bics56
February 16, 2009, 6:52am
423
I’m iffy on this with Therrien. I’ve read some things where some hockey guys have said that he is an ideal coach for a young team that needs a strong, hard line coach, but he is not a good coach when dealing with top line talent. He had the same problem in Montreal and apparently was having it here. There were tons of rumors floating last year that a lot of the guys on the team didn’t like him.
Naming this kid from WB/S as interim I think is good, only fear I have is if he really is as good as everyone says, but doesn’t succeed here in 25 games, there is no way you can send him back to WB/S so you’ll be looking for 2 separate head coaches in the off season. That could make things a little dicey.
Whoever thinks Caputi and Whitney for a 36 year old winger that won’t go into corners or fight for the puck is an idiot. This team is going to need a kid like Caputi in the future. We need skilled guys that have a little grit. All the skill in the world won’t produce wins unless you have guys that will dig the pucks out of corners and forecheck their asses off.
Only trade I’ve heard run around that I think makes sense is Staal for Nathan Horton from Florida. We need wings, Florida needs centers, Horton is a natural wing that Florida is forcing to play 2nd line center, Staal is a 3rd liner here but a natural 2nd liner somewhere else. Both have similar cap hits, Horton is only 24 or 25, right handed, a big guy, and plays a physical game.
If we trade any highly regarded prospects, I’ll be upset. This club right now is shy on guys that are grading out highly in the future. Goligoski, Caputi are about it in terms of guys that are in the pros right now. Pierro-Zabotel is a good looking winger playing in juniors right now but he is 2-3 years away. I don’t think the Pens can afford to trade any prospects, they need to try to acquire them and build some depth.
I am pretty much on the same page as you. The only thing I would argue about St Louis is that his style seems like it would mech well with Sid’s. He is fast, has a somewhat similar “crazy” style of play and has incredible hands. But like you said to trade two guys and both being a lot younger I am not too sure if it is the answer. I do like the Horton idea, we need players like him…just unsure if he would mesh well with Sid?