Datsyerberger

I'm beginning to wonder more and more if this is a precursor to a trade. I just can't see the Pens paying that much for a 3rd line center; there's no way they let Malkin and Crosby go, and their respective talents are wasted on the wing. $4M could be a reasonable contract for a skilled, 2nd line center on a team looking for young players with a lot of potential. Is it possible the Pens are getting ready to make a move for a goal scoring winger?

Yea, it is an unfair comparison. I think Konstaninov and Stevens is a more interesting comparison. Both huge hitters (though Vlad wasn't as dirty passionate), with a decent offensive skill set. A shame with Vlad, it would have been interesting to see how those 2 matched up at the end of their respective careers had Vladdy had a full one.

Didn't they initially give Peca a much bigger suspension for a much lighter touch? Go go gadget consistency!

As to this, I don't necessarily disagree. I think Peters should have received a matching suspension. You shouldn't be jamming in of your body parts into anyone's orifices unwantedly on the ice (or off, for that matter). It looks to me like Peters kept them there for a good moment. I think a disgusting act as such deserves just as harsh a punishment. I'd bite the f*****, too, if he wouldn't take them out.

Reputation does not necessarily equal to repeat offender. Repeat offenders are more likely to have a reputation, but you can have a reputation without necessarily being a frequent offender. Furthermore, reputation in regards to repeat offenders should only be involved in some circumstances. Homer shouldn't be called for phantom GIs when a goalie trips him just because he has a rep. See where I'm going? Not only that, but the league seems to have no scaling penalty system at all for cases of repeat offenders that deserve suspensions (dangerous plays, ref touching, etc). While I would agree that a lot of it has to be handled case by case to some extent, I don't like it being completely arbitrary as it is now. Besides, if I'm not mistaken, it's Ruutu's first suspension. For that matter, Avery doesn't have a history of suspensions, either.

Wish they wouldn't have been selected. Oh well, at least it's like our 2 least injury prone players/the 2 who have an uncanny knack for avoiding hits...

Too bad a group of fans didn't think about organizing this and plug up the votes with Avery. If voting Avery into an All-Star game is what will finally show how much of a sham the current fan voting system is, I'd go with it.

This first line isn't for you, YG. I just want to say whoever called Staal a defensive liability either has never seen a Pens game, or is mental. Anyhow, to the quote. I don't disagree with the vast majority of what you said, nor was most of that my contention. Mine was simply that some players develop at a younger age than some others, and just because they do so doesn't mean they're going to develop more than someone who developed later. Just earlier. Such is my case with Crosby. Amazing player. Started amazing young. I don't think he's going to develop into a 150 point player (unless the league heads in that direction and point totals in general go up). He's already at his peak. The same could be said for Gretzky. He was already in his peak when he entered the NHL. The only thing he had to do was adjust to the league.. which obviously didn't take long. My argument is that Staal might not be someone who can develop into well beyond what Flip is now at 24, but rather, that we're already seeing the potential of his peak (the offense in his first season, and his defense all throughout). I certainly think he'll improve a bit, especially on faceoffs and mental acuity, but not fantastically more than he is now. For that matter, I think the same of Flip. I think he'll get a little better overall and have a small offensive breakout, but I don't see him turning into a Datsyuk. If I'm wrong? Hell, I don't mind, I don't have to rely on predictions like this for a living. Not only that, but Flip turning into a 2nd Datsyuk with that contract would be excellent, and seeing as Staal is probably my favorite Pen..

Maybe that's why it happened so fast..

A physical, borderline dirty player? Trading draft picks of a rebuilding team? Trading away skilled Europeans? Brian Burke?! NO WAY!!!11one

Not atleast until man discovers a means of rapid intergalactic travel, and he only retires then to go play in the Intergalactic Hockey League.

Doesn't really work as a comparison, seeing Barry's career ended relatively few years ago while Chelios's hair first started showing a little grey back when man was beating rocks together and painting on the walls of caves.

