I'm.... angry... RUUUUTUUUU?!!? Orpik.?

Question

I can't even explain what i'm feeling right now.

I'm dumbfounded at Ray Shero.

Ruutu. Almost makes me want to cry. I think i DID cry when i heard the news. I don't understand why we couldn't have kept him.. I'm aware we signed Godard, but everybody on the team knew that Godard was to replace LARAQUE. not RUUTU!

But oh yay, we signed Orpik. 6 years.

thoughts, anyone?

Answer 1

-The Penguins are losing they're bread n' butter of being a team player.

-Let's not forget Ty Conklin carried this team when Fleury was out, no one talks about that. They lost a serious backup now have to scramble to look for one.

Answer 2

omgg the penguins are losing guys left & right..if i'm right, they have lost 6 people already..malkin got a 5 year contract extension today, it was finally finalized. all's i'm saying is the penguins better getting moving too.

Answer 3

As much as I like Jarkko, he was expendable.  It's not like he was an offensive or defensive juggernaut.  He is very good at his job "Instigator".  However, there are plenty of people who can fill that role for less money out there.  I know Sean Avery is on the market, and he's far and away the best instigator in the league.  I wish we could have kept him too, but obviously Shero needs to make some cap room for Staal, Malkin, Crosby, and Fleury as well as a replacement goal scorer to match up with Crosby.  It's a tough thing to juggle, you can't keep them all.

Laraque is a very good enforcer, but the problem is that he just doesn't fit on this team after the regular season.  He's not fast enough to play up with the rest of our forwards so he kinda disappears since enforcers are usually handcuffed in the playoffs.  It'd be great to get an enforcer and an instigator rolled into one.  We shall see how it turns out though.

Orpik I'm very excited about.  We do not have another big hitting defensemen on this team.  I know he and Therrian don't see eye-to-eye, but Orpik really proved his value in the playoffs this year.  IMO he was the most important signing b/w he, Hossa, Malone, and Rutuu (although I really liked Malone too).

The other thing to consider is how expensive Free Agency is right now in the NHL, it's kinda ridiculous what these players are getting.  Malone was a good player, but he's not $4mil/yr good.  Alot of these guys may just command too much money on the market than they're worth, especially because of how well the Pens did last year.

Answer 4

You are thinking with your heart, which is ok.

But the these fiery enforcers are all over the place.

The Star players are more difficult to replace.

We offered Malone, HOssa, Ruttu, Roberts ...what we think they are worth,,,they CHOSE TO LEAVE for slightly more money.

Shero has Crosby, Malkin and soon STAAL, FLEURY, WHITNEY to lonng term deals.

Now add Orpik and we still have Talbot as well.

Plus we have Letang and Goligoski and Caputi, plus others.

The baby team went to the Calder Cup finals. So Fiery third liners are easy to find.  

We need a rugged defensman who can skate, You get that in Orpik. Ruttu played 2-3 minutes a game in the Stanley CUp finals....

Shero signed who mattered most.

Answer 5

I'm depressed about all of the non-signings. Gary Roberts?  Now Hossa.  But Hossa was going for the glory-- seems he didn't think we could do it next year.  Just gotta think that Shero n'at  know what they're doing.

Answer 6

Ruutu is in a better place now - you should be happy for him...

Answer 7

I am so angry too!!!!!!!!!!  Orpik well i wouldnt have really cared about Orpik because Malone, Ruutu, Conklin, the list goes on and on, were way more important in my eyes. Ruutu yeah im heartbroken about that. I miss him already!!!

Answer 8

Looking at just how many players the Pens lost...I would COMPLETELY understand if Pens fans rioted and burned down Sheros house.

I got a little teary eyed when Metropolit signed with Philly..the bottom line is, it's a buisness...it sucks when playerd you love leave, but you'll find someone to replace him. At least they signed Orpik...good move obviously..

Answer 9

Yeah it does suck. I miss the guy already, but we still Orpik. He was a mad man in the playoffs last season. I don't know what the thinking was letting Ruutu go.

My thoughts at the moment! I hope Hossa chokes on his dirty Red Wing money! He wanted to go to a good team? Whats up with that?

Answer 10

Well, Godard sucks. no ifs, ands, or buts about it. He was signed in 1999 and has only played 200 games since then. Ruutu was good, but Shero is just completely confusing me in this FA period. Everyone said the core of the team is still here, but I'm very unsure what core means anymore.

Answer 11

Im depressed about Ruutu...

it doesn't make sense why they didn't sign him!

Im so happy about Orpik, more free candy!