PensBurgh wrapup: Mark Eaton
by JustinM on Jun 24, 2010 8:00 AM EDT
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PrintI felt extremely uncomfortable as the focal point, in the spotlight. I really like the behind the scenes role, because all my freedom is there." ~ Brian Eno
Season Stats: 79 gp, 3g, 13a, 16p, +5, 26 PIMs, 4.6 GVT
Playoff Stats: 13 gp, 0g, 3a, 3p, -4, 4 PIMs
Month-by-month PensBurgh grades:
October: B-
November: B+
December: B-
January: C
February: C
March: C-
Playoffs: C
Contract Status: Unrestricted free agent this summer; previous cap hit of $2M.
Interesting Stat: Mark Eaton led all Penguin defensemen with 4.3 DGVT.
The Good: Mark Eaton managed to be what people expected him to be this year: a stay-at-home defenseman who did his job and was the sort of player people only noticed when he made a mistake. It should be said that people frequently forgot he was even on the roster; for a player of his ilk, that's actually a mark in his favor.
The Not-so-good: Well, his offensive ability was nonexistent, but that was expected. While his adjusted +/- on the PK was third among Penguin defensemen, that +0.32 rating is not a particularly good one.
Final Verdict: Like I said above, Eaton is the type of player who will go completely unnoticed if he does his job well. Considering that his playoff performance wasn't up to the level of his regular season performance, those who put more weight on what a player does in the postseason will likely cause Eaton's value to drop.
Question and Discussion: Given that 2010-2011 will be his age-33 season, which is generally past any NHLer's prime (Eaton's was in 2003-2004 with Nashville), what do we do with him? Re-sign him or let him walk? Is it Lovejoy's turn in those shoes?
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Eat'n Park
The Pens will be back.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Jun 24, 2010 8:27 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
That’s what I was going to vote for, but I figured Justin had other ideas…
Hockey Blogger at Pensburgh.com
My reasoning is that you could get what he provides for much less. His age gives him a bit of a price premium.
Hockey Blogger at Pensburgh.com
Mottau
cheaper
+ tougher to play against
+ more durable
Mottau played 78.3 games/year over the last 3 years vs. 54.5 games/year for Eaton over the last 4 years
is Eaton really worth >2x the $$s than Mottau?
Forgot To Tell You--
I really like the pic of Eaton knocking Ovie on his ass.
I like that alot!!!
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
by PensFanInDenver on Jun 24, 2010 6:44 PM EDT up reply actions
One thing that should be added: Mark Eaton had a career high in points & assists this year (regular season). I’m not sure how much that says, since in two of his last 5 seasons he only played 35/36 games. If nothing else, it says something about his ability to adapt a little bit to Bylsma’s system.
Go, Shero, Go!!! And also Brian Burke.
I think Eaton did what he was supposed to do. The grades throughout the season are fair. It’s not like we’re putting him on a goal-scorer’s scale, so it’s not like he’ll draw straight As or anything. But I think that Eaton did have a pretty good season. He can’t possibly be asking for much money during the offseason. The Pens should be able to afford him if Shero wants him back.
PS – Kudos on the pic.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
Eaton being 33………….I don’t know. He doesn’t have much offensive abilities but that is not his job. I think he quitely did his job, did it well, without alot of fanfare.
He showed up, each and every night and did his job. Can’t ask for more then that.
I think signing him to a one-year deal would be fine. I am not sure on the price, though.
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
by PensFanInDenver on Jun 24, 2010 12:04 PM EDT reply actions
i barely swore at him this year. good job, eaton. i’d like another year or two.
i like the pens, sidney crosby, jordan staal, and typing in capital letters.
Barely Swore At Him
You’re funny!! LOL
I swear a lot more then most……..like I did last night when Sid lost to both Ovie and Sedin…
I really thought he would win the Hart……I see you changed your tag line and you don’t like Cap letters! LOL Very glad he won the Messier award, tho.
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
by PensFanInDenver on Jun 24, 2010 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions
why, thank you. i swore last night too, but so did my mother, so i felt okay about it. way i figure is that it’s a writers award. it’s nice to get, but it doesn’t diminish his season any. i miss my old tag line.
i like the pens, sidney crosby, jordan staal, and typing in capital letters.
by katielynn906 on Jun 24, 2010 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions
exactly. and grammar’s drastically overrated.
i like the pens, sidney crosby, jordan staal, and typing in capital letters.
by katielynn906 on Jun 24, 2010 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions
I’ve always been a firm believer that as long as the reader gets the point, who cares how someone puts it across. Mind you, this is coming from someone with a degree in journalism and the title of “editor,” who by some unwritten law should just kill himself on the principle of that first sentence alone.
I aint no grammar snob tho.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
Yep!
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
by PensFanInDenver on Jun 24, 2010 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions
You are most welcome
Your mom swore too?!? That’s great, I love it.
I swear alot more then my husband does but he makes alot of funny facial expressions.
I still think writers should know better, but like I stated on the other Sid 3d place blog, most of these guys have NEVER played pro sports, much less Hockey and not in the NHL.
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
by PensFanInDenver on Jun 24, 2010 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions
I’ve never played pro sports either, but I clearly have different criteria for choosing award recipients than the writers do. By and large, the writers are not truly analysts and therefore don’t really have the tools with which to make informed decisions on the awards over which they have sole purview. It’s not exactly their fault. That sort of thing isn’t their job.
It doesn’t help, though, that they’ve been stuck with the responsibility of the awards when they are ill-equipped to handle it.
He was not good in the playoffs
He and Letang gave up a ton of goals. Not sure if I want him back – if so, 1.75 or less, definitely.
www.californiagoldenblogs.com
I clicked on this
when I saw the heading picture. I, needless to say, disapprove >:-(
I think you sign him for $1.5 million a season, short, or less, longer = lower cap hit, but preferably let him walk. Lots of FA D out there.
Related: What was his Fenwick%? (I’m kind of inept at pulling up Corsi and Fenwick, sorry)
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
матовая Клими, Михал нуивирт ваш папа теперь
Red Line Station: for Capitals fans who can bear reading something less intelligent than a story at Japers' Rink
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