that's too much IMO
- sensarmy_11

Ya, eberele is a good player but he is overrated by his clutch moments in world juniors I think.

Cowen as your #5 Dman paired with Gryba is what champonship teams are made of - Boro is also great as a depth #7 guy like a Matty Carkner who can fil in and play a game that the team needs sometimes.

Our depth is our best attirbute - but some of these great prospects will need to be traded for Eric Stall, I imagine Lehner might be one of them
- tuna99

You tickled me with that Staal Idea. I proposed this idea to few friends and seems to be the only one thinking it would be the most important addition this team could do. This dude would completely change our team without affecting the chemistry.

Imagine this team, especially that fist line Ayayaye:

Ryan - Staal - Stone
Hoffman - Zibby - Puempel
MacArthur - Turris - Prince
Lazar - JGP - Robinson

Trade Chips: Smith, Lehner or Andy, Guptil, Cowen

Ya, eberele is a good player but he is overrated by his clutch moments in world juniors I think.
- cburgess

I think you might be right. not to say he isn't a great player, but of the "young stars' in edm, you have to think he's probably the one with the least value (relatively speak, as he obviously has value).....other than maybe Yak

Maybe on Xbox or on paper but the problem is the defensive IQ and endurance

Here's what would need to be traded for Eric Staal: Michalek (4M) Greening (2.65) Cowen (3.1)

That's 9.75M. Eric Staal is 8.25M for years. That's simply not working unless he's in the top 10 NHL scoring (I mean that).
- AlfieisKing

Staal one year left right?

Fair enough. Depends on the situation. But they are grouped together by Central scouitng, Strome - 4, Crouse 5 and Marner 6, so my opinion isn't exactly in left field. And I wrote that before the mid-term rankings came out and Crouse had jumped up to 4...just sayin
- JaredCrozier

That's true, his size is what makes him exciting to some people but I just perfect skill to size especially cause leafs have been guilty of taking size over skill a couple times (Biggs, gauthier) gauthier still has some potential but Biggs is a write off.

I think you might be right. not to say he isn't a great player, but of the "young stars' in edm, you have to think he's probably the one with the least value.....other than maybe Yak
- sensarmy_11

Ya, now that they got mcdavid, i can see them trading Ryan nugent Hopkins. They could get a boat load for him.

http://www.spotrac.com/nh...na-hurricanes/eric-staal/

Same trade as Jason Spezza I assume

Granted, #3 was a stretch. I like his ability to play the body, and score goals. He is the true power forward Ottawa hasn't had since Hossa. Plus can skate and is smart defensively. Can make the big hit but doesn't go out of his way to do it. Certainly worthy of top 3 in any other year, perhaps not this one. But if he falls out of top 5 then someone is getting a steal.
- JaredCrozier

I remember your post about this, and I was totally opposed to this view of Crouse as a potential #3 pick, as I am now. Some scouts went all retard over him after he played an effective checking line role at the WJC, but there's a big difference between that and having the kind of upside that Strome, Hanifin, or Marner have. It's also a classic draft blunder to draft for size in a year with this kind of available talent.

If Crouse doesn't fall out of the top-5, then someone will get an even bigger steal in one of Strome, Hanifin, or Marner.

that's too much IMO
- sensarmy_11

It might be, it might not be.

Both Lehner and Cowen are at a low value right now. They could bounce back and be what we thought they would, or they could continue to fall.

I still think both have what it akes to do so, (Lehner especially), but other teams are not going to be looking them with a glass half full mentality as those of us here are.

that's too much IMO
- sensarmy_11

fair enough, I'd really think about doing that deal

Staal one year left right?
- SENSpatriot

touche...apologies to everyone that was pushing for staal

fair enough, I'd really think about doing that deal

touche...apologies to everyone that was pushing for staal
- AlfieisKing

you're giving up a top six winger, a potential top 4 d-man, and a potential #1 goalie

for

a top six winger

i have no doubt that eberle is better than hoffman, but is he SO MUCH better that it's worth the risk of giving up the other 2 assets?

eberle obviously had more points this year.........but hoffman spent a good chunk of the year playing in the bottom six, and had virtually no PP time. i personally don't think it's enough of an upgrade to justify the move.

If we're trying to bring in a #1 C I think we're going to realize soon we need to give up Turris or Zibby to do it. Either of those 2 are top tier #2 C, Pageau has potential to be a quality #3 C and in my opinion Zack Smith is as good a #4 C as any in the league.

We're not going to get nearly as much in return by bumping everyone down a line and trading Smith and a pick, then we would trading one of our top 2 centers. Harsh to let one of those two walk (most likely Turris as if you want Elite you need to give Elite), I don't think BM is going to be giving Turris up after the year he's had. If anything we need wigners to make Turris or Zibby look like a #1 C like Kessel makes Bozak look like sometimes (keyword: sometimes).

If we're trying to bring in a #1 C I think we're going to realize soon we need to give up Turris or Zibby to do it. Either of those 2 are top tier #2 C, Pageau has potential to be a quality #3 C and in my opinion Zack Smith is as good a #4 C as any in the league.

