It's been reported the Pens have been scouting the Avs.
- madmike71

I know and I want to somehow get Niskanen out of this deal

Sort of... that's what I'm skeptical of as well. Moulson has the reputation of being a great goal scorer, but Kunitz has outscored him by a decent margin in the last 3 or 4 years (on average).

I'd rather hope Bennett can fit and stay healthy on Sid's wing and bring in Ott to solidify the bottom 6.
- rival22

Is there cheaper options with similar production to OTT? Just looking at it as he is their captain they aren't going to over value him a bit.

You'd have to imagine Maatta is untouchable at this point.

I keep remembering the interview with Shero where he said he's basically done with trading prospects for rentals. I'm sure he'd part ways with lesser prospects or picks however.

TIOPS has reported names like Goc, Boyes and Garbutt. Garbutt was impressive the other night. He was all over the ice. Cheap contract too.
- madmike71

I wouldn't mind any of those guys... Goc seems like a good fit from what I remember of him in Nashville. Bottom six guys have to be the targets. Even then, guys like Ott might be a tough contract to fit too.

I know and I want to somehow get Niskanen out of this deal
- DDM-Coga

That's going to be tough to pull off. It's been said because of his pending UFA status he's worth much more to us in terms of production then we would likely receive in a trade for him.

Saying something doesn't make it true. He's 19 with 51 total NHL games under his belt. It's nice that he's stuck on the team and he seems mature for his age, but you're either kidding yourself or trying to fool me by saying he's not a prospect.
- nfph

Fair enough. He's still a prospect (though that label is fading fast), but he isn't the kind of prospect you trade for rentals or bottom six talent.

Good article, I also believe Moulson and Ott will be closer than one would think in trade value.

However I do not understand the analysis of if Moulson is acquired--putting him on the Malkin line. Moulson wouldn't be like Geno and Neal's Kunitz. He'd be like Sid and Kunitz's Neal. If that makes sense. I would assume he'd play top line if acquired and would expect to see Beau on the second. Either way though, it'd be a hell of a pickup.

Pittsburgh Penguins ‏@penguins 9m View translation
#Pens lines looked like: Kunitz-Crosby-Gibbons, Jokinen-Malkin-Neal, Glass-Sutter-Megna, Pyatt-Adams-Engelland. 44-7, 4-58, 3-2 on D

Nice to see Gibbons back.. he played decent with 87 & 14 before getting hurt. Megna jumps Pyatt and goes to the 3rd line too.

That's going to be tough to pull off. It's been said because of his pending UFA status he's worth much more to us in terms of production then we would likely receive in a trade for him.
- dbell646

Personally, a Nisk for McGinn trade would be worth considering. Yeah, Nisk is playing his best hockey of his career, but he also plays a position where the Penguins are deepest. It would be dealing a strength to help a weakness.

That's going to be tough to pull off. It's been said because of his pending UFA status he's worth much more to us in terms of production then we would likely receive in a trade for him.
- dbell646

Yeah, I'd be stunned if he's traded. They need Niskanen to contend.

I think the logical guys are one of Despres or Bortuzzo. Possibly baby Ulf (whom I thought did a nice job up here).

I don't see Dumoulin (whom I thought struggled a little), Harrington or Pouliot.

I wouldn't mind any of those guys... Goc seems like a good fit from what I remember of him in Nashville. Bottom six guys have to be the targets. Even then, guys like Ott might be a tough contract to fit too.
- rival22

I like Chiasson as well in that game. I think he is an RFA at years end. Not sure what he would cost but he'd look good here.

Saying something doesn't make it true. He's 19 with 51 total NHL games under his belt. It's nice that he's stuck on the team and he seems mature for his age, but you're either kidding yourself or trying to fool me by saying he's not a prospect.
- nfph

He's not a prospect. He's a rookie, playing regular minutes in the NHL, and has player anywhere from solid to spectacular. See the difference? Its a moot point because he's not being traded.

Personally, a Nisk for McGinn trade would be worth considering. Yeah, Nisk is playing his best hockey of his career, but he also plays a position where the Penguins are deepest. It would be dealing a strength to help a weakness.
- cap1681

I know it would be a tough sell, but McGinn is playing some good hockey lately as well and he is still an RFA this summer. I assume we would have to add either a pick or a foward prospect to try and pry Nisk away from you.

But Harrington or Pouliot as mentioned above for McGinn would be interesting for the Avs who outside of Bigras and Elliott (Seimens has been injured all season so who knows what hes like) we dont have very many notable D Prospects

I like Chiasson as well in that game. I think he is an RFA at years end. Not sure what he would cost but he'd look good here.
- dbell646

I don't see them moving him... he is one of their promising younger players.

