The Confluence
Shero Contemplating Bringing Guerin back to Crowded Pens Lineup
by Tony on 08/21/10 at 02:27 PM ET
Comments (10)
Bill Guerin will turn 40 on November 9th.
Having said that, the 39 year-old veteran did score 21 goals for the Penguins last season, mostly as a winger on Sidney Crosby’s top line. Eleven of those 21 came on the power play.
The question is: Are the Penguins getting ready to bring Guerin back for his 3rd season in Black and Vegas Gold?
Last night’s signing of former Flyer and rugged forward Arron Asham adds to the plethora of possible 3rd and 4th liners (and borderline 2nd liners) for the Penguins.
And now, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Rob Rossi, Penguins GM Ray Shero said “I told our coaches we’ll make a decision on Billy next week. I’ve spoken with his agent the past couple of days.”
You would have to think that if Guerin does indeed come back, it would be in a diminished role on one of the two checking lines. Wouldn’t you think? Would Guerin still be an asset on either of the top two scoring lines?
The problem is, if that’s the case, there mostly likely are going to be some veterans in the press box as healthy scratches come the start of the regular season. That also could mean that promising prospects such as Eric Tangradi, Chris Conner, Dustin Jeffrey and Mark Letestu may not have an opportunity to win a roster spot.
With Asham’s signing, the Pens only have approximately $1.4 million in cap space remaining. Under the assumption that GMRS would like to save some cap space for trades and signings during the season, signing Guerin might have to be Shero’s last of the offseason.
Should Shero use that precious remaining cash on a soon-to-be 40 year-old Guerin, or rather use it on a veteran 3rd line center?
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Comments
Call me crazy, but i think they still need a another d-man… or two.
Posted by gretzky_to_lemieux on 08/21/10 at 03:37 PM ET
It depends if Tangradi, Johnson, or Jeffrey is ready to assume a top-six or top-nine role. If Shero feels they can’t, bring Guerin back for one more (last) year and let the youngsters develop. If he thinks one of the youngsters can, let them settle it in camp. Competition is good. That’s why the Asham signing was a good one. It guarantees the youngsters will have to work to get a regular NHL gig.
Call me crazy, but i think they still need a another d-man… or two.
One would work. All that’s needed is a veteran to push Lovejoy, and even Goligoski. Engelland is good enough to fill in in the short-term if the defense gets hit by injuries.
Posted by cs6687 on 08/21/10 at 03:50 PM ET
@gretzky to lemieux - you are crazy: the D is fine. Lovejoy Engelland Warner Hutchison are fine to fill the 6th and 7th D spots. Lovejoy will be pushed by the others - another vet D is not needed for that. No need to bring Billy G back either - this is the time for Tangradi to step up. He knows what he needs to do to make the team.
Posted by Arnold Slick on 08/21/10 at 04:14 PM ET
It wouldn’t be a bad idea…I think I’d rather see a 3rd-line center signed instead.
If they do bring back Billy, though, his main responsibility may be to play on the PP. 11 PP goals is nothing to sniff at, especially for a 39 year old. He can contribute…and he really is a good locker room guy.
Posted by Flashtastick56 from Milford, CT on 08/21/10 at 04:57 PM ET
I don’t think another third line center is necessary. If Talbot can’t handle the third line center - assuming Staal is bumped to the second line - Staal can always be bumped down with Cooke and Kennedy, and Talbot could be moved to Malkin’s wing, where he has been effective in the past.
Posted by cs6687 on 08/21/10 at 05:13 PM ET
You either bring Guerin back to play primarily on the top two lines or not at all. I want third liners who are fast, can hit and check, and play gritty. Guerin at this stage of his career is none of those things. I just don’t see him playing an effective third-line role.
Posted by Lex Talionis on 08/21/10 at 09:00 PM ET
You either bring Guerin back to play primarily on the top two lines or not at all. I want third liners who are fast, can hit and check, and play gritty.
Exactly, he’s not playing on the 3rd or 4th line if he comes back.He’s playing with Sid and the first PP unit. Also, if he does come back he’ll have to accept a pay cut.
Posted by Lindas1st from New England on 08/21/10 at 09:15 PM ET
Call me crazy, but i think they still need a another d-man… or two.
I was a proponent of signing a decent, and somewhat desperate, minimum wage veteran if one was available at this point. Now I’m less sure. The difference between someone like that, Lovejoy, and the reserves in WBS might not be worth the expense.
All in all, I wouldn’t object to an extra defenceman if he offers something tangible.
It wouldn’t be a bad idea…I think I’d rather see a 3rd-line center signed instead.
I really don’t think we need to sign a third line center. Letestu or Talbot surrounded by Cooke and Asham, for example, looks like an annoying third line for any opponent. Perhaps not quite as dangerous offensively, but that should be offset by moving Staal to the second line.
That being said, I expect us to begin the season with Staal centering the third line until we’re proven inefficient or suffer other defects.
Posted by Moq from Denmark on 08/22/10 at 07:12 AM ET
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If Shero signs Guerin, I don’t think the assumption is a checking role. The current roster is short on given top-6 wingers, which in my opinion results in a lot of secondary winger rotation with or without Staal promoted to second line center (and I think they prefer the three center model). Even if a youngster like Tangradi were to impress wildly in camp, I doubt they’ll expect him to play 82 games among the top-6.
With that in mind, and a lack of affordable superior options, I think it’ll be beneficial to re-sign Guerin despite his shortcomings if the price is right. The problematic season wasn’t his fault. He can be effective on a good team even if he cannot elevate a team much on his own anymore.
BTW, the $1.4M in cap space includes expenses to Tangradi (assuming your source is Capgeek). That isn’t a certainty.
Posted by Moq from Denmark on 08/21/10 at 03:22 PM ET