Guest blueadams Report post Posted June 6, 2011 (edited) I haven't seen a lot of Carolina games in the last few years, but I'm really liking what I'm hearing about Joni Pitkanen, and I wanted to hear what the board thought of him. He's young-ish (27). He's big. He's physical. He's solid defensively. He's got a lot of offensive talent. And he sort of seems to be flying under the radar, so he might be had at a reasonable price. It sounds like he's had consistency issues, but the Red Wing way takes care of a lot of that stuff traditionally. I'd rather have Bieksa or Ehroff, but I think that both of those guys are going to get priced out of Holland's range for them. Kaberle's too soft for my taste. And Wisniewski kind of scares me as a 'one-hit-wonder' guy. Jovanovski I wouldn't mind I guess. But Pitkanen could be a long-term piece at 27 years old. Thoughts? Edited June 6, 2011 by blueadams 2 Shaman and Broken 16 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Konnan511 1,736 Report post Posted June 6, 2011 (edited) I'm.... I'm.... stunned.... Where's the line combo? PS. Eva's hard on for Pitkanen in 5....4....3....2..... Edited June 6, 2011 by Konnan511 2 13dangledangle and hooon reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest blueadams Report post Posted June 6, 2011 I'm.... I'm.... stunned.... Where's the line combo? PS. Eva's hard on for Pitkanen in 5....4....3....2..... I would...but...last time i included lines in a post there was an uproar and it got removed (which was a shame, because it was a good, informative post). 5 Hockeymom1960, sputman, Broken 16 and 2 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eva unit zero 271 Report post Posted June 6, 2011 I'm.... I'm.... stunned.... Where's the line combo? PS. Eva's hard on for Pitkanen in 5....4....3....2..... Is it a hard on now because I've been saying for over a year that the Wings should sign him this summer? Not intelligent forethought? I suppose being a common target of personal attacks will get you that change. 3 sputman, Hockeymom1960 and stallion reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Konnan511 1,736 Report post Posted June 6, 2011 Is it a hard on now because I've been saying for over a year that the Wings should sign him this summer? Not intelligent forethought? I suppose being a common target of personal attacks will get you that change. I've had a hard on for Filppula for 4 years now, it's something that doesn't change with time. Don't hide it brah. Not to mention in every thread, you somehow bring up Pits and how you want him here. He is the definition of someone who tickles your fancy, and you just admitted it. So no, it was quite the intelligent forethought. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,793 Report post Posted June 6, 2011 (edited) Not my first option and one goofy looking dude. Edited June 6, 2011 by GMRwings1983 2 Majsheppard and Heroes of Hockeytown reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bryguy 103 Report post Posted June 6, 2011 Pitkanens physical? News to me. 3 Aussie_Wing, Detroit \# 1 Fan and GMRwings1983 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,793 Report post Posted June 6, 2011 Pitkanens physical? News to me. Blueadams is a Wings fan, so he has a different understanding of that word. 2 13dangledangle and LidsFan reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204 Report post Posted June 6, 2011 Not my first option and one goofy looking dude. He kinda looks like John Cena. Do not want Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Wings Addict 787 Report post Posted June 6, 2011 I've had a hard on for Filppula for 4 years now, it's something that doesn't change with time. Don't hide it brah. Not to mention in every thread, you somehow bring up Pits and how you want him here. He is the definition of someone who tickles your fancy, and you just admitted it. So no, it was quite the intelligent forethought. Kopecky-Hudler-Williams Pitkanen-Meech Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,793 Report post Posted June 6, 2011 He kinda looks like John Cena. Do not want Except Cena is more physical. 1 sputman reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Never_Retire_Steve 35 Report post Posted June 6, 2011 Pitkanen is awesome offensively so he would fill the gap of Rafalski nicely IMO. Is that the reason some of you are looking at him? He also seems to have decent speed which is something that I have grown more and more concerned about the speed on the back end. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Crymson Report post Posted June 6, 2011 I haven't seen a lot of Carolina games in the last few years This is painfully obvious, based on what you say about him in this post. Let's dissect this description of him you've made, shall we? He's young-ish (27). This is true. He's big. He's fairly tall (6'3"), but he's slim for that size. He's physical. Not notably. He's solid defensively. Absolutely wrong. Not even Hurricanes fans would claim that he is defensively solid. He's got a lot of offensive talent. He's above average, but he's not a premiere puck-mover. And he sort of seems to be flying under the radar, so he might be had at a reasonable price. Very unlikely. He's currently #1 D for the Hurricanes, and they're almost certain to fight to keep him. This means a probable price tag of $5m+. It sounds like he's had consistency issues, but the Red Wing way takes care of a lot of that stuff traditionally. Such as? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
