Eric Tangradi 2011-2012 Highlights

Penguins GM Ray Shero is faced with many tough decisons in the offseason, and the one that is getting the most attention involves the efficacy of the three center model.  Another is the need to move Paul Martin if possible.  But another interesting decision involves Eric Tangradi, a 6'4' 232 lb winger who can play with an edge.  Tangradi was acquired along with Chris Kunitz on February 26, 2009 for blue liner Ryan Whitney, and many thought he was going to be the better long term asset in the deal. He drew favorable comparisons to legendary power forward Kevin Stevens, and was pencilled as a top six winger for Pittsburgh in the near future.  Tangradi who earned $845,000 last season is a restricted free agent this summer, and after
another season where Tangradi was unable to distinguish himself on the big club, Shero has to decide what to do about Tangradi. He played in 24 regular season games, earning just 2 assists and playing to a minus 4.  There is a camp who says that Coach Bylsma never gave Tango a fair chance by not playing him with top 6 caliber linemates, and I don't totally disagree, but in 24 games, he needed to show up much more than he did regardless of linemates. He played a bit better in the playoffs, playing in 2 games, earning an assist, a +2 rating and 3 shots on goal.  The Pens have to decide if another year or two is worth it to see if Eric can make the jump to the big club.  The kid was picked 42nd overall in the second round of the 2007 draft by Anaheim, wound up the captain of the Belleville Bulls of the OHL, and in 2007 posted 38 goals and 88 points in just 55 games which created the expectation of top 6 NHL power forward.  In his two seasons in Wilkes Barre Scranton in 79 regular season games played, he tallied 33 goals and  31 assists.  He added 4 goals and 5 assists in 10 playoff games this season, or nearly one point per game.  You can see the scoring touch in those numbers.  So, to me, it is apparent that playing in the top 6 for Pittsburgh is not in Tangradi's immediate future.  Despite the fact that this was the hope, that does not mean that Tangradi is not valuable IF he can use his size and physical edge to be a productive third liner.  The Penguins could use a player with some hands, who has size and some nastiness to play a regular shift in the top nine.  The issue for Tangradi will be his skating ability and his ability to be responsible defensively.  If Tango will sign another deal in a similar price range, it is worth it to me to see if he can bring some net front presence and a physical edge to the third line of the Penguins.  The Penguins may decide that he does not "fit the Bylsma system" and package him as part of another deal, or make a lower level deal on draft day, as I still believe that Tangradi's size and potential may make him a player who is of interest to another team whose system he may fit better.  Before you laugh, Sykora and Fedotenko who did not fit the system here are playing pretty prominent roles for two teams who are in the conference finals.  So, if the Penguins do not think he has a shot at filling a role on the third line, I do think they will try to move him this summer.  His size and physicality make him an interesting player and he is still young, but the clock is ticking here in Pittsburgh.   I would love to see him sign a reasonable deal, and fight for a top nine role with Pittsburgh for at least one more season, as that kind of size and nose for the net is hard to find.