Comments on: Report: Penguins GM interested in getting Gonchar back after lockout

By: danphipps01

danphipps01 — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 08:13:36 +0000

Uh… why? Gonchar’s still solid, but the Penguins are deep as hell on D. I could see it being a good call if they ditched Paul Martin in a trade somehow, but otherwise, there doesn’t seem to be much of a point. They’ve got like eight or nine guys who can log NHL minutes, and the prospects included in that list need to get some games in for experience. Adding Gonchar without subtracting another top-4 D would severely hamper their ability to let the prospects see NHL time, and aside from that, they should be using what little cap space they have on wingers. They’re thinner on the wings than on defense.

By: killerpgh

killerpgh — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 16:24:52 +0000

The Penguins already have Letang, Martin, Orpik in their top 4. Despres looked like he was very close to filling that number 4 spot last year. Morrow stuck around to the last cuts before getting sent to back to Juniors last year. Plus you have Niskanen who look much improved last year after having a training camp under the Penguins system. I would not be surprised if he earns a spot in the top 4. And Engelland is the perfect 6th d-man. One of the toughest players in the league and isn’t a liability on the ice. And there are a ton of guys who can fill out that bottom pairing/7th d-man – Strait, Lovejoy, etc. It’s not that I don’t loke Gonchar, but I don’t think there is a need for him. He will be 39 years old when (if) the playoff start this year.

By: Jeff Thomas

Jeff Thomas — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 13:56:49 +0000

Yes, if he actually mentions him. He hasn’t. This kind of report happens dozens of times over the course of a season and its likely false anyway.

By: mikep1001

mikep1001 — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 12:57:43 +0000

Isn’t that considered tampering for Shero to mention a player under contract with another team?

By: benrob99

benrob99 — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 07:58:02 +0000

The Pens ARE loaded with young d-men. But there is no way any of those guys you mentioned are ready for a top 4 role. Not to mention the fact Gonch is very good on the PP. Letang simply logs too many minutes. I think Gonch for a year or two would really stabilize our D.

By: killerpgh

killerpgh — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 06:23:14 +0000

Its a nice thought, but the only way see it happening is if that what it takes to get Malkin to resign. The Penguins need a top 6 forward not a d-man. The Penguins are stacked with young defenseman. Pouliot, Morrow, Despres, Maatta, Harrington and Dumoulin all project to be top 4 type d-man. And a few others that project to be number 5/6 type d-man in Bortuzzo, Grant, Sneep and Ulf Samuelson’s kid who is a question mark. The last thing the Penguins need is to bring back Gonchar, imo. Gonchar was great while here but after Ovechkin kneed him and partially torn his MCL (plus age catching up) he never regained that step he lost. I would not have minded the Pens resigning Gonchar 2 1/2 years ago but at nowhere near the 3 years or 5.5 million per the Senators gave him.

By: valoisvipers

valoisvipers — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 06:05:13 +0000

He is UFA next season so even if they wanted for this season (if and when it starts) the price would be cheap.

By: pondhockeyallstar

pondhockeyallstar — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 04:31:15 +0000

Not if they have to give up something to get him… don’t need to be losing youth for a one or two year fix.

By: csilojohnson

csilojohnson — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 04:24:39 +0000

Get him Shero.