Really good post. Shows the fine, but important line between the good and bad organizations in hockey.

Posted by Nathan on 11/24/08 at 01:12 PM ET

Why did Anaheim not match the offer sheet? Did they know something about the player as a result of having signed him as a free agent out of college and spending two years developing him in the minors before giving him his NHL shot? Did they know his legs were “inconsistent” and his conditioning sometimes an issue? Did they know that the “competitiveness” part of his game has “always been a problem?”

Penner was benched for periods in games where Carlyle didn’t think Penner was playing hard enough. He sat in the press box several times during the Ducks Stanley Cup winning season. The snickering could be heard loud and clear coming from the depths below the Honda Center from Brian Burke’s office. Penner represented potential, not a proven player.

Posted by Itlan on 11/24/08 at 02:04 PM ET

a) Penner played all 82 games during his 29 goal season. stop making up fake stats about being put in the press box.

b) “Really good post. Shows the fine, but important line between the good and bad organizations in hockey.” Nice attempt at skewing the realities of geography, economics and bias. Edmonton has to do extremely ridiculous things in order to even get a sniff at Free Agency and you people have the balls to call it like all these organizations are on equal grounds? how hilarious is it that most of the Canadians who dominate this league all want to play in golfing areas or big markets so they can take their wives shopping? was the Chris Pronger trade where Lowe fleeced the Blues for garbage part of a “bad organization”? doubt it. did Brian Burke do much of anything in Anaheim after inheriting his Prime for a Cup team? not much. some of you people use selective history and flat out bogus data to support your claims and its hilarious. Maybe next year Marian Hossa will take another below the market value contract to play in Edmonton after their long-term deal worth 8+ million wasnt enough… especially when Detroit’s “great organization” wouldnt even pay him his market value for a season because “no one on the team makes more than Lidstrom, thats just the way it is.” when you have the ability to distort markets into your favor, this league does not run on “equal grounds”.

as for Penner, the dudes a gutless prankster who shouldnt even be playing hockey when he cant figure out how to use 245 pound frame in front of the net and along the boards. it doesnt take “experience” to figure that out. thats like having a giraffe never use its neck when getting food on high branches. thats like Shaq trying to play on the perimeter to shoot three pointers. Dustin Penner just doesnt have the guts.

Posted by Death Metal Smash Into the Boards from MKE on 11/24/08 at 03:12 PM ET

An unemployed former GM with questionable acumen mocking an NHL club. That’s not really the brightest career move, is it Jay? You can’t keep dining out on 2004 forever…

Posted by shep from california on 11/24/08 at 04:19 PM ET