Gonchar coming back

Post by **Pitts** » Fri Aug 14, 2015 11:47 am

Maybe

http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?i ... t-penguins

Post by **PFiDC** » Fri Aug 14, 2015 11:51 am

Not a bad idea. Can't be any worse...

Post by **Pitts** » Fri Aug 14, 2015 11:54 am

My question: where does he fit...seriously? I just don't see a spot for him. Honestly, I'd probably rather go with Gonchar over Sucuderi, but they need a solution for the Scuderi dilemma then.

Post by **cadams** » Fri Aug 14, 2015 11:55 am

3 things could happen, it's so he can retire a Pen, insurance against Pouliot or Maatta not being ready for the season due to health or experience or Scuderi is getting moved.

Post by **meow** » Fri Aug 14, 2015 11:55 am

Eh. I don't see them extending him a contract. Unless it is a one-day one for him to retire a Pen.

Post by **Avyran** » Fri Aug 14, 2015 11:58 am

Pitts wrote:My question: where does he fit...seriously? I just don't see a spot for him. Honestly, I'd probably rather go with Gonchar over Sucuderi, but they need a solution for the Scuderi dilemma then.

I see a spot for him, but not in the day-to-day lineup. A #7 who basically coaches Pouliot (and the other defensemen, but especially Pouliot) how to run an NHL power play.

Post by **DoDiligence** » Fri Aug 14, 2015 12:01 pm

Tryout contract. Can't hurt to bring him in and see if he has anything left. This is a young D-core, a veteran might be just what someone like Derrick Pouliot needs to learn the nuances of power-play quarterback.
In my opinion we should give JR and management the benefit of the doubt on this one, I trust they have done their #DoDiligence

Post by **mikey** » Fri Aug 14, 2015 12:09 pm

You can invite 200 players to camp, it won't bother me...I'm not sure Gonchar is going to make this team though...

Post by **Beveridge** » Fri Aug 14, 2015 12:13 pm

If he can still QB a PP like a boss, I'd give it some thought.

Post by **Morkle** » Fri Aug 14, 2015 12:19 pm

He's already better at the PP than Letang.

Post by **King Colby** » Fri Aug 14, 2015 12:21 pm

Doubt he makes it.

Post by **Craig** » Fri Aug 14, 2015 12:48 pm

Attach him to pouliot's hip for camp.

Post by **mikey** » Fri Aug 14, 2015 12:57 pm

You trust this team's medical staff that much...? They'll kill'em both probably...

Post by **MalkinIsMyHomeboy** » Fri Aug 14, 2015 1:00 pm

I am a fan of this.

Post by **Craig** » Fri Aug 14, 2015 1:13 pm

mikey wrote:You trust this team's medical staff that much...? They'll kill'em both probably...

I dont trust any level of this organization at this point.

Post by **llipgh2** » Fri Aug 14, 2015 1:20 pm

mikey wrote:You can invite 200 players to camp, it won't bother me...I'm not sure Gonchar is going to make this team though...

Yeah, I don't think he's going to stick.

Maybe this is just a courtesy, and they are going to hire him to coach the powerplay. I'd like that.

Post by **Pavement** » Fri Aug 14, 2015 1:34 pm

I'm not sure he will make the team but can't do any harm I suppose.

Post by **Avyran** » Fri Aug 14, 2015 4:37 pm

A quote from Gonchar (from the official website).

The Penguins were the only team that I was looking at,” said Gonchar, who had 14 points (3G-14A) in 22 playoff games with Pittsburgh during its ’09 Cup run. “We’ve been talking for a while now. We had to wait for them to finish making all of their moves.”

The 41-year-old blueliner will arrive in Pittsburgh for training camp next month as the oldest member of the roster, three years the senior of the next-closest player, center Matt Cullen. Gonchar is coming with one goal in mind.

“My goal is to come to camp and show the team that I can still play,” Gonchar said. “Then I want to help the team in any way that I can. Whatever the team needs I’ll try to do. That’s the way that I am looking at it.”

Post by **Defence21** » Fri Aug 14, 2015 4:47 pm

I'm still holding out hope that Scuderi will find a new home before the season, in which case Gonchar can serve as the 7th defenseman in a player/coach role with a specific task of mentoring Pouliot and the other young defensemen. Yohe mentioned that, while Guerin was the public leader of the Pens 2009 Cup run, Gonchar's "silent confidence" played a huge role in keeping the young players calm. That calming influence in the room certainly would be a welcomed addition, in my opinion.

Trade Scuderi, somehow, then extend Gonchar a 1 year deal at just over league minimum.

Go with some combination of Letang, Maatta, Cole, Pouliot, Doumalin, and Lovejoy, with Gonchar playing every third game or so to give some guys a rest.

Post by **double m v.2.0** » Fri Aug 14, 2015 6:01 pm

I would rather see Andersen, Clendening, Erixon get a chance.

Post by **columbia** » Sat Aug 15, 2015 4:06 pm

The Pens view his chances of getting a contract as > 0, otherwise they wouldn't have bothered or would have just hired him as development coach for the Fall (or perhaps FT).

How much greater than 0 is the unknown.

Post by **cadams** » Wed Aug 19, 2015 11:01 am

What if Gonchar comes into camp showing he can still play and signs for the difference in savings of sending Scuderi to WBS, which is around $900K? Negligible cap hit then as long as Rutherford would have the balls to send a guy not in the top 6 to WBS who has zero future with this team.