Penguins' Offseason: The Big Issues (Part 2 of 4) - Defense
Justin Maffei | Pittsburgh Penguins
Jun 22, 07:08 PM | Hype this story!
Does Scuderi re-sign? If not, who takes his place?
It is unlikely that Hal Gill will return and unless Rob Scuderi is willing to take a “home-town discount” (something around $2M), he will also seek his fortunes elsewhere. While Mark Eaton played well down the stretch, he is a definite step down from Scuderi.
In House Options
All signs point to Ben Lovejoy being ready to take the next step in the 2009-2010 season. His outstanding +42 season at Wilkes-Barre is proof of that. The Penguins will likely give him that opportunity.
Free Agent Options
Francois Beauchemin has also been linked to the Penguins by TFP. He is a puck-moving defensemen, but would not provide the defense that could be departing with Scuderi. His salary last season was $1.65M.
Ossi Vaananen would be a good candidate. He is a defensive defenseman who likes to hit. He was a +8 last season with Philadelphia and Vancouver. He also had 89 hits and 75 blocked shots. At $1M last season, he was worth the money.
Johnny Oduya is not just the owner of a fun name to say. He was a +21 last season, also chipping in 29 points. He also had 50 hits and 127 blocked shots. He is likely the best option, especially if he signs somewhere near the $600,000 he made last season.
Comments
albert
Jun 22, 07:14 PM
Oops. Posted in the wrong section. I like Francois Beauchemin if Scuds leaves. And I think he can be had for under $2M/year.
Oduya will earn WAAAAY more than what he made last season.
Justin Maffei
Jun 22, 07:28 PM
You are probably right about Oduya. However, he may be willing to sign around $2M to play for a proven contender.
Justin Maffei
Jun 22, 08:37 PM
I do not see Mormina being a regular contributer next year. I have not see him play but from what I have been reading, he is not ready. In fact, he hasn’t really even been in the discussion.
bag o' pucks
Jun 22, 09:06 PM
Assuming the top two pairings remain the same (Sarge/Orpik, Eaton/Letang), I think the Pens need to add a more defensive d-man if he’s going to be paired with Gogo. Li’l Dab is a good option, depending on what kind of raise he’s attracting. The Pens are in no shape to get into bidding wars. Lovejoy’s a gimme, he’ll make the club to compete for the sixth spot, as well.
Albert
Jun 22, 09:19 PM
Justin — I think you are right about Oduya. I don’t have a good idea what his market value will be…I know it won’t be close to the 600k he made last year, but he’s also not going to command Orpik money either—and to play on a contender, he might be affordable as a replacement for Scuderi if Scuderi leaves.
Question for you: Who do you think is the better overall defenceman?
Albert
Jun 22, 09:38 PM
I feel like I’m being stalked by Mrs. Mormina…
bag o' pucks
Jun 22, 10:00 PM
Justin’s next article is going to be, “The Hockey Crime of the Century: Joey Mormina. Four Pro Seasons, One NHL Game. How Does This Happen?”
Justin Maffei
Jun 22, 10:25 PM
Albert, who am I comparing Oduya to? Scuderi?
Bag, great idea. I may have to do that haha. I just don’t see anyone really talking up Mormina. In fact, Sportsnet.ca says that Mormina’s career potential is a reserve defensemen. This is not exactly praising.
Pens1967
Jun 22, 10:46 PM
Justin, Oduya already plays for a contender. IIRC, NJ finished first in our division.
What about Greg Zanon as a UFA signing?
Albert
Jun 22, 11:00 PM
good point on Oduya already playing for a contender…but defending champs is still an upgrade.
@Justin — yes, my bad. i was asking you to compare Oduya and Scuderi.
bag o' pucks
Jun 22, 11:13 PM
Looks like Grant Lewis may end up being UFA out of Atlanta. He played in fewer games in Chicago last season than did Lovejoy in WB/S, but his points-per-game were the same, he had more PIM-per-game, and was second on the team in +/-. Chicago is run entirely different than WB/S, independently owned, youngsters take the back seat. I’d like to see the Pens pick him up if he makes it to July 1 unsigned.
I don’t consider it a negative to be unsigned by Atlanta. Don Waddell has no idea what he’s doing, anyway. That much is certain.
Oh, and Chris Chelios will be UFA, and eligible for Medicare.
