O'Sullivan, others on waivers
The Oilers just put Patrick O'Sullivan, a former 20-goal scorer, on waivers to initiate a buyout. Others who have recently cleared waivers and will be bought out include Jonathan Cheechoo, who I'm not terribly keen on, and Ales Kotalik, who is somewhat interesting to me.
Just noting a few new potential options for the Pens.
almost 2 years ago
JustinM
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Eh. I wouldn’t be willing to risk 2.5 million on a guy who misses a good number of games a season, only scores about 10-20 goals a year, and has a horrible +/-.
"Half the game is mental, the other half is being mental." - Jim McKenny
I wouldn’t read too much into O’Sullivan’s +/- numbers, as basically everyone on the Oilers roster last year aside from Penner had abysmal ratings. Granted O’Sullivan’s was downright awful, but he was also playing out of position. Edmonton had him at center a good bit, which he’s not.
Put him on a better team with better players and he won’t have anywhere near those kind of numbers.
There are two theories on hitting a knuckleball - unfortunately, neither of them work.
I wouldn’t read too much into O’Sullivan’s +/- numbers, as basically everyone on the Oilers roster last year aside from Penner had abysmal ratings.
Using the adjusted +/- stats at Behind the Net control for being a crappy team. But even by that measure, O’Sullivan was still 2nd to last on his team in +/-.
Hockey Blogger at Pensburgh.com
Yes, this is true. But it’s also true that he played center for a large part of the season for the Oilers. Playing out of position + playing for a god awful team = awful +/- rating.
There are two theories on hitting a knuckleball - unfortunately, neither of them work.
I’m not sure you understand the adjusted +/- stat. To clarify, adjusted +/- takes the difference between your +/-ON/60 and +/-OFF/60, so it’s comparing you to your teammates. Yes the Oilers are awful, so a guy’s raw +/- will look bad, but a better picture can be created if you compare him to his teammates. Sticking with EDM, we see that Dustin Penner is a beast, as he was far and away the best player on the Oilers this year (adjusted +/- of +1.9).
O’Sullivan had the 2nd worst adjusted +/-, so he was a terrible player on a terrible team. Even if you cut him a bit of slack for playing out of position, he still is not a good player.
Hockey Blogger at Pensburgh.com
From what I’ve read about Kotalik, his situation is different in that he will probably not be bought out, but rather stashed in the minors/europe. I would offer POS the league minimum to play with Crosby or Malkin and re-build his value.
ohhh, POS=patrick o’sullivan. i thought you were calling him something else.
i like the pens, sidney crosby, jordan staal, and typing in capital letters.
by katielynn906 on Jun 29, 2010 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Modano
What about Mike Modano?—just read that the Stars will not resign hdidn’t think they would.
Is he too old?
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
by PensFanInDenver on Jun 29, 2010 5:54 PM EDT reply actions
If we’re going to sign a graybeard, I’d much rather have Billy G.
There are two theories on hitting a knuckleball - unfortunately, neither of them work.
I would look at it from the perspective of: which guy is hungrier to win a Cup?
Whitney or Modano?
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
by PensFanInDenver on Jun 29, 2010 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions
i doubt Modano’s coming back… He’s had his fun and after a final game like the one he did, it’s really hard to see him not retiring on a high like that.
I'm 21 now... I still feel 20 and I still feel way too old.
Just so I never have to answer this again. I'm from Singapore so whenever you see me online, I'm either sleep deprived or just waking up.
oh god i hope not…
i like Modano and ending the season the way he did is great… Not everyone can be Favre and play like their bullet proof at that age…
I'm 21 now... I still feel 20 and I still feel way too old.
Just so I never have to answer this again. I'm from Singapore so whenever you see me online, I'm either sleep deprived or just waking up.
I wouldn’t sign Modano because he’s a center. I love Mikey, but we already have too many of those.
by Hatt the Moople on Jun 29, 2010 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions
He's A Center
Yep, I forgot that….we have too many of those. But damn! I love Mikey, too.
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
by PensFanInDenver on Jun 30, 2010 9:01 AM EDT up reply actions
What a disgrace
The Stars just took their franchise player and slapped him in the face, and then kicked in him the balls just to be clear. I know the dude’s contemplating retiring (unless he decided he wants to play, I don’t follow anything in Texas) but you at least make him an offer out of respect.
"Half the game is mental, the other half is being mental." - Jim McKenny
I agree with you, but this is, after all, a business. Although he’s been with them since the Minnesota days…
I've told [a 9 months pregnant] Nathalie that she can't have the baby on a game night. I'm not missing a playoff game. -Mario Lemieux in 1993
by PensFan8725 on Jun 29, 2010 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions
I'd definitely take O'Sullivan IF we could sign him for less than $1mil
He’s a decent player, good shooter and smart offensive player. I’m not even gonna worry about what he did with the Oilers last year, you’d get a much better indication of how he’ll play like when he was with the Kings. He could definitely thrive in our system, as he did put up 53 points back when LA was very defensive minded.
There are two theories on hitting a knuckleball - unfortunately, neither of them work.
I like O’Sullivan’s talent level too. I think he could definitely keep up with Sid/Geno and create some offense. I worry about some parts of his game, but for about a million (which I suspect he’ll go for more) he’d be worth taking a flyer on.
