Now including Erik Karlsson, how much has this roster improved overall?
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6 Comments
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Last episode you looked at the dilemma presented by the Letang/Karlsson embarrassment of riches: two league-elite offensive defensemen who play 25+ minutes a game, raising the question of who is going to play 25+ minutes with them. Entertain my insane speculations:
– Is there precedent for a situation where, say, Petersson would play 20ish minutes with either Letang or Karlsson, and, say, Joseph would take the remaining minutes?
– On a scale from 0 to "summarily execute this man," how unthinkable is it to pair Karlsson and Letang and let them play their 25+ minutes together?
I haven’t been this exciting in preseason in awhile. I just hope the team as a whole can stay more healthy than not. And that Jarry has a career year
In the end it doesn't matter becuase he's here now and I hope he and they make the most of it. I hope this season is exciting and they make the postseason more than a one and done, but sorry Karlsson is here only because the Penguins were the one team out of few considered to be in the mix for him, able to put together a deal that worked. He's here because of Dubas, period. In the end it was either the Penguins, or probably not going anywhere…at least not unless the Sharks got completely robbed in the process, and Karlsson signed off on the Penguins.
If Carolina, Toronto, Seattle, or even Edmonton were able to make something work like the Penguins did, he'd be there instead no doubt, because all of those teams not only have much better odds at winning a cup this season, but in the next few seasons as well, and Karlsson knows that more than anyone. He was "Okay" with the Penguins, but of all the teams that he could have gone to, they were more of a consolidation destination. Karlsson wanted out, and beggars can't be choosers, at least not beggars with a $115 million cap hit.
Sure Spezza being with the organization helped twist his arm a little (that was obviously a big reason he was brought on) , and who wouldn't want to play with Crosby and a team who's very identity prioritizes offensive skill, puck possession and slick playmaking like the Pens and Sullivan does, made them an enticing option, so he was ok with going to the Penguins if that was an option (meaning: He wouldn't say no), but there's no way they were his top destination choice, or he's here because he choose them over any other team who was rumored to be making a deal for him.
The 2nd D line regardless of whether it’s Karlsson or Tanger on right side with Petterson or Graves will be huge upgrade from Dumo/Petry in both offense and defense. Plus, having either of those guys out there adds another offensive threat you have to account for and a guy that can get puck out of D zone into transition. Also, the bottom 6 is where I felt the Pens sorely lacked talent and toughness and I think that’s been addressed as well as it could have with the acquisitions made. Jarry needs to stay healthy
The pens should ask hextall 2 introduce karlsson 2day