Confirmed with Link: Pens Sign Finnish Defenseman Juuso Riikola

[Gurglesons]

If we trade one of those 3 for a top 6 LW when we have Guentzel, Rust, and Simon under contract, I'm gonna lose my ****.

I'm gonna lose my ****, aren't I?

Guentzel - Crosby - Sprong
X - Malkin - Rust
Simon- Sheahan - Hornqvist

Is the hopeful long game in my opinion. I would say Simon is the one who likely isn’t a guarantee there. They probably have a handful of wingers in WBS they are hoping can move up there.

 

[Ogrezilla]

I really hope the Ricola commercial song plays when he scores lol

They didn't play the song, but the arena announcer did the reeeekoollaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa when he scored

 

[billybudd]

We need a top six LW next year and we are likely going to be trading Kessel, Letang or Maatta for it.

If we have a hole at 3C at that time, I question that Left Wing would be prioritized over it. It's just easier to find a guy who can backfill Hagelin than it is to find a center who can carry a third line.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Guentzel - Crosby - Sprong
X - Malkin - Rust
Simon- Sheahan - Hornqvist

Is the hopeful long game in my opinion. I would say Simon is the one who likely isn’t a guarantee there. They probably have a handful of wingers in WBS they are hoping can move up there.

If we have a hole at 3C at that time, I question that Left Wing would be prioritized over it. It's just easier to find a guy who can backfill Hagelin than it is to find a center who can carry a third line.

Yeah, I'm still not comfortable with Sheahan being our 3rd line center. He might be fine, but it's fair to say he's no Brassard. That's the kind of 3C depth we should be pursuing IMO.

I'm never gonna understand the resistance to giving Rust an extended look on LW. It would solve so many problems, and the early returns with Brass and Kessel were good.

 

[Peat]

Yeah, I'm still not comfortable with Sheahan being our 3rd line center. He might be fine, but it's fair to say he's no Brassard. That's the kind of 3C depth we should be pursuing IMO.

I'm never gonna understand the resistance to giving Rust an extended look on LW. It would solve so many problems, and the early returns with Brass and Kessel were good.

The problem with Brassard is keeping a player of that calibre happy. I still kinda wish we'd gone after JGP - a high end traditional 3C who probably wouldn't object to those minutes. And god only knows where we get a second Brassard if we lose the one we've got.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

The problem with Brassard is keeping a player of that calibre happy. I still kinda wish we'd gone after JGP - a high end traditional 3C who probably wouldn't object to those minutes. And god only knows where we get a second Brassard if we lose the one we've got.

It won't be easy, for sure.

Then again, getting Brassard in the first place required a lot of patience and a complex trade. If he has as good a season as I think he's capable of here, I'd like to explore re-signing him. I think winning and production would go a long way to make him happy.

 

[MrBurghundy]

The problem with Brassard is keeping a player of that calibre happy. I still kinda wish we'd gone after JGP - a high end traditional 3C who probably wouldn't object to those minutes. And god only knows where we get a second Brassard if we lose the one we've got.

Just bring the ol' sod farmer back.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Anyway I suppose this is the Riikola thread so I'll let 'er get back on track.

 

[Peat]

It won't be easy, for sure.

Then again, getting Brassard in the first place required a lot of patience and a complex trade. If he has as good a season as I think he's capable of here, I'd like to explore re-signing him. I think winning and production would go a long way to make him happy.

That would be nice. Really nice. Zero argument from me there.

 

[MrBurghundy]

Anyway I suppose this is the Riikola thread so I'll let 'er get back on track.

So who would you say Riikola reminds you of?

A young Bobby Orr, or a young Nick Lindstrom? Or perhaps a combination of both?

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

So who would you say Riikola reminds you of?

A young Bobby Orr, or a young Nick Lindstrom? Or perhaps a combination of both?

One part Barry Sanders, one part Wilt Chamberlain.

 

[AjaxTelamon]

It won't be easy, for sure.

Then again, getting Brassard in the first place required a lot of patience and a complex trade. If he has as good a season as I think he's capable of here, I'd like to explore re-signing him. I think winning and production would go a long way to make him happy.

I don't think there's any way to fit Brass with the cap next year without dumping someone significant on D, and bringing in a middle 6 LW on the cheap. Not to mention Brass will get 6M or maybe a little less, but with big term. If you did dump a significant contract on D and signed a Grant for L4 and let Sheahan walk, then you can probably just fit it. But you've got Murray and Schultz coming up the following year.

I just don't see JR committing that kind of cash and term to an aging Brass.

Edit, you led me to an OT place WC, now we share blame.

 

[MrBurghundy]

One part Barry Sanders, one part Wilt Chamberlain.

I also hear the pucks he shoots have a similar velocity and movement as a Randy Johnson fastball.

 

[Andy99]

One part Barry Sanders, one part Wilt Chamberlain.

I doubt he’s slept with that many women combined, but I don’t know...maybe Mackey could ask him...

 

[ZeroPucksGiven]

It won't be easy, for sure.

Then again, getting Brassard in the first place required a lot of patience and a complex trade. If he has as good a season as I think he's capable of here, I'd like to explore re-signing him. I think winning and production would go a long way to make him happy.

I hope you're right, but I think it won't play out like that.
Brass wants a big payday, this is probably his last contract so why wouldn't you max out?

Then of course Sheahan probably isn't happy for TOI reasons. Biggest fear is we enter next year like we did last offseason....

 

[Peat]

I doubt he’s slept with that many women combined, but I don’t know...maybe Mackey could ask him...

Kid's only 24, not sure its mathematically possible.

 

[USMC607]

So who would you say Riikola reminds you of?

A young Bobby Orr, or a young Nick Lindstrom? Or perhaps a combination of both?

Lmao underrated post.

 

[USMC607]

I like where this is going as far as Cough Drops Rising cult status.

Honestly though for how spoiled we have been on forwards. We are due for a nice suprise on defense.

I guess schultz had been a pleasant suprised after he morphed form a dumpster fire in Edm to what he is now. But that's more because Edm cant develope young guns unless they are of McDavid cant miss caliber, more than anything else.

 

[Andy99]

Kid's only 24, not sure its mathematically possible.

Hey...probably right...but they get started early in Sweden, maybe Finland too?

 

[Freeptop]

So who would you say Riikola reminds you of?

A young Bobby Orr, or a young Nick Lindstrom? Or perhaps a combination of both?

Between those two extremes, probably closer to Lindstrom than Orr, though at least Riikola looks like he's going to play in the NHL!
Nicklas Lindstrom hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com
(Sorry, just couldn't help myself when I saw the 'n' in there!)

 

[The Old Master]

Then of course Sheahan probably isn't happy for TOI reasons. Biggest fear is we enter next year like we did last offseason....

I think Sheahan should be happy just to still be in the nhl. let alone playing on the pen's instead of the wings.

 

[The Old Master]

I like where this is going as far as Cough Drops Rising cult status.

I haven't felt this good about a pen's defenseman since fatty. and see how that turned out.

 

[NMK11]

So who would you say Riikola reminds you of?

A young Bobby Orr, or a young Nick Lindstrom? Or perhaps a combination of both?

More of a young Simon Despres.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

More of a young Simon Despres.

But better.

Sacrilege, yes, I know.

 

[Coastal Kev]