If not Gonch,Hamhuis - who else?

by PensFan8725 on Jun 30, 2010 8:14 PM EDT

Since it seems more than likely that Gonchar, as well as Hamhuis are headed to the market tomorrow and that the Penguins seem committed to imporiving the D this off season, who else do you think is in play for the Pens. Something tells me that they'll try to go for a "big" free agent, such as Michalek or Volchenkov. At the same time, other teams, with more cap room, might be able to offer those guys more money than the Pens can (albeit without the guarantee to be a Cup contender).

According to Rossi, one guy that has been linked to the Pens is Kurtis Foster:

A name of a potential UFA I've heard associated with the Penguins, but not from the Penguins: D KURTIS FOSTER. He is 28, recorded 42 points last season with Tampa Bay, and cost only $600,000 against the cap — though he'll get a raise on the market. He can work the power play and possess a big shot he used to score eight goals. The Penguins prefer Gonchar and D DAN HAMHUIS, but it's probably worth keeping an eye on Foster tomorrow as I've heard his name tied to the Penguins from a few folks.

Without knowing too much about Foster and not knowing whether there's any truth to that story, it leaves me a little disappointed. If this turns out to be true, it seems that the Pens will be adding more of the same (puck moving, but not stout on defense). At this point I'm hoping it's either just speculation, or that Foster is a piece of the package puzzle that Shero wants to bring (which sounds much more likely).

All in all, I would absolutely love to see Volchekov make the trek to the Burgh. Watching him give up his body countless times for the puck, in the playoffs, really made me respect him. That's just the bad thing about it - other teams saw that too, and I'm sure Pitt with be outbid (if they even bid at all) by most franchises. I guess it's just wishful thinking that he'll take less money to come to a contender, but at this point that sounds more like a fantasy than a reality.

So, I want to know....tell me the top 5 guys on GM Ray Shero's wish list and why they're there, but let's be realist here.

Poll

Will the Pens go after a cheap winger and, if so, how much will it cost them?

Yes, $1.75 million.

0 votes

Yes, $1.5 million.

1 votes

Yes, $1.25 million.

0 votes

Yes, $1 million.

1 votes

Yes, $750,000

1 votes

The Pens won't get a winger.

2 votes

5 votes | Poll has closed

The content expressed in fanposts does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the staff here at Pensburgh.com. FanPosts are opinions expressed by fans of various teams throughout the league but may be more Pittsburgh-centric for obvious reasons.

Tweet Comment 28 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

1) Hamhuis—Fills a defensive weakness that needs to be addressed.
2) Gonchar—Would love to get him back at their price, I don’t expect it to happen though.
3) Paul Martin—Maybe the most well rounded defender on the market, only if one of the above two falls through. Could be too expensive.
4) Chris Higgins—Coming off a down season, but spending most of it on NYR can do that to you. Has scored 20 goals multiple times.
5) Vinny Prospal—Has a reputation for following a good year with a bad one…..but he scores 50 points in the bad years. Playing with an elite center hopefully brings out his “good year” production.

by Jay32600 on Jun 30, 2010 9:11 PM EDT reply actions

It’s Michalek from Phoenix according to LeBrun

by davrion on Jul 1, 2010 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions

It seems that Foster is basically a 28 year old version of Scott Niedermayer. That is, he’s quite useful, but he’s heavily weighted toward offense.

In the end, it’s Rossi. Take it with a grain of salt…or perhaps head to a farm and borrow an entire salt lick. Neither Molinari nor Shelly Anderson at the P-G have mentioned Foster, although to be frank, they don’t deal in rumor mongering, so take that for what it is.

PensBurgh

by JustinM on Jun 30, 2010 9:15 PM EDT reply actions

It seems that Foster is basically a 28 year old version of Scott Niedermayer. That is, he’s quite useful, but he’s heavily weighted toward offense.

And while being compared to Niedermayer is not a bad thing at all, it’s not at all what we’re looking for right now.

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 30, 2010 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Whoa!

Foster is no Scott Neidermeyer!

by Diomedes7 on Jun 30, 2010 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, yeah, but he may be like a Scott Niedermayer.
Hey! I’m not the one who made the comparison!

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 30, 2010 9:35 PM EDT up reply actions

A form of him, that is, I guess….JustinM, what did you mean when you compared him to Niedermayer lol?