This, and it's not really even close. Stevens was a great player, but Chelios is arguably a top 10 all time defenseman. Some could even argue him into the top 5 going purely off defensive ability. People seem to forget all the accomplishments and Norris trophies he had in his prime, probably because that was sometime shortly before a meteor or some such wiped out the dinosaurs.

But does earlier development also equal greater maximum potential? While it's quite obvious some great players are great very early (Recent example: Crosby), other players take a much longer time to reach an impressive peak (Recent example: Franzen). While I think it's safe to say the greatest players are often quality early on, I think people on the Internets in general think that potential and development age are mutually inclusive. Why does Staal automatically become a more gifted player than Flip because of his age? Is it possible they're similar players potential-wise with a different development curve? Given my observation of these two players, I say yes. Sorry for the slight tangent, that just happens to be a trend I often see that tends to bug me. Perhaps it's worthy of it's own thread. Back on topic: Currently an overpayment with the potential to develop either into a great deal and/or great trade potential, or an absolute let-down.

In that case, Ruutu should receive equal punishment to others who have done the same thing. In Marc Savard's case, 1 game and $11,111.11 or some goofy number like that. Ruutu was clearly getting a little extra off of his reputation. Furthermore, I don't think reputation should play much into punishment. Only the severity of the act. Furthermore, I believe Peters should be suspended as well, for reasons stated in the thread regarding that incident. This is more of a thread to express disgust in the NHL's horribly inconsistent suspension record

2 game suspension? That's ridiculous. That kinda crap doesn't belong in the game. 10 games, at LEAST more than the 6 and permanent humiliation Avery got for 2 words. At the same time, I also think that Peters should have got a matching suspension. One should not be intentionally sticking any of their body parts into anyone else's orifices during a hockey game. That's ******* disgusting. Both players are massively in the wrong here and should be punished accordingly, not slapped on the wrost. Edit: Nor on the wurst, or the wrist.

I like Jordan Staal, but considering he's pretty much a comparable player to Flip in terms of defensive and offensive skill, that's an overpayment. More than I think he's worth, though I hope he develops into a player worthy of that contract (while Flip develops equally, thus meaning another Red Wings player at a great contract )

From what I've read, Peters put his fingers in Ruutu's mouth giving him a facewash. Now, that's not a justification, but if you put your hand in the gator's mouth... In all serious, that's pretty gross. Ruutu definitely should have punched his ass for it, but punched, not bit. Still though. Just funky.

Malkin is lacking a bit defensively (not saying he's horrible, just saying its comparatively weak compared to his other assets). I think I could argue a case for him being the greatest -offensive- talent in the league at the moment, but not the best all around player.

If anything, a veteran grinding energy player, probably for someone on our roster since there's that whole cap thing. Lebda? Meech? Probably not Maltby, due to Wings loyalty, and probably not Kopecky, due to Hossa (not to mention that Kopecky, while not being spectacular, hasn't been spectacularly bad, either). I'd say that since we have a wealth of d-men, a d-men gets traded for the above position, IF any trade at all is made. God only knows what Kenny H. will pull, though.

I've been quite happy with Stuarts.. plenty of hits, both the big open ice stuff and just good ol' grindy crunches into the boards. He's confident about joining the rush in an appropriate situation and he doesn't often make a really bad blender. His positioning is solid. His shot isn't spectacular, but it gets to the net area. My biggest gripe with him when he first joined the team was his passing, and it's improved greatly since the playoffs. Kronwall, on the other hand, has been making frequent mistakes and seems to have lost his big open ice hits, though his offense has still been good. He'll have a brilliant game one day and a game full of blunders the next. I'm happy a fire was lit under Lebda's ass. He hasn't been making dumb blunders and he's been frequently using that good speed of his to move up ice and join the rush -- and it shows in both his rising point totals and his +/-. I hope he starts to become a reliable 3rd pairing offensive d-man. Lilja.. well, he does his role very well, especially considering other teams are playing 1 to 2 million extra for reliable, PK-worth defensive defensemen.

Damn right you blind wanker!

THATS A f***IN GOAL!

Wild up 2-1. Fill in the blanks time, kiddos.

Ugh, that ad again. The one that would make you think the Pens won the SCF and not the Wings.