Don't listen to Flyers fans. They'd kill to be where we are right now.

i have a lot of reservations about sending our 1st and our best young forward along with our highest ceiling dman prospect for ryan kesler.

that is a lot of future youre putting into one player who is 30+ years old. at least with a guy like kane you get a guy as young as him with a high ceiling.

to me, if you do trade for a guy like kane, go out and get a guy like Iginla. what better guy to mentor a guy like evander kane than a guy like iginla?
- SuperHenderson13

Finally someone with some sense. There's no way you should trade Pouliot for anything, his ceiling is Drew Doughty with better offensive instincts. Kesler is old and not worth anything close to Bennet a first and Pouliot, you trade your future for a guy whos going to start falling apart in 2 years tops? Thats Maple Leafs management at it's finest. The most I would do is sign and trade Sutter and begrudgingly give up Despres and keep Scuderi, that and a couple future second rounders, otherwise I'm keeping Sutter at the 3C because he still hasn't hit his ceiling.

We should get it done with Sutter/Goc/Kulemin. Perhaps Jokinen/Stempniak.

Get a crack at B.Boyle/B.Pouliot.

And Neal is a better player than Evander Kane and compliments what this team has better and is not as arrogant or a pain in the butt as Kane is believe it or not.

And Neal is a better player than Evander Kane and compliments what this team has better and is not as arrogant or a pain in the butt as Kane is believe it or not.
- Dcoms

False

Finally someone with some sense. There's no way you should trade Pouliot for anything, his ceiling is Drew Doughty with better offensive instincts. Kesler is old and not worth anything close to Bennet a first and Pouliot, you trade your future for a guy whos going to start falling apart in 2 years tops? Thats Maple Leafs management at it's finest. The most I would do is sign and trade Sutter and begrudgingly give up Despres and keep Scuderi, that and a couple future second rounders, otherwise I'm keeping Sutter at the 3C because he still hasn't hit his ceiling.
- Dcoms

I would make the trade. I fully understand your reservations in trading away pouliot, I could definitely come back to bite. But I don't have those reservations when it comes to Kesler. I can think of no better player we can pick up for the playoffs. I want another cup out of Crosby and malkins primes which I believe are only the next 2-4 years. Kesler is an absolute monster in the playoffs. I know this because no one cheers harder against the Canucks than me, and I am constantly amazed at what he brings.

Isn't scederi from Long Island and wanted to be closer to his family there. He would likely accept a trade to the islanders if management told him flat out that he will not get used here.

My armchair team.

Do the trade with Vancouver, but send Bennett instead of sutter. Bennett, first and pouliot.

Kunitz Crosby Kesler
Neal Malkin kulemin
Dupuis sutter stempniak
Gibbons goc magna

Letang Martin
Maata dumoulin
Depres bortuzzo.

Fleury
Zatkoff


This is realistic to me. Ideally I'd trade letang, Neal and fleury.

Fleury has value in Winnipeg, where they are in dire need of a good goalie. No one wants to go to Winnipeg so to get that goalie it needs to be through trade then owe the player into staying. Neal & Fleury for Kane and their 1st

Edmonton has the same problem getting players to sign there, trading letang prior to July 1st. Get Yakupov

Sign Boyle
Sign miller

Kane Crosby Yakupov
Kesler Malkin kulemin
Kunitz sutter dupuis
Gibbons goc Megna

Martin maata
Boyle dumoulin
Depres bortuzzo

Miller
Zatkof
- stackthepads

Are you kidding!!! This is exactly how you break down a contending team to nothing.

False
- Ryan_Wilson

I definitely agree ... Problem is Neal won't get you Kane ... Neal a d prospect and a 1 st ... To much ...1) Fix the bottom 6... 2) make a decision on fleury by the draft

Are you kidding!!! This is exactly how you break down a contending team to nothing.
- Topshelf Mountain

Really? Explain.

