thanks for that.

But who knows... we'd probably have ruined Perry.

I believe Dallas traded down that year to Anaheim for a couple 2nd rounders.... so two GM's messed up there???
- nanook82

trading down not to draft Parise and to take Marc-Antoine Pouliot instead is a tough Oiler move to look back at now too

Of course you're not, which is why this whole thing is silly. He's the ONLY guy that will definitely not be moved. RNH, Schultz, Yakupov, Eberle...sure, they could be moved. But Hall is the guy you build your offense around. Unless you're going to offer up a Jamie Benn+ type of deal, he will not be moved. Maata and spare parts won't do it.
- jmatchett383

No he mentioned Boedker and Kassian but isn't willing to include Sutter. If sutter is a non starter on any deal well then you're probably looking at Lee Stempniak. Teams seem to be valuing

You may as a devout hockey fan, but the casual Penguin fan (majority of Pittsburghian, I'm guessing) would be incensed over trading him, or even trading Malkin. You have to put PR into the equation, and even more so in Nashville.
- jmatchett383

I'd move 87 for those 2 in a second.

Here's my two cents on the Taylor Hall sitch.

Regarding Olli Maatta: he is Letang's partner of the future and absurdly good for how young he is. That being said, we have a plethora of young NHL ready D prospects who should be able to handle top 4 minutes. Despres has all but proven himself, Dumo looks good, and Harrington is very promising. And if all of them fail, whoever we resign out of Martin and Hoff should be able to play well with Tanger. Martin's already proven that he can and I have complete faith in Hoff. Don't kid yourselves, the quality of our D core will plummet without Maatta, but he's not irreplaceable.

Regarding Sutter: The dude is an appreciating commodity that has an expiration date as a Penguin. He has proven all his doubters wrong by proving he can be an effective 3C with competent line mates and can transition seamlessly into a top 6 roll when called upon. This is phenomenal for us this season, but will price him out of the Penguin's future when he becomes a UFA after next season. He needs to be traded at some point.

Regarding our D Prospects: They're NHL ready and we have to many of them. The downside is, they are inexperienced. This is a self explanatory situation.

Regarding the trade: Right now, my biggest issue with this trade is what it will do to our depth this season. We get rid of Maatta and we are banking that an unexperienced prospect can come in and seamlessly fit his shoes and have the maturity level to hang during a cup run. Not only that, but one of our prospects would be going in the trade too, so we are putting all of our eggs in one very unexperienced basket and have no backup plan if it doesn't work out. Furthermore, Sutter is borderline essential to us right now. I agree with most people on this board that Goc should not be our 3C. This trade should not be done this season.

However, I am 100% on board for an offseason trade that would bring Hall to Pitt. Next season, Oscar Sunqvist will make the team which makes Sutter not only expendable but a necessary trade so that he doesn't walk for nothing. That problem is fixed. Plus, both Dumo and Harrington should gain experience throughout this season so we will have a better idea of what we have in them and be able to make a more educated decision of who should be sent to Edmonton and how the one we keep will factor into our D core moving forward. There's also the possibility of sending the ever expendable Derrick Pouliot over and keeping both Dumo and Harrington.

Hall is a 80+ point scorer on a terrible team on a stupid good contract. Talk about his leadership and attitude all you want, he's not coming here to be a leader, and pretty much anyone would have a terrible attitude when playing in that environment. The fact of the matter is that yes, Sid and Geno don't need a star on their wing, but as they get older they're going to need some kind of talent helping them out. Hall at sub 6 mil could be that guy and I feel more comfortable making a package of premo assets for Taylor Hall than I do for Evander Kane (as much as I love him) or God forbid Jordan Eberle.

I'd move 87 for those 2 in a second.
- 87_71_11_29

Again, yes, a devout hockey fan would understand. But the casual fan (majority of any sports franchise's fanbase) would not, and those are the people you need to sell the franchise to.

Of course you're not, which is why this whole thing is silly. He's the ONLY guy that will definitely not be moved. RNH, Schultz, Yakupov, Eberle...sure, they could be moved. But Hall is the guy you build your offense around. Unless you're going to offer up a Jamie Benn+ type of deal, he will not be moved. Maata and spare parts won't do it.
- jmatchett383

That post was in response to Boedker and Kassian as he suggested. Being unwilling to move Sutter means those deals won't come to fruition. I'm suggesting that everyone around here believes Harrington/Dumoulin and a pick gets us a young top 6 winger I just don't see that

I'd move 87 for those 2 in a second.
- 87_71_11_29

I can't find what deal for Crosby you are referring to. Can you repost it?

These posts are awesome... thanks for making my work day go by faster... for some of the new posters:

Hole not whole
You're not your

Happy Holidays
- nh4442

I have to add the one that keeps popping up: role, not roll.