Justin Maffei
Jun 23, 12:17 AM
Albert, I would say Oduya is better, but hasn’t been able to show it the way Scuderi did this year. Scuderi plays a very simple game. He does everything adequately. Oduya definitely has more flash, but he’ll likely make some more mistakes. It’s a give and take situation. Here’s an example of Oduya. Take a look at this video. Could you see Scuderi doing that? Or even this?
mbizzle
Jun 23, 12:21 AM
Hey guys, good stuff…
Couple guys I’d love to see in addition to the ones you mentioned:
1. Andrew Alberts-at the right price he’d be a great replacement especially for Hal Gill. Hate it or not, we’re gonna miss Gill’s size and reach. Alberts once nailed Mr. Hartnell when he played for Boston. He plays with an edge and is a big guy.
2. Paul Mara- Another guy who’s relatively young at 29. Plays with an edge and some nastiness(something Gill isn’t). And he can play the point on the PP. That’d be great for the 2nd PP especially.
3. Steve Montador/Nick Boynton- I have liked both these guys a lot over the years for some reason. Montador is only 28 and he’s made the finals with Calgary. Loves to fight and stand up for his teammates. Has been a + player his whole career and he would be great shutdown type guy.
Boynton also doesn’t might dropping the mits. Got some offense too. I think both these guys can be had for a good price.
Justin Maffei
Jun 23, 12:24 AM
Pens – I’m not a big fan of Zanon. If it’s possible, he’s a cheap man’s Scuderi. He does all things equally well, but the level he does them at is lower than Scuderi’s level.
Bag – Grant Lewis wouldn’t be a bad pickup but he wouldn’t be an NHL roster pickup. He would be a depth pickup and be sent to the AHL. On a side note, do you just like him because he is from Pittsburgh? Just kidding, but he has only played in one NHL game and only 43 AHL games.
Justin Maffei
Jun 23, 12:36 AM
MBizzle – Alberts wouldn’t be bad. I would be okay with getting him. He’s not a stud by any means, but he’s adequate. I think the $1.4M he got last season might be a little high for someone who projects to a last pair defenseman, though. Mara isn’t really the defensive defenseman that we need. He’s been a powerplay QB, but we don’t really need that. His salary last season was $1.9M. That is a little much for a player the Pens don’t really need with Gogo, Gonch, and Letang. I agree with your assessment of Montador. He’s a good defenseman with some offensive upside (which projects well to Coach B’s system). He might come for under $1M as well. Boynton is another good one, but he made almost $4M last season. I don’t see the Pens bringing anyone in for over $2.5M, if that.
Albert
Jun 23, 12:44 AM
Thanks, Justin. That end to end rush by Oduya…no, you don’t see Scuds do that too often (ie, or ever). That was my sense—that he’s a better player, overall.
I love what Scuderi brings. And I hope the Pens can find a way to keep him, but it looks like that may be unlikely.
Beachemin is someone that could be brought in for less money, I think. (Less than $2M) and would fit the bill.
Oduya would be a nice replacement/upgrade, and if he is available for LESS $ than Scuderi (b/c some GM(s) fall in love w/ him for his playoff run and/or “The Shift”) AND if the Pens have the cap room, then he’d be a very good signing. But that’s a lot of If’s….
Justin Maffei
Jun 23, 12:50 AM
Yes, it is definitely no lie that the Penguins are working under a tight budget.
mbizzle
Jun 23, 12:50 AM
Thanks JM.
Yah, you’re right no real need for Mara. More known for his offensive abilities rather than his defense.
I think Alberts can excel here. Still fairly young as well. At a good price he’d be a nice addition.
But yeah no way is Boynton going to get 3-4 mil next year. He had a bad attitude with Florida. Rememeber that game when he came back from being a healthy scratch and scored a goal against us at Mellon Arena?
“Steigy look at Deboer he’s got that bitter look on his face! He doesn’t wanna smile Steigy!” – bob errey
Steve Montador would be awesome. We need some extra jam and he’s a responsible defenseman with like you said, some offensive upside.
bag o' pucks
Jun 23, 01:26 AM
@Justin. I agree that Lewis would be a depth signing. But he’d be a good one. Aaaaaand, perhaps I like that he’s a Burgh boy, what the hell, he’s also a former 40th OA pick that Atlanta may have given up on after two seasons. Although, he’s played in 97 AHL games over the last two years, not 43. He got into 43 games his rook year when Chicago was skating guys like Kwiatkowski to get the Calder Cup. He just turned 24 and is a righty. Couldn’t hurt to add him to a short AHL bench!
