- Feb 10, 2010
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I had no idea Brooks Orpik commanded the same $$$ and more contract years than Mike Ribeiro. They're almost the same age are they not? Ribs was a PPG C when he was here.
At least we have a GM that's willing to take risks? What kind of help is that if his moves are **** and crippling to the team's future?
Keep drinking the kool-aid.
No, he's right.
Without that risk taking persona you are stuck in no mans land (George). Caps weren't winning it with George. Period, end.
They needed a risk taker. Now they have one. Will see if he's the right guy, or not (and YES-- like George-- he will learn on the job).
No, he's right.
Without that risk taking persona you are stuck in no mans land (George). Caps weren't winning it with George. Period, end.
They needed a risk taker. Now they have one. Will see if he's the right guy, or not (and YES-- like George-- he will learn on the job).
There's a difference between a calculated risk taker and a dumbass.
Niskanen is a risk.
Orpik is a disaster everyone can see coming.
Well in general, team fans should never be trusted in their player evaluations.Maybe I missed it because I haven't read through all the threads, but if any of you have posted an actual defense of these moves, with reasons why the Pens fans and the statistics shouldn't be believed, I'd really love to hear it. So far all I'm hearing is "but it's better than last year!"
Many people declared Willie Mitchell signing in LA a stupid move and a waste of cap space. Look how that turned out.
For the record, I didn't want Orpik here. But the reality is he is here. Did they overpay? Yes they did. But isn't that how it goes in FA?? Is Clayton Stoner worth $13M??
Whether or not Orpik is a disaster remains to be seen. At 45 I learned a long time ago to not be knee jerk in my reactions. The proof will be in the pudding so to speak. Until the guy plays some games it's impossible, if not just plain ignorant, to pass judgement.
Who would you have signed instead? Ehrhoff we didn't have a chance with it seems. Subban wouldn't come here if you held a gun to his mother's head.
The Caps organizationally are totally new and have no track record. I'm just glad to see someone making moves that have a chance at improving the team that don't include not ready for NHL Dmen from Hershey. Playing those guys up here too early impedes their growth IMO.
Try being objective for a change.
Be objective?
I'm looking at the facts and the numbers.
Orpik is a 3rd pairing dman who's coming off yet another surgery at 33 that we just gave number one money to.
We went one level above overpaying looking at the contracts other dmen got.
This is our last window with the best player this franchise has ever had and we just anchored ourself to Tom Poti 2.0 for five years at $5.5 million.
It's been more than one season with Orpik and Stralman.It's interesting how this board works, sometimes. Plenty don't want to judge Niskanen based on one season, but want to do so with Orpik and Stralman.
How is the Niskanen signing good to excellent? At best, it's paying market value for a James Wisniewski/Dennis Wideman-type player that's redundant behind Green and Carlson. At worst, it's paying that money for a player who regresses away from their career year into being a 3rd pairing defenseman again.These two signings are so different, it's not appropriate to analyze them together. One is good to excellent, the other bad to terrible.
In large part, I agree. However I have to think that Ovechkin still has appeal to a lot of players, and the fact that Fayne took a value deal with Edmonton shows you don't always have to overpay to get players to come to lesser situations. Regardless, overpaying the wrong players is obviously the wrong choice.Well, obviously I'd prefer us signing better and cheaper players, but let's be reality: we're not an attractive franchise, so to get there and to improve the team, we have to overpay. Just at least overpay the right players...
There's a difference between a calculated risk taker and a dumbass.
Niskanen is a risk.
Orpik is a disaster everyone can see coming.
Responding to a few posts. Will hopefully have time for my full thoughts, later.
How is the Niskanen signing good to excellent? At best, it's paying market value for a James Wisniewski/Dennis Wideman-type player that's redundant behind Green and Carlson. At worst, it's paying that money for a player who regresses away from their career year into being a 3rd pairing defenseman again.
In large part, I agree. However I have to think that Ovechkin still has appeal to a lot of players, and the fact that Fayne took a value deal with Edmonton shows you don't always have to overpay to get players to come to lesser situations. Regardless, overpaying the wrong players is obviously the wrong choice.
Redundant behind Green and Carlson? Are you still stuck in Adam Oates' Righty/Lefty system? Chances are Green is now redundant if anything. I'll believe it when I see that Green is stealing time from Niskanen if he's still on the roster at all. There are so many options now, something the Caps haven't had in forever.
RE: Fayne - I see no sense in looking at a deal in a vacuum like his and suggesting Washington could have done something similar. For all we know they had no interest in the player and it's a non-starter from the get go.
Be objective?
I'm looking at the facts and the numbers.
Orpik is a 3rd pairing dman who's coming off yet another surgery at 33 that we just gave number one money to.
We went one level above overpaying looking at the contracts other dmen got.
This is our last window with the best player this franchise has ever had and we just anchored ourself to Tom Poti 2.0 for five years at $5.5 million.
What "facts"? All I see is speculation. How is it that Orpik is not Tom Poti?? You have a interesting way of viewing things.
Who would you have signed if you were GM? Stoner? Subban? Strahlman? Ehrhoff? Kostka? Boyle? Weaver? I am interested in who is worth the money in a free agent market where a lot of players were overpaid.
Why is it Reirden wanted Orpik here if he is washed up? Don't you think that would make him look pretty bad to stand up in front of a new employer and endorse a guy who only a "dumbass" would sign?
Which would be a problem, not an excuse to end the argument. From all of the reports leading up to free agency, it seems like we has our sights set on these two guys, and didn't budge despite the buyouts and trade candidates. The only other report I saw was contacting Boyle's agent, but not much interest beyond that.
One of the biggest criticisms of Pittsburgh in the past few seasons is their poor defense, and these are two defenseman that both their fanbase and management were more than happy to get rid of.
Why is Reirdan regarded as some amazing coach? The guy was the defensive coach on a team where Defense was a huge problem. And we nabbed the two cast offs from that same team.
Why is Reirdan regarded as some amazing coach? The guy was the defensive coach on a team where Defense was a huge problem. And we nabbed the two cast offs from that same team.
Which would be a problem, not an excuse to end the argument. From all of the reports leading up to free agency, it seems like we has our sights set on these two guys, and didn't budge despite the buyouts and trade candidates. The only other report I saw was contacting Boyle's agent, but not much interest beyond that.
“There was stuff I would’ve liked to have been involved in that I wasn’t, but there’s other areas where I didn’t think it was an upgrade for our team. I thought we could go the free agency route with the two guys we got. I thought that was the better play to make.”
Why is Reirdan regarded as some amazing coach? The guy was the defensive coach on a team where Defense was a huge problem. And we nabbed the two cast offs from that same team.
Pittsburgh has wanted to go younger on D for a while now so pretty unlikely they were going to pay market value for Orpik or Niskanen. Now they'll see how much Maatta can handle and give opportunities to guys like Despres, Pouliot and Bortuzzo.From Orpik's interview, it's pretty clear that he chose to leave. Given what the Penguins had on the blue line before signing Ehrhoff, I don't see that feeling being mutual.
I have been wondering the same thing.
I think we nabbed him because we wanted a voice from outside the room.
Only, that voice seemed to carry a ton of weight not commiserate with his pay grade.
Pittsburgh has wanted to go younger on D for a while now so pretty unlikely they were going to pay market value for Orpik or Niskanen. Now they'll see how much Maatta can handle and give opportunities to guys like Despres, Pouliot and Bortuzzo.