St. Michael (the Red Wing) 422 Report post Posted June 6, 2011 hahahaha Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jollymania 162 Report post Posted June 6, 2011 Hes an okay guy for liek a 4th dman but he isn't very physical, not sure where you got that one from Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Wings Addict 787 Report post Posted June 6, 2011 Hes an okay guy for liek a 4th dman but he isn't very physical, not sure where you got that one from It seems like the meaning of the phrase "playing physical" is changing. I couldn't find it but I remember reading an article where Jim Nill said that when they tell their players/prospects to play physical, they really mean playing tough on the puck first. Therefore, if a player wins a lot of his battles for the puck or just seems to have the puck a lot, then these days they play physical according to some. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shaman 713 Report post Posted June 6, 2011 It seems like the meaning of the phrase "playing physical" is changing. I couldn't find it but I remember reading an article where Jim Nill said that when they tell their players/prospects to play physical, they really mean playing tough on the puck first. Therefore, if a player wins a lot of his battles for the puck or just seems to have the puck a lot, then these days they play physical according to some. New NHL. 'Nough said. Seriously, the way the league is now, you don't really want a player who is going to do much more than that because it will more than likely end in a penalty. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Konnan511 1,736 Report post Posted June 6, 2011 Hes an okay guy for liek a 4th dman but he isn't very physical, not sure where you got that one from Tons and tons of pre NHL scouting reports say that he is.... As for NHL scouting reports, he's as soft as a kitten. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevkrause 1,247 Report post Posted June 6, 2011 (edited) Simple as this - for what we need, he does not fill the role. We need another capable RIGHT handed shot which can log major PP minutes and someone who can QB the play and move the puck, he fills one of those needs, but not the other, then when you add his softness to the equation, along with his likely pricetag, he just doesn't fit here... I'm not going to hate on him like some have been, he's a very good dman and has great offensive punch and would probably fit here great under different circumstances, but for what we need right now, he doesn't fill that need and with Kronwall and Stuarts contracts coming up next year (not to mention forwards we will need to re-sign), we don't need to overpay on someone who isn't a perfect(or at least close to) fit... EDIT - Almost forgot, kudos to blueadams for FINALLY becoming a contributing member to this board with a topic that actually warrants some semblance of discussion and not just polluting it with line thread bile Edited June 6, 2011 by stevkrause Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theman19 47 Report post Posted June 6, 2011 As a Raleigh Native, I can say you want no part of pitkanen. If you think Rafalski had defensive short commings this season, Joni will make you scream. He's a semi-effective PP guy and he did log a ton of min. for carolina, but that was only because no one else was there to do it. He was a big fish in a small pond, in Detroit he'd be a med. sized fished in a very large pond. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kipwinger 8,495 Report post Posted June 6, 2011 It seems like the meaning of the phrase "playing physical" is changing. I couldn't find it but I remember reading an article where Jim Nill said that when they tell their players/prospects to play physical, they really mean playing tough on the puck first. Therefore, if a player wins a lot of his battles for the puck or just seems to have the puck a lot, then these days they play physical according to some. By this rationale Lidstrom and Kronwall are just as physical as one another, or Filpula and Stuart, considering they all battle hard for loose pucks and more often than not, come up with them. Staying on the puck and working hard on your assignments is not the same thing as a defenseman being physical. Shea Weber is physical, Kronwall and Stuart are both pretty physical, Ed Jovanovski is physical. Shane Doan is a very physical forward. Joni Pitkanen is not a physical hockey player, unless of course you change the meaning of "physical hockey player" to "hard working" hockey player. In which case you'd still have to convince me that Pitkanen meets the qualifications, but at least then I'd be able to walk around talking about how Henrik Zetterberg is the most physical player in hockey. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest blueadams Report post Posted June 6, 2011 Seems like everyone agrees that he's not physical (I did read that he was in an NHL Draft Scouting report, btw...good guess). The guy from Carolina saying that he's worst defensively than Rafalski really puts it over the top for me though. Bring on Jovanovski for a one year deal I guess. Maybe our top 6 forward signing will be a righty that can man the point on the PP. 1 Broken 16 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029 Report post Posted June 6, 2011 Seems like everyone agrees that he's not physical (I did read that he was in an NHL Draft Scouting report, btw...good guess). The guy from Carolina saying that he's worst defensively than Rafalski really puts it over the top for me though. Bring on Jovanovski for a one year deal I guess. Maybe our top 6 forward signing will be a righty that can man the point on the PP. I wouldn't mind Jovanovski, but with an acquisition like him, we're hardly getting younger(Jovanovski turns 35 later this month). Who knows how much he has left in the tank. Ideally, Kevin Bieksa is my first choice, but we all know he will be overpaid by someone. Who knows if he's in Vancouver's future plans. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Konnan511 1,736 Report post Posted June 6, 2011 Jovo and Hamrlik for one season or two. Develop our young D Prospects, go hard at next years FA market since it looks to be shaping up to be quite the big market. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Crymson Report post Posted June 6, 2011 Seems like everyone agrees that he's not physical (I did read that he was in an NHL Draft Scouting report, btw...good guess). The guy from Carolina saying that he's worst defensively than Rafalski really puts it over the top for me though. Bring on Jovanovski for a one year deal I guess. Maybe our top 6 forward signing will be a righty that can man the point on the PP. Why did you post such a broken "description" of Pitkanen? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