We're not going to get nearly as much in return by bumping everyone down a line and trading Smith and a pick, then we would trading one of our top 2 centers. Harsh to let one of those two walk (most likely Turris as if you want Elite you need to give Elite), I don't think BM is going to be giving Turris up after the year he's had. If anything we need wigners to make Turris or Zibby look like a #1 C like Kessel makes Bozak look like sometimes (keyword: sometimes).
- tryhard

One of the nice things about post season is you can talk about exotic possibilities. I would trade Bobby Ryan. I would trade for Kessel I would go back to the 67's to find my first round pick (if he is still there).

you're giving up a top six winger, a potential top 4 d-man, and a potential #1 goalie

for

a top six winger

i have no doubt that eberle is better than hoffman, but is he SO MUCH better that it's worth the risk of giving up the other 2 assets?

eberle obviously had more points this year.........but hoffman spent a good chunk of the year playing in the bottom six, and had virtually no PP time. i personally don't think it's enough of an upgrade to justify the move.
- sensarmy_11

eberle isnt the player we need, we need a talent upgrade but we need a player with size, our inability to get to the front of the net against Price cost us the series, when the average sized MTL defence could box us out it showed how much we need an elite BIG winger to oush people around and create mismatches

Eric Stall, your number #12 is waiting for you

I think Edmonton is going to realize that goaltending isn't the biggest issue. They see what dubnyk is doing now. Maybe they should try getting NHL caliber defencemen and it might help out their goaltending situation.
- cburgess

If you watched Dubnyk last year in Edmonton or in Nashville or when he was in the minors for Montreal then you'd know it wasn't "just the defense". Also dont forget he put up solid years prior to that behind virtually the same defense. He stunk it up for a year and a half. Glad to see he turned it around but it was most definitely him sucking during that period.

eberle isnt the player we need, we need a talent upgrade but we need a player with size, our inability to get to the front of the net against Price cost us the series, when the average sized MTL defence could box us out it showed how much we need an elite BIG winger to oush people around and create mismatches

Eric Stall, your number #12 is waiting for you
- tuna99

The average sized MTL D is 6'2"


Just sayin'

I am all for rolling into the season with the same team we have rather then overypaying for a top 6 forward. Better off to unload salary in Greening, Smith, Legwand and Neil and bring in Mike Richards with LA taking some of his salary. Peumple and Prince look more then ready. Hammond will test free agency he isn't dumb so I wouldn't count on trading a goalie for a return. GM"S are all trying to pull one over on each other these days its a joke. Keep it in the system and build from the draft. Unless the deal is fair.

I am all for rolling into the season with the same team we have rather then overypaying for a top 6 forward. Better off to unload salary in Greening, Smith, Legwand and Neil and bring in Mike Richards with LA taking some of his salary. Peumple and Prince look more then ready. Hammond will test free agency he isn't dumb so I wouldn't count on trading a goalie for a return. GM"S are all trying to pull one over on each other these days its a joke. Keep it in the system and build from the draft. Unless the deal is fair.
- JS_19

I could be wrong by saying this but isn't Ottawa's group of forwards young and very talented? Stick with the young guys and surround them with decent veterans.



*runs*

Ottawa will start the season with the same T8 that they have..... Ceci, Cowan and Weircioch will determine who are the 3/4.... the 'loser' drops down the the #5 slot.... Borocop, Gryba and phillips, along with the #5, rotate in and out of the 5/6 pairing....

Giving up on any of the U25 d-men is a mistake

I'm all for trading Cowen if there is a decent return. I don't expect him to live up to his contract and don't believe that his ceiling is that high anymore.

Who would like ottawa to go after Claude giroux
To ottawa Claude Giroux
To philly mika-z, Cowen, chiasson, 2015 first
Would this be able to get Giroux? Or ottawa would need to add more?
Also the flyers admitted They will listen to offers for Giroux so anything is possible.

This would be the lineup
Milan-Giroux-Ryan
C-m-turris-stone
Hoffman- Pageau -lazar
Pumpel-smith-Robison

Karlsson-methot
P-W-Ceci
Borowesky-gryba

Anderson
Lehner
Hammond

Subs: Condra

Holy hell what a save by big B

Who would like ottawa to go after Claude giroux
To ottawa Claude Giroux
To philly mika-z, Cowen, chiasson, 2015 first
Would this be able to get Giroux? Or ottawa would need to add more?
Also the flyers admitted They will listen to offers for Giroux so anything is possible.
- Hockeyforlife

Nope. Giroux is definitely one of the top 10 centermen in the league. I'd say top 5.
Chiasson and Cowen are marginal NHLers, with Cowen significantly overpaid based on potential.
Mika + 2015 first (18th overall) won't cut it.

Who would like ottawa to go after Claude giroux
To ottawa Claude Giroux
To philly mika-z, Cowen, chiasson, 2015 first
Would this be able to get Giroux? Or ottawa would need to add more?
Also the flyers admitted They will listen to offers for Giroux so anything is possible.
- Hockeyforlife

Zibanejad, Cowen, Lehner, 2015 1st would be closer
frankly ryans cap hit is big enough