I'm confident that Harrington has a better chance of becoming a top 4 defenseman than Bortuzzo. He's been repeatedly compared to Girardi with good cause.
In 5 or 6 years, Strait or especially Harrington is more likely to be top four than Bortuzzo ever will be.
I don't know if Strait or Bortuzzo will ever be a top 4. But I could see them both being the third pairing on the Pens Blueline in the near future. Don't count Bortuzzo out, he has qualities that Strait doesn't have. He's 6'4" and he is more than willing to fight even though he doesn't win many. His skating needs a little work but he's a year younger than Strait so he has time to improve.
I don't know if Strait or Bortuzzo will ever be a top 4. But I could see them both being the third pairing on the Pens Blueline in the near future. Don't count Bortuzzo out, he has qualities that Strait doesn't have. He's 6'4" and he is more than willing to fight even though he doesn't win many. His skating needs a little work but he's a year younger than Strait so he has time to improve.
If Bortuzzo maxes out his abilities, he can be a #4.
I can't see Strait playing in the top 4 unless it is an injury situation.
Next season can go so many ways... and I have a feeling Morrow won't be in WBS very long when the Pens see what he can do for their PP.
Lovejoy and Nisky have to be moved. I am sure Shero can get a 4th for Lovejoy and possibly a second for Nisky. If he can pull off those trades before the draft, he will have some leverage to move up and make a little noise since the draft is in Pgh.
Depres looked strong last night. He kept firing them at the net and got 2 shots through a tough FLA defense and an unforgiving Theodore. Put him up against the Flyers and that turns into something more in the area of 5-6 SOG and a goal or an assist or two. This kid can play.
The real test for these two rookies will be Sunday against the Bruins. If we can't score more than two goals we will need steller D and goaltending. They are tough to play and they are deep.
The real test for these two rookies will be Sunday against the Bruins. If we can't score more than two goals we will need steller D and goaltending. They are tough to play and they are deep.
I agree, and I think if the Pens stick to the same game-plan they did last time they met, it will mean an important W. Considering there's a 3 day break until they face NYR, I'm hoping to see a very physical game against Boston.
The real test for these two rookies will be Sunday against the Bruins. If we can't score more than two goals we will need steller D and goaltending. They are tough to play and they are deep.
Well hopefully they won't be tested as Engelland and Martin will be back.
Strait has had protected minutes in these last three games and has held up well. Against the Bruins he's going to see 3rd and 4th line players that are much better and tougher than what he's seen in the past three games. If he can continue his steller play against them, he's a keeper. Although if Martain is ready to go I wonder who the healthy scratch on D will be, Strait, Despres, or Lovejoy?
I think Despres, even though he could probably play in the NHL right now, will be used in the minors just because of his contract.
I would rather keep Niskanen, and sign him to a 1 or 2 year deal and try to get a more out of him, as I think he can still grow a bit and become more valuable. I'd trade Lovejoy at the draft, re-sign Strait to take over Lovejoy's spot, and figure out what to do with Bortuzzo, as Morrow and Harrington have seemingly made him expendable in terms over being a defensive prospect.
I think Despres, even though he could probably play in the NHL right now, will be used in the minors just because of his contract.
I would rather keep Niskanen, and sign him to a 1 or 2 year deal and try to get a more out of him, as I think he can still grow a bit and become more valuable. I'd trade Lovejoy at the draft, re-sign Strait to take over Lovejoy's spot, and figure out what to do with Bortuzzo, as Morrow and Harrington have seemingly made him expendable in terms over being a defensive prospect.
Good problems to have. Good problems, indeed.
Not sure I follow the bold part. Are you saying Morrow and Harrington are just as physical / tough in their own zone as Bortuzzo? To me Morrow is like a Letang-lite, always putting himself in great position to start the rush / transition game, can skate/pass/shoot with the best of em, and defensively is going to be responsible but not a physically aggressive guy in his own zone? Harrington I know less about except that everyone seems to suggest he's also an offensive D.