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 30, 2010 9:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Foster has a booming shot and is an asset on the PP, but he’s a major defensive liability, and he’s injury prone.
He made 600k last year…for a reason.
Neids made 10X that, in his final, twilight year.

That said, its not completely crazy to think the Pens might consider a “PP Specialist” — esp. if/when Gonchar signs elsewhere — but they’d probably rather give the PT to Letang and Goligoski and maybe someone else that they’ll sign tomorrow or soon after that PT.

by Diomedes7 on Jun 30, 2010 9:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Something i struggle to understand about hockey and positions is if a D man is a liability on DEFENSE which is his position why isn’t he a winger. I understand that you want to have offensive production from your d men but if they suck playing thier position and main function they shouldn’t be there. I dunno…just bothers me sometimes the way that is.

by JasonGoPens on Jul 1, 2010 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions

as for the wish list...

1. Selanne, RW
2. either Hamhuis OR Martin, D
3. Michalek, D
4. Malhotra, C
5. Leopold, D

by Diomedes7 on Jun 30, 2010 9:51 PM EDT reply actions

As far as wish lists go, it;s a good one! Selanne will never sign with Pens though :) Martin Michalek and Leopold would be nice, We could even ship Gogo somewhere.

Let's go Pens!

by nut1976 on Jul 1, 2010 12:47 AM EDT up reply actions

everyone knows Selanne was/is a pipedream
but pretty cool getting #2 AND #3 on Day 1

by Diomedes7 on Jul 2, 2010 2:49 AM EDT up reply actions

1. Hamhuis
2. Gonchar
3. Eaton
4. Ladd
5. Tangrai deserves a chance if not him then Nick Johnson

Here we go again:

Forwards:
Kunitz – Crosby – Ladd
Tangradi – Malkin – Dupuis
Cooke – Staal – Kennedy
Rupp – Talbot – Adams

Defense:
Orpik-Gonchar
Hamhuis-Letang
Eaton-Goligoski

Goalies:
Fleury
Johnson

I don’t know how good it is that our most stable and guaranteed position is the goalie(s)

by kirblu22 on Jul 1, 2010 3:12 AM EDT reply actions

Defense
1. Martin
2. Michalek
3. Pavel Kubina
4. Henrik Tallinder
5. Grebeshkov (he’s listed on a FA list not sure if he is or not tho)

I’d be ok with Foster if he came cheap. Like under $2 million.

by genomachine-O on Jul 1, 2010 7:26 AM EDT reply actions

Good prediction on the top two. I’m a little upset Gonch signed with the Sens and Volchenkov with the Devils. But at least it wasn’t the Caps. Do we go after another defensemen or a winger like and Andrew Ladd??

by kirblu22 on Jul 1, 2010 6:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Ladd was traded to the Thrashers.

The Pens will be back.

by PensAreYourDaddy on Jul 1, 2010 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah great prediction.
Hoping we can sign a cheap winger (Billy G maybe?).

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 Jul 1, 2010 6:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I always liked what I saw of Tallinder whenever I caught him on TV, why is he not more on the radar?

by spookygeek on Jul 1, 2010 9:24 AM EDT reply actions

i’m sure he’s on the Pens radar.
he made $3.25M last year though and is looking for significant pay increase.

by Diomedes7 on Jul 1, 2010 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions

I don’t know why i have this bad feeling but i feel that we get screwed today, and all our top targets go somewhere else and we’re left with the scraps…hope i’m wrong.

by JasonGoPens on Jul 1, 2010 9:44 AM EDT reply actions

I too have a bad feeling. Let’s hope we are wrong.

by silvsiara on Jul 1, 2010 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions

I have a freakin headache starting.

Do you think Shero has one yet??

One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins

by PensFanInDenver on Jul 1, 2010 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions

i have faith that Shero learned from the mistake he made waiting around for Hossa too long to execute plan B. i have faith that he will rebuild this defense, and it will work out fine. He might not get Gonchar or Hamhuis, but there are a few other good players available.

by genomachine-O on Jul 1, 2010 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions

So

how’s everyone feeling about Shero now?
God bless that man…I’m glad I’m not him.

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 Jul 2, 2010 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry for the pessimism and the extremely late reply. I shouldn’t have been such a nervous nelly and I should have realised this is Ray Shero we were talking about. Mea culpa :(

by silvsiara on Jul 2, 2010 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions