Dustin Penner: On the trade market again
Jonathan Willis
February 12 2013 08:04AM
It looks like once again Dustin Penner has fallen into disfavor. The 6’4” winger has played in just four of Los Angeles’ 11 games this season, and his name is starting to crop up in trade rumours.
From Elliotte Friedman’s always excellent “30 Thoughts” column on Monday, after asking which players might be available via trade:
Another player of interest is Dustin Penner. He's really in the doghouse with just three games played [note: Penner played Monday night]. If the Kings so desired, there would certainly be a market. He's on a one-year deal. Hard to pin down many more names. Some teams don't want to deal excess players because depth is critical. Very few teams are out of it, which prevents fire sales, and with the cap going down to $64.3 million US in 2013-14, you don't want to add a big salary if you can avoid it. Maybe things loosen up in the next week or so.
This is familiar territory for Penner, who was in this same position a year ago – a frequent healthy scratch, struggling to work his way back into his coach’s good books. Darryl Sutter challenged him to “work his ass off” at the time and Penner responded well, becoming an important support player for the Kings in the playoffs, and ultimately winning a Stanley Cup with the team and earning a new contract – a one-year, $3.25 million deal.
Penner has responded with good humour, and says he’s in a better situation now than he was a year ago:
It's fine. It's not something I'm seeking counseling about… I'm in a good place professionally, mentally and emotionally. It's a lot easier to take this now than it was last year.
Will somebody take a chance on him? Penner’s generally a better player than he gets credit for even when he isn’t scoring, he has size (listed at 6’4”, 242lbs), he’s on a short-term deal, but more important than all that is this: he’s one of the very few guys who might be able to positively impact a team without requiring a massive return to land him.
Should the Oilers take a chance on him? I think the question is probably academic - I'm guessing that ship has long since sailed.
Recently by Jonathan Willis
I actually said no to getting Penner back as well. His effort is very inconsistant and I think he needs to be top 6 to be effective. Obviously, without the work ethic he just doesn't fit in a defensive or grinding role.
I also don't think Yak would be effective in that role either. He is still too defensively imature and you are stunting his offensive growth.
Then I thought of something that may work for this team. If they got Penner for Teubert or magic beans and spaced their skill out between the 3 lines. Then role 3 lines and dress a 4th line of 2 PK sepcialists and an enforcer. The 4th line would get very small minutes other then on the PK.
Something like
Penner - Nuge - Eberle
Hall - Gagner - Yakupov
Hartikainan - Horcoff - Hemsky
Smyth - Belanger - Eager
Probably mentioned already, Penner for Whitney, bring it on, we will throw in someone injured.
I'm sure Lambo would do a trade. He's eaten the Oilers lunch on trades, and they were essential in winning the cup. The Smytty trade was essential for dumping salsry and landing Carter, and signing Doughty. Heck he should of been laughing, not crying.
Eberle- Nuge- Penner
Hemsky- Gagner- Hall
Yakupov - Belanger- MPS
Hartski- VV- Eager
GET ER DONE
Sammywas a big boy and all you so called experts use to say nasty remarks about his skating. I think with a little prod or two Pen would fit.It,s tough to play for a Sutter Ralph is a complete different personallity I,m sure he,d fit.Never mind Mac T he,s not the boss yet
One more comment Power play Pen in front harrasing the d-men and screening with RNH and Eb driving hard it would work wonders think about it people and maybe Hall and number 19 on the points How about some comments guys
I see Penner in Buffalo or Winnipeg or Montreal. Maybe Washington or Philly...
Matt Kassian just put on waivers by Minny. Any interest as a 4th liner? He is huge and fights.
@2004Z06
Oil need to get them some Penner or Boyle. Boyle is a healthy scratch again. I would definitely think either guy would fit well on this team.
I think Yakapov would get more chances of the rush if he played on the third or fourth line, and turnovers at either blue line would not be as costly as when he plays against the better lines.
He just won a cup!!! I think Penner paid for himself as he was clutch in the playoffs.
Yup, trade for Dustin Penner.
And while we're at it let's raise property taxes 10%, implement a citywide dress code, and reduce the Whitemud to one lane.
That's progress.
Brian Boyle would be a nice pick up.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NOT THE LUmmOX AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1