False
- Ryan_Wilson

Ryan you have a personal hatred for James Neal and it clouds your judgement. Evander Kane is the Stephon Marbury of the NHL, he's got the skills but he's way too selfish to ever be a catalyst to be a difference maker. Sorry, you seem like a smart guy for the most part but you let your personal beefs with certain players blind you from the big picture.

Ryan you have a personal hatred for James Neal and it clouds your judgement. Evander Kane is the Stephon Marbury of the NHL, he's got the skills but he's way too selfish to ever be a catalyst to be a difference maker. Sorry, you seem like a smart guy for the most part but you let your personal beefs with certain players blind you from the big picture.
- Dcoms

False

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=60180

Really? Explain.
- stackthepads

Sure. You're nutty. Shady Acres nutty. Trading Bennett, Pouliot, and a first for a reused carburetor is not good.

And Neal is a better player than Evander Kane and compliments what this team has better and is not as arrogant or a pain in the butt as Kane is believe it or not.
- Dcoms

Kane is a much better player with a much better game. Neal is good but he'll never be the guy we'd like him to be IMO.

Im not sold on Kane, i think he could give you some attitude problems and I think a guy like Iginla could help that.

I'm fine with a trade centered around Neal for Kane. If you had the opportunity to throw some defensive depth in there for another pick at the deadline to get some forwards, I'd do it.

Sure. You're nutty. Shady Acres nutty. Trading Bennett, Pouliot, and a first for a reused carburetor is not good.
- Topshelf Mountain

Yeah that doesn't really explain how I've taken a contender and destroyed it.
I have certainly gambled our future for the present, maybe that would turn out to be a mistake.
But that's not what you said. You said I took a contender and made it into nothing.

I think the fictional team I put together would be more of a contender than what we currently have. And I think by a large margin too.

to me, this should be the agenda leading up to the draft and on draft day.

1. Trade Niskanen's rights. Ideally you get a 3rd, but getting anything is better than nothing.
2. Look to dump anyone else's rights that someone would want. these will all be later picks, but maybe even look to swap rights for a UFA that you have in mind (Kulemin or someone else)
3. Only UFA I'd consider is Goc. Like what he brought in a short time, i think he'd be a solid choice at 3rd line center or an above average 4th line center.
4. Look to your RFAs. I like Sutter, but if someone is willing to give us a good price for him or if he wants the 4 million plus i think he'll want, then im not sure he's worth it. Despres is a must sign. love the kid and think he could be a great defenseman with the right at coaching and situation.
5. Let it be known that you'll listen to offers for Neal. If you had the option of getting a Carter/Richards type package or if you had the option to get a player like Kane, i think you take the package. That is a very debatable point, not that i'm saying no to Kane, but it depends on the circumstance.
6. Take a forward with your 1st. Don't overthink it, dont overestimate a dman. If your target is a little away, trade down and pick up an extra pick.
7. Hire a damn coach. Dont go into the draft without one. I know you dont need one but make your life easier and get one.
8. Look at what this team needs, dont waste your time chasing UFAs you have no chance with. Look at the bottom 6. This is why #7 is important, let him find the guys that he wants in his system.

probably more, but this is something that needs done. you have 100 assistant GMs. Do something with them.

Ryan you have a personal hatred for James Neal and it clouds your judgement. Evander Kane is the Stephon Marbury of the NHL, he's got the skills but he's way too selfish to ever be a catalyst to be a difference maker. Sorry, you seem like a smart guy for the most part but you let your personal beefs with certain players blind you from the big picture.
- Dcoms

James Neal is not a playoff performer IMO. I also believe he is not willing to sacrifice for the greater good of the team in a smart way when it counts the most. One of the best shots in the league when he has the time and space... But does not bring anything else to the table. He is strategically lazy. I have no beef with him.... Just don't believe he is a player you win with.

If you havent seen this, please do.

If you havent seen this, please do.



- SuperHenderson13

Lol

Grim Rutherford ‏@GrimRutherford 43s
I will not draft a defenseman.

