Gonchar feels Ottawa's wrath

Can We All Get Along, Bros?

Weren't we just talking about Sergei yesterday?

My question was - why sign a high priced guy who appears to be in steep decline when everybody (except maybe the folks in Ottawa) knew the team wasn't gonna be very good?

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 12:16 PM ET  10.23 by TheBone

Weren't we just talking about Sergei yesterday?My question was - why sign a high priced guy who appears to be in steep decline when everybody (except maybe the folks in Ottawa) knew the team wasn't gonna be very good?

Excellent question. You will also note that there weren't any tears shed by Penguins fans when Gonch went to the Sens. The man can move the puck and he is good on the power play, but he doesn't seem to be inclined to play his position in his own zone. I don't know how many times Gonchar's man was wide open at the side of the net and he wasn't within 20 feet of him.

QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 12:28 PM ET  10.23 by Burgh-Fan

Excellent question. You will also note that there weren't any tears shed by Penguins fans when Gonch went to the Sens. The man can move the puck and he is good on the power play, but he doesn't seem to be inclined to play his position in his own zone. I don't know how many times Gonchar's man was wide open at the side of the net and he wasn't within 20 feet of him.

I don't know of any Bruins fans that were unhappy when left Boston either. You summed him up well. He is soft as warm butter.

Unfortunately Boston decided to go after a Gonchar clone (Corvo) this off-season so we have to watch that garbage all over again.

QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 01:14 PM ET  10.23 by Rex Racer

Unfortunately Boston decided to go after a Gonchar clone (Corvo) this off-season so we have to watch that garbage all over again.

Letang was getting into some of Gonchar's bad habits, but they seemed to have him playing decent defense now. I still think he gambles at the blue line too much, but that's just me. I'm a little too conservative.

Ex-Bruin ? I think He had a cup Coffee there.. 22 gms

Ottawa has been making bad moves for years, it is not Gonchar's fault its the whole organization that needs shaking up. The boo-birds are uncalled for.

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 12:16 PM ET  10.23 by TheBone

Weren't we just talking about Sergei yesterday?My question was - why sign a high priced guy who appears to be in steep decline when everybody (except maybe the folks in Ottawa) knew the team wasn't gonna be very good?

Steep decline?
The guy was at the time one of the most consistant d-men in the league for the last 10 years prior to his signing. Further...the Sens didn't feel like they thought the team wasn't going to be any good either...and had been a consistant playoff maker for years...and in fact to the SCF 3 yrs prior...The Sens felt with Gonchar at the time of his signing it would improve the team on the Blueline with production as well as QB the PP...(and spark, Kovalev)
Hindsite is always 20/20.

QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 03:02 PM ET  10.23 by Wink Dinkerson

Ex-Bruin ? I think He had a cup Coffee there.. 22 gms

Yeah including playoffs and finished he 3rd in playoff scoring before The Habs eliminated them in 7.

QUOTE(#9):

Originally posted 03:24 PM ET  10.23 by Baun-ded=PH in MOTION

Yeah including playoffs and finished he 3rd in playoff scoring before The Habs eliminated them in 7.

Not saying He was Aki Berg type All-Star, He was not there long enough just a rental ..

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 03:07 PM ET  10.23 by Commie_Bastard

Ottawa has been making bad moves for years, it is not Gonchar's fault its the whole organization that needs shaking up. The boo-birds are uncalled for.

They are booing the product being put on the ice if they were going all out with effort the fans would give them the benefit of the doubt but in actuality the booing is at Eugene and Bryan

QUOTE(#10):

Originally posted 04:13 PM ET  10.23 by Wink Dinkerson

He was Aki Berg type All-Star,

Now there's an obscure blast from the past

QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 03:18 PM ET  10.23 by Baun-ded=PH in MOTION

Steep decline?The guy was at the time one of the most consistant d-men in the league for the last 10 years prior to his signing. Further...the Sens didn't feel like they thought the team wasn't going to be any good either...and had been a consistant playoff maker for years...and in fact to the SCF 3 yrs prior...The Sens felt with Gonchar at the time of his signing it would improve the team on the Blueline with production as well as QB the PP...(and spark, Kovalev)Hindsite is always 20/20.

He must have hit bottom the last couple years at Pittsburgh. He scored a bunch of goals, got a lot of assists but he was consistently in the minus.

He should be!!!! This team has several key pieces, but when your main D-man has been awful since arriving......then wrath you sahll feel!

Milan Michalek(spelling?) has been on fire for a team that is struggling!!! How bout a story on his success this year so far???

QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 12:28 PM ET  10.23 by Burgh-Fan

You will also note that there weren't any tears shed by Penguins fans when Gonch went to the Sens.

Gonchar was a valued member of the team for several years. It was only his first and last years (especially his play-off performance that last year) that disappointed. Other than that, he was solid and valuable.

Sure, we didnt' shed any tears, but that's because we knew his time had come and that he wasn't worth the money or years he was looking for. Not because we wanted to run him out of town. His contributions will be remembered and appreciated by most fans here in Pittsburgh, but it was time to say good-bye.

QUOTE(#13):

Originally posted 05:11 PM ET  10.23 by Burgh-Fan

He must have hit bottom the last couple years at Pittsburgh. He scored a bunch of goals, got a lot of assists but he was consistently in the minus.

2009-10 -4
2008-09 +6
2007-08 +13
2006-07 -5
2005-06 -13

As I said, it was only his first and last years that were disappointing. The rest of the time, he was one of our best players.