This “Choker” lead our team to the Calder Cup 2 years ago leading the team in scoring, not just leading the defense, he lead the entire team. Give this kid a chance. I don’t see that many Pitt Pens games, but I promise you as soon as he figures it all out and gets his confidence he’ll be way better than Gonchar ever was.

Goligoski is 2nd on the team in goals, and has the highest shooting percentage of the entire defense. He may only have 50 hits but Mckee only has 56 and Gonchar only 61. Keep in mind Goli has seen the least amount of playing time and is a plus five – Gonchar is a minus 7.

Other than Gonchar not one other Penguin defenseman has even 1/2 the goals that your Goalessgoski has and this is his first full season. Yeah, he’s going to make some mistakes, he’s 24.

You should stop playing drinking games and watch a game.

I thought for a while he was just having a bad game or two – then thought maybe it’s the injury – but now have come to the conclusion that he just doesn’t have it.

Oh, he has some attributes in that he appears to skate well AND SOMETIMES demonstrates the ability to hit a forward with a sweet long pass but all-in-all I’m officially putting the 2-thumbs-down on this guy.

To me he’s a choker who has that deer in the headlights look so much that it drastically affects the PP. Even when Gonchar’s in there. He is not a very good PP QB and his poor judgement on the PP affects the PP adversely.

To top that off, he is very undersized to do anything else. He doesn’t play very well against bigger forwards and quite frankly if there was a drinking game for how many shots he takes directly into players we would all be wasted every game. Goligoski chokes. Goligoski slows down the PP because of his very obvious indecision with the puck.

Goligoski coughs-up the puck REGUARLY and for ever sweet pass out of his own zone there are two that are horrible. He has shown no sign of being able to handle the NHL pressure and IMHO should be benched. I’d be surprised to see a recovery unless this guy is playing hurt – but I don’t buy that either.

This is one of Ray Shero’s mistakes. Hopefully he finds some way to leverage the MIA Poniakaroroskyski and Goalessgoski and take that money to resign Gonchar.

Okay………… rant finished.

As to learning how to QB the PP I’m hoping it’s on another team. As for Letang . . . I have no problem with him on the PP other than someone telling him to put the shots on net and try not to surgically attempt placing each and every shot in the upper corner from the point.

As to Gonchar staying or going……….. the MIA Ponikarovsky ($2.5m) and (please be MIA) Goligoski ($2.75m) would be more than enough to keep him. I’m thinking even Shero sees that Goligoski isn’t the answer.