marcaractac

Now you're comparing wingers to defensemen. What does the likes of Kunitz playing better with Crosby have to do with Niskanen being an excellent puck mover getting the puck to Crosby in the first place? As for "looking out for Niskanen", I just watch a lot of hockey. It helps that I work from home. Even before this season you can see Niskanen was a good player. He finally broke out. But it was not something you couldn't see coming if you've seen Pens games. His big season is not a fluke. He would really solidify this teams top 4, making it defensively responsible and very mobile. That means they can move the puck out of their own zone a lot quicker. A huge problem the team has had.

You say he has had just one good year. But if you have watched him, he has been getting better and better each season. His big year this year is not some out of nowhere fluke. You can slowly see it coming over the 2 seasons before hand. He was really good last season as well. The point totals weren't high because it was a shortened season. he went from a 21 point season a couple years ago, to being on pace for 30+ last season (if it were an 82 game season) and 46 this year. This shows he is coming into his own and getting better. It isn't a coincidence that he is right at that age when defensemen typically break out, as it takes them longer than forwards. I hate how whenever a player is good in Pittsburgh, it is because of Crosby and Malkin. But guess what? Crosby and Malkin benefit from having great puck moving D to get the puck to them. People make it seem like the 2 of them do all the work, and a couple people just happen to touch the puck before they score. Not the case. Guess what? This team gets Niskanen, and our forwards that are on the ice with him will get more scoring chances than they have been.

Exactly. Build from within, add pieces that can help if the price is right along the way. When the kids in the lineup show they can be consistent in helping the team, then dip into the prospect pool to make the moves to fill holes in the lineup.

For every game like this he has, he'll have another where he costs his team the game

Much like why Marchand likes to act like a tough guy.

He can love us all he wants, Boston owns his rights. Unless Boston doesn't want him, Krug is theirs until his first contract post 27 years old comes to an end. He just isn;t old enough to be UFA. RFA means he isn't under contract, but Boston owns his negotiating rights. UFA means anyone can go for him.

He is nowhere near old enough to hit UFA status. He isn't going anywhere for a long time. File this one under pipe dream, sadly

If the right deal is out there, it will be made. It has already been said he'd like a top 4 dman and scoring winger. Whether it comes through UFA, trade, or from within has yet to be seen. In the end, the dead weight is gone. If he rolls with the kids (which is what most wanted and ripped on him for) people will still complain.

I agree. People just need to realize said push might not happen until the deadline.

Nope

We trade for an impact player right this second, and the kids are still kids. You're suggesting Holland make a trade solely for the sake of making one. That's not how you win. Ask the flyers how fun that is. Or the Rangers for the past 20 years. The effort will be made to win as soon as possible. It has to be within reason. Not to go make trades for the sake of making them.

Because we didn't wreck havoc in front of his net like the Habs are doing.

The team isn't far enough along for a big trade yet. Why make a big trade when the kids have more growing to do? When the kids are good enough to be consistent and reliable, then trades are made for the pieces to put a team over the top.

See? It isn't just the Wings that blow 3rd period leads.

Of all the contracts Holland gave it is Howard's you like?! Franzen and Hanks contracts were signed before the new CBA and were designed to lower the cap hit. Neither player will play their contract until they end. They will retire when the salary gets down to a million per year. Fire Holland, and he'll have a dozen offers for a new job the next day. Guess what happens if Holland were to go? He'd take a lot of his staff with him. I don't get the hate. His mistakes were signing guys like Sammy. Howard's contract is also for way too long. Mrazek will be outplaying him within 2 years of being in the NHL full time. Calling that now. In the end, the future is looking great. Prospect pool is stacked. All without having to spend a few years being a league embarrassment. Holland is going nowhere, and rightfully so. The mistakes he have made at no point handcuffed the team. The bad contracts he signed? They didn't play, if you haven't noticed. Sure it took injuries for it to happen, but it happened.

I wouldn't think twice about throwing 5.5 million at him. In the end, we NEED a righty in the top 4.

Yeah, cause Alfie had nothing to do with helping the team through rough patches what so ever. Seriously. It was a compressed schedule due to the olympics, in a tournament where his team made the gold medal game and he was played for insane minutes by his coach. Even Kronwall took a couple weeks to get back into a grove from the same thing. If Alifie wants to play again, you're damn right he is gonna be with the team come fall. And rightfully so. Also, since you're bashing Holland. Why does he not get any credit for drafting the kids, who you give sole credit to for the team making the playoffs? I'm not defending signing Sammy. It was a bad contract. People make mistakes. But at least I can be objective and point out the good and the bad rather than go in with all the blind hate like you are. You hate Holland, We get it. Do you really have to bring it up in every single thread? Why not make a Hate Holland thread so you and other like minded Holland haters could just go bash him and call for his head there? Would make the rest of the threads more enjoyable for a lot of people.

It still ain't no disney.com though

1. Alfie was a great pickup. If he plays another year here, it will make this team better. 2. The coach and team leadership all wanted Cleary back. Can't solely put that on Holland. He came of being a huge factor in the playoffs the year before. It didn't work out. These things happen. It did not hinder the team in any way in the end. People need to get over this.

I'm not sticking up for Franzen by any means. I'd like to see him replaced. But until there is someone to replace him, we kind of need him. For depth. Also, he isn't solely here to put the puck in the net. He is also here to be responsible defensively. Outside of that unfortunate turnover, he has been. If Franzen was getting paid to be a danger to put the puck in every single night, he would be making more money than he is now. That I can guarantee you.

Chill. It was a joke.

I get that you're trying to be funny, but these "kicking the tires" and "signing old guys" jokes have gotten old a year ago. He has already said it is now time to see what they got in the system. If players are added, it won't be washed up has beens that eat up the cap.

A clown?

Every player makes mistakes. Obviously some more noticeable than others. Datsyuk turned the puck over a few times in the series as well. Do we hate him now to? Face it. Hating on Mule is the hip thing to do right now. Cleary and Sammy haven't been playing, so there had to be someone else to blame for all the teams problems. Franzen worked hard in that series. But because he didn't score, he will be seen as lazy. There has been times in his career he has no doubt not worked hard. These playoffs were NOT one of them.

True. Thing is, if we were to get Niskanen and traded Smith, we'd still have to do something about the 3rd pairing to avoid having to put all of the faith in rookies. Either that or be stuck with Kindl and Lashoff again *puke* I just think having Smith on the 3rd pairing with another dman who can play good minute with him gives us 3 defensive pairings that can get s*** done and log a lot of minutes.