Back to the discussion at hand. I also have thought Montador would be an excellent addition. The Pens will need someone who plays D first and with a nasty edge. Things their prospective partner, Gogo, is a little short on. We’ll just have to wait on the price tags when these guys are rolled out of the garage come July 1.
mbizzle
Jun 23, 01:50 AM
Good point Bag O Pucks about Montador. He’d be a great mentor and guy who’ll step in there and fight for his young guys. Him and Gogo would be an interesting pairing. Who else on the Pens steps up and fights for his guys? Guerin maybe yah and Kennedy sometimes. But they’re barely middleweights, Montador is a legit middleweight.
Please Ray Shero get him lol. I think he can be had for a reasonable price: 1-2 mil range. And I think he brings a lot of things that Gill/Scuderi don’t/didn’t. Scuderi is a better defensive player but Montador has always been a + player.
Greg Zanon I think is an upgrade over Scuderi. He was 3rd in the NHL in blocked shots (237) and had 153 hits as well. So he’s got a physical element which is nice to see. Maybe he could be had for 2 mil? I know Shero had interest in him at the trade deadline. And he’s a Nashville guy so of course he had interest.
DaBich
Jun 23, 06:39 AM
“Oh, and Chris Chelios will be UFA, and eligible for Medicare.”
LOL Pucks you’re on quite a roll!
SprJudd
Jun 23, 10:21 AM
Ideally, Montador would be the best pickup if Shero is forced to go outside to replace Scuderi. We don’t have enough snarl on the blueline right now, and outside of Orpik not many guys throw the body around too regularly. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not in love with Montador’s game, but he’d probably be the best pickup from outside the organization if an acquisition like that must be made.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jun 23, 10:35 AM
First off, Justin, great series! It’s nice to see your name on FF again!
Secondly, I agree with Sprjudd and those who believe “snarl” is what the Penguins need, should Scuderi depart. Goligoski looks to have a spot secured, leaving Orpik as the only truly physical defender. Letang throws his weight around quite nicely, but no one will mistake him for an old school bruising defender. Other than those two, no one really brings any sandpaper. That’s a problem.
Jon
Jun 23, 10:43 AM
I would hate to see Montador in a Penguins uniform. I’m a Bruins fan as well and got to watch Montador a lot after the trade deadline… he is atrocious in my opinion. He hurts more than he helps.
bag o' pucks
Jun 23, 11:12 AM
@Dabich. Haha, thanks, really just punchy from a lack of sleep!
@Jon. I’m confused. If you’re a B’s fan, and you think Montador is terrible, you should want to see him in a Pens uniform, shouldn’t you? =)
Jon
Jun 23, 11:14 AM
Bags:
Ha, while I love both the Pens and the Bruins… when they meet, I always wear my Penguins jersey to the Garden. I don’t want him on either of my teams!
Moq
Jun 23, 11:23 AM
As others have mentioned, Oduya will be looking for a considerable salary jump. Rumours suggest something close to $3.5-4M. I think that quite a few teams will be interested in Beauchemin, which will increase his price beyond our reach. Among the free agents mentioned, only Vaananen appears possible, and he isn’t a terrible solution by any means. Most of the alternative options have been mentioned already, eg. Alberts, Zanon and Montador. If Hedican can still skate, he would be an experienced and cheap alternative.
Among the in house options, Lovejoy appears certain to make the roster in some capacity. I’m not discounting Gill as a possibility just yet, depending on the availability of alternatives.
SprJudd
Jun 23, 12:14 PM
I think Lovejoy is pretty much a lock to make the roster next season. Here’s something I am curious about though…there’s been talk that Shero will try to move Pascal Dupuis and his $1.4million salary. Is there any chance he may try to move Mark Eaton and his $2million salary? I am not trying to start any rumors (I don’t fancy myself to be Rob Rossi), but it seems to me that $2million is too much to pay for what Eaton brings to the table. He’s solid and I have no problem with his game, but I think he’d be more palatable if he were making 20-30% less.
I am trying not to fall into the trap of thinking every other team should be chomping at the bit to take our trash and castaways, but would there be a market for Mark Eaton in a trade? I think there would be – especially for teams like LA and St. Louis with lots of young talent and cap space. Also, a team like Montreal could use a reliable defender and they’re going into free agency with something like $30-$32million in cap space.
