Did the pens (in your opinion) make some good off-season moves?

Question

Okay, it’s time to reflect on the offseason moves of the Penguins.

.

It was good to see Shero do what needed to be done to keep the young core talent in house. Locking up Geno, The Flower and Orpik for long terms was quite a relief. The only one left to lock up is Staal, but that can wait since he doesn’t become a RFA until next season.

.

Below is my view on the player by player moves thus far.

.

First, the departures.

Marion Hossa

To Detroit – Good for the Wings, bad for the Pens. Let’s face it, Hossa is a beast on the ice. Great two-way player, controls the puck well, knows how to score and brings it every shift. Every team is better off with him in the lineup. I understand Hossa’s decision, even though I don’t share his view. Hossa wants to win the Cup and he thinks that’s the best place to do it. (In his defense, they are the Champs…until someone else beats them.) I have no ill will towards Hossa. In fact, I’m glad he only signed a one year deal…maybe we’ll see him in our l

Answer 1

You have answered your own question, they aptly replaced what was lost through free agency. I think that Shero was either going to retain Malone or Orpik, and he made the right choice by keeping Brooks. To many peoples surprise, the defence was our strength last year.

The loss with which I am most concerned is Ty Conklin. Dany Sabourin is completely untested and if MAF is to go down, we must up the scoring to compete.

I like the Fedetenko signing. Granted he won't take a puck to the face and stay in the game, but I like the added skill. Miro Satan is on the downside of his career, but still has a good year or 2 left, so if he can pump in 20-25 goals, it will be well appreciated.

Being a Pittsburgh transplant in Orlando, I might have to take in a few extra games and see the Tampa Bay Penguins, errrr Lightning.

Answer 2

dude you also forgot Jane Pessonen who score like 78pts in the swedish elite leauge h**l be a great addition

Answer 3

You say guys like Ruutu and Malone are replaceable, and I agree, the problem is they didn't replace them. Ruslan Fedotenko and Miroslav Satan are very good but all you really did there was repeat players that they resigned, and that is important yes, and the penguins are still a very good team and a cup contender, but Hossa gone along with Hall, Malone, Ruutu, Laraque, Conklin (who was just a backup so that shouldn't be a problem) and Roberts and all they added was Satan (who is a little washed up but still good) and Fedotenko who is extremely overrated. Due to this they definitely didn't improve but they are still a good team and still are cup contenders, and even though Detroit is even more stacked they still can lose so the penguins do have a shot at the cup but their shot isn't nearly what it was last year.

Answer 4

In my opinion, the only major loss is Conklin. Every team needs a solid backup and there was none better in the league last year. Backup goalies don't demand a lot of salary, and even though the Pens signed a bunch of big deals this offseason they could have spared less than $1m to resign Ty.

Answer 5

They lost a lot of good talent but replaced it pretty well.  Lets face it, you cant replace Marian Hossa with many players.  Luckily you have argueably two of the best players in the game still there.  With that said they made the best of a bad situation and signed good talent.  The Devils lost so much in free agency last year and couldnt replace it, but the Pens did a pretty good job of that.  THey made the best of a bad situation and yes made good moves.....

Answer 6

They made some good moves, but I think a few hurt them as well.

My only disagreement - Ryan Malone made the wrong decision, if it was his decision.  He will not enjoy the same numbers he put up with the Pens.  I doubt he will do well in Tampa Bay.

Answer 7

Overall, Shero did very well in the off-season.  Honestly, the farther the whole Hossa ordeal moves behind us, the more I don't mind it.  Sure, it would've been nice to get him locked up for the future, but look at who the Pens DID lock up: Orpik, Fleury, and Malkin.. all to long term deals.  Crosby, Malkin, Whitney, Orpik, and Fleury are GUARANTEED to be Penguins for the next 5 seasons.  Not many other teams have a core of players locked up like that.

Not getting Hossa back was a disappointment at first, but consider what Shero got with the 7.5 M he was going to spend on Hossa: Satan, Fedotenko, and Matt Cooke (along with a little wiggle room for Jordan Staal's upcoming extension).  Of course, Hossa is better than any of those players, but with the number of players that the Pens lost to free agency, they were in more need of a handful of GOOD players than a single additional GREAT player.

Answer 8

I believe Shero did a fine job.  Satan can easily score 35 on Sid's wing and Fedo can score 20+ on Geno's wing.  

Staal is going to put up 25.  

The biggest key is Experience.  This kind of had to happen in a way; losing in the Finals.  Now they know what to expect.  At the deadline, they might be able to pick up a rightie.

Personally I think Mark Eaton is horrendous...  There are too many Americans on their defence and although he can block shots, he doesn't hit worth a **** and is ALWAYZ hurt.

This Season Is Up To Marc-Andre Fleury:

He has to win 45 games and LEAD this team to the finals once again and NOT put the puck in his own net, Again.

We'll see how the cards fall into place.  It's all about chemistry.  

Also, I don't think Ryan Malone is that good either.  Warrior?  Yes.  But his scoring in the playoffs was severely lacking.

Remember Satan played with MIKE COMRIE as his Center last year...  LOL.

Pens Rule.

Answer 9

They Look Better If they got to the Finals this past Season they'll win the Next One for sure.

Answer 10

Conkilin- From what i hear sabourin is bad

Malone- Leadership lost as well as 25+ goals

Laraque/Roberts/Ruutu-Could have kept one or two of them forgrit, now they have matt cooke and some other enforcer, not nearas good

Hossa- If you say he wasnt with the pens most of the season, then you lost Christensen, Armstrong, and Espisito

Hall- No biggie

They added

Satan- He is terrible, lazy, and will hurt the pens, he is only good for the powerplay, and will not mesh with crosby since Satan has turned into the Playmaking type, maybe h**l do good with malkin, but e is extremely lazy

Fedotenko- Overrated, 2nd liner at best

Cooke- Hes a step down from ruutu

If sid or MAF go down, so could the pens, Shero did not do good at all

Answer 11

i think so