Sorry bud! Nothing more depressing than looking at previous draft years and playing the "What if?" game.
- Topshelf Mountain

It's alright. I do it all the time

No he mentioned Boedker and Kassian but isn't willing to include Sutter. If sutter is a non starter on any deal well then you're probably looking at Lee Stempniak. Teams seem to be valuing
- dbell646

I was just using the Penguins as an example. Unless one of Malkin/Letang are moved, I doubt Taylor Hall is coming to Pittsburgh unless there's a 3-way trade.

trading down not to draft Parise and to take Marc-Antoine Pouliot instead is a tough Oiler move to look back at now too
- DDM-Coga

But but but but but... he rode shotgun with Crosby. He's gotta be good right!?!?

Random thought...

I know that James Neal is certainly a tier below Taylor Hall and had his share of issues...but he was a 40 goal scorer on a reasonable contract and locked up for a while. We all thought guys like he and Kesler were going to pull huge returns in both quality and quantity but were traded for a lot less. Just food for thought.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Neal and Kesler weren't franchise type players.

Hall isn't either but he's a more valuable asset than Neal or Kesler. Younger too. Contract certainty also.

You mean for ROR right
- DDM-Coga

Maybe Mackinnon

I still want ROR. But not for Maatta...why isn't there some magical deal for like Harrington, Spaling, and a 2nd for ROR

No Yonk1216 said he was a 3/4 Dman.

Klef/Marincin/Nurse all full time next season. No question.

I agree Sutter would be a nice addition, just not at the price of Hall
- nanook82

I said 3/4 20 year old Dman.... Sorry thought I'd get crucified by Oil fans for call him a 1/2 Dman...

He will be atop pairing D man by the time he's Hall's age and he would most likely be the best D man on the Edmonton roster right now.

I'm being realistic.... if those 3 prospects can make the jump to the NHL next year great.... but I still think Maatta is better than all three for the next 2-3 years.

I have to add the one that keeps popping up: role, not roll.
- hardnosed

Go back a page.

Also, like I said: the more hardcore fans would approve of it. But the majority of fans, which is what makes up most of a team's revenue, would not.

Again, yes, a devout hockey fan would understand. But the casual fan (majority of any sports franchise's fanbase) would not, and those are the people you need to sell the franchise to.
- jmatchett383

Crosby is iconic but I think most casual hockey fans know who Steven Stamkos is but I'm picking up what you're putting down. Guess I'd say you know what cures all? Winning so the initial backlash would be quieted by a winning product. Especially in Canada where hockey is the only show in town.

Oh, I didn't want to be the nitpicky bumhole, as I make my fair share of grammar mistakes, but since you've set the bar...players have a "role" not a "roll". That's the one that bugs me haha.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Posts coming in fast, and didn't see that you addressed that one. Glad to know I'm not the only one bothered by that one.

I said 3/4 20 year old Dman.... Sorry thought I'd get crucified by Oil fans for call him a 1/2 Dman...

He will be atop pairing D man by the time he's Hall's age and he would most likely be the best D man on the Edmonton roster right now.

I'm being realistic.... if those 3 prospects can make the jump to the NHL next year great.... but I still think Maatta is better than all three for the next 2-3 years.
- Yonk1216

Ah poop... forgot the 20 year old part sorry dude.

Time will tell!!

Neal and Kesler weren't franchise type players.

Hall isn't either but he's a more valuable asset than Neal or Kesler. Younger too. Contract certainty also.
- 87_71_11_29

Hall is a bona fide superstar. Neal and Kesler are very good hockey players. Not even close to comparing.

So.... he's not a checking centre and does put up points???
- nanook82

Correct, he is the least physical guy on the team; and he flourishes when the puck is on his stick. Its weird to admit this but he has been great offensively all season.


F;Sutter

I can't find what deal for Crosby you are referring to. Can you repost it?
- Doogs

Someone proposed 87 for Stamkos and Hedman as the centerpieces coming back. Also including Druin and 5 1st round picks.

So it was really more than just 87 for Stamkos and Hedman.

Hell, I'd consider moving 87 for those 2 solely.

Someone proposed 87 for Stamkos and Hedman as the centerpieces coming back. Also including Druin and 5 1st round picks.

So it was really more than just 87 for Stamkos and Hedman.

Hell, I'd consider moving 87 for those 2 solely.
- 87_71_11_29

Yzerman wouldn't.

I have to add the one that keeps popping up: role, not roll.
- hardnosed

I seriously just said that hahaha. Glad I'm not the only one that noticed.

Sentence structure doesn't bother me in the least, but reading misspelled words is like an OCD nightmare for me.

Who is the solid proven defenseman you are sending to Edmonton? I'm not trying to be a Richard but a team like Edmonton has D prospects why would they trade Perron for Dumo/Harrington and a pick?
- dbell646

Take your pic, dumoulin is the most proven for a perron deal. He could play right now top 6, next year top 4. Plus they can get a 2nd and third most likely.

Maatta could work for ebs

Hall is a bona fide superstar. Neal and Kesler are very good hockey players. Not even close to comparing.
- jmatchett383

Superstar? Maybe in a different market, but certainly not top 5 in the league, not even top 10..15?