... he were willing to accept a 1-year 1.5M or so. Would he be a viable asset at that price or would he be taking ice time from a more-deserving kid and we should just part ways? I am truly torn on this. I like Pens and I want it to work but I know that the likelihood of him turning it around is shrinking.
He would have to take an enormous paycut and only if Dean strikes out in free agency or on the trade market. Someone will give him 2-2.5 which is more than I'd be willing to give.
I would absolutely re-sign Penner on a deal like that. I would re-sign him on any deal up to $3 million. He isn't a liability defensively, could be a good third liner if things go to hell, but he has been a successful goal scorer for the past 5 seasons before he joined LA. We are using him wrong. If you look at the highlights from all his goals in the past, he scored a vast majority of them right in front of the net. His game is best suited to play the role Ryan Smyth did for us. We are utilizing him incorrectly trying to turn him into a perimeter sniper. He needs to be planted in front of the net.
This all depends on who else is available and if we can competently re-assess our strategy with him of course...
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"It has not been a good day. I lost my glasses early this morning and I had to go buy a pair of 79 dollar reading glasses today. 79 bucks. You can literally get them at Costco, three-for-20." - Darryl Sutter's response to going up 2-0 in the series.
It's similar to what was paid to Frolov, Handzus, and Poni (Simmonds will also be paid the same). We've had a lot of bottom 6 complaints since we have let them walk. Penner is a decent player, belongs in the top 6, but if things don't work out, he is an ideal third liner. We just don't like him because he isn't putting up 30 goals and 50 points, and at times looks disinterested, but has put in much better effort recently.
I would gladly resign him as long as he shows some kind of consistency between now and the end of the season. The level of consistency showed will determine his value
I can't believe there are still Penner haters out there...the guy has been really on the last month or so, and he was doing well before his latest injury (no, I am not talking about the pancakes affair, the one before that).
I have been watching him in particular at games (kind of hard to miss him), and he is doing everything right with the exception of scoring more. Last night was one of his best games and the key of course is to try to get him to plant himself more in front of the net. But he is deceptively fast in getting to the net from the right wing; he has beaten several opponents there lately, he just hasn't converted.
When he does, look out. With the emergence of Williams (finally), and Kopitar (no way he is going to be in a long-term slump), if Penner and others get going, the rest of the league is gonna be in big trouble.
Just imagine: Quick and goal and the Kings consistently scoring 3 or more goals a game....................................
Agreed. He isn't producing on the ice and he's a distraction off of it. The Kings are preaching accountability, if that is the case Penner, Stoll and Hunter should be gone at the deadline. How can any King fan honestly expect Dean Lombardi to reward Dustin Penner with his horrid stretch as an LA King? I don't know what his points per a game are in LA but he has to go down as one of the worst Kings in their history and that's saying something given their history sucks.
I can't believe there are still Penner haters out there...the guy has been really on the last month or so, and he was doing well before his latest injury (no, I am not talking about the pancakes affair, the one before that).
I have been watching him in particular at games (kind of hard to miss him), and he is doing everything right with the exception of scoring more. Last night was one of his best games and the key of course is to try to get him to plant himself more in front of the net. But he is deceptively fast in getting to the net from the right wing; he has beaten several opponents there lately, he just hasn't converted.
When he does, look out. With the emergence of Williams (finally), and Kopitar (no way he is going to be in a long-term slump), if Penner and others get going, the rest of the league is gonna be in big trouble.
Just imagine: Quick and goal and the Kings consistently scoring 3 or more goals a game....................................
I'm arguably the biggest Penner basher out there, and I'd resign him to a maximum of $2 million a season (more if his number grow).
That said, I can understand the hate. The guy has been injured a lot here and he was supposed to be that goalscoring piece we needed to compete. He has six goals in 60 games (counting the playoffs). Hard not to have some hate for that when you get $4.25 million and it cost us a 1st, a 3rd and a good prospect to get him.
I like how Sutter is utilizing Penner to play to his strengths moreso than Murray did. I'd like to see a few more weeks of Penner playing before I decide on whether or not the Kings should retain him.
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"In a year that has been so improbable, the impossible has happened." - Vin Scully being clairvoyant in 1988.
The Los Angeles Kings - 2012 Stanley Cup Champions
I like how Sutter is utilizing Penner to play to his strengths moreso than Murray did. I'd like to see a few more weeks of Penner playing before I decide on whether or not the Kings should retain him.
No doubt he is driving to the net more with the puck which I never saw under Murray. Still, the point production isn't there consistently and you can't have most of your wingers struggling to put up points. Reminds me of the Craig Johnson argument, some fans loved him because he always worked hard but others hated his guts because all of that hard work couldn't disguise his obvious lack of skill. The culture in LA still needs to change and it starts by not bringing back players who didn't produce as they were supposed to. Driving to the net or making a couple of good plays a game shouldn't mean a 2 million dollar deal. And this is all assuming that some other NHL team doesn't offer him better money, which is probably what will happen.
Agreed. He isn't producing on the ice and he's a distraction off of it. The Kings are preaching accountability, if that is the case Penner, Stoll and Hunter should be gone at the deadline. How can any King fan honestly expect Dean Lombardi to reward Dustin Penner with his horrid stretch as an LA King? I don't know what his points per a game are in LA but he has to go down as one of the worst Kings in their history and that's saying something given their history sucks.
I agree. Not sure if the kings have the depth to get rid of all three if they are still a playoff team at the deadline but I'd get rid of stoll at least and try and recoup some of what they paid to get Penner.
He's on pace for an 18 point season and you want to give him another deal? What kind of message would that send the locker room? You can completely crap out on the Kings and they'll still keep you around? Gary Schuchuk put up better numbers (don't look that up).
He's on pace for an 18 point season and you want to give him another deal? What kind of message would that send the locker room? You can completely crap out on the Kings and they'll still keep you around? Gary Schuchuk put up better numbers (don't look that up).
I don't think the point totals play into it actually in terms what the rest of the team would feel. For them, I'd imagine it's more about work ethic.
Penner's numbers are not there this year, but virtually all Kings numbers are down from the past, both in terms of last years and overall career averages.
Penner though is definately working much harder than last year and seems to be getting better under Sutter. He has nine points in his last 20 games. Nothing great I agree, but over a full season that is a 37 point pace, far better than the 18 you suggested. At $1.5 - $2 million, I'd take a 35-40 point Penner in hopes he can continue to rebound and put up even better numbers next year and I doubt you'd find to many players who can put up those kinds of points with his size and skill who are also at least decent defensively at $2 million. Considering the injury issues he's had this year as well, it's likely he will continue to improve on how he looked early in the season assuming he can stay healthy.
