Penguins Acquire Hossa, Dupuis from Atlanta

[Janssen25]

Originally Posted by Big Violence

The Pens just became the best team in the east. Hossa without a doubt will be playing with Crosby, and they really beefed up the defense by picking up Hal Gill. This team will definatly be making a run for the cup this year.

Easy does it. Adding Hossa makes them better no doubt, bt automatically annointing them "the best team in the east" is drastic. They have to prove it. On paper they may look like it but actually proving it and forming chemistry is another thing. Goaltending and defence is gonna be a big ? come playoff time.

Originally Posted by FightingIsGood

Ty Conklin has been among the best goalies in the league since he's been called up. 17-4-5, 2.19 GAA and leads the league in save % at .933. Many times over the past few months Conklin has been the reason why the Pens have won, including last night's 50 save performance against the Isles. Now the goaltending may be suspect in that he has no playoff experience and Fleury's wonky ankle may affect his play, but I like our chances with either of them. Of the top 5 teams in the East, only the Devils have a true difference-maker in goal. Ottawa, Montreal and Carolina all have question marks in goal. Our situation isn't the best, but it's better than some of the other teams we're competing with.

This is a more realistic assessment. They have definitely gotten better (for this season) but still have the glaring question mark of goaltending. Sure Ty Conklin has been playing great. But you have to remember he has ZERO playoff experience and couldn't make an NHL club until he was brought in by Pitt. Only time will tell what happens.

My main point is that this trade does not automatically make them the best in the East. To just write off the Devils Ottawa and Montreal is not an intelligent thing to do. There better (this year), sure, but lets see what they can do.

[bengino]

Originally Posted by 39huet

lol B ad news for the habs

no, the asking price from Don Waddell was simply too much and the Pens were stupid enough to pay it. I applaud once again Gainey, but this could put the Pens in a serious run... COULD.

[JeanLaRose]

http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/...s-a-bad-thing/
pretty much sums up how I feel about it.

[JKidd]

Originally Posted by SteelCity

Here's what you need to know about this trade:
The Pens have said for months their top two priorities are: Adding a stay-at-home D (Gill) and Winger for Crosby's line. Biggest weakness - depth and physical presence on D, penalty killing, and lack of two complete, top scoring lines (Malkin should be centering his own line, not playing wing for Sid.)

Pens get:
A great wing for Sid who can kill penalties and gets short handed goals.
A 3rd liner who is a great penalty killer, speedster compared to Armstrong, better offensively and no doubt more complete than Christensen.

What they lost:
- E.C. - "Spare parts" An underachieving center who doesn't fit - behind Crosby, Malkin, Stall at Center, and not a grinder for the 4th line. There's no room for him.
- Colby - A great character guy whose skills are a dime a dozen. He's had some great, crushing hits the last two years, but they're few and far between. He has disappeared for 10-15 games at a time. He has had the privilege of playing with the best player in the league and he can't bury great scoring chances. He's a much bigger loss off the ice - in the locker room, as a team and fan favorite.
- A LATE first round pick.
- Espositio - A guy who fell 20 spots in the draft due to poor play, injury. He's failed to impress at Quebec this year. Might be an NHLer someday, might not. It's a risk.

Yeah, if we bail in the 1st round, that sucks. If Hossa wants more than 7.5-8 come July, **** him. It will make the trade look uglier. But until then, Shero did what he needed to do to make this team a top 1-2 contender in the East.

Awesome breakdown of the trade.

Thanks for that damn fine look at this deal.

[SteelCity]

Originally Posted by hatenmyeyez

even with all the firepower pitt has, the flyers have more when there all healthy.

You're nuts. (They DID have more complete 2nd & 3rd lines, not now, regardless of health.)

Originally Posted by Janssen25

Easy does it. Adding Hossa makes them better no doubt, bt automatically annointing them "the best team in the east" is drastic. They have to prove it. On paper they may look like it but actually proving it and forming chemistry is another thing. Goaltending and defence is gonna be a big ? come playoff time.

You're absolutely right. The combined playoff experience of Conks and Fleury is almost none. There's your Achilles heel. If the D were much stronger, maybe we'd be better off. But we'll need a Cam Ward 05-06 Playoff performance in goal in later rounds to survive. Not saying it won't happen, but it's more likely to happen to Fluery in 3-5 years, not so soon in his career. For Conklin... who knows. It's great to see him having success at this level, but how long does it last?

Originally Posted by jkidd

Awesome breakdown of the trade.

Thanks for that damn fine look at this deal.

You got it!

[Lead]

First game with the new team and Hossa already injuries his knee...

[Killah_punk]

Wow another Penguin injuried welcome to the team Hossa

[HardHitt3n]

Originally Posted by SteelCity

You're nuts. (They DID have more complete 2nd & 3rd lines, not now, regardless of health.)


You're absolutely right. The combined playoff experience of Conks and Fleury is almost none. There's your Achilles heel. If the D were much stronger, maybe we'd be better off. But we'll need a Cam Ward 05-06 Playoff performance in goal in later rounds to survive. Not saying it won't happen, but it's more likely to happen to Fluery in 3-5 years, not so soon in his career. For Conklin... who knows. It's great to see him having success at this level, but how long does it last?



You got it!

once healthy the flyers do have more complete lines.

[maxraner]

Originally Posted by Wadubbin

The future is Crosby,Malkin,FLeury,and Staal.Not Armstrong,christensen,Esposito..I'm starting to like this trade the more I think about it....

After watching the pathetic performance last night vs Boston the deal isn't looking so good now. Hosa will be out a week with a knee injury makes it that much worse.

[Philly Fan 27]

Originally Posted by maxraner

After watching the pathetic performance last night vs Boston the deal isn't looking so good now. Hosa will be out a week with a knee injury makes it that much worse.

hey man, it could be alot worse. a week isnt too bad. still pretty ****ty for pens fans

[FightingIsGood]

I don't know why any Pens fan is even worried about it, to be honest. He's only out a week, but judging from fan reaction, they're ready to jump off the nearest bridge. And last night's performance doesn't bother me either - you can't expect 3 new players to develop chemistry and learn a new system in one practice session. Still though, it doesn't surprise me that he got hurt - the Pens have been dealing with injuries to key players all season long.

[FightingIsGood]

Originally Posted by hatenmyeyez

once healthy the flyers do have more complete lines.

Hate to admit it because I can't stand the Flyers, but I agree.