It was certainly not a good contract. I wasn't happy with his performance here. He made Nick Spaling look like Pavel Bure. But I have to think they could have gotten a pretty low pick or at least package him with something else to bring in futures plus a small contract.

I agree that the trouble all started with making a move like Hagelin in the first place.

I don't think he had "negative value", I just don't think you could move him without taking salary back. He's not "add to get rid of" obviously, but I'm not positive he's "can trade for draft picks" either. The performance he had put up this year has just been bad, it was a third of the season stretch at his normal level surrounded by ****. He wasn't Brasard bad, but he wasn't much better.

 

[WayneSid9987]

Is this piece of **** playing tonight?

Nope.

Your Pittsburgh Penguins Defence for this evening will be:

JJ-Schultz
MP-Ruhwedel
Riikola-Trotman

This clip fails to show that there is like 30 seconds left in a 4-0 game. No need to try and paint him as worse then he is.

Oh that wasn't even his worst play in the game:



Brutal on that 3rd goal. Finished a -2.

Him or Johnson have to go in the summer. There’s no way around it.

Knowing JR...it'll be Maatta gone and both will stay.

 

[Slaaapshuter]

I thought opium was the opium of the people?

 

[Speaking Moistly]

I think - I hope - that you're reading this wrong. Reaves and Oleksiak were repeatedly HSes towards the end of their Pens careers here. Couldn't stick. I don't think he's expecting perfect deterrence; he's looking for something from someone who'll earn a spot every night.

Or so I think and hope.

Don't think Johnson was signed in the hope of fighting either.

Well, I think Reaves was more of a Sullivan disagreeing thing and Oleksiak was sticking before they signed Johnson and mostly until he got hurt. Reaves was a regular before and after the Pens, though. The thing with earning a spot is when players aren’t given an equal chance to earn spots. Johnson isn’t coming out regardless of how awful he is. JJ doesn’t earn his spot and I’m betting Gudbranson will be a similar problem. They’ll play for size and grit reasons while JR gets pissy that nothing stops.

I think Johnson is supposed to be a deterrent in that he’s big and gritty enough to obliterate the bad man with a huge hit. They’ve tried multiple versions of this. I imagine there will be another attempt for a top 6 winger who will deter or they’ll try to make ZAR do it.

 

[Riptide]

It just pisses me off to no end that we had an identity.

WE HAD A ****ING IDENTITY.

We won 2 cups with that identity.

Then we suddenly do a 180, and go directly in the opposite direction for no apparent reason.

Every other damn team saw that our identity was something to emulate, and now those teams are the top teams in the league. What the actual ****?

Oh there was a reason. And honestly it's rather concerning that you can't (or more likely) refuse to acknowledge it. You don't have to like the reason or agree with it... but you should at least be able to see it.

Reason: Crosby, Malkin and Rutherford (among other's within the organization [roster/management]) were appalled with the shit and abuse that Crosby and Malkin put up with game after game. The game vs Winnipeg in 2017 was a classic example of it. Players getting run all over, and it's up to Malkin of all people to step in physically because we had no one else who could do it. And with the officials refusing to do anything about it, Rutherford decided he would do something about it.

This is why we got Reaves. This might be why we got Oleksiak, although I think that was more so just the fact that JR liked him as a big skilled D - it's just too bad his IQ wasn't high enough. It's probably part of the reason why we signed JJ this summer (someone who fit the Cole/Daley mold while also being big/physical) and it's almost certainly the reason why we just traded for Gudbranson.

 

[Pens17]

This from a man that has actually played the game:

New Penguins defenseman Erik Gudbranson gets ex-teammate’s stamp of approval | TribLIVE.com

 

[Fatty McLardy]

This from a man that has actually played the game:

New Penguins defenseman Erik Gudbranson gets ex-teammate’s stamp of approval | TribLIVE.com

Sully with a cliche "he'll make us harder to play against"

You know what'll make us even harder to play against Sully?.....Speed & Skill, YOU f***!