O'Sullivan/Potulny
I like Potulny better then O’Sullivan and if the price is right…
Hooks: your thought on Mr Modano and where he could go? I cannot believe the Stars did not at least want to appear like they offered him a deal…
I would love to see him play for the Pens: I know he is a Center and we need a Winger.
Your thoughts?
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
by PensFanInDenver on Jun 30, 2010 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions
I’ve always liked Potulny too, even when he was a (yuck) Flyer, I thought he was pretty decent.
I have no idea where Modano ends up, the way things go these days really seems like a young man’s sport where youth and potential is favored a lot more than such an old guy. I don’t watch too much Western Conference but it seems like he is really slowing down and a shell of himself. It’ll be like Franco Harris as a Seahawk or Willie Mays as a Met just a sad ending to a great career that should have ended with the right franchise.
Nilsson & Potulny
In addition to O’Sullivan, 2 more guys available from Edmonton are Robert Nilsson (also, bought out) and Ryan Potulny (RFA but wasn’t given a qualifying offer). Potulny actually averaged the most points per game (.5) last year out of the three, and also scored 7 power play goals. For 1mil or less, I’d think it would be worth it to take a shot at one of these guys.
I agree about Potulny. He seems like a low risk guy that could maybe have a high reward. I guess marc pouliot played with Sid in juniors and put up some ridiculous numbers. Any of these guys seem like possible options for the pens. They seem like they could come for a very cheap price.
Shero has said that the available money the Pens have is going towards defensemen, but a couple of these guys seem like you could get for a year on the cheap and take a chance that it will work out. Theres not going to be much money for a forward, take a chance.
by genomachine-O on Jun 29, 2010 9:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Wasn’t it Benoit Pouliot (Habs) that played with Sid?
I've told [a 9 months pregnant] Nathalie that she can't have the baby on a game night. I'm not missing a playoff game. -Mario Lemieux in 1993
by PensFan8725 on Jun 29, 2010 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions
I was reading the article over at coppernblue that listed which Oilers did and didn’t get qualifying offers, and Pouloit was the one most people were unhappy about. Apparently, because of how few games he played in the nhl last year he’s eligible for a two-way contract still, so there’s little risk in signing him. If this is still true now that he’s becoming a UFA it sounds like he could be a good guy to sign to give them depth in the organization at forward. Even if he doesn’t work out this year full-time he could have another year or so to continue to develop and could take a third or 4th line position (almost all of our bottom 6 guys are going into the last year of their contracts) after this year if he doesn’t work out as a top 6 guy.
Why is everyone so down on Cheechoo? Dude won the Richard playing with Thornton, and if anyone’s a better set-up man than Joe Thornton, it’s Crosby. I know the guy was terrible last season, but what would be the harm in offering him $1M to $1.5M for one year to see what happens? It couldn’t turn out any worse than the $3.5 we gave Miro Satan in 2008…
by Hatt the Moople on Jun 29, 2010 7:36 PM EDT reply actions
I dunno. I just took a look at his stats, and he’s been in steady decline mode since his Rocket year. The last thing we need is another winger who has the “proven potential” but just can’t get it going.
Go, Shero, Go!!! And also Brian Burke.
I understand all the criticism surrounding him, but it’s not like the dude is too old to play, he’s only 29. He’s had a shitty season (and one really shitty season), but it’s not like the guy has forgotten how to score. I don’t see much wrong with offering him $1M, trying him out, and, if he fails at Sid and Geno’s wings, burying him in WB/S.
by Hatt the Moople on Jun 29, 2010 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Cheech
b/c he’s done-ski
and b/c the Pens don’t have a spare $1M
Hatt —>> if you haven’t seen this, pretty cool from Paris (1971):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Di95j26cgQ0&feature=related
Lower-body injuries
He was never much of a skater to begin with and chronic knee & groin issues (IIRC) have only made it worse. He may still have hands, but he can’t to where he needs to be anymore.
i’m not very sure about Cheech, never really took the time to watch him play… But from what I heard, he doesn’t add much to the PP and is a blackhole on defense.
Now Kotalik I like. He can help on our abysmal PP unit plus I think he’ll be very consistent playing with centers of Geno & Sid’s calibre.
I'm 21 now... I still feel 20 and I still feel way too old.
Just so I never have to answer this again. I'm from Singapore so whenever you see me online, I'm either sleep deprived or just waking up.
Well, that’s takes the cake for the most frank comment of the night.
I've told [a 9 months pregnant] Nathalie that she can't have the baby on a game night. I'm not missing a playoff game. -Mario Lemieux in 1993
by PensFan8725 on Jun 29, 2010 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Cup Contenders..
You know what the funny thing is, I love the fact that there are always guys looking to rebound in the NHL. Usually fun to watch. With that being said, guys like that should have to rebound in Florida or Atlanta (and teams like that). The Pens are Cup Contenders and I don’t know about you guys, but I hate it when they sign someone that is looking to be “born-again” into that role he had in Juniors, long, long, LONG ago. Even if it is a young guy like O’Sullivan. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a GM so I don’t look at these guys the same way, but man this kind of signing rarely works out. Just look at the Pens BC…BeforeCrosby. They were brutal, trying to sign older guys and help resurrect their careers. Yeah, that worked out well. Daigle and Palffy, to name a few. I say bolster the D, stick with youth up front…they have (arguably) the TOP 1-2-3 punch at center…they can carry the load as they did in 2009. Let’s see what Tangradi and co. can do.
by Wags24 on Jun 30, 2010 9:06 AM EDT reply actions
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