Our thoughts on the Pittsburgh Penguins related thoughts in the latest, greatest Elliotte Friedman 30 Thoughts:
11. Both [Washington Capitals] coach and GM say Orpik may be used as a sort of reverse-Sedin, doing the heavy-lifting defensively. His partner could rotate -- sometimes a Mike Green, sometimes a John Carlson -- but generally freeing up others to worry about offence or transition. MacLellan said Washington lost out on Willie Mitchell a few years ago because they were scared of term, so they took the chance with Orpik.
The Caps had better hope that Carlson has a lot of Paul Martin in him, then, as GoPens graphed out so well- Orpik hasn't been very effective away from #7 in the past couple of seasons.
14. Christian Ehrhoff surprised by taking one year in Pittsburgh, but no one would be stunned if he's extended not long after Jan. 1. That's when he's eligible to do it.
This is the second time Friedman has mentioned this topic- he's clearly heard something very direct (possibly from the player or agent side?) that makes it seem like Ehrhoff's stay in Pittsburgh will be longer than the one-year contract that was signed earlier this month. It's likely that he is the one driving the speculation that he wants to remain in Pittsburgh, since he came here at his own opportunity cost of more money and longer term this summer.
This news coming out- before the season has even begun- raises the natural question of "why didn't he sign for longer than 1 year in the first place?". Could the status of Martin be effecting that? Or might the Pens give Ehrhoff a larger cap-hit in the season that follows, when the cap is expected to rise?
I guess we'll find out, but it seems very interesting for Friedman to repeat this tidbit
39. If
Jason Spezza had waived to Nashville, the package to Ottawa was going to be similar (if not exact) to what the
Predators gave up for
James Neal.
Spezza is 4 years older than Neal, plays a more important position (center vs. wing), has out-scored Neal every season* but only has one year left on his contract compared to Neal's four years left. Interesting that both were valued about the same by Nashville, especially for the segment of Penguins fans disappointed by their perceived low return of Neal.
Spezza ended up getting traded- with a prospect- to Dallas for 1 NHL player (Alex Chiasson), 2 prospects and a 2nd round pick. All in all, I'd think Patric Hornqvist alone is worth more than the whole package Ottawa ultimately received for Spezza. Though, of course, Spezza's NTC might have dragged down his value, but the same could be said about concerns about Neal's on-ice antics and off-ice attitude.
*except for the 2013 season where Spezza missed almost the whole year due to injury
46. For a while now it's been assumed that if 2010 first-round pick
Kevin Hayes decides not to sign in Chicago, his first choice would be Florida. That's where his brother Jimmy plays. There are rumblings, though, that the
Panthers may choose not to go this route. That makes the favourites Boston (where he went to school) or Pittsburgh (Tom Fitzgerald is a cousin). If he does not sign with the
Blackhawks by Aug. 15, he will be a free agent.
Hmm, fire up the speculation express. Hayes, at 6'4, 220 was a beast player for Boston College scoring 64 points in 40 games last year. He was a 2010 first round pick and, if he hits the market, would presumably be looking for a fast track to the NHL- ala Justin Schultz the last major player to not sign with the NHL team that drafted him.
Is Pittsburgh that place? It would be nice to imagine, but seems like a longshot. Should the Pens get restricted free agents Brandon Sutter and Nick Spaling re-signed (which they should) that would make 11 forwards on one-way contracts (and Beau Bennett makes 12). That doesn't even count players like Jayson Megna, Zach Sill, Adam Payerl and Kasperi Kapanen who are gunning to make the NHL roster in camp.
Hayes probably can not be promised a NHL job right out the gates in Pittsburgh. So, more than likely, like Schultz he'll end up going to some team where he can...Assuming he doesn't sign with Chicago first.
Even then, Tom Fitzgerald didn't/couldn't/wouldn't assert his power to get the Penguins to draft his own son, prospect
Ryan Fitzgerald last season in the 2013 NHL draft. The Pens took
Ryan Segalla 119th overall, and Ryan went the very next pick to Boston. Maybe things have changed with Shero out the door, and with Hayes being a free agent, but the Fitzgerald family connection might be over-rated at this point.
Ideally the Pens could add this prospect with a ton of potential, but it would seem like he can probably find a better, quicker opportunity to pitch in (and get that NHL paycheck) quicker than in PIttsburgh. If Hayes really wanted to sign with a top team loaded with skill players, it wouldn't make a ton of sense to not sign with the team that drafted him, anyways. But, it will be a fun situation to monitor as we head into August 15 when he could be a UFA in an otherwise dull, hot hockey-less summer.