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

This from a man that has actually played the game:

New Penguins defenseman Erik Gudbranson gets ex-teammate’s stamp of approval | TribLIVE.com

I'm not going to dismiss this out of hand and I really like JB but... what the heck else is Bjugstad really supposed to say, there? It's just a bunch of empty quotes.

 

[Icarium]

This from a man that has actually played the game:

Do you really expect him to say "The guy is useless." even if he believes it?

“Our hope is that we’ll cast him in a little bit of a different role here in Pittsburgh than maybe he played in Vancouver,” Sullivan said. “

That's my hope too. Cast him in the role of a viewer from the press box, Sully!

 

[MrBurghundy]

Oh there was a reason. And honestly it's rather concerning that you can't (or more likely) refuse to acknowledge it. You don't have to like the reason or agree with it... but you should at least be able to see it.

Reason: Crosby, Malkin and Rutherford (among other's within the organization [roster/management]) were appalled with the **** and abuse that Crosby and Malkin put up with game after game. The game vs Winnipeg in 2017 was a classic example of it. Players getting run all over, and it's up to Malkin of all people to step in physically because we had no one else who could do it. And with the officials refusing to do anything about it, Rutherford decided he would do something about it.

This is why we got Reaves. This might be why we got Oleksiak, although I think that was more so just the fact that JR liked him as a big skilled D - it's just too bad his IQ wasn't high enough. It's probably part of the reason why we signed JJ this summer (someone who fit the Cole/Daley mold while also being big/physical) and it's almost certainly the reason why we just traded for Gudbranson.

Fine, let me correct myself by saying no GOOD reason.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

I suppose that's a reasonable explanation. I can't imagine their owners are terribly pleased about it, though. And I have to figure they at least explored other options before waiving him.

I just have a really hard time believing that Pearson is a negative value contract. It was certainly not a good contract. I wasn't happy with his performance here. He made Nick Spaling look like Pavel Bure. But I have to think they could have gotten a pretty low pick or at least package him with something else to bring in futures plus a small contract.

I agree that the trouble all started with making a move like Hagelin in the first place.

If this was the only bad move he made in awhile, it wouldn’t be so worrisome. However, it’s a continuous trend of one bad decision after the other. That’s why people are so pissed. He just keeps digging himself a deeper hole.

It’s like he has no plan and is just dumpster diving trying to strike gold again like he did with Daley, Cole and Schultz.

The problem is, those deals usually blow up in your face, and you should never trade an expiring deal for a long term deal with a struggling player. It’s just risky as hell...

Now he’s grabbing a rotten leg here, a gangrene arm there and trying to build his Frankenstein team.

 

[td_ice]

I'm not going to dismiss this out of hand and I really like JB but... what the heck else is Bjugstad really supposed to say, there? It's just a bunch of empty quotes.

Yeah, just like the Bjugstad's ex teammates that talked like he would be a superstar on the right team. What else are these guys supposed to say with a microphone in their face, knowing it's going to be used for public consumption.

 

[Jules Winnfield]

He'll make us harder to play against because he has farmboy strength and can knock you out of the game or injure you.

He's Doug Murray but no where near as good defensively. Could he develop into a better defenseman along the lines of Doug Murray? Sure. It's not like Florida and Vancouver are known for developing great defenseman. I don't have a lot of faith he's going to develop here either especially in Sully's aggressive system of getting the pucks up north asap. I think he'd be better in a LA type of system.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Yeah, just like the Bjugstad's ex teammates that talked like he would be a superstar on the right team. What else are these guys supposed to say with a microphone in their face, knowing it's going to be used for public consumption.

"Holy shit we did WHAT, now? You ever watched that guy play? I could stickhandle circles around him. Boy they really must be ready to just pack it in. What are we supposed to do... make the other team laugh into submission? Anyway I gotta get back to practicing with my linemates. Whoever the f*** they are, today."

Just once I'd love that interview.

 

[Jules Winnfield]

Bjugstad is a junior league level player of Jordan Staal from NHL 19. Looks the same. Same wonky giraffe looking coordination. Skills aren't as fast or strong.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Bjugstad is a junior league level player of Jordan Staal from NHL 19. Looks the same. Same wonky giraffe looking coordination. Skills aren't as fast or strong.

Yeah but at least he isn't signed to a 4+ million dollar deal for years down the line.

*checks notes*

Oh.

 

[Empoleon8771]

At least Sullivan realizes he's not the defenseman that Vancouver has used him like. To be fair to Gudbranson, he was given pretty difficult minutes for a defenseman of his caliber. His quality of competition was higher than everyone on the Penguins defense sans Letang and Dumoulin, so maybe he can be less bad for you in a sheltered role. It's without a doubt that he has been used poorly, but bad results are bad results.

Maybe playing against easier competition gives him better results, but better than bad is still probably bad. I do think it's an interesting question for whether he'd be better than Johnson in the same role. I'm just hoping Gudbranson can perform like Engelland did for the Penguins back in the day, which is probably optimistic.

 

[Jules Winnfield]

At least Sullivan realizes he's not the defenseman that Vancouver has used him like. To be fair to Gudbranson, he was given pretty difficult minutes for a defenseman of his caliber. His quality of competition was higher than everyone on the Penguins defense sans Letang and Dumoulin, so maybe he can be less bad for you in a sheltered role. It's without a doubt that he has been used poorly, but bad results are bad results.

Maybe playing against easier competition gives him better results, but better than bad is still probably bad. I do think it's an interesting question for whether he'd be better than Johnson in the same role. I'm just hoping Gudbranson can perform like Engelland did for the Penguins back in the day, which is probably optimistic.

He's either gotta play more sheltered minutes, i.e. 3rd pairing at most and/or play with a guy with wheels like he did with Campbell back in the day. I actually liked and was impressed with Gudbranson a lot in his early years with Florida. He was like a defensive defenseman version of Tom Wilson. Just a f***ing bull and would rub people out all the time.

He's either being used improperly or just can't adapt to the new speed NHL because he's been terrible in Vancouver. If he plays here like he did in his early Florida years I think everyone will like him. If not, we're f***ed.

 

[Coach Travis]

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

At least Sullivan realizes he's not the defenseman that Vancouver has used him like. To be fair to Gudbranson, he was given pretty difficult minutes for a defenseman of his caliber. His quality of competition was higher than everyone on the Penguins defense sans Letang and Dumoulin, so maybe he can be less bad for you in a sheltered role. It's without a doubt that he has been used poorly, but bad results are bad results.

Maybe playing against easier competition gives him better results, but better than bad is still probably bad. I do think it's an interesting question for whether he'd be better than Johnson in the same role. I'm just hoping Gudbranson can perform like Engelland did for the Penguins back in the day, which is probably optimistic.

The "they didn't use him properly" line sounds depressingly familiar. We should ask Torts and Jarmo about that one.

 

[Icarium]

We aren't even using Dumo and Letang "properly" (as in giving them more help from the forwards and having them play in a system not based on utter randomness). What makes anyone think we would use Gudbranson properly?

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Maybe we should just stop acquiring defensemen we have to shelter with better rookies so they don't completely embarrass themselves

 

[Jacob]

We’re gonna have 2 whole pairings of guys that weren’t used properly and need coddled / sheltered to be effective.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

At least Sullivan realizes he's not the defenseman that Vancouver has used him like. To be fair to Gudbranson, he was given pretty difficult minutes for a defenseman of his caliber. His quality of competition was higher than everyone on the Penguins defense sans Letang and Dumoulin, so maybe he can be less bad for you in a sheltered role. It's without a doubt that he has been used poorly, but bad results are bad results.

Maybe playing against easier competition gives him better results, but better than bad is still probably bad. I do think it's an interesting question for whether he'd be better than Johnson in the same role. I'm just hoping Gudbranson can perform like Engelland did for the Penguins back in the day, which is probably optimistic.

Or or or... maybe Sullivan feels like he needs MORE responsibility, here.

Big frame. Physical. 3rd overall pick. "Big booming shot." Right handed.

Sounds like a #3 fella in the making to me, boys!

...

I'm kidding. Though I don't know how much.