But seriously... what value does he have?
He has been a negative value asset in every playoff year he has been a Penguin.
I don’t care if a guy scored 50 goals a season ala Neal or is some supposed defensive savant... you have to measure his value on his playoff performances.
Most especially when you are a GM trying to understand why your team has won just two of their last 12 playoff games.
JR needs to ask himself...
Has this guy done anything to help me win these games... no... has he been a negative asset during these playoff games... yes...
Why am I keeping him around when I’m trying to change this losing playoff culture?
It makes no sense to keep around a guy like ZAR if you want to change this pathetic run of playoff misery they find themselves in.
I agree with this but some players are late bloomers and ZAR has had injuries that derailed his start to career(remember how excited we were when he started on the top line with Sid?). Simon has also gotten better. I havent liked either of them but this is the year where the "late bloomers" start to get things going. Both 26 years old. If they dont this season we simply replace them.
Btw its also hard to judge them based on the last 2 playoff years. Only 4 games each time. Lets say they were on those cup winning teams and got to play 20+ games. Who says they dont put up 10 or so points? Rust had that luxury at the time. Sheary did. These 2 never have.
If you asked me right now to decide, Id replace both of them. But no harm in seeing how it plays out next season. If its the same, then trade deadline it is. Or maybe someone in WBS stands out.
But Right now Im hoping Poulin forces his way onto the team. He would more likely than Legare since he plays a two way game and we know Sullivan only trusts that. Poulin is the type that could play in bottom 6 and still thrive imo. Thats what weve been waiting for. I dont see him needing the top 6 to succeed. He could gel with McCann and Hornqvist(if thats the 3rd line still) or Blueger and Tanev.
Also hoping we sign a solid UFA on a 1-2 year deal(one thats willing to wait out the cap situation in the league). That means we could trade Murray for pick or a prospect whos close to being ready. Josh Norris from the Sens would be nice(yeah I know but you get the point).
So My ideal offseason...
Poulin makes team
Sign a Toffoli/Granlund/Haula type for that short term deal(again, if possible).
Trade Murray for that top prospect whos close to being ready. A team willing to take that risk. Not wanting to part with that player but wanting Murray enough to do it. I mention the Sens since they know all about him after what he did to them in the ECF. Or Avs being desperate and willing to part with a top one, we know the risks they take with prospects. Maybe Calgary. I say no to the Oilers.
Guentzel - Crosby - Kapanen
Zucker - Malkin - Rust
McCann - Haula - Poulin/Hornqvist
Tanev - Blueger - Hornqvist/Poulin
Would be the ideal lineup for playoffs. Assuming all goes well with Poulin.
For regular season...ZAR will be out til Jan. Simon may not start the season. Who knows with Bjugstad. So there could be a spot for Poulin. Then when those guys are healthy, you know we will have multiple injuries again so theres plenty of games to go around for the 3 mentioned above to prove themselves. Which is another thing they should keep in mind when deciding on Poulin. The fact that we always have a ton of missed games throughout the lineup , why waste another year in juniors? Id rather start the clock now, if we have to send him down to WBS then so be it. He can improve there. But let him get NHL time in now and be ready for the playoffs. Goal is to win now right? What if he is that diff maker like Rust or Guentzel, somewhere in between?
Hopefully ZAR and Simon(even Bjugstad) prove us wrong...or at least do decent enough to where we could move them at the deadline. We will see if they past that eye test. You dont just hope they gain another year of reg experience then gamble that theyll make an impact in the playoffs. We need to see them make huge strides in the regular season.
Also If we are all in then someone like Lafferty shouldnt be the 13th forward. No offense to him but just not ready yet to make that difference come playoff time. Hes not on Poulin's level.
The point of this long post is all they should be thinking about is the playoffs. And prepare for it now instead of having to scramble when things go wrong in the reg season. Making too many moves and not able to establish a bottom 6 come playoffs. Make sure we have it this time.