I thought Bortuzzo was our Orpik-lite-in-training, which, we don't have another of those guys. Better to trade Niskanen in that case (especially if he doesn't adapt better to PP duties when Letang is out)?
Last edited by Chancellor Vitale: 03-10-2012 at 09:16 AM.
Not sure I follow the bold part. Are you saying Morrow and Harrington are just as physical / tough in their own zone as Bortuzzo? To me Harrington is like a Letang-lite, always putting himself in great position to start the rush / transition game, can skate/pass/shoot with the best of em, and defensively is going to be responsible but not a physically aggressive guy in his own zone? Harrington I know less about except that everyone seems to suggest he's also an offensive D.
I thought Bortuzzo was our Orpik-lite-in-training, which, we don't have another of those guys. Better to trade Niskanen in that case (especially if he doesn't adapt better to PP duties when Letang is out)?
Bortuzzo was never like Orpik. I think that was a common misconception. The games I saw of Bortuzzo, he reminded me much more of Michalek or Scuderi than Orpik. We don't have anyone in the system like Orpik, IMO, who is just is a devastating physical defenseman. Despres could be like that, but he just doesn't have the Orpik disposition. That's 90% of the battle in being a physical defenseman.
And I don't know if you were mistaken, but I would say Morrow is a Letang-lite in terms of pretty much everything. I personally liken Harrington to Bortuzzo, except Harrington is way better offensively. Harrington is said to have a cannon of a shot. I have a friend who also follows Pens prospects closely, and he said that Harrington and Morrow could very well have the two hardest slapshots in our organization right now. That's saying a ton.
Bortuzzo was never like Orpik. I think that was a common misconception. The games I saw of Bortuzzo, he reminded me much more of Michalek or Scuderi than Orpik. We don't have anyone in the system like Orpik, IMO, who is just is a devastating physical defenseman. Despres could be like that, but he just doesn't have the Orpik disposition. That's 90% of the battle in being a physical defenseman.
And I don't know if you were mistaken, but I would say Morrow is a Letang-lite in terms of pretty much everything. I personally liken Harrington to Bortuzzo, except Harrington is way better offensively. Harrington is said to have a cannon of a shot. I have a friend who also follows Pens prospects closely, and he said that Harrington and Morrow could very well have the two hardest slapshots in our organization right now. That's saying a ton.
Yah I corrected my post. The first guy I was talking about was Morrow (comparing to Letang). Interesting points on Bortuzzo and I agree that if the attitude's not there, there is no free candy.
Good to hear about Harrington. Sounds like, if he's as good at breaking up plays and blocking shots as Bortuzzo (i.e. defensive part of the game), that maybe Bort is expendable for [part of a trade package at the draft]. I do agree about Straight and Lovejoy although I don't know that it would make a huge difference which guy we keep, or who would have more value on the market... but Niskanen is a guy that I could see becoming a Martin-lite, which makes one of the two of them the best trade bait this summer. He's skilled and can make good passes and plays, but he's not (so far) the PP QB type here; he does not have a heavy enough shot or good enough vision to rely on him as Letang's PP backup.
I look at Despres or Morrow as being that guy next year (probably Morrow based on what I've seen of him), so to me Niskanen right now is at a prime time to trade if we're trying to re-ink Sid, Staal, maybe even Geno this summer, even though it's a year early. Niskanen has improved his game since the lousy year in Dallas and probably would be welcome addition for many teams. So I think his value is probably good, even though in theory it could go higher with another year of play. We could conceivably get a decent return for him.
Last edited by Chancellor Vitale: 03-10-2012 at 09:32 AM.
I don't see Niskanen ever being a Paul Martin. I don't think he has the hockey IQ. I think Niskanen is one of those players that has great natural ability. He was blessed to play hockey. He just doesn't have a hockey mind, which happens to a lot of guys who were just blessed with awesome ability, and were able to get by on that growing up. I think Niskanen is one of those.
And if we were able to get a 2nd for Niskanen...I'd probably have to pull the trigger on that, even though I think with another year in this system, he could up his stock and net us a little more.