SprJudd
Jun 23, 12:22 PM
Also, I don’t think Hal Gill would be a bad re-signing assuming they cannot bring back Scuderi. If he’s willing to take a paycut from the $2.075million he was making (say to around $1.5 or less), he’d be a decent pickup. He’s familiar with the team and system, he likes it here and has expressed a wish to stay, and his glacial-paced skating can be covered up if paired with a faster defenseman – say Goligoski or Lovejoy.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jun 23, 12:26 PM
@Jon, Montador would bring physicality, but, as you said, he likely isn’t the best option out there.
@Moq, Beauchemin is out of the question unless something drastic — like a Gonchar trade — would happen. And I wouldn’t bank on that, considering the talk from the papers that Shero is looking to sign Gonchar and Letang to extensions.
@Sprjudd, Lovejoy, to me, will make the team and fight for the sixth defensive spot — unless Scuderi re-signs, in which case, I think a cheap veteran will be brought in at $650k to be the everyday healthy scratch. As for Eaton, I highly doubt Shero will be looking to deal him. He has drastically improved his game from the start of the season, a time when he likely was still recovering from his injury from the previous season. He’s no Scuderi, but he is sound positionally and knows when to pinch in offensively. I suppose, along with Dupuis, he is probably one of the most likely to be traded, but I’m not sure it would be the best of ideas. And, yes, I definitely think there would be a market for him in a trade, though it would have to be a draft pick or prospect, so as to keep salary down for an incoming defender.
Keep in mind, though, that Shero likes to be safe, and trading Eaton while already potentially losing Scuderi and Gill would make for a very unsafe position to be in. If he is to be traded, I suspect it would happen after Shero improves his defense through free agency. But, as you said, this is mere discussion and has nothing to do with any rumors.
SprJudd
Jun 23, 01:41 PM
@Matt – Yes, I know Shero likes to play it safe – especially on defense. And given how he’s done on the job so far, I am not about to question him in any way, shape, or form. Don’t get me wrong, I am not thinking they should (or even must) trade Eaton. I just think that his price tag is steep for what he brings with the Pens tight against the cap. I have the sneaking suspicion that at least one or two unpopular moves will be made this offseason, and I am just thinking that based on what they offer for their salaries, Dupuis and Eaton are probably the two most likely candidates to be shipped out.
Tim in Maine
Jun 23, 03:40 PM
@SprJudd, et al, Let’s say Lovejoy will make the team, and Gogo is signed to 1 way deal so he will make the team, that leaves us with 6 defensemen. Presumably, Lovejoy wouldn’t make the team with the expectation of being a regular healthy scratch, so honestly, what the Pens need, should Scuds depart, is a cheap vet to be OK as the 7th d-man. Maybe that is Gill, maybe someone else.
If this is how it plays out, the Pens have 3 balanced (1 O guy, 1 stay-at-home guy) although Lovejoy is more of a 2 way guy. No shutdown pairing. I’m fine with that, but aside from Orp & Letang, no physiciality to speak of.
@Matt B, I agree Beauchemin is out of the equation. He makes something like $1.675, but is definitely going to get more on the market.
Eric Politowski
Jun 23, 06:54 PM
Joey Mormina is ready for the NHL. I’d like to see them give him a shot.
He’s strong, physical, and willing to fight.
He is a younger, meaner, faster version of Hal Gill.
He’s played in one NHL game. He has caused one broken nose (Jeff Taffe)
Pens1967
Jun 23, 10:22 PM
I think we need to pay attention to how Shero has stepped the expiration dates of his defensemen. Eaton’s contract will be up at the end of 2010 and by then Brian Straight will be ready to step in. After that, Carl Sneep/Alex Grant will likely be ready. Assuming Gonchar and Letang have their contracts extended, in 2011 you’ll have Gonchar, Orpik, Letang, Goligoski, Lovejoy, Strait and Sneep/Grant.
Albert
Jun 23, 11:27 PM
I doubt Shero wants to have more than 2 rookies in his Top 7 defencemen.
Beauchemin would be nice, but doesn’t sound likely given the cap situation…
“Ducks’ general manager Bob Murray said he expects rugged defenseman Francois Beauchemin to test the waters as an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Beauchemin is solid NHL defender that can log big minutes, while playing a physical game. He also possesses a good shot from the point and would be a solid addition to any team that signs him should Anaheim be unable to retain his services. “That’s a variable that’s out there, for sure,” Murray said. “I have a good relationship with him and we’ll talk again. You’ve got to admire what that guy did. I’m so impressed.” Beachemin was sidelined back on Nov. 14 after tearing his ACL, but returned late in the season and helped in the Ducks tremendously in their playoff run.
Source: L.A. Times
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