Who did the Pens trade for last year?
Lots of players. So many in fact that it was probably a problem as regards loss of continuity. Players who we let go of immediately after the season, and players who did not fit the way the coach had us play.
In one case seemingly it was 'the ideal guy' in Iginla, but obviously that was not coordinated with the coach, which seems extremely daft and destroyed what good was in that trade. Indeed, it conspired to actually make us worse.
Otherwise we are talking about players (outside of Jokinen, a move I praised and still praise) where I and many others here said that they were big gambles based on their (then) current performance and natural age and wear/tear decay. More so when considering the assets spent to acquire them. Reality is that we spent a 1st, 2nd's and Joe Morrow to have Iginla, Morrow and Murray for that cup run. The latter two were always meaningless for us long term. The first... enough said about that which I never put on Shero before, but if he knew that Bylsma would not play him with Crosby, I think Shero was very wrong to acquire him. We can't know about that, but certainly the Dupuis/Bylsma quotes on Dupuis permanency with Crosby suggests that this could be the case.
What happened to the league's cap over the summer?
I don't care. Shero's job is to prioritize and get results, and he prioritized signing Scuderi, extending Dupuis and not dealing Orpik and/or Niskanen, both of whom were very much tradeable and more so after picking up Scuderi. It is also on Shero to find good value. I plugged a Penner signing because he picked it up last year and has a great playoff track record; he adds the size and net-front presence we need and could be a good third wheel for Geno a'la Malone. Don't know if he was ever in play for us, but that guy signed for Anaheim for 2 million per, is +18 and has 17 points in 19 games. Jiggy was vocal about Mayson Raymond as a speedy player with good hands and sound play in all zones. He cost a million for Toronto, he is second in points there and has 17 points in 24 games while playing 18.15 per game.
Now, I don't know if there was dialogue with or interest from any of those players. I am just pointing out that they are different types of players than those we have been acquiring, Penner more so, of course. And ultimately these players have been very successful at very manageable cost levels. You judge a GM on results. Not intent or could have/might have.
There are your answers, TR. D'Agostini was not ideal. He was, however, a dirt cheap potential replacement for an outgoing player who we could jettison without a second thought if he didn't work out.
Fluffer doesn't matter anyway really. What matters is that we got NO ONE who could help out with our dire lack of players who can be effective on the boards and make our bottom 6 tougher to play. Outside of that side kick for Sid or Geno, at least for one of them if we optimistically count Bennett as a shoe in for either role, that was the obvious need in the Summer, and... nada.
D'Agostini was/would be an understandable low-risk gamble if he provided anything the team needed. And even if he didn't, if he didn't pan out we could always waive him like now and there'd be no cap consequences. I agree with that entirely.
But it comes back to when I say that Shero has not successfully identified and addressed the actual OBVIOUS needs of this roster for a long time. Fluffer was given a contract early with lots of more useful players still in play. It didn't seem very meaningful at the time and it proved to be like that also.
