Let's Consider - Brooks Orpik

by FrankD on Jun 6, 2008 3:24 PM EDT in Rumors Comment 12 comments

While I thoroughly rank anything written by Eklund at Hockeybuzz right up there with that which I pick up when I take my dog for a walk, I thought that at the least we could see what Captain Toolbag had to say about the future of Brooks Orpik.

If there was one player whose stock rose the most this past playoffs it is Brooks Orpick. Brooks showed a ton. Most of all, the guy can do it all. His four hit shift in Game 3 of the Finals was the stuff of legend in hockey, his ability to pick up Gonchar's game over the past few years has truly revitalized Gonchar's game. To be paired with a puck moving defenseman like Gonchar and to be NEVER out of position is an accomplishment.

However, word has been out these playoffs that Orpik is almost certainly moving on. The Sabres, Bruins, Sharks, Rangers and Kings are teams currently rumoured to have interest in the rugged blue-liner. My bet. Buffalo, where Orpik reminds me very much of a young Jay McKee. A player the Sabres have not replaced.

Eklund - HockeyBuzz

Mind you, this is coming from the same guy who said Hossa would be a Senator, and Ovechkin/Kolzig would be Predators minutes before his re-signing with the Caps. So really, when you get to the heart of the matter, you can't really consider anything this guy says. As it is, my contacts say that his rumors come from picking names out of hats and matching them with 3-5 random teams.

Also note : "Orpick" in the first line.

I don't think I'm wrong in thinking he won't be leaving Pittsburgh. Ryan Whitney's salary was dead weight this season and could be enough to motivate the team to toss him on the trading block; especially if it means keeping Orpik around. Whitney's production is just as replaceable by a guy like Goglioski who could really turn into the sort of blueliner the Pens want. If you haven't noticed, basically what I'm trying to say is they can't afford to lose him. He's the hardest hitter, best defensive guy the Pens had this year. And with potential contract negotiations still pending with Ruutu and Laraque, you want to at least lock up a Dman on the line first before you start looking at two-way forwards.

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Just from seeing that clip

of Orpik hitting everyone in sight, he reminds me of Polomolu in some ways. Very athletic, and tough. That is the kind of guy you need to keep. Hossa’s probably gone. He’s a star type player, so it will be hard to keep him and still work out a long term deal with Malkin.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Jun 6, 2008 3:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If only Orpik had Polamalu’s hair.

I also hope Orpik stays around.

Bring hockey back to Louisville!

by JDunman on Jun 6, 2008 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Orpik had Polomolu’s hair that would just be incredible. Hey WolfPack, didn’t the NFL order him to cut his hair last season? Or am I just imagining that?

FrankD from Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on Jun 6, 2008 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry I took so long to answer. I think the NFL tabled that. They were looking at a rule change requiring players uniform names to be visible (i.e. couldn’t be covered by their hair). They could tuck it up into their helmet, but there is a question as to whether that would impair the safety of the helmets. Also, apparently, there is a line in the CBA that the league can’t pass any rules based on hair length. So, it have to specify tucking the hair into the helmet, which would require helmets to be re-designed for those players with long dreds.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Jun 10, 2008 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They should all just pull the ol Johnny U and get the military cut. That would solve everything.

FrankD from Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on Jun 10, 2008 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Orpik seemed like a lock to go when he was having issues with Therrien, but it seems like he gained Therrien’s confidence (he was on a line with Gonchar, after all) and to me, it seems like Therrien wants to push his defense to be a little more physical. I wouldn’t rule out a deal with Orpik, though I’ve read other places he’ll leave, as well. I’m on the fence on this one.

by Dayna on Jun 6, 2008 7:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

A bunch of guys, including Orpik, Roberts and Sydor, were really insulted with how Pittsburgh hanled getting rid of Recchi earlier in the season. A rumor started around Orpik, stated he was asking for a trade. I don’t know how accurate those rumors were, but it doesn’t seem like he played any less physical because of it.

FrankD from Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on Jun 7, 2008 1:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think he played less physically. I think his physical play would be a reason that the Pens would try to resign him. He and Hal Gill are really the big physical presence on the blue line. If the Pens want to go more in that direction I could see them trying to keep him.

by Dayna on Jun 7, 2008 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You all know how I feel about Orpik

Although I disagree that Whitney’s salary is dead weight… I think Whitney will be worth what he’s getting paid in the future…

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jun 7, 2008 11:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He has to step it up though. His [lack of] contributions offensively this season, compacted with his incessant ability to the turn the puck over in the Pittsburgh zone led to a bunch of poor play on the team’s behalf. I’ll credit him in saying that his play was tight in the playoffs, especially in the Game 5 against Detroit when Gonchar went down and he logged nearly 50 minutes of ice time. But when the Pens signed him to that $5 Mil a year deal last season the point was to have him surge on offense too. Unfortunately, that was not the case.

FrankD from Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on Jun 7, 2008 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

for what it's worth

He had as many goals as Gonchar did… he just wasn’t on the power play as much as Gonchar.. also, when he is on the power play, he is on the left side which isn’t beneficial for him being a left handed shot.

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jun 7, 2008 11:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Right on. That was part of what helped Letang in the call-up earlier in the season. They were is desperate need of a right-hand shot on the blue line, but for what Letang could’ve done I feel he didn’t do. It seemed at times he was afraid to shoot. There was actually an article done on him earlier in the year where it mentioned other Pens were urging him to shoot more. But I guess that’s just something he’ll come into as he ages a bit. He’s definitely a future D-man for the Pens, no doubt.

FrankD from Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on Jun 7, 2008 11:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs