Hockey players are an investment. Safe investors sell high and reduce risking their whole portfolio over one risky investment. Ray Shero is a safe investor and Jordan Staal is no exception. I think Shero did what was best for the long-term future of the Pens. Look at some of the benefits:
1. We actually get something — more than just something, A LOT! — for Staal instead of just watching him walk.
2. This frees up plenty of salary cap space to plug some other holes in the team, and it will also be huge when our other big name players come to the ends of their contracts.
3. Negotiating with him won’t be a distraction next season or an issue this time next year.
I know a lot of fans are going to miss him, but the success of the team far outweighs our emotional attachment to players. This is why I never buy a jersey with a name on it. Personally, I will miss his consistent hard work and presence on the penalty kill. At times I would have traded him for a bag of pucks and a few water bottles. Other times I argued that I would get rid of Malkin before Staal if it ever came to it. It really comes down to this: Staal knew he was better than a third-line center, and he knew that’s all he would ever be here in Pittsburgh. For him, like Shero, moving on was just smart business. Am I being a little cold? Maybe. He got a Cup here, and now he gets to try to win one with his brother (Did that warm this post up a little bit? No? Oh well…) The Staal boys should talk to the Sedins about how well that works out, but I think the topic of hockey families is a whole different post.
Bottom line from my perspective, it was the right move for everyone. Like a break-up you both know is coming so you just put it all out on the table and go your separate ways. Now we just have to change our PenguinPoop banner.
Well, I liked Jordan too… But call it “necessary evil”. Getting rid of Michalek was also a good move, although I think that Paul Martin sucked even more than Michalek, and would free the same cap space (5 million, if I’m not mistaken…). I mean, getting rid of BOTH would be ideal, but it’s probably hard to shove Paul Martin down another GM’s throat (no pun intended).
Parise should be hard to sign, as the Devils might make him a qualifying offer (current cap hit = 6 million). I guess the only option after him is Alexander Semin (current cap hit = 6.7 million). All I know is that the Pens absolutely need a high scoring winger (and Shero has cap space to sign) to play alongside Crosby, because there’s a void there since Hossa bailed, and then since Billy Guerin retired. 2 scoring lines made of Parise/Semin – Crosby – Dupuis and Kunitz – Malkin – Neal wouldn’t look at all bad. Anyway, Shero needs to act FAST here.
About defenseman, I don’t know the current situation of Florida’s Brian Campbell. I guess the only other “top” defenseman available are both Nashville’s Shea Weber (too high salary, 7.5 M) and Ryan Suter (3.5).
Looks like you got to change your banner on top of the page now 😀
At first I didn’t like Stall, but as he got better I felt he could do better then being stuck as a 3rd line center.
I liked Staal. I’m not happy he wanted out of Pittsburgh. He obviously told people this last year that he was unhappy. You heard talk during the playoffs that he was saying he was unhappy and Carolina rumors surfaced then. He obviously was talking. I wonder if he was what they like to call a locker room cancer? Yes I realize he was one of the better scoring players against philly. I also realize he was part of the penalty kill unit that completely bombed. Was he trying to show he wouldn’t do that anymore? There have been many players who do very well that have been known as locker room problems. Does the name Jagr ring a bell?
I know it is for the long term, it is still sad to see one of my favorites go
THANKS JORDAN!!!!
This was a great move by Shero. Sure, I’ll admit, I’m going to miss seeing no. 11 skating out there on the PK, but in reality, it was time for him to go. You said it yourself, he, as well as Shero and the rest of the world, knew he was better then a 3rd line center and unfortunately thats all he could ever be in Pittsburgh. This, along with the Michalek trade, REALLY helped the Pens out by freeing up some SIGNIFICANT cap space. Hopefully now we can sign a scoring winger for Sid. I know its a long shot, but I’d like to see Parise in a Pens jersey.
For D, I think were doing pretty well. Sure the defense was picked apart in the first round loss to Philly, but with the future addition of Morrow and Pouliot, I feel pretty confident about our defense in the near future. I’m excited to see what these new players bring to the table. Specifically Sutter, and you definitely can’t forget about Voukoun. Shero is making all of the right moves.