Miroslav Satan - on pace for a 40+ goal season?
by FrankD on Oct 22, 2008 12:54 PM EDT
in News
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Miroslav Satan. We dogged him, or at least most of us did, within the first few games of the season. Perhaps we were too quick to judge. Maybe we just went with what we saw on the ice. Whatever the case may be, the Pens didn't win the other night because he was lazy. Not one bit.
When he came charging out of the penalty box to add to the Sid/Malkin attack, he couldn't have been in a better place at a better time to slam home a rebound past Tim Thomas.
So naturally, I was aghast at an article in today's Trib-Review regarding Satan as an underrated scorer. I honestly don't think he's underrated. Not one bit.
Don't get me wrong - the Trib isn't bashing Miro. In fact, they are acknowledging the fact that he should definitely garner more attention for what he brings to the ice.
The old saying goes, "you score goals in bunches." I think that definitely holds true for Satan.
Right now we're inside "the bunches." Over the first seven games for the Pens, Satan has six points. What's more, four of those six are goals, all of which came in the last five games. After notching his first of the season against the Devils, Satan was held scoreless and pointless in the following game against the Flyers. He shot right out of the gate again when the Capitals came to town, tallying a goal and an assist in that disappointing loss. He tagged one in Toronto two days later and of course had that one when he came flying out of the box the other night.
Consider this:
[Satan] is on pace for a 47-goal season. That would leave him tied for the 13th-best single-season total in club history with teammate Evgeni Malkin (2007-08) and former captain and five-time scoring champion Jaromir Jagr (1996-97).
Underrated?
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I wasn’t a Satan-basher (I’m glad we’re all hockey fans – others might question that statement), but I do have to say I’m skeptical of on-pace predictions this early in the season. That being said, I’ve been pleased with Satan’s performances thus far and am hoping he not only makes it to 47, but surpasses it by far. A 200+ goal season would be awesome, right?
I'm sorry, Mr. Hossa, but I'm afraid we can't be friends anymore. Why? Because I hate you.
by JDunman on Oct 22, 2008 1:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
haha 200 goals. He better pick up the pace then.
As for the on-pace predictions, I’ve never been one to hold those in high regard. After all, up until the game against the Leafs, Sid was on pace for something like a 50-point season. We all knew that wasn’t going to happen, but given the evidence at hand that’s what you get.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com
by FrankD on Oct 22, 2008 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I predict that Sid will get between 10 and 10,000 goals this season. Anyone want to bet against me?
I'm sorry, Mr. Hossa, but I'm afraid we can't be friends anymore. Why? Because I hate you.
by JDunman on Oct 22, 2008 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Properly rated
As an Islanders follower, I haven’t caught Satan yet this season, but in reading FrankD’s post I’m struck by how much it sounds like my torn thoughts, in past seasons, as I watched and considered Satan. (Before you think, “Oh no! So 16 goals again?!”, the last season-and-a-half, in my book, don’t fully count, as he played through leg injuries and was miscast in how Ted Nolan used him on the power play unit.)
From watching his rather brief period on the Island, he did indeed seem streaky, and just when I started to wonder about his production, he’d break out with a string of goals, some of them gamesavers.
So a 47-goal scorer? No (Better not be!). A waste of space on Crosby’s wing? No. But if it’s possible to balance out the ledger of his bashers with his over-praisers, maybe he’s … rated just right?
SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.
by Dominik on Oct 22, 2008 3:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Honestly, I’d be happy with 25 – 30. And I don’t think that’s asking too much from a guy who already has four in seven. So I’m not really expecting 47, but I wouldn’t mind it.
Although I really hope he’s simply underrated and really takes this thing for a ride.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com
by FrankD on Oct 22, 2008 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He still may be a waste of space on Crosby’s line. He was brought here to finish off passes from Crosby. So far those are not the goals he is scoring. He is picking up the scraps in front of the net, which makes me think he would be better suited to have taken Malone’s spot in front of the net. Maybe as he gets older he needs to change his role. He’ll always have the goal scoring touch and the knowledge of where to position himself, but he may be losing some power and speed.
BTW, how’s it goin’ Frank? It’s Steel Town from AGM.
by PensFan024 on Oct 22, 2008 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What’s up Steely? Long time no talk. Happy to see you stopping in.
I definitely agree with you on the Malone comparison. That’s about as good a way to analyze Satan’s role with the Pens. There was an obvious skepticism in mentioning him as a 47-goal scorer; along with heavily sarcastic and extreme tones of blind optimism. The way Therrien is shuffling lines lately it’s not so much a matter of who will play alongside Sid but when.
Alls I know is that Sid is raking in assists and setting up the right guys. His passes have been dead on and absolutely mind altering to watch. Fact is you can put anyone there and he’ll find em.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com
by FrankD on Oct 22, 2008 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was a Satan hater, but I feel bad for bashing him so much. He seems like a nice guy and is playing like a sniper should. I mean I shouldn’t expect him to be a complete stud on defense, just to help out every now and then on back checking. He has really steped up his game all-around. Satan is good and Go Pens!!!!
by steelcitykid on Oct 22, 2008 3:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Also I am hearing these nonsense rumors about Staal on the trade block. This is BS! Staal is a great young defensive forward and will develop into a stud. I mean the guy just turned 20 years old. I also heard about some Gaborik stuff. I think it is all ridicuculous. Gaborik would be nice, but his salary would not. Stupid rumors on the web!
by steelcitykid on Oct 22, 2008 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well there’s also the factor that Staal will be a FA at the end of this season. If anything the Pens could treat him the same way the Thrashers treated Hossa right before the trade deadline – get rid of him and make him someone else’s liability.
Gaborik is involved in rumors with every team in every league from here to Russia. The guy should stop pulling a Sundin and just play already. All it does is make him look like less a man and more a money grubbing bitch. The most ridiculous trade proposed by an Edmonton paper on October 5th was Malkin for Gaborik. They entirely ignored the fact Geno re-signed in the offseason, or that the Pens want nothing to do with an injury-riden crybaby in exchange for their top goal scorer. Some people are just out there to entertain themselves.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com
by FrankD on Oct 22, 2008 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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