I would love them to be ballsy and trade Dareus to get into the first round.
- Pierceme69

makes sense, after seeing what miami paid for suh

with his off field issues, I would move him

To be clear, I have led the Noshie movement. I don't think he's that good. But I'd take him for a 3rd rounder in a hot minute. He'd be worth that price for shootout victories alone.
- Pierceme69

Like I said I think we all know you can't get him that cheap.

IMO he's nothing more than a 3rd liner that can play 2nd pp mins.

I do like the player, never agreed with the term they gave him.
- dadeadhead

he is on the decline for sure, there was a reason the islanders dropped him to line 2


right now, the only way he slides to line 3 is if foligno gets his head out of his ass, IMO

if pysyk and z are with the big club, the d depth is depleted on the prospect side since they will be with the big club


I do like martin and florentino though

I would not be shocked if 2 of the 3 other picks in the top 2 rounds are d men
- homiedclown

Honestly I'd be very shocked if we didn't pick a dman with 20 or 31

IMO he's nothing more than a 3rd liner that can play 2nd pp mins.

I do like the player, never agreed with the term they gave him.
- dadeadhead

I don't mind him on the 2nd line. He's not really a two-way player and I prefer the 3rd line to be good on both ends of the ice.

he is on the decline for sure, there was a reason the islanders dropped him to line 2


right now, the only way he slides to line 3 is if foligno gets his head out of his ass, IMO
- homiedclown

Foligno looked much more like I thought he would when we drafted him this year. I think the quick offensive success he had when he first got called up messed him up a bit. It's like everyone (including the coaching staff) expected him to be some high skill forward, and he's not. He's going to score most of his goals/points by throwing his body around, creating space for his linemates, and having pucks bounce off his ass into the net.

He got back to that more physical style game this year. We just have to hope whatever coach they bring in doesn't try and change that again.

Comparable career ppg avg when you factor in Oshie has played with more top end forwards.

One is going to get you an avg of 67 games a year and the other 73.

Ennis in his limited playoff experience has 8 points in 13 games where Oshie has 9 in 30. 3 year age difference between them too.

I'll stick with Ennis and let Oshie go elsewhere unless you get him for a 3rd. Which we all know isn't happening.
- dadeadhead

Can we get to the playoffs first before we complain about which players are not performing in them?

I would do Oshie for the late first. As was pointed out yesterday, finding an actual 50 point player with that late first, is well very rare.

I don't mind him on the 2nd line. He's not really a two-way player and I prefer the 3rd line to be good on both ends of the ice.
- Pierceme69

He's a very low end 2nd liner IMO.

Can we get to the playoffs first before we complain about which players are not performing in them?

I would do Oshie for the late first. As was pointed out yesterday, finding an actual 50 point player with that late first, is well very rare.
- ImThatGuy

No where did I complain.


I'm not moving a 1st for a 29 yr old forward who tends to not stay healthy. I'm all ears for a better option than Oshie.

My guess is Oshie ends up in Winnipeg.

He's a very low end 2nd liner IMO.
- dadeadhead

Which again, is not bad when you have two very skilled centermen on your team, which Buffalo appears to have in the making.

See Kunitz, Chris.

No where did I complain.


I'm not moving a 1st for a 29 yr old forward who tends to not stay healthy. I'm all ears for a better option than Oshie.

My guess is Oshie ends up in Winnipeg.
- dadeadhead

Plus he is a Thomas Vanek-like ghost in the playoffs. 9 points in 30 games and a -12. No thanks. Not for a 1st.

Which again, is not bad when you have two very skilled centermen on your team, which Buffalo appears to have in the making.

See Kunitz, Chris.
- ImThatGuy

Oh you mean Kunitz who was a 50/60 point player 10 years ago?

Which again, is not bad when you have two very skilled centermen on your team, which Buffalo appears to have in the making.

See Kunitz, Chris.
- ImThatGuy

Is emulating Pittsburgh necessarily the way to go, though?

Not to play down the fact that they've won a Stanley Cup, but with some of those players - including the best in the game - they've "only" won it once

Is emulating Pittsburgh necessarily the way to go, though?

Not to play down the fact that they've won a Stanley Cup, but with some of those players - including the best in the game - they've "only" won it once
- stashu

Boomer and Carton disagree.......

Boomer and Carton disagree.......


- dadeadhead

My god...watching games during that season was excruciating...

Is emulating Pittsburgh necessarily the way to go, though?