Ott: if you watched the Pens in the playoffs last year.
Moulson: if you didn't.

I know it would be a tough sell, but McGinn is playing some good hockey lately as well and he is still an RFA this summer. I assume we would have to add either a pick or a foward prospect to try and pry Nisk away from you
- DDM-Coga

As much as I don't seen Shero moving Niskanen at this point, a trade of him for McGinn + is really appealing.

Niskanen would be missed, but Despres can slide into his spot and still have Bortuzzo as a 7th.

The fact that McGinn is an RFA is huge.

Pittsburgh Penguins ‏@penguins 9m View translation
#Pens lines looked like: Kunitz-Crosby-Gibbons, Jokinen-Malkin-Neal, Glass-Sutter-Megna, Pyatt-Adams-Engelland. 44-7, 4-58, 3-2 on D

Nice to see Gibbons back.. he played decent with 87 & 14 before getting hurt. Megna jumps Pyatt and goes to the 3rd line too.
- rival22

Ugh, that 4th line is going to be so freaking inept. Pyatt had played better as of late, but I think he is better used as a net front presence, but that requires his linemates to be able to get pucks to the net and Adams and Engelland are not going to do that, whereas Sutter and Megna probably will. I would rather see Glass and Pyatt swapped. Just make the 4th line a checking line who tries to control the puck a little or at least keep in pinned in corners. I think Glass helps that better than Pyatt. I'm not saying that swap makes or breaks this team obviously, they go as their top two lines go, but that's what I would prefer.

As much as I don't seen Shero moving Niskanen at this point, a trade of him for McGinn + is really appealing.

Niskanen would be missed, but Despres can slide into his spot and still have Bortuzzo as a 7th.

The fact that McGinn is an RFA is huge.
- rival22

That was my thinking as well. Yes, losing Niskanen would hurt, but adding depth at the bottom 6 where the Penguins don't have depth would balance it out, if not make the team better. Add in either a pick, or a forward prospect (which everyone knows the Penguins are lacking), and you have to consider it. McGinn being an RFA just makes it more enticing. The Pens would also get about 550k in cap relief.

As much as I don't seen Shero moving Niskanen at this point, a trade of him for McGinn + is really appealing.

Niskanen would be missed, but Despres can slide into his spot and still have Bortuzzo as a 7th.

The fact that McGinn is an RFA is huge.
- rival22

Hes due for a raise, making 1,750,000 so I assume somewhere b/w 2 and 2.5m is a good number for him. Not that expensive for what he brings as a player.

I would gamble on moving out assets trying to get Nisk, let him like playing for Roy, his system, and see his role on the team in the Top 4, which could make him easier to resign to an extention.

That was my thinking as well. Yes, losing Niskanen would hurt, but adding depth at the bottom 6 where the Penguins don't have depth would balance it out, if not make the team better. Add in either a pick, or a forward prospect (which everyone knows the Penguins are lacking), and you have to consider it. McGinn being an RFA just makes it more enticing. The Pens would also get about 550k in cap relief.
- cap1681

Olver, Sgarbossa are the propsects I can see being shipped out. Good prospects but hard to see them crackign the Avs Top 9 anytime soon and are better players to be on the 4th line

Olli Maata = Jake Gardiner

You should get Ott because he can provide more options for you. He can play C or W and contribute. He also brings leadership that helps offset the burden on Crosby.

He's not a prospect. He's a rookie, playing regular minutes in the NHL, and has player anywhere from solid to spectacular. See the difference? Its a moot point because he's not being traded.
- Emperor Filonius

This is a joke right? He is not being traded is a pretty definitive statement. Who is your inside source to make such a claim?

So the great Wayne Gretzky can be traded twice, but the 19 year old Maatta (who apparently is the second coming of Christ) with 51 games under his belt cannot be traded. No way, no how.

Overvalue players much? Homer.

Olli Maata = Jake Gardiner
- canada_dry

maybe now.. but where is Maatta going to be when he's 23 and has 200 professional games under his belt like Gardiner?

What would it take to pry Letang away?

Since Pitt needs players from lines 2-4 up front I'd offer...

Michalek (2nd line), Neil (4th line), Prince (B level prospect), 2015 1st

Sens retain half of Michalek's salary

maybe now.. but where is Maatta going to be when he's 23 and has 200 professional games under his belt like Gardiner?
- rival22

I wonder where Gardiner would be playing with the likes of Sid, Geno, Neal and Co. for that same time span..