If you're a numbers guy, you can just check them out. Tavares is a great player but not of that caliber. He's one wrung below.
- NickTheKid87

Tavares has no support in Long Island. If he played with the same calibur guys that Crosby and Stamkos play with on a nightly basis--his points number would go up.

Thats where I'm at on this hypothetical senario. I really like jones, but with the mix of forwards we currently have, will his development curve be in tune with their peaks inorder to give them an impact player from the blueline? Will management do the right thing and allow him the propper development time? Who knows.....

I would rather bolster the forward position with a kid that is touted as a potential 1st line center, perenial all-star( scouting reports, not my words) and deal from the rest of the stable.

I dont condone losing for losing sake, but for THIS year, under THESE circumstances, IMO, its the best thing for the longterm health and contendership of the organization.
- KINGKENZO

I agree.. bring up Gus.. sit foster, keep up the young guys and go from there.

Tavares has no support in Long Island. If he played with the same calibur guys that Crosby and Stamkos play with on a nightly basis--his points number would go up.
- KGBflyers10

Without question.

Tavares has no support in Long Island. If he played with the same calibur guys that Crosby and Stamkos play with on a nightly basis--his points number would go up.
- KGBflyers10

That's always the argument but if he was on a level with Crosby and Malkin he'd be making guys better. Look at some of the players Crosby has played with over his career. Moulson is more skilled than a lot of them.

Tavares has no support in Long Island. If he played with the same calibur guys that Crosby and Stamkos play with on a nightly basis--his points number would go up.
- KGBflyers10

Pascal Dupuis and Chris Kunitz?

That's always the argument but if he was on a level with Crosby and Malkin he'd be making guys better. Look at some of the players Crosby has played with over his career. Moulson is more skilled than a lot of them.
- NickTheKid87

PA Parenteau is much better than most of Sids line mates ever were

Tavares has no support in Long Island. If he played with the same calibur guys that Crosby and Stamkos play with on a nightly basis--his points number would go up.
- KGBflyers10

Pascal Dupuis and Chris Kunitz? Dupuis' highest career goal total before last year was 18, although Kunitz had a couple twenty goal seasons, he was hardly a top liner.

Tavares has played most of the last three years with Matt Moulson and either PA Parenteau or Brad Boyes. Parenteau has been a PPG player in Colorado, and Moulson never really had much of a shot at the NHL prior to playing for the Isles.

Tavares' linemates have been better, in general than Crosby's and not as good as Stamkos', but he' not playing with scrubs.

I see what youre getting at and Im terrified they put a mild streak together to slot them in the latter part of the lottery selections.......you know it scares you too
- KINGKENZO

The inevitable isn't scary.

Without question.
- Flyers_V88

He's playing with better linemates than Crosby. Moulson's a proven 30 goal scorer and PA Parenteau is a pretty solid player, as well. That's better than Kunitz and Pascal Dupuis

Pascal Dupuis and Chris Kunitz? Dupuis' highest career goal total before last year was 18, although Kunitz had a couple twenty goal seasons, he was hardly a top liner.

Tavares has played most of the last three years with Matt Moulson and either PA Parenteau or Brad Boyes. Parenteau has been a PPG player in Colorado, and Moulson never really had much of a shot at the NHL prior to playing for the Isles.

Tavares' linemates have been better, in general than Crosby's and not as good as Stamkos', but he' not playing with scrubs.
- Jsaquella

The 05-06 Penguins were the second worst team in the NHL and Crosby still had 102 points.

It also comes down to quality 2nd and 3rd lines. If a team can focus on a single line knowing the rest are significantly weaker, that makes a difference.

It also comes down to quality 2nd and 3rd lines. If a team can focus on a single line knowing the rest are significantly weaker, that makes a difference.
- wolfhounds

Like how Malkin or Crosby have been hurt on and off the last 3-4 seasons and both players still manage to score like crazy without the other in the lineup?

This is laughable. I completely disagree.

But when in Rome...
- KGBflyers10

Tavares isn't in Crosby's class, that isn't a knock on him, no one else is either. I think Tavares might be the equivalent of Malkin in time. It isn't outlandish to suggest that.

The 05-06 Penguins were the second worst team in the NHL and Crosby still had 102 points.
- NickTheKid87

84 assists. Somebody was sinking those goals.

I agree.. bring up Gus.. sit foster, keep up the young guys and go from there.
- jak521

What young guys though? After Gustafsson, McGinn, and Harry Z, who do we have is able to play in the NHL that we want to evaluate this year? Noebels? Manning? Wellwood? You're talking about calling up players from a last-place AHL team and trying to evaluate them on a losing NHL team. I'm not saying I'm against it, but it's like to trying to figure out if Nick Foles was a capable NFL starter on the mess that was the Eagles last year.

Like how Malkin or Crosby have been hurt on and off the last 3-4 seasons and both players still manage to score like crazy without the other in the lineup?
- NickTheKid87

So you're arguing quality 2nd and 3rd lines don't make a difference?

He's playing with better linemates than Crosby. Moulson's a proven 30 goal scorer and PA Parenteau is a pretty solid player, as well. That's better than Kunitz and Pascal Dupuis
- Jsaquella

Isn't Parenteau with Colorado now?

So you're arguing quality 2nd and 3rd lines don't make a difference?
- wolfhounds

They make some difference but what I am saying is that elite players create offense, they don't need a ton of support. If you need good players around to make you effective then you're not elite.

84 assists. Somebody was sinking those goals.
- wolfhounds

Crosby did not have 84 assists in 05/06. Not a chance in hell. Maybe 55-65. And I'd put my money on Recchi, Gonchar, and Malone as the prime beneficiaries.

84 assists. Somebody was sinking those goals.
- wolfhounds

Actually 63 assists. Crosby also scored 39 goals that year. The next highest scoring players in 2005-06 were Mark Rechhi (24), and John LeClair & Ryan Malone(22 each)

84 assists. Somebody was sinking those goals.
- wolfhounds

That was 06-07 and even so, look at the roster the Pens had that year. Other then Crosby, Malkin and Staal, the next highest goal scorer was a 38 year old Mark Recchi who had 24.

Tavares isn't in Crosby's class, that isn't a knock on him, no one else is either. I think Tavares might be the equivalent of Malkin in time. It isn't outlandish to suggest that.
- PLindbergh31

Tavares is a stud no doubt about it.

As you stated who is in Sid's class? Not many, if any.

Isn't Parenteau with Colorado now?
- PLindbergh31

Yes, but in each of the last two seasons, he was Tavares linemate. In Colorado, he's been a point per game player there. Brad Boyes has been Tavares RW this year, and he's had rebound year with 8 goals and 27 points.

Tavares isn't in Crosby's class, that isn't a knock on him, no one else is either. I think Tavares might be the equivalent of Malkin in time. It isn't outlandish to suggest that.
- PLindbergh31

I think that Tavares is more comparable to Stamkos, moreso than Malkin

They make some difference but what I am saying is that elite players create offense, they don't need a ton of support. If you need good players around to make you effective then you're not elite.
- NickTheKid87

To an extent, I agree. But even Crosby needs someone to finish the shots to get him his assists.

My point was, when you have only 1 solid line to worry about, it makes it easier on the D.