Chris Stewart Guys
The Pensblog and Mike Colligan have pointed out Chris Stewart being a potential back up plan for the Penguins now that Zach Parise, who can do no wrong, and Ryan Suter, everyone's favorite farmer, are WILD BOYZ!
Lot's to like about Stewart: His size, he's 6 foot 2. He can score, hit, get into the dirty areas, and screen the net keeper. He might be a lesser quality James Neal. As Colligan points out, Stewart might just need a change to get back to his old self. Stewart had 64 points in 09-10 and and had over 50 in 10-11. Guess whose numbers are eerily similar to those?
In 09-10 Neal posted 55 points, in 10-11 he tallied just over 40. Stewart had a shitty 2011-2012 an was a healthy scratch for a few games in the Blues playoff run. A lot of Stewart's issues could be traced back to the hiring of Hitchcock.
The Blues have a lot of depth at the winger position and have to be looking to move Stewart. Given the similarity to Neal's numbers, but with a recent drop in production, Stewart could come on the cheap. Maybe a NHL ready defender, we got plenty of those, and a pick or future prospect? Remember back when Neal was acquired. Crosby was out, but the idea was to pair him with Sid. Now that the Penguins are looking for another winger to pair with Sid, you'd have to think Shero and Disco Dan would want a "Neal" type forward. As much as I am loving Christ Stewart to the Pens, there are some drawbacks.
Stewart has been labeled a lazy player, both in Colorado and St. Louis. It's not every day teams trade first round picks. There has to be something to the fact that Colorado shopped him and St. Louis decided it was a better team in the playoffs without him. His penalty minutes sky rocketed this past season, he does drop the gloves, but I think a lot of those penalty minutes were lazy penalties. Also, he doesn't produce on the power play, he only had 2 power play goals. Another potential deal breaker....
Anthony Stewart, Chris's brother plays for the Canes. We don't always seem to find a way to keep players who siblings play in Carolina.
Seriously though, other teams will be after Chris and you'd have to think Carolina would be in the mix. The new thing in the NHL is family, just ask Parise and Suter.
Here is what the Penguins could look like if they made the deal. Neal - Malkin - Kunitz Dupis - Crosby - Stewart Tangradi - Suter - Kennedy Glass - Adams - Cooke Reserves: Jeffery, Vitale That's not a bad line up, outside of TK. Adams has played center before and is far to good on the PK not to be out there. You are kind of stuck with Kennedy if you don't move him. He sucks, but maybe he takes acid this summer and shows up in October. I still think Tangradi is going to breakout soon and should be re-signed. Maybe a one year deal. He looked decent in the playoffs and Disco Dan thinks he's turning it around. Shero says he likes his defense the way it is. I also don't think it would take moving Martin to get Stewart, but it might. I am going to assume Martin stays. Orpik & Letang Martin & Niskanen Engellend & Despres Reservers: Strait, Reese, Morrow I'd guess that Lovejoy or Dumoulin or both would move in the Stewart deal. Despres, Morrow, Harrington, and the new draft picks are probably untouchable since they all played together or played really well last year. Chris Stewart has the potential to be a guy you'd love to have on your team and a guy you'd hate to play against.
After losing out on PariSuter no one expects Shero to panic, but Chris Stewart might be the right fit for Pittsburgh.
