Penguins negotiating with Orpik
Posted: Thursday June 26, 2008 06:29AM ET
Today could bring developments involving on-going dialogue between the Penguins and representatives for defenseman Brooks Orpik. The sides are actively engaged in discussions aimed at keeping Orpik in Pittsburgh. He is one of 12 players from the Penguins' Stanley Cup final roster set to become an unrestricted free agent July 1. Orpik's desire is to stay with the Penguins, who selected him 18th overall in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. He has appeared in no fewer than 64 games each of the past four seasons.






Comments (32)
Players may need to take less to try and keep this team together. You can have $$ without any cups, or take some less and be part of a potentially great team.
GoPSULions | 06/26/08, 07:00 AM
Report Offensive CommentAbout time.......
Therrien Rocks | 06/26/08, 07:16 AM
Report Offensive CommentSo what was all that about before, TR, when Orpik was going to leave because he couldn't stand Therrien? Was that all - gasp - unsubstantiated rumor? lol
Oilers - NHI | 06/26/08, 07:26 AM
Report Offensive CommentPretty much. There is no question that there was a tiff between them but that was at the beginning of the season when Therrien had put him (and Whitney) at left wing as a shake up. But, hey, there are always tiffs between players and coaches. Ya just "man up" and move on with it, right? Therrien never did stop giving Orpik his props and Orpik just went ahead with his improved D.
Orpik denied (on TV) that he ever said he would not re-sign if Therrien was coach. There was also other rumors that certain people posted as blogs that, if actually researched, would be slander (if not worse). Again, crap out of a certain foreign newspaper that people unfortunately believed. But, hey, there are suckers born every day. I'm just glad that Orpik wants to stay. Was there EVER a better 12 seconds of D than he put on in The Cup?!
(I know Baun-ded is gonna trash me when he sees this......)
Therrien Rocks | 06/26/08, 07:58 AM
Report Offensive CommentUnless Orpik feels that Therrien won't be there that much longer.
I don't think the Pens will let Mike Yeo leave.
The Pens need to resign Rutuu, they haven't had a fan favorite goon since Mathew Baranaby. Plus with Gary Roberts gone and possibly Laraque gone, this team is going to lack toughness and physical play, not to mention the insurance policy for 87/71. Unless they go make an offer to Avery...
DurkDiggler | 06/26/08, 07:59 AM
Report Offensive CommentDurk...if they were not going to keep Therrien (and it was actually a concern for a few of the players) he would have been gone by now. Dead news.....
As for the tough guys....any good ones on the free agency market?
Therrien Rocks | 06/26/08, 08:19 AM
Report Offensive CommentI don't think it's a done deal that Therrien is staying. It sounds good for the player when he says ?my first choice is to stay", but that isn't always the reality
BETTMAN S***S
Spiny Norman | 06/26/08, 09:29 AM
Report Offensive CommentThat's right Durk, Avery protects his superstars. Even when he's injured.
So is the Pens strategy hope everyone plays for less money to keep the team together? That's nice. Unrealistic, but nice.
OtherOne81 | 06/26/08, 09:37 AM
Report Offensive CommentSo is the Pens strategy hope everyone plays for less money to keep the team together? That's nice. Unrealistic, but nice.
OtherOne81
As I always say, less than what? Less than what some fool is willing to pay if you want to go elsewhere? Or less than a fair wage?
Hank Kingsley | 06/26/08, 10:24 AM
Report Offensive CommentEither/or.
OtherOne81 | 06/26/08, 10:34 AM
Report Offensive CommentHopefully they get something done because Orpik's the kind of defenseman the pens need to have to keep from being pushed around in their own zone. To jump slightly off topic I think Therrien will be around for this year barring a total meltdown. Hopefully just like his players he learned something from the finals. But it'll be at least conference finals or else his seat will start getting pretty hot...
MaplePenguin | 06/26/08, 10:37 AM
Report Offensive CommentHopefully they get something done because Orpik's the kind of defenseman the pens need to have to keep from being pushed around in their own zone. To jump slightly off topic I think Therrien will be around for this year barring a total meltdown. Hopefully just like his players he learned something from the finals. But it'll be at least conference finals or else his seat will start getting pretty hot...
MaplePenguin
I don't want to say anything, but even with Orpik, they got "pushed aroundin their own zone" pretty good by Detroit, right?
BETTMAN S***S
Spiny Norman | 06/26/08, 10:39 AM
Report Offensive CommentEither/or.
OtherOne81
And I think the millions offered would already be a fair wage. Especially when the only alternative for most would be pushing fries at Mickey D's.
Hank Kingsley | 06/26/08, 10:47 AM
Report Offensive CommentI don't want to say anything, but even with Orpik, they got "pushed aroundin their own zone" pretty good by Detroit, right?
Spiny Norman
I wouldn't say pushed around...I think it was more of Detriot skating and passing around them.
MaplePenguin | 06/26/08, 10:50 AM
Report Offensive CommentI'd say some just failed to show up and if you have ever played sports it is not always the coach's fault when your teammates "lose their pair" no matter how much pep talk you give the team. Some will respond and some won't, regardless.
Therrien Rocks | 06/26/08, 10:53 AM
Report Offensive CommentThe Pens have a lot of negotiating to do! They better get cracking or they'll get caught with their pans down at the start the new season!
DCruiser | 06/26/08, 10:56 AM
Report Offensive CommentThat's a whole different discussion teehee. Pro athletes are certainly overpaid.
Let me rephrase what I wrote to play for less than fair market value.
OtherOne81 | 06/26/08, 11:24 AM
Report Offensive Comment"teehee"? Hahahhaha. I gotta remember to use that. This is the new NHL there folks. A team will make a Stanley Cup run and then there UFA's think they're "above average",then they'll follow the cash and that team will be behind the 8-ball the next season.Teehee.
bostongm | 06/26/08, 11:35 AM
Report Offensive CommentO-prick
knowitall92 | 06/26/08, 11:58 AM
Report Offensive Commenthope they make this happen.there are few good physical defencemen out there.i remember seeing denis gauthier lay a few big hits in the past.what happend to him?was he injured?
chimbonda | 06/26/08, 12:28 PM
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