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Old 11-15-2003, 11:26 PM   #6 (permalink)
BulletCatcher
Crazy
 
Location: America's Outback
Pittsburg's problem is not their goaltending. The problem is Mario Lemieux.

I'm not going to deny his obvious skill and the fact that he is one of the best players to ever play the game but let's face reality. He's in the twilight of his career and he'll never post the numbers like he used to again. Here is a guy that is making $5,250,000 on a financially straped team and he'll only play in maybe 35 - 40 games this year barring any sort of serious injury. The Penguins cannot afford to be paying anyone $130,000 a game (if he plays 40). The only plus he brings is he sells tickets.

If he really wants to continue to play, he needs to restructure his contract. Is he worth $5,250,000. Sure, maybe to a team that can afford to pay him that much but not to the Penguins. Drop Mario's contract and they could sign 2 competent forwards at $2,000,000 each and still save money. Even with just average seasons they would more than make up the 50 - 60 points lost by Mario leaving between the 2 of them and give Pittsburg tools to build upon instead of relying on an aging star.

Just my 2 cents.
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