Kunitz (3.85) Crosby (8.7) Lupul (5.25)
Kulemin (2.8) Malkin (9.5) Neal (5.0)
Bennett (900k) Sutter (3.2) Dupuis (3.75) or switch with Kulemin
Malhotra (600k) McClement(1.35) Gibbons (600k)

Letang (7.25) Martin (5.0)
Franson (3.0) Maatta (894k)
Bortuzzo (600k) Pouliot (863k)

Fleury (5.0)
Reimer (1.85)

Trade Scuderi or buy him out?

Trade for Lupul/Franson/Reimer.........for Harrington or Dumolin & 1st
or........ for Harrington, 1st/2nd (they're late picks anyway)

Free Agents Kulemin, McClement, Malhotra

Yeah that doesn't really explain how I've taken a contender and destroyed it.
I have certainly gambled our future for the present, maybe that would turn out to be a mistake.
But that's not what you said. You said I took a contender and made it into nothing.

I think the fictional team I put together would be more of a contender than what we currently have. And I think by a large margin too.
- stackthepads

Right off the bat I don't think the team is better. If I'm wrong on that, they're better for a year and then drop off the cliff. Bennett is the best forward prospect going and we have zero idea what he can do due to injuries. Pouliot is the best non-NHL defensman in the system. Then you added a first rounder, which is pretty thick at the forward position. So yeah, bad moves all the way around.

Kunitz (3.85) Crosby (8.7) Lupul (5.25)
Kulemin (2.8) Malkin (9.5) Neal (5.0)
Bennett (900k) Sutter (3.2) Dupuis (3.75) or switch with Kulemin
Malhotra (600k) McClement(1.35) Gibbons (600k)

Letang (7.25) Martin (5.0)
Franson (3.0) Maatta (894k)
Bortuzzo (600k) Pouliot (863k)

Fleury (5.0)
Reimer (1.85)

Trade Scuderi or buy him out?

Trade for Lupul/Franson/Reimer.........for Harrington or Dumolin & 1st
or........ for Harrington, 1st/2nd (they're late picks anyway)

Free Agents Kulemin, McClement, Malhotra
- JustHockeyTalk

Oh you're gonna get eaten alive for this one. Although I've seen malhotra mentioned a couple times today. Never considered him but I would take him on the forth line. He's a battler.

Don't forget there are some players down in WBS that may get a legitimate chance with the big club. I'm really hoping archibald can get a couple games with the pens this year.

False

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=60180
- Ryan_Wilson

Yeah I read that when you wrote it and as much as I wish I had the time to dig all this info up myself, I don't, but these guys do a pretty good breakdown. And it's hard to quantify the m'r f''r quotient but if Justin Bieber met Evander Kane he would probably think to himself "wow this guy is a real m'r f'r," and that is coming from the biggest m'r f'r in the world. http://bleacherreport.com...neal-an-elite-goal-scorer

Right off the bat I don't think the team is better. If I'm wrong on that, they're better for a year and then drop off the cliff. Bennett is the best forward prospect going and we have zero idea what he can do due to injuries. Pouliot is the best non-NHL defensman in the system. Then you added a first rounder, which is pretty thick at the forward position. So yeah, bad moves all the way around.
- Topshelf Mountain

Bad moves all the way around on one trade you don't like. I get it's an unpopular trade idea. But you went off the deep end attacked my character then said what I presented would be terrible. And yet you have yet to explain you side of the argument beyond you don't agree with one trade.

If we could pull off all the trades I presented which we can't, anyways we would be coming away with Yakupov who is going to be a 1st line winger and much better than Bennett. Kane who is already a top line winger who is better than Bennett and Kesler who is already a top line winger or center who is already better than Bennett.

The 22nd pick in this draft has a much better chance of never playing in the NHL then becoming a contributing member, he will certainly not contribute in the Crosby/Malkin era.

Pouliot could be a top end dman and could come back to haunt us if we trade him. I fully agree. But I think it's worth him for another realistic crack at the cup.