Not to play down the fact that they've won a Stanley Cup, but with some of those players - including the best in the game - they've "only" won it once
- stashu

I wasnt poiting to the fact that they were emulating them. just stating that wingers are made better by the elite centerman around them.

The wingers Buffalo has, Crosby would kill for, IMO

Oh you mean Kunitz who was a 50/60 point player 10 years ago?


- dadeadhead

It must be nice to be him. Goes from playing with Getz, Perry and Selanne to playing with Crosby and Malkin.

My god...watching games during that season was excruciating...
- stashu

There were times i literally wanted to punch my TV. LITERALLY!

Edit - Hatty!!!!

I wasnt poiting to the fact that they were emulating them. just stating that wingers are made better by the elite centerman around them.

The wingers Buffalo has, Crosby would kill for, IMO
- ImThatGuy

My point is I'm not sure just throwing "good" players on the wing with your stud center is the appropriate thing, as can be seen in Pittsburgh.

Sure, I'd LOVE to have "only" 1 championship, but when you have the face of the NHL on your team, the guy who has been dominant for years (sure, maybe not in goals scored, but overall points) - better quality pieces should be there.

It should be "easier" early in a player's career, like McDavid or Eichel, with their lower contract when compared to Crosby

It must be nice to be him. Goes from playing with Getz, Perry and Selanne to playing with Crosby and Malkin.
- ImThatGuy

Kunitz/McDonald/Selanne
Lupul/Getz/Perry


then

Kunitz/McDonald/Selanne
Penner/Getz/Perry

Getz and Perry didn't become the top line until 07/08 after they won the cup. Kunitz was moved at the deadline the following year.

I see we are trying to go the offer sheet route again... Nothing like pissing off (possible) future trade partners for average players.

Tank for Matthews!

Auston Matthews – Centre/Right Winger, 6’2 197lbs, 17 years old, USNTDP Juniors in the USHL, Presumed 1st Overall

Matthews ended up torching the U18’s as expected on an American squad bursting with youth and exuberance. One thing about the American development system I truly love is the bonding they do by trying their best to have many of their top players grow not only as a team domestically, but internationally as well. Matthews scored 8 goals and had 15 points in 7 games to lead the tournament, including 2 goals in the romp of Canada in the semifinals. He was named the MVP and Best Forward at the tournament. Connor McDavid won the same honours at 16 with an 8g 14p performance, so Matthews is in good company. Matthews is one of the few players I can think of that has a dual Mexican/American citizenship in hockey. Matthews shattered the U18 US leagues point mark with 55 goals and 116 points in 60 games. Just for context Eichel managed 38g 87p in 53gp, Kessel 41g 73p in 41gp and Kane 35g 68p in 43gp. Matthews’s entire line however makes up the top-3 so some caution in looking too deeply into that. He’s a beauty.

I don't know how or if any of these players could really be brought to this team but I was wondering what people would think about these options and what it could cost. If you roll 2 to 3 lines that can score I don't think you need a defined Line 1/Line 2 etc..

Trading for Sharp they are in cap jail, might do it for a pick or prospect
Offer sheet or trade for RFA rights for Toffoli, Saad, Hagelin, Jones, Stepan

If you really want to stick Boston, offer sheet Hamilton

I know these are long shots but it is fun to play GM and guess what if.

Tank for Matthews!

Auston Matthews – Centre/Right Winger, 6’2 197lbs, 17 years old, USNTDP Juniors in the USHL, Presumed 1st Overall

Matthews ended up torching the U18’s as expected on an American squad bursting with youth and exuberance. One thing about the American development system I truly love is the bonding they do by trying their best to have many of their top players grow not only as a team domestically, but internationally as well. Matthews scored 8 goals and had 15 points in 7 games to lead the tournament, including 2 goals in the romp of Canada in the semifinals. He was named the MVP and Best Forward at the tournament. Connor McDavid won the same honours at 16 with an 8g 14p performance, so Matthews is in good company. Matthews is one of the few players I can think of that has a dual Mexican/American citizenship in hockey. Matthews shattered the U18 US leagues point mark with 55 goals and 116 points in 60 games. Just for context Eichel managed 38g 87p in 53gp, Kessel 41g 73p in 41gp and Kane 35g 68p in 43gp. Matthews’s entire line however makes up the top-3 so some caution in looking too deeply into that. He’s a beauty.
- jochfr

Id take him over Oshie

Looks he might even be better than